The Objects(s) of our Worship by Pastor Dave

The Objects(s) of our Worship by Pastor Dave
 
“So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what the Lord God of the Hebrews says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go that they may worship me.’”
Exodus 10: 3
 
Exodus 10 - 12 (Psalm 20)
 
Observe

• The plagues continue. Moses and Aaron call on Pharaoh to humble himself before God. He refuses, locusts are threatened, the officials plead with Pharaoh who begins to relent then changes his mind and will only let the men of Israel goes. The plague of locusts ensues
• Pharaoh seeks forgiveness, the locusts are dispatched but he hardens his heart again. A plague of deep darkness is released for three days. Pharaoh again relents and grants permission for the people to leave to worship God but refuses to let the livestock go; he then banishes Moses from his presence
• The final terrible plague on the firstborn is forewarned. Pharaoh again refused to listen. The Passover celebration, with all its details, was explained and inaugurated. The Israelites obeyed and were saved, devastation fell on all others with the deaths of the firstborn
• Finally God’s people were freed and left bestowed with gifts from the Egyptians as foretold; the Exodus began

 
Interpret
     The two key matters that we focus on this morning are that of Worship and the Passover (the Passover being an act of worship in itself).
     All through the interchanges in these opening chapters we see the questions: who is God; who is to be worshipped; whose people are the Israelites; and who are they to obey? God continually calls on Pharaoh to free His people so they can worship Him. Pharaoh, seeing himself as a deity refuses to humble himself before God and release the people. God shows Himself to be the one true and Almighty God. He brings judgement on the gods of Egypt (12: 12), His people obey, bow down and worship Him (12: 27). They then find freedom. We see that what we worship impacts, binds and controls us. Only God is due true worship, in that worship and service of Him we find real freedom.
     The Passover is a demonstration of God’s salvation over judgement. Blood is shed and a life lost to provide that protection. Their salvation became a celebration in which they were blessed and freed. A journey began for them on route to their promised land. This event foreshadows Christ’s sacrifice and the offer of salvation for us. The three days of darkness compares to the time at the crucifixion (Matthew 27: 45), Jesus becomes the Lamb of God who takes away our sins as His blood is shed on the cross and a new life and journey begins for those who humble themselves before Him and obey. He is not the unleavened bread but the bread of life that now sustains us.
 
Application
     We need to consider what we worship in our lives. There will be obvious matters that we can identify but often it is the more subtle ones that have huge and unrecognized control over us. For example: the desire for self; finances; affirmation from others; food and drink; achievement; fear of others or failure; and self-justification to name a random few. If we humble ourselves before God, repent and worship Him we can receive freedom by His grace through faith. We can then begin a life of obedience and service sustained by the life giving Spirit of Jesus Christ as we journey to eternity.
 
The Question of Application
     What do we worship in our lives, what has control over us? How might we submit to God today and find true freedom?
 
Prayer
Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon Him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of His patience and humility, and also be partakers of His resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 
 
Praise 
At the Cross (Love ran red) by Chris Tomlin
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus