Hyde Park Chinese Baptist Church at Austin, Texas

Sermon April 13, 2008

Sermon Title: Serve God in His Terms

講道題目：按着神的條件去事奉

Sermon Text: 2Timothy 2:21

講道經文：提後二章廿一節

Scripture Reading: 2Timothy 2:20-21

讀經：提後二章二十至廿一節

 

We had the privilege of observing the baptism of one brother and two sisters last Easter. Going through the water of baptism is the first step in following Jesus. After baptism a Christian must be serious in spending time with the Lord in prayer and in reading of the Bible. Without a good foundation in the scripture it is very easy for a Christian to wonder away from the truth. Paul told Timothy, “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm sealed with the inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are His, and everyone who confess the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.’” (2Timothy 2:19) The first inscription concerns the security of believers. God knows you personally and individually. Since He knows you are His, He will love you, protect you, lead you and bless you. Your salvation is also secure in God’s hand. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10: 27-28) The second inscription has to do with responsibility. The responsibility is to turn away from all wickedness. The first inscription tells us that we (the church) are owned and protected by God Himself; the second reminds us that since God has the ownership of our life, we should consecrate our lives to serve Him. Paul continued to say, “In a large household there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” (2Tim. 2:20-21) How can one be useful to the Master? The Bible leaves us with no ambiguity that first thing one must do is to cleanse himself from all evils. We cannot please God, let alone serve Him, unless we can leave our evil thoughts, our evil desires and our evil plans behind.

        Holiness is the key theme in the book of Leviticus. “I am the Lord your God, consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy.” (Lev. 11:44) “Be holy because I the Lord your God am holy.” (Lev. 19:2) Israel was God’s chosen people and holiness must be expressed in every aspect of her life. Israel must dedicate herself holy to God because of what God has done for her and also because of who He is. In the same way, the church is Jesus’ chosen bride; He has died on the cross to redeem the church. That is why Paul wrote in Romans, “Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship (or reasonable service). “ (Romans 12:1) Christian service is a spiritual act of worship but one must serve God in His terms. When God led the Israelites out from Egypt; He gave them Laws to obey and specific rules in worship. He instructed Moses to build a sanctuary so that He would dwell among His people. He gave detail instruction in the building of the Tabernacle, the Ark of Covenant, and all the furnishings in the Tabernacle. (Exo.25:8-9) God had chosen the Levi among their brethrens to serve Him in the Tabernacle. Aaron and his descendants were given the responsibility of priesthood. They had to follow meticulously the rules of ceremonial cleansing before they could offer sacrifice to the Lord. The priests might not understand the symbolic significance of various offerings, but they must follow strict protocol in each specific offering—on God’s terms. The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings the Israelites consecrate to me, so they will not profane my holy name. I am the Lord.” (Lev. 22:1-2) The penalty of any offence was death. Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu took their censors, put fire in them and added incense, and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to His command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when He said, ‘Among those who approach me I will show myself holy in the sight of all the people, I will be honored.’” Aaron remained silent and Moses forbade them mourning. (Lev. 10:1-3) God expect His people to worship Him in His terms and not whatever we feel like to do. The offerings to the Lord must be without blemish or defect. “Do not bring anything with a defect, because it would not be accepted on your behalf.” (Lev. 22:20) The Lord expects His people to offer to him the best that they have and not what is left over that they do not want.

        The Bible tells us the story of Eli’s two evil sons who took the Ark of Covenant and used it as a good luck charm to fight the Philistines. As a result the Ark was captured and Eli and his two sons died in the same day. The Ark was later returned to Israel and kept in the house of Abinadab.(1Samuel 4-7:2) The Ark remained in obscurity until David became king of all Israel. He ordered the Ark to be moved to the City of David in Jerusalem. They set the Ark of God in a new cart pulled by oxen. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab were guiding the cart with the Ark of God on it. When it came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the Ark of God because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the Ark of God. David was angry and did not understand. (2Samuel 6:1-8) On reading the scripture superficially we may not understand why Uzzah should die saving the Ark of God from falling. But if we read the book of Numbers, God had assigned specific jobs to the Levi to serve in the Tabernacle. (Numbers 4:1-33) When the Israelites broke camp, Aaron and his sons were to cover all the furnishing of the Tabernacle and the Kohathites were assigned to carry the Ark of Covenant on their shoulders by the two poles on its sides. They were not allowed to go in to look at the holy things let alone touch it. If they did they would die. (Numbers 4:15, 20) David had no business in putting the Holy Ark on a cart pulled by oxen!! It should be carried by the Kohathites. No matter how good the intention, Uzzah was irreverent when he did what was forbidden for him to do. David did the right thing later to allow the Ark to be carried to the City of David. (2Sam. 6:13) Even Moses whom the Lord knew face to face was not allow to enter the Promised Land because an act of disobedience. He struck the rock twice instead of ordering it to produce water as commanded by the Lord. (Numbers 20:11) Many of us will consider it justifiable for Moses to be mad and his action after all was no big deal. But God said to Moses at Mount Nebo, “This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the water Meribah Kadesh in the desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites. Therefore you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel.” (Deuteronomy 32:51-52) God is a holy God; and all those who wish to serve Him must serve Him on His terms in total obedience.