11 May 2024

Youth Worship 11th May 2024 : I have talked with you from heaven

Youth Worship 11th May 2024 : I have talked with you from heaven
Text: Exodus 20:18-26

Speaker:
Rev Dr Charles Tan
Series:
Focus on Faith

Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP
11 May 2024
Text: Exodus 20:18-26

Title: “I have talked with you from heaven” Exodus 20:22

INTRODUCTION

1. Reading Exodus 20 meaningfully

a) Understanding Context
i) Historical
ii) Literary
iii) Theological
b) Appreciating details
i) There are many details
ii) They help us understand the text better

THE HISTORIC VISIT FROM THE LORD

1. The LORD would descend on Mt Sinai

2. He would speak to all the children of Israel

3. There was a 3-day Preparation period!

THE REACTION OF THE PEOPLE

18 Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off.

19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”

Exodus 20:18-19

1. What the people witnessed

a) The thunderings
b) The lightning flashes
c) The sound of the trumpet
d) The Mountain smoking

2. The people trembled

3. They stood afar off

4. They spoke to Moses

a) “You speak with us, and we will hear;” Exodus 20:19a
b) “But let not God speak with us, lest we die.” Exodus 20:19b

5. Evaluation of their response

a) Groundless
b) Fearfulness
c) Lack of knowledge and faith

ASSURANCE FROM MOSES

20 And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”

21 So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.

Exodus 20:20-21

1. Explanation

a) “God had come to test you”
b) “That His fear may be before you”
c) “That you may not sin”

2. The People’s response

a) They stood afar off
b) They were not fully assured

3. Moses’s example

a) He drew near the thick darkness
b) He entered into the presence of God

GOD’S WORD TO MOSES

22 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

23 You shall not make anything to be with Me—gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves.

24 An altar of earth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I record My name I will come to you, and I will bless you.

25 And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it.

26 Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.’

Exodus 20:22-26

1. A word to the children of Israel concerning the Historic Visit

a) “You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven”
b) The sin of Idolatry highlighted
i) No gods of silver
ii) No gods of gold

2. The Altar-Worship of God

a) An altar of Earth
b) An altar of stone
i) Unhewn stone
ii) Danger of profane worship
c) No steps to God’s altar
i) No human flesh to be seen
ii) Worship in Spirit and Truth

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To understand Worship

a) Instruction
b) Inspiration

2. To make an appropriate response

a) To fear (reverence) God
b) To know God better
c) To offer worship as God instructs