Sunday, March 10, was a great Sunday…as far as I remember! I was out on vacation this past week and just don’t remember much about it. I don’t know if this lack of remembrance is willful or not, but that’s where I am as I sit down to update my blog! I do know that I preached a message from Hebrews 5:11-14 entitled “We Have Much to Say.” (You can listen to the message by clicking here!)
Sunday evening I know that I preached a message from Exodus 14 entitled “In the Nick of Time!” I do know that God saved the Israelites just in time as the Pharaoh was about to slaughter them if he could. But God did this to show Pharaoh and the Egyptians that He is Lord (YHWH in Hebrew meaning “Covenant-Keeper”; our God is a covenant-keeping God; He always keeps His promises). (You can listen to the message by clicking here!)
For the first time since we have had our sons, I had to spank my seven-year old. He kept doing the opposite of what he was asked and told to do. It was not pleasant for him since he had a full day of disobedience. Three swats and it was done. He cried. I kept from crying. Mom stood in shock. Brother didn’t say a word. After speaking to my father the other day, he asked me how things were going with the boys.
Me: So far so good, Dad.
Dad: Have you had to spank them yet?
Me: Yes, my two-year old, but not my seven-year old.
Dad: After I spanked you for disobedience, Son, I would go into my room and pray and cry.
Me: Really?
Dad: Yes. That was the one thing that I did not want to do but I had to. I had to teach you and your siblings discipline because this is what God does as a loving Father — He disciplines us.
Me: Yes, He does do that. And it’s not too pleasant either.
I remember learning a great deal from my two older brothers. As Dad would discipline them, I made mental notes not to do what they did! But all in all, I am grateful for my Dad spanking me. Now that I look at my life, it really isn’t all that bad. I am disciplined in what I do in ministry and I am disciplined at home. Did I enjoy being spanked? No, of course not. Neither do my Sons. But as a loving Father I explain to them the reason for the spanking and I tell them that if I didn’t discipline them that would mean that I don’t love them. I discipline them because I love them.
The writer of Hebrews says this of God:
You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons. “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him/ for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives. It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. (Hebrews 12:4-11)
Well, another great day! I’m a couple of days late getting this Sunday Review typed out. I had the privilege of being at the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Empower Evangelism Conference held in Irving, Texas. More about that on my next post.
Sunday morning we studied Hebrews 5:1-10 – Jesus the Great High Priest. We are supposed to have a “representative” government here in the United States. When our forefathers began this Country, they thought it would be good to have different people to represent the people. We need representation. In addition, when you consider your standing with the Government of God, we need a representative. In the Old Testament, the high priest was the representative of people before Holy God. The Aaronic priesthood was insufficient. Man needed someone who was a real person, was truly sympathetic with our weaknesses, who sacrificed and made offerings to God, and who did not exalt himself. That Person, the Great High Priest, is none other than Jesus Christ. (You can listen to the message by clicking here!)
Sunday evening we were in Exodus 13. God gave specific instructions to Moses for the people to celebrate what God did by preserving their firstborn sons and animals. The 10th plague on Egypt took the firstborn of Pharaoh, all of the Egyptians and even the firstborn of all their animals. But God commanded Moses to have the Israelites place the blood of a lamb on the doorposts and lintels of their doors. When the 10th plague arrived, the homes of the Israelites and those who followed the Hebrew God were passed over with the plague. God did all of this so that the Israelites would know that He is God — their God. (You can listen to the message by clicking here!)
D.J. Gorena 