These are sermons delivered weekly from Valley Covenant Community. We hope you enjoy these podcasts as we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and study His word for practical application.
In this episode we take a look at the reflection of God's glory that came from Moses when he came down the mountain with the new tablets of the covenant. The people were terrified witht he glory that shone from his face, but he kept his face uncovered until he delivered the word of God. Only then did he cover it. What does this mean to us? What is the demand on Christians who have the glory of God upon them? What is every Christian's responsibility?
In this episode, we review the renewal of the covenant and will examine three of the four foundational pillars of a covenant/constitution. What are these three essential pillars and how are they also to be found in our own United States Constitution? This explains some of these aspects.
In God's abundant grace and mercy, He forgave Israel their sin of idolatry; however, there were still consequences. God still wouldn't abide with them in camp. In addition, although He would still allow them to go into the promised land, He had a very stern warning, they were not to commit idolatry with the gods of the pagan occupants of the land. This is a stern warning to us. Before we say we would never do this, consider the State of Washington recognizing two Muslim holidays. This is an official act. Christians are to be discipling the nations, instead, in the name of tolerance, we are being discipled by ungodly religions.
The story of Lazarus is well known; however, what isn't as well known is the purpose of the death of Lazarus. Jesus had a specific purpose for his death and his resurrection, but the Jews had a very different purpose for his death. This difference is still with us today, we see it at almost every funeral.
When Moses didn't know how God would bring them into the Promised Land without His presence, Moses asked God to show him His ways. After God explained His ways, it was still confusing, so Moses asked God to show him His glory. All of this amounted to the same thing, God said to Moses to follow the Angel (Preincarnate Jesus). In the New Testament, Jesus said the same thing, "Follow Me."
The modern concept of revival is not the biblical approach to revival and revivals of the past. This section of scripture reveals how God humiliates His people in order to turn them to repentance and prayer. It is a move of God to turn from their wicked ways that promotes true, godly revival.
Moses was the mediator of the covenant. His goal was to help Israel to the Promised Land. He interceded for Israel when they created the gold calf to worship, but he was not able to give his own life for the lives of these idolaters. He didn't have a sinless life, like Jesus. We too are called to be covenant mediators, but we are not called to be the savior to anyone else. There is only one Savior, and He died once, for all.
Aaron catered to the demands of the people, settingup a democracy in effect. The people demanded he create an idol for them when Moses took too long getting the commandments of God from Sinai. However, when Moses came down, he took moral authority, had the moral courage to demand that the idol be destroyed. We need men of moral courage, who speak with moral authority in the name of God today, rather than the Aaron's of the church, who compromise and create idol worship.
When Moses gets the tablets of the covenant, this should be an exciting time for Israel; however, when Moses delays coming down and because the children of Israel are a stiff-necked people, they demand Aaron make for them a god that they could worship. They couldn't wait for God's word, God's instructions, it was taking longer than what they thought, so they created their own idol.We have God's word right now, His Word, the Bible. Far too many people think that it takes to long to read, understand and apply, so they go off and make an idol for themselves, and worship it as their own creation. We can learn a lot from the lessons of Israel, this one in particular today.
In this sermon, we explore the biblical understanding of taxes, Holy Spirit inspired work, and of the Sabbath rest. God defines, directs and controls each of these areas. If we give them over to the State, we not only put the State before God, but we are enslaved to it.
The garments of the high priest speaks volumes of the work of Jesus Christ.
The tabernacle itself speaks volumes of the work of Jesus.
The Ark of the Covenant was the throne of God for the Hebrews. The throne of God was in His palace, called the Tabernacle. What we examine in scripture today is the power of the throne of God as the Hebews had to take the Ark into the land of Canaan. God spelled out very specific instructions for His dwelling place, His people are to do exactly what He commands and not get creative in the building process.
In this sermon, we examine the ratification of the covenant, the blood covenant, anfd to he affirmation of the people committing to obeying the covenant.
Before the Hebrews went into the Promised Land, they recieved the Ten Commandments, the Case Laws, and the special instructions to work, rest, celebrate and follow Jesus. All of this is what we read both in the Old and New Testaments.
In dealing with the laws of the covenant nation, it is important ot understand how God's law dealt with those who were not Hebrew. There would be many strangers croming in or passing through the land of Canaan. There were four typse of people that the Bible called "strangers". Not all were the same. Each type was to bre treated differently. In the United States, we too must differentiate between each of these four "strangers". Treating them biblically will ensure justice and righteousness in the land.
There are many issues that Christians get asked about, but are either not knowledgeable enough too answer, or simply are too weak in their faith to give the biblical answer. One of these issues is God's design for the death penalty. This sermon will give both encouragement and a biblical knowledge base in order to answer these questions.
God's laws are a reflection of His own character, when we obey the moral principle of His laws, we are exemplifying His character. The case laws found in Exodus are laws that have at their very root, one or more of the Ten Commandments. If we are ever to be a godly nation once again, we must rediscover the moral principles of God's laws once again.
Before going through the Case Laws found in Exodus 21-23, it is important to understand why we are to study these laws. In this sermon we get a proper perspective of God's law as a reflection of His character. If you want to know Jesus more and more, then it is imperitave that we read, study, and meditate upon His word more and more.
In this study, we examine the implications of the children of Israel's desire to stand afar off from God afrter He gave the Ten Commandments to Moses. There are two distince fears people have of God, one is healthy and the other is not.
The Tenth Commandment, "You shall not covet..." deals with issues of the heart. The reason that God placed this in the big ten is because covetousness and envy destroy families, communities and nations. This sermon will always be relavant.
The ninth commandment, You shall not bear false witness, is one that we have reduced to "Do not tell a lie." This commandment, like all the others was given in order to produce a free people living in a free society under God. In our current society that plays fast and loose with the truth, this word is especially relevant to the church, that the church may set the standard for the world.
The Eighth Commandment, "You shall not steal", deals with every aspect of theft. This commandment guarantees property rights to individuals, however, with rights come responsibilities. As the Parable of Talents indicates, a servant that is granted much, much is required. A servant that is granted little, there is still a multiplication required and given back to his lord. To hide the talent is to steal from the lord.
Adultery is much more than just cheating on your spouse. It is included in the Ten Commandments because it is an attack on God, the family and the nation. We need to re-examine the implications of adultery and what it has to do with the foundations of social order again.
Many Christians have begun to lose hope in turning our nation back to Christ. The last statistic that I read was that over 20 million Christians won't even vote this election cycle. What should be the Christian posture to voting and to civil government itself? What is the point of voting if things are going to get progressively worse? The answer is to be found in the victory of Christ in every area of thought and life, and how the church is to enforce that victory every day.
The Sixth Commandment, "Thou shall not murder" has vast implications for our society today. The further we have moved from God law the greater the moral decay in America. It has become very clear that we are living in an increasingly unjust society. The people call evil good and good evil. Once the United States turns again to her biblical roots of law and justice, we will see a great turn in her moral character, safety and righteousness.
In this sermon, we examine what it means to honor your father and your mother. Far more reaching than the cursory "honor and obey", this is fundamental to a free society.
In this episode, we examine the implications of the Fourth Commandment, the keeping of the Sabbath day holy. There is much relevance for us today in this commandment. It has more to do with being separate from this culture of idolatry and resting in the completed work of Christ than it has to do with just taking a day off. Enjoy.
In this episode we examine the law as a reflection of the Character of Christ, the difference between negative and positive law, and the implications of the Third Commandment on society today. Enjoy!
Pasor Artur Pawlowski is a Polish born Canadian who is fighting the good fight to recover our liberties once again. Standing strong against Caesar, suffering for the faith, remaining strong in Christ. His message will inspire and challenge. Enjoy...
The Second Commandment deals with idol worship. We really don't understand just how much idol worship there is here in the United States today. This sermon defines idol worship, gives some examples, and what we are to do about it. Enjoy.
The Ten Commandments are the foundation of our civil society. The further we move away from these commandments, the less civil our society becomes. In the first commandment, we read that we have one God. One God means one law. How important is that for us to rediscover in today's society.
In this prologue to the Ten Commandments, we examine the religious nature of the law for a country. The Children of Israel had come out of slavery, been tested, organized into a Republic, and then prepaired to recieve the law of God. These laws never change, we are to govern and be governed under the same laws. In the United States, we were once established in Biblical law as it was expressed in Common Law. With the denial of God, the source of law has been replaced by man. If you replace the source, you replace the law, if you replace the law, you replace the culture. We are in desperate need to put God back on the throne as the only law-giver in America.
In this seventh installment of Child Training, we examine Satan's attacks on the children. If he can't kill the child in the womb, then he destroys or steals the childhood through false teaching and training. Experts abound in child training, but if the training is not based on God's word, then it is twisted into something else that will destroy the life of the child and family.
The Children of Israel had camped by Mt. Sinai, and were being prepared to recieve the covenant law. God had some very specific instructions for them, and worked through a mediator, Moses, to do so. This is another expansion of the covenant, all of which points to the New Covenant in Christ.
The Children of Israel had to prepare to recieve the law, to become responsible under the law. To these ends, God sent Moses' father-in-law to instruct Moses and the Children of Israel to be a representative Republic. Ultimately this would be the foundation of the United States' civil and legal order.
By Chapter 17 of Exodus, we find Israel still complaining and God still faithful. Instead of gratitude there was infighting. In fact, they were ready to stone Moses for bringing them into the desert. Once God gave them water to drink, then another problem occured, Amalek began attacking them and killing the weak straglers. Israel was to deal with their own issues, then turn and deal with Amalek. In the church today, we have the same issues. church infighting leave us open to Amalek.
In the 16th Chapter of Exodus, we read that the children of Israel once again begin their complaints against Moses and Aaron. Rather than praying to God, they complained about Moses and Aaron. God graciously answered the complaints, but we see that the Hebrews were not accepting the responsibility of their new found freedom. Their slavish mentality caused them to desire to turn back to Egypt every time they ran into difficulty. God not only supplies them with food (manna) but He also supplies them with a sabbath.
In this sixth installment of the child-training series, we study the puposes of dsicipline. Ultimately, to discipline is to make disciples. As God disciplines His people, so too are the natural parents to discipline their own children. When the children grow and mature and leave the house, they know the disciplines of the Lord because of what the parents put into their lives.
Once the children of Israel were on the other side of the Red Sea, it only took them three days to start complaining. God designed a series of tests for them in order to prepare them for the Promised Land. So too do we go through the testings of God after our own salvation.
With the salvation of the children of Israel came the destruction of the Egyptians. In this episode we examine how the salvation of God's people isn't an escape, it goes hand-in-hand with the destruction of God's enemies.
When the children of Israel were in the process of leaving Egypt, Pharaoh began to pursue them, God was leading them in a roundabout way to the Promised Land, and they ended up getting caught between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's army. In this episode we discuss the slavish mentality. There are easier ways, there are more logical ways, but in the end it must be God's way.
In this sermon, we examine God's requirment of the firstborn. The firstborn represents the family entire, giving the firstborn to God then speaks of giving the entire family and all they have to God. The lamb could redeem the firstborn donkey in our example given by Moses, just as Jesus, the Lamb of God would ultimately redeem us all.
In this session, we discuss the importance of patterning our child-training after God's own ways. While this does not guarantee that the heart of the children are kept by the parents, it does guarantee that parents are not limiting their children's obedience to God.
When the children of Israel left Egypt, they left with a mixed multitude. That means that the there were Hebrews, Egyptians, and other slaves that came with them. God gave specific instructions regarding these "foreigners". In order to partake of the Passover, they had become circumcised, that is, the cutting away of the flesh.Churches today also have mixed multitudes in their congregations. The foreigners in the body, those not part of the covenant, must have a circumcision of the heart before being able to partake of communion. Unfortunately, churches today are not making any requirements on the people in the church to become partakers of that covenant community. We need to rediscover God's requirements.
In this sermon, we examine the nature of the final judgement on the Egyptians, the death of the firstborn. Scripture only gives us two verses describing this judgment when it happened. Most of the time is spent on describing the purpose of the Passover Meal. We study how the Hebrews had to be ready for this judgement, because everything in the Egyptian society would change. In our society today, we know that God has been judging the United States for years. How are Christians to prepare for God's judgments? This sermon is especially relevant today.
Bringing up children to become Christ-like in their character is challenging. However, God gave us a pattern to follow in order that we may teach and train our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. This lesson in the child training series is a great resource for new parents, old parents and even grandparents. Christian maturation is lacking in the culture today, this will be an excellent tool to bringing faith back into the family.
God instituded the Psssover before the Hebrews left Egypt. This was to be done by faith in victory, deliverance and judgment even before these took place. We are to do the same today, although we don't seem to have the victory, we are to take Communion in victory, grateful for deliverance, and judgment on God's enemies.
While still in Egypt, the Israelites were commanded to observe the Passover. This marks their covenant with God and their deliverance from Egypt before they left Egypt. They were under Egyptian rule and law, their religious order, but God would give them His law when they left Egypt. There is no neutrality, either the Hebrews were under Egypt or God, the transition had to take place before they left Egypt.
As Moses gets the final instructions about the last of the plagues, this one hits the people of Egypt in a powerful way. It is the killing of the firstborn. As Egypt kept the children of Israel (God's firstborn) as slaves, aways from the life of worshiping God, so would God kill the firstborn of Egypt. The same holds true today. As God's people, the church are inundated with foreign gods to be worshiped, imposed upon by the power of the State, God will not tolerate the enslavement of His firstborn, the church.
In this episode we will examine the family government and what that means to the original purpose of man in the Garden and man's repurpose with the Great Commission.