Exodus: Worship, Tabernacle, and Covenant Presence

The Pattern Of Christian Obedience - Part 2 of 2

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name: JW01442 🔗

Date: 2016-09-09

Synopsis: In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver explores the pattern of Christian obedience as exemplified by Jesus Christ. Using John 8:29 as the central text, he argues that just as God provided detailed patterns for the tabernacle and temple, He has given believers a perfect pattern for obedience in Christ. Jesus was sent by the Father, lived in the Father's presence, and always did what pleased Him. Believers are likewise sent by Christ and surrounded by God's omnipresence, and their obedience should mirror Christ's. The sermon emphasizes that true obedience involves delighting in God's will, having open ears to His Word, and magnifying His law. Sanctification is impossible apart from the law of God, and neglecting it has serious consequences. The ultimate application is a call to desire and pray for a life that always pleases God, following Christ's example.

[John Weaver] Open our Bibles to John chapter 8 and verse 29. John 8 verse 29. And the title of the message is actually, The Pattern of Christian Obedience. the pattern of Christian obedience. Last time we met, we dealt with the scope of Christian obedience. Today, the pattern of Christian obedience. So if you look in John 8 in verse 29, our Lord says, He that sent me is with me.

[John Weaver] The Father has not left me alone, for I do always those things that please Him. Now, when we talk about the word pattern, have to understand that we use that word on a regular basis, and very seldom ever do we stop to consider the word, or the meaning of the word. So you would have to ask this simple question, is there such a thing as a pattern for Christian obedience? Is there a pattern after which we are to live our lives as believers?

[John Weaver] We must remember that God is not the God of confusion. 1 Corinthians chapter 14 and verse 33 the Bible says, for God is not the author of confusion but of peace as in all the churches of the saints. So when you stop and think about it if there was no pattern for obedience then obviously there would be confusion because no one would know exactly how to live and exactly how to please God. The Apostle Paul in Colossians 1 verse 10 offered a petition for the Colossian Christians and he prayed that you might walk worthy of the Lord and all pleasing being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Well obviously you cannot walk pleasing unless you know that which pleases God. So my question would be to begin with do you think God would be so fastidious in a lot of other areas and less fastidious when it came to Christian obedience.

[John Weaver] For instance, when he gave Moses the directions for the tabernacle and everything in there, he gave it to Moses down to the very last detail. For instance in Exodus 25 and verse 9 God says, according to all that I show thee after the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all the instruments thereof even so shall you make it. So God gave a detailed pattern for everything in the tabernacle. In Exodus 25 and verse 40 He said again to Moses, and look thou that thou make them after their pattern which was showed thee in the mount. And when you get to Numbers chapter 8 and verse 4, he talks about the pattern of the candlestick. told him how to build the candlestick. And then when you get to Hebrews chapter 8 and verse 5, again putting together all of the Old Testament verses there, God says,"'Who serveth unto the example and shall of heaven a thing, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle? For seeth he that they will make all things according to the pattern shown thee in the mount.'"

[John Weaver] So nothing was left to chance, nothing was left to fate or fortune, nothing was left to the whim of man. God gave detailed patterns for everything. And it was the same thing when it came to the Temple. For in the Temple in 1 Chronicles 28, verses 11-12 the Bible says, Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the house thereof, and the treasuries thereof, and the upper chambers thereof, and the inner parlors thereof, and the place of the mercy seat, and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, and all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated thing." So again the tabernacle God gave detailed accounts of how everything was to be done. So again it was not left to the whim or caprice of man, God gave everything in minute detail. You know when you come to consider a pattern of true conversion, God even gave us a pattern in the experience of of Saul of Tarsus.

[John Weaver] In fact the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 1 verse 16, how be it for this cause I obtain mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, listen now, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to everlasting life. Now, that doesn't mean that everybody is going to get knocked down on the road like the Apostle Paul did, but it does mean that everyone is going to be convicted. Everybody is going to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. There will be repentance. There will be faith. In other words, He is the pattern. In fact, Paul wrote to Timothy, not to Timothy, but to Titus in Titus 2 and verse 7, and he said, In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works and doctrines showing uncorruptness, gravity, and sincerity. Now you have to remember that Titus was a pastor. And also Timothy was a pastor. And in 1 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 12, Paul wrote to Timothy, but let me point out something about the word pattern We do not have to see the word pattern to understand that it is a pattern Sometimes the word is translated in our Bibles as example the same word that is translated

[John Weaver] as pattern in the New Testament is also translated as example. It is the word tupos in the Greek, it is where we get our English word type or pattern. So, when you hear the word example it is the same as a pattern. So, Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4 and verse 12, Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example or a pattern of believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. So, interestingly now, Paul has written to both Titus and to Timothy, and he has commanded them to be a pattern or an example to believers. In other words, the believers were to follow and to emulate their pastors. Wow. So, here's my question.

[John Weaver] I wonder today how many Christians would be more holy, more godly, more obedient if they followed their pastors. You know the interesting thing is the Apostle Paul did indeed suggest that people follow him, but of course no further than he followed Christ. But in 1st Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 16 he said, Wherefore I beseech you, be you followers of me. And the word followers there is where we get our word imitators.

[John Weaver] mimickers, be thou an imitator of me." And then he said in 1 Corinthians 11 verse 1, be ye followers of me even as I am a follower of Jesus Christ. So Paul was saying you need to follow me but you don't follow me any further than I follow Jesus Christ. And then in Philippians 3 and verse 17 he says, brethren be followers together of me and mark them which walk so that you have us for an example. So Paul then is saying, look anyone who believes the Scripture and obeys the Scripture and serves God should be an example.

[John Weaver] Unhappily in this day and age if so many professing Christians followed their pastors they would probably follow them straight to Hell, or at least to hypocrisy and to sin. But the believers are indeed to have an example in their pastors. Do you know that when it comes to suffering, when it comes to persecution, again we have a pattern. In James 5 and verse 10, James wrote, take my brethren the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example or a pattern of suffering, affliction, and impatience. So if we want to know how we can endure affliction, or persecution, or suffering, then we need to study Job, and we need to study the lives of all the other prophets as well. Now, here's what I want to show you.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles, if you would, to 1 Peter chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter 2. going to come back to John 8, but I want you to see this in 1 Peter 2 and verse 21. Usually the word example is from the word tupos, but here there is an unusual Greek word, and I might say that it is a very explanatory word as well. So, if we are going to have a pattern to follow in we are going to have a perfect pattern to follow then we must follow the Lord Jesus Christ. But I want you to look at what the Bible says in 1 Peter 2 and verse 21. He says, for even here unto were you called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that you should follow His steps. So, Christ has left us an example that we should follow his steps. Now the word example here is not the word tupos as usual. This word is hypogremos.

[John Weaver] And let me tell you what it really refers to. In fact, gremos is where we get our English word grammar from. Hypogremos. It means first and foremost, listen carefully, a writing copy including all the letters of the alphabet given to beginners. As an aid to teaching them how to draw them and how to write now some of us Went to school in the old days and you remember on the blackboard There was usually in cursive and in print all the letters of the alphabet So when you went to school, you just sat down. There's that a you would make the a there's the b You can learn to print you can learn cursive That's exactly what this verse is saying that Jesus Christ is evidently set forth so plainly That all we have to do is copy him and emulate him the second thing it means is an example set before one so that one may be quick in copying and emulating that example so example then and the pattern of the life of Jesus Christ should be and is something from which we can easily and readily learn.

[John Weaver] In fact if you look in verse 21 he says, for even here unto where you called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that you should follow His steps. In other words literally we are to place our feet in the Prince that He left. So obviously we are then to walk in his steps follow his direction and live our lives as he lived now I shared all of those things with you on pattern an Example to get back to my text in John 8 in verse 29 and I want you to look at that Because this is a very wonderful passage Here our Lord said and he that sent me is with me and The Father hath not left me alone, for I do always those things that please Him." Now there are several very wonderful truths in this short passage. First of all, I would have you to note that Jesus Christ was sent by the Father. He said, and He that sent me is with me. So Jesus Christ did not come on His own.

[John Weaver] He did not run unsent. He came in obedience unto and in submission to His Father. He said, He that sent me is with me. As you read through the New Testament you will find that one of the most noteworthy titles of Jesus Christ is that He is the Sent One. In fact He says that over and over, that He was sent by the Father. So, it was neither humiliating burdensome for Jesus Christ to be a servant to His Heavenly Father. Not at all. In fact, I want you to look, hold John 8, but look in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 3. Let me point something else out in relation to Christ. Hebrews chapter 3, look at verse 1. Hebrews 3 verse 1, commanded, Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. Now, I want you to note in chapter 3 and verse 1 of Hebrews we are commanded to consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. The word Apostle is the Greek word Apostolos, which literally means a sent one.

[John Weaver] You remember the 12 Apostles? What did He do? He sent them forth to preach. The word Apostle means a sent one. So Jesus Christ is chiefly the sent one the Father sent Him. He is has been sent by God the Father.

[John Weaver] Now, let me point something out. We have to understand also the beauty and the glory that Christ had in being sent by the Father. In like manner we must also consider the beauty and the glory that is ours in being sent by Jesus Christ. It is a divine and heavenly commission. Let me just remind you in John 20 and verse 21 Jesus looked at his disciples and he said to them Peace be unto you now listen as My father hath sent me So send I you Now stop and think about this as Just like as the father hath sent me I So send I you." So Christians then are really and truly sent ones. We have been sent into the world to emulate and to shatter forth and to follow Jesus Christ. Now let me make something very plain. It's something that probably most of us have never thought about. Do you realize that our obedience is to picture and to show forth the obedience of Jesus Christ to His Father? What did He say?

[John Weaver] As my Father hath sent me, so send I you. You remember that passage in Ephesians chapter 5? where the husband then has been designated as the head of the home, the head of the house, the head of the wife. Why? When you read in Ephesians chapter 5 it is because the husband is to picture the Lord Jesus Christ ruling and reigning over His Church. The wife in her submission to her husband is to picture the Church and its submission to Jesus Christ. So we understand that. But it's almost something new when we think that our obedience is to picture and show forth the obedience of Jesus Christ. Now, unhappily, frequently husbands and wives fail in their representation of Christ in the church. And we do not give forth the picture that we should. likewise many Christians also fail in their obedience to shadow forth and to show forth the obedience of Jesus Christ. But notice if you would in John 8 verse 29 the very first thing He said, the Father hath sent Him. So He is the Sent One.

[John Weaver] Now look back in John 8 verse 29 here is the second thing, He said, He that sent Me is with Me. Then he makes this next statement the father hath not left me alone So as the father was personally present with the son So likewise he has not left us alone. We are never ever alone Let me explain it like this. We are surrounded by omnipresence in fact If you understand what our Lord is saying, it is simply this, that He is going to lead us, guide us, and direct us. There is a specific promise given in John 14 and verse 23. Listen carefully. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him. Now listen, and we will come unto him, and we will make our abode with him. Wow!

[John Weaver] That means if we are obedient there is going to be a special presence of God in our lives. Everyone can quote Hebrews 13 verse 5, For he saith, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to put these two things together before I really get to explaining John 18 verse 29. Jesus Christ was sent by the Father. Jesus Christ knew and experienced the presence of God. He lived in the Father's presence. He realized and understood His commission, and He knew the Father's presence and power, and that the Father would enable Him to accomplish that for which He had sent Him. Consequently, as a result of these two truths, He pleased the Father. That's why He said, for I do always those things that please Him. Moreover, the more He pleased the Father, the more He was assured of the Father's presence and power. Now, let me try to put this together for you. If we want to live a more godly life, if we want to be more holy, If we want to be more obedient, we must put these two things together in our lives. We have been sent by God. We have been sent by our Lord Jesus Christ. As the Father sent me, so send I you.

[John Weaver] The second thing we have to put is that we are surrounded by the presence of God. We have to understand that presence. You remember in Psalm 139, David said, Whither shall I go from thy presence? Whither shall I flee from thy spirit? If I make my bed in Hell, behold, thou art there. If I sit in the heavens, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there thy right hand shall uphold me. What does he say? I cannot escape the presence of God. God is omnipresent. And that means that God is everywhere at one time in the totality of his person it's not that part of God is here and part of God is here and part of God is here part of God is here you put all these parts together and you have God no no no God is everywhere at once in the totality of his person stop and think about the three Hebrew children how many did Nebuchadnezzar throw into the fire three how many did see walking around four What about Daniel?

[John Weaver] What did the King say to Daniel when he got there early the next morning? He lamented and said, O Daniel, is I God whom thou servest able, continually able to deliver thee out of the mouth of the lion? And Daniel said, I'll live forever, O King. My God has sent his angel and shut the mouth of the lie. So it really doesn't matter how dangerous the situation It doesn't matter the situation of the circumstance.

[John Weaver] The truth is we're surrounded by the omnipresence of God Let that sink in Let that sink in I don't care if you're washing dishes I don't care if you mowing the grass. I don't care if you fixing fence You're surrounded by the presence of an eternal God always sovereign God. I'll be honest, I have often thought about this passage, John 8, 29, where Christ said, for I do always those things that please Him. And I thought, oh Lord, I want to be able to say that in my Would it not be absolutely wonderful if every Christian could truthfully say For I do always those things that please him Now we're sinners and I'm sure that we do not but the desire should still be there Here's a quote I want to give you two of them John Calvin on John 8 in verse 29 says this Because I do always the things which please him I He says, we must observe the reason why Christ declares that God is on his side and that he will never be deprived of his assistance.

[John Weaver] It is because he is regulated entirely by his will and serves him in sincerity. For this is what he means by the word always that he does not obey God only in part, but it's entirely and unreservedly devoted to his service. Wherefore, if we desire to enjoy the same presence of God, our whole reason must be subjected to His, that is God's authority. For if our senses hold the government in any degree, all our exertions will be fruitless, because the blessing of God will not be upon them.

[John Weaver] And though for a time we may be delighted with a joyful prospect of success, yet the final result will be dismal." So what is he saying? If we want to be like Christ and know the presence of God. We have to resign the reins of government in our lives to God. We can't say, I'm the one directing this. This is what I want to do. No, no, no. We must say, Thy will be done as Jesus Christ did.

[John Weaver] Now, John Gill said it like this, For I do always those things that please Him, by submitting to the gospel ordinance as to baptism, at which the Father declared His well-pleasedness in Him, and by complying with the ordinances of the ceremonial law which were typical of Him, and by perfectly obeying the precepts of the moral law and bearing the penalty of it, or by suffering and dying in the room instead of His people, all which were of the will of God and well-pleasing to Him.

[John Weaver] Now I want to just take John 8 verse 29 a little bit further and show you Really and truly what is involved when he says for I do always those things that please him I want you to hold John 8 but turn in your Bibles to Psalm 40 Psalm 40 And I want us to read verses 6 through 8 Psalm 40 6-8. Now, I want you to watch.

[John Weaver] This passage relates to the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, it is quoted of Christ in the New Testament. So, in Psalm 40, verse 6, the Word of God says, Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire. Mine ears hast thou opened. Burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I lo I come in the volume of the book. It is written of me. I'd like to do thy will. Oh my god Yea, thy law is within my heart now this passage is Quoted in relation to Jesus Christ and Hebrews chapter 10 verses 5 through 9 basically, the only difference is that when he says, Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire, but a body thou hast prepared for me. So Jesus Christ, the Eternal God, assumed the body that was born for Him in the Virgin Mary. Mary is not the mother of God. She is the mother of the body of the Lord Jesus Christ which He Assumed okay, so Here when you look at this passage He had to have a body.

[John Weaver] Why did he have a body because the father sent him he came as the father's servant Don't you remember that passage in Philippians chapter 2 he became obedient even obedient unto death. I Well, let me say, first of all, the first emphasis in Psalm 40 here is upon our Lord's servitude. He was and is the perfect servant. He was a servant par excellence.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to show you a passage that may shock you. I first want to point out the fact that in the Old Testament, when a servant said that he loved his master and he would not go free, something happened to him and he became a permanent servant, or a permanent slave. So if you look in your Bibles to the book of Exodus chapter 21 at verses 5 and 6, Exodus 21, second book in the Old Testament, Genesis Exodus, Exodus 21, And look at verses 5 and 6. Notice if you would please, Exodus 21 verse 5. And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children, I will not go out free. Then his master shall bring him unto the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, Into the door post and its master shall bore his ear through within all and he shall serve him for ever So this is how a man became a permanent slave In the Old Testament now if you would turn to Deuteronomy 15, that's the fifth book

[John Weaver] Genesis Exodus Viticus Numbers Deuteronomy Deuteronomy 15 and look if you would please at verses 16 and 17 you'll see the same truth again Deuteronomy 15 verses 16 and 17 And it shall be if he's saying to thee I will not go away from thee because he loveth thee in thine house Because he is well with thee then thou shalt take an all and thrust it through his ear unto the door of and he shall be thy servant forever. And also unto thy maidservant shalt thou do likewise."

[John Weaver] Now, in this one passage in Psalm 40, thou hast opened mine ears, plural, there's another passage which I will show you a little bit later where he said, thou hast opened my ear, which would indicate maybe the fact that it was bored through. In the fact that he became the faithful servant forever now With that in mind. I want you to look in your bibles to first corinthians chapter 15 I don't know if you've ever thought about this passage in light of those two passages But look in first corinthians chapter 15 beginning there with verse 24 And we're reading about jesus christ now watch carefully and notice the change 1 Corinthians 15 verse 24, Then cometh the end when he, that is Jesus Christ, shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he, Jesus Christ, shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he, that is Jesus Christ, must reign till he has put all his enemies under his feet.

[John Weaver] The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. Now watch, For he hath put all things under his feet. That is, he, God the Father, hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he, that is, God the Father, is accepted who did put all things under him. Now watch. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him. put all things under him, that God may be all in all." Now, here is a passage that indicates that Jesus Christ is going to be the permanent servant of God the Father. You have to remember this, there is only one God. And yet that one God has revealed Himself in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is all there is of God got the father's all there is of God got the Holy Spirit is all there is of God It's not three parts. Each one is totally absolutely God and yet there's only one God And yet God the Son Who came to be the father's servant was willing to be his servant forever Because we need to deliver up all things and What does the scripture say?

[John Weaver] Wow. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. So you have here His perfect servitude in Psalm 40. And then secondly you have His perfect obedience. Because in Psalm 40 He also said this, listen carefully, Then said I, Lo, I come in the volume of this book, it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O God, thy law is within my heart. So Jesus Christ was not only the perfect servant, Jesus Christ gave forth a perfect obedience. His ears were open unto the Word of God. Now the interesting thing is this, man by nature has his ears closed, at least to God. be open to the world, the flesh, and the Devil, but they are close to God. In fact if you look in Psalm 58, which is not far from Psalm 40, if you look in Psalm 58 at how God describes fallen man, how God describes the wicked, Psalm 58 beginning there with verse 3, look what He says, Psalm 58 verse 3, the wicked are estranged from the womb.

[John Weaver] They go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent. They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear, which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely." So that's the way man is by nature. He's deaf to the things of God. He will not hear. He cannot hear.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn to two passages, to Isaiah 48 and then to Isaiah 50. I want to show you a distinction. In Isaiah 48, we're reading about Israel. You'll remember Israel was supposed to be God's servant, supposed to be God's witnesses. Over and over God says you are my witnesses. You are my servants but of course They did not really Serve God nor did they witness for him notice in Isaiah 58 and we're going to read the first seven verses just so you can see the context when I get to verse 8 Notice he says, Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth and in righteousness." So here were people that were professing, but not in truth and not in righteousness. For they call themselves of the Holy City and stay themselves upon the God of Israel.

[John Weaver] The Lord of hosts is his name I've declared the former things from the beginning and they went forth out of my mouth and I showed them and I did them suddenly and they came to pass and Because I knew that thou art obstinate. He's talking to Israel Because I knew that thou art obstinate and thy neck is as an iron sinew and thy brow brass I've even from the beginning declared it to thee before it came to pass I showed it thee the less thou shouldest say Mine idol hath done them and my graven image and my molten image hath commanded them thou hast heard see all this and Will not you declare it? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. Now watch, they are created now, and not from the beginning, even before the day when thou heardest them not, lest thou shouldst say, Behold, I knew them. Here it is. Yea, thou hearkenest not. Yea, thou knewest not. Yea, from the time that thine ear was not opened, for I knew that thou wouldst deal very treacherously."

[John Weaver] It was called a transgressor. the womb. So God says their ear was not opened.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look in Isaiah 50, because here now is the perfect servant of Jehovah, perfect servant with the perfect obedience. And I'm going to read just one additional verse just so you can see that this passage is talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. And when I read that one verse you will know that it's applied to Christ in the New Testament. So look in Isaiah 50 beginning there with verse 4. Isaiah 50 verse 4 the Lord God had given me the tongue of the learned That I should know how to speak a word and season him that is weary now watch he waketh morning by morning He waketh mine ear to hear as the learned the Lord God has opened mine ear.

[John Weaver] I And I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. Here it is. I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. And I hid not my face from shame and spitting. So verse six shows you that we're talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. And God had opened his ear. And he said, he waketh morning by morning. He waketh my ear to hear as the learned. Wow. Do you not remember in John chapter 4 and verse 34 Jesus Christ said to his disciples, my meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work. My meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work. Some of you will remember that a number of years back there was a fad that went around among Christians. I disagreed with the fad.

[John Weaver] I didn't like it, but I couldn't stop it. But a lot of people on their jewelry, on their clothes, shirts, hats, would have embroidered WWJD. What would Jesus do? You remember that? Yeah, you had it. I never did like that. Why? Because I could answer it. I know what He would do. He would obey the Father. He would keep the law. I don't have to ask. What would He do? I know exactly what He would do, for the Father sent Him, and He was perfectly obedient.

[John Weaver] Now, since you're in Isaiah, go back to Isaiah 42. Watch it. I'm not making this up. Want you to see it Isaiah 42 and notice if you would please verse 21 We're still talking about the Messiah the Lord Jesus Christ watch it Isaiah 42 verse 21 Look what the Bible says Talking about Christ. The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness sake he that is the Messiah will magnify the law and make it honorable and Now the word magnify there literally means to make great, to promote, to make powerful, and to nourish up. Notice he said he will magnify it and make it honorable. And the word honorable here literally means to make it glorious, honorable, majestic, wide, and noble. Have you ever stopped to think how Jesus Christ made the law glorious? How He magnified it? Stop and think about Galatians 4 verses 4 and 5. But in the fullness of time, when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law. redeem them under the Law that we might receive the adoption of sons."

[John Weaver] Why did Jesus Christ come made under the Law? So that He could magnify it and make it honorable. He obeyed it personally, perfectly, and perpetually. He never, ever violated the Law of God. So here is my question, If our Lord honored the law and magnified it, is it now right for you and I to dishonor it, to disannul it, and to disobey it? It is still God's standard.

[John Weaver] His Word is forever settled in the heavens, and His Word is like Himself immutable. That's why Psalm 119 verse 89 says, Forever, O Lord, is Thy Word settled in the heavens. A large part of our Lord's public ministry especially his atonement, was to magnify the law and to make it honorable. He vindicated the equity of the law. He urged its binding obligations. He sustained its claim. He showed that it could not be violated with impunity, and he demonstrated that the penalty of the law was absolutely just. Now let me show you I want you to turn to the book of Matthew chapter 7 and look at verse 12 Matthew chapter 7 in verse 12 Watch carefully It's interesting that our Lord says this And especially With the latter part Matthew 7 and verse 12 watch carefully Our Lord says, Therefore all

[John Weaver] things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them. And then He says, For this is the law and the prophets. Wow! Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do even to them, for this is the law and the prophets." Now our Lord is not saying that this is the only point of doctrine laid down in the law and the prophets, certainly there is more. But what He is saying is simply this, the Biblical doctrine of charity or the Biblical doctrine of love can be easily explained by demonstrating justice. For instance, he says, therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them.

[John Weaver] So, if I want Francis to respect and honor my wife, I would have to respect and honor his wife. If I don't want James to steal from me, then I don't need to steal from James. If I want Lorraine to help me when I need help, then I need to help her when she needs help. what he is saying. Here is basic justice and this is the Law and the Prophets.

[John Weaver] You remember Romans 13 and verse 10, love worketh no ill to his neighbor. Listen carefully for love is the fulfilling of the law. That is exactly what he is saying in Matthew 7 and verse 12. So you cannot escape the fact that our Lord came to obey the Law.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. I want you to see this passage in light of what I'm going to say. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. Listen carefully. It is impossible to live Holy godly sanctified life apart from the law of God It's impossible The Holy Spirit is the agent in our sanctification Love is the motivation in our sanctification but the law is the direction in our sanctification so the Holy Spirit is Enables us to love the father so that

[John Weaver] we will obey him now. Let me try to illustrate what I'm saying. I Just got through saying there is no sanctification apart from the law of God There is no such thing as a sanctified murderer There's no such thing as a sanctified whoremonger or sanctified faith They're unsanctified. They're unholy. They're ungodly. That's why they do what they're doing. I So, the point I'm trying to make is it is impossible to be sanctified, to be holy, apart from the law of God.

[John Weaver] So, look in 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 3, now watch. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you abstain from fornication.

[John Weaver] Now, I could take you through the Bible and show you several passages where the Bible specifically says this is the will of God. But here is one that is very plain. This is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you abstain from fornication. Now, wait a minute. Fornication would be a violation of the seventh commandment, would it not? Thou shalt not commit adultery. You see fornication is a very broad term. It includes adultery. It includes incest. It includes bestiality. It includes a lot of things. So he says this is the will of God even your sanctification that you should abstain from fornication now watch That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel. That's your body in sanctification and honor Now he gives you a negative, not in the lust of concupiscence even as the Gentiles who know not God.

[John Weaver] In other words, don't live like those who are unsaved. That's not what he's talking about. Then he says that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in the matter or any matter because the Lord is the avenger of all such as we have also forewarned you and testified. For God has not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness. He therefore the despised that the despised not man, but God who has given us his Holy Spirit now, let's go back obviously in verse 3 You violate the seventh commandment when of course you Commit adultery fornication anything like that now skip down to verse 6 that no man go beyond and defraud His brother Wait a minute defraud So if I took a pistol and stuck it to James's head and said, James, give me all your money.

[John Weaver] Now, everybody in this room is going to say that's theft. But what if I'm an unscrupulous individual and I don't stick a gun to his head, but I cheat him and swindle him and still get all his money? Is that theft? Of course. That's that's fraud. So when he's talking about fornication now and adultery, so if you go beyond and you do commit fornication and you do commit adultery, that's not only violating the 7th commandment, that is now violating the 8th commandment.

[John Weaver] You're stealing that which does not belong to you. And then it is also a violation of the 10th commandment, thou shalt not covet. Why would you steal to begin with? Why would you commit fornication to me? Because you're lustful, you're covetous. You want what somebody else has. Moreover, you would have to violate the first commandment before you do all the other. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

[John Weaver] You would have to dethrone God, dethrone yourself and say basically, I don't care what God wants. So right here are the violation of four commandments. And probably all of them because could be dishonoring your father and your mother which would be a violation of the 5th Commandment. In a sense of the word you could violate the 6th Commandment, thou shalt not kill because you could be killing the relationship between a husband and wife or someone else.

[John Weaver] I'm just simply pointing out the fact that cannot live a holy, godly, sanctified life apart from the Law of God." And he says, this is the will of God even your sanctification. Now, one last passage. I want you to look in the book of Hosea chapter 4 and verse 6, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos. Right after the book of Ezekiel you have Daniel, Hosea, and Joel, and Amos. Look at Hosea chapter 4. You see about everybody can quote the first part of Hosea 4 and verse 6, but most people have never understood the latter part of it. So here it is Hosea 4 verse 6, God says, my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Everybody knows that, but watch Because I has rejected knowledge that is you won't listen to me.

[John Weaver] I Will also reject thee that thou shalt be no priest to me. In other words, you can't serve me if you don't listen to me You know that that is simple How the world are we going to serve God and please God if we disobey? But he goes on Seeing thou has forgotten the law of the law of thy God. I will also forget thy children So let me ask you this, what is God's law? God's law is an expression of His will for His people.

[John Weaver] That is how He wants us to live, in obedience. are our children? They are expressions of our will. We wanted them, we had them.

[John Weaver] Now God says if you forget My law which is an expression of My will for your life, then I'll forget your children which is an expression of your will for your life. So, it's the Lex Talionis, it's the Law of Retribution, it's where God makes the punishment fit the crime. And you want to know what's happening in America? We've forgotten the Law of God, God is forgetting our children. It's just that simple. The neglect and disobedience of God's law is no light act. It carries serious consequences.

[John Weaver] The second application of this, if we wish to always do those things that please our Heavenly Father, we must learn to honor and magnify His law and be obedient to it. We must learn to bring the totality of our lives Jesus Christ is our pattern. His obedience is to bring us into obedience to the Father and then our obedience is to shatter and to show forth His obedience. Jesus Christ could truthfully say, for I do always those things that please Him. So here's my questions Can you honestly say as a Christian That you do always those things that please him And everybody's gonna have to say no because we're sinners But could you say it like this I Want I desire to always do those things that please Him. And could you say it like this? I want and I desire to do always those things that please Him. Therefore, I will pray constantly and continually and ask Him to enable me and empower me to bring my life in obedience to Him and in conformity to His Word that I might please Him.

[John Weaver] Jesus Christ is our pattern and it is a perfect pattern. He is our ABCs. We just need to look at Him and put our feet in His footsteps and do as He did and bring honor and glory to the Father. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. We thank you for Jesus Christ, who is our obedience, who is our standard, who is our pattern. And help us, Heavenly Father, to always do those things that please thee. Enable us, empower us. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

[John Weaver] so