Sermon Notes & Videos
2022-05-13 | Leviticus 21-24 | Make Your Light OR Let Your Light SO Shine
What is it about light that everyone loves, especially light that emanates from fire? In today’s reading, we witness how Yahweh instructed Moses to fashion a lampstand, and a light that is meant to burn continually.
When we leap forward to the days of Y’Shua, and His words in the Sermon on the Mount, He reveals that we are that “light of the world” meant to burn continually. This, undoubtedly, is our call to ministry. It’s a call for His disciples birthed directly from an intimate, deep and powerful relationship with Him, not a choice made from the intellect. Unfortunately, this authentic call is not always what we see today, as those “in ministry” are oftentimes self-assigned and self-empowered!
We are called to “let our lights SO shine” not “make our lights SO shine.” We are not called to be the source of light, but instead the conduit of His light. Over the centuries, the more diverse and specialized Christian denominations have become, the more reflective they’ve become of their own light, and subsequently less representative of His light and thus less impactful.
A lighthouse exists on a coastline for a specific purpose, to guide those who are seeking entrance inland, and in some instances in times of an emergency. Look around; presently the world is in a “State of Emergency!” People are frantic and in need of a beacon of light to guide them, as they near an ever-increasing tumultuous coastline. They are desperate to find their way inland. And now I leave you with this critical decision; will you “Make” or “Let” your light SO shine? One will save them; the other will end in shipwreck.
2022-05-06 | Leviticus 19-20 | Gray is the Original Google
Oh my how things have changed. Many cultures have shifted away from venerating their aged population, and moved toward esteem for their young. We have become child-centric with the vast majority of our attention invested in the activities, opinions, interests and desires of youth.
Yet, the Scriptures paint a very different priority. God’s word demands that considerably more emphasis be placed on the gray-headed generation. And it becomes strikingly obvious that this attention is not simply because they need to be provided for in their old age. Rather, it is a directive to revere the older generation with such honor, as if their silver locks were a crown of glory.
That’s right, the gray hair that adorns the heads of our elders is likened to wisdom and understanding, a crown of glory if it is found atop those practicing righteousness. But instead, the superficiality of today’s common culture has inspired our sages to cover up the “splendor of old age” with dyes and treatments.
Somehow we have descended into the “me generation.” This is a whole crop of entitled young people who can’t resist “selfie everything.” Every Instagram post, every complaining Tweet, every silly TikTok, and practically every photo opportunity is about self. As such, it should be no surprise that they’ve left behind the connection to and reverence for the silver generation. It has rapidly declined into the practice of, “ask Google everything and let the wisdom of a dying age die with them.”
It used to be we would sit at the feet of our elders, gleaning their wisdom and advice; they are the original Google. If you needed to know something, anything, they are where you searched. Remember those who came before you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith you should emulate, as you consider the years of experience resulting in what you see in them. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in them, these things learn from them and do. Let us never forget how the Scriptures equate the gray hair of the aged to the wisdom of the ages! Your life just might depend on it; Solomon thought so! “The way of life winds upward for the wise, that he may turn away from hell below.”
2022-04-29 | Leviticus 16-18 | Alter Ego
Two identical goats are selected on Yom Kippur to be considered for the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the people. Soon after, one goat becomes that sin offering. It’s easy to see the shed blood of Christ in the imagery of this sacrificial goat. “And He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” And the other, the scapegoat, is set loose, freed into the wilderness, kept alive for another purpose. Who does the imagery of this scapegoat represent?
Y’shua prophesied of a type of “identical goat” in His last sermon before He was arrested; “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” There He was; about to cover the sins of the world with His blood. But also, right in front of Him was another image. It looked exactly like Him. Yet, this one sheds no blood and is instead sent off into the wilderness. Why?
The prophetic revelation is crowning with imminent birth. One sheds His blood as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world—that’s Christ. The other, created in the same image, is sent off into the wilderness carrying an assignment. Who is being transformed into the image and stature of Christ, and what is his assignment in the wilderness? It’s impossible to ignore Isaiah’s words in search of an answer. “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Isaiah identified the assignment, and Y’shua identified the image of His identical goat. “The glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one.” We are to be perfect in one with Christ, His identical image, His alter ego. An alter ego is another version of oneself, a person who behaves so similarly to another that the difference is unrecognizable. Are you one with Christ, indistinguishable from Him, His alter ego, His scapegoat? He promised we’d do greater things, be His ambassadors through whom He is pleading? He is finished for now; it’s time to complete your assignment. Are you ready? “Go therefore!”
2022-04-22 | Deuteronomy 14-16 | Learn to Fear Yahweh
Fears—everyone has them. The very thing I’ll be doing immediately after Dr. Jeff’s introduction is the number one fear I found when I researched “things people fear the most.” Yes, public speaking is considered a “social phobia” and it tops the list of things that people fear the most. It’s hard to imagine considering the competition: death, poverty, loss of a loved one, sharks, etc. Interestingly enough however, is that nowhere on the list of things people fear the most is the “fear of the Lord.” Sure, not everyone surveyed was a professing believer, but since the study was conducted in the United States, where the majority of people still claim Christianity as their faith, it should have had some influence on their responses. I pray “fear of the Lord” missed the list because of a proper understanding of what it really means, awe and reverence for a holy God; may it always be.
But I have a strong suspicion that is not the case at all, especially if we observe the lives of most church attendees. If what is easily observable is any representation of how most “professing Christians” really feel about Yahweh, then I’d say self-deception is much more prevalent than awe and reverence. A sad commentary for sure, and I shudder when I think about what God views as lip service. Y’shua said this of religious hypocrites, as He affirmed the words of the prophet Isaiah; “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” Self- deception is much more common than we would like to admit and, as you can see, we are not alone; both the children of Israel and first-century leaders suffered from the same character defect.
One of the hardest things to do in our daily walk with Christ is to recognize the areas in ourselves that require attention. These are classically things we like to avoid, often painful things.
Unfortunately, these are the sins in our lives that ought to be addressed promptly, but instead we oftentimes minimize them, saying, “I’m not perfect; I’m just a human.” Of course you are human! But that should be no excuse for Christians, as you are no longer “just human”. You are now human with a heart possessed by God. My prayer for you today is you put aside your defense mechanisms and let God’s word be the spiritual scalpel He designed it to be, one that is “sharper than any two edged sword.”
2022-04-15 | KEM Passover Haggadah | Passover — Question Everything
Sermon Notes | Passover Seder Video - Part 1 | Passover Seder Video - Part 2
The Haggadah—the Telling
When your children ask, what will you tell them? What happens when an entire generation separates from its roots, forgets their heritage, and has no recollection from where they came? Yahweh built reminders into the culture of His people to deter that from happening, but unfortunately it has. God’s people disconnected from the original roots of their faith, surrendered to common culture, and adopted the traditions of the world around them. In other words, they detached themselves from their true roots and attached themselves to the fake roots of this world.
Do not love the world or the things of the world, John the disciple warned. Are you guilty of committing the same crimes Y’shua accused the religious hypocrites of, in His day, “making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down?” I fear, if asked, like those religious hypocrites, too many Christians could offer no defense!
“How so?” you might be thinking. Look around, especially during the holiday seasons, and you will see the majority of Christians flocking to celebrate manmade holidays, steeped in pagan traditions. But when their children ask, “What do you mean by this service?” Or, “What is the meaning of the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the Lord our God has commanded you?” Or, “What do these stones mean to you?” They will have no biblical answer because they have been carried away in “making the word of God of no effect through their tradition which they have now handed down to their children.”
It’s sad that if Y’shua was walking the earth today, He’d be asking the same question of religious leaders that He did two thousand years ago. “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” John warned us about loving the things of the world, “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life…” May we, as the Body of Christ, run from such things. And the next time your children ask, this is what you will answer; “It’s the Passover; we were slaves and now we are free; let your children tell their children, and their children the next generation. It is a memorial forever.”
Or, you can say, “Go find your painted eggs and chocolate Easter bunnies. Fill your baskets; this is now how we remember the death, burial and resurrection of our blessed Savior.” It’s sad we have fallen so far. I don’t know about you, “But as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh!”
2022-04-08 | Exodus 10-13 | Preparation Day (Passover – Question Everything)
Over the years, I have learned that asking questions is a powerful way to engage with people on a deeper level. When I was younger, and much more impetuous, I thought arguing with people was an effective way to convince them they were missing something. I was very wrong and it was a tough lesson. But, as I’ve grown older, and my hair has become filled with silver, I’ve come to realize there’s a much better way.
Paul used the Hebraic technique of asking questions quite often, and he has stirred the imagination of Christians for two thousand years. Check out a few of his many in I Corinthians 9:
- Who ever goes to war at his own expense?
- Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit?
- Do I say these things as a mere man?
- Does not the law say the same also? A quick review of Paul’s greatest “Theological Treatise” in Romans, and you will discover that he asks at least 75 different questions! Here are a mouthful to chew on:
-
- “What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way!
- “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”
- “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
- “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!”
- “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not!”
- “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Y’shua also used questions quite effectively. “Who do men say that I am?” challenged Peter to come to a Spirit-inspired conclusion; it was a provocative question for sure. “The Son of God…the Messiah,” he was forced to confess.
However, what might be the most provocative question of all, is one that Y’shua leaves the conclusion for you to discover. “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?” I want you to draw your attention to this question, but not before contemplating His remarkable declaration earlier in the same sermon. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Before we go, I would like to ask you a few provocative questions of my own, about Y’shua’s remarkable statement: “What is the Gospel of the Kingdom?” and “What is the end?” Please don’t be too hasty to offer an answer. Give it some serious thought. Consider that I’d not likely ask if the answer was simple. I’ll give you one hint however; think about the title of this sermon.