The House You're Building

  Introduction This week we will encounter another familiar section of Exodus, the 10 commandments.  Many people, including those who aren’t religious, are familiar with these commandments.  For example, most would agree that theft and murder are wrong.  Yet beyond these 10 moral statements, we will read about more detailed and specific laws.  At first glance, many may seem to not apply to God followers today.     This brings the reader to consider what commands and covenants are good for?  Let’s consider God’s words from chapter 19 to set up our study today.  In a summary statement in verses 5-6 set the tone for all that is to follow.     Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for the earth is mine,  and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Exodus 19:5-6    A theme ...

Key Verse: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:15-17 ESV)   In John 12:32-33, Jesus explained He knew His hour, for He knew when and how He would die.   In John 2:4, 7:30, and 8:20 among others, we see that though Jesus was asked to do miracles and people were conspiring to control His ministry, His hour had not yet come so they were powerless; this same hour is recorded in 13:31 as the hour that has finally come for God to be glorified.     How is God glorified? God has a plan for Jesus, a mission for Him on earth.   Just as He came into Jerusalem on a donkey, signifying peace, God’s plan in this hour is that Jesus will usher in ultimate peace.   Not a peace on earth, though that ...