Sermon Notes PDF “You must not worship the LORD your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go…” (Deut. 12:4-5) Where Mankind Meets with God In Deuteronomy 12, God promises to designate a place of worship (only one) for Israel to come and meet with him. This appointed place (Shiloh and then Jerusalem) ultimately served as a signpost to an anointed person (King Jesus). Today the Holy God meets with sinful man only through the person of Jesus Christ. In Christ, and in Christ alone, is found all the blessings of the temple of old: for wrongdoings, a real brotherhood and , and true with joyous feasts in the presence of God. Pointing Forward to King Jesus 12:1-3. Moses again repeats the command for Israel to destroy all sites and images of false worship. History proves that Israel failed in this endeavor. Jesus fulfills this command by claiming victory over the powers and authorities behind these idols by his death on the cross. (Colossians 2:15) 12:4-7. God promises to choose one designated place for worship. This contrasts with the practice of the Canaanites who conveniently worshiped on every hill, mountain, and under every spreading tree. This appointed ultimately served as a signpost to an -King Jesus. (John 14:6) 12:12. Moses commands rejoicing before the LORD three times in this chapter (vv. 7,12,18). Rejoicing was, and always will be, a necessary component of proper worship. (I Thess. 5:16) 12:15-28. Understanding that many will live far away from the place of worship, God allows the Israelites to kill and eat animals in their own hometowns, except the animals and food designated for burnt offering and sacrifice. 12:16. The blood of animals, the life of the animal itself, was given special significance as a cleansing agent against sin. The blood of animals was a signpost to the blood of Christ, the life of the divine man himself, as the only sufficient cleansing agent against sin. (Heb. 9:13-14) 12:29-32. Israel is commanded to avoid even inquiring about Canaanite religion lest they be enticed to worship in false ways. Detestable sexual practices and child sacrifice (possibly the children of the temple prostitutes) were gross markers of pagan worship in the Ancient Near East. 13:1-5. God recognizes that false prophets will abuse their good gift (foretelling the future) to entice Israel into worshipping false gods. Such prophets must be put to death to protect Israel from idolatry. 13:6-11. Possibly the most striking of commands thus far in Deuteronomy, God commands even close family members to be put to death who entice others to worship idols. The punishment of the few is for the ultimate protection of the many. 13:12-18. Idolatrous towns would make Israel guilty of the same sin as the Canaanites before them and thus deserving of the same punishment – destruction. Meeting God in King Jesus “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?” (John 14:9-10) . You will always find God when you to Jesus as King. • Surrender – reorienting your life around the teachings of Jesus. Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”(John 14:23-24) Develop unshakable that Jesus is the Way because of what happened on the . “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” (I Cor. 15:3-8) Love the but put your faith in . “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:29-30) Be on your . Many will influence you to the Way. “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:29-30) Throw no . Launch an all-out rescue mission to the dead. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Eph. 2:4-5) The Blessings of the Temple Found in Christ Three times annually the people of Israel made a pilgrimage to the temple of God. The blessings they found at the temple were abundant and today may be found in Jesus Christ. Sacrifice for sin: “For by one sacrifice he [Jesus] has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Heb. 10: 14) A brotherhood and sisterhood: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (I Cor. 15:27) Celebration in the presence of God: And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (Rev. 19:9) Your notes: