|
||||
Christ Assures His Minister (2)
Exodus 3:12
Good News From The Redeemer
Sermon by Pastor Daniel Parks
Radio Message #314 ~ April 8, 2000
Christ assures His gospel ministers in the same manner in which He assured Moses (see preceding message). Moses was on Mount Sinai when Christ called him to his ministry. Gospel ministers are on Mount Zion when Christ calls them to their ministry. (Mount Zion in the New Testament is the spiritual antitype of Mount Sinai [Hebrews 12:18-24]).
And as Christ gave to Moses two signs, or tokens given to insure faith or demonstrate authority, so has He done to gospel ministers. The sign given to demonstrate Moses' authority was the miracles he was to perform before his hearers (4:29-31; 7:8-13). Likewise, Christ gave such a sign to be exercised in the apostolic era (Mark 16:17f): "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." These signs were special credentials Christ gave to His apostles (2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:3f), and consequently ceased when their ministries were completed.
But we here are concerned with the other sign, that given to insure Moses' faith. It is cited in Exodus 3:12: "And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."
This sign may be applied to gospel preachers.
1. This sign as applied to gospel preachers is founded upon the premise that they will deliver Christ's people from spiritual bondage. (This sign as given to Moses was founded upon the premise that he would liberate Christ's people from physical bondage.) Christ says to them, "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (John 20:21). And concerning the manner in which the Father sent Him, Christ says "the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; … to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound" (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:16-18). Christ's ministers will do the same.
Gospel preachers will therefore be instrumental in liberating God's elect from every form of spiritual bondage. i. Gospel preachers liberate Christ's people from bondage to Satan (2 Timothy 2:26): no longer will they be in the "snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." ii. Gospel preachers liberate Christ's people from bondage to sin (Romans 6:6ff): no longer will they be "slaves of sin" (cp. 1 Peter 4:1-3). iii. Gospel preachers liberate Christ's people from bondage to the law (Romans 7:1-6): no longer will it have "dominion over [them]" (cp. Romans 8:1-4; 10:4; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 2:14-19). iv. Gospel preachers liberate Christ's people from bondage to human religion (Colossians 2:20-23): no longer will they be "subject" to its "regulations" (cp. 1 Timothy 4:1-6; 2 Timothy 3:1-7).
2. This sign as applied to gospel preachers assures them that every one they liberate will serve Christ on Mount Zion. (This sign as given to Moses assured him that every one whom he liberated would serve Christ on Mount Sinai .) "And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on the heads" (Isaiah 35:10). Every soul liberated by the preachers of Christ shall come to serve Him on His earthly Mount Zion (Hebrews 12:22-24), and afterward on the heavenly Mount Zion (Revelation 14:1-5). Not a single one of the redeemed will fail to do so - for this is Christ's sign to His gospel preachers. (Those preachers who aver that the redeemed may lose their salvation, and therefore stand in jeopardy of failing to come to Christ in His heavenly Zion, are witnesses against themselves that they are not ministers of Christ!)
3. This sign emboldens gospel preachers at every obstacle confronting them (just as it emboldened Moses). They must present the bride of Christ spotless before Him on the heavenly Zion (2 Corinthians 11:2). But many obstacles face them in the performance of this ministry (as in 2 Corinthians 11:23ff). They face every obstacle emboldened with the sign Christ has given to them, and therefore declare, "I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (2 Timothy 2:10).
Your servant for Jesus' sake.
Address all questions to pastor
Daniel E. Parks (2 Corinthians 4:5) e-mail RedeemerBC@aol.com
Pastor, Redeemer Baptist Church
2801 Cleveland Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40206 / 502.899-9205
 |
| Gregory Ickes - WebMaster |
|---|
| www.norwich.net/surety |
| Sherburne, NY |
| Chenango County |
