Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 4 February 2024
God Is Jealous
Scripture References: Exodus 20:1-17, Psalms 54:1-7, James 4:4-10
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CloseThere is nothing, and no-one, like God. He is holy – unique, one-of-a-kind. And he should be, and must be, known like this. He will not allow his significance (his glory) be given to another, or any other thing. In this sense, God made the world, and placed humans in the world bearing his image, to declare this truth to the universe. As humans sinned, God committed through the family of Abraham to restore his significance through the world. This is at the heart of his saving of his people from Egypt. This is at the heart of making his covenant with his now-saved people at Mount Sinai. This is at the heart of his commandments which enable his people to represent him to the world. And this is at the heart of the attribute of ‘jealousy’ – God is passionate for his covenantal relationship with his people, because it declares his significance to the world. When God’s people aren’t so passionate, so wholehearted, so devoted, then what are they saying about their God?
Scripture References: Exodus 20:1-17, Psalms 54:1-7, James 4:4-10
From Series: Service - Sunday Morning, God is ... | More Messages from Bernard Gabbott | Download Audio
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The Resurrection | Dan Rowe | Sunday, 10 March 2024 | Kids Talk | Watch | Listen |
Judgement and Justice | Stephen Bailey | Sunday, 25 February 2024 | Kids Talk | Watch | Listen |
God Is Jealous | Bernard Gabbott | Sunday, 4 February 2024 | Kids Talk | Watch | Listen |
God Is Just | Bernard Gabbott | Sunday, 28 January 2024 | Kids Talk | Watch | Listen |
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God is Holy | Bernard Gabbott | Sunday, 7 January 2024 | Kids Talk | Watch | Listen |
Jesus has finally made it to Jerusalem. As Matthew prepares us for His entry into Jerusalem, he helps us confront Jesus’ authority, and the way in which it restores the concern of God for the outsider, and confronts the insider. This is the start of the Passover week. Jerusalem is a roiling maelstrom of religious and political fervour. And Matthew organises the narrative of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem around displays of His authority, rooted in recognition of His ‘old power’ – four Old Testament quotations structure the passage. As we come face-to-face with Jesus’ authority, three truths stand out. First, Jesus’ authority is extensive and all-encompassing. Second, Jesus’ authority is for the outsider, and rooted in God’s deep commitment to bring the outsider inside His kingdom. And, third, Jesus authority confronts the insider, and urges them to repentance. Come and meet Jesus, the King, in all His authority, as He enters Jerusalem!
What is greatness? In particular, what is greatness in the kingdom of God? That is the question addressed in the passage from Matthew today. Jesus is approached by two different groups. First, the family of Zebedee: James and John and their mother. Second, two blind men. Jesus asks both groups the same question “What do you want me to do for you?” What they request is quite revealing. And so is Jesus’ response to their requests. The Zebedees request position, status, reward for effort. The blind men request mercy, for their eyes to be open. Which request lines up with Jesus’ teaching previously? Which request do we tend to go to ourselves?
The Department of Home Affairs has an Australian Values Statement on its website. Visa applicants for residency/citizenship must sign this. And one of its key principles is that we are a ‘fair-go’ country. We would all agree with that. I suspect, too, that we would summarise our ‘fair go’ culture by stating that ‘you get what you deserve/what you work for’. In fact, many of us have established our relational, social and work ethics on this very principle. But is that what the ‘kingdom of heaven is like’? What is its value statement? What is the hallmark of such a kingdom, and its ruler, even its citizenship? Today, after Jesus has assured his disciples that the dependent will be provided for by their king, he now uses the same ideas to issue with them a warning not to abuse, misuse, ignore or become entitled in the face of the kingdom of heaven hallmark—which is grace.
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