THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ~ Part 1
6/22/08 ~ AM
Pastor Brad Dyrness
Sparks Nazarene Church
Long before David Letterman and his late night antics, there was a top
ten list – one not created to make us laugh, but to give us life
God’s Top Ten list - The Ten Commandments, given to Moses by God on Mt. Sinai, represent the most famous arrangement of absolute truth in the history of Humanity. Josh McDowell
We live in a time when
right is classified as wrong and wrong as right. Just as in the days of
"What’s right for you may not be right for me."
"If it feels good do it."
"Anything goes."
" Nothing is right or wrong. There are just different opinions?"
All of this is the result of the feeling that there is no absolute standard.
62% of professing Christians said that there was no absolute
standard of right and wrong.
"We stake the future of this country on our ability to govern ourselves under the principles of the Ten Commandments." President James Madison
Let’s look into these ancient Laws and see why life cannot exist without them! Why they are still a practical standard for life for modern man.
1. Reveal God’s Character --Deuteronomy 5:22-28
The laws He gives flow out of who He is!
Ø Worship Him alone – because all other Gods are idols, but the Lord made the heavens and the earth. --Psalm 96:5
Ø Don’t Murder – because God is the author, preserver and governor of Life --Acts 3:15
Ø Don’t lie – because He is a God of Truth --Titus 1:2
Ø Be faithful to your marriage vows – because God is Faithful to His vows to us. --1Corinthians 10:13
His commandments are an invitation to experience God’s character.
2. Provide for God’s People.
a. Foundation for right and wrong –
It is impossible to arrive at an objective, universal and constant standard of truth and morality without bringing God on stage!
b.
They also provide us with Blessings
c.
They provide us with a true picture of
who we are
d.
They provide us with a Heritage – as God’s people. Psalm
147:19-20;
e.
A standard God’s people follow.
f.
Lift us up
on Eagles wings
3. Protect us from…
a. Drifting. --Judges 21:25
There is NO doubt that we are in a storm of moral decay.
When we set the standard it changes with every storm
that passes over – when we live by God’s standard we have a
foundation to BUILD on!
b. Consequences – Have you ever heard the phrase:
“The only safe sex is to save sex?”
From the very first encounter with man, God has put into place the truth - that Actions Have Consequences
þ Know Him - to be…
þ Protected by Him - and to …
þ Receive from Him.