03 lights.of.the.world

Session # 3: A Community Lights of the World Jeremiah 35:14 “ Lights that Cannot be Hidden”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer “ When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer “ When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Matt. 16: 24-26 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever losses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Jeremiah 35:14 Lights of the World

Jeremiah 35: 1-2
A People Apart This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: 2 "Go to the Recabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the LORD and give them wine to drink."

Who are the Recabites?
The Recabites were a nomadic clan (35:7-10) descended from “Jonadab [or Jehonadab] son of Recab” (v. 6)
assisted Jehu in exterminating Baal worship from Israel (2 Kings 10:15-27)
They were related to the Kenites (1 Chron. 2:54-55) who descended from Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro (Judg. 1:16)
Jonadab Ben Recad rejected a settled way of life for the life of a nomad, and his lifestyle became the norm for his clan (Jer. 35:6-10).

Jeremiah 35: 3-5
A People Apart So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons--the whole family of the Recabites. 4 I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the room of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah the man of God. It was next to the room of the officials, which was over that of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper. 5 Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the men of the Recabite family and said to them, "Drink some wine."

Jeremiah 35: 6-11
A People Apart But they replied, "We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jonadab son of Recab gave us this command: `Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. 7 Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.' 8 We have obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab son of Recab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine 9 or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. 10 We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab commanded us. 11 But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded this land, we said, `Come, we must go to Jerusalem to escape the Babylonian and Aramean armies.' So we have remained in Jerusalem."

Who are the Recabites?
The four prohibitions of the Recabites
shall not drink wine
shall not build a house
shall not sow a seed
shall not plant or own a vineyard
traveled in the wilderness of the Negev (Judg. 1:16; 1 Sam. 15:6)
were iron-monger, artisans dealing with iron or even makers of chariots
the ‘family secrets’ of iron making
keep this secret within the family, they are forbidden to drink vine and become nomadic.

Jeremiah 35: 3-5
A People Apart Solomon’s temple

Jeremiah 35: 12-16
A People Apart Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying: 13 "This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem, `Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?' declares the LORD. 14 `Jonadab son of Recab ordered his sons not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather's command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. 15 Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, "Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your fathers." But you have not paid attention or listened to me. 16 The descendants of Jonadab son of Recab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.'

A People Apart "Therefore, this is what the LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: `Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.' " JER 35:18 Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Recabites, "This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: `You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.' 19 Therefore, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: `Jonadab son of Recab will never fail to have a man to serve me.' " Jeremiah 35: 17-19

A People Apart I. The test of the Recabites (vv 1–11) A. The Lord’s command (vv 1–2) B. Jeremiah’s obedient response (vv 3–4) C. The test (v 5) D. The testimony of the Recabite lifestyle (vv 6–10) E. The reason for the Recabite presence in Jerusalem (v 11) II. Prose oracle against the Israelites (vv 12–17) A. Contrast between the Recabites and faithless Judah (vv 12–16) B. The word of judgment (v 17) III. An oracle of promise for the Recabites (vv 18–19) An object lesson

Lights of the World An object lesson

Eugene Peterson The essence of Jeremiah’s message is this; “You also have a father who has commanded you to live in total relationship to him. You know that he has set you apart to a life of love. Why don’t you live in response to it? If you think it is because ordinary, mortal human beings can’t do it, think again. The Recabites are ordinary, mortal human beings and they have been doing it for 250 years Lights of the World

Eugene Peterson You also have a way of life that requires a certain disciplines to maintain its character. The disciplines involve you in making specific decisions about the way you live: regular worship, faithful prayer, tithing and caring for the poor, moral conduct and the pursuit of righteousness. Now, why don’t you do it? If you think that it is too rigorous a life for ordinary mortal human beings, think again. The Recabites are ordinary mortal humans, and they have been doing it for 250 years. Lights of the World

A People Apart
The four prohibitions of the Recabites
shall not drink wine
shall not build a house
shall not sow a seed
shall not plant or own a vineyard
Recabites’ Distinctive What are Christians’ Distinctive ?

Christians’ Distinctive
people whose passion is to please God and to serve Him
1 Timothy 2:3-6 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth . 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time. Lights of the World autonomy, purpose, mastery Knowing God/ Character of Christ

I feel His pleasure PASSION

Unless the eye catches fire The God will not be seen. Unless the ear catches fire The God will not be heard. Unless the tongue catches fire The God will not be named. Unless the heart catches fire The God will not be loved. Unless the mind catches fire The God will not be known. Passion

people who are saved, worshipful and prayerful
John 3:19-21 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light , so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." Lights of the World autonomy, purpose, mastery Character/ Christlikeness

people who knows the Word of God
Matt. 4:4 MT 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " Lights of the World autonomy, purpose, mastery logos

exegesis

eisegesis

Dietrich Bonhoeffer “ Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession…Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living incarnate” The Cost of Discipleship

people who loves the people of God
John 13: 34 Jesus said 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Lights of the World autonomy, purpose, mastery character

people who love those people who do not know God
Matt. 5:43-48 43 "You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Lights of the World autonomy, purpose, mastery witness

people who live their lives with integrity
MT 5:33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your `Yes' be `Yes,' and your`No,' `No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Lights of the World autonomy, purpose, mastery character politics

people who experience joy
John 15: 9-11 9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. Lights of the World autonomy, purpose, mastery character TG

people who are free
John 8: 32-36 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." JN 8:33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" JN 8:34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Lights of the World autonomy, purpose, mastery character medium

people whose passion is to please God and to serve Him
people who are saved, worshipful and prayerful
people who know the Word of God
people who love the people of God
people who love those people who do not know God
people who live their lives with integrity
people who experience joy
people who are free
Lights of the World autonomy, purpose, mastery

Eph 4:3

Discussion
What are some of the ways we can help (a) ourselves, and (b) one another to become and remain bright lights that shine for Christ?
How will your lights shine for Christ in your communities?

autonomy, purpose, mastery

What is the basis to be lights that shine for Christ in your communities?

LOVE MT 22:37 Jesus replied: " `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

“ Lights that Cannot be Hidden” PASSION for pleasing God and fulfilling His purposes LOVE for God, self and other people

“ Lights that Cannot be Hidden” PASSION for pleasing God and fulfilling His purposes LOVE for God, self and other people Church Community

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03 lights.of.the.world

by Alex Tang on Dec 10, 2010

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03 lights.of.the.world — Presentation Transcript