Week 3: A Godly Obsession
Rev. Dr. Dirk Rodgers, Executive Pastor
Bethany Church
Sermon Notes: Week 3: The Ten Suggestions? — A Godly Obession
1. Obsessed with His Presence
The Third Commandment:
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone ______ who misuses his name.” Deuteronomy 5:11
God first reveals His name to Moses:
“God said to Moses, “I AM ______ . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14
“This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from ______ to ______.” Exodus3:15b
- God is giving a gift to His people, a sign of His presence, a name that would remind them that God is there, wherever they are, no matter how difficult the circumstances, God is. He is there for them.
- In Hebrew, this word translated here as “I AM” consists of four letters, which we would recognize as Y – H – W – H.
- God’s name is a symbol of Himself. If you misuse His name, you are attempting to abuse Him.
So how do we misuse God’s Name?
“Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of ______ to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD.” Jeremiah7:9-11.
We misuse God’s name anytime that we disregard His holy presence among us.
“In the path of your judgments, O LORD, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the ______ of our soul.” (Isaiah 26:8, ESV)
Imagine the healing that would come to our world if we were all obsessed with God’s presence among us!
2. Obsessed with His Purpose
The Fourth Commandment:
“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it ______, as the LORD your God has commanded you.” Deuteronomy 5:12
“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the ______ day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do.” Deuteronomy 5:13-14
“Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a ______ hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.” Deuteronomy 5:15
Above all else, the Sabbath reminds us of God’s creative purposes among us. We rest because we cannot do God’s work.
What about the Sabbath today?
“Then he said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is ______ even of the Sabbath.'” Mark 2:27-28
The Sabbath was a symbol of the salvation that was to come, a salvation that Jesus has accomplished. We are entirely dependent upon His work.
Imagine the healing that would come to our world if we were all obsessed with God’s work! He is recreating us in the image of His Son.
Connect Group Discussion Guide: Week 3 —A Godly Obsession
OPENING
What kind of obsessions do you have? What causes these obsessions?
GOING DEEPER
- Look at again at the Third Commandment. How do you think that we misuse God’s name?
- Why is God offended when we misuse His name?
- How would our lives change if we were obsessed with God’s presence among us?
- Look again at the Fourth Commandment. What was the purpose of the Sabbath?
- How has Jesus fulfilled the purpose of the Sabbath?
- How would our lives change if we were obsessed with God purpose to re-create us in the image of His Son?
CHALLENGE
- What changes will we make in our lives to become more obsessed with God’s presence and His purpose?
- Continue to memorize the first four commandments with your family and your Connect Group.