Yeah. th th you. Yeah. th th So, That's cool. Yeah. you Well, good morning. If everyone want to get their seats. Sorry, I missed a few people that I have not said hello to and I see there's new visitors here on this side too. Welcome to you. And then we also have George and Kida. Hesslinger, apparently you were members here many years ago and I heard that you're gonna move this coming week, two weeks. Well, we hope everything with the move will go well and that your transition will be smooth. You know, they always say if you don't believe in the existence of Satan, just move, right? We'll pray that everything will go well. Also, Let me see here. They are Dwayne. It's good to have you here in the back. It's the neighbor of Gene. And so welcome to you, and then we remember we announced the family that we are helping. They are also in the back, Richard and Catherine. It's good to have you here with us this morning again. Continue to pray for their situation. Catherine has found a job. We're very thankful for that. So there's some other needs, and if you want to know more about that, you can come and talk to me after the service. Then, when it comes to prayer requests, I just had one that we want to add to our prayers, and that is Pat Caldwell, her sister Barbara, who lives in Virginia, was admitted to the hospital with lightheadedness and difficulty to speak, apparently not a stroke, but they will have to figure out what is going on. Then, when it comes to this week's schedule, we still have our last class on church history, and so Ryan came to me and said there's a tropical depression that is coming in that they are predicting, so I think this is what we're going to do. I have not had a chance to talk to Joe and David, but I'm sure you'll be okay. Jim says he's okay with that. If the school is closed on Wednesday because of the depression, we're not going to have Bible study. Then you will record it and you will still put it up on the website so you can still listen to that last lesson. But if the schools are not closed, we will continue to have our Bible study. Then, remember, we will start with our formal reset schedule the week after this week, in other words, the 6th. The session took the liberty to change the name, Reset. And I don't know if you're going to like it or not, but so be it. We're just going to call it Midweek at Grace. So in the future, we'll talk about midweek at grace. We're going to start with a fellowship meal on the 6th, so we're not going to have any Bible studies. But on the 13th, we will have our normal meals and then still have our Bible studies following our meals. I want to make this announcement and ask the ladies, even if you have not in the past come to Bible study, please come on the 6th. Lydia would like to speak to the women to just get some ideas and thoughts about the women in the church, and some ideas and planning that we've made for the rest of the year. We wanted to share that with you. So on the 6th, after the meal, we will get the ladies, you'll get the ladies together. And so if you have not come in the past, please come just for that one time that we could discuss this. And perhaps you like it so much, you will start coming on Wednesday nights. You know, it's sometimes difficult to get out of the rut of, you know, just your normal routine. Please consider it again. Fellowship of the believers are so important. Even with our prayer meetings this morning, we prayed again that more people will come and join us in the prayer room. It's the conference room every Sunday morning. We are about a handful of people, six people or so, seven people that prayed. But if you can make it, come and join us. There's so many things that we pray for, and you and I know nothing in the church can happen, nothing in our lives can happen if we don't pray about it. We hope to see you there. Then, remember, we put the information about Tom Connor's memorial service in the bulletin, so you can find it there, and I think that is about it. We will soon make changes, and I say that, and I know I am the guilty one, that we don't start on time, but we will soon make announcements exactly how we're going to change our morning service, but we'll do that another time. So let us take time now as we prepare ourselves for worship. you you you you Let us stand as God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the one and only true God, now calls us into his presence to worship him. I ask you this morning, congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ, how is it possible for us to enter now into the presence of the Almighty God? We have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he inaugurated for us through the veil that is his flesh. And we have a great priest over the house of God. Thus we are to draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith. Oh, sing to the Lord a new song. Sing to the Lord all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name, tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. He is to be feared above all gods, for all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Let us all pray together. Our Father in heaven, we come to you this morning knowing it is only because of the merits of Jesus Christ and his perfect righteousness that we may come into your presence to worship you. Give us this morning a clear sense of who you are in all of your splendor and majesty. because we want to worship you, Lord, in the splendor of your holiness. We praise you because you are mighty, powerful, loving, kind. You are majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders. Help us to rise up as a worshiping bride. Help us to know deep in your hearts that you listen to our prayers. would you break through the dry, hard areas of our church life, teach us to align ourselves with your greatness, and give us more and more a biblical way of looking at life. In Jesus' name, amen. Let us sing that same psalm, Psalm 96. Sing unto the Lord a new song. Sing unto the Lord a new song, sing to him, O all the earth. Bless the name of God forever, sing salvation's wondrous worth. Tell His glory to the nations of His wondrous anthems raised. He is Lord of all creation, great and greatly to be praised. Father, God's aid has availed, There is none beside the Lord. In his prowing strength and splendor, God exalted and adored. Give him glory, all ye people, give him glory, do his name. In his temple, as an offering, all his power and might proclaim. God in holy beauty, Thou before His throne in clear, Now proclaim among the nations His dominion ever near. The earth was founded, and it never may be moved. In his word is justice grounded, and his righteousness be proved. Let the heavens shout rejoicing. And the earth in joy aflame. Let the sea in thunder praise him, Field and forest now acclaim. ♪ For the Lord, the Lord is coming ♪ ♪ Let the earth resound again ♪ ♪ To his people he is calling ♪ ♪ In his righteousness to reign ♪ You may take your seat. Turn with me to Exodus chapter 20 as we listen to God's commandments. And as my habit is, I'll continue to number it for the sake of our young ones, that we learn the commandments off the top of our heads. Exodus chapter 20. Then God spoke all these words, saying, I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. That was the first commandment. The second commandment, you shall not make for yourself an idol or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers, on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing loving kindness to thousands, to those who love me and keep my commandments. The third commandment, you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes his name in vain. The fourth commandment, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God, and ye shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant, or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. And therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. The fifth commandment, honor your father and your mother that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you. The sixth commandment, you shall not murder. The seventh commandment, you shall not commit adultery. The Eighth Commandment, you shall not steal. The Ninth Commandment, you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. And the Tenth Commandment, you shall not covet your neighbor's house, you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Let's take time now to reflect on these commandments and our obedience to the Lord. And after a while of reflection, I will lead us in prayer of confession. Our Father and our God, as You have brought Your people Israel out of the slavery of Egypt, so You have brought us as Your people out of the slavery of Satan. You brought us into the kingdom of Your Son from the darkness into light. You have made us a new people in Christ. And yet, Lord, we have sinned against You time and time again. You know our hearts. You know our struggle to be the holy people that you have made us. For what we are doing, we do not understand. For we are not practicing what we would like to do, but we are doing the very thing that we hate. Yet we know we have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in our striving against sin. So often we are not even upset when we sin. And sometimes we even justify our behavior, our sinful behavior. O Lord, would you come and open our eyes, that we would see our sin as you see it, and that we would see why it was necessary that you have given a dear price to pray for our sons, your own beloved son. And bring us on our knees before you in repentance, and give us joy when we embrace our Savior who died for all our iniquities. And we pray this in his holy name. Amen. The assurance in Jeremiah 33, verse 8 and 11 is so clear when the Lord says, I will cleanse them from all the sins they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good. His love endures forever. Let us sing how deep the Father's love for us. How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure, that He should give His only Son to make the wretched's treasure. The grave, the bane of searing loss, The father turns his face away, As wounds which mar the chosen one Bring many sons to glory. Behold the man upon the cross, my sin upon his shoulders. Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice, all out among the scoffers. It was my sin that held him there. Till it was accomplished, His dying breath has brought me life. I know that it is finished. will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom. But I will boast in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection. Why should I gain from his reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart. His bones have made my ransom. What should I gain from his reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart. These bones have made my brethren strong. Beautiful. As we continue through the Western Lister larger catechism, we have just finished the meaning of the sacraments. This morning we focus on prayer. So I ask you, what is prayer? And we all say, prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God in the name of Christ by the help of His Spirit with confession of our sins and thankful acknowledgment of His mercies. Are we to pray unto God only? God only, be able to search the hearts hear the requests, pardon the sins, and fulfill the desires of all, and only to be believed in and worship with religious worship. Prayer, which is a special part thereof, is to be made by all to Him alone and to none other. You may take your seats and turn with me to our Old Testament scripture reading. As we are reading through the Psalms, we are in Psalm 35, and we read from verse 14. I'm actually going to read from verse 13 through verse 28. You remember Psalm 35, a psalm which cry out against these enemies and eventually say, but God alone is the answer for that. Verse 13, but as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer kept returning to my bosom. I went about as though it were my friend or brother. I bowed down mourning as one who sorrows for a mother. But at my stumbling, they rejoiced and gathered themselves together. The smiters whom I did not know gathered together against me. They slandered me without ceasing. Like godless jesters at a feast, they gnashed at me with their teeth. Oh, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my only life from the lions. I will give you thanks in the great congregation. I will praise you among the mighty throng. Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me, nor let those who hate me without cause wink maliciously. For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land. They opened their mouth wide against me. They said, aha, aha, our eyes have seen it. You have seen it, oh Lord, do not keep silent. Oh Lord, do not be far from me. Stir up yourself and awake to my right and to my cause, my God and my Lord. Judge me, oh Lord, my God, according to your righteousness and do not let them rejoice over me. Do not let them say in their heart, aha, our desire. Do not let them say we have swallowed him up. Let those be ashamed and humiliated altogether who rejoice at my distress. Let those be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves over me. Let them shout for joy and rejoice who favor my vindication. And let them say continually, the Lord be magnified, who delights in the prosperity of his servants. And my tongue shall declare your righteousness and your praise all day long." So far the reading of God's word. Let us worship the Lord now with our tithes and our offerings. you you you Please join with me as we thank the Lord for His provision. Father, we come to you this morning, the one who owns all things. We come to you remembering, even as the psalmist wrote, the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. Father, we bring these gifts to you because you have given to us, you have provided for our physical needs, and you have provided for our spiritual needs. We praise and thank you as we come. We ask that these monies be used to further the work of your kingdom to reach people who do not know Christ. We ask, Lord, Your blessing on this offering. In Jesus' name, amen. In praise, please rise for the doxology. You may take your seats. Let's turn to 1 Timothy chapter 1, as we read through the letter of Paul to Timothy, which were pastoral letters, as Paul were telling him how everyone should behave in the church of Christ. We are in 1 Timothy chapter 1. We read from verse 12 through verse 20. Once again, this is God's Word. I thank Christ Jesus, our Lord, verse 12, who has strengthened me because he considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief. and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me, as the foremost Jesus Christ, might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight. keeping faith, and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I've handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme." So, Father, a reading of God's Word. Let us go to the Lord in prayer once again. Our Father and our God, we don't always know how we should pray. But thank you that we can come to you and even ask your Holy Spirit to guide and prompt us. Lord, we want to express our gratitude and our thanks. We want to remember that everything that we have comes from you, and everything that we are is bought by your grace. We want to remember that our prosperity and provision all come from your hand, and we thank you for it. Thank you, Lord, for the salvation that you provide for us in Jesus Christ. We praise you for sending your only Son to be a substitute on the cross for our sin and condemnation, for his atonement and his victory over sin and Satan and death. We praise you that we are not slaves of sin anymore. Help us remember and rejoice in our status as your children, who are more now than conquerors through Jesus. Lord, we praise you. We praise you for our faith in the new life that you've given us. We ask that we would be motivated to be good stewards of all the gifts of life. especially salvation, and that we will share it with others and proclaim your name to our neighbor and those you bring upon our paths. Thank you, Father, for some milder temperatures. Even though it was still hot this past week, we pray that you would protect us from any disaster with storms that are coming as we enter this new season. Lord, you know best, and we pray that you would, with all of these things that you provide for us, even in nature, be content. Lord, we depend on you for our economy and for our livelihoods, and we look up to you, even as a church, for your provision in all things. Father, we pray for our country's economy. We pray that you would reward those who work hard. We pray that you would remove the bribery and corruption that have become such a part of economic standards and prosperity. We pray for justice and honesty. We pray for respect between salesmen and customers. We pray for the desire to work and fulfill our calling daily, even when we retire, that we still would use our gifts for your glory. even among those whom you have placed in our church, that you have placed us in so that we would serve one another. We pray for faithfulness, Lord, in our calling. Father, we ask that you would show us in our abundance how and where to help those who are in need, that as we grow in our gratitude for our salvation, Lord, that our desire to help others will increase, our generosity will increase. Give us a heart for the poor and wisdom for how to help. Father, we thank you for the privilege we have of lifting up those in special circumstances to you in prayer. We think this morning of Pat's sister in Virginia and ask, Lord, that you would keep your hand of blessing upon her. We pray for Linda's daughter, who is in the hospital. Ask that you would keep your hand of blessing upon her. We pray for everyone on our prayer list. We pray for Olive Drake, who was diagnosed with COVID, so that, Lord, she would not become sick severely and that you would give her good recovery. We thank you that Phil's second oral surgery went well. And though he's in pain, Lord, that you would give him recovery. We pray for Joan, for June, for Jan. Lord, for all those who are not doing well with their health and are on a treatment. We pray for the Blair family, Lord, as they are still looking for a house that you would provide in their needs. We pray for the recovery of Debbie's brother, Dwight. Lord, that they would know how to treat the cancer that's on his head. And also for Bridget's brother, who's struggling with cancer. Father, we pray for Elaine Gorman. She's been a member of this church for many years and who's not doing well right now, and it seems like the family's gonna take her up to Georgia to live there, and we just ask that you would keep your hand of blessing upon her. Father, would you provide also for the LeMay family? Thank you for how you have provided, even through those who helped, and for our church. But I pray that you would continue, Lord, to keep their eyes focused on you, that they would trust you, and that they would also see how you provide for those who love you. Father, I pray that you would bless activities as we plan for the semester. We thank you for all the work that the CE committee has put in in this past semester, Lord, to get everything again ready for the new year. We thank you for those who are joining us in the new members class, over 20 people that will join us. We thank you for that. We pray that you would use every Bible study, Lord, in this church Not only that we will benefit by it and get to know you better from Scripture, but eventually that your name be glorified through our lives as we are impacted by your Word. Father, we pray also, I forgot to pray for the Tojan family whose kids got the virus. We ask that you would be with them and keep them safe and that you would give them quick healing. And now we pray also, Lord, that you would impart your peace, the peace of Christ, to each and every one of us. Lord, and those who are sick, that you would bring healing to their bodies and hope to their souls. Father, would you be with those in our community who are servicemen of any kind? Would you protect them, keep law and order? Those who are firefighters, Lord, would you just provide for them in their needs? Lord, we thank you for your protection of our denomination. that the things that we have prayed for, that you have answered us, and that our church at large stand on your truth still, the truth of your word, and we pray that that will continue. We pray that you would hear our prayers, not only, Lord, because you love us, but because we know that for the sake of Jesus, you answer us. And as we open your word now, we ask that you will continue to build us up that you would continue to build up our homes, that every home in this church family would be a true Christian home, where Christ is sanctified, where he is the head and the counselor and the guide, and that through our family lives, we will bring you glory. In Jesus' name, amen. Let's sing hymn number 451. It's that prayer. We sing it prayerfully, a Christian home. Oh, give us homes built firm upon the Savior. Oh, hear the songs they'll turn upon the Savior, where Christ is fed and counseled more than God. Well this Lord is love and faithful, and gives his heart to Christ the crucified. How sweet to know that though his heart's death may burn, his faithful love is walking by his side. O give us hope. Godly fathers, mothers, who always placed their hope and trust in me. Whose tender patience turmoil never bothers, Whose calm and courage trouble never dirs, in serving others, and love still shines through days be dark and grey. O give us homes where Christ is born and mastered, Precious in still song. Where prayer comes first, In peace or in disaster, At praise this angel speaks to every tongue. I think this is a prayer that we could pray on a daily basis. You may take your seats. There's a typo in the bulletin, Exodus chapter 11, and we read from verse 1 through 10 as we come to the 10th and last plague, as we continue our study through the book of, well, the first part of the book of Exodus. Exodus chapter 11, we read from verse 1 through 10. Now the Lord said to Moses, one more plague I will bring on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out from here completely. Speak now in the hearing of the people that each man asked from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor for articles of silver and articles of gold. And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. And furthermore, the man Moses himself was greatly esteemed in the land of Egypt, both in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people. And Moses said, thus says the Lord. About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt, and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the millstones, all the firstborn of the cattle as well. Moreover, there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been before, and such as shall never be again. But against any of the sons of Israel, A dog shall not even bark, whether against man or beast, that you may understand how the Lord makes distinction between Egypt and Israel. And all these, your servants will come. Come down to me and bow themselves before me, saying, go out, you and all the people who follow you. And after that, I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger. And then the Lord said to Moses, Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that my wonders will be multiplied in the land of Egypt. And Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, yet the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land. Our beloved and our Lord Jesus Christ, after the ninth plague ended, The atmosphere, you will see, between the pharaoh and the servants of the law changed radically. Pharaoh, at this point, still thought that he dictated to Moses as to what he must do and what he must take with him, when suddenly the pharaoh realized, but that is not the case, that Moses now was actually telling him what to do and how things are going to play out. Just look at the language in verse 25, 26 of the previous part. Moses said, you must also let us have sacrifices. Therefore, our livestock will go with us. Not a hoof will be left behind. And for we will take some of them to serve the Lord our God. You see? Clearly a different attitude. Moses, it's as if he now was taking control because he was the servant of the real king. But the Pharaoh was not willing to listen. And we know by now that that was all part of God's plan, that He even used the unbelief of this man to manifest His glory and His strength and His power to those around Him. His heart was so hardened that He then started actually to threaten the servants of God. He said He was tired of seeing the face of Moses, and if He sees Moses' face again, He will die. And it was then that Moses actually prophetically told the Pharaoh, you are right, you won't see me again. I just love that. Now, as we get to the final plague, We will see again, you remember how I told you the intensity of every plague increased. We will once again see how the intensity of these plagues reach the climax, when now God strikes them with what I want to call the ultimate punishment for sin. God himself says, one more plague. Now, we have seen so far, and that's the one thing that I want to focus on as I basically recap again what we have learned so far. We have seen how God's purposes were fulfilled through every plague that he struck Israel with. Until now, we've seen how these plagues have shown us very clearly how everything happened the way and why everything happened the way he did. Let me recall a few things that we have learned about God. First of all, we have seen that God is powerful and almighty. Nothing we have seen is impossible for Him. And even though skeptics have tried to find scientific reasons for all these plagues and why it occurred, we know that it was only because God caused it to happen. Every time, in a most miraculous fashion, God controlled what he created and he used the forces of nature to show how powerful he is and how powerless the idols of the Egyptians were. Secondly, In doing that, God also showed that He is completely incomparable with the idols of the heathen nations, which makes Him really a jealous God. who cares for, who defends His children, who separated them, who said, I will take care of you in a different way. We have focused quite a bit on that, this unconditional love of God for His people, and that it was God's elective love, His elective grace for His people that made Him do that. He defends His children. He made sure that they did not wander off and serve other gods. Now next, in the third place, I think we have seen also very clearly that God is a just God, that God could not close His eyes for sin, because God is holy and righteous in all He does. And because of that, sin will always be punished by Him. And the plagues, every one of these plagues, were clear evidence of that justice of God. And then fourthly, we have seen that God is also sovereign, and because of His sovereignty, He shows mercy to whomever He wants, and He brings His just wrath upon whomever He wants. Remember, we have focused on the passage in Romans chapter 9, where God used the example of Jacob and Esau, the one I love, the other one I hated. I can show mercy to whom I want. Yes, how clearly haven't we seen how God protected these children, even miraculously? And add to all of these also two more reasons why God did the things He did. First, He did it all for, and that's almost the umbrella over all of this, He says, I did this for my own glory. He made all things in this world for his own glory. And we as God's children are also called to do whatever we do for his glory. Every plague brought him glory. And ultimately, he delivered his people for his own glory. And second, He did also all these things so that his people, you remember, could go and tell it to the next generation. Tell the next generation of his greatness. The children of God always must know of the great works of God in the past. Something you and I, I think, must remember. And we may never forget to this day. You and I have the calling to proclaim the greatness of the name of the Lord to our children and our grandchildren. And with this final plague God brought upon the Pharaoh and his people, we see once again that nothing was different. Once more, God will accomplish all that He purposed, and all that He had done in the other plagues, He will once again do. From the moment this announcement was made, we once again see God's sovereignty in this passage. He says, one more plague, and He will let you go. God determines the outcome, God determines how long, God determines the full extent of these events, that He's fully in control. he knew only one more plague and the people of Israel would go. He actually says the pharaoh will drive them out of his land. And in the words of verse 1, he will do it completely. Then we see immediately the preparations for the departure had to begun. to begin. The Israelites did not have to wait that long, but in order for them to get ready to go and that they can go, there were still a few things that needed to happen. For the first time, And we'll get back to that in a minute. For the first time, we see how Moses had to go and talk to the people. And I mean, that did not happen until, well, it was the second time. The first time was in the beginning, just before the plague started. That was the only time Moses also had to go and speak to the Israelites. But now he had to go again, and he must go and tell them, there's certain preparations that you have to make before we can go. And one of the things that needs to be done was for Israel to get some possessions. If you can just imagine, after 400 years being slaves, they did not possess anything. They did not have much to show. They were pretty much exploited. But the Lord won't let them go empty-handed. God does not only provide, and that's something that you and I must remember, because sometimes we have this twisted idea that God only provides for our spiritual needs, but God also provides for our material needs. We can also trust him for those things in our lives. That must be a great comfort for each and every one of us here in the church. And what is remarkable about this part of this history is that it also shows us that God does not forget His promises. Now, why do I say that? If you turn with me to Genesis chapter 15, I mean, this is long before these events. Genesis chapter 15, you and I will read from verse 13 and 14. God promised a long time ago to His servant Abraham that Israel will not leave Egypt empty-handed. This is what he said, verse 13, Genesis 15. And God said to Abraham, know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for 100 years. Did it happen? Yes, it happened. But then he says, I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. Now was the time to fulfill this promise. So through Moses, God commanded the people that each man asks from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor for articles of silver and gold. And you might just ask, but what? How is this possible? I mean, here they are almost in a situation where you can compare it with Germans towards the Jews that they hated, right? And they have to go and ask their enemy, come on, I want some silver and gold from you. Does that make any sense? No, it doesn't. But what might seem illogical to us is not for God, and what is not understandable to us is to God. I remember in a debate theologians had about the Trinity a long time ago, someone said, you know, for us, 1 plus 1 plus 1 is 3, but to God, 1 plus 1 plus 1 is 1. That is why Isaiah wrote in chapter 55, verse 8, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. And in this history, God showed us again and again that He works in His own way, even to provide for the needs of His children. To get these possessions, they did not have to threaten the Egyptians. No, they only had to go and ask. And God says, they will give it to them. How is it possible that the Egyptians would listen to the Israelites? I think the plain answer is God intervened and changed their hearts. That is what verse 3 actually tells us. The Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Why were the people of God to take things from these Egyptians? Because God commanded them to do so. Well, that's the first obvious reason. That is a very important fact, actually, because God commanded them to do so. They always have to be obedient to God. even though it did not make sense to them. And that's something that you and I must always remember. It doesn't matter if the world says, but that doesn't make sense, or we like this better. If God says this is sin, then it is sin. If God says this is how you need to act, then this is how we need to act. So the same happens here. Why did God command them to do this, you might ask? Why did they need gold and silver? Well, later in Exodus chapter 35, verse 21 and 22, we will see that they used the gold and the silver that they got to what? To build the tabernacle. We read in verse 21, And everyone whose heart stirred Him, and everyone whose spirit moved Him, came and brought the Lord's contributions for the work of the tent of meeting, and for all each service, and for the holy garments. Then all whose hearts moved them, both men and women, came and brought brooches, and earrings, and signet rings, and bracelets, all articles of gold. So did every man who presented an offering of gold to the Lord. So they will, they had to, use this to glorify God. But we know that they also put those gifts to bad use. You know what happened in Exodus chapter 32, when they built the golden calf. They built that with possessions that they received indirectly from God. And I say received from God because isn't that exactly what happened? They asked, it was given to them because God moved their hearts, the Egyptians' hearts, in order to give it to them. They did not work for it, they just received it. They did not fight for it, they just received it. They did not earn it in any way. God changed the Egyptians' hearts so that they just gave it to them. The attitudes of the Egyptians even changed towards Moses. I mean, by now, humanly speaking, you would say, he was a hated man, but we read only the opposite. Now, they had great respect for Moses, not only the general population, but also the servants of Pharaoh. So don't miss it. God is accomplishing his goals. Where are the servants of the pharaoh that challenged him there in the beginning, repeating every sign that Moses performed? But that is what is so sad, if you think about it. Although the people started to change, the king remained unmoved. And even these people might be influenced, but it's not necessarily that their hearts completely changed. So slowly, the support system of the Pharaoh was failing him and was falling away. And eventually, his rebellion against God would only become more and more evident. But we also see the purpose of our salvation very clearly in this passage. How often has the Bible now revealed to us that God said that he was doing all these things, that the Egyptians will know that He is the Lord, that they will know His greatness, that it is He who saved Israel. He took all the initiative. They did not save themselves, did they? They did not do anything to convince God to save them. So what does this truth mean to us? God doesn't want us to forget what the true motive for our salvation is. It's not in the first place about the benefit that you and I received. Yes, it's wonderful. By God's grace, we are saved. But no, we have to remember even above that is that God saves man in the first place to magnify and glorify himself. Thus our salvation may never point to us. It may never point to the good decisions that you and I have made. It must always point forward to God and his goodness to save us. Because what did you do in order to save yourself? Think about it. Nothing. It was God who prepared the way. He sent His beloved Son to pay for all our sin and guilt. He called us to Himself through His Word. He reborn us, made us alive. We're dead in sin. He gave us the faith that enabled us to embrace our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. How much do you and I not have to be thankful for? Yes, as I said, before the final punishment comes, a few things have to be taken care of. Moses had to give directions to God's people, respecting the things that they have to ask for the Egyptians. And we'll focus on that next week. And remember, it's the Lord's Supper next week. We'll focus on the Passover that was instituted and the preparations for the feast that had to take place, as well as the exodus itself. So we read in verse four, and Moses said, thus says the Lord about midnight, I'm going out into the midst of Egypt. Let me read that again. About midnight, I am going out into the midst of Egypt. And that brings us to the ultimate punishment that we see in the final plague. The punishment of death. These are really scary words in verse 4 if you think about it. Because what is clear is that the going out of the Lord from his heavenly seed will be severe. The last blow upon Pharaoh was to be carried out by Jehovah himself, by Yahweh. But this time it is as if God says, I am executing this plague myself. The word that is used now for plague is the word strike. God says, I am going out in the midst of Egypt, and I will strike them. And you and I know with what, right? God is going to strike them with death, the death of their firstborn. From the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, yes, Pharaoh's son was the prince of Egypt. ready to wait and follow his father in ruling this country. Unto the firstborn of the maid that is behind the mill, and even the cattle, every one will be struck as a punishment for Pharaoh's sinful conduct. Now you might think, how is this fair? How could God now do that? First of all, If we know that God is a just God, we should not even ask that question. But God is doing to them what they have done to His people. Don't forget too quickly how the Pharaoh tried to wipe out all the Israelites with his attempted genocide in the beginning of the book of Exodus. They show themselves to be enemies of God. And also, do not forget that God called His people. I mean, what God called His people. In chapter 4, verse 22-23, God said this to Pharaoh, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, let my son go, that he may serve me. If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son. That was God's command. And it was rejected. But we know by now also God shows his power over all the false gods the Egyptians worshipped. It was among many others, Osiris, who was the god of the dead and whose name meant the mighty one. How mighty were these false gods. He was not able to stop the miraculous work of God. And not the false gods, but God alone deserve all the praise and honor and glory. Yes, this plague, and especially this last plague, shows us very clearly that God is a just God. A God who cannot close his eyes for the sin of an unrepented nation. The Egyptians were sinners. The sin of Egypt had to be punished. Why? Because God says so clearly to us in Romans that the wages of sin is death. And like anyone else who does not turn to the Lord in repentance and place every part of their lives under His sovereign rule, the Egyptians deserve to die as well. And when God stroked the Egyptians, they will cry out, says the scriptures. And the scripture says, such a cry has never been heard and will never be heard in Egypt. Can you imagine? But remember, the Israelites cried out many times before, but the Egyptians didn't listen. The Egyptians cried out, but their gods didn't listen. But God has listened to the cry of his people. And now he's acting because he protects his people. So his actions, not gonna focus on that again today, make a clear distinction between those who belong to him and those who do not. He will protect his people. so that not even a dog will bark against the children of Israel, not even against their cattle. Isn't that detail for you? And then you and I doubt so often. We are so often, so easily, so afraid. Well, our Savior promised us the same protection when He said, but you will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all on account of my name. Yet, not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance, you will gain your lives. Let us remember this. We have nothing to fear. Let us just trust in God and His promises, because He provides for His children. He protects His children. So let me ask you this morning, are you under God's protection? God's day of judgment is coming. The day on which those who don't believe in His name will receive death, eternal death. The question is not if the day of final judgment will arrive, but when. The Apostle Peter warns us when he says, but the present heavens and earth by his word are being preserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice. Beloved, that with the Lord one day, is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but He's patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. The time you and I live in is a time of grace. There is still time, but we don't know how long. Are you under God's protection? The very next verse in verse 10 says, but the day of the Lord will come like a thief. That day will come completely unexpectedly. And the book of Revelations reminds us in no uncertain terms that this day with the final death will arrive for those who do not believe. Revelations chapter 21, 8, but as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. And Revelation 20, verse 6, Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection. Over such, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with Him for a thousand years. And Revelation 2, verse 11, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be heard by the second death. Oh, please, do not linger. If your relationship with the Lord is still not right, and you have not been reconciled with God yet, you have to repent and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. Because only in Him do we have union with God and life. Yes, eternal life. And God's people say, Amen. Let us pray. O Lord God and our Father in heaven, your designs are past our understanding. We are once again filled with amazement and awe at how you work towards the salvation of your people. We have become so blunt in a sense about being saved that we quit being amazed over our salvation, Lord, and we pray that that would change. We pray that You would fill our hearts with wonder and love for You and for what You have done for us in and through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Let that affect our lives and the way we live for Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen. Let's sing hymn number 435, God of grace and God of glory. God of grace and God of glory, on thy people, on thy people, ♪ By ancient children's story ♪ ♪ Bring her heart to glorious form ♪ ♪ Grant us wisdom, grant us courage ♪ ♪ For the facing of this hour ♪ ♪ For the facing of this hour ♪ The hordes of evil round us, For thy price the sail is raised. From the fears that long have bound us, Free our hearts to face. Let us wisdom, let us courage for the living of these days. For the living of these days. ♪ Thy children's warring madness ♪ ♪ Bend our pride to thy control ♪ ♪ Shame our want and selfish madness ♪ ♪ Rich in things and poor in soul ♪ ♪ Grant us wisdom, grant us courage ♪ ♪ Lest we miss thy kingdom's call ♪ we miss thy kingdom's call. Set our feet on lofty places, gird our lives that they may be, on their drink of Christ-like graces, in the fight to set men free. Receive God's blessing and go from here in peace. Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Thank you. It's coming up. It's coming up.