Crossover: Embracing Christ's Deliverance from Darkness
Summary
In my sermon today, I began by expressing my gratitude for being part of this church since my youth and for the spiritual leadership that has nurtured my growth. I then transitioned into building upon Pastor Gregory's series "God's Plan," emphasizing the preordained nature of Christ's sacrifice as the foundation of the world. I highlighted the importance of recognizing God's greatness, which in turn fuels our desire to know Him more intimately.
I delved into the Old Testament, pointing out that figures like Moses and Joseph were prophetic symbols of Christ, serving as types and shadows of the greater reality to come. This led me to ponder the eternal significance of our own acts of obedience and connection with God.
The core of my message revolved around the Exodus narrative, drawing parallels between Moses' liberation of the Israelites from Egypt and Christ's deliverance of humanity from sin. I likened Pharaoh to Satan and his kingdom to the systems of the world that enslave us. I urged the congregation to recognize the subtlety of Satan's deception, which makes us love our bondage, contrasting it with the overt oppression of Pharaoh.
I stressed the urgency of crossing over from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of God's love, as described in Colossians. I named the sermon "Crossover," symbolizing both the connection between the cross and Passover and the call for us to leave behind the ways of the world completely.
I recounted the Passover story from Exodus, where the Israelites were instructed to sacrifice a lamb without blemish and apply its blood to their doorposts, so that the angel of death would pass over their homes. I explained how this prefigured Christ's sacrifice, with the lamb representing Jesus, the firstborn who died in our place.
I drew attention to the specific instructions given to the Israelites that are applicable to us today: removing the leaven of unbelief, consuming the entire lamb, and being fully dressed and ready for departure. These commandments parallel our need to repent, fully embrace Christ, and be prepared to leave behind the ways of the world.
I concluded by calling for a response from the congregation, inviting them to commit fully to Christ and to make haste in their spiritual exodus from the bondage of sin and the world's systems.
Key Takeaways:
1. Our acts of obedience have eternal significance, much like the prophetic symbols in the Old Testament. We must consider how our daily choices contribute to God's overarching story and impact the spiritual realm. This perspective can transform the mundane into the divine, infusing our lives with purpose and intentionality. [05:02]
2. The urgency to cross over from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light is paramount. As the world grows more chaotic, the distinction between the two kingdoms becomes clearer. We must choose to align ourselves with God's kingdom, for the time to do so is now. This decision carries eternal weight and requires our immediate attention. [19:57]
3. The Passover lamb was a shadow of Christ, our Passover Lamb. The meticulous details of the original Passover were not coincidental but divinely orchestrated to point to Jesus. This demonstrates God's intentionality and sovereignty throughout history, inviting us to marvel at His intricate plan of redemption. [28:13]
4. To fully embrace our salvation, we must remove the leaven of unbelief from our lives. Unbelief hinders our spiritual journey and weakens our ability to stand firm against the world's systems. True freedom in Christ comes from a place of complete trust and reliance on Him. [31:29]
5. Consuming the entire lamb symbolizes our need to embrace all aspects of Christ. We cannot afford to be selective in our discipleship; every part of Jesus' teaching and character is essential for our spiritual nourishment and growth. This holistic approach empowers us to walk out of bondage and into the fullness of life in Christ. [33:00]
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Exodus 12:5-13 (NIV)
> "The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover. On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt."
2. Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV)
> "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
3. Revelation 13:8 (NIV)
> "All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world."
### Observation Questions
1. What specific instructions were given to the Israelites regarding the Passover lamb in Exodus 12:5-13?
2. According to Colossians 1:13-14, from what has God rescued us, and into what has He brought us?
3. How does Revelation 13:8 describe the timing of the Lamb's sacrifice?
4. In the sermon, how is Pharaoh likened to Satan, and what are the systems of the world that enslave us? ([10:01])
### Interpretation Questions
1. What is the significance of the Passover lamb being without blemish, and how does this relate to Christ? ([21:49])
2. How does the concept of "crossing over" from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light apply to our daily lives? ([18:27])
3. Why is it important to remove the "leaven of unbelief" from our lives, and what are some practical ways to do this? ([31:29])
4. How does consuming the entire lamb symbolize our need to embrace all aspects of Christ, and what might this look like in practice? ([33:00])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily choices. How do they contribute to God's overarching story and impact the spiritual realm? Can you identify one mundane task that you can transform into a divine act of obedience? ([05:02])
2. The sermon emphasized the urgency of crossing over from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. What steps can you take this week to align yourself more closely with God's kingdom? ([19:57])
3. The Passover lamb was a shadow of Christ. How can you marvel at God's intentionality and sovereignty in your own life? Can you recall a moment where you saw God's intricate plan at work? ([28:13])
4. Unbelief hinders our spiritual journey. Identify one area of unbelief in your life. What specific action can you take to strengthen your trust and reliance on Christ this week? ([31:29])
5. Embracing all aspects of Christ is essential for our spiritual growth. Is there a teaching or aspect of Jesus' character that you have been selective about? How can you fully embrace it this week? ([33:00])
6. The sermon called for a response to commit fully to Christ. What does a full commitment look like for you personally? Are there any areas of your life where you are still holding back? ([43:40])
7. The Israelites were instructed to eat the Passover meal in haste, ready for departure. What practical steps can you take to be spiritually ready for God's call at any moment? ([38:08])
Devotional
Day 1: Obedience Shapes Eternity
Obedience to God is not just a matter of following rules; it is an active participation in the unfolding of His divine narrative. Just as the Old Testament figures like Moses and Joseph served as prophetic symbols pointing towards Christ, our daily acts of obedience are threads woven into the eternal tapestry of God's story. These acts, whether they seem significant or mundane, carry weight in the spiritual realm and have the potential to echo throughout eternity. By understanding the eternal significance of our obedience, we can approach our daily lives with a renewed sense of purpose and intentionality, recognizing that each choice we make contributes to a larger, divine purpose.
"Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us," (Hebrews 12:1 ESV).
Reflection: How can you live out obedience to God in a way that reflects the eternal significance of your actions today?
Day 2: Urgent Kingdom Crossover
The world is becoming increasingly chaotic, and the line between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light is ever more apparent. This distinction calls for an urgent response, a crossover from the domain of sin to the reign of Christ. The decision to align with God's kingdom is not one to be taken lightly or postponed; it is a matter of eternal consequence that demands immediate action. As believers, we are called to recognize the urgency of this spiritual transition and to step decisively into the light, leaving behind the darkness that once defined us.
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light," (1 Peter 2:9 ESV).
Reflection: What steps can you take today to move closer to God's kingdom and further from the influence of darkness?
Day 3: Christ, Our Passover Lamb
The meticulous details of the original Passover were not mere ritual; they were a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, our Passover Lamb. The Old Testament Passover was a blueprint of God's redemptive plan, revealing His intentionality and sovereignty throughout history. As the Israelites applied the blood of a spotless lamb to their doorposts, they were participating in a divine rehearsal for the coming of Jesus, who would shed His blood for the salvation of humanity. This understanding invites us to marvel at the intricate way God has woven the story of redemption through the ages, culminating in the sacrifice of His Son.
"Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed," (1 Corinthians 5:7 ESV).
Reflection: In what ways can you honor the sacrifice of Christ, our Passover Lamb, in your daily life and worship?
Day 4: Removing the Leaven of Unbelief
Unbelief is like leaven; it may start small, but it has the power to permeate and hinder our spiritual journey. Just as the Israelites were commanded to remove leaven from their homes during Passover, we are called to rid our hearts of the leaven of unbelief. This act of purification is essential for us to fully embrace the freedom that comes with faith in Christ. By trusting in Him completely, we can stand firm against the deceptive systems of the world and walk in the true freedom that is found only in Jesus.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths," (Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV).
Reflection: What areas of unbelief are present in your life, and how can you begin to address them with God's truth today?
Day 5: Embracing Christ Wholly
To consume the entire Passover lamb was to leave nothing behind, symbolizing the Israelites' complete acceptance of God's provision. Similarly, embracing all aspects of Christ means accepting every part of His teaching and character. Selective discipleship is not an option; we must take in the fullness of Jesus to experience the depth of spiritual nourishment and growth He offers. This holistic approach to our faith enables us to break free from the bondage of sin and step into the abundant life that Christ promises.
"For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority," (Colossians 2:9-10 ESV).
Reflection: Are there aspects of Jesus' teaching or character that you have neglected? How can you begin to embrace these fully starting today?
Quotes
1) "I'm just so amazed by the power of God to display this plan from the very beginning. It says in Revelations 13, 8, that Christ was crucified from the foundation of the world. It was already, before the world began, something that in the mind and in the heart of God." [03:24]
2) "Moses was not just a powerful man of God who the Lord sent to set the captives free, but he was a type of Christ. He was a shadow and a type of the Christ, the Lord Jesus, and how he would deliver us and save us." [08:21]
3) "The Lord came to pronounce judgment on the people of the world, the people in Egypt. The only rightful judgment for that sin was death. And so the angel comes and strikes death upon every house. That's our sentence. The wages of sin is death." [23:30]
4) "For those of us who have the lamb, Jesus is called the lamb of God. And John even says it. He says, look, here's the lamb of God who comes to take away the sin of the world. We call him the lamb, we recognize him the lamb, but he's the Passover lamb." [25:01]
5) "So powerful. Let's look at verse 11 and 13 through 13. And thus you shall eat it with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your shoulders, and your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover." [25:01]
6) "What I love so much, about this is that it even goes, just kind of a side note, that it even goes down to the details of how God intentionally told them to do these very specific things because he knew what he was going to do." [26:47]
7) "We cannot fully cross over from Egypt into the kingdom of the marvelous light. If we have unbelief in our hearts. And so that's why Jesus said, I'm going to take the Passover meal. I'm going to take the Passover meal." [31:29]
8) "It's the same for us. We need to receive the whole lamb. All of Jesus, all of him. And look at this. We can't pick and choose what we think tastes good just because it tastes a little funny to us right now." [33:00]
9) "Lord, I thank you right now for every single person in this place. I thank you, God, that you are such a faithful and a powerful God. You love us so much. You hear us. You see us. You've empowered us by your spirit to leave the way of the world." [42:51]
10) "So if there's anyone in here and you say today is the day of my Exodus, even if you began it before, but you, you were walking out slowly. If you say today, I will make haste." [43:40]
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