Exodus 19:16-25 Fire

Oh, good morning. Good to be with you all. Once again, like a special Lewis mentioned. We are continuing our study and Exodus chapter 19. And today, in particular, we're going to be looking at a number of different Old Testament, text along the way in. So if you have your copy of God's word, please have it ready to turn in a number of different places in the Old Testament as we study it together. If you don't have a copy of God's word, he don't own one. We have several at the back table there that is our gift to you. And so please take one for yourself as we see these things together in the scriptures in Exodus 19, what we have been studying in the last several weeks is a Monumental moment on the pages of history on the pages of History. This is one of those significant Earth shaping earth-shattering moments and the significance behind this moment at Mount Sinai is that the people of is Become a worshipping Community, they become a worshipping Community. Remember when God Called Moses through the burning bush and Exodus 3, he instructed him very carefully, to save the people out of Egypt and bring them to Mount Sinai and single purpose of bringing the people to Mount Sinai. Was to make the people a worshipping Community there to go to Mount Sinai through the Wilderness and to Mount Sinai. To become a people who worship Yahweh. That's the backdrop of Exodus 19. And today, we're going to be looking at the significance of this truce, that the people of Israel are becoming a worshipping community. And how it relates to Pentecost. So, I'm giving you kind of a mind map. Okay? So, if you get lost anywhere, along the way, just keep in your mind, Pentecost, Pentecost Pentecost, what do you keep in mind Pentecost? Thank you. All right, so if you're able to would you stand with me as we read God's word together, Exodus 19, 16 225

On the morning of the third day, there was a Thunders and Lightnings and a thick Cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast. So that all the people in the camp tremble, Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain and I'm outside, I was wrapped in Smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln in the whole Mountain trembled greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet, grew louder, and louder, Moses spoke. And God answered him in Thunder. The Lord came down in Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain, in the Lord Called, Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up in the Lord said to Moses, go down and warn the people less they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish. Also, let the priest to come near to the Lord consecrate themselves less the Lord break out against them. Moses said to the Lord, if the people cannot come up to Mount Sinai for you yourself, warned us saying set limits around the mountain and consecrated. Lord said to him, go down and come up, bringing Aaron with you, but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them. So Moses went down to the people and told them.

The grass May fade in the the flower, maybe use its losses. Beauty may all of creation pass away. Having a nurse. We're told will pass away. But God's word is his endearing Eternal Word. So, let us approach it with the reverence that it is due. As we passed your hearts before him in prayers, join me as we pray for a Time.

Father, we come to you in the name of your son Jesus. And by the power of your spirit, we ask Lord that you would help us, behold great things from your word, your word is sufficient. Your word is inspired. Through your spirit, by your spirit, your word contains truth. Lord. Help us to see the truth of the Gospel. A new help us gain a greater appreciation for the day of Pentecost and the work of the spirit in our lives. We pray this in Christ's holy name. Amen, please be seated.

So one of the things that we've been describing when it comes to this moment on, on Mount Sinai in Exodus 19, is that what is transpiring? Here is with the Illusions, have called a theophany and see Anthony is a very important word. You need to be a custom with when you read the Old Testament, theophany is the manifestation of God's presence through created things that the off any is the manifestation of God's presence through created things, aren't one of the things that we know delisi is Christ reveals himself through his created order. We see that it is God's presence evidence through the burning bush in, Exodus 3, it's God in the bush in the fire. In the bush, we're also told right through the Exodus through the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of Fire by night that it is Christ in the pillar of cloud. It is Christ in the pillar of fire. That is God's presence in a created thing. It's manifesting God's presence through a creative things. And this situation on Mount Sinai is another one of those theophanies. Right. Last week we were to be idea of God descending on Mount Sinai in a sick cloud and you remember that that represents the presence of God coming. It also represents the Judgment of God by anytime you see, across the pages of the Old Testament and also the New Testament where God is coming in the clouds, right? Its representative of his presence coming and his judgment coming in today, we're going to see if part of this, theophany this vision of this. Terrifying vision of God's presence on Mount Sinai is that God the sands on the mountain in fire. In the fire. Represents his presence and his judgments were going to look at that here in a moment. But I want you to notice, just to kind of give you a sense of imagination to consider the you that is on Mount Sinai. Once again, look at verse 16 and verse 18 of our tax notice, there's the two same words that are used to describe how the people are experiencing this event and how the mountain is experiencing. This event of the word is trembled writing verse. 16 were told that as this is happening right thunder and lightning and thick cloud and the loud trumpet blast. Write all the people in the camp, quote trembled. And then a verse 18 were told that the whole Mountain trembled greatly. This idea of trembled is the idea of shaking in great anguish It's it's this terrifying vision of God's presence, that produces a sense of awe and reverence and fear in the heart of the people and so much so that they are shaking quite literally physically shaking. Also tilted, this, this vision is so terrifying that in Hebrews were told, Moses, himself, trembled in Hebrews 12 right here. Were not told that but Moses in no uncertain. Terms was afraid. Terrified at the vision that he was seeing on Mount Sinai.

Door trembled. Here it doesn't just mean fear it. It means this this a profound sense of Anguish and awe at what is transpiring. It's the same word that's used in Genesis 42 28. When remember, Joseph's, brother? Our brothers are in Egypt, they come to Joseph, who's who's the prince in Egypt and Joseph sends them back home. Tell them to bring their youngest son, Benjamin back. And remember Benjamin comes and has a great time and then Joseph sends them back again to Jacob. But this time he implants a golden cup in Benjamin's sack, right of a grain and then they're stopped by the Egyptians. And we're told these words in verse 28 of chapter forty-two, he said to his brothers, this is Benjamin saying, my money has been put back here, it is in the mouth of my sack by so Benjamin was supposed to pay for grain but the money got put back in his sack and ended. Again, this is not good cuz they're supposed to pay for the Grain. And then what are we told at this? Notice the language their hearts failed them, that's the language and then immediately following that language were the same word that's used here in our Texas used here for trembling and they turned trembling to one. Another saying, what is this the God has done to us.

So this idea of being trembling before the presence of God, trembling before the fire on Mount Sinai means that the people are so shaken by the presence of God that they are exposed, right? What's the context here in Genesis 42, the brothers are exposed, to be what accused of sin to be accused of theft to be accused of evil and so they're related, bear there, if they find themselves naked as we read in our confession text to Adam, Genesis 3, the idea of feeling exposed because of your character, in your sin, and your inadequacy, So when the people are trembling in Mount Sinai, they're trembling because of the Holiness of God, they're trembling because they they know that God is so serious about his character. So serious about his Holiness and they are sinful people. Behold this vision Strikes fear in their hearts so much so that their hearts are are melted within them. So yeah I miss this theophany specifically evidenced by the fire coming down on Mount Sinai represents the holy presence of God and the Holy judgement of God. And we know this to be the case with fire because when you read the last book of the Bible Revelation what you see is John describes a vision of the son of man, the vision of God right in his throat on his throne using the same language. Thunders. Lightning feel the thunder lightning, trumpet. Sounds smoke, fire. It's all there. In Revelation and gods. Holy presence. What it also do, you know? So though is like I mentioned the Judgment of God. I want you to notice the phrase that is used in our texts. Look back at Verse 18. Notice it says no mouse on. I was wrapped in Smoke because the Lord had to send it on it and fire and then were told this the smoke of it known as the language went up like the smoke of a kilm that there's another place in the Bible where this exact same phrases used and it's in Genesis and it's the only other place in all scripture was that same phrases used and you know where it is. Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis 19. 19. Here's what you'll find. Genesis 19 verses 27 through 29 were told these words in this is after Abraham is pleading with God that there would be at least ten righteous people found in the city so that God wouldn't destroy it. And then there weren't end found. And so God is destroying the city and we're told he's worth and Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord and he looked down towards Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley and he looked and behold, same phrase, exact same phrases in Hebrew. The smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace. The same word used for killing. And artex is the same word. Here used for furnace, the smoke went up. Like the smoke of a furnace, first 29th. So it was that when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which lot at live, here's the point. God's presence and judgment are the most terrifying thing that can be experienced by any human being. God's presence and judgment are the most terrifying thing that can be experienced by any human being the way that the scripture describes Us in Hebrews 10:31. Is this, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.

Right, and understand a theophany is not God, but the opportunity is a manifestation of his presence. Find the degree in which a theophany compares to actually seeing God Is So Stark and contrast that would be the same difference between a parent speaking to a child in Babel babbling versus actual speech, right? That's how massive of a difference that there is displayed here on Mount Sinai that the author is a small glimpse of what the presence of God would be like if you were to see him right now, right? If God were to peel back the layers of of the physical world, you live in, and you were to see the reality of the spiritual world, right now, and he is present, your mind, would melt your heart would melt and you would be altogether consumed, you would die.

I told us what the Albany is, a manifestation of his presence at the often is not, God is very important understand because if the offer any points to something that is greater in degree, right? So this is so terrified, imagine actually being in the presence of God. That's the point. now remember, On the pages of scripture, the authors in the, in the New Testament, regularly refer to the Sinai moment, right? As a very instructive moment to the people with respect to their worship of Yahweh. Write, the people are to be consecrated and purified in order to become a worshipping Community before Yahweh. And so, starting from this moment when the fire descends on Mount Sinai and all throughout Redemptive history, fire and worship are held together, fire and worship, are these two things that are held in a similar theme. They're deeply connected with each other so much so that by Exodus 40. Right? When when the presence of God finally feels the Tabernacle were told this that the fire would burn inside the Tabernacle by Night, represent In, God's Presence, Holiness and Glory amongst the people. So it was the centerpiece of the people's worship. The fire of God in the tent of meeting Cancel. So this is very important. So you're sure Stan worship and fire held together. Now, notice the words in verse 22 and 24th. There Specific Instructions. The priests, okay, look with me in verse 22. Notice if there's similar phrase used in both versus, we're told this also recovered consecration. Last week, we talked about it. How it's a preparation to to be in the presence of God ceremonial cleansing and purification Rite. The Lord says to have the priests consecrate themselves for what reason last in this is the phrase here in verse 22 last of the Lord break out against them and then you see that same phrase used later on a 24, right? Lord tells Moses go down and come up, bringing Aaron with you, but do not let the priests in the people break through to come up to the Lord. Same phrase again, lest he break out against them. What does that mean? For the Lord to break out against the priests? Well, it means that as a holy fire that represents his Holiness righteousness and Glory right to travel with that fire. And worship means to be consumed by the fire. When it says that the Lord would break out against the priests in the people have, they come near in an unauthorised way, that means that his fire is going to consume them. That's what it means to break out. We know this to be true. When you read the prophets, the prophets uses language, the prophet Amos uses this language in Amos five or six. He says seek the Lord and live less he break out like fire in the house of Joseph and it devour with none to quench it for Bethel. Okay? So this idea of breaking out is to be seen in light of fire consuming. The people who are there in an unauthorized. Fire and worship an authorized fire is to be seen in a way that is consuming of the people who are offering it. Okay, now this idea Worship in fire.

Continue on throughout the course of the narrative and throughout the Old Testament. So right now, I want you to brace yourself, we're going to go through the Old Testament. I want you to show, I want to show you how this theme develops throughout the course of scripture leading us to Pentecostal. Okay. That's the remainder of our time. This week to look at Saturn with me in your copy of God's word to Exodus 32 Exodus 32 fast forward in the narrative with me.

In Exodus 32, what we see here is Moses finally descends from the mountain, with the two tablets of the testimony, that is a Ten Commandments that they're about to receive here at Sinai. And he descends to the people and ask you to send to the people, he hears a noise in the camp at the base of Mount Sinai and the noises 1 of rebellion, right? They are now worshipping a golden calf and in times past, when I would describe to you all and may even know this right when it when Aaron gives his excuse for why, the people are doing evil and worshipping a false image of God, right? What does he say? Look a 24 by Aaron said to them. So I said to them, let any who have gold take it off. So they gave it to me and I threw it into the fire. Now, came this calf, right? So we know as we've noted, this is, this is ridiculous, right? That's not how this works, right? It wasn't just Magic by the throat of the fire false deity. Let's worship. But Aaron's words are actually very much indicting himself, right? They're not just It's not just an ignorant, excuse that he's giving. Why does he say throw it into the fire? What's what's this myth is about the fire. Why a fire? Obviously a fire melts elements and informs things and, and, and purifies things. That's the point. Buying things. Why is Aaron saying that they threw the gold into the fire? Will he saying? We purified it, we threw it in the fire supposed to be purified, this is purified stuff and how came with his golden caps, which is actually the cap represents a false god in Egypt. Send hear of Aaron. And the people is not that they're worshiping a false deity. Is that they are saying that God has represented in the Holiness and purity of the fire is to be worshipped in this way, and they're conflating the true worship of God through fire with a false image of pagan Egyptian deities. That's what they're doing.

That's what happens. When Moses saw that, the people had broken loose for Aaron had, let them break loose to the derision of their enemies than Moses, stood in the gate of the camp and said, who is on the Lord's Side? Come to me. This is a great separation in consecration, thin Colinas, take purification amongst the community. How is the community to be first for purified, a c He said, come to me and I notice and all the sons of Levi which is going to be representative of the priesthood in the priests write gathered around him and he said to them. Says the Lord God of Israel. This is terrifying just here. Here, how this unfolds Put your sword on your side. Each of you and go to and fro from gate-to-gate throughout the camp and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor. So the people who didn't come to Moses to the people who didn't come near to Moses, they stood, as far as he instructed, the Levi to gathered around him, to gird themselves up with a sword and to go kill all the people that did not come.

And the sons of Levi did, according to the word of Moses. And that day, notice the language. How many people fell? How many people fell? 3000 people fell member Pentecost. We're getting there. So what do you see here? with the mixture of Unfaithful adulterated Devotion to the Pagan deities of Egypt and the true unadulterated pure devotion, to the to the fire of God's presents. The result is 3,000. People are perished. They are killed by the priesthood. They're destroyed. God, consumes them in essence. Fast forward to Leviticus chapter 10. Turn with me to Leviticus chapter 10.

Beginning a 1 Leviticus 10 beginning of first one.

We are now told you guys know the story, many of, you know, the story concerning the sons of Aaron who are functioning as priests remember the context ears, the consecration of priests God, tell them, Don't Go Near You need to take my fire. Seriously, you need to take the worship of me seriously and we get to Leviticus 10 and were told about Native and I buy who who are sons of Erin. What are we told that they do? Look at verse 1, each took his sensor and put fire in it and laid in cents on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord. Same thing. That is an exodus 32 with the golden calf, which he had not commanded them. And then pursue tells us what and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed and they died before the Lord. And then were told right, that Aaron is commanded by Yahweh to not grieve the death of his sons. Yahweh says, don't tear your clothes. Don't put dust on your head. Don't weep for them. Search. Imagine a dad loses his sons in this event and that is told you can't mourn. Why. So again, you got to sing. My Fire is not to be trifled with my glory and Holiness is not to be trifled with. I will consume you, if you trifle with it. Fast forward in in history. 2 Numbers, chapter 16, turn with me, their numbers chapter 16,

By the way, all of these instances have to do with priests Aaron who did this? Who is he? A high priest? Okay, priest? Right now we get to korah's Rebellion a number 16 and who is Cora a priest along with other priests. What we see happened, beginning and verse 32, we're going to read, but here's the context. Korra lift himself up against Moses and accuses, Moses of arrogance and and Lord in his authority, over the people. The very same thing that the Hebrews accuse, Moses of when he came to deliver them out of Egypt, right? He shows up in Egypt and they are saying who made you Prince over us, right? Follow back up with you fast-forward. You see korah's Rebellion Acworth. Same says the same thing. Why do you call yourself over us as if your prints over us? And by the way, the reason why that's problematic is because Moses didn't set himself over them. As a mediator. God, put him there as a mediator over them. As a ruler over them. And so Cora has high-handed Rebellion against the authority of God and his indictment plays out in this way. Look at verse 32.

And the Earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households and all the people who belong to Cora and all their goods. So they and all that belongs to them when down alive into shield and the Earth closed over them and they perish from the midst of the assembly. So you, you're familiar with what's going on in North Carolina right now. You're aware of that right to think of the sheer catastrophic event that transpires here. It's not a you know, delayed judgment is the momentary Judgment of sheer catastrophe or the Earth breaks open and swallows the entire community of Korra And then were told this in verse 34. And all Israel who around them fled at their cry for. They said let the Earth shall swallow us up. And then verse 35 says, what and fire came out from the Lord. Same thing breaking out, fire came out from the Lord and consumed, the 250 men offering the incense Offering Strange Fire offering false worship and tangent with the pure righteous. Holy character and presence of God depicted in the fire is met with the consequence of death by consumption. Verse 36, then says, then the Lord spoke to Moses saying how Elie Azar, the son of Aaron. And just think about how God take seriously his worship. Tell is Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest to take out the sensors out of the blaze then scatter the fire far and wide for they have become wholly, ask for the sensors of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives. Let them be made into hammered plate as a covering for the Altar, for the offer them before the Lord, and they became wholly. They shall be assigned to the people of Israel. So they look how God seriously take this. He takes the sensors that they used in offering Strange Fire, an authorized fire and then consumes them, right? Because of their high-handed Rebellion, then takes those 250 sensors and has the people beat them into plates that then overlay the altar where true fire supposed to be offered in worship of Yahweh. And the next to serve as a reminder, to the people, every time they understand what the altar represents and interests. And that Those sensors were put there, there's to remember the righteous, Holy Fire of God, and the presents and judgment. Continue on in history again, turn with me to 1st Kings chapter 18.

This was a bit harder to find. You'll have to just kind of open your Bible Midway through and if you if you went to Chronicles, you're too far. so just kind of work your way backwards from Chronicles of the edge over, any of the songs are Proverbs you to fart

This is now the story of Elijah the prophet and you guys remember this epic showdown at Mount Carmel with Elijah and the false prophets of Baal. But again if you pay close attention, there's a theme that develops here by this isn't just Showmanship. There's a theological theme interview Lucas, me beginning, and verse 22.

Elijah says there's did Elijah said to the people I even I owe me and left a prophet of the Lord, but Bales profits are 450 men. Bail is a false deity, that they're worshipping offering false worship. Verse 23. Lietuvos be given to us and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bowl and laid on the wood and put no fire to it, and you call upon the name of your God, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and The God Who Answers by what fire. That's always know. God is known as The God Who Answers by fire.

I think it's clearing up as we've looked at the other instances, is it not? But usually what that means, is he answers by fire by means of what destruction and judgment. That's the point. And then verse 24, he says and you call upon the name of your God okay, brother. Sorry. Continue on and verse 24 is as an all the people answered it is well-spoken. They agree to the terms of the show down and then verse 25 says that Elijah said to the prophets of Baal choose for yourselves. One bowling prepared, first for you are many and call upon the name of your God but put no fire to it. So maginus seen 450 prophets of Baal, they do this thing to set up the altar with no fire on it. Another begin to plead to their false gods and and then Elijah you know the narrative he begins to mock them. He says oh maybe he doesn't hear you, maybe right now I'm using a euphemism. He's going number 2. I said they're taking his time, but if you read, that's what he say. He's in the bathroom and he's not paying attention to you. He's too busy, relieving himself is what he says. So after this mockery, then we read in verse 31, Elijah gathers. The people notice what it says that Elijah said to all the people come near to me, Moses Posse member Moses. What did he say to the people at the base of Mount Sinai? Those of you who are on the side of the Lord, what come to me? So life is doing the same thing here. And he's trying to separate false worship with true worship. Those who are defiled by an authorized fire and false Worship in those who are consumed by the fire of God in the altar represented before them. And all the people came here to him and he prepared the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down. Elijah took 12 Stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob. And look, even recall Sinai here to whom the word of the Lord came at Sinai. Saying Israel shall be your name and with the stones he built on an altar to the name of the Lord. And he made a stretch a trench about the altar as great as would contain to see is of seed and he put the wood in order and cut the bull and pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, feel for jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering in on the wood and he said, do it a second time and the water ran around the Altar and filled the trench. Also, with water the point of year. It's just it's the show you that no amount of man's Ingenuity and effort. It can bring the fire of God. God is a fire and himself. He responds when he wants,

and, That this fire is going to come in a way, unadulterated, by the sinful efforts of men. What happens or 36? We read end of the time of The Offspring of the ablation. Elijah, the prophet came here and said, oh Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel. And that I am your servant. And then I have done all these things that your word answer me O Lord answer me that this people may know that you oh Lord Our God and that you have turned their hearts back. Okay, so this is Progressive Redemptive history, right? So now it's not the people are going to be consumed, right. I'll just going to be consumed in the people are going to believe in God. So there's a picture of where Redemptive history is going. Denver 38 says what then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed, the burnt offering and the wood and the stones, and the dust and lift up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people thought they fell on their faces and said the Lord, he is God, the Lord, he is God, and Elijah said to them, seize the prophets of Baal, let not one of them escaped and they seize them and Elijah brought them down to the brook to Sean and slaughtered them there. Again, what are you up? The death of false worshippers and the false worship? And the preservation of God's people in pure unadulterated devotion and worship to God.

I don't want us to pause here for a moment. Cuz here's here's all I want to dress a misconception that people have about Christ. Who's in the fire?

It's Christ. Crisis in the fire. If Moses were to be able to look into the tent of meeting an ex it is 40 where he wasn't allowed to come in and gaze into the fire. That is burning in the holy of holies. Who would he see Christ? He would see Christ who brought the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. You you guessed it. Christ brought judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord on the earth said to the Lord in heaven. Bring down fire. Who's the lord of the Earth? The pre-internet Christ calling to his father to bring forth judgement on a wicked City. Misconception. Is this people look at the Old Testament in. This is true in our culture, right? They look at the Old Testament or the Old Testament. God is terrible. He's terrifying, he's wrathful, he's angry. He will. He will not deal with seem likely that he will take care of since he's going to make you pay. For Sims is going to destroy, you is going to consume you. If you offer false worship that's the god of the Old Testament or the New Testament is like this like super happy guy. But the guy has to be fine. Don't worry about your sin is going to be great. Is that true? No.

It's the same Jesus. The destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah in Fire, and it's the same Jesus that would destroy Jerusalem. Who becomes like Sodom and Gomorrah in 70 AD. It's also the same Jesus that were told by the author of Hebrews and Hebrews chapter 12. Who is the god of of the consuming fire? It's the same Jesus that were told to heed his words, in fact, and Hebrews 12. What happens on the pages of the New Testament, including that section is the standards of the Old Testament are not laxed and relaxed in the New Testament. They're raised. So anytime you read the Beatitudes, Jesus shows up and he said, you heard it said, But I say unto you, that's not good news that's Terror. Why is it terrorists? Because he says, you have heard, it said You shall not murder, but I say unto you, whoever hates his brother, in his heart has already committed that sin. You say, right? It is set up to you. Now, shall not commit adultery. But I say unto you that he who looks less fully Upon A woman, has already committed adultery in his heart. He doesn't lower the standard, he raises it. Which means he instructs the people that your sinfulness is far greater than just external action it roots in the heart.

But the heart is the problem. And Purity is expected to come from the heart.

Return with me to one final story in the Old Testament or the New Testament together, talk about Pentecost verses 9 through 14.

2nd, Kings 1 verses 9 through 14.

When you there, stay there.

Beginning a 9. Before we, before we begin notice. The chapter begins with Elijah and the king of Samaria. King, it has IR. Fall sick. He falls off his with these. I don't know if he breaks something, or he gets sick, he's bedridden. And then he sends Messengers to Yahweh. For healing or who to bail.

And The Messengers are going to inquire a false gods for his healing and Elijah intercepts them. And ask them. The question. Is there not a God and all of his real that you can inquire regarding your ailment? And then he sent the messages to report this to the King & The Messengers come back and they report to the king will you were going like obedient Messengers to go deliver this message to those profits into those responsibilities. And we were intercepted by a crazy mad man right in the madman sent us with this message. And then and then they tell the king that has, I had a message and then it has Sia says, go get him. Go get Elijah. And so he sends three groups of fifty Soldiers with the head captain. Okay? And that's very important, the use of three like it is on the Mount of Mount Sinai read the third day. It's to communicate the most significant moment, right? The third day is to represent the most significant thing, that's why I told the third instance, here with the captain of 50 is to communicate a profound truth and I need a ride with me, beginning a night, then the king sent to him a captain and fifty men with his 52, add up to Elijah who was sitting on the top of a hill and said to him. Oh man of God. The king says come down but Elijah answer the captain of 50. If I am a man of God, what let Fire come down from heaven and consume you in your 50. Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his 50. Again, the king sent him to another captain and fifty men with his 50. And he's answered and said to him. Oh man of God. This is the King's order come down quickly but Elijah answered them. If I am a man of God, let Fire come down from heaven and consume you. And your fifty, then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed, him, and his 50. Again, the king sent the captain of a third of 50 with his fifty. And the third Captain 250 went up and came and fell on his knees before Elijah and entreated him. Oh man of God. Please let my life and the life of these fifty Servants of who's of yours. Remember. Moses has come to me. Elijah says, come to me and the captain here of the third group of fifty says, I'm with you. But this is a separation of allegiance to the king in Samaria. Who's offering false worship to? Now, I'm with you. Elijah. Okay, I'm with you. I'm with your Lord. I'm your servant your man of God. I'm your servant. This is Devotion to Yahweh. That's Express here. And then what happens? May the life of my life in the life of yours of the Servants of yours. Be precious in your sight. To behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the two former captains of fifty men with their 50s but now let my life be precious in your sight this captain Recognizes the need for mercy and Devotion to Yahweh. You see that? Now, turn with me to Luke chapter 9. Luke chapter 9. Some of you already know I'm going with this, but this is a precursor to Pentecost them. Very significant boy, Luke chapter 9

And I want you to begin in verse 51.

When you're there, stay there.

When the days Junior for him, that is Jesus to be taken up, he said his face to go to Jerusalem and he sent Messengers ahead of him. Who went and enter the village of the Samaritans. You see the same kind of language, even in the situation with Elijah, Elijah sends Messengers back to Samaria. That's where the king of Samaria is the same place. Regionally speaking, Jesus sends Messengers to the Samaritans to make preparations for him. Meaning that he sent Messengers to announce to the Samaritans that Christ. The King is Coming. The Chosen One, the Messiah is coming and then where we told, but the people did not receive him because his face was set for Jerusalem. That's a whole different context of the issue between Jews and Israel, Israelites, and Samaritans is whole split between these half-breeds. As the Samaritans, were known part 2 and part Gentile and then Dad, pure is real. Devoted. Israel is not so clear in this day and age.

And what are we? What are we told, and when his disciples James and John who, by the way, Mark calls, the sons of thunder, When they saw it, they said, what do they say, Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consumed them, isn't it? Coincidentally the case that they're in the same region where the king of Samaria to the same exact thing? And his captains were consumed by the same exact fire from the same. Exact God, that will not tolerate. Undevoted worshiping false worship and a worship. James and John are saying we've seen this before. We're getting this. We know where this is coming from happened before in history. This is what you want, right? Jesus, you want us to tell fire to come and consume the people rejecting you. And then what are we told? What does Jesus say? He say what he says. Luke tells us he turned and rebuked them.

Write imagine the city. I don't know how this would be a look at. It could have been just like, hey, shut up, no hard, whatever? It was a rebuke and they went on to another Village. Why? What's the point? Why? Why the rebuke? Over and see if the point.

Christ came as the greater Moses to bring about the promises of the greater conditions of the Covenant, revealed in the New Testament age. Whereby, Christ would come not as a God, who consumes his people in the fire of judgment. But one who dies for the people Sim in their place, for their penalty for their propitiation satisfying, the just and righteous wrath of God on the cross where he absorbs that rats within himself.

Shazam later. At Pentecost, send another fire. To send another fire, who will still consume? But this time he will consume Sinners without consuming them. That's the point.

The day of Pentecost is this mind bending moment in history, where the fire of God falls upon people and instead of destroying them, it destroys that which they're enslaved to namely their sin. And I don't lie. But imagine this terrifying theater often at The Vision on Mount Sinai. Now becomes the greater reality we're by the glory and presents and Holiness of God by the power of His Spirit resides within the hearts of men. Purifying them from their sin cleansing them from their iniquity. Turning broken sinful, shameful guilt-ridden vessels that are destined for raft. Into pure consecrated devoted, holy righteous blameless vessels used for God's glory, but that's the grace of God at work. That he would take vessels like, you and I Christian and you wouldn't dwell Us by the power of His Spirit. Not destroying us because he would pay for our sin, but giving us the same fire. There was part of a Mount Sinai, but this time to purge us from sin to cleanse us with the means of his forgiveness and Grace to bring us into a reality of righteousness and Holiness and unadulterated Devotion to Christ. Moses brought the people to the base of Mount Sinai, so they would fear God's cry through his death. Build resurrection. That brings us to help his heavenly father so that we would Revere him.

And worship him. And thank him. And give him glory. And honor and praise. Why? Because he's gracious.

You do not gather here on the Lord's day, to Mount Sinai. You gather to Mount, Zion?

We're told in Hebrews 12 that this is a mountain that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel Christ's blood speaks a better word than let available. That this is where we Revere and worship. God and tremble before him not because we're fearing death and condemnation, but we are so enamored by the gracious gift of forgiveness and mercy from him that we can't do anything but tremble. That's the point.

We're told the next to that when Pentecost happens tongues of fire, reside on the people. And it's that same spirit of God. The begins to cleanse the people from within. To become a wholly devoted people to Christ and you know what happens on Pentecost. Instead of three thousand people being destroyed by the Servants of God. 3000 people are saved by the Servants of God. Because the proclamation of the Gospel Goes Forth with that word, that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel and the people here. And they receive with faith and their lives are transformed, and they are in dwelled by the spirit of God to cleanse them from sin. And so here's my question to you this morning, whether you're Christian or not. The question is the same Which fire will consume you?

the fire of God's judgment and wrath which was represented in the fires of Hell or the fire of the spirit of God cleansing you from your sin within which fire will consume you

Make no mistake Christ. Consumes sin and Christ consumes Sinners. The only difference is whether or not those Sinners are found in him.

Are you in Christ have you identified with him through his death, through his resurrection? Or are you currently consumed by your sin? Because friend, if you are consumed by your sin, if your Allegiance is to your sin, then in the end, you will still be consumed but it won't be for your good. It will be for your judgment.

Christ cares about the purity of his bribes, the purity of his people, he will not tolerate sin. And yes, it's true that we're Sinners. But our fundamental Allegiance has to be to fight against sin, not to embrace it as our primary identity to fight against all that displeases. God recognized. And we've been given a new identity in Christ rather than embracing our sin. Why. So paradoxically just mind-bending to know of a Christian who says that their allegiance is to Christ and they can freely and comfortably live in sin. That's a contradiction in terms, your loyalty become is to Christ. So if you are living with somebody and you are committing sexual sin and you call yourself a Christian, you need to repent. I say that to you because the consuming fire of Christ is at your back and he will either Purge you of sin or he will destroy you. If you are constantly, embracing unrighteous anger with your wife, or your children, or your husband, and you have no regard for the devastating consequences, that that on righteous anger brings in your hot the house. Friend, the fire of God will consume that's in.