A Night to Be Ready

29/09/2019 13:18

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Date: 26 September, 2019
Text: Exodus 12:21-30
Title: A Night to Be Ready
 
Introduction:
 
I mentioned last week as we got started that I was a counselour at the Wilds. The music at the Wilds is wonderful. When Barry Webb was here you heard Matt Herbster singing on one of the recordings - he was the song leader.
Mac Lynch was over the music program. He's written many hymns and is very gifted.
During the staff training week they had choir tryouts and I tried out. A good friend of mine, Matt Collier, was our team leader and he came up to me with excitement in his voice and told me that I made it into Ocopella. This was a small choir  - maybe 15 of us - and only about 3 counselors - the rest were all full time staff.
 
One of the songs from the summer was, "Are you ready......... are you ready for the coming of the Lord? 
 
The time he will come now approaches! The task is by far not complete, so urgently work until our Saviour appears and we sit at His glorious feet."
 
The souls of the world know not Jesus, the church is so stouped in it's pride. Oh, hear Jesus call for the Holy and Mighty, obey Him and follow His holy cry!"
 
question: If you knew the LORD was coming SOON would you be ready?
 
JESUS HAS TOLD US THAT HE IS COMING SOON! Rev. 22
 
12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
 
There are different comings of the Lord Jesus.
1.) There was his coming in flesh - his incarnation.
Isa 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
2.) There is the rapture of the church - when believers are taken up to Him in the air.
1 Thes. 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
3.) There is the second coming when the antichrist will be defeated and Jesus will reign for 1,000 years.
Matthew 14:40  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
exp. The second coming is a coming of the Lord in judgment at the climax of the tribulation pouring out of God's wrath upon this earth.
 
note: Our text this morning (Exodus 12:21-30) speaks about a coming of Jehovah in the OT which is similar to the second coming of Jesus. It was a coming of Jehovah in judgment.
 
I've entitled my message, this morning, A Night to Be Ready.
 
If I was a  preacher back then, I would have been preaching this message, "You need to be ready for the coming of the LORD!"
 
exp. I didn't live back then and that coming has already taken place. So, from this text, I'm going to preach the same message - with the realization that the Lord is as surely coming again as the LORD came in our text this morning.
 
YOU NEED TO BE READY FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD? ARE YOU READY?
(Only two points this morning. 1st point - Some are ready. 2nd point - Some are not.)
 
I. Some are ready.
 ill. Are you ready are words that are used frequently in our home. It takes a bit of organization to get a family of 8 out of the house in the morning. You'll hear someone in authority saying, "Are you ready?" It means - IS EVERYTHING PREPARED FOR YOUR DEPARTURE. 
- shoes on
- do you have your jacket
- water bottle?
app. The first group we are considering this morning - had everything prepared for their departure.
A. They have chosen a lamb.
21  Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
exp. They were to take a lamb and kill it - to get ready for the coming of Jehovah.
 note: Moses is sharing with them the instruction God gave Him as recorded earlier in this chapter.
1  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
2  This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
3  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
4  And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
5  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
6  And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
exp. The sheep they were to kill was....
1.) young and innocent and spotless. "Your lamb shall be without blemish"
Acts 8:32  He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.
2.) male "a male of the first year"
Matthew 20:18  Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
19  And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
3.) familiar to them as they had lived with it for 4 days. 
v.6 "Ye shall keep it until the 14th day."
 ill. I'm a hunter. 
- God has provided for man to eat of God's creation. 
- We sometimes forget where our food comes from.
- I'm glad however, that I'm not a farmer that raises food to eat. I would have a difficult time killing an animal which had become familiar to me and eating it.
exp. This little lamb had been taken from the flock into their homes for four days before it was killed. (Lambs are like puppy dogs - cuddling, playful) I imagine some little Israelite children wept to think of the innocent little lamb whom they loved dying for them.
Joh 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Joh 1:36  And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
app. Have you gotten to know the lamb of God? Is there anything in you that cries out against the injustice of the Lamb of God being crucified for you?
4.) killed by them.
v.6 "And the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening."
exp. the children would perhaps plead for the little lambs life and the father would say to his firstborn, "Son, if this lamb does not die, you must die." IT IS GOD'S WILL THAT HE DIE IN YOUR PLACE - and so they took the knife and killed him.
app. I remind us this morning that we hold the knife that killed the Son of God.
Isa 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
exp. We may as well have punched the Lord ourselves, or spat upon him, or whipped his back, or nailed him to the tree, or poured out sin and the wrath of God upon Him - BECAUSE OUR SIN SURELY DID THAT TO HIM AT CALVARY!
 note: Some are ready - they have a lamb. - If you don't have the Lamb of God this morning, you are not ready.
B. They have applied the blood.
22  And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
23  For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
exp. They slaughtered the lamb in such a way that the blood from the lamb was collected into a bason - they were to take a bunch of hyssop - shrub which was used like a brush to put the blood upon the door post.
 note: The blood would be on the top of the door frame and the two side to protect them from the judgment of God. 
Exodus 12:12  For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13  And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
exp. If you were the firstborn son in your family, how important would it be to you that your door posts had the blood applied?
 question: How important is the blood of the lamb to our readiness for the coming of the Lord.
Heb 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
1Pe 1:2  Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
app. You are not ready to meet Jesus if you don't have his blood applied.
Ill. Jesus parable of the wedding feast - Matthew 22:12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14  For many are called, but few are chosen.
app. Do you have the blood applied to your heart? Have you been cleansed from your sin and saved from the wrath of God. 
C. They commemorate the mercy of God.
24  And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
25  And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.
26  And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?
27  That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
exp. The passover became an annual ceremony which was a constant reminder to the Jews of God's deliverance through the death of a lamb.
 ill. Dr. Ben David Lew - From Hitler's Hell to God's Peace - Got saved and God called him to start Jewish missions. He would have a passover service - to share similar truths to what we are considering this morning ABOUT THE LAMB OF GOD. It would be very interesting to have someone Jewish present this to our church.
ill. Jesus observed the passover just as Moses instructed the Jews. In the final passover, our Lord instituted a new observance for the church - the Lord's supper.
Mark 14:12  And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
13  And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.
14  And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
15  And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.
 
22  And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
23  And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
24  And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
25  Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
26  And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
 app. Those who are ready commemorate their readiness with a symbolic reminder of the death of the Lamb. We do this as a church and only those who are ready are encouraged to participate.
D. They obey God's plan of mercy.
28  And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
ill. In our study of Joseph on Thursday night, we looked at the brother's coming to Egypt and the conviction they went through. Joseph let them go on his terms....
1.) one stayed in prison.
2.) they got to take home the corn.
3.) they had to return with Benjamin.
 exp. We emphasized the fact that men often want to come to God on their terms but how they must come to God's terms BECAUSE HE IS THE RULER.
 NOTE: Someone could have thought like Cain - I don't think a blood sacrifice is necessary - so I'll just get the hyssop which has a minty aromatic smell and hang that on my door posts. The problem is that God would not accept anything but the blood of the lamb - THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DID AS THE LORD COMMANDED.
App. What about you? Are you still arguing with God about your way or have you accepted God's plan of mercy?
E. They are ready to walk out the door.
11  And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.
exp. Israel wasn't just going to see God's judgment on the Egyptians, they were going to be set free at the coming of the LORD. So, by faith they put on their travel attire and got ready for the coming of Jesus.
Ill. When Katie and I were engaged and considering where we were going to go in ministry - she suggested NYC. I said jokingly, "No way. I like hunting and fishing." You carry a gun in NYC for other reasons.... But, God led us there and gave us a wonderful first ministry. But, when Kay Lee was on her way - we resigned for the sake of the church finances - pastor said we can stay until God opened another door. We prayed God would move us before she came and WE GOT READY FOR OUR DEPARTURE PACKED OUR BOXES BY FAITH. We moved 5 days before Kay lee was born.
 app. Believer, is everything ready for departure? Since our Lord is as surely coming as He came on the passover night, is there anything you need to get sorted so that you are ready for your departure.
Those who are ready, are ready to walk out the door.
 
WE NEED TO BE READY FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD. SOME ARE READY....
 
II. Some are not.
 ill. Did you enjoy playing hide and go seek when you were younger. I can still remember hiding behind my parents chest of drawers - trying not to laugh - hearing those well known words, "Ready or not hear I come." 
exp. The count has been given - the time to get ready is up - the person is coming regardless of whether or not you were wise enough to get ready in time.
 note: God has been very patient - but He will come whether mankind is ready or not.
A. The LORD will come to slay them.
29  And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, 
exp. This is a tough punishment upon this wicked nation. Was God cruel to exact this judgment on Egypt?
 ill. With some of the conflicts in the world right now, strong nations are showing military restraint.
South Korea this week fired warning shots at a wooden boat that drifted into it's waters. They then realized the boat had mechanical problems and sent a mechanic to fix it. 
exp. WARNING SHOTS SAY - don't continue on that path or your risk grave judgment.
ill. God fired 9 warning shots at Pharoah as he sent plague after plague to get Pharoah to let His people go. He refused and God did to Pharoah just what he had warned he would do.
Exodus 4:22  And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: 23  And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.
exp. God had warned him of this judgment!
 question: What has God done to keep this world from Hell?
1.) He's given them His Word.
Joh 20:31  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
2.) He's given them preachers.
1Co 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
3.) He's given them His Son.
Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
app. Those who are not ready will perish despite the incredible mercy of a loving God who fired warning shot after warning shot over their bow.
B. They are from all walks of life.
v.29 ....from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
Exodus 11:5  And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.
exp. No firstborn would escape the judgment of God. No matter how priviliged or under priviliged.
Even the beasts of the field which the Egyptians owned would suffer at his coming.
 Question: Will any man be able to escape facing the Son of God at His coming? The Great Courtroom is going to be Open and the Judge (Jesus) will take his seat on the great white throne.
Revelation 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
app. You could be a great atheist who has a boat named after him or you could be an unknown native in a jungle forest - but regardless - when Jesus comes back the wrath of God will fall on both equally.
C. They will weep and cry.
30  And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
Exodus 11:6  And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.
ill. A couple years ago my wife had swelling in her knee which required a midnight trip to A and E. Someone was in that word who was in awful pain. It was troubling to hear the agonizing cries.
 exp. That sound does not begin to compare with the sounds of those in the fires of hell.
Mat 22:13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 note: In contrast there was no weeping in the home of the Israelites that night. The coming of the LORD had set them free.
app. Which will it be friend? Agonizing cries and weeping or joy? Will you be ready?
 
conclusion: The song - "Are you ready" was sung at a fast pace to emphasize the urgent need to be ready.
 
Are you ready for the coming of the Lord? Do you have the Lamb, the blood, the ordinance, the obedience?
 

 

Or are you not ready? He's coming ready or not. Judgment will come. Nobody will escape. You will be sorry?  THIS IS A NIGHT FOR WHICH TO BE READY!

Date: 26 September, 2019

Text: Exodus 12:21-30

Title: A Night to Be Ready

 

Introduction:

 

I mentioned last week as we got started that I was a counselour at the Wilds. The music at the Wilds is wonderful. When Barry Webb was here you heard Matt Herbster singing on one of the recordings - he was the song leader.

Mac Lynch was over the music program. He's written many hymns and is very gifted.

During the staff training week they had choir tryouts and I tried out. A good friend of mine, Matt Collier, was our team leader and he came up to me with excitement in his voice and told me that I made it into Ocopella. This was a small choir  - maybe 15 of us - and only about 3 counselors - the rest were all full time staff.

 

One of the songs from the summer was, "Are you ready......... are you ready for the coming of the Lord? 

 

The time he will come now approaches! The task is by far not complete, so urgently work until our Saviour appears and we sit at His glorious feet."

 

The souls of the world know not Jesus, the church is so stouped in it's pride. Oh, hear Jesus call for the Holy and Mighty, obey Him and follow His holy cry!"

 

question: If you knew the LORD was coming SOON would you be ready?

 

JESUS HAS TOLD US THAT HE IS COMING SOON! Rev. 22

 

12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

21  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

There are different comings of the Lord Jesus.

1.) There was his coming in flesh - his incarnation.

Isa 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

2.) There is the rapture of the church - when believers are taken up to Him in the air.

1 Thes. 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

3.) There is the second coming when the antichrist will be defeated and Jesus will reign for 1,000 years.

Matthew 14:40  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

45  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

47  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

48  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

49  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

exp. The second coming is a coming of the Lord in judgment at the climax of the tribulation pouring out of God's wrath upon this earth.

 

note: Our text this morning (Exodus 12:21-30) speaks about a coming of Jehovah in the OT which is similar to the second coming of Jesus. It was a coming of Jehovah in judgment.

 

I've entitled my message, this morning, A Night to Be Ready.

 

If I was a  preacher back then, I would have been preaching this message, "You need to be ready for the coming of the LORD!"

 

exp. I didn't live back then and that coming has already taken place. So, from this text, I'm going to preach the same message - with the realization that the Lord is as surely coming again as the LORD came in our text this morning.

 

YOU NEED TO BE READY FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD? ARE YOU READY?

(Only two points this morning. 1st point - Some are ready. 2nd point - Some are not.)

 

I. Some are ready.

 ill. Are you ready are words that are used frequently in our home. It takes a bit of organization to get a family of 8 out of the house in the morning. You'll hear someone in authority saying, "Are you ready?" It means - IS EVERYTHING PREPARED FOR YOUR DEPARTURE. 

- shoes on

- do you have your jacket

- water bottle?

app. The first group we are considering this morning - had everything prepared for their departure.

A. They have chosen a lamb.

21  Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.

exp. They were to take a lamb and kill it - to get ready for the coming of Jehovah.

 note: Moses is sharing with them the instruction God gave Him as recorded earlier in this chapter.

1  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,

2  This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

3  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:

4  And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.

5  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

6  And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

exp. The sheep they were to kill was....

1.) young and innocent and spotless. "Your lamb shall be without blemish"

Acts 8:32  He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.

2.) male "a male of the first year"

Matthew 20:18  Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,

19  And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

3.) familiar to them as they had lived with it for 4 days. 

v.6 "Ye shall keep it until the 14th day."

 ill. I'm a hunter. 

- God has provided for man to eat of God's creation. 

- We sometimes forget where our food comes from.

- I'm glad however, that I'm not a farmer that raises food to eat. I would have a difficult time killing an animal which had become familiar to me and eating it.

exp. This little lamb had been taken from the flock into their homes for four days before it was killed. (Lambs are like puppy dogs - cuddling, playful) I imagine some little Israelite children wept to think of the innocent little lamb whom they loved dying for them.

Joh 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Joh 1:36  And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

app. Have you gotten to know the lamb of God? Is there anything in you that cries out against the injustice of the Lamb of God being crucified for you?

4.) killed by them.

v.6 "And the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening."

exp. the children would perhaps plead for the little lambs life and the father would say to his firstborn, "Son, if this lamb does not die, you must die." IT IS GOD'S WILL THAT HE DIE IN YOUR PLACE - and so they took the knife and killed him.

app. I remind us this morning that we hold the knife that killed the Son of God.

Isa 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

exp. We may as well have punched the Lord ourselves, or spat upon him, or whipped his back, or nailed him to the tree, or poured out sin and the wrath of God upon Him - BECAUSE OUR SIN SURELY DID THAT TO HIM AT CALVARY!

 note: Some are ready - they have a lamb. - If you don't have the Lamb of God this morning, you are not ready.

B. They have applied the blood.

22  And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.

23  For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

exp. They slaughtered the lamb in such a way that the blood from the lamb was collected into a bason - they were to take a bunch of hyssop - shrub which was used like a brush to put the blood upon the door post.

 note: The blood would be on the top of the door frame and the two side to protect them from the judgment of God. 

Exodus 12:12  For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13  And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

exp. If you were the firstborn son in your family, how important would it be to you that your door posts had the blood applied?

 question: How important is the blood of the lamb to our readiness for the coming of the Lord.

Heb 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

1Pe 1:2  Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

app. You are not ready to meet Jesus if you don't have his blood applied.

Ill. Jesus parable of the wedding feast - Matthew 22:12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

app. Do you have the blood applied to your heart? Have you been cleansed from your sin and saved from the wrath of God. 

C. They commemorate the mercy of God.

24  And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

25  And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.

26  And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?

27  That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.

exp. The passover became an annual ceremony which was a constant reminder to the Jews of God's deliverance through the death of a lamb.

 ill. Dr. Ben David Lew - From Hitler's Hell to God's Peace - Got saved and God called him to start Jewish missions. He would have a passover service - to share similar truths to what we are considering this morning ABOUT THE LAMB OF GOD. It would be very interesting to have someone Jewish present this to our church.

ill. Jesus observed the passover just as Moses instructed the Jews. In the final passover, our Lord instituted a new observance for the church - the Lord's supper.

Mark 14:12  And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?

13  And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.

14  And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

15  And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

 

22  And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

23  And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

24  And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

25  Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

26  And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

 app. Those who are ready commemorate their readiness with a symbolic reminder of the death of the Lamb. We do this as a church and only those who are ready are encouraged to participate.

D. They obey God's plan of mercy.

28  And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

ill. In our study of Joseph on Thursday night, we looked at the brother's coming to Egypt and the conviction they went through. Joseph let them go on his terms....

1.) one stayed in prison.

2.) they got to take home the corn.

3.) they had to return with Benjamin.

 exp. We emphasized the fact that men often want to come to God on their terms but how they must come to God's terms BECAUSE HE IS THE RULER.

 NOTE: Someone could have thought like Cain - I don't think a blood sacrifice is necessary - so I'll just get the hyssop which has a minty aromatic smell and hang that on my door posts. The problem is that God would not accept anything but the blood of the lamb - THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DID AS THE LORD COMMANDED.

App. What about you? Are you still arguing with God about your way or have you accepted God's plan of mercy?

E. They are ready to walk out the door.

11  And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.

exp. Israel wasn't just going to see God's judgment on the Egyptians, they were going to be set free at the coming of the LORD. So, by faith they put on their travel attire and got ready for the coming of Jesus.

Ill. When Katie and I were engaged and considering where we were going to go in ministry - she suggested NYC. I said jokingly, "No way. I like hunting and fishing." You carry a gun in NYC for other reasons.... But, God led us there and gave us a wonderful first ministry. But, when Kay Lee was on her way - we resigned for the sake of the church finances - pastor said we can stay until God opened another door. We prayed God would move us before she came and WE GOT READY FOR OUR DEPARTURE PACKED OUR BOXES BY FAITH. We moved 5 days before Kay lee was born.

 app. Believer, is everything ready for departure? Since our Lord is as surely coming as He came on the passover night, is there anything you need to get sorted so that you are ready for your departure.

Those who are ready, are ready to walk out the door.

 

WE NEED TO BE READY FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD. SOME ARE READY....

 

II. Some are not.

 ill. Did you enjoy playing hide and go seek when you were younger. I can still remember hiding behind my parents chest of drawers - trying not to laugh - hearing those well known words, "Ready or not hear I come." 

exp. The count has been given - the time to get ready is up - the person is coming regardless of whether or not you were wise enough to get ready in time.

 note: God has been very patient - but He will come whether mankind is ready or not.

A. The LORD will come to slay them.

29  And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, 

exp. This is a tough punishment upon this wicked nation. Was God cruel to exact this judgment on Egypt?

 ill. With some of the conflicts in the world right now, strong nations are showing military restraint.

South Korea this week fired warning shots at a wooden boat that drifted into it's waters. They then realized the boat had mechanical problems and sent a mechanic to fix it. 

exp. WARNING SHOTS SAY - don't continue on that path or your risk grave judgment.

ill. God fired 9 warning shots at Pharoah as he sent plague after plague to get Pharoah to let His people go. He refused and God did to Pharoah just what he had warned he would do.

Exodus 4:22  And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: 23  And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

exp. God had warned him of this judgment!

 question: What has God done to keep this world from Hell?

1.) He's given them His Word.

Joh 20:31  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

2.) He's given them preachers.

1Co 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

3.) He's given them His Son.

Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

app. Those who are not ready will perish despite the incredible mercy of a loving God who fired warning shot after warning shot over their bow.

B. They are from all walks of life.

v.29 ....from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

Exodus 11:5  And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.

exp. No firstborn would escape the judgment of God. No matter how priviliged or under priviliged.

Even the beasts of the field which the Egyptians owned would suffer at his coming.

 Question: Will any man be able to escape facing the Son of God at His coming? The Great Courtroom is going to be Open and the Judge (Jesus) will take his seat on the great white throne.

Revelation 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

app. You could be a great atheist who has a boat named after him or you could be an unknown native in a jungle forest - but regardless - when Jesus comes back the wrath of God will fall on both equally.

C. They will weep and cry.

30  And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

Exodus 11:6  And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.

ill. A couple years ago my wife had swelling in her knee which required a midnight trip to A and E. Someone was in that word who was in awful pain. It was troubling to hear the agonizing cries.

 exp. That sound does not begin to compare with the sounds of those in the fires of hell.

Mat 22:13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 note: In contrast there was no weeping in the home of the Israelites that night. The coming of the LORD had set them free.

app. Which will it be friend? Agonizing cries and weeping or joy? Will you be ready?

 

conclusion: The song - "Are you ready" was sung at a fast pace to emphasize the urgent need to be ready.

 

Are you ready for the coming of the Lord? Do you have the Lamb, the blood, the ordinance, the obedience?

 

 

Or are you not ready? He's coming ready or not. Judgment will come. Nobody will escape. You will be sorry?  THIS IS A NIGHT FOR WHICH TO BE READY!

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