LISTEN TO THE PROPHET, JESUS (Outline)
November 27, 2022 – Advent 1 – DEUTERONOMY 18:15-22
INTRO: The busy, busy hectic holiday schedule is upon us. The world messages many distractions. They want us to listen to their appeals to buy and buy more before it is too late. There is merchandise for every need. Real or not. It is good for us to gather ever closer to God’s message. His Word. Our souls need to listen to Jesus. Lord, give us open ears to hear. Hearts to believe. Amen. The early apostles reminded the crowds of the Lord’s promise. “Moses said to the fathers: The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet from your brothers who is like me. Listen to everything he tells you” (ACTS 3:22). LISTEN TO THE PROPHET, JESUS. I. Jesus is our mediator, brother. II. Jesus always speaks the truth.
I. JESUS IS OUR MEDIATOR, BROTHER
A. Verse 15. “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet…from your brothers. Listen to him.”
1. This future prophet was to be like Moses. Moses was the greatest prophet of God.
2. This future prophet would be even greater. Not Joshua. Not others. Only One, Jesus.
B. Verse 16. The Israelites had asked for this very thing. They were at Mt. Horeb.
1. Lightning, thunder, dark clouds covered the mountain. The sight scared the people.
2. They did not want to hear or speak to God. Might die. Sent Moses in their place.
3. Verse 17. The Lord said this was a good thing. They asked for a go-between. Mediator.
C. Verse 18. The Lord repeated the promise of a prophet for his people.
1. This prophet would be from among their brothers. Would be like them. Human flesh.
2. This prophet would be a faithful prophet to proclaim God’s message faithfully.
D. We live in the time of the fulfillment of the Lord’s promises. Jesus is the Prophet from the house and line of David. He came from the brothers of the Israelites. Jesus told the crowds that he did not speak on his own. The words he spoke were his Father’s words. Everything he did was to carry out the will of his Father. The Son of God became the Son of man. Jesus hid his divine glory inside human flesh. Only in this way was the Son of God able to live, die, and rise again from the dead. Only in this way was Jesus the perfect Mediator. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time” (1 TIMOTHY 2:5, 6). Jesus pleads our case before his Father. Jesus wins: His righteousness for our unrighteousness.
E. We have in the Scriptures this divine mystery: the Son of God is also the Son of Man. The eternal divine is clothed with mortal humanity. A truth worth examining. Pondering. Just as amazing is the truth that Jesus would not only be our brother but call us brothers (this Bible term as used includes sisters, all people). Brothers. Think about that. A perfect brother. Earthly family relationships are all too often fractured. This is not the case with our perfect Brother, Jesus. “For he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified all have one Father. For that reason, he is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says: I will declare your name to my brothers. Within the congregation I will sing your praise” (HEBREWS 2:11, 12). Jesus fulfilled the office of prophet proclaiming God’s name. Praise. AND IS our Brother!
F. Our complete solution for our eternal salvation is found in Christ alone. The world offers problems. Jesus is the remedy. The world offers anxiety. Jesus is our calmness. The world messages: Eat, drink, and be merry. Sounds so good. Appeals only to our sinful nature. Jesus provides complete satisfaction for every sin-sick soul. "…he (Jesus) poured out his life to death, and he let himself be counted with rebellious sinners. He himself carried the sin of many, and he intercedes for the rebels” (ISAIAH 53:12). We listen to the Prophet, Jesus. The High Priest, Jesus. Our Brother, Jesus. Jesus pleads our case. Victorious!
LISTEN TO THE PROPHET, JESUS. Jesus is our Mediator, Brother.
II. JESUS ALWAYS SPEAKS THE TRUTH
A. Verse 19. The Lord warned those who do not listen to the words of the prophet. God’s words.
1. When people reject the prophet or his words they will be held to account. Face rejection.
2. Verse 20. Even stronger warning for the prophets. Especially the false prophets.
3. The false prophets will face death. This would be an eternal death – punishment in hell.
a. False prophets use own words. b. Use false gods’ words. c. Not use God’s word.
B. Verse 21. “How can we know that the Lord has not spoken that word?” People might wonder.
1. Biblical times, especially Old Testament times, not much was yet written down for reference.
2. People needed to listen very carefully. Listen to the Lord. Learn his word. Believe it.
C. Verses 22. If the prophet does not speak the truth it will not happen. It simply is not truth. False.
1. They were not to be frightened by words of false prophets. They often used threats.
2. Do this or else. Dishonest tactic of false prophets tried to scare people into obedience.
D. How do we know the difference between false prophets and God’s prophets? Listen to the Prophet, Jesus. False prophets sound like they are telling the truth. All too often it is their truth. Not God’s truth. Listen to Jesus. His warning. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them” (MATTHEW 7:15). A false prophet does not identify himself as false. He comes disguised but inwardly dangerous. Watch out. False prophets promise worldly prosperity. False. They change God’s gospel into law. Deceptive. Do this or else. Do this for blessing. Do more. God’s truth reminds us that Jesus has done everything for us.
E. How do we know? Listen the Lord’s prophet. Listen to Jesus. We listen to Jesus when we gather together for worship. Our loving, heavenly Father invites us to his house to listen to Jesus. Hear God’s Word. Believe God’s truth. Grow in our faith. We listen to Jesus when we read our Bibles daily. The Lord God of Armies speaks to us. He opens our eyes and ears to see and hear more clearly all things divine. We listen to Jesus when we study God’s word. “Your words are a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. The sum of your word is truth…All your righteous judgment is eternal” (PSALM 119:105, 160).
F. To listen to the prophet Jesus is not natural. To read and study God’s word is not automatic. To know God better takes effort. Our sinful nature does not want learn about the love of Jesus. Our world likes to message that our time is too important for reading the Bible. Or going to church. The devil uses everything in his power to distract us from listening to the Prophet. “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up with the result being salvation. Certainly, you have tasted that the Lord is good!” (1 PETER 2:2, 3). Have you tasted that the Lord is good?!? Of course you have. We all have. Every day God is good. Great. Does not treat us as our sins deserve. We begin with the basics. We continue listening. Hearing. Reading. Learning. Believing. Growing faith. God blesses us.
CONC.: There are lots of messages out there. We hear conflicting information constantly. Things are falling apart. Things are getting better. Worldly messaging is frightening. Confusing. Overwhelming. It becomes all the more important for us to listen to the Prophet. Jesus. “The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh does not help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (JOHN 6:63). Jesus is our Mediator. Our Brother. Our Way. Life. TRUTH. LISTEN TO THE PROPHET, JESUS. His word means everything to us. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
ADVENT 1 rdgs.: ISAIAH 2:1-5; PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7; MATTHEW 21:1-11; PSALM 18
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