Sermon for Lord's Day July 1, 2022 "Soli Deo Gloria!

Not well hold up very long. Damn, how long is your timer set for for the sermon? Okay, so and says we have an hour If I can if my voice will hold up that long today. Like to us to begin. We go to prayer corporately together here.

I'd like to read Paul's prayer To the Ephesians, but if you want to go ahead and mark your spots Turn to Luke chapter 17 that will be the scripture text today. But let's pray before we read the scripture text.

And again, I'm going to read the scripture of Paul's prayer to the Ephesian church. The Apostle Paul states that for this reason I bow my knees before the father From whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.

That according to the riches of his glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through his spirit in your inner man. So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. That you being rooted And grounded in love May have strength to comprehend with all the saints.

What is the breadth and length and height and depth? Oh the love of Christ be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do Exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask for thing According to the power that works within us to him.

Be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever.

Man.

Make my voice worse. I'm going to turn that off. Stand with us if you would please to honor the reading of God's Word Luke chapter 17, and we're going to be reading verses 11 through verse 19 in your hearing.

These are the words of the Living God. On the way to Jerusalem. He was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. It has as he entered a village. He was met by ten lepers who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices saying.

Jesus.

Master have mercy on us. When he saw them, he said to them go and show yourselves to the priests. As they went they were cleansed. Then one of them when he saw that he was healed turned back Praising God with a loud voice and he fell on his face at Jesus feet giving him things.

Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered we're not ten cleansed. Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God Except for this foreigner. And he said to him rise and go your way.

Your faith has made you well thus far as the reading of God's Holy Word. You may be seated If you are taking notes today. And if I were to put a caption or a header on the sermon today, it would be simply this Sully Dale Gloria Glory to God.

Alone.

Christ’s Journey to Jerusalem and the Purpose of Redemption

In this passage what we're going to look at. Several things. Really four things chiefly that we're going to see in this passage what's in view in this text. I'll go ahead and give those four things to you up front if you want to leave spaces between them first of all and.

Foremost.

What we see in verse 11 is that Jesus as He journeys still towards Jerusalem. That his purpose is Unflinching that his aim is unwavering. That is we read back in Chapter 13 of Luke's gospel. He went his way through towns and villages teaching and journeying toward.

Jerusalem.

So we see this Jesus steadfast journey to the cross is Primarily what is in view here? Jesus steadfast journey to the cross. If you hear nothing else today It is not the miracles in which That we read about it and we take in as we read through the gospel accounts.

It is not the miracles that bring salvation. It is the person and work of Jesus Christ himself. Secondly what we're going to see in view here in the text are The ten lepers who are crying out for mercy.

The ten lepers who are crying out for mercy. They were not decreeing and declaring. Nor were they demanding that Jesus had mercy on them. But they were desperately pleading for Jesus to have mercy upon them.

Anytime we approach the Lord we ought to approach him with the assumed with the assumption and with the understanding That he does not owe us anything. But that everything every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above.

From the father of lights with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning we owe our lives to him. The third thing that we're going to look at in the text today notice quite. Specifically, we're going to see that Jesus directs these lepers To his own law in Moses.

We're going to see that Jesus directs these lepers to his word in the law of Moses. Particularly in Leviticus chapter 14. We're going to give a quick run-through on Leviticus 14 as We will see the Levitical law for the leprous man.

And.

Might I add we see an atonement a picture of the temporary atonement which Typifies the eternal sacrifice that Jesus was to make which is by the way Why he was on his way to Jerusalem to die as a substitutionary atonement for our sins.

So in Leviticus, we're going to see the law and the gospel and we're going to see that the law pointed them. Jesus Christ God's own son pointed these lepers to his law which in turn points them to the atonement.

Of Jesus Christ and.

Fourth of all.

Lastly, we're going to see the leprosy cleansed and the one that returns to give God.

The glory.

The leprosy cleansed and the one that returns to give God the glory and a note here.

It is.

Sinful and Ungracious if you want to put this down it is sinful and ungracious. Not to give God the praise and honor for what he has done sinful and ungracious. With all that being laid out before us.

Let's dive right into the text in verse 11. We see and we read the words of the gospel writer Luke here on the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee on his way to Jerusalem.

We see Jesus unwavering commitment to seeing through to completion his work of redemption. We see this his unwavering and unflinching dedication to becoming the sacrifice for the sins of the world in Hebrews Chapter 2 if you want to turn over to Hebrews or just make a note of it.

Nevertheless, we're going to read from Hebrew some Hebrews chapter 2 particularly beginning there in verse 9. The scripture states. But we see him Who for a little while was made lower than the angels namely Jesus?

He was crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death. So that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he for whom and by whom all things exist in bringing many sons to glory.

That he should make the founder the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all are one. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers saying I will tell of your name to my brothers in The midst of the congregation.

I will sing your praise and again I will put my trust in him and again. Behold, I and the children God has given me. For the scripture states here in verse 14. Since therefore the children shared flesh and blood he himself likewise partook of the same things.

That through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death. That is the devil and he should deliver all those who through fear of death. Were subject to lifelong slavery for surely it is not to angels that he helps.

But he helps the offspring of Abraham therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect so that he might become a Faithful and a merciful high priest in service to God. Why to make propitiation for the sins of.

The world.

For because he suffered but for because he himself has suffered when tempted He is able to help them Also who is tempted. If you go over to the fifth chapter of Hebrews and you pick up in verse 7 the Word of God states this.

In the days of his flesh Jesus offered up prayers and supplications With loud cries and tears to him who was able to save him from death and he was heard Because of his reverence Although he was a son.

He learned obedience through what he suffered and being made perfect He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him being designated by By God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

And then if you jump over to chapter 7 of Hebrews beginning in verse 18 the Word of God states this. For on one hand a Former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness For the law made nothing perfect.

But on the other hand a better hope is introduced through which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath for those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath. But this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind.

You are a priest forever. This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many a number because they were prevented by death from continuing in their office. But Jesus but he holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever.

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost Those who draw near to God through him since he always lives to make intercession for them. Again in chapter 9 verse 11 of Hebrews the Word of God states.

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come Then through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands that is not of the creation He entered once and for all into the holy place.

Not by means of the blood of bulls and of goats, but by means of his own.

Blood thus.

Securing.

Eternal redemption. This is what is in view. This is what is in light when we read that simple phrase there in Luke 1711 that he journeyed to Jerusalem. This was the aim. This was the end and this was the goal.

Our.

Redeemer Church our Redeemer. Actively fulfilled the law of God. He actively and completely fulfilled the law of God and soon in context of the scriptures here soon Would passively take upon himself the wrath of Almighty God.

Bury the burden of our sins on the cross. Oh Solely deo gloria. To God alone be the glory.

There's a song called.

Hallelujah, what a Savior. Man of sorrows. What a name for the Son of God who came ruined sinners to reclaim. Hallelujah, what a Savior. Stand unclean. No one else could in my place condemned. He stood now his nearness is my good.

Hallelujah, what a Savior. Hallelujah praise to the one whose blood has pardoned me. Oh what a Savior. Redeemer and King your love has rescued me. Lifted up he was to die. It is finished was his cry now in heaven lifted high.

Guess what? Hallelujah, what a Savior. When he comes our glorious King all his ransomed home. To bring then a new this song will sing. Hallelujah, what a Savior. I'm reminded just at this moment of the psalmist as he writes over in Psalm 100.

Psalm 150. Actually Psalm 150 the psalmist writes praise the Lord praise God in his sanctuary. Praise him in his mighty heavens. You know what he's saying right there. Hallelujah when he says praise the Lord.

Hallelujah.

Lift and magnify the name of Yahweh. Hallelujah. Praise him for his mighty deeds. Praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with trumpet sound. Praise him with lute and harp. Praise him with tambourine and dance.

Praise him with strings and pop. Praise him with sounding cymbals. Praise him with loud clashing cymbals. Let everything that has breath Praise the Lord. And as if it wasn't enough he puts an exclamation on it and he says it one more time.

Praise the Lord. Hallelujah, what a Savior. Secondly, let's notice as he entered a village. He was met by ten lepers who stood at a distance. We see this in the text now. Leprosy. Leprosy is referred to a several times in the Bible.

It's important to note that that These ten men these ten lepers. They were all had the same sickness. They all had the same disease and that of leprosy. Again, leprosy is referred to many times in the Bible both in the old and in the New Testament.

Jesus is said to have healed persons affected by leprosy and There are a handful of people throughout the Old Testament who were said to have had leprosy. So it's not anything new that has come up here to mention.

Let's let's think about for just a moment. Let's consider let's mention just a couple in the Old Testament now. Leprosy wasn't a poor man's just a poor man's disease. Leprosy was not limited to the poor folks.

I think we would be safe in saying as well that leprosy when we read it in the scriptures is analogous to sin. Sickness itself is a result of the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden and The Bible tells us clearly that the wages of sin is death.

But there's good news. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Now leprosy befell not only the poor but leprosy befell the rich and The well-esteemed if you turn over to 2nd Chronicles in the 26th chapter, we'll find this.

We'll skim through a few of those verses. But in 2nd Chronicles chapter 26, we read the account of King Uzziah. By all accounts King Uzziah was a good king. By the way, this is the same Uzziah that Isaiah prophesied.

In chapter 6 of the prophecy of Isaiah in the year that King Uzziah died. I saw the Lord high and lifted up by all accounts. Uzziah was a good king. He was a good leader of the people and the Bible says that he did what was right in the sight of the Lord.

Until.

Until he assumed a place and until he assumed a role that the Lord had never intended for him to have the scripture states in 2nd Chronicles 26 verse 16. But when he was strong he grew proud. Now what you'll read up to verse 16.

Do you want to read that this week in the context of that? He amassed a great and a mighty army. He hadn't built great machines of war to fight. He was loved by everybody. But as his popularity grew as his strengths as it were grew.

So did his pride and the scripture says he grew proud. And he grew proud the scripture states to his destruction. The scriptures teach us that a haughty spirit goes before destruction and pride goes before a fall.

For the scripture states in in 2nd Chronicles 26 16 he was Unfaithful to the Lord his God. He was unfaithful to Yahweh and Entered the temple of the Lord entered the temple of Yahweh to burn incense on the altar of incense.

Now it doesn't seem if you don't understand what's going on here. Join, the crowd most folks wouldn't picking up right here. Some folks might say what was the big deal? What was the problem about what he did?

Well as we read further We'll find out the scripture says but as a riot the priest went in after him with 80 priests of the Lord who were men of valor as A riot of the priests in an 80. Mighty men of valor who were also priests now.

Let's just go ahead and do away with the idea that God's men ought to be wimpy little sissified Kowtowed bowing down to every whim of the world. Before they can be certified as a preacher and ought to be fit my friend.

We find in the Old Testament that men of God were just that they were men of God. They were mighty men of valor men who stood for what is right? God helped our churches in our land and our preachers in our land to stand for what is right.

Now this does not mean church. Do not misunderstand me. This does not mean that I'm going around looking for a fight or that serves going around looking for a fighter. The kitty goes around looking for a fighter that Doug goes around looking for a Fight.

By the way, Pastor Doug is here for all the way from Connecticut. It doesn't mean we go around looking for a fight but what it does mean is that when the fight comes that we are going to stand and that we are going to as Pastors and shepherds laid out our lives for the flock of God.

Come hail or come high water. That was kind of a rabbit trail. But let's get back on track here as a riot the priest went in after him. So the problem with what use I did was that only the priests were allowed to serve in the temple the priests of the Aaronic priesthood.

But what the king did he went in and he thought he was going to do what the priest thought to be doing. Which was contrary to what God had previously said.

Any.

Transgression of God's law is.

Sin, and so we see he sinned against the Lord in verse 18. And they withstood these 80 men. They withstood King Uzziah and they said to him it is not for you Uzziah to burn incense to the Lord but for the priests the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense.

Go out of the sanctuary for you have done wrong and it will bring you no honor from the Lord your God. Then the Bible says Uzziah was angry. Pride began to rise up in his heart now. He had a censure in his hand to burn incense and when he became angry with the priests.

What he who to get mad at the priests what were the priests doing simply stating God's Word? It wasn't nothing personal against the priests. It was a sin against the Holy God. What's the problem? And so Uzziah got angry?

He had the censure in his hand ready to wave the censure off it on the altar of incense. But as soon as he got mad the scripture says that leprosy broke out on his forehead not funny and they rushed him out quickly.

The Bible says has arrived the chief priest and all the priests looked at him and Behold, he was leprous in his forehead and they rushed him out quickly and he himself hurried to go out. Because the Lord had struck him he was in a rush to get in there to do what he wanted to do.

But when he realized that God is the Lord He was ready to get out of there. And so verse 21 states King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his.

Death.

He was never healed from leprosy. He was a leper until the day of his death and being a leper He lived in a separate house where he was Excluded from the house of the Lord. There were there were Levitical standards where leprous men couldn't come in amongst the assembly of the Saints.

Now this is a horrible place to be when you think about this when you consider what God has done That he said his only son to be the sin Bear to bear our sins on the cross and that having believed in him that we are brought into the Fellowship of the Saints welcomed into the assembly of the Saints of God.

Imagine.

Not being welcomed in the assembly of the Saints of God. What an awful place to be. So it's important for us to note. He died with leprosy. He was never healed of the disease in a sense very much. He was separated for the remainder of his days.

Next we'll see a man named Naaman. Naaman. Naaman, however, you'd like to pronounce it 2nd Kings chapter 5. In 2nd Kings chapter 5 verse 1 We read who Naaman was. Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Syria.

He was a great man with his master and in high favor. Because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor.

But.

He was a leper.

Now.

Kind of wrestled with this for just a little bit thinking about this. Why was he allowed to to be in the public eye? Was he allowed to do things well because the Assyrians weren't God's people they did not have the law of God.

There weren't these strict standards against that if you were able to do something you just do it. And so Naaman was a mighty man of valor. He was the scripture says but he was a leper. Now in this passage we see that God in his providence brought about the Circumstances that even though the Assyrians were the enemies of God's people that God Was still able to heal and to redeem those who were his enemies.

We see this in the Old Testament. What does the New Testament tell us while we were yet sinners Christ died for us? That's what the scriptures tell us. What a glorious truth we see here. There was a little girl from Israel who had been taken captive by the Assyrians when Israel was defeated.

There was a little girl from Israel who had been taken captive by the Assyrians and in this God Demonstrated that he is able to use any circumstance for his Glory, this is why church that we can have faith in God that God has Everything under control.

That he sits upon his throne on high and he looks down low upon us. He can use any circumstance for his glory. Now the scripture proves this in verse 2nd Kings chapter 5 verse 2 the scripture says now the Assyrians on one of their raids Had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife.

The Lord providentially had this little girl in Naaman's household. Naaman who was this mighty man of valor but he was a leper and The Bible says that the little girl said to her mistress. Which is Naaman's wife would that my Lord were with the prophet who's in Samaria.

He would cure him of his leprosy. So Naaman went in and told his Lord thus and so spoke the little girl from the land of Israel. In the midst of that place in the midst of her captivity this little girl's captivity she was able to point Naaman to the truth and the living God and Despite his leprous condition He was able to be healed by the Lord.

Now this isn't to say that Naaman's deal that Naaman's Instance was a example of easy believism because what we're going to see from the text it wasn't it wasn't. Just that he heard the word it could be healed and all of a sudden boom.

He was healed for the scripture states that Naaman came with horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha the prophet's house.

And.

Elisha sent a messenger to him saying go and wash in the Jordan seven times and your flesh shall be Restored and you shall be clean. Now this sounds simple enough, doesn't it? But Naaman the Bible says.

Naaman didn't say yee-haw and go wash The Bible says. But Naaman was angry and he went away.

Saying.

Behold I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord is God and wave His hand over the place and cure this leper. Everybody wants the fantastic and then Naaman makes this statement are not Abana and Farpar the rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel.

Could I not wash in them and be clean. So he turned and he went away in a rage. So he his servants came near and his servants said to him my father. It is a great word that the prophet is spoken to you.

Will you not do it? Has he actually said to you wash and be clean? It's as if they said all that he said was washing be clean. So he went down and he dipped himself seven times in the Jordan according to the word of the man of God and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and He was clean.

Then he returned to the man of God he and all his company and he came and he stood before him and he said Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel. So now accept a present from your servant.

Let's be honest right here. We need not to assume to ourselves that we are any better than Naaman in Thinking that what was wrong with him acting so foolish to disregard. The command of the man of God at that time.

The first command that was given to him was a very simple command given by Elisha the prophet. For when upon hearing the gospel. Let's consider. Let's make this personal when upon hearing the gospel for maybe the first time we may think to ourselves.

The second time. And that's not for me. I'm too far gone or maybe the thousand times. Surely, there's a better way in our world in which we live. In our world in which we live. There seems to be the idea that the gospel the simplicity of the gospel message.

It's not enough to save sinners, but my friends in.

Relation.

There is no other name which is named under heaven or earth That can be named that man can be saved outside of the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The gospel command is as simple as the command that Elisha gave to Naaman.

Go and wash. And what is the gospel command. Repent and believe the gospel. Many have said within themselves as did Naaman are not the waters of our bond and far far greater than all the waters of Israel.

And today there are many who would say are not the methods of law-keeping and Maybe self-affirmation better than the gospel itself to which The answer would come Thundering through the testimony of the scripture when the gospel writers themselves pin the account of God himself speaking from heaven and declaring of his only begotten son that this is my beloved son in whom I am.

Well, please believe him. The echo continues to reverberate through the scripture itself through the text when we read in the book of Acts the Apostle Peter declares on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 verse 22 when he stood up and he said men of Israel hear these words.

Jesus of Nazareth a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him In your midst as you yourselves also know This same Jesus being delivered up according to the determinant counsel and the fuller knowledge of God.

You have taken and by wicked hands you have crucified and you have slain him. But God has raised him up. The scripture says having loose the pains of death. Because it was not Possible for him to be holding by it and then on down in verse 36.

Let all the house of Israel know that for certainty of a certainty that God hath made him both Lord and Christ. And so the crowd looks to the Apostles and they say men and brethren What shall we do? Go and get seven times in Jordan.

Repent and believe the gospel. That is the answer Peter said to them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ. For the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and for the sake of time.

For the sake of time I'll abbreviate the account of Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail. We won't go into detail there, but the context is important. They sang and they prayed saying sang and prayed and sang praises.

They're in the jail. The foundation of the jail was shaken. The doors were open. The jailer came in assuming everybody was going to be gone. Everybody was going to be escaped. He drew his sword ready to kill himself when the book of Acts Luke in the book of Acts actually records in Acts 16 29 and the Jailer called for lights and rushed in and trembling with fear.

He fell down before Paul and Silas then he brought them out and he said sirs. What must I do to be saved? Jump through this circle hop over that obstacle. He said this believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved is.

Able.

To cleanse you of your sin today. All this having been said to say this the command is simple and the command is plain Believe in Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Thirdly so we see Jesus steadfast unflinching unwavering.

Heading toward Jerusalem. We read of the ten lepers who came and now thirdly we see that Jesus as these lepers come. Desperately pleading for his mercy. We see Jesus point them back to the law of God.

In Leviticus 14 we see God's law for the lepers man. Let's turn there very quickly here.

Genesis.

Exodus Leviticus and go to chapter 14. Leviticus chapter 14. Remember we're going to see God's law for the leprous man. We're going to see the atonement the law and the gospel set one with the other the law pointing them to the atonement.

This is what the Word of God says in Leviticus chapter 14. Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying this shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing He shall be brought to the priest and the priest shall go out of the camp and the priest shall look and.

Then if the case of the leprous disease is healed in the leprous person The priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed to live clean birds and cedar wood and scarlet yarn and hyssop.

And The priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthenware vessel over fresh water. He shall take the live bird with the cedar wood and the scarlet yarn and the hyssop and dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water and He shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease.

Then he shall pronounce him clean and he shall let the living bird Go into the open field. In verse 10 on the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without blemish and one new lamb a year old without blemish and a grain offering of three tenths of Anifa a fine flour mixed with oil and one log of oil and the priest who cleanses him Shall set the man who is to be cleansed or shall set the man who is to be cleansed and these things Before the Lord before Yahweh at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

And the priest shall take one of the male lambs and offer it with a guilt offering along with the log of oil and wave them for a wave offering and He shall kill the lamb in the place where they kill the sin offering and the burnt offering in the place of the sanctuary.

For the guilt offering like the sin offering belongs to the priest. It is most holy. The priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering and the priest shall put it on the lobe of the right ear Who is to be cleansed and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot?

Then the priest shall take some of the log of oil and pour it into the palm of his own left hand and dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand with his finger seven times before the Lord.

And Some of the oil that remains in his hand the priest shall put on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be Cleansed on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot and on top of the blood of the guilt offering and The rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand He shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed.

Then the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord. The priest shall offer the sin offering to make atonement for him who is to be cleansed from his uncleanness and Afterward, he shall kill the burnt offering and the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar.

Thus the priest shall make atonement for him and he shall be clean.

But.

If he is poor and cannot afford so much Then he shall take one male lamb for a guilt offering to be waived to make atonement for.

Him Oh.

Friends.

There are many people Who will say when I'm trying to read through the Old Testament and I get to Leviticus it bores me to death. My friend if you'll just read the Old Testament. With Jesus in your purview with Jesus as the pattern with Jesus as the model with Jesus as being typified in the Sacrifices and in the offerings my friend.

It won't be such a bore to you. Because when you read words like we just read you will recognize and thus rejoice. In the work that has been accomplished upon our behalf. It was given to priests natural priests at that time with temporary Sacrifices to be made but Jesus our great high priest has made the eternal sacrifice once and for all.