Returning to the Ancient Paths Part 2

Before we begin today’s sermon would you join me in praying the words our Lord taught us to pray?

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be donein earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: Amen

Please Stand for the Reading of God’s Word

Jeremiah 6:16 ESV  Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Deuteronomy 32:7 ESV  Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.

Today we continue our series on returning to the ancient paths…Now I wouldn’t blame you thinking “Hey pastor Christian, shouldn’t you be preaching about the derecho and the destruction…?”But I want you to know that one of the main reasons we want to return to the ancient paths… one of the main reasons we want to install ancient liturgy back in our church is EXACTLY for times like this.So at the very least, when there is no power, and your rough is collapsing in, and your tired and maybe even frightened…That at the very least you might be able to pray “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name”.That these Biblical prayers and traditions might be so ingrained in you that you need not struggle to remember a verse, or a prayer… but that your instinct would be to lean on those you know and pray and recite.Not vain repetition, but Holy repetition.In fact, next week I will be preaching a full sermon in length about this very subject… how liturgy actually protects the faith… but this week I want to preach a little more about the ancient paths and Jesus our Savior and Lord…

Bring Up Title Slide

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When we Remember the Ancient Paths we Gain a Richer Understanding of the Gospel.

John 5:46-47 ESV  For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.  (47)  But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

Jesus, here in John, makes a very powerful statement regarding the ancient paths…Because I think we can all agree that Moses ways are now ancient paths.So Jesus says “Look at the ancient paths, the ancient ways… if you would have believed them… if you would have believed in the ways and the words of Moses, then you would believe me! If you would have been true to the words and the law that Moses passed down, then you would believe me!Why, because the ancient paths lead to Christ!But what does that mean today? We have found Christ, why do we need to study the ancient paths?Because understanding, following, and walking in the ancient paths will give us a richer understanding of the gospel… a richer understanding of the Christ… a richer understanding of our faith.Because the fact is, Jesus didn’t just pop out of no where and say “You have all got it wrong, but I am here to fix it”.In fact Jesus is talked about all the way back in Genesis, Numbers, and even Dueteronomy.

Genesis 49:10 ESV  The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

Numbers 24:17 ESV  I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.

Deuteronomy 18:15-18 ESV “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—  (16)  just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any m