NOTE: This was a "visual" sermon - utilizing a projector and screen. Included are notations of the visuals used, with the hope that you might picture it in your mind as you read.
2007 Book of Hebrews Series – “The
Shadow”
Hebrews 10:1-4
Sermon preached at Curwensville Presbyterian Church – July 1, 2007
Prayer Introduction: This morning I had planned to preach the first 18 verses of Hebrews chapter 10; but the first 4 verses just begged for its own sermon. So we’re gonna’ have some fun this morning to see and apply a profound truth of God’s Word. Let’s pray…We pray now for the preacher in the pulpit. He is not worthy, but by your grace he is able. And so it is through Jesus Christ that we pray – Amen!
READ
I. The Shadow
Throughout the 1930’s and 1940’s there was a radio show called [SLIDE] The Shadow with Orson Wells. Each show began with the announcer saying, [SLIDE] “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!” [BLACK SLIDE]
“The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming…” The Old Testament sacrificial system was a shadow – a foreshadowing – of the New Testament sacrifice of Christ.
Let’s think about shadows for a moment. A shadow is made when light shines behind an object. Let’s get the visual on this [WHITE SLIDE]. You have a light, an object [my hand], and a shadow.
What is the light? What did God create on the first day of creation – “Let there be light!” Jesus said, “I am the light.” The light is God’s revelation of himself in creation, in Christ, and in His Word – the Bible – as the Spirit bears witness to it.
The light of God’s revelation has been shining since the beginning. Abraham, Moses, Deborah, David, Esther, Isaiah – all saw the light.
During the days of revival – what did people exclaim? “I have seen the light!”
In the Old Testament, the light shined behind the sacrifices. God had revealed, through Moses, and the prophets, that His people were to bring animals to sacrifice in worship.
Why? How did bringing and sacrificing animals worship God? Simply bringing a bull for sacrifice [put toy bull up to the light so it casts a shadow] didn’t worship God. Going through the motions of worship, isn’t worship.
True worship comes from hearts that have been born again by God’s grace into a living faith that loves the Lord. Faulty worship greatly displeases the Lord.
At one point God says to the Israelites, through the prophet Amos, “I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings I will not accept them” (Amos 5:21-22a).
What was wrong with their worship? They were focused on the things – the animals, obedience to the law, the elements of worship – rather than being focused on the light.
People brought animals and focused on the animal (shine the light on bull again).
The high priests got all dressed up and burned incense (shine the light on smoke rising).
The focus was on the things of worship, rather than focusing on the light. In a sense, they worshiped the things themselves; or in a spiritual way, worshiped the shadow – the effect.
Are we any different, today? We focus on the order of worship (light shine on a bulletin). We focus on hymns – “hymns from the 1950’s are the only proper ones” (light shine on hymnal). We might focus on the communion elements (light shine on bread and cup).
We might worship the things, or in a pseudo-spiritual way, worship the effect it makes. “I feel good when we sing my favorite hymn…I feel good when we do things the way we have always done it…I feel good when I take communion…”
We worship the almighty, “I feel.” By which we can never have relief from the guilt of our sins – in fact, some say they feel more guilty after coming to church.
We also see no repentance of our sins. Because just as it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins, it is impossible for our favorite hymns, and elements of worship, to take away sins.
Only the light of Jesus Christ can do that.
II. The Light
So let’s think about the light for a moment. The closer an object is to the light [visual example] – the larger the shadow. When the object runs away from the light, the shadow is smaller.
When we focus on “how we do it” we miss the light, because we’re looking at the thing and/or the shadow. “I think the sermon is too long…I don’t like the starting time of the service…I’m not getting anything out of that new worship song...I don’t like communion by Intinction…”
You know what I sometimes find myself focusing on? Who is and isn’t in worship. Instead of looking at the light, I’m counting people and wondering if enough money will be put in the offering plate, and wondering what grumbling might crop up this week.
All the while the light is shining brightly – and I’m looking in the opposite direction.
The elements of worship – and the mode in which we receive them – does not take away sin. The light of Christ, which shines through them, does.
A prime example is the Lord’s Supper. The bread and cup cannot take away sin; but Christ, who is spiritually present to those who come in faith, takes away sin.
The words of the preacher does not take away sin. The light of Christ that shines through them does (hold sermon notes up to the light). The Holy Spirit bears witness to His Word.
All the elements of worship can be “a reminder of sins” (v.3) – or, by the power of Christ, they can be the means by which God removes the guilt and power of sin. I weep for those who say that they go away from worship feeling guilty; because they are lost in the law and have not seen the light of Christ.
The big question is: How do we keep our focus on the light? [Animate Slide]
(1) [Animate Slide] Be aware of our tendency to look away from the light? The light is in the opposite direction of where we naturally look. The light can hurt our eyes. The light will affect us powerfully. It is easier to look away. It is more comfortable to look away.
If you are comfortable – even bored in worship – you are looking away from the light. Get uncomfortable! Don’t just get physically uncomfortable – although sitting in a different place may help you to focus spiritually – but let the Holy Spirit make you uncomfortable, as the Lord convicts you.
Let the light of Christ reveal what is in your heart. “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!” The Lord truly knows the evil that lurks in our hearts. He is always looking to expose it – and this is highly uncomfortable.
So, first and foremost, be aware of our natural tendency to look away from the light.
(2) [Animate Slide] Know the light. There is a strong possibility that some, or maybe many, in this room today have never seen the light. We don’t know the light.
Perhaps you are one who has been focusing on the law. You come to church week after week, because it is “the right thing to do.” If coming to church could save you, then you wouldn’t need to come anymore. You would be saved, and you would no longer feel guilty again.
God does not love you because of what you do, but because of what Jesus has done for you. Put your trust in Christ. Ask Jesus – through the Holy Spirit – to enter into your heart.
Admit that you have not been looking at the light, but at things. Know the light. Know Christ.
(3) [Animate Slide] Look to the light all the time, and not just “in church on Sunday.”
III. Our Life
So let’s look at the light and the shadow in our life. In church we focus on such things as “our pew,” the order of worship, who’s here and who’s not – will worship give me what “I want” this morning.
In life things like our job, our family, our health becomes our focus. Instead of seeing the light shine on these things, we just look at the things and want the things to change.
But changing our job, or our health, won’t change our heart’s focus. In fact, it does the opposite. We become more focused on our life situation.
Instead, we must look at the light – even be blinded by the light. And it will not matter what the circumstance of our life is. We will only see the glory of God shining – and that will change what we do with the circumstances of our life.
Instead of grumbling about our job, we must look at the light to see the opportunity to work as for God and not for men or for money. [SLIDE of person with dollar sign in shadow]
Instead of yelling at our kids for misbehaving, we must look at the light to see the opportunity to direct our child’s heart. [SLIDE of children shadowed]
Instead of moaning about aches and pains, we must look at the light to see the eternal focus – our bodies will not last, [SLIDE animate] because they are fallen bodies. [SLIDE animate] Thanks be to God [SLIDE animate] that when this body passes away, eternal life waits for me with a resurrected body at Christ’s return.
David Powlison tells us to ask 8 questions – which is really 4 questions from two points of view.
(1) Ask: [SLIDE animate x2] What is the situation that you are facing? Now what is the situation from God’s perspective? Instead of looking at the situation, look at it through God’s revelation.
Light – Object – Shadow [from God’s perspective and our perspective]
(2) Ask: [SLIDE animate x2] What is it that you want and why? Now, what does the Lord want? Instead of looking at what we want (sinful desires), look at what God wants?
(3) Ask: [SLIDE animate x2] How do you typically respond to this situation? Now, how could you respond if your desire is for the Lord to be glorified?
(4) Ask: [SLIDE animate x2] What would the consequence be if I pursue what I want? Now, what would the consequence be if I pursued what the Lord wanted?
That response is the shadow of the light of Christ shining on our heart.
{By The Way: I would love to walk through the 8 questions with any of you regarding a particular situation. Please feel free to ask.}
The way we respond to life situations is the shadow of the light of Christ shining on our heart (shine light on heart). Let us look to the light every day and in every way – praying (shine light on praying hands) for a heart’s desire to see the light.
Run toward the light [SLIDE with runner going toward light] of God’s revelation in every situation, so that His love may change your heart’s desire and response. And instead of seeing the situation we will see Christ and him only (shine light on a cross).
[Turn the light on the congregation]. May the light of Christ so shine that people may see your good works and glorify God who is in heaven.
MAY THE TRUTH SET YOU FREE – AMEN!