Author: jritchey28

Promises Kept

Promises Kept

The Lord’s promises are sure. If we are ever to doubt God’s faithfulness to His promises, we ought to look to passages such as Exodus 12:29-51. The promises fulfilled here are really twofold. He kept His promises to deliver His people, but He also kept His promise to judge the unrepentant.

He kept His promises to deliver His people. He led His people out of Egypt, and even the Egyptians themselves command them to leave. He delivered them by night and even fulfilled promises made to Abraham regarding the provisions His people would have upon leaving Egypt, as they would be given favor and wealth from the Egyptians. The fact that God keeps His promises to deliver His people ought to be of great encouragement to us. There are so many circumstances in life that may drive us to doubt or wonder what it is God is doing. But even after 430 years in Egypt, God had not abandoned His people. This Exodus from Egypt would be such a reminder of God’s faithfulness to His promises that it would be harkened back to many times. You see this particularly in the Psalms. You as a believer can press on in the Christian life knowing that God is the One who delivers His people.

But God also fulfilled His promise of judgment. This is seen throughout the ten plagues, but especially in the tenth plague. This is a warning against unrepentance. Sin rightly deserves the judgment of God, and only those found in Christ will be saved from it.

The Lord reminds His people of their deliverance in the Passover meal. Only those who were willing to covenant with God could partake of that meal. The Lord’s Supper, which now takes the place of the sign of Passover is only to be taken by those who have trusted in Christ. This is why we exhort those who are not found in Christ not to take the Supper but rather to run to the Christ of the Supper. He is the One your soul needs.

So dear friend, have you heeded the warning of judgment? Have you found rest in Jesus, having confidence in God’s promise of redemption? We will consider all of this this Lord’s Day during worship at The Commons at St. Andrews’ Church at 5 PM. For directions, click here or contact us for more information. You can also watch on FacebookLive@RiverCityARP or on YouTube.

“There Where the Blood of the Lamb Was Spilt”

“There Where the Blood of the Lamb Was Spilt”

The tenth plague of the book of Exodus is one of the book’s climactic points.  Judgment falls on those oppressing the people of God in a way that is more severe even than the previous plagues.  And we see in the passage that this is a judgment carried out by God Himself.  

The people of God are given many instructions in order to prepare for the Passover, and they are also given many instructions for its remembrance.  This is a reminder just of how serious the worship of God truly is.  We are drawn to consider His holiness and the fact that He is the One who directs how He is to be worshiped.  

We see that the people of God are commanded to sacrifice a lamb without spot or blemish, and that they are commanded to put its blood on their doorposts in order that God’s judgment may pass over them and that the firstborn of their households be spared.  We see here the seriousness of sin and its judgment, but we also see the Lord’s pardoning mercy.  In the account of these lambs being slaughtered, we are to focus our attention on the greater sacrifice to which these lambs pointed–the Lamb who would be slain for the sin of His people. He is the One who would truly bring deliverance from judgment as He Himself bears the justice, the wrath and curse of God. As the people of God found refuge under the blood on their doorposts, we need to ask ourselves–have we found refuge under the blood of the Lamb of God?  
Dear friend, have you found your hope in Christ and what He accomplished at Calvary?  Is your hope there, as the hymn says, “There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt?” (“Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord,” written by Julia H. Johnston, 1910)  Join us as we consider these things in more depth during worship this Lord’s Day at The Commons at St. Andrews’ Church.  For directions, click here, or contact us for more information.  You can also watch on FacebookLive@RiverCityARP or on YouTube. 

Locusts

Locusts

I wonder if you have ever tried to tell someone something they needed to hear, and they simply would not listen.  Perhaps you’ve tried to warn someone of a trajectory they are on, and though they may acknowledge it for a time, they are still drawn to the same patterns.  We see that in the case of Pharaoh, as Moses continues to warn him about his sin and rebellion against God.  As he continues to afflict the people of God, he takes a stand against God Himself.  

In Exodus 10:1-20, we see the plague of the locusts.  As Moses warns of the plague if God’s people are not allowed to go and serve the Lord, Pharaoh even seems to convince himself that Moses is asking not for all of God’s people to be allowed to go, but only the men.  We see Pharoah descending further and further into irrationality.  Sin does this–it causes men to do anything they can to avoid what is true.  

As the plague of the locusts falls upon the land, it brings utter desolation.  The locusts destroy even the crops that were left after the plague of the hail.  You may have at some point read a work of post-apocalyptic fiction.  Even what is described in those books can’t compare to the desolation that has fallen in this chapter on the land of Egypt.  

Pharaoh is driven once again to acknowledge his sin, but we are told he does so hastily.  He has not truly grappled with the fact that his sin has offended a holy God.  He does not go truly to the Lord for mercy.  One of the privileges of the Christian life is confession of sin–in God’s grace and kindness we may go to the Lord for mercy, knowing that Christ has paid for our sins.  But Pharaoh will not turn from self unto the Lord.  

Even in the midst of this, we are driven once again to the hope of the Gospel.  It is implicit in the passage that the plague does not fall upon the people of God.  The people of God are spared by His grace.  All of these plagues are of the judgment of God, and they point to a more severe judgment–eternal judgment.  The Good News of the Gospel is that Christ has stood condemned for His people so that His own would be spared and would have the hope of life, not having to endure the eternal despair to which this passage points. 

Join us this week as we consider these things more fully.  We meet for worship at 5 PM at The Commons at St. Andrews’ Church.  If you need directions, contact us, or click here for more information.  You can also watch on FacebookLive@RiverCityARP or on YouTube. 

Hail

Hail

There have been some storms in history that have been described as historic. Hurricane Katrina is one clear example that comes to mind. While this next example may not quite be considered historic, I can remember being in Jackson, Mississippi in 2013 when baseball sized hailstones fell upon the ground, causing much damage to property. It’s hard to forget an event like that one.

In the book of Exodus in the seventh plague, God sends an historic storm upon the land of Egypt. Pharaoh has persisted in his rebellion against God, and he has refused to let the people of God go. In persecuting the people of God, Pharaoh has blasphemed God Himself. The plague of the hail represents something of a turning point, as it is the most severe of the plagues yet, and as it is directed toward Pharaoh and his servants.

The passage is really a terrifying one. We see destruction, but we also see judgment upon Pharaoh as his heart is further hardened against God. Yet even in a passage like this one which warns against the hardening of one’s heart and warns of judgment for sin, we also see the kindness of God. The hailstones do not fall upon His people–they are spared by His grace and mercy; however, there are also some Egyptians who heed the Word of God and take refuge.

The judgment of hail points us to a greater judgment–the wrath of God against sin. But the Good News is that there is a refuge to be found in Jesus Christ, the Savior of sinners. He has been our refuge from the wrath and curse of God by bearing it Himself. In His death, He has satisfied justice and exhausted the wrath of God for His people. We see in His resurrection that He has been triumphant over sin, death and hell. Refuge is found in Him. Do not harden your heart as did Pharaoh, but rather run for refuge to the true Shelter from the storm of judgment, Jesus Christ. There you will find all that you need.

Join us this Lord’s Day for worship at 5 PM at The Commons at St. Andrews Church in Little Rock as we consider these truths more fully. If you need directions, click here or contact us for more information. You can also watch on FacebookLive@RiverCityARP or on YouTube.