Sermon Tone Analysis

I do not think that word means what you think it means

Does the name Inigo Montoya mean anything to you?

Added to my pantheon of greatest movies of all time - such as Independence Day and Twister - is the movie, The Princess Bride.

I caution you about reading the book - it ends differently that the movie and that’s not a good thing.

If you like happily ever after endings.

In that movie, there are three outlaws and a man named Vizzini is the ringleader.

Vizzini thinks very highly of his abilities, as most outlaws do.

So when his plans don’t go as he expects, he always exclaim, “Inconceivable.”

After a multitude of “Inconceivable-s,” Inigo Montoya says to Vizzini, “You keep using that word.

I do not think that word means what you think it means.”

Now here’s the deal.

A lot of times I hear people say things that in my head I hear Inigo say, “I do not think that word means what you think it means.”

And James 2:8-13 has such a word in it.

In James 2:12 “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.”

The “law of liberty.”

And there is Inigo, “I do not think that word means what you think it means.”

So before we study James 2:8-13 next week, we’ve got to go somewhere else this week.

That somewhere else is the Old Testament.

We’ll go to several places but the one I want to ask you to look up is Leviticus 19:9-16.

That’s what was on James’ mind as he wrote his letter.

Chuck McCuen did a great job last week and he did excellent job explaining who James was.

James was Jesus brother, a devout Jew - obviously respected in the community.

He had grown up hearing the Torah - the Jewish Law - the first five books of our Old Testament - he grew up hearing it read over and over and over again.

He respected and believed it.

But, James had a complication.

He was Jesus’ brother.

While Jesus was alive, he opposed Jesus.

When Jesus was resurrected, he worshipped Jesus.

And that changed the way he understood the Old Testament law.

He saw, looking back, what Jesus meant when He said, Matthew 5:17

He wants us to understand that too - that we are free to live like Jesus.

So, today we’ll end up in Leviticus 19:9-16 after we are reminded of a few things.

Go ahead and turn in your Bibles to Leviticus 19:9-16.

If you are at home watching via live stream or video, welcome, we are glad you are joining us.

Pull your Bibles out too and follow along with us.

You’ll be glad you did.

So what are we reading in Leviticus?

Leviticus is the third book in the Bible.

It’s a part of the law of Moses given by God at Mt. Sinai after the Exodus.

Remember the phrase now, the “law of liberty.”

That’s how James interprets the law in light of Jesus.

What does that mean?

Today is a family worship day, we have our children in the sanctuary with us.

Ms. Hannah has put together some things to help the kiddos follow the message and it’s time to grab the first one.

Children, look for a picture of people working very hard.

You’ll want to make sure you can see them sweat because a lot of times when you work real hard, you seriously sweat.

So guys, let’s get started on those.

And adults, question number 1.

Where does liberty come from?

Or, to put it another way, how did we get free?

The story of the Exodus explains that - it’s why even in Acts, you hear the apostles preach the Exodus.

Exodus 3:7-8 “Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters.

I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians...

You might be thinking, we’ve been here a lot lately, and we have.

It’s pretty surprising how much of the New Testament has its foundation in the Old Testament.

You remember Moses - the Lord came to Moses in a burning bush.

The Lord told Moses that “I have surely seen the affliction of my people.”

That phrase, “I have surely seen,” means that God had been watching intently.

And God heard every cry of their pain.

He heard every time a taskmaster abused them.

Every lash of the whip, every intimate violation, every cry of pain - God heard.

Listen - He still hears.

That’s what part of what James understands - God still hears.

What happened in the Exodus is still God’s M.O.

today.

He hasn’t changed - He hears our cries, He sees our afflictions.

And when we feel helpless and hopeless, the Lord has already made up His mind to deliver us.

“Come, I will send you to Pharoah that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of [bondage].

Now in verse 12, God makes Moses a promise.

Exodus 3:12 “He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.””

Here’s your sign - you will know I have done what I promised, when you are standing in this very place, with 1.2 million people standing with you.

You remember this day.

Exodus 6:6-7 “Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.

I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”

Exodus 6:9 “Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.”

God told them He would deliver them.

But they didn’t listen.

Their bondage was so deep and so hard ; they didn’t see a way out.

You hear Jesus, right?

Romans 5:8

You see the parallel with the Exodus right?

While we were so blinded by our bondage that we weren’t even thinking about God, God delivered us.

And listen, God wants us to know that it was Him that delivered us.

When you read Exodus and Leviticus you can’t help but notice, God keeps signing His name.

I am the Lord; I am the Lord; I am the Lord; I am the Lord.

Make no mistake.

You are not free from bondage because you think correctly.

It’s not your good fortune, a lucky break, being in the right place at the right time, coincidence or karma.

You are free because the Lord Himself has chosen to make you free.

We are free today because the Lord chose to send Jesus to lead us to freedom

Where does liberty come from?

Liberty comes from the Lord; He makes us free.

Ok, children, can you hold up your pictures so I can see them?

Great Job.

Now parents, help them to find the picture of Moses and the Israelites standing at the foot of the mountain.

Children, the cloud on the mountain should look like fire, Ok?

That's what God looked like to them - so do your best work.

So adults, just like the Lord told Moses he would do, He delivered His people out of slavery.

Remember Moses measure of success, on the very spot where Moses met the Lord the first time in the burning bush, Moses stood there with 1.2 million people, worshipping the Lord at the mountain.

Just as God said he would do if God was faithful.