Discipleship for Evangelism I

Larry Siegle
01/05/25 - Sun AM

Link to sermon video: Discipleship for Evangelism I - L Siegle

Discipleship for Evangelism I

“Preparation for the Second Exodus”

(Matthew 28:18-20)

Series:  Discipleship for Evangelism

Thesis:  The greatest sensation in life is knowing the value of looking ahead to what is next

INTRODUCTION

1.    The title of this series is Discipleship for Evangelism

2.    This is the introduction to the study:  Preparation for the Second Exodus.

3.    The Bible presents redemptive history by drawing a picture by comparison, using what is referred to as ‘typology’

        a.     “Things in the Old Covenant (Israel)—earthly things, that prefigure (represent) the reality—heavenly things of the

                New Covenant (Church), that were pointed forward to by the “shadows” presented in the Old Covenant.”

        b.    The Bible demonstrates this contrast in such expressions as:

               1)    Israel “according to the flesh” (Rom. 9:3-6; Gal. 4:28)—this expression is found 14 x in the NT that

                       distinguishes those under the Old Covenant, under the “the law” as their identity.  

                       a)    These things were seen as shadows (Col. 2:8-16; Heb 8:1-6; 10:1-4).

                       b)    The comparison was between the earthly things and the heavenly things.

               2)    Israel “according to the spirit” (Gal. 4:29)—this expression is found 5 x in the NT that establishes those who

                       are in the New Covenant over against those identified as under the Old Covenant (Gal. 6:11-16)     

                       a)    This is what Paul meant in saying “not all Israel is of Israel” (Rom. 9:6-8).

                       b)    Children “of the flesh” over against children of “promise” (Gal. 4:21-31)

               3)    The types and “shadows” of what existed in the Old Covenant are seen in comparison with the “good things

                       to come” (Heb. 9:11; 10:1).

4.    What we are going to discover is the comparison or typology of the first exodus (departure) from Egypt by Old

        Covenant Israel and what had taken place ‘through the cross’ and the second exodus (departure) from “sin” by those

        who were entering into the New Covenant with Christ.

        a.     Moses ‘prefigured’ or represented Christ who was to come as the leader of God’s “covenant” people.

        b.    Old Covenant Israel is pictured in their departure from Egypt as “baptized into Moses” (as they came through the

               Red Sea) (I Cor. 10:1-5), while Israel “according to the spirit” had been “baptized into Christ” (those who entered

               into the New Covenant by faith (Gal. 3:26-29).

5.    The first exodus occurred over a period of forty years (Numbers 1-36)—a vivid description of the events that took

        place during their journey from Egypt to the “promised” land “flowing with milk and honey” (Exod. 3:8, 17; 13:5; 33:3;

        Lev. 20:24).—a “good land” designed for Israel to inherit based upon the “promises” made to Abraham, Isaac, and

        Jacob (Gen. 12:1)

6.    The second exodus occurred over a period of forty years (from the Cross to the “end of the age”)—in which Christ was

        leading the New Covenant people out from under what they had experienced from the Old Covenant.

        a.     The physical things of the Old Covenant were the “shadow” (type) of the “good things” to come.

        b.    The spiritual things of the New Covenant were the “substance” (reality) of the “good things” that had been

               “promised”

CONFUSION TODAY ABOUT WHICH IS WHAT…

1.    The greatest challenge we as believers today face is in helping people distinguish the difference between the

        “heavenly” realities over against the “earthly” (physical) representations—people today confusing into thinking the

        physical things are real while the spiritual things have no reality or substance.

2.    Jesus came to tell Old Covenant Israel about “heavenly things” (John 3:12).

        a.     The contrast is pictured between “Adam” and “Christ” (I Cor. 15:48, 49).

        b.    Abraham looked toward the inheritance of a “heavenly city” (Heb. 11:16; 12:22).

        c.     Believers would “sit in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3) having access to “all spiritual blessings” in Christ (Eph. 1:3).

        d.    Believers had been “raised to sit in those heavenly places” (Eph. 2:6).

3.    There is nothing pertaining to what is happening today over in the Middle East that has any connection with what was

        being described in terms of the second exodus that took place between the Cross and the destruction and complete removal of the Old Covenant system in AD 70.

        a.     Does God care about these things that are taking place in the world around us today?  Absolutely.

        b.    War, suffering, famine, diseases, starvation, wickedness in every form breaks the very heart of God.

               1)    As believers we must take a stand against such things and use whatever resources are available to deal with

                       these issues (Matt. 5:14-16; 45-48; Gal. 6:10).

NUMBERING THE PEOPLE

1.    The book of Numbers in the OT takes up where the book of Exodus ends and is a portrait of the people over the

        period of forty years from Egypt to the ‘promised land’

2.    The book of Acts in the NT is a portrait of the New Covenant people during the time between the Cross and AD. 70—

        the forty years of “growth” “establishment” and “spiritual maturity” in Christ.

3.    There were two instances of the ‘numbering of the people’ in Numbers (1-12) because the first generation (died in

        the “wilderness”), and the second generation (entered into the “land).

4.    There was a “numbering” of believers at the time of the establishment of the New Covenant (Acts 2:40, 4:4; 16:5),

        and a second instance of “numbering” at the “end of the age” (Rev. 7:1-9).

        a.     The “remnant” of Israel, called by the gospel (Rom. 11:5)—the 144,000 of Revelation.

        b.    The “fulness of the gentiles (nations) (Rom. 11:25)—the “great multitude” of Revelation.

5.    Together we see the plan and purpose of God in leading Old Covenant Israel to the “promised land” and New

        Covenant believers (Church) into the “promised land” at the “end of the age”—to have inherited the “promises made

         to the fathers” (Rom. 15:8).
CONCLUSION

1.    In the second part of this series we are going to discover some amazing things during the time of Numbers and the

        people of Israel and what took place.

2.    What was it like to wander in the “wilderness” (desert) for forty years?

        a.     “Are we there yet?” (what children ask as soon as they leave the driveway to go somewhere).       

        b.    No hotels….

        c.     No restaurants…

        d.    No stores to go shopping…

        e.     They had to take animals with them for “sacrifices”….

        f.      The women had to prepare baked goods for some of the sacrificial offerings…

        g.     Babies were conceived and being born during the time in the wilderness or there would have been NO ‘second

               generation’ to enter the land.

        h.    What was the weather like in the “wilderness” (desert) during the wanderings…?

3.    We can only begin to imagine what a challenge this way, and why it was a difficult transition period in both Old

        Covenant Israel and also for the Church in the first century.

4.    These ‘lessons’ are given to believers to help us to understand and to keep looking to God as our Source and Supply

        for all that we need as we walk with Him each day.

5.    Do we see the significance of why God had this information recorded in His Word?

        a.     The entire message of God from Genesis to Revelation—“I am GOD, trust me and trust that my Word is true, and

               that everything I promise comes to pass” (Isa. 46:10; 55:11).