Full Service

Scripture: Deuteronomy 27:1-26

1. Taking our covenant with God seriously requires that we have a full view of God’s territory. (vs. 1-8)

When we neglect or outright forget God’s law, we have a tendency to become self-centred and only do what is right in our own eyes.

Setting up the law inscribed stones would serve as a reminder for moral restraint in times of laxity when God’s people would be tempted to pursue the benefits of the land instead of pursuing the Benefactor of the land because naturally, humans are a forgetful people and prone to wander even when we have seen the goodness of God.

For the Israelite's, the plastered stones were meant to serve as marking covenant territory – the territory of God’s people, displaying to the world – ‘this is our God, and this is who we are – the people of God, and this is how we relate to our King in His Kingdom.

- God was marking His covenant territory in a physical way in the Promised Land

God’s covenant territory is now wherever today’s people of God live, work, and play.

2. Taking our covenant with God seriously requires that we have undivided ears to hear God talk. (vs. 9-11)

It’s very risky business for us to automatically assume that the voices in our head is God’s.

The world (1 John 2:15-17)
The flesh (Jeremiah 23:26)
Spirits that are not of God (1 John 4:1 cf. Matthew 16:23)

When we practice silence, we receive the benefit of hearing the most important voice in the universe…God’s. Our God is the God who has spoken and desires to keep speaking to us, reaching the depths of our souls with His words through His written word.

Someone who reads the Bible four or more times a week is:

- 59% less likely to view things that are impure
- 30% less likely to struggle with loneliness
- 74% less likely to gamble
- 407% more likely to memorize Scripture
- 228% more likely to share their faith with others
- 231% more likely to disciple others

If we know more stats and facts in worldly things than the amount of Scripture we have memorized, then that is a red flag in our lives.

Taking our covenant with a Holy God seriously depends on fully committing to knowing His word personally, intimately, heart penetratingly and the result will inevitably be joyful obedience.

3. Taking our covenant with God seriously requires that we have a full embrace of God’s totality and treasure! (vs. 15-26)

Totality of God because of: God’s goodness and severity, God’s mercy and judgment, God’s blessings and curses (the types of God’s attributes that we must hold in tension)

Treasure of God: Christ Jesus Himself! – mediator of the New Covenant!

New Covenant aspects: new heart, a new spirit, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and ability to obey God from the heart (cf. Ezekiel 36:26-27)