THE RULES OF THE
GAME
“…haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
hands [shedding] innocent blood, a
heart [devising] wicked schemes,
feet…quick to rush into evil, a false
witness [pouring] out lies, and a
person [stirring] up conflict…”
(Proverbs 6:16-19)
• 1) put God first,
• 2) have no other
Gods,
• 3) respect God’s
name;
• 4) take a weekly
Sabbath;
• 5) honor mom
and dad
• 6) don’t commit
murder,
• 7) don’t commit
adultery,
• 8) don’t steal,
• 9) don’t lie;
• 10) don’t envy
others
“Do not think that I have come to
abolish the Law…but to fulfill them…”
Jesus clarifies in Matthew 5.
“Therefore whoever relaxes one…of
these commandments…will be called
least in the kingdom of heaven, but
whoever does them and teaches them
will be called great in the kingdom of
heaven…” (Matthew 5:17-22).
Rediscover: Rules Are
Meant To Renew, Not Ruin
“Lord, you have assigned me my portion and
my cup; you have made my lot secure. The
boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant
places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”
(Psalm 16:5-6)
“Oh how I love your law, I meditate on
it all day long. Your commandments
make me wiser than my enemies…
wiser than my teachers… [with] more
understanding than my elders…I gain
understanding from your precepts -therefore I hate every wrong path…”
(Psalm 119:97-100; 104)
Don’t Kid Yourself: Truth
Has Consequences; You
Won’t Get Away With It
“…and you may be sure that
your sin will find you out…”
(Numbers 32:23)
“put to death…what is earthly in you: sexual
immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and
covetousness…On account of these the wrath
of God is coming” (Col. 3:5, 6)
What is your secret
compartment –
What are you hiding?
“I confess the sins we Israelites,
including myself…have
committed against you [O God].
We have acted very wickedly
toward you. We have not obeyed
the commandments, decrees and
laws you have given your servant
Moses…” (Nehemiah 1:6-7).
Rather God gives
an embrace -- as
God renews His
covenant of love
(Nehemiah 1:5),
gathering the
Hebrew people -bringing “…them
to the place [He
has] chosen as a
dwelling for [His]
Name…”
(Nehemiah 1:9)
Give Thanks For the
‘Hedge Of Protection,’
God’s Truth/Boundaries
Ultimately Provide
Sure Job had trials, but because of God’s
‘hedge of protection,’ Satan could not “…lay a
finger…” on Job, in an ultimate, death-inducing
way. (Job 1:12)
• “Those who fear the Lord have a
secure fortress, and for their children
it will be a refuge…” (Proverbs 14:26);
• “As for God, his way is perfect…He is
a shield for all who take refuge in
Him…” (2 Samuel 22:31);
• [God] will cover you with his feathers
[as you obey Him] -- and under His
wings you will find refuge…” (Psalm 91:4);
• “The beloved of the Lord dwells in
safety. The High God surrounds him
all day long, [providing refuge] as they
dwell between his [strong]
shoulders…” (Deuteronomy 33:12)
“Lord…you make my lot secure. [Why] the
boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant
places….” (Psalm 16:5-6)
Oh Lord, “…how I love your law…[for]
your commandments make me wiser
than my enemies…wiser than my
teachers… (Psalm 119:97-100; 104)