Let God Out of the Box
Deuteronomy 6:4-13
Introduction: Have you ever tried to put God in a Box? Of course that’s impossible! However, unknowingly, we can act as if God is in a Box. The religious rulers were known for a “false practice” that was “man-made,” which portrayed God was in a BOX 📦! Moses describes three (3) ways we can demonstrate to our children and loved ones that our God is not in a Box📦! And our Faith in Him should not be in a BOX 📦!
Is yours?
1. TEACH them that our God is not in a BOX 📦! (Deut 6:4-7)
“4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
{The word “Hear” is sama, which means obey}
** Teach them in the morn
** Teach them at noon
** Teach them at night
Start instructing them when they are born.
{Deut 6:4 is called the “Shema” in Jewish culture. This verse is made into a prayer twice a day, once in the morn and once at night}
{The word “heart” is the word lêbâb, which means mind, intellect}
{The word “soul” is nephesh, which means emotions, will}
{The word “might” is me’ôd, which means force, abundance}
2. SHOW them that our God is not in a BOX 📦! (Deut 6:8,9)
“8And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”
{The word “sign” is leot, which means covenant}
** By what you do
** By what you see
** By where you go
{ While out witnessing to a man – who was 54 yrs old – about Jesus Christ, he responded by saying, “I don’t wear my religion on my sleeve”……to which I responded, “I have a ‘Relationship’ with God not a religion.” That man later died of alcohol poisoning….sad to say.}
{But while in Israel, I saw first hand that some do wear their religion on their sleeves}
“10And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, 11And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; 12Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 13Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. “
** Don’t forget the Goodness of God
** Don’t forget the Blessings of the Lord
** Keep Serving the Lord
Conclusion: We are to…
“Teach the Word of God – Intentionally,”
“Talk the Word of God – Relationally,” and
“Take the Word of God – Practically”!
That’s taking your Faith out of a BOX 📦! By the way, our God overcame the grave (Box) and He lives forevermore!
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese