In a sermon recently, Pastor Kevin pointed out two lists in the first verses of Exodus 1.

First, the Israelites were blessed (verse 7); they:

• Were fruitful
• Increased greatly
• Multiplied
• Grew exceedingly strong
• Filled the land

But the blessings to Jacob’s heirs brought out fear and resentment amongst the Egyptians, particularly the new Pharaoh, who did not know Joseph. His initial plan was to deal shrewdly with the Israelites, giving them heavy burdens in building store cites for the Egyptians. When this did not stop the Hebrews’ growth, Pharaoh and the Egyptians did the following “ruthlessly”:

• Made the people work as slaves
• Made their lives bitter with hard service
• Made them work in brick and mortar
• Made them do all kinds of work in the fields.

We need to know that our blessings in the LORD can cause the same fear and resentment, and may lead to sufferings.

Paul’s first pastoral letter to his protégé Timothy is winding down in chapter 6 when he commands, “Fight the good fight.” Part of the fight is to flee the evil practices covered in the first part of the chapter, including conceit, lack of understanding of the gospel, craving controversy, seeing godliness as a means of gain.

Two positive parts of the fight are to realize how godliness with contentment can be great gain (verse 6) and to take hold of the eternal life to which you are called (verse 12). In between those two pearls is a list of six characteristics to pursue:

• Righteousness
• Godliness
• Faith
• Love
• Steadfastness
• Gentleness

Two of these are listed as fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5, where there is a sense of seeing the fruits as a measurement of a godly walk. Here the call to fight indicates that the godly walk is not without struggles, but the rewards are great.

In Ephesians 4.11-16 Paul describes the process for building and maintaining good churches, starting with the very first believers in the first century.  God took the initial steps, giving

• Apostles
• Prophets
• Evangelists
• Shepherds
• Teachers

These gifted people are to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, with the end goals of:

• Unity of faith
• Knowledge of the Son of God
• Mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ
• No longer be children
• No longer tossed to and from by every wind of doctrine, human cunning, or craftiness in deceitful schemes
• Able to speak the truth in love
• Grow up in every way him who is the head, into Christ
• Each part of the body working properly
• Body builds itself up in love

These two lists are continuations of other lists that show what a church should look like and how our oneness is in what we believe.

In Ephesians 4.4-6, Paul describes the several factors that hold a group of believers together; they are all one:

• One body
• One Spirit
• One hope that belongs to your call
• One Lord
• One faith
• One baptism
• One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

If all are one, why do churches split?  Why are there so many denominations?  Often there is disagreement over the details of the One Faith.  The ESV says “One faith refers to the doctrinal truths Christians commonly confess.” So the Apostles’ Creed is a starting point that would bring many together. Beyond those central truths, issues such as baptism, women’s roles, church discipline, the authority of scripture, and the proper administration of the Lord’s Supper cause divisions.

It is good to know what you believe.  It is good to listen to others to understand what they believe.  It is okay to disagree.  It is good to apply what Paul says earlier in Ephesians 4 – “walk with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

The book of Ephesians is full of glorious lists that Paul prepares for his friends in Ephesus.  The armor of God may be the most famous but his practical commands for families and description of Christ’s great might are also memorable.  In the middle of the book (4.1-3), Paul urges Christians in Ephesus to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.”  He has been explaining the gospel and telling of his prayers for understanding for his friends, and now he gives a quick description of what a Christian church would look like; they would

• Have all humility and gentleness
• Have patience
• Bear with one another in love
• Be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

This list is for individuals and for the community of believers; it is like many of the psalms which can be for just me or for my tribe.

This is the fourth question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism and the seventh question in the Larger Catechism.  You can quickly see why the Larger is longer than the Shorter.

The longer answer, in the Larger Catechism, is footnoted extensively with Bible proof texts, and goes like this:

God is a spirit, in and of himself

• Infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection
• All sufficient
• Eternal
• Unchangeable
• Incomprehensible
• Every where present
• Almighty
• Knowing all things
• Most holy
• Most just
• Most merciful and gracious
• Long-suffering
• Abundant in goodness and truth.

This is another example of the Big God that the Westminster authors knew very well.

Part of the letter of Paul to the Philippians addresses the need for unity among brothers and sisters in Christ.  The first verse of chapter 2 uses an IF clause with the same meaning as SINCE to indicate possibly the best reason to be humble in order to promote unity.  The blessings that are ours because of Christ’s humility should create in us a deep desire to be like him.  The blessings include:

• Encouragement in Christ
• Comfort from love
• Participation in the Spirit
• Affection
• Sympathy

These blessings in verse 1 will inspire us to be of the same mind, have the same love, be in full accord and of the same mind (vs 2).

The Babylonians were a bit too zealous in their role as the captors of Israel.  In particular, they destroyed the temple of God (Jeremiah 50.28).  So, God sends the Medes: “The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it, for that is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance for his temple” (51.11).

Formerly, Babylon was God’s “hammer and weapon of war: with you I break nations in pieces; with you I destroy kingdoms” (51.20).  Now the Medes will do the same to Babylon, and the demolition will be colossal.  In Jeremiah 50.21-23 we see a long string of items devoted to destruction:

With you I break in pieces the horse and his rider;

                With you I break in pieces the chariot and the charioteer;

With you I break in pieces man and woman;

                With you I break in pieces the old man and the youth;

With you I break in pieces the young man and the young woman;

                With you I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock;

With you I break in pieces the farmer and his team;

                With you I break in pieces the governors and commanders.

Paul was not generally given to boasting.  But in order to make a point to the Corinthians that they needed to observe the lifestyle of the teachers they were trusting, he gives a long list in 2 Corinthians 11.23-33 of ways that he has been a better servant than others.

And just before that, he asks for comparisons on other characteristics:

Are they Hebrews?  So am I.

Are they Israelites?  So am I.

Are they offspring of Abraham?  So am I.

Are they servants of Christ?  I am a better one.

This last comparison launches the long list cited above.

The category in this blog of Holy Lists is meant to exemplify Philippians 4.8 – a group, clump, set or collection of words, concepts, entities or ideas can help define or explain truth, honor, justice, purity, loveliness, excellence, and praiseworthiness.  Usually the lists are ideas or concepts.  Today’s list is made up of concrete things.

Chapters 25-30 of the book of Exodus has detailed descriptions for the construction of holy items that are dedicated to the LORD and used in his service. Try to imagine the look, the feel, and the smell as the daily worship of God proceeded with all these parts in play:

Ark of the covenant

Table for the Bread

Golden Lampstand

Tabernacle

Bronze altar

Court of the tabernacle

Lamps

Priest’s garments

Altar of Incense

Bronze Basin