Cross Referencing All The Way

Sunday, 2nd August 2009

One of the results of listening to the grace gospel is that I have started to rightly divide the word of truth. A fellow brother used the term "cross-referencing", viz everything in the scriptures should be read with reference being made to the cross.

For example, there is a passage in the Old Testament that says "The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge" (Jer 31: 29). Some preachers would quote this verse to support their view that generational curses is biblical, since the action of the parents (drinking vinegar) would have consequences on their children (leaving the bitter taste in the mouth).

But these preachers have done the Body of Christ a disservice because they have failed to do a proper cross-referencing. In the New Testament, we read of Jesus asking to drink vinegar while He hung on the cross (Jn 19:29-30). By doing so, He set His own teeth on edge, so that ours will not be. In other words, there are no more generational curses for the New Covenant believer because Jesus took those curses upon Himself. Hallelujah!

Another benefit of embracing the grace gospel is that I have begun to understand that the Old Testament contains types and shadows, the substance of which can be found in the New Testament. As a Methodist growing up, I seldom, if at all, heard any sermon containing such typologies. The stories in the Old Testament about Moses or David or Jonah were just mere chronicles of events that happened in history to a nation that had no direct relevance on me.

It was only after listening to sermons rich in typologies such as The Love Secret of the High Priest's Garments and The Benjamin Generation that the spiritual scales started to fall from my eyes. Suddenly, dry and boring passages in Leviticus and Deuteronomy come alive because they contain hidden treasures that point to the person of Jesus and His finished work. Prov 25:2 tells us that "it is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search it out". Amen?

Those who have been following my blog realise that New Creation Church is not the only church to have an anointed pastor. Right here in my own kampong church -- Paya Lebar Methodist Church -- God has also raised an anointed preacher who always unveils Jesus in all his sermons. I was at our youth service two weeks ago and noticed that attendance at the PLMGSS auditorium (where the service is held) was nearing its sitting capacity of 500 already! At this rate of growth, a second youth service may have to be conducted :-)

Last week, Ps Reuben preached at the main adult service. His sermon was entitled "All The Way" and it was full of typologies!!! The sermon texts were the parts in Exodus where Moses was negotiating with Pharaoh the release of the Israelites. (Ex 8:25,28,10:10,11,24).

Ps Reuben did a "cross-referencing" whereby Moses is a type of Christ (as our deliverer), Egypt is a type of our previous condition (as slaves) and Pharaoh is a type of the enemy (the one that had us in bondage).

From the passages above, Ps Reuben uncovered 4 strategies that the evil one uses to make us compromise and not go "all the way" -- hence the sermon title "All The Way".

I have never heard anyone preach on the conversation that Moses had with Pharaoh in the light of the New Covenant before, so it is a real honour that God had chosen Ps Reuben to be His messenger boy in this particular instance.

You can download to listen to that sermon at the following link:
http://www.box.net/shared/t4bvgaq1xg