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 Welcome to the Lansdale Life Church podcast.

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 If you're seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, this podcast is for you.

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 Thank you for joining us today.

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 The first question in Numbers 1.32 relative to what we'll be talking about is the question,

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 what is holiness?

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 What does that mean to you when I say that word holiness?

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 What does your mind conjure up?

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 I think God regards it as his most important attribute because he swears by his holy name.

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 That is an underlying theme to begin with as we even looked at the nation Israel coming

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 and assembling themselves as a nation.

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 What did he do?

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 He just didn't bring organization.

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 He brought holiness.

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 He brought himself, his character to the people as the Lord brings his character to us.

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 Anybody else?

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 Any thoughts?

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 Yeah, Jackie.

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 I was going to say that too, that it would be God, but all the angels sing holy, holy,

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 holy.

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 Yes, that's a supporting role and they declare that as we should declare that too.

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 They are our example.

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 Anything else?

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 All right, so let's take a look at the scriptures.

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 First off, we'll go through some of what that tends to be and we will not major on that

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 until we get further on down the line.

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 So holiness was first shown in the burning bush, which is the first time God defines

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 a place and an action as holy.

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 If you remember that experience, we have the bush, it's burning, the servant sees it and

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 he reacts to it and then God says, you're on holy ground.

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 And then he identifies himself as the eternal self-existent one in the statement, I am

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 who I am.

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 And consequently, that's where we begin to start and look at the area of holiness.

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 Holiness is who he is.

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 I mean, you talk about any attribute that he would have, it comes back to the word holy.

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 He's not just morally pure, as some people think, well, he was a pure God.

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 He had a ministry.

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 Well, as holiness described his very essence, what is that?

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 That's absolute purity, separated and perfection.

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 So that's about who he is.

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 If God were not holy, he wouldn't be God.

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 His holiness is what makes him perfect, trustworthy and worthy of worship.

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 And we see that and we understand that as a Christian.

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 And Isaiah 6.3 goes back to what you said, Jackie, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of

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 hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory.

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 It's not an assumption to say that he was a ministering entity.

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 It is to say that he was a holy entity.

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 That's part of who he is.

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 That's how we recognize him.

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 So God's holiness is important to us as Christians.

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 It's basically, we base our whole foundation on the fact that he is holy.

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 Take a look at this.

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 It defines one who God is.

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 It then reveals why we need Christ and it explains the meaning of the cross and shapes how we

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 live and again, in the eternal heavenlies, it gives us that eternal hope.

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 So God's holiness is represented in everything and I'm glad that you have that observation

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 that it's included in one of the most important elements, Roger, of the kingdom of God.

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 So holiness is our hope.

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 In Revelation 21, 27, it says, evil will not enter nor anyone who does what is abhorrent

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 or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the book of life of the Lamb.

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 And so consequently, there is a gate in which we pass through, an acceptance because we know

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 of the Lord or a rejection because we do not.

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 All right, let's look at some of the outline characteristics of what we'll be talking about

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 tonight.

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 First off, there is a responsibility of the priests and the Levi's, verse 1 through 7.

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 Priests, again, they are accountable, and we'll talk about that, Aaron and his sons

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 were to bear the responsibility for the offenses against the holiness of God.

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 The priests had exclusive duties, and that's verses 5 through 7.

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 The Levites had certain duties, and we'll talk about that.

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 And then we come into the provision of the priests, how they actually understand what

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 is going on by virtue of the actions that are taken.

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 Wave offerings or heave offerings, again, assigned to the priests, verses 8 through 10, and

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 we'll cover some of that.

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 And then wave offerings, those were included.

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 There's two different types in which we'll get into.

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 And then the priest inheritance, what they got out of this deal, you know, where they

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 get paid because they didn't have any inheritance in the land.

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 And the provision of the Levites, the tithes that were given, and the Levites then in

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 receiving the tithe then gave one-tenth of that tithe to the priests, and that's

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 how they got paid.

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 So declaring what we're doing tonight is key in verse 1, where it says that the holiness

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 of God is something that should be represented by the priests.

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 Our then main topic will be the holiness as being both serious and achievable in Christ.

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 Some people say, well, I can never attain to God.

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 What's the Godliness all about?

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 Well, you can attain to a certain degree of holiness if you follow him and walk in his

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 precepts, of which we'll be talking about tonight.

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 The heave offerings, just by way of coincidence, is a lifting up and exalting the Lord God.

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 The action is raising upward in a vertical motion as a way of dedicating to God.

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 Its purpose, it's setting aside a portion for the Lord and then giving it to the priest.

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 And remember, there was one-tenth that was given.

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 Examples, animal sacrifices were heaved, first fruits presented to priests were heave offerings.

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 Offerings of gold and silver and materials were all heave offerings.

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 Just think of the lifting up and exalting.

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 Does that sound familiar to you?

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 How we raise our hands and worship, we don't bring material things, we bring ourself to the Lord.

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 So we're actually following, as we have said in these many weeks, there is a pattern of

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 what God does in the Old Testament, bringing forth then the same idea in the New Testament.

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 So we have where it says we are to lift holy hands before the Lord.

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 So that's part of what we do.

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 The other element is the wave offering, that is to wave or move side to side to acknowledge

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 God's ownership.

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 The action was waving horizontally before the altar in all directions.

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 And then the purpose, it was symbolize the consecration and fellowship and offerings that

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 came from the Lord.

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 It's amazing when you look at all these things and we have been studying, and you know you

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 can say it's legalistic, and I will agree to you that boy, you know you've missed one

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 jot and tittle and one law and you're out, but in reflection all these things that we're

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 talking about is exemplified somewhere, somehow in the New Testament or in the New Covenant.

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 And then examples of that is the breast of the animal for peace offerings.

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 Okay, let me do a quick review for those of you that don't remember.

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 Both priests and Levites were from the same tribe of Levi, but with different roles.

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 So don't get them mixed up.

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 All priests are Levites, but not all Levites are priests.

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 So there's a delineation here.

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 You can see the dress by virtue of what they wore is different from one element to

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 the other, as a picture shows you there.

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 So the priests looked after the holiness of God, and that's again what we're also

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 called to do.

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 They alone bore the guilt if holiness was violated at the altar and the sanctuary

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 service, so they were responsible for that.

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 And then the Levites looked after the physical structure of the tabernacle,

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 maintenance, moving, packing, doing the logistics of things as they moved from

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 place to place.

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 Of course, once they got to Jerusalem and built the temple, they did not have to do

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 the packing, but they did do the maintenance on all the things that were set up.

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 So both the Levites and priests bore guilt if the tabernacle boundaries were

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 neglected or profane.

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 Now, in the scripture it says this in 18.1, and Jehovah said to Aaron,

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 you and your sons and your father's house with you will bear the iniquity of the

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 sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity of the

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 priesthood.

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 Well, what's that mean?

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 Simply one, bearing the iniquity of the sanctuary is those improper physical

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 issues that were not attended to, that the priest would be responsible to make

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 sure that they did these things in accordance to the law.

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 Number two, bear the iniquity, meaning the responsibility of the priests failing

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 their duties.

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 So one was physical and one was moral or spiritual.

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 So there's a distinctive here as who is responsible for what.

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 Now, it doesn't mean that the priests caused the sin, but it does mean that

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 they are accountable for guarding against any profaning of God's holiness,

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 whatever the failure, and that's a big responsibility.

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 You think about what we're responsible for, how we are to bear the holiness of

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 God exemplary in our lives.

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 We are to give testimony of that as we can, and as opportunity opens up.

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 And so we also have some responsibility.

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 So let's look at the holiness and the elements.

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 All of Israel was to guard his holiness through the boundaries, the purity laws,

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 and the sacrifices.

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 That's what they were being educated for.

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 And again, the Exodus 19.5.7 supports that.

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 It says, you shall be, to me, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

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 So ultimately, everybody was involved.

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 The priests were intimately involved with the inward parts of the sanctuary.

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 The Levites were involved in the outer portion of the sanctuary,

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 but everybody was involved in the holiness of God.

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 It so often is said, well, I'll let the pastor do it, or he should do it.

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 Do you ever get that?

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 Yeah, he should do it.

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 No, we should do it, because we are involved in, what, the kingdom of God,

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 and the things that are established as righteousness we are to carry forward.

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 It always amazes me when you ask for volunteers,

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 the same wonderful people always volunteer.

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 And sometimes you almost are embarrassed, at least some particular point in time

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 in my life when our congregation was still small,

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 that you had to call on the same people to do the many tasks.

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 Okay, so we have boundaries, purity laws, and sacrifices.

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 Question.

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 Why does God require boundaries around his presence?

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 And he still does.

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 Why does he do that?

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 Do you mean boundaries to keep us down, or keep us down?

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 All right.

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 To progressively come to the Lord, you have to accomplish and overcome certain boundaries.

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 What are they?

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 I mean personal boundaries.

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 Yeah, like, well, letting go of things, distractions to enter the presence.

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 All right, okay.

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 Anything else?

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 Basically, strive for a spirit of detachment from the world.

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 All right, okay.

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 And everyone, even his creatures.

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 All right.

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 Therefore you approach him alone.

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 All right, so let's take a look.

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 I'm sorry, are we finished?

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 Yeah.

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 Okay, all right.

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 So these things that we're talking about are so very rudiment to the understanding that

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 because of his purity and because of his holiness, we can't dwell.

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 He cannot dwell with sin in any way, shape, or form.

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 So in purifying us, he allows us to come into his presence.

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 In Hebrews 10-10, it says, because of Christ, we are all purified from sin by the offering

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 that he made.

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 So there's an accomplishment that we go through to get into a personal relationship.

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 So the second question, how is God's holiness different from the moral morality?

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 People say, well, I live a good life.

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 I haven't done anything wrong.

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 Yeah, Gail, what's that difference?

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 Well, God's holiness is inherent to him.

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 He just, that's who he is.

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 Our morality is what we do, what we are in our actions, but he is holy.

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 Does that morality change from season to season?

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 Sure, we can change.

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 Yeah, but he never changes.

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 He never changes, never ever changes.

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 So we have that difference.

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 The statement basically goes like this.

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 God's holiness is one absolute.

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 It doesn't change.

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 It's divine.

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 It's not of our nature.

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 And it is transformative, which we can transform through the Holy Spirit ourselves,

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 but we can't transform other people.

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 We can pray for them, intercede for them, but then God has to do that through them.

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 And human morality is relative.

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 It's incomplete, and it's dependent upon God's standards.

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 Okay, so here's a question, and this subject matter goes down the line in different elements.

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 Violating the holiness of God both in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

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 So the first question is, where does God's holiness dwell in the Old Testament?

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 In the temple?

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 In the temple or tabernacle.

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 Okay, so it was very physical by nature.

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 Sacred objects, the priesthood was there.

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 It was denominated in physical things.

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 So let's go on to the explanation.

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 In the Old Testament, holiness was centered in the temple system.

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 The things that he did to bring unrighteous people into righteousness.

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 Because God was teaching that nation to be separate and come apart from all the other nations.

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 So his people were, again, being taught in tangible ways about these visible physical things.

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 Physical things pointed to spiritual reality.

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 You know, what was the Ark for?

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 It was the presence of God. That's where he was.

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 So when they would see that, they would understand it.

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 It, in fact, represented the presence of God as an example.

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 Okay, in the New Testament, where does God's holiness now dwell?

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00:17:47,369 --> 00:17:52,710
 Inside us, and then also in Christ.

238
00:17:53,690 --> 00:17:55,049
 Okay, let's look at the scripture.

239
00:17:55,670 --> 00:18:00,170
 In Christ, first off, Colossians 2.9, God lives fully in Christ.

240
00:18:01,009 --> 00:18:08,289
 And in the church slash individual believer, in verse Corinthians 3.16, you are God's temple.

241
00:18:08,789 --> 00:18:10,130
 So that's where he dwells.

242
00:18:10,130 --> 00:18:13,589
 There's no physical aspect of what we're dealing with now.

243
00:18:13,849 --> 00:18:18,170
 All the laws, all the traditions, all those things that were put upon the people,

244
00:18:18,650 --> 00:18:27,690
 and ages and ages of secular indoctrination into things that weren't even in the original laws

245
00:18:27,690 --> 00:18:29,809
 that were distributed to the people.

246
00:18:30,829 --> 00:18:35,509
 So, in the New Testament, then holiness is centered in Christ and the individual.

247
00:18:36,410 --> 00:18:38,230
 The ecclesia or the church.

248
00:18:38,230 --> 00:18:42,650
 And today, God speaks through these individuals and through the church

249
00:18:42,650 --> 00:18:46,009
 to bring his message to the unregenerate person.

250
00:18:47,029 --> 00:18:53,490
 So, we have that opportunity that's now spiritual, not physical.

251
00:18:54,430 --> 00:18:55,150
 Next question.

252
00:18:55,990 --> 00:18:58,670
 What is meant by violating holiness?

253
00:18:58,910 --> 00:19:02,650
 What identifiers, a little bit of a tougher question,

254
00:19:02,650 --> 00:19:08,509
 could you talk about that would identify the violation of God's holiness?

255
00:19:12,190 --> 00:19:13,869
 All right, I'll let you in.

256
00:19:14,470 --> 00:19:15,009
 How about this?

257
00:19:16,170 --> 00:19:18,269
 Again, manhandling the sacred things.

258
00:19:19,750 --> 00:19:21,750
 Touching the ark, remember that story?

259
00:19:22,769 --> 00:19:25,730
 Offering unauthorized fire, remember that story?

260
00:19:25,869 --> 00:19:26,390
 Two brothers.

261
00:19:26,990 --> 00:19:28,390
 Defiling sacrifices.

262
00:19:29,589 --> 00:19:30,990
 And then ignoring purity laws.

263
00:19:30,990 --> 00:19:35,509
 Not listening to those things that God wanted to impute.

264
00:19:36,450 --> 00:19:41,410
 These physical patterns, the rituals, the feasts, and all the other objects,

265
00:19:41,690 --> 00:19:48,009
 were God's way of pulling his people back to the reality that he is holy.

266
00:19:48,769 --> 00:19:49,970
 Learn the lesson.

267
00:19:50,150 --> 00:19:52,710
 And, of course, we know that they didn't learn the lesson.

268
00:19:52,809 --> 00:19:54,349
 They were stiff-necked and rebellious.

269
00:19:54,970 --> 00:19:57,450
 And they needed cleansing to approach him.

270
00:19:58,630 --> 00:20:00,609
 Okay, in the New Testament,

271
00:20:01,430 --> 00:20:05,750
 we then have those things that are violating holiness,

272
00:20:05,750 --> 00:20:09,130
 such as Christ sacrificed as common.

273
00:20:10,069 --> 00:20:11,569
 We can't think of that as common.

274
00:20:11,730 --> 00:20:13,089
 We think of that very spiritual.

275
00:20:13,390 --> 00:20:15,029
 We think of that as something he did.

276
00:20:15,390 --> 00:20:16,970
 It is sacred to all of us.

277
00:20:17,490 --> 00:20:18,809
 Singing against the Holy Spirit.

278
00:20:19,430 --> 00:20:20,670
 Bible talks about that.

279
00:20:21,230 --> 00:20:22,089
 Corrupting the church.

280
00:20:22,970 --> 00:20:23,869
 You know, do you realize this?

281
00:20:23,869 --> 00:20:26,670
 Even corrupting the church by virtue of criticism

282
00:20:26,670 --> 00:20:32,490
 and by virtue of mumbling and grumbling is compromising the church?

283
00:20:33,410 --> 00:20:34,210
 Now, think about that.

284
00:20:34,990 --> 00:20:36,789
 Well, I want to speak my mind.

285
00:20:37,029 --> 00:20:38,829
 Okay, it's okay to speak your mind,

286
00:20:39,230 --> 00:20:41,069
 but when you have an offense,

287
00:20:41,230 --> 00:20:43,549
 you go to the other person and talk it through.

288
00:20:43,930 --> 00:20:46,650
 You don't go over to Gail and talk in her ear,

289
00:20:46,650 --> 00:20:49,430
 and then she gets all concerned, and then somebody else,

290
00:20:49,789 --> 00:20:51,730
 and it goes on and on and on and on.

291
00:20:51,730 --> 00:20:56,009
 So there are those things that represent violations

292
00:20:56,870 --> 00:21:00,250
 to the overall church activity.

293
00:21:01,009 --> 00:21:03,089
 Unworthy participation in the Lord's Supper.

294
00:21:03,250 --> 00:21:03,849
 We know that.

295
00:21:04,470 --> 00:21:06,509
 Don't take it lightly.

296
00:21:07,369 --> 00:21:11,210
 That's a remembrance that we should keep sacred.

297
00:21:12,109 --> 00:21:15,450
 Holiness is not an option, or it's not casual.

298
00:21:16,250 --> 00:21:18,210
 God's presence is life-giving,

299
00:21:18,210 --> 00:21:23,289
 but to approach Him wrongly is extremely dangerous.

300
00:21:24,210 --> 00:21:26,589
 This is why Christ's sacrifice is so vital.

301
00:21:26,750 --> 00:21:31,390
 He bore our guilt for us, violating His holiness.

302
00:21:32,130 --> 00:21:34,650
 So that is finished.

303
00:21:35,009 --> 00:21:37,410
 Let's take a look at the next set of questions.

304
00:21:38,309 --> 00:21:41,710
 What language was used for violating the holiness of God?

305
00:21:41,910 --> 00:21:43,089
 Now, this is a little bit harder.

306
00:21:43,670 --> 00:21:46,109
 You kind of get, you know, studying the Scriptures,

307
00:21:46,109 --> 00:21:47,890
 it comes to you.

308
00:21:48,970 --> 00:21:49,849
 But think about this.

309
00:21:50,789 --> 00:21:54,369
 Profaining, my holy name was in Leviticus 22.

310
00:21:55,190 --> 00:21:58,569
 Defiling my sanctuary, okay, Leviticus 21.

311
00:21:59,150 --> 00:22:01,109
 Doing violence to my law.

312
00:22:01,470 --> 00:22:05,210
 Those are words taken out of the Old Testament.

313
00:22:06,009 --> 00:22:09,589
 Together, these show a failure of covenant faithfulness.

314
00:22:10,349 --> 00:22:13,269
 Profaining His name simply means dishonoring God's character.

315
00:22:13,930 --> 00:22:16,630
 Profaining His sanctuary dishonors His presence.

316
00:22:17,390 --> 00:22:20,750
 Violating the law dishonors His truth.

317
00:22:21,569 --> 00:22:24,549
 So there again, you have those things that were key

318
00:22:24,549 --> 00:22:28,710
 and a great concern by the Lord in what He wanted

319
00:22:28,710 --> 00:22:30,250
 or what He did not want.

320
00:22:30,930 --> 00:22:32,009
 The New Testament.

321
00:22:32,910 --> 00:22:34,609
 Profaining the blood of the covenant.

322
00:22:35,529 --> 00:22:36,930
 That's important to us.

323
00:22:37,769 --> 00:22:39,750
 We remember that every time we take communion.

324
00:22:40,950 --> 00:22:43,009
 Again, what about destroying God's temple?

325
00:22:43,009 --> 00:22:46,589
 It's referenced in 1 Corinthians 3, 17.

326
00:22:47,049 --> 00:22:50,670
 Meaning the temple, the church of God.

327
00:22:50,910 --> 00:22:53,150
 Meaning us, meaning the body of Christ.

328
00:22:53,990 --> 00:22:56,950
 And then also in Corinthians 11 where it says,

329
00:22:56,990 --> 00:22:58,309
 eat and drink judgment.

330
00:22:58,609 --> 00:23:03,009
 So those things are key things that set the tone

331
00:23:03,009 --> 00:23:04,549
 of what we should not be doing.

332
00:23:05,190 --> 00:23:08,230
 These three warnings then emphasize this truth.

333
00:23:08,750 --> 00:23:11,750
 God's holiness must not be treated lightly

334
00:23:11,750 --> 00:23:12,970
 under the new covenant.

335
00:23:13,230 --> 00:23:14,869
 It's no less important.

336
00:23:15,849 --> 00:23:17,970
 And you might say, well, what about the grace of God?

337
00:23:18,109 --> 00:23:20,609
 Yes, there is God's grace, but yes, there is holiness

338
00:23:20,609 --> 00:23:21,970
 that we have to adhere to.

339
00:23:22,690 --> 00:23:26,569
 Rejecting God's blood, dishonors His sacrifice.

340
00:23:27,470 --> 00:23:30,490
 Corrupting the temple of God, our body violates,

341
00:23:31,289 --> 00:23:32,250
 invites destruction.

342
00:23:32,869 --> 00:23:35,750
 And then treating communion irreverently

343
00:23:36,430 --> 00:23:38,049
 brings judgment on us.

344
00:23:38,769 --> 00:23:42,210
 All right, let's look at, maybe this is a little bit easier.

345
00:23:42,890 --> 00:23:45,609
 Name some examples of violating God's holiness.

346
00:23:45,930 --> 00:23:46,809
 What comes to mind?

347
00:23:47,670 --> 00:23:48,569
 You all know this one.

348
00:23:49,849 --> 00:23:50,829
 Think of the Old Testament.

349
00:23:53,349 --> 00:23:57,150
 I would say Eli's sons with the sacrifices,

350
00:23:57,690 --> 00:24:03,950
 you know, stealing and basically raping the women

351
00:24:03,950 --> 00:24:05,970
 that worked in the tabernacle.

352
00:24:07,150 --> 00:24:07,650
 What else?

353
00:24:10,690 --> 00:24:14,730
 What about when the cart went back to Jerusalem?

354
00:24:17,509 --> 00:24:18,549
 I've thought of that.

355
00:24:19,250 --> 00:24:22,690
 Yeah, the priest, they touched the back,

356
00:24:22,829 --> 00:24:23,829
 and they weren't supposed to be there.

357
00:24:24,029 --> 00:24:25,569
 It was going to fall, right?

358
00:24:26,109 --> 00:24:27,750
 And the cart was going to come over the cart,

359
00:24:27,970 --> 00:24:32,269
 so they went and held it, and they got destroyed.

360
00:24:32,269 --> 00:24:35,710
 Yes, Jenny.

361
00:24:36,089 --> 00:24:40,970
 Okay, I'm looking in 2 Chronicles,

362
00:24:41,349 --> 00:24:44,630
 for Uzziah went into the temple and burned incense

363
00:24:45,269 --> 00:24:47,009
 when he wasn't supposed to.

364
00:24:47,329 --> 00:24:48,049
 That's another one.

365
00:24:48,490 --> 00:24:49,549
 I didn't even think of that one.

366
00:24:49,730 --> 00:24:50,150
 That's good.

367
00:24:52,789 --> 00:24:55,450
 He did that because he's not great,

368
00:24:55,690 --> 00:24:56,910
 he's not supposed to.

369
00:24:56,910 --> 00:25:01,650
 I mean, the king, that's what he did.

370
00:25:03,509 --> 00:25:05,450
 He got leprosy.

371
00:25:07,849 --> 00:25:10,910
 Okay, all right.

372
00:25:11,309 --> 00:25:12,410
 Anything, you wanted to say something?

373
00:25:13,689 --> 00:25:16,990
 Then Moses struck the rock and got hit upon his beak.

374
00:25:17,190 --> 00:25:17,789
 Yeah, right.

375
00:25:18,210 --> 00:25:19,309
 Boy, that cost him something.

376
00:25:19,529 --> 00:25:20,150
 Oh yeah, yeah.

377
00:25:20,509 --> 00:25:21,430
 He couldn't see the promised land.

378
00:25:22,069 --> 00:25:23,250
 He couldn't see the promised land.

379
00:25:23,670 --> 00:25:24,990
 He got short-cut on that one.

380
00:25:25,990 --> 00:25:30,589
 And when Saul made that sacrifice in place of Samuel,

381
00:25:30,710 --> 00:25:32,190
 that was not his place.

382
00:25:33,329 --> 00:25:35,990
 Well, we had to hurry up.

383
00:25:36,789 --> 00:25:40,150
 He made his own decision for and was disobedient.

384
00:25:41,410 --> 00:25:42,650
 Boy, it cost him the kingdom.

385
00:25:44,569 --> 00:25:46,230
 Catherine just mentioned King Uzziah

386
00:25:46,230 --> 00:25:49,789
 when he was struck with...

387
00:25:49,789 --> 00:25:51,730
 I couldn't hear back here.

388
00:25:52,569 --> 00:25:53,650
 Anything else?

389
00:25:53,650 --> 00:25:55,670
 All right.

390
00:25:56,309 --> 00:25:56,710
 You're good.

391
00:25:57,509 --> 00:25:58,190
 You got these.

392
00:25:59,410 --> 00:25:59,750
 All right.

393
00:26:00,849 --> 00:26:02,170
 Examples I came up with, we said,

394
00:26:02,250 --> 00:26:04,349
 Nahab and Abiyu, the strange fire,

395
00:26:05,150 --> 00:26:06,950
 Uzzah touching the ark, 2 Samuel,

396
00:26:07,109 --> 00:26:09,509
 and the priest neglecting holy offerings in Numbers.

397
00:26:10,869 --> 00:26:11,269
 Okay.

398
00:26:12,569 --> 00:26:14,690
 Together, these are examples that teach us what?

399
00:26:15,109 --> 00:26:17,109
 God's holiness cannot be treated lightly.

400
00:26:17,410 --> 00:26:18,109
 We've said that.

401
00:26:18,589 --> 00:26:19,970
 Worship, service, and obedience

402
00:26:19,970 --> 00:26:23,769
 must follow God's word, not human invention

403
00:26:23,769 --> 00:26:25,690
 or neglect on the other side.

404
00:26:26,309 --> 00:26:28,430
 Reverence, obedience, and honor

405
00:26:28,430 --> 00:26:30,710
 are the proper response to God's presence.

406
00:26:32,009 --> 00:26:32,309
 Okay.

407
00:26:33,710 --> 00:26:35,650
 On the other side, the New Testament,

408
00:26:36,549 --> 00:26:37,829
 Ananias and Sapphira,

409
00:26:38,930 --> 00:26:39,950
 boy, wasn't that a deal?

410
00:26:40,410 --> 00:26:41,329
 They lied.

411
00:26:41,650 --> 00:26:42,150
 Oh, yeah.

412
00:26:42,549 --> 00:26:44,589
 This is what we got for the land.

413
00:26:44,670 --> 00:26:46,970
 And all of a sudden, God came in,

414
00:26:46,970 --> 00:26:49,930
 smote them, abusing the Lord's supper

415
00:26:49,930 --> 00:26:52,609
 in 1 Corinthians 11, 27,

416
00:26:53,430 --> 00:26:55,670
 and again, tempting God's sacrifice,

417
00:26:56,049 --> 00:26:58,089
 in other words, disgracing God in his blood,

418
00:26:58,410 --> 00:27:01,710
 are all things that come against who he is

419
00:27:01,710 --> 00:27:03,890
 and what he wants us to represent.

420
00:27:04,529 --> 00:27:07,589
 So the Holy Spirit sees through every pretense,

421
00:27:08,450 --> 00:27:09,990
 every lie that we tell,

422
00:27:10,670 --> 00:27:13,750
 the cross is not something to be treated very lightly.

423
00:27:14,509 --> 00:27:18,829
 And as we continue to grow in the grace of God,

424
00:27:19,589 --> 00:27:23,329
 we see it is more serious a situation

425
00:27:23,329 --> 00:27:25,950
 than we may have thought when we first came to the Lord.

426
00:27:26,710 --> 00:27:28,049
 Well, I'll still do my thing.

427
00:27:28,210 --> 00:27:30,009
 I'll give God some of my life.

428
00:27:30,750 --> 00:27:33,809
 You know, we always equate in men's ministry

429
00:27:33,809 --> 00:27:37,589
 how all of us, we men, live in a heart

430
00:27:37,589 --> 00:27:39,349
 that's all full of different boxes.

431
00:27:39,750 --> 00:27:41,269
 We isolate different things,

432
00:27:41,390 --> 00:27:43,029
 and we put it away and tuck it away,

433
00:27:43,029 --> 00:27:44,910
 and we don't let that bother us,

434
00:27:45,009 --> 00:27:47,789
 and all of a sudden we're triggered or something happens

435
00:27:47,789 --> 00:27:49,569
 and we bring that thing out and look at it

436
00:27:49,569 --> 00:27:51,029
 and stuff it back again.

437
00:27:51,750 --> 00:27:53,750
 And so God, he wants to work in our life.

438
00:27:53,869 --> 00:27:55,029
 He wants all of that.

439
00:27:55,109 --> 00:27:56,170
 He wants the whole house.

440
00:27:56,670 --> 00:27:57,910
 He doesn't want to live in your cellar

441
00:27:57,910 --> 00:27:58,750
 or your attic.

442
00:27:58,829 --> 00:28:00,670
 He wants the whole house, the living room,

443
00:28:01,349 --> 00:28:03,230
 the bedrooms, the bathrooms,

444
00:28:04,089 --> 00:28:07,210
 the attics, the basements, all his.

445
00:28:08,470 --> 00:28:10,109
 Oh, we all got that, right?

446
00:28:10,730 --> 00:28:12,430
 Okay, we're all doing that, are we?

447
00:28:12,430 --> 00:28:14,569
 Okay, all right, no comments.

448
00:28:14,710 --> 00:28:18,569
 Honestly, the Lord's got to spread the bathroom with me.

449
00:28:19,450 --> 00:28:21,529
 What's that says if everybody can hear it?

450
00:28:21,609 --> 00:28:24,809
 I said, the Lord's got to do some house cleaning with me.

451
00:28:24,930 --> 00:28:26,269
 I'll be frank about that.

452
00:28:26,509 --> 00:28:27,049
 Hey, listen.

453
00:28:28,190 --> 00:28:29,309
 Confession's good for the soul.

454
00:28:29,529 --> 00:28:30,930
 I mean, this is where we should do it.

455
00:28:31,410 --> 00:28:32,529
 All right, now, do you want to name them?

456
00:28:32,670 --> 00:28:33,430
 No, I'm just kidding.

457
00:28:34,910 --> 00:28:36,569
 I'm sure because I'm not perfect.

458
00:28:36,750 --> 00:28:37,009
 Yeah.

459
00:28:37,170 --> 00:28:38,210
 I'm sure because I'm perfect.

460
00:28:38,390 --> 00:28:39,470
 Right, that's it.

461
00:28:39,829 --> 00:28:41,049
 And then if we would be perfect,

462
00:28:41,049 --> 00:28:42,250
 we'd spoil it, wouldn't we?

463
00:28:42,950 --> 00:28:44,910
 Yeah, okay, very good, Ginny.

464
00:28:49,250 --> 00:28:52,809
 So, God's, again, the cross is not something

465
00:28:52,809 --> 00:28:53,710
 to be treated lightly.

466
00:28:54,190 --> 00:28:57,210
 God's blood is the highest, most sacred gift

467
00:28:57,210 --> 00:28:58,849
 God has given us.

468
00:28:59,750 --> 00:29:02,230
 And would it treat it as ordinary or worse?

469
00:29:02,730 --> 00:29:05,890
 To reject it after receiving the knowledge of it?

470
00:29:07,090 --> 00:29:09,150
 That's the ultimate insult to God.

471
00:29:10,430 --> 00:29:12,470
 Okay, so we get the idea.

472
00:29:13,769 --> 00:29:16,250
 All right, let's look at the results of all this.

473
00:29:17,950 --> 00:29:20,990
 Death, exile, loss of God's presence.

474
00:29:22,609 --> 00:29:24,630
 Let me ask the question as an aside.

475
00:29:26,069 --> 00:29:29,230
 Have any of you, while walking with the Lord,

476
00:29:30,250 --> 00:29:34,069
 felt that you lost the presence of God in your life

477
00:29:34,069 --> 00:29:39,130
 and you became dry and the word didn't mean anything?

478
00:29:39,130 --> 00:29:43,130
 And you read it and it didn't speak life to you?

479
00:29:44,009 --> 00:29:45,069
 Why was that?

480
00:29:45,870 --> 00:29:47,930
 Because God was after something in me.

481
00:29:48,009 --> 00:29:50,329
 He wanted me to know that I needed to change.

482
00:29:50,789 --> 00:29:52,369
 Yeah, he wanted you to dig deeper.

483
00:29:52,569 --> 00:29:53,150
 Yes, he did.

484
00:29:53,789 --> 00:29:55,349
 The whole room, the whole house.

485
00:29:55,970 --> 00:29:57,049
 Yep, yep, he did.

486
00:29:57,369 --> 00:29:59,809
 Anything else anybody wants to confess or share?

487
00:30:00,910 --> 00:30:01,569
 Are you scratching?

488
00:30:02,230 --> 00:30:05,130
 No, no, no, no, okay, Kathy, sorry.

489
00:30:07,889 --> 00:30:13,130
 I would say only by the grace of God he would let me know

490
00:30:13,130 --> 00:30:15,789
 that I'm in danger of losing his presence

491
00:30:15,789 --> 00:30:18,630
 when I even think about my needs.

492
00:30:19,089 --> 00:30:23,509
 I say the boss and I take that back to Matthew 5, verse 27, 28.

493
00:30:24,710 --> 00:30:25,609
 All right, that's good.

494
00:30:26,309 --> 00:30:28,789
 There was a time in my life, go ahead, Chris.

495
00:30:28,869 --> 00:30:30,130
 Yeah, I was thinking, you know,

496
00:30:30,130 --> 00:30:35,410
 like sometimes it seems like when maybe I'm not accepting a challenge,

497
00:30:35,869 --> 00:30:38,829
 like he wants to stretch me outside my comfort zone

498
00:30:38,829 --> 00:30:41,910
 and I'm just staying in my comfort zone,

499
00:30:42,349 --> 00:30:45,890
 I tend to dry up, you know?

500
00:30:47,130 --> 00:30:53,210
 Yeah, there was a time in my life when I was ministering,

501
00:30:53,410 --> 00:30:59,109
 not to be redundant but quickly, Sunday sermons,

502
00:30:59,549 --> 00:31:02,750
 Tuesday, small group, Thursday counseling night,

503
00:31:03,869 --> 00:31:05,609
 Friday and Saturday preparing for Sunday,

504
00:31:06,150 --> 00:31:08,670
 doing a full-time job, having 37 employees.

505
00:31:09,349 --> 00:31:10,630
 I became dry.

506
00:31:11,490 --> 00:31:13,869
 There was nothing left on the inside.

507
00:31:14,630 --> 00:31:17,890
 And I want to tell you, looking back on that experience, it was horrible.

508
00:31:18,390 --> 00:31:20,950
 Now, when you're going through it, I mean, you're doing the best you can

509
00:31:20,950 --> 00:31:22,970
 and, you know, you have kids, you have a wife,

510
00:31:23,069 --> 00:31:25,849
 you have all that and yada yada yada, and I'm not making excuses.

511
00:31:26,850 --> 00:31:31,829
 But on the other side of life, after learning the terrible lessons

512
00:31:31,829 --> 00:31:35,849
 of what that did to me, there's nothing as precious

513
00:31:36,570 --> 00:31:40,289
 as endeavoring to want to stay in the presence of God.

514
00:31:41,470 --> 00:31:44,190
 Throughout the day, not just in your devotions,

515
00:31:44,809 --> 00:31:49,130
 but asking God, praising God in your car while you do dishes,

516
00:31:50,069 --> 00:31:52,930
 while you do the laundry, whatever the case may be.

517
00:31:52,930 --> 00:31:54,450
 You don't want to leave.

518
00:31:54,970 --> 00:31:57,250
 You don't want to be without His presence.

519
00:31:57,589 --> 00:31:58,410
 Most important.

520
00:31:59,490 --> 00:32:01,809
 So, those are the things in the Old Testament.

521
00:32:02,069 --> 00:32:05,930
 The results of disobedience are both spiritual and practical.

522
00:32:06,750 --> 00:32:08,710
 The death, meaning in Leviticus 10.2,

523
00:32:08,789 --> 00:32:10,670
 the Lord sent fire and destroyed them.

524
00:32:12,690 --> 00:32:15,869
 Cain said, I will be hidden from your presence.

525
00:32:16,470 --> 00:32:17,130
 Imagine that.

526
00:32:17,309 --> 00:32:19,130
 He made that explanation.

527
00:32:19,809 --> 00:32:22,690
 And then the loss of presence of the Spirit of the Lord

528
00:32:22,690 --> 00:32:24,549
 departed from Saul, which He said.

529
00:32:25,970 --> 00:32:29,250
 So, on the side of the New Testament,

530
00:32:30,529 --> 00:32:34,289
 judgment, discipline, exclusion from God's kingdom,

531
00:32:34,549 --> 00:32:39,369
 we talked about that, referencing in Acts 1 Corinthians and Hebrews.

532
00:32:39,970 --> 00:32:44,029
 In these passages then, they remind us that as we approach God,

533
00:32:46,329 --> 00:32:48,509
 irreverently, it's extremely dangerous.

534
00:32:48,509 --> 00:32:53,509
 His holiness demands truth and an eye on Sapphira.

535
00:32:54,289 --> 00:32:58,829
 Reverence, sin and idolatry block every entrance to God's kingdom.

536
00:32:59,150 --> 00:33:04,230
 And obedience, which is, again, at peace and living a clean life.

537
00:33:04,390 --> 00:33:09,670
 In Christ, we receive the grace and power to live holy lives.

538
00:33:10,269 --> 00:33:11,529
 What's that look like?

539
00:33:13,629 --> 00:33:15,650
 Grace, first off.

540
00:33:16,529 --> 00:33:20,329
 His kindness is given to us not because we earned it,

541
00:33:20,430 --> 00:33:23,430
 but because He loves us so greatly.

542
00:33:23,950 --> 00:33:25,210
 He gave us grace.

543
00:33:26,089 --> 00:33:30,950
 The power is the supernatural ability that God gives us

544
00:33:30,950 --> 00:33:33,630
 through the Holy Spirit to overcome sin,

545
00:33:34,470 --> 00:33:37,589
 resist temptation and live an obedience to Him.

546
00:33:37,970 --> 00:33:39,029
 So, there is a way.

547
00:33:39,029 --> 00:33:42,809
 There is an ability to get into the holiness of God,

548
00:33:43,029 --> 00:33:44,089
 to approach Him.

549
00:33:45,109 --> 00:33:48,150
 And then the underlying principles are these.

550
00:33:48,589 --> 00:33:51,549
 God's holiness is separate, pure and untouchable.

551
00:33:52,130 --> 00:33:54,930
 Violating it meant ignoring sacred boundaries,

552
00:33:55,029 --> 00:33:56,569
 those things that were required.

553
00:33:57,930 --> 00:34:01,289
 And then, to set these boundaries, if ignored,

554
00:34:01,609 --> 00:34:05,109
 then allow the Israelites to experience God's fullness.

555
00:34:06,049 --> 00:34:06,690
 Separate.

556
00:34:07,089 --> 00:34:12,269
 God is distinct and cannot be approached casually.

557
00:34:14,730 --> 00:34:18,489
 Pure, God is morally perfect and cannot coexist with sin.

558
00:34:19,230 --> 00:34:22,989
 Untouchable, God's holiness, when violated, brings judgment.

559
00:34:23,590 --> 00:34:25,889
 The Gospel then shows us, on the other hand,

560
00:34:26,050 --> 00:34:28,909
 the word separate, where He was separate,

561
00:34:28,949 --> 00:34:31,409
 yet He came near in Hebrews.

562
00:34:31,510 --> 00:34:34,690
 Where He was pure, the perfect sacrifice was given

563
00:34:34,690 --> 00:34:35,469
 in 1 Peter.

564
00:34:36,010 --> 00:34:38,670
 He made the untouchable approachable,

565
00:34:38,769 --> 00:34:39,789
 because what did He do?

566
00:34:40,630 --> 00:34:43,429
 Through His death, He took the veil and rented it in two,

567
00:34:43,510 --> 00:34:45,530
 that we could go into the holy of holies

568
00:34:45,530 --> 00:34:47,670
 and do business with the Lord.

569
00:34:49,289 --> 00:34:51,429
 So, God's holiness is revealed now.

570
00:34:51,550 --> 00:34:52,650
 In Christ, we know that.

571
00:34:52,849 --> 00:34:54,630
 Violating it means rejecting Him,

572
00:34:55,150 --> 00:34:57,829
 living in sin while claiming to belong to Him.

573
00:34:59,409 --> 00:35:01,690
 So, again, what's revealed in Christ?

574
00:35:01,690 --> 00:35:07,050
 Jesus is the fulfillment of the revelation of His holiness.

575
00:35:07,730 --> 00:35:10,349
 He perfectly embodies God's character.

576
00:35:11,210 --> 00:35:13,650
 The holiness isn't just rules on a page.

577
00:35:14,289 --> 00:35:16,989
 It's a person we can follow, His example.

578
00:35:17,889 --> 00:35:24,829
 And I always draw reference to what the chosen did for me.

579
00:35:24,949 --> 00:35:28,710
 It graphically showed me the continuing love

580
00:35:28,710 --> 00:35:32,630
 that Jesus had for people, even though He was tormented

581
00:35:32,630 --> 00:35:35,010
 by those that were in authority,

582
00:35:35,750 --> 00:35:38,769
 even though the crowd pressure Him for more miracles,

583
00:35:39,010 --> 00:35:40,269
 He gave of Himself.

584
00:35:42,849 --> 00:35:45,429
 Our actions, our attitudes, and our choices

585
00:35:45,429 --> 00:35:48,130
 should reflect His holiness at all times,

586
00:35:48,449 --> 00:35:50,250
 not just when we come together in church,

587
00:35:50,389 --> 00:35:51,409
 but when we're alone.

588
00:35:52,789 --> 00:35:55,849
 Conditional, unrepentant sin, while claiming to have faith in Christ,

589
00:35:55,849 --> 00:35:59,650
 separates us from that intimacy that we're seeking.

590
00:36:02,570 --> 00:36:02,769
 All right.

591
00:36:04,050 --> 00:36:06,030
 Now, the holiness in the New Testament,

592
00:36:06,230 --> 00:36:06,949
 we turned the page.

593
00:36:07,090 --> 00:36:07,769
 We're not comparing.

594
00:36:08,429 --> 00:36:11,090
 As we learn now, holiness in the Old Testament

595
00:36:11,090 --> 00:36:13,849
 was centered in the temple system.

596
00:36:14,650 --> 00:36:16,949
 God had to bring that system to bear

597
00:36:16,949 --> 00:36:19,789
 to take these rebellious and unregenerate people

598
00:36:19,789 --> 00:36:22,269
 to a greater knowledge of who He was.

599
00:36:22,269 --> 00:36:25,250
 Again, so often was said by myself

600
00:36:25,250 --> 00:36:28,969
 that as we studied in these Leviticus in Numbers,

601
00:36:29,329 --> 00:36:32,829
 how He took an entire independent 12 tribes

602
00:36:32,829 --> 00:36:37,170
 and made them one and brought them into governance,

603
00:36:37,449 --> 00:36:41,889
 brought them into vitality, provided for them miraculous,

604
00:36:43,150 --> 00:36:44,909
 He made a nation out of them.

605
00:36:45,250 --> 00:36:48,269
 Thinking of doing that, that's difficult to do,

606
00:36:48,329 --> 00:36:49,710
 but that's what God was about.

607
00:36:49,710 --> 00:36:53,269
 In the New Testament, we find that holiness doesn't disappear.

608
00:36:53,489 --> 00:36:56,030
 It gets fulfilled and deepened, as we've talked about.

609
00:36:56,909 --> 00:37:00,670
 And then God's holiness is now in Christ, Hebrews 1.3.

610
00:37:01,289 --> 00:37:04,429
 God's Son has all the brightness of God's own glory

611
00:37:04,429 --> 00:37:06,630
 and is like Him in every way.

612
00:37:07,090 --> 00:37:10,409
 What we saw in the Old is exemplified in the New.

613
00:37:11,230 --> 00:37:15,769
 Matthew 27, the tearing of the temple veil

614
00:37:15,769 --> 00:37:18,909
 showed that access to God's holy presence

615
00:37:18,909 --> 00:37:22,949
 is now open through Christ to every one of us

616
00:37:22,949 --> 00:37:27,190
 if we want to be there and attain that closeness.

617
00:37:28,050 --> 00:37:29,829
 So the question that we have now,

618
00:37:30,690 --> 00:37:34,090
 how do we as believers relate to this holiness?

619
00:37:34,650 --> 00:37:35,929
 How do you relate to it?

620
00:37:36,829 --> 00:37:38,130
 So we now know what it is.

621
00:37:38,269 --> 00:37:39,289
 How do you relate to it?

622
00:37:39,630 --> 00:37:41,110
 Is it something to be feared?

623
00:37:41,250 --> 00:37:42,010
 Is it a challenge?

624
00:37:42,349 --> 00:37:43,369
 Is it something you seek?

625
00:37:43,550 --> 00:37:47,269
 Is it something, well, you know, I'm neutral, whatever.

626
00:37:47,849 --> 00:37:49,269
 How do we relate to that?

627
00:37:50,190 --> 00:37:52,150
 Well, I don't think of it so much as relating

628
00:37:52,150 --> 00:37:56,250
 as trying not to take it for granted.

629
00:37:56,510 --> 00:37:57,389
 Okay, that's good.

630
00:37:58,769 --> 00:38:01,530
 Because as humans, it's just part of our nature

631
00:38:01,530 --> 00:38:02,989
 to just take things for granted.

632
00:38:03,429 --> 00:38:06,030
 And we have so much of His grace and mercy

633
00:38:06,030 --> 00:38:10,130
 that we depend on that we don't even realize or acknowledge.

634
00:38:10,829 --> 00:38:14,010
 So I think that's why it's so important to stay in the Word.

635
00:38:14,489 --> 00:38:16,130
 Because if you're not in the Word,

636
00:38:16,130 --> 00:38:19,349
 you're not seeing God who He is and what He's done.

637
00:38:19,769 --> 00:38:21,449
 And you're not thinking about that.

638
00:38:21,710 --> 00:38:23,670
 And you're thinking about all your other junk instead.

639
00:38:24,090 --> 00:38:25,690
 But we have to stay focused on Him.

640
00:38:26,929 --> 00:38:31,090
 It's dangerous to live in the world and not be fortified daily.

641
00:38:31,829 --> 00:38:34,150
 I think we said that time and time again.

642
00:38:34,369 --> 00:38:37,429
 But because of the society that we live in

643
00:38:37,429 --> 00:38:40,510
 and the pressure that we all have in one form or another,

644
00:38:41,750 --> 00:38:43,449
 is there much pressure when you retire?

645
00:38:45,349 --> 00:38:45,869
 No.

646
00:38:46,309 --> 00:38:47,150
 Oh, okay.

647
00:38:47,730 --> 00:38:47,809
 Boy.

648
00:38:48,630 --> 00:38:50,130
 Can I move over with you guys?

649
00:38:50,210 --> 00:38:50,469
 Yeah.

650
00:38:50,809 --> 00:38:52,570
 No, you can sleep later in the morning.

651
00:38:54,449 --> 00:38:55,690
 Yeah, it's good.

652
00:38:57,010 --> 00:38:57,610
 Anything else?

653
00:38:57,849 --> 00:38:59,550
 Is that a head itch or an influence?

654
00:39:00,150 --> 00:39:00,869
 All right, okay.

655
00:39:01,650 --> 00:39:04,409
 I pray, Gail, I think it is privilege.

656
00:39:05,250 --> 00:39:05,429
 Yes.

657
00:39:05,750 --> 00:39:08,929
 Yeah, it can be entered.

658
00:39:09,210 --> 00:39:10,829
 The holiness of God is privilege.

659
00:39:11,170 --> 00:39:12,849
 Jesus has done for us.

660
00:39:12,849 --> 00:39:14,510
 So we can enter it.

661
00:39:14,769 --> 00:39:16,090
 So it's thanksgiving.

662
00:39:17,369 --> 00:39:18,949
 It all makes you cry sometimes.

663
00:39:19,309 --> 00:39:21,150
 When you're in with the Lord,

664
00:39:21,329 --> 00:39:22,210
 you're closest to the Lord.

665
00:39:22,409 --> 00:39:23,409
 What have you done for me?

666
00:39:24,030 --> 00:39:25,489
 Who are you?

667
00:39:25,949 --> 00:39:26,309
 Yeah.

668
00:39:26,650 --> 00:39:27,670
 Oh, my gosh.

669
00:39:30,150 --> 00:39:30,989
 Anything else?

670
00:39:31,750 --> 00:39:32,130
 Inputs, thoughts?

671
00:39:32,650 --> 00:39:32,829
 No.

672
00:39:33,269 --> 00:39:33,530
 Okay.

673
00:39:33,909 --> 00:39:34,210
 All right.

674
00:39:35,110 --> 00:39:36,289
 Is that a hand?

675
00:39:36,750 --> 00:39:37,250
 Okay, go ahead.

676
00:39:37,409 --> 00:39:37,889
 Yeah, I think I do.

677
00:39:38,230 --> 00:39:40,369
 Yeah, I think that the holiness of God is wonderful

678
00:39:40,369 --> 00:39:44,030
 because knowing that He's holy, He doesn't change.

679
00:39:44,510 --> 00:39:45,449
 His holiness doesn't.

680
00:39:45,769 --> 00:39:48,969
 And the Holy Spirit is so faithful to the Lord

681
00:39:48,969 --> 00:39:53,389
 to bring us into the image and likeness of Christ.

682
00:39:54,150 --> 00:39:57,469
 So we change as He reveals more for Himself

683
00:39:57,469 --> 00:39:58,590
 from glory to glory.

684
00:39:59,030 --> 00:39:59,550
 So He does.

685
00:39:59,730 --> 00:40:03,030
 He separates us from the world of flesh, you know,

686
00:40:03,329 --> 00:40:04,469
 and become more like Him.

687
00:40:05,369 --> 00:40:07,690
 Isn't it funny how we come to the Lord

688
00:40:07,690 --> 00:40:10,510
 with all our gimmies when we first start,

689
00:40:10,670 --> 00:40:12,630
 Lord, I need this and Lord, I need that.

690
00:40:12,869 --> 00:40:13,530
 Oh, Lord.

691
00:40:14,190 --> 00:40:16,829
 Then, you know, you go on in life after a while

692
00:40:16,829 --> 00:40:20,250
 and you spend close proximity to His kingdom

693
00:40:20,250 --> 00:40:21,989
 and He's speaking to you,

694
00:40:22,010 --> 00:40:24,590
 and all of your needs kind of just fade away

695
00:40:24,590 --> 00:40:26,929
 because there is provision there.

696
00:40:27,550 --> 00:40:29,530
 You almost don't have to ask for them.

697
00:40:30,090 --> 00:40:31,429
 Ginger, how are you?

698
00:40:31,750 --> 00:40:31,849
 Good.

699
00:40:32,130 --> 00:40:32,949
 It just occurred to me.

700
00:40:33,289 --> 00:40:34,389
 I'm going to mustache you.

701
00:40:34,389 --> 00:40:36,349
 Oh, yeah, He shows up once in a while.

702
00:40:39,550 --> 00:40:41,929
 Well, talking about the separation

703
00:40:41,929 --> 00:40:43,969
 that happened with the veil,

704
00:40:45,849 --> 00:40:48,750
 now we have become separated similarly

705
00:40:49,389 --> 00:40:50,570
 from believers and non-believers.

706
00:40:50,949 --> 00:40:52,730
 God has been revealed to us.

707
00:40:52,829 --> 00:40:55,949
 So it's kind of irrelevant to the New Testament

708
00:40:55,949 --> 00:40:57,969
 and to the now as well.

709
00:40:58,349 --> 00:40:58,909
 Okay, all right.

710
00:40:59,070 --> 00:41:00,869
 So we're separated.

711
00:41:00,869 --> 00:41:05,409
 We're separated from the non-regenerate part of life.

712
00:41:05,489 --> 00:41:05,789
 Right.

713
00:41:06,570 --> 00:41:10,269
 As we believe in because of the holiness of God

714
00:41:10,269 --> 00:41:11,670
 and belief, yeah.

715
00:41:12,369 --> 00:41:13,849
 I would like to put that another way.

716
00:41:13,929 --> 00:41:15,130
 We're separated in our spirit,

717
00:41:15,130 --> 00:41:17,969
 but we live among the people to give us declaration.

718
00:41:19,429 --> 00:41:20,889
 Okay, does that work?

719
00:41:22,070 --> 00:41:22,730
 Yeah, we're not.

720
00:41:22,869 --> 00:41:24,409
 Yeah, and I'm not trying to parse.

721
00:41:24,570 --> 00:41:25,449
 We have a whole new world in that of the world.

722
00:41:25,489 --> 00:41:26,210
 Yeah, right.

723
00:41:26,550 --> 00:41:28,130
 So, you know, there is a separation,

724
00:41:28,329 --> 00:41:29,590
 but yet we're part of it.

725
00:41:29,590 --> 00:41:30,050
 Okay.

726
00:41:32,090 --> 00:41:32,769
 All right.

727
00:41:34,489 --> 00:41:35,829
 How are we doing on time here?

728
00:41:36,070 --> 00:41:36,650
 Oh, we're good.

729
00:41:36,889 --> 00:41:37,789
 Fifteen minutes yet.

730
00:41:38,030 --> 00:41:38,289
 Okay.

731
00:41:39,510 --> 00:41:39,869
 All right.

732
00:41:41,630 --> 00:41:43,610
 We are now the temple of the Lord.

733
00:41:44,130 --> 00:41:46,210
 Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3, 16,

734
00:41:46,329 --> 00:41:48,570
 do you not know that you are God's temple

735
00:41:48,570 --> 00:41:51,250
 and that God's spirit dwells in you?

736
00:41:51,349 --> 00:41:52,690
 And that's more purposeful

737
00:41:52,690 --> 00:41:54,969
 when we realize that he is in us.

738
00:41:57,210 --> 00:41:57,710
 Question.

739
00:41:58,710 --> 00:42:00,190
 Speaking of today now,

740
00:42:00,409 --> 00:42:03,269
 what profanes the holiness of God?

741
00:42:04,190 --> 00:42:07,869
 What do you think profanes the holiness of God?

742
00:42:11,829 --> 00:42:12,150
 Yes.

743
00:42:12,849 --> 00:42:17,030
 I would see definitely people who,

744
00:42:17,710 --> 00:42:21,510
 I guess, manipulate or benefit,

745
00:42:21,550 --> 00:42:26,949
 profit from portraying their serving God

746
00:42:26,949 --> 00:42:30,789
 and yet they're gaining wealth for themselves

747
00:42:30,789 --> 00:42:33,829
 or benefiting personally.

748
00:42:34,630 --> 00:42:37,849
 Like a lot of the TV ministries have through the years.

749
00:42:38,250 --> 00:42:38,349
 Yeah.

750
00:42:38,590 --> 00:42:39,030
 Okay.

751
00:42:39,369 --> 00:42:39,750
 All right.

752
00:42:39,849 --> 00:42:40,090
 Yeah.

753
00:42:40,190 --> 00:42:40,789
 Yeah.

754
00:42:41,670 --> 00:42:43,989
 And those that, again,

755
00:42:44,190 --> 00:42:45,570
 nothing against mega churches,

756
00:42:46,230 --> 00:42:49,909
 but you lose the familiarity of the brethren,

757
00:42:50,289 --> 00:42:50,789
 so to speak,

758
00:42:51,090 --> 00:42:51,650
 quote unquote,

759
00:42:51,809 --> 00:42:53,710
 when you have thousands of people.

760
00:42:54,110 --> 00:42:55,130
 I mean, you know,

761
00:42:55,210 --> 00:42:59,829
 I was invited by my son to go to the church

762
00:42:59,829 --> 00:43:02,610
 when he was looking after he moved up to Royer's Fort.

763
00:43:03,670 --> 00:43:04,869
 And it was like a theater.

764
00:43:05,110 --> 00:43:05,230
 You know,

765
00:43:05,250 --> 00:43:06,849
 they had the belts across the thing

766
00:43:06,849 --> 00:43:11,010
 and it was a 9 o'clock and a 10 o'clock or 10, 15.

767
00:43:11,289 --> 00:43:11,630
 And then it was,

768
00:43:11,750 --> 00:43:13,510
 so we went to the middle service

769
00:43:14,650 --> 00:43:16,309
 and it was like going to a theater.

770
00:43:17,329 --> 00:43:17,409
 You know,

771
00:43:17,550 --> 00:43:18,590
 you can't go in there yet.

772
00:43:18,769 --> 00:43:19,909
 The service is not finished.

773
00:43:20,530 --> 00:43:22,329
 The things come off and okay,

774
00:43:22,329 --> 00:43:22,690
 now wait,

775
00:43:22,789 --> 00:43:25,750
 all the people rushed out and then we rushed in and start again.

776
00:43:25,929 --> 00:43:26,190
 And you know,

777
00:43:26,250 --> 00:43:26,849
 here you are.

778
00:43:27,389 --> 00:43:27,409
 And,

779
00:43:27,409 --> 00:43:32,210
 and then I looked back and I saw the clock ticking like we have here.

780
00:43:32,730 --> 00:43:35,829
 And then what I looked at is when we finished,

781
00:43:35,869 --> 00:43:37,730
 one element was on the,

782
00:43:37,949 --> 00:43:41,010
 was on that particular segment of 10 or 15 minutes.

783
00:43:41,150 --> 00:43:42,210
 The singing was two songs.

784
00:43:42,309 --> 00:43:42,750
 That was it.

785
00:43:42,889 --> 00:43:43,909
 And then we wanted the next thing.

786
00:43:44,329 --> 00:43:45,050
 I thought, wow,

787
00:43:45,070 --> 00:43:45,610
 what a product.

788
00:43:46,150 --> 00:43:47,389
 And the smoke was there.

789
00:43:47,710 --> 00:43:48,889
 I'm not against smoke.

790
00:43:49,469 --> 00:43:49,929
 Okay.

791
00:43:50,210 --> 00:43:50,269
 But,

792
00:43:50,910 --> 00:43:54,510
 but do I need all these things to,

793
00:43:54,510 --> 00:43:55,929
 to get close to God?

794
00:43:56,030 --> 00:43:57,090
 And I'm not being critical.

795
00:43:57,230 --> 00:43:58,849
 It was just something that was different.

796
00:43:59,369 --> 00:44:00,469
 I'm not used to that.

797
00:44:02,370 --> 00:44:03,010
 Yeah,

798
00:44:03,429 --> 00:44:05,170
 I have to share this.

799
00:44:05,630 --> 00:44:07,369
 I went to the church.

800
00:44:07,630 --> 00:44:11,510
 It was formerly the Branch Creek Church a couple of years ago.

801
00:44:12,450 --> 00:44:18,730
 And I went to a six o'clock evening Monday night service because I'd

802
00:44:18,730 --> 00:44:19,230
 worked

803
00:44:19,230 --> 00:44:24,210
 and it was just convenient to go then after work.

804
00:44:24,650 --> 00:44:31,130
 So it was a satellite church from Lancaster where you're seeing

805
00:44:31,130 --> 00:44:33,190
 another service on video,

806
00:44:33,590 --> 00:44:37,010
 but they had an all worship service and I was like,

807
00:44:37,070 --> 00:44:39,469
 Oh good, an hour of prison worship.

808
00:44:39,809 --> 00:44:41,650
 And next thing you know,

809
00:44:42,210 --> 00:44:45,130
 they were belting out Led Zeppelin.

810
00:44:45,710 --> 00:44:46,269
 Yeah.

811
00:44:46,590 --> 00:44:48,489
 They were belting out the who.

812
00:44:48,809 --> 00:44:49,289
 Oh really?

813
00:44:50,230 --> 00:44:50,789
 Yeah.

814
00:44:51,269 --> 00:44:57,210
 And I just like stopped listening to secular rock and roll influenced

815
00:44:57,210 --> 00:45:02,429
 by a YouTube channel called Good Fate Ministries and was trying

816
00:45:02,429 --> 00:45:03,489
 to get away from that.

817
00:45:03,829 --> 00:45:09,190
 So I got up and left the church and the secret,

818
00:45:09,449 --> 00:45:11,429
 the receptionist looked at me and she said,

819
00:45:11,510 --> 00:45:12,230
 are you all right?

820
00:45:12,389 --> 00:45:13,210
 And I said, no.

821
00:45:13,210 --> 00:45:16,969
 And I said, that is wrong.

822
00:45:17,289 --> 00:45:19,250
 And I pointed to the door and she said,

823
00:45:19,309 --> 00:45:20,610
 I'll send the pastors out.

824
00:45:20,809 --> 00:45:21,929
 I said, bring them on.

825
00:45:23,210 --> 00:45:26,889
 So these pastors looked younger than my kids.

826
00:45:27,110 --> 00:45:31,230
 They were in their 30s and I looked right at them and they

827
00:45:31,230 --> 00:45:35,150
 were like, well, Paul preached in front of the statue of

828
00:45:35,150 --> 00:45:39,829
 Athena and we're trying to reach down and meet people where

829
00:45:39,829 --> 00:45:41,889
 they're at and bring Jesus to them.

830
00:45:41,889 --> 00:45:44,510
 And I said, well, you just brought Athena into a synagogue

831
00:45:44,510 --> 00:45:45,929
 and I walked out.

832
00:45:48,150 --> 00:45:50,750
 Well, I guess we can't play Led Zeppelin this Sunday,

833
00:45:50,849 --> 00:45:51,050
 right?

834
00:45:51,230 --> 00:45:51,650
 Right, Chris?

835
00:45:52,730 --> 00:45:53,349
 No, I'm kidding.

836
00:45:56,070 --> 00:45:57,570
 Gee, and that was on the docket.

837
00:46:00,809 --> 00:46:01,630
 Some things.

838
00:46:01,989 --> 00:46:05,929
 Hebrews 1029 warns that trampling on crushed sacrifices

839
00:46:05,929 --> 00:46:09,190
 like profaning the blood of the covenant.

840
00:46:09,190 --> 00:46:14,130
 Matthew 2317, Jesus rebukes religious leaders for outward

841
00:46:14,130 --> 00:46:16,650
 holiness but inward corruption.

842
00:46:17,690 --> 00:46:18,550
 What's in the heart?

843
00:46:20,429 --> 00:46:24,329
 You are like whitewashed tombs full of hypocrisy and

844
00:46:24,329 --> 00:46:25,050
 lawlessness.

845
00:46:25,809 --> 00:46:28,130
 My, I can vividly remember that in the chosen.

846
00:46:29,110 --> 00:46:31,449
 Now I'm going to make some confessions here.

847
00:46:31,610 --> 00:46:32,869
 That's about me now.

848
00:46:33,250 --> 00:46:33,289
 Okay.

849
00:46:34,050 --> 00:46:36,150
 Not to point to me, but like priests,

850
00:46:36,150 --> 00:46:38,429
 we ministers are summoned to guard.

851
00:46:39,489 --> 00:46:41,570
 Now, what is our responsibility to you?

852
00:46:42,610 --> 00:46:45,050
 Priests and Levites were accountable to guard the

853
00:46:45,050 --> 00:46:48,750
 holiness of God's sanctuary and today we ministers are

854
00:46:48,750 --> 00:46:51,050
 commissioned to guard truth, number one,

855
00:46:51,429 --> 00:46:52,670
 and the flock of God.

856
00:46:53,210 --> 00:46:54,670
 That's what we need to do.

857
00:46:56,170 --> 00:46:59,150
 James 3.1 says this, not many of you shall become

858
00:46:59,670 --> 00:47:03,909
 teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach

859
00:47:03,909 --> 00:47:07,050
 will be judged with greater strictness.

860
00:47:07,750 --> 00:47:08,829
 A little bit of my testimony.

861
00:47:09,030 --> 00:47:13,030
 After I came back to the Lord, I went to Eastern

862
00:47:13,030 --> 00:47:20,329
 College in Biblical studies and there was a

863
00:47:20,329 --> 00:47:22,590
 prophetic word that the Lord would use me and

864
00:47:22,590 --> 00:47:25,510
 send me forth and I accepted that.

865
00:47:26,570 --> 00:47:30,269
 But I was definitely afraid of this verse and I

866
00:47:30,269 --> 00:47:34,550
 still to this day really realize when we stand up

867
00:47:34,550 --> 00:47:39,710
 here or on the pulpit on Sunday morning that we

868
00:47:39,710 --> 00:47:43,150
 have a tremendous burden to deliver what God wants,

869
00:47:43,170 --> 00:47:44,309
 not what we want.

870
00:47:45,530 --> 00:47:47,670
 And I will say, and I'm not throwing an accolade

871
00:47:47,670 --> 00:47:51,130
 to Chris, it's just that those of us that

872
00:47:51,130 --> 00:47:55,309
 minister, I believe that we have God-centered

873
00:47:58,370 --> 00:48:02,550
 lives enough to share which is truth.

874
00:48:03,369 --> 00:48:05,849
 In some instances, like you said, Ginny,

875
00:48:06,050 --> 00:48:09,969
 there are those that do not represent the true gospel,

876
00:48:10,829 --> 00:48:12,670
 whether it's song, whether it's preaching,

877
00:48:12,829 --> 00:48:15,170
 whether it's those that we heard on TV or whatever.

878
00:48:16,150 --> 00:48:20,710
 And I had resisted through the studies and then

879
00:48:20,710 --> 00:48:23,090
 somebody in our large church down in Philadelphia,

880
00:48:23,090 --> 00:48:25,170
 I was attending at the time, said,

881
00:48:25,269 --> 00:48:29,469
 look, you know, we need guys to go to the prison

882
00:48:30,010 --> 00:48:31,889
 and minister Sunday afternoon.

883
00:48:32,010 --> 00:48:33,650
 I thought to myself, well, you know,

884
00:48:34,090 --> 00:48:36,190
 what do they know, they can't come after me

885
00:48:36,190 --> 00:48:38,690
 and if something's wrong, they can't get me.

886
00:48:39,170 --> 00:48:40,590
 So I said, yeah, I said I'll go.

887
00:48:41,050 --> 00:48:43,909
 And that was the starting point in the change

888
00:48:43,909 --> 00:48:44,829
 of my life.

889
00:48:45,289 --> 00:48:47,809
 Now I fast forward, long story short,

890
00:48:48,349 --> 00:48:51,489
 being afraid because of that verse of the

891
00:48:51,489 --> 00:48:55,269
 stricter judgment led me to have reservations

892
00:48:55,269 --> 00:48:59,409
 about what God's calling was in my life.

893
00:48:59,769 --> 00:49:01,670
 But I will tell you today that I stand

894
00:49:01,670 --> 00:49:03,809
 before you today and Chris can testify on this.

895
00:49:04,050 --> 00:49:06,710
 There's no greater accomplishment than to see

896
00:49:06,710 --> 00:49:10,110
 you be activated and come alive in the Lord,

897
00:49:10,429 --> 00:49:12,789
 maybe through our preaching, our counseling,

898
00:49:12,849 --> 00:49:15,570
 our help, but to see you alive because no

899
00:49:15,570 --> 00:49:18,030
 matter what the cost is, that is worth it.

900
00:49:18,030 --> 00:49:21,250
 It's the people that are important to us.

901
00:49:21,969 --> 00:49:24,570
 And so consequently, we have a responsibility

902
00:49:24,570 --> 00:49:28,349
 to do these things and I'll give you some more scripture.

903
00:49:29,769 --> 00:49:32,030
 We as ministers also have qualifications

904
00:49:32,030 --> 00:49:35,349
 and thus carry the weight of responsibility to the Lord.

905
00:49:36,030 --> 00:49:39,469
 In 1 Corinthians 4.2, the most important quality

906
00:49:39,469 --> 00:49:42,309
 of one entrusted with the mysteries of God

907
00:49:42,309 --> 00:49:45,250
 is that they are faithful and trustworthy.

908
00:49:46,030 --> 00:49:48,969
 I'm speaking to me, okay?

909
00:49:49,829 --> 00:49:53,489
 1 Timothy 4.16, keep a close watch on yourself

910
00:49:53,489 --> 00:49:57,090
 and on the teaching, meaning our conduct

911
00:49:57,090 --> 00:49:59,309
 as well as our motives.

912
00:50:00,110 --> 00:50:03,170
 We have to be exemplary, we have to live that life

913
00:50:03,170 --> 00:50:05,070
 and we have to walk that life out.

914
00:50:05,809 --> 00:50:09,329
 In 1 Corinthians 4.2, it is required of stewards

915
00:50:09,329 --> 00:50:12,469
 that they be found faithful, in other words,

916
00:50:12,469 --> 00:50:14,469
 handling and walking it out in the Lord.

917
00:50:16,050 --> 00:50:18,809
 And then we as ministers must now guard the flock, too.

918
00:50:19,230 --> 00:50:20,130
 Now let's look outward.

919
00:50:21,110 --> 00:50:23,750
 Against falsehood, teaching the truth,

920
00:50:24,170 --> 00:50:25,250
 and equipping the saints.

921
00:50:26,489 --> 00:50:30,530
 Paul repeatedly said in 2 Corinthians 6.3,

922
00:50:30,829 --> 00:50:33,889
 we put no obstacle in anyone's way.

923
00:50:33,969 --> 00:50:36,090
 In other words, we don't put yes, but,

924
00:50:36,469 --> 00:50:38,630
 or conditions, we just open it up

925
00:50:38,630 --> 00:50:41,309
 and let you see the gospel for what it is.

926
00:50:41,309 --> 00:50:45,409
 And Paul did not shrink from declaring

927
00:50:45,409 --> 00:50:47,230
 the whole counsel of God.

928
00:50:47,369 --> 00:50:50,989
 Remember, he rebuked churches, he praised churches,

929
00:50:51,449 --> 00:50:54,610
 he taught churches, he lived exemplary lives.

930
00:50:55,030 --> 00:50:57,170
 He was such that he didn't take any money.

931
00:50:57,469 --> 00:51:00,190
 He was a tent maker, worked his fingers to a bone,

932
00:51:00,369 --> 00:51:04,150
 making tents so that he would not be dependent upon people.

933
00:51:04,909 --> 00:51:08,250
 And then Acts 20.26, speaking truth and righteousness

934
00:51:08,250 --> 00:51:10,269
 even when it's not popular.

935
00:51:12,150 --> 00:51:15,750
 It would be easy, and to be honest,

936
00:51:16,010 --> 00:51:17,590
 that church that you referred to,

937
00:51:17,730 --> 00:51:19,929
 we had gone to for some period of time, Jenny.

938
00:51:20,829 --> 00:51:22,829
 And it was like you get the blank piece of paper

939
00:51:22,829 --> 00:51:23,610
 with the fill-ins.

940
00:51:25,030 --> 00:51:27,769
 And it was like a pet talk.

941
00:51:28,769 --> 00:51:30,869
 This is what it is, one, two, three, four, okay.

942
00:51:31,570 --> 00:51:33,349
 And I had about six months of that.

943
00:51:34,429 --> 00:51:36,590
 And my wife came to me very honest

944
00:51:36,590 --> 00:51:38,550
 even before I said anything, she said,

945
00:51:38,650 --> 00:51:39,690
 you know, we aren't getting fed.

946
00:51:40,829 --> 00:51:42,670
 So, oh, okay.

947
00:51:43,010 --> 00:51:45,929
 It was nice because at 9.30 or 10 o'clock

948
00:51:45,929 --> 00:51:47,570
 was all over with I could go home

949
00:51:47,570 --> 00:51:49,289
 and tinker with my cars.

950
00:51:50,150 --> 00:51:51,710
 Boy, didn't I have priorities right.

951
00:51:51,869 --> 00:51:53,590
 But anyway, that's beside the point.

952
00:51:56,429 --> 00:52:01,750
 So, Acts 2.28, be true shepherds over all the flock

953
00:52:01,750 --> 00:52:03,730
 and feed them well.

954
00:52:04,329 --> 00:52:05,670
 Don't give them crumbs.

955
00:52:05,670 --> 00:52:07,969
 Don't come up to the pulpit

956
00:52:07,969 --> 00:52:09,929
 spending five minutes in prayer

957
00:52:09,929 --> 00:52:12,429
 and kneeing, genuflexing and saying,

958
00:52:12,550 --> 00:52:13,389
 Lord, what do you give me?

959
00:52:13,530 --> 00:52:15,610
 You open the Bible and there's a verse you preach on.

960
00:52:15,909 --> 00:52:18,230
 It is something that is worthy of study

961
00:52:18,230 --> 00:52:20,269
 and seeking and time spent

962
00:52:20,269 --> 00:52:22,849
 to give fresh bread to our people.

963
00:52:24,970 --> 00:52:27,650
 Last, Ephesians 4.12,

964
00:52:28,190 --> 00:52:29,789
 leaders are to equip the saints

965
00:52:29,789 --> 00:52:31,329
 for the work of ministry.

966
00:52:32,010 --> 00:52:34,190
 Again, well, why doesn't Chris do it?

967
00:52:34,190 --> 00:52:35,949
 Well, Chris isn't there to do.

968
00:52:36,570 --> 00:52:38,150
 Chris is to here exhort us.

969
00:52:38,489 --> 00:52:40,789
 Ministries are to exhort us, to enable us,

970
00:52:40,809 --> 00:52:43,090
 and for the work of service to be done

971
00:52:43,090 --> 00:52:45,949
 by the congregation, by the people in the pews.

972
00:52:47,610 --> 00:52:48,389
 Think about this.

973
00:52:48,550 --> 00:52:51,789
 Why does Gail come in and clean the bulletins up

974
00:52:53,190 --> 00:52:54,670
 on Wednesday night?

975
00:52:55,150 --> 00:52:58,050
 Because she understands it's a life of giving.

976
00:52:58,690 --> 00:53:00,730
 She doesn't let Justin do it.

977
00:53:01,329 --> 00:53:01,630
 Okay.

978
00:53:01,630 --> 00:53:04,489
 Why do some of you say, okay,

979
00:53:04,550 --> 00:53:09,909
 I want to help in the outreach on Saturday,

980
00:53:10,210 --> 00:53:10,690
 the picnic.

981
00:53:11,550 --> 00:53:13,309
 Many hands make light work.

982
00:53:13,469 --> 00:53:15,710
 So we need the body interaction.

983
00:53:16,969 --> 00:53:18,110
 All right, here we go.

984
00:53:18,889 --> 00:53:19,769
 Come into a close.

985
00:53:19,989 --> 00:53:22,670
 All of us are to honor God's holiness.

986
00:53:23,449 --> 00:53:24,329
 So what's our calling?

987
00:53:25,750 --> 00:53:28,230
 God's holiness, fully revealed in Christ,

988
00:53:28,389 --> 00:53:31,489
 calls believers to live lives of purity

989
00:53:31,489 --> 00:53:32,429
 and obedience.

990
00:53:33,489 --> 00:53:33,949
 That's first.

991
00:53:35,869 --> 00:53:37,289
 Ministry, by the way, comes second.

992
00:53:38,550 --> 00:53:39,929
 But I don't have my ministry.

993
00:53:40,190 --> 00:53:40,989
 What is my ministry?

994
00:53:41,610 --> 00:53:42,250
 Live the life.

995
00:53:42,889 --> 00:53:44,369
 Do what you can do where you're at.

996
00:53:44,489 --> 00:53:45,170
 Clean the toilets.

997
00:53:45,369 --> 00:53:45,849
 Do whatever.

998
00:53:46,369 --> 00:53:46,969
 Shake hands.

999
00:53:47,130 --> 00:53:48,070
 Take bulletins out.

1000
00:53:48,230 --> 00:53:48,730
 Do whatever.

1001
00:53:49,150 --> 00:53:50,269
 And God will promote you.

1002
00:53:50,929 --> 00:53:53,050
 But you say, perhaps, parenthetically,

1003
00:53:53,230 --> 00:53:55,329
 why does holiness even matter when we have grace?

1004
00:53:56,409 --> 00:53:58,449
 Holiness honors God first.

1005
00:53:59,450 --> 00:54:01,769
 It preserves our fellowship with Him,

1006
00:54:03,450 --> 00:54:07,969
 and it protects us from destructive effects of sin.

1007
00:54:09,150 --> 00:54:14,010
 That holiness is antithetical to sin, light, darkness.

1008
00:54:15,630 --> 00:54:17,610
 Doing God's business is what we do.

1009
00:54:17,869 --> 00:54:18,789
 Holiness is serious.

1010
00:54:19,010 --> 00:54:19,590
 We've said that.

1011
00:54:19,690 --> 00:54:20,449
 It's not optional.

1012
00:54:21,150 --> 00:54:25,670
 And we are to reflect God's character in all of our lives,

1013
00:54:25,670 --> 00:54:28,510
 no matter where you are or who you are.

1014
00:54:30,150 --> 00:54:32,949
 And then, abiding in holiness is simply this.

1015
00:54:33,050 --> 00:54:34,889
 We grow in holiness over time.

1016
00:54:35,610 --> 00:54:38,610
 God is patient with us, providing forgiveness

1017
00:54:38,610 --> 00:54:40,809
 and empowers our transformation.

1018
00:54:41,409 --> 00:54:43,110
 You don't grow up overnight.

1019
00:54:43,309 --> 00:54:47,769
 It's almost like a child coming with his hands out.

1020
00:54:47,969 --> 00:54:48,650
 Lord, give me.

1021
00:54:48,829 --> 00:54:51,929
 And after a while, you see productivity coming.

1022
00:54:52,590 --> 00:54:54,510
 They're satisfied with who they are.

1023
00:54:54,510 --> 00:54:57,510
 I now have a...

1024
00:54:58,789 --> 00:54:59,849
 It doesn't matter his age.

1025
00:55:00,010 --> 00:55:01,449
 I think he's 13.

1026
00:55:02,190 --> 00:55:04,289
 He wants to get a job, my grandson.

1027
00:55:05,570 --> 00:55:07,989
 So his father said, and he's a chip off the old block,

1028
00:55:08,150 --> 00:55:09,469
 okay, you want to have money?

1029
00:55:09,570 --> 00:55:10,670
 You now have to earn it.

1030
00:55:11,489 --> 00:55:13,150
 So what did he creatively do?

1031
00:55:13,429 --> 00:55:15,929
 His father has my pressure washer in his garage,

1032
00:55:16,569 --> 00:55:19,110
 because when we moved, we don't need a pressure washer.

1033
00:55:19,550 --> 00:55:22,710
 So he gets this idea, and maybe he got it online.

1034
00:55:22,849 --> 00:55:23,309
 I don't know.

1035
00:55:23,309 --> 00:55:25,769
 But he goes around every Monday afternoon

1036
00:55:25,769 --> 00:55:28,590
 and every Thursday afternoon, and he cleans garbage cans.

1037
00:55:29,329 --> 00:55:32,150
 He takes a pressure washer, washes out the inside.

1038
00:55:32,610 --> 00:55:34,829
 He took some of his mother's smell good stuff

1039
00:55:34,829 --> 00:55:35,929
 and sprinkled that in there.

1040
00:55:36,030 --> 00:55:37,289
 And, oh, the people love it.

1041
00:55:37,610 --> 00:55:39,849
 So he got more clients than he can live with now.

1042
00:55:42,289 --> 00:55:47,250
 So consequently, the idea of being transformed

1043
00:55:47,250 --> 00:55:50,909
 to where you are a taker and you're now a giver

1044
00:55:50,909 --> 00:55:54,289
 is part of the holiness process that you come to.

1045
00:55:55,110 --> 00:55:56,809
 And my closing thoughts are these.

1046
00:55:57,750 --> 00:56:02,170
 Holiness is simply living in a way that reflects God's character,

1047
00:56:02,429 --> 00:56:03,730
 whatever that may be.

1048
00:56:03,929 --> 00:56:05,989
 That's a very broad statement, but that's it.

1049
00:56:07,429 --> 00:56:10,570
 And then on our own, oh, it's what I can do.

1050
00:56:11,449 --> 00:56:15,150
 We cannot consistently achieve true holiness

1051
00:56:15,150 --> 00:56:19,090
 because of our human weakness and sin in us.

1052
00:56:19,090 --> 00:56:24,449
 The Adamic nature is there no matter how holy we think we are.

1053
00:56:25,210 --> 00:56:29,190
 And then finally, but in Christ, God's grace covers our shortcomings

1054
00:56:29,190 --> 00:56:33,050
 and enables us to pursue righteousness.

1055
00:56:34,490 --> 00:56:39,369
 So we now have exhausted, in some form or fashion,

1056
00:56:39,469 --> 00:56:43,230
 what holiness is, what it is not, what is prohibited,

1057
00:56:43,530 --> 00:56:46,429
 what is allowed, how you draw close to God.

1058
00:56:46,429 --> 00:56:49,690
 And so we'll end this chapter and we'll close our eyes

1059
00:56:49,690 --> 00:56:53,250
 and we'll thank the Lord for your goodness to us tonight, Lord.

1060
00:56:54,150 --> 00:56:56,170
 Thank you for revealing your word to us.

1061
00:56:56,710 --> 00:56:59,329
 I trust that you planted seeds in our hearts, Lord,

1062
00:56:59,750 --> 00:57:02,710
 that we can increase in your holiness.

1063
00:57:03,250 --> 00:57:05,889
 We can be holy because you are holy.

1064
00:57:06,150 --> 00:57:08,130
 You are our pattern, Lord.

1065
00:57:08,750 --> 00:57:12,250
 And those that seek you, Father, and spend time with you,

1066
00:57:12,309 --> 00:57:14,710
 I ask, Lord, that you would give them revelation,

1067
00:57:14,710 --> 00:57:19,570
 give them wisdom, Lord, give them an exciting experience with you,

1068
00:57:19,789 --> 00:57:22,809
 because, Lord, there is nothing like being in your kingdom

1069
00:57:22,809 --> 00:57:25,530
 even if we are a doorkeeper.

1070
00:57:25,909 --> 00:57:29,070
 So we ask these things in Jesus' name, amen.

1071
00:57:29,869 --> 00:57:31,070
 Amen. God bless you.

1072
00:57:35,410 --> 00:57:38,309
 Thanks for joining us at Lansdale Life Church

1073
00:57:38,309 --> 00:57:40,789
 as we praise God and discuss His word.

1074
00:57:40,789 --> 00:57:44,570
 Don't forget to join us for Worship Live Sunday mornings

1075
00:57:44,570 --> 00:57:46,989
 at 10 a.m. Eastern on YouTube.

1076
00:57:48,010 --> 00:57:50,090
 Be blessed and have a great day!