Sermon
2 Samuel 6 (Part 1) Bible Study | Pastor Daniel Batarseh
Publisher transcript
Transcript
-
All right, get to see you tonight.
-
Here we are again, meaning together.
-
I to, I mean, second Samuel chapter six.
-
Second Samuel, chapter 6. You have your Bibles tonight, if
2 Samuel 6 chapter mention
-
you're a person who does not have a Bible and you don't
-
regularly bring a Bible come, see the leadership and we will
-
help you get a Bible. Okay, we want you to have a copy
-
of God's written word and your hand and we are Advocates of the
-
white pages with black ink in it and red letter.
-
If you have the red letter version as well, and maybe we
-
will write a blog post or something about why that is the
-
case even in this technologically advanced age but
-
that is not the purpose. Tonight's meeting I want to come
-
to this chapter, ready with our hearts open, our brother prayed
-
but I think it's necessary to pray again.
-
As we have God's word before us afresh.
-
Well, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts that we get
-
to be students of your word of the full Revelation that you
-
have given to mankind. Thank you, that we are not in
-
need of a different portion, like other people in different
-
parts of the world who only have certain aspects of your truth.
-
You have given us and blessed us with the totality of your word.
-
We do not take this for granted. Well, we pray that you would
-
energize us that you would give us the grace to receive these
-
Truce that you would help us edify one.
-
Another that this meeting would not be interrupted free from
-
distraction Lord, and more importantly that we would sense
-
your presence and power changing us as we realize what you have
-
to say. We give you maximum praise and
-
honor, more importantly, not just in our singing, but from
-
our obedience to your instruction, in Jesus name, we
-
pray. Amen.
-
You and I have now arrived at a very captivating, very powerful
-
chapter in the book of second Samuel.
-
And the reason for that is because this portion of
-
scripture details David's campaign in retrieving, the Ark
-
of the Covenant, and to place it in the new capital of Israel,
-
which is Jerusalem as we discovered last week.
-
Now, just just for those who might have forgotten or who are
-
not familiar, the Ark of the Covenant that we are going to
-
read about is arguably, the most important piece of furniture
-
that was designed for the house of worship at this time in of
-
History, which was known as what starts with a t known as The
-
Tabernacle correct, not the temple, we're not there yet,
-
we're at the Tabernacle still a portable tent large enough to
-
have a few people in it but more importantly to have certain
-
elements and instruments within that house of worship that had
-
many significant symbolic representation and purpose for
-
that time for the nation of Israel.
-
But the Ark of the Covenant was something special it was known
-
as God's Earthly Throne so to speak and at times we see that
-
God Shows the ark to speak and give instruction to his people.
-
That's what he actually told Moses while they were preparing
-
to design it. This is where I'm going to speak
-
to you. And another key moments, we see
-
that this Arc, which is really a box.
-
It was like a chest was used to manifest God's power against
-
Israel's enemies, and there's many instances of that.
-
And one of the strongest ones that we know of is Jericho where
-
the ark was taken up, and they had to go around that huge.
-
He many times. And it was, it was God's
-
presence that brought about Victory and there's there's
-
different moments that. I'm sure you can recall.
-
But more importantly, the Ark of the Covenant had a lid on it
-
which was known as what The Mercy Seat, correct?
-
And The Mercy Seat was essential piece to the sacrificial system
-
of Israel. And it was the Ark of the
-
Covenant that would be engaged with.
-
It would be interactive with only one day out of the year for
-
the purpose of God, dispensing. Some measure of Mercy to his,
-
sending people, which ultimately points to Jesus Christ.
-
We know Jesus Christ, and the cross of Calvary is where we
-
meet God. That is where we experience God.
-
That is where we know God. That is the entry point, right
-
there. Many things, that can be said of
-
that in light of Jesus Christ, but we know that David here,
-
Wants it. He wants it because it's been
-
quite a while since we even heard of the Ark of the Covenant
-
and we will discover why in a moment, but David wants to bring
-
it to the political Capital. You know why?
-
Because as David has now been inaugurated, as the king, he
-
wants to make sure as early as possible that his people would
-
know that he's really not the king.
-
He wants his people to know God is really the king.
-
And so now he's establishing the spiritual center place and he
-
wants it near him and he wants to actually overshadow him.
-
He wants God's presence to be the very focus of his people
-
though. He will be the king for quite
-
some time. And before we get into these
-
verses and can, I be honest with you, I was overwhelmed with this
-
chapter. There's no way we're covering
-
this in one setting and that's okay, but I was just Vermont
-
because even in the verses that we will cover I just didn't know
-
where to stop almost. And so before we get there we'll
-
see what time does and how we will be led.
-
I'm going to read a few verses as we did last week and we're
-
going to open it up to see what What observations you make from
-
an initial reading you guys did wonderful last week and if I can
-
give any instruction, is as tempting as it might be to
-
really go on to share what you see, just just keep it minimal.
-
So just for the sake of time and and it was wonderful last week,
-
it was just Like one person after the next, I'm going to
-
read a few verses. I hope you have your tool belt
-
on and the to about this. What simple reflective
-
questions? What does it say about God?
-
What is this? A about men?
-
What new testament principles of I seen this Old Testament
-
illustration, what's the wider context?
-
That helps me understand, this, what are some details names
-
repetitions that? I see that can help me
-
understand God's emphasis, in this section of scripture verse
-
1, David again, gathered all the chosen men of Israel, 30,000,
-
and David arose, and went with all the people who were with him
-
from Bali Judah to bring up from there, the Ark of God, which is
-
called, by the name of the Lord of hosts who sits enthroned on
-
the cherubim. And they carry the Ark of God on
-
a new cart, and brought it out of the house of abinadab, which
-
was on the hill, And uzza and Ohio, the sons of abinadab were
-
driving the new cart with the Ark of God, and Ohio went before
-
the ark and David and all the house of Israel were celebrating
-
before the Lord with songs and lyres, and harps, and
-
tambourines, and castanets and symbols.
-
And when they came to the threshing floor of Nathan, uzza,
-
put out his hand to the Ark of God and took hold of it for the
-
oxen. Stumbled.
-
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against uzza.
-
And God struck him down there because of his error and he died
-
there beside the Ark of God. A mixture of emotion, right?
-
What do you see here? And your initial reading of
-
this? What?
-
Things stand out to you? Yes.
-
Okay, so this is the first time that he gathered God's people
-
together. Sure.
-
Okay. So we see that the ark was moved
-
by The Oxen on a cart. When really, it's supposed to be
-
done another way, and we'll get to that.
-
It's a key important part. Anything else.
-
Okay, so we see, we really like an orchestra here.
-
We see this, this this procession and it was, it was
-
wonderful. It was, it was amazing.
-
Yes. Yes.
-
Lori had something. Okay.
-
So not just that, they didn't do it the way God, prescribed them
-
to carry this, holy this, holy Ark, but they copied somebody
-
else. And that's really the root of
-
this which is an important observation to this is a
-
familiar passage and I'm glad most of you here are
-
understanding what's taking place here, but we're going to
-
ask a little for fresh Revelation as well.
-
Anything else? Any other observations?
-
Yes. Yeah.
-
So this celebration quickly turned into a tragedy and I
-
think what we're going to learn is just because there is
-
exuberance and joy and noise doesn't necessarily mean that
-
God is happy. Yes, anything else.
-
Anything else is stands out? Okay.
-
Yes corgis. Yeah.
-
So there's a little there's something going on here with
-
Susana hiya. Why are they the ones who are
-
kind of leading the way for the ark to be transported to the
-
place of Jerusalem? Yes.
-
You were correct, there is a sovereign thing happening for
-
the ox to stumble. At this point, it's an
-
interesting place for the Sox to stumble and you'll see that if
-
you are with us until the end of this session, great
-
observations, anything else? Yes.
-
The Lord is teaching them obedience through a very very
-
hard lesson through discipline. Yes.
-
And it's going to teach us something.
-
Anything else? Yes, Grace.
-
Very good, David arose but the David seek God's guidance.
-
He's going to seek something but we're not going to see him
-
seeking God unfortunately. Yes, maybe a couple of more and
-
then we'll continue. Very good.
-
Did you hear that the emphasis on a new cart?
-
Now we talked already about the cart and new cart.
-
We're always enamored about new things, aren't we?
-
We'll see why that's dangerous for the church.
-
Anything else, great observations.
-
As you and I come to this text, this will be extremely
-
instructive for us in Understanding God's holiness,
-
God's holiness and how his terms of worship are what we subscribe
-
to no matter what the goal of our worship or Ministry or
-
planning or implementing is. And so as you and I come here,
-
We should also have in our Bibles ready.
-
First Corinthians or rather First Chronicles 13.
-
That will be a helpful passage to parallel this with because in
-
the first two verses we see that David gathered, all the chosen
-
men of Israel 30,000 and he arose and went with all the
-
people but it's in first Chronicles 13.
-
And the first few verses that we see in detail what David said
-
and did to get the people to join him in this project to
-
acquire the Since of God, symbolized with The Arc.
-
And so, look at verse 1, a first Chronicles 13 to understand
-
verse 1 and 2 of chapter 6 of second Samuel in a clearer way.
-
David consulted with the commanders of thousands of
-
hundreds with every leader. And David said, to all this
-
assembly of Israel, if it seems good to you and from the Lord,
-
Our God let us send abroad to our brothers who remain in all
-
the lands of Israel as well as to the priests and Evite's in
-
the cities that have pasturelands that they may be
-
gathered with us, or to us. Then let us bring again the Ark
-
of our God to us for. We did not seek it in the days
-
of Saul all the assembly agreed to do.
-
So for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people, many
-
things can be said of this passage.
-
Let me give you just two one thing that stands out to me.
-
In light of this is how David brings to the attention of the
-
people that the Ark of God was not sought after during the
-
reign of Saul, That is an indictment, yet again of saws,
-
leadership as the nation's King. Because what this says, is that
-
for 40 years, there was no effort made by Saul to revive,
-
the people's concern for the things of God.
-
And I think a text like that is incredibly insightful to help us
-
understand the tragedies of this man's life, as well as the
-
nation's. Leave God out and watch what
-
unwanted things will come in. You cannot neglect God from his
-
rightful place and at the same time believe that you can be
-
exempt from Pain. Unnecessary pain.
-
At least chaos, confusion, oppression or division.
-
Saul, here is a very sobering illustration, and a wonderful
-
case study. Of the depths of the darkness
-
that you and I can discover when we fail to actively acknowledge
-
and honor God. That is true individually and
-
that is true on a national scale, happened to Israel.
-
And so here's what you have to understand, sincere worship,
-
joyful submission to God, is what stabilizes US.
-
It stabilizes your life, your heart, it stabilizes society.
-
And again, when you fail to place God, where he deserves to
-
be you open yourself and those around you to Untold disaster,
-
and that's what happened with sauce.
-
That is, you want to know why? Saw was the way he was.
-
You want to know why was such a dark period in Israel's history?
-
Because of this God was not in his thinking, God was not his
-
planning. God was not in his meditation,
-
God was not in his nothing and that translated to everything
-
else that happened in that period of Israel Nation.
-
But what's interesting here is the contrast David is the one
-
who is now initiating the project to say.
-
We need to get back to focusing on God.
-
He's the one who does it. But listen, he doesn't just
-
initiate it. He inspires a people to be a
-
part of it. And what I find.
-
So encouraging here is that all the assembly agreed to do.
-
So they said, let's do it. Let's do it.
-
And all it took was one person. One person to remind them, that
-
there is a God, and we are under him, and he has blessings in the
-
place of obedience. And there are curses in the
-
place of Disobedience. Let's get back in alignment.
-
Let's get back to pursuing, him and honoring him, and loving
-
him. And the people said we're behind
-
you. David It would be dishonest for
-
me to say that it will always be the case that one person's
-
godliness will awaken other people to spiritual fervor.
-
That would be untrue, but at the same time, the scriptures does
-
not does not cancel that possibility out, right?
-
The scripture even even pushes us to say, you know, if you
-
pursue the Lord with greater greater intensity, one of the
-
blessings that make come out of it as a others will also catch a
-
fire and they will also pursue and realize that there is a joy
-
in this place of putting God in the center, piece of who you
-
are. And that's exactly what David
-
does. His Zeal, inspired the Zeal of
-
others. And here's the thing, that's not
-
just true for David. That is true in the New
-
Testament as well. You know, I'm going through
-
second Corinthians in my personal reading and something
-
popped out to me in a portion of that text that people are a
-
little bit nervous around and it's a portion of Texas speaks
-
about giving right second Corinthians. 8, Second
-
Corinthians 9, but it's in 2nd Corinthians 9, that there is a
-
phrase. There that bless me this
-
morning. I want you to see it because
-
it's tied into this. So go to Second Corinthians 9
-
very quickly. And I want you to see verse 2,
-
he speaking to the Corinthian Christians and he is reminding
-
them of something that they've done whether knowingly or
-
unknowingly. He wants to remind them of
-
something. That's really, really important
-
for us to understand in our pursuit of.
-
Not just God, but zealous Pursuit Of God.
-
Look at verse 2. Fry know your Readiness.
-
Now pause what's he doing? He's reminding the Corinthian
-
Christians to be a part of this project to make a contribution
-
to the church in Jerusalem. That was that was in need of
-
financial aid. So he's teaching them but he
-
makes a personal by saying fry know your Readiness of which I
-
boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that aquella
-
has been ready since last year. In other words, they've been
-
ready to do this since last year they've been making
-
preparations. And for this offering a year ago
-
and he's telling the Church of Macedonia, notice what he says
-
and your Zeal has stirred up most of them.
-
Your Zeal has stirred up the Macedonian Church and you go to
-
Second Corinthians 8 and you see how great that Zeal was
-
Macedonian Christians at this time?
-
We're extremely poor and yet they best says, They begged.
-
Paul to be a part of this relief poor but they're saying, please
-
Paul don't hold us back from being a part of this.
-
We want to give to this relief. And what did that come from the
-
Corinthians? The Corinthians inspired that
-
Zeal in the macedonians and Paul saying hey you were the ones
-
that sparked this And don't lose your fire.
-
Now, it was because of you that the macedonians are getting
-
excited, don't lose your excitement.
-
Listen, I've met over the years, many sincere godly people who
-
love the Lord and they want to see their husbands love the
-
Lord. They want to see their wives
-
come to love the Lord with a passion.
-
They want to see their children be serious.
-
They want to see their group of friends that they grew up with
-
that. That struggle in are lukewarm at
-
times to be with them and pursuing God, right?
-
Are you one? Who says, if you're not part of
-
this church, or if you're a part of the church, I want to see my
-
church be more serious. About the things of God, I don't
-
want to just hear a message on Sunday and then talk afterwards
-
as though, God wasn't in the room.
-
If that's you may I give you honest advice and exhortation
-
from the scripture be fervent yourself.
-
Be fervent yourself first because at the same time, a lot
-
of these people who make these kind of comments and have these
-
desires are not at that place. I know that place that's not
-
always the case. But sometimes that is the case
-
and the lack of concern around them dampens their fire.
-
And so it's almost as though they are dependent upon others
-
to be at that place before they come to that place, that's not
-
how it works. It's not how it works.
-
And so if you want to contribute to the possibility of others
-
around you that you love Love. To be consumed with the things
-
of God. Well you get there first and
-
ride that wave long enough and don't be so sporadic yourself
-
and don't be so inconsistent yourself.
-
Do you want to know how passionate David was about?
-
The are coming to Jerusalem? It wasn't a two-week thing.
-
It wasn't a post conference experience.
-
It was so obvious to those around him.
-
That there is a psalmist who wrote in observation of David
-
Zeal, his desire for the arc, there's anybody know that song
-
what number it is. What song?
-
No, but you're close, not little bit more numbers.
-
You have to get into the 100's actually, Okay, you want to see
-
it? Psalm, 132 look at the first
-
five. Verses I want you to see the
-
description of David's passion. Because we all have different
-
understandings of what true passion is for.
-
God. Some people believe their
-
passion for God because they don't go to the bars on Fridays
-
and they come to Bible study. Well that's nice but notice
-
notice what? Absolutely consumed David.
-
In verse 1 of Psalm 132 a song of ascents.
-
We read remember O Lord. Here's what the psalmist says.
-
Remember O Lord, in David's favor.
-
All the hardships. He endured.
-
Yes. We studied all those hardships
-
and some not in scripture. I'm sure how he swore to the
-
Lord and vowed to the mighty one of Jacob.
-
I this is what David said. I will not enter my house or get
-
into my bed, I will not give sleep to my eyes or Slumber to
-
my eyelids until I find Place for the Lord.
-
A dwelling place for the mighty one of Jacob.
-
That's the kind of Desire that Sparks something in those around
-
you. That's that's what can even Mark
-
and Nation. The psalmist here was so
-
impressed by, obviously inspired by the spirit to write about
-
this and you. And I have to understand that
-
it's that kind of, if that's, that's the kind of zeal that
-
will rub off on others and perhaps even cause them to be in
-
the same place as you or even exceed.
-
You and so, If there's no prayer in your home, be the first one
-
to pray. Right?
-
If your friends are not, if they're inconsistent from being
-
in this place and how they are outside of this place, initiate
-
something initiate conversations about the Lord initiate
-
testimonies, but more than anything else, just live it for
-
yourself. And you never know who might be
-
watching and who might share in that Joy because the salt of
-
your life has made them thirsty for Living Water.
-
I may offer also word of caution even in that, right?
-
Because the Temptation and the pitfall that somebody can have
-
in that pursuit of the Lord, with Zeal is to become
-
spiritually. Proud, that's the danger.
-
And so what happens is you now because you know, that there's
-
something different about you and that God does consume you
-
and you love the Lord and you Fellowship differently than
-
others and your priorities are different than others.
-
That can very, very easily cause you look down on others.
-
Did you notice the attitude in the language of David?
-
When he addressed his people to join him in this project?
-
Go back to 1st Chronicles, 13. What did he say?
-
How did he say it with tenderness?
-
If it seems good to you in verse 2, if it seems good to you like
-
that's that's graceful, that's inviting.
-
That's soft, that's attractive. And then you read, there's
-
another, there's another word that reoccurs over and over, let
-
us let us Let us let us. Let's do this together.
-
I'm no higher than you. I'm not greater than you.
-
I'm not Superior than you. Let's do this together.
-
I'm on the same level as you. And I want us to see the beauty.
-
That's, would you join me in this?
-
And so many people who are zealous can fall into the Trap
-
of actually being repulsive. because there's an arrogance
-
that comes with their passion and there's this sense of you
-
just haven't arrived to where I'm at, And guess what?
-
If you're there you already lost.
-
There is no hope for those around you even want what you
-
have? In fact, true Zeal, choose your
-
true holding. His true godliness, does not
-
need to be advertised, it doesn't, you don't have to boast
-
about what you know, or what you've done.
-
Fire doesn't scream, that's it and Fire doesn't put up,
-
advertisements in the neighborhood that I one of the
-
houses are burning, does it know people see the fire and it
-
attracts And I want you to believe that about your pursuit
-
of the Lord, you don't have to trumpet, you don't have to Glow,
-
you don't have to come to a place where you bully people, or
-
make them feel small because you're somewhere where they're
-
not. In fact, Davey here contrast
-
another king who had the exact opposite Spirit.
-
He was an extremely zealous King, he did a lot for Israel at
-
a time where many people would not do what he did, but he had
-
literally the exact opposite and he overestimated his
-
faithfulness to God? Does anybody have an idea who
-
I'm talking about? He's not, he's not that much of
-
a known character, but once you see this, you're going to,
-
you're going to realize why these two are Polar Opposites,
-
who is the king? Or the king that did so much
-
damage to Baal worship. Close, but no good, guess very
-
good jehu and jehu in the middle of this campaign of cleansing.
-
The land of Baal worship. Says something that really
-
stinks with pride. It's so unattractive.
-
It's so it just makes you kind of squirm.
-
And it shows you it's a reminder of the danger that even if you
-
are doing awesome things for God and destroying Idols around, you
-
yourself can make yourself an idol.
-
Second Kings. Look at this, is this one verse.
-
So simple, so clear. Turn those sacred pages to
-
Second Kings very quickly. I want you to see this in verse
-
10. Excuse me, verse 16 of chapter
-
10. He addresses Jehan adapt.
-
And look what he says in second Kings chapter 10, verse 16. and
-
he said, come with me and see my Zeal for the Lord.
-
If I was Joanna W what I said? No, thanks.
-
Come with me and see my Zeal for the Lord.
-
Region, whose life. He did wonderful things to deal
-
with the national compromise of his day, but as she sought to
-
destroy idolatry, he ended up worshipping his own Zeal.
-
Admiring his own Zeal. Elevating himself in comparison
-
to others. And it's the complete opposite.
-
Attitude, come with me and see my Zeal.
-
What did they even said? Let us let us, let us pure Zeal,
-
pure passion that is Honorable to God.
-
That will that will win people's hearts does not say, I know more
-
than you. I'm better than you.
-
You may not say that out of your lips and my slip here and there.
-
But it doesn't even say it in the heart. you realize even when
-
people are different levels of spirituality that you are, you
-
are just as susceptible as falling into that trap, you can
-
easily be in a season where you don't think about God at all,
-
almost And you know, that whatever is happening in your
-
heart, whatever is happening through your life is by the
-
grace of God, and you want others to share in the joy that
-
you have. Complete opposite attitude of
-
this man. And so we see here that as Jay
-
who pronounces house L is he is David wants to Simply allow his
-
life to do the talking and now scroll down to verse 31 of
-
Second Kings, 10. Look at how the holy spirit
-
gives commentary of J whose faithfulness and Devotion to
-
God, you ready for this verse 31?
-
But Jay who was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the
-
god of Israel with all his heart.
-
He did not turn from the sins of jeroboam, which he meet is.
-
Wilkinson. God had a different opinion
-
about jehu. Got a different opinion about
-
jehu and that's scary that we can think differently about
-
ourselves that how God sees us. And so I want to, I want to be
-
where God wants me to be. And I want I want to know more
-
than anything that God is pleased with what he sees.
-
I don't want to be pleased with what I see.
-
I want to know that God is pleased.
-
That is the safest place to be and I hope that is a place that
-
you will be if you want to see others come alive in Jesus
-
Christ, come alive in Jesus Christ and stay alive in Jesus
-
Christ. Long enough for people to say
-
that's the real deal. You know the reason why so many
-
can't buy into this, Because we don't, we don't stay in the
-
place of fervency, long enough for people to ultimately be
-
convinced. I can tell you this even about
-
the unbelieving world. When I was in college, I would
-
be teased. I would be persecuted, I will be
-
mocked. I don't want to sound like a
-
martyr because my suffering was nothing in comparison to what
-
other people are enduring. But I would tell you, I would be
-
made fun of in front of the whole class and all these
-
things. And this is the thought that
-
came to mind. Especially with a couple
-
particular people. They want to press me and they
-
want to, they want to squeeze me enough to see if what I have is
-
the real thing or if I'm willing to cave with a little bit of
-
pressure in my life. And would you know one of those
-
people ultimately after a whole year came and asked me, what is
-
it about? Jesus Why are you the way you
-
are? When all that time they were on
-
an Evangelistic campaign to see what I have is sincere and true
-
people watch and want to see, are you willing to cave?
-
Is this? Just a fad, are you going to
-
give in? Are you just like everybody else
-
that? Just yes one day no the other
-
stay there and watch out people will be blessed by it.
-
Second Samuel, chapter six, that's come to verse 3.
-
David was able to get this. This group of people, the
-
leaders, the people of Israel to be on their feet and now they're
-
going to the countryside to get the ark from the house of
-
abinadab in the countryside. And so they come And the careful
-
student, as many of already observed will already know that
-
there are red flags to this whole thing.
-
And the red flags is the way that they got the arc.
-
We read here, that the way that they got the ark was by placing
-
it on a new cart. And to drive that new cart to
-
Jerusalem, You heard it already. I'll just say it again, for the
-
sake. Of those who haven't heard God
-
had given clear instructions back in numbers, how the ark was
-
to be carried on the shoulders of the Levites and not just the
-
Levites, but a specific family from the Levites who's that
-
family? Starts with a k.
-
So we see here that there is a specific particular surgical
-
instruction and they just dismiss the completely They put
-
it on a new arc. And this is under David's
-
leadership. Where did David get this idea?
-
From somebody already said it but this is that anybody miss
-
it. Where did, where did he get this
-
idea from, to put this arc on a new car?
-
The Philistines, the Philistines capture the ark back and first,
-
Samuel. And after capturing the ark,
-
they realized you can't mess with this Arc.
-
In other words, The Arc can take care of itself because the
-
presence of the Ark in enemy territory brought about plagues
-
and judgment. They said we got ourselves in a
-
Messier, they send it back and the instructions were send it
-
back on a new cart. So it arrives on a new cart and
-
Makes you wonder if David being backslidden with the Philistines
-
for over a year, adopted worldly philosophies, during that time.
-
And now when he came to his chance, to bring about this
-
wonderful fulfillment of the Ark of God being Central again.
-
He slips into the place. A putting it on a new cart.
-
What's the lesson here? The lesson is very obvious.
-
Israel, use the carnal method to accomplish a righteous goal in
-
the Temptation. Here is the Temptation
-
throughout all generations. Because what you will see here
-
is regardless of the intention regardless of the, the ambition,
-
the desired goal. God is not just concerned about
-
what you're doing. He's also concerned about how
-
you do it. He's very particular, he is
-
Holy, he has clear instructions and so God is Not merely
-
impressed by us doing it for a god-honoring reason even or in
-
the name of God. He's given obvious.
-
Clear, instructions of how we should go about it, the ends
-
never justify the means ever. It might for others, not for
-
God, the result of something or the motor for something is not
-
the only thing that glorifies God.
-
The means is what he prioritizes more than anything else.
-
Despite the result, it's the means trusting in his wisdom
-
submitting to his precepts. Got have you said to do it this
-
way? Then we will do it this way. for
-
some reason, David doesn't Does anybody have an idea?
-
Why David used a new car? Why do you think he did it?
-
People debate, whether he was ignorant of the law or not.
-
People say, he knew very well what he was doing.
-
Some people say he would just wasn't aware of the part of the
-
Bible. You didn't show up to Friday
-
night that one night about what you do with The Arc.
-
Why did David put the Ark on a cart?
-
Can I give you my suggestion? Where was the house of abinadab?
-
The text tells you, huh, on the hill.
-
Where was Jerusalem situated? Was it a hilly area or is it a
-
flat area? Its mountainous?
-
So here's David's thinking it's much easier.
-
To go up and down these Hills and to carry the Ark of God.
-
It's much more convenient, much less effort and we'll even get
-
there faster. If we do this with wheels,
-
instead of depending on the shoulders of men, And the
-
natural man says, hallelujah Innovative.
-
Wonderful sounds great. But is it right?
-
It is not right, just because it's lighter, just because it's
-
faster. Just because it seems to bring
-
about quicker results. Does not mean God Smiles at it.
-
And that is the exact, well, a major reason why?
-
Christians and Christian Ministries today.
-
Do not completely rely and apply the word of God to how they
-
serve the Lord. It's more convenient to the
-
flesh. Why pray?
-
Why why fast? Why preach why?
-
Wait on God, when we can do this this and this and even see
-
things happen, At a faster rate. And so the church has to hear
-
what God is saying here. That we are always in danger.
-
Of looking at easier ways more attractive ways, it's new and
-
then, apply that to how we do ministry.
-
Do you know how many churches are encouraged to start their
-
churches to see their churches? Grow?
-
Would you like to know how? Here's a popular method, create
-
a survey go to your neighborhood and on that survey asks people
-
who are not saved or not regenerate who are not born
-
again, ask them. What would you like to see on a
-
weekly service at your local church?
-
And gather the data and try to and try to balance Holiness and
-
and worldliness and bring something that will bring people
-
and keep them and grow. The days of Simply trusting
-
God's word. Are quickly being replaced by
-
seeking that which is more convenient and appealing to the
-
Flesh and that's what you're having today.
-
If you didn't recognize it. What do you where do you think
-
they got this idea of preaching? Be replaced with shorter.
-
Ted Talk Like sermons. Because some of these Ministries
-
have been told, people want to be out of church by noon, they
-
have things to do, they have to go take care of their Garden.
-
They want to go watch the football game.
-
They got to go here, they got to go there so come on let's just
-
get it. Going communion service just do
-
it. Quickly just say a couple words
-
and she said we gotta go people have stuff to do on the Lord's
-
Day. Come on you got to be relaxed.
-
If you want people to be receptive you can't be so
-
confrontational. You just got to be relaxed.
-
And let people see that you're kind of like on a porch setting
-
talking back and forth and people's attention spans are.
-
Very not very large these days because of everything just the
-
day that we're living in. So just kind of give like one
-
key truth and drive it and look the Bible like it's complicated
-
and people don't understand the depths of it.
-
So just just buff it up with as many stories as possible.
-
You got to get footnotes though because then people will you
-
know they'll call you a heretic or unbiblical.
-
So where did this come from? Came from somewhere.
-
Came from the Philistines, that's where it came from.
-
And you, and I have to understand that.
-
This is a danger. More than ever today.
-
You know why? Because our brother said it, the
-
emphasis here is not just the cart, but a new cart new, new
-
new, new new new, right. And the time that we're living
-
in, there has never been a mass production at the pace that we
-
are knowing of newness. Right.
-
Just think about how many apps and Trends have come and gone in
-
the past five years things that were exciting and captivating.
-
Two years ago is lame and old and boring today.
-
And because we're people living in this kind of a world, very
-
easily can that stuff creep in and US say, we need to do it new
-
new. We gotta, we gotta freshen
-
things up, man. And so let's do virtual reality
-
church and let's baptize people and fake water.
-
People don't want to go and get wet and have to change and then
-
if they come in and their hair is not done, all right.
-
Virtual reality Church, um, Live stream.
-
Listen, let me say something. Okay.
-
Just because the world produces things does not mean the church
-
has to apply everything. Okay.
-
Just because the world produces things does not mean we have to
-
apply absolutely everything because we can get very we can
-
get a very tricky situations. So you know how many let me just
-
tell you this, you know, how many churches today as I'm
-
speaking are suffering actually. Most churches are suffering in a
-
post covid world because I'm a great percentage of those
-
congregations have realized they can do church and their living
-
room. And something that's a blessing
-
of people are watching. Now, God bless you, that helps
-
for those who are sick, who can't make it, who are injured?
-
We want to utilize that tool but if you're not careful, it can
-
substitute obedience. And so, just like the new cart.
-
I was just talking to people in the past few weeks people in
-
leadership in churches, large chunks of the people are not
-
coming regular anymore. Why?
-
Because it's just easier to do church when you watch and you
-
can do other things and get more done.
-
It's a new cart. It's a new car.
-
So be careful, be careful watching if you're a leader, be
-
careful, just because it's new just because it's a fad.
-
Just because people are talking about it.
-
Just because it seems more convenient, does not mean we
-
need to apply it to church. We got to go back to the ancient
-
paths as Jeremiah talked about. and so, We see in the remaining
-
of this verse and these verses the fruit, the fruit of what
-
happens when you do not subscribe and give yourself
-
completely to what it is that God says, how we should do
-
worship, how we should do ministry, how we should do
-
Christianity? Let me just give you two
-
observations notice in verse 5 and David.
-
And all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord with
-
songs and lyres, and harps, and tambourines, and castanets.
-
And Here's what happens when you try to do it the Philistine way,
-
instead of the biblical way. You got noise but you don't have
-
true worship. You produce noise, but you don't
-
get true substance. You get large numbers and you
-
get a lot of activity, but it's void of the presence of God,
-
it's void of his pleasure. If you were to read that verse
-
in isolation, would you be impressed?
-
I might be. Wow, this is something very holy
-
that's going on, but you know what?
-
It was in God's eyes and empty production.
-
It was an empty production. It was literally just a show.
-
And that's what happens to a Ministry.
-
When it deviates from Total obedience to God's word it
-
forfeits true God honoring worship.
-
And we often make the mistake of being impressed by that which
-
which seems exciting, which seems loud.
-
They're shouting. There's clapping what an
-
exciting atmosphere. God must be blessing.
-
This place. Not necessarily not necessarily.
-
Here's a key example where you can have all of the hoopla.
-
God, not even be in it at all. But because we're very soulish,
-
we're easily persuaded by. What seems to be true success.
-
When in fact, it's a failure. It's a failure.
-
And so you have to understand something.
-
If you want to be one to measure yourself, more.
-
Importantly, if you want to look at anybody who claims to be
-
Godly, any Ministry that came to claims to be God.
-
Honoring, the, the basic thing you have to do is, is What's
-
Happening Here in alignment to the scriptures.
-
It's as simple as that, no matter how impressive it may
-
seem. Is it lined up to the word of
-
God. People always ask me how that
-
the Q&A. How do I know what's Church to
-
be a part of very simple. Look at all that they're doing.
-
And see how much they exalt God's word over it.
-
That's it. That's it.
-
I've talked to many people over the years.
-
All that place man. It has awesome worship.
-
What they mean is the worship. Band is really good.
-
Okay. Oh that place man.
-
I whenever that guy talks I cry, why do you cry?
-
Okay, you cry. That's my I can show you a clip
-
on YouTube of people crying. Because they believed that there
-
were Disciples of Jesus reincarnated and they were told
-
tell us about the crucifixion and they were telling them about
-
the crucifixion because they're part of a cult of a guy who
-
believes that he is. Jesus Christ return on the
-
earth, okay? You cry.
-
Is it lined up to the word of God?
-
Is it according to the scripture?
-
It's as clear as that. But let me, let me make this
-
point as well, because here's the opposite extreme.
-
Now, you have people who consider themselves fundamental
-
conservative serious, bible-believing.
-
A verse by verse and there's no passion.
-
Every time they come to church, you think it's a funeral
-
service. Hello the Lord resurrected from
-
the dead. And so you have the opposite
-
attitude to and here's here's here's what I want to say.
-
If there's anybody who should be exploding with joy and gladness,
-
it's those who are walking in the truth.
-
That's who and we see that later on where when David comes back
-
to do it the right way, he's dancing before the Lord not
-
recommending that But he comes to Jerusalem with great gladness
-
great gladness. So this shouldn't be this, this,
-
this weird divide, where if you are biblical and you are sound
-
your stiff as a board. But you have people here who are
-
not sound, who are not in alignment to God's word about
-
their passion, and their just emotional people.
-
So now what you have is you equate emotion with heresy, and
-
if you're serious in your Godly, you just whatever.
-
I don't get that. I really don't see that in the
-
Bible. So what happens when you do the
-
Philistine way, you got noise but you don't have true worship.
-
You want to worship do it? The way the Bible says, and let
-
the joy of walking in the truth, translate in the way, you sing
-
the way, you serve, the way you Fellowship, the way you
-
represent them on the Earth. verse 6 & 7, it's not just
-
noise, but we see here that long enough, you will bring spiritual
-
death, Let me read this to you again.
-
And when they came to the threshing floor of Nathan, uzza,
-
put out his hand to the Ark of God and took hold of it for the
-
oxen stumbled. Somebody said it earlier, isn't
-
it? Fascinating that eventually The
-
Oxen stumbled and it wasn't on a hill.
-
It was on a flat surface, a threshing floor. and the point I
-
want to make is that when you try to do it a different way
-
than God's way eventually, it's going to disappoint you.
-
Eventually it's going to not work.
-
Something is going to go wrong and that's exactly what happens
-
here right? We see that God's holy work
-
cannot be carried but by Unholy means God's presence is
-
incompatible with us doing things in the flesh.
-
And so the ark stumbles, in such a way it jolts where it looks
-
like the ark is going to slip off and fall to the ground.
-
And the thing that you take out of here is that it's going to
-
Fail. It's never going to work.
-
And so let me give you an example of this.
-
When you have people who strategize and say, let's just
-
try to get the people in. And the way we're going to get
-
the people in is avoid the controversial subjects.
-
Let's not press on sin. Let's not talk about the current
-
events that deal with morality. Let's just let's just get people
-
to feel good, you know this what happens?
-
You get the place packed. I mean you can do it within a
-
year. You have a you have a
-
charismatic enough person, a really talented band with pretty
-
people. Oh, you're set And what happens
-
is you get people coming in and what not do you do when you need
-
to talk about those issues? What's going to happen now when
-
you need to address homosexuality, when you need to
-
address the biblical principles about gender, what are you going
-
to do now? And you have people as I'm
-
speaking who are in that dilemma because they did it by starting
-
and putting the thing on the, on the, on the cart and now when
-
they come down the road they realize well I don't know if
-
we're seeing true disciples out of this, I don't know which
-
they're seeing their social media posts or their
-
congregation. They're seeing what they believe
-
about political things that are dealing with morality and
-
they're scared. So now we got to talk about and
-
now The try to talk about it. They know that they're going to
-
lose most of the people. Well some might say, Well
-
they're never going to talk about it, then they'll just keep
-
using the same method. Fine.
-
You want to go down Road, that's what you're going to get death.
-
That's where you're going to get.
-
You want to stay in that lane. This is what you're gonna get.
-
You're going to get God's discipline.
-
And that's exactly what happens. Who's that does?
-
What to the arc? What did you do?
-
Touches it, God, strikes and dead.
-
What's the point there? Well, it didn't start with.
-
It was a touching, the art. It started with them.
-
Putting the Ark on a cart. One spiritual compromise will
-
always lead to another. Always. so here's what happens
-
when you're lenient and relax and when you, when you ignore
-
one tenets of the faith or one aspect that is clear in the word
-
of God in due time in order to maintain the hoopla, in order to
-
move forward and what you think is Success, you're going to have
-
to compromise on something else and another thing and then
-
another thing and then another thing until what God shuts, the
-
thing down, Enough is enough. And he disciplines.
-
And that's exactly what happens here.
-
They went from putting the Ark on a cart tuza now touching the
-
ark and God wanted to make an example of them and said, no.
-
And he turns the lights off. So to speak the party's over.
-
And more can be said about this but let me make this, let me
-
actually ask this question. Who are those who are in the
-
category of the most susceptible to making this mistake of being
-
light with God's word, you might be surprised by the answer.
-
Who are those who are most susceptible to meet being light
-
and Casual about the things of God, and the word of God, and
-
the commands of God, if you want to yes.
-
Very good. Did you hear the answer?
-
Those who are constantly surrounded by the things of God?
-
And how do you know that? Okay.
-
Personal experience, good. Well, that's good.
-
But there's another thing to according to the huh, nadav, and
-
avihu is another example. Sure.
-
But our example is right here, all you got to do is again,
-
remember your tool belt. You still have it on, right?
-
One of the tools is, how does the wider context, help me
-
understand this present portion of scripture.
-
We see here that 20 and Ohio were the ones who are driving
-
the thing, right? And uzza was the one who put his
-
hand. Well, here's my question
-
whoo-hoo. Are these men?
-
Where do they come from? Which house were they?
-
Were they a part of? I've been at that.
-
Have you heard his name before? yes, when First Samuel good.
-
When Okay, turn there to First. Samuel chapter seven.
-
I want you to see this for yourself.
-
First Samuel chapter 7. It's a good verse one.
1 Samuel 7 chapter mention
-
And the men of curia, theorem came and took up the Ark of the
-
Lord and brought it to the house of who I've been a dab.
-
Okay. So they brought the ark to the
-
house of abinadab on the hill and they consecrated his son
-
Eliezer to have charge of the Ark of the Lord.
-
Now before we go to verse 2, so that is where the ark was for
-
quite some time. Does anybody know the amount of
-
time that the ark was in a been adapts home?
-
Very good. Next verse tells us, we see her
-
from that day. The ark was lodged from the day
-
that the ark was Lodge at Korea, theorem a long time.
-
Passed some 20 years who were whose own Ohio, the sons of
-
abinadab implying, what they grew up around the presence of
-
God. So, this is for those who grew
-
up in the church, this is where those who grew up in Christ
-
honoring home. This is, for those who heard the
-
name of Jesus as early as you can remember.
-
Okay, there's a danger for such people.
-
And the danger is so clear as a not.
-
I mean some of you might be experiencing it right now,
-
you're tuned out. This is like whatever.
-
Man, I hope. Now you're here on a Friday
-
night. Hope you're here for the right
-
reason. But we see here that the danger,
-
for those who grow up around the presence of God is that you fail
-
to proceed moving forward, in life, with great caution.
-
About how you walk with him. And so there is no more this
-
sense of a reverence for God. That's lost.
-
And there's a familiarity that causes you to flirt with the
-
line of outright this honor. And carelessness.
-
And so here's the thing, if you're a person who has grown up
-
in the church, And if you can be honest and reflect on your
-
growth in the Lord, if you're a growing more and more.
-
In different if you have lost that sense of awe, if you don't
-
tremble anymore, as God's word is being preached by men who
-
tremble. At God's word, you're in a
-
dangerous place. You are.
-
You're in like, code, red, alerts.
-
Something needs to happen to my heart because the opposite
-
should be happening in your walk with the Lord.
-
I'm under the conviction that if you grew up in a house that
-
feared and honored, God and 20 years has passed, You should
-
have every year, every moment grown, in a greater fear of him,
-
as you learn more and more of his Holiness of his love, his
-
mercy of his wonderful power, not the opposite effect. and
-
that is, unfortunately the case here and it is the case for many
-
These men were comfortable. They were casual.
-
They lost that sense of splendor.
-
And some might push back on what I'm saying.
-
Now by saying booza, these helping got out, I mean, The
-
Oxen stumbled and choose a put out his hand and he wasn't doing
-
an evil thing. He wasn't doing a vile thing, he
-
was doing a good thing. and so I'm just curious to know of
-
maybe this is your first time hearing it, maybe you've read it
-
before who here if you're honest and it's not a sin to confess
-
this was a little bit shook by reading about what happened to
-
choose us so quickly when he did this, anybody, okay, that's okay
-
if it's a case So you read this and you think Lord are, why did
-
you have to bring such Swift judgment?
-
Why something? So immediate no voice from
-
Heaven. No warning, no call.
-
Nothing. Well we already discussed why
-
God had laid out. So obviously in his word these
-
men should have known better but especially especially to Za
-
especially Ohio because here's my question.
-
Now, what was the predicament? What was the context that
-
brought the ark to his front step to even begin with?
-
Do you remember why it was that the Ark of the Covenant came to
-
the house of abinadab was it because they want some Lottery?
-
What was it? What was the context behind
-
that? The Philistines sent back the
-
ark? The ark comes back within the
-
borders of Israel. And then something happens
-
between that moment and the Ark being dropped off to this house.
-
Who remembers it. The people looked into the ark
-
and God struck 70 of them. And the people mourned because
-
the Lord had struck the people and they were fearful.
-
And they said, we don't want to handle this thing, so they send
-
it to the house of abinadab. And here's the point that I'm
-
trying to make Huzzah new that. So what I'm trying to make the
-
point, I'm trying to make is that who's had more than just,
-
the clear prescription of God's word telling him what to do with
-
the ark, he had personal experience.
-
He personally with his own eyes and his own ears, his old
-
upbringing was around the realization that God can
-
actually manifest his Holiness and judge God is not to be
-
played with God in a holy way, may use this word is dangerous.
-
He's dangerous around, casual attitudes around his presence
-
and he Dubai was another example.
-
He knew that firsthand he had the privilege and honor that
-
many of the Israelites would never known.
-
He grew up with the ark. You know how significant that is
-
only the high priest. Once a year would come into
-
close proximity with such a thing that Arc, I don't know
-
where it was placed in the garage and delivery, it was
-
close enough for him to see it and know, it was there every
-
single day for 20. So before we start charging God,
-
for being unfair realized who were dealing with here, this
-
isn't a stranger, this isn't just a teenager that doesn't he
-
hasn't matured yet? This is a grown man who knew
-
full, well what God was capable of namely what this Arc is
-
capable of. And he's still presumed that he
-
can put his filthy carnal sinful hands on the presence of God.
-
So we might be shocked to see what happened here with Sousa.
-
But humans have a tendency pay attention to this point.
-
We have a tendency to be surprised at the wrong things
-
that we read of in the Bible. We do.
-
We look at things. And we tend to question the
-
wrong side of the equation. And what I want you to
-
understand is that there is a better question to ask, then why
-
did God kill ooza so quick? You ready for this?
-
Why didn't God kill everybody? Why didn't God destroy them all?
-
Especially the leaders, even David who are organizers behind
-
this illegal procession. and so somebody, I heard the story of
-
somebody who asked a preacher Pastor.
-
I'm so conflicted by that verse in Romans 9, where says, Jacob I
-
loved and Esau I hated How can God hate, Esau?
-
Now, I understand hate to be a different way than how we
-
understand. Hey, we'll get to that when we
-
get the Romans 9 and like 2048, okay?
-
Jacob, I loved Esau I hated how can God Hades saw?
-
You know what the preacher said? That's not my problem.
-
My question is, how can God loved Jacob.
-
How can God love a Despicable deceiving Trickster?
-
Who continually Dishonored God for decades until he finally got
-
it. See, we're asking the wrong
-
question, a lot of the times and the cause of, that is a lack of
-
a mature and honest comprehension of the character
-
of God. In his Holiness and in his
-
majesty, while also failing to understand the absolute vileness
-
of who we are in comparison to him.
-
That's what it is. and the more you come into this word and the
-
more you realize who God is The last things you will be able to
-
question. Because it all falls into place
-
when you understand who he is. I think that's that's really the
-
reason because we look at uzza and we go how when in fact we
-
should be looking at God and saying how And the way we save
-
ourselves from doing what David did, what was David's reaction
-
to this remind me inverse a David was angry.
-
David was angry because the Lord had broken out again Souza.
-
That's what you have a lot today.
-
People angry at God, people upset with God, people accusing
-
God, how could you, how could you?
-
How could you? Why would you?
-
Why would you? Why would you How can God allow
-
suffering? Let me give you a different
-
question. How can God?
-
So holy so pure. So brilliant.
-
Make a way for us to escape Eternal suffering.
-
I'm not, I'm not here to minimize legitimate questions.
-
I'm not here to say that, I'm not saying that that's proof of
-
a lack of maturity, but I'm saying when it, when it gets us
-
to a place like David where we become will become those, who
-
sit in the Judgment seat against God, that's a dangerous place to
-
be. And it's proof of a lack of
-
understanding of who God really is.
-
And so, David goes from anger to verse 9 to afraid.
-
He was afraid. This man was confused.
-
He was confused. He really was.
-
And you know how he's going to be rescued from this confusion.
-
I'm not going to take you there, but when you go to 1st
-
Chronicles 15, he realizes that the way we're going to do this
-
in a second attempt because the first attempt fail, this is
-
going to be a second attempt it by doing it by, do order, the
-
way that God laid it out. So that's how you save yourself
-
from a lot of confusion when you just go to the word, really.
-
But let me end on this point. Our brother brought it up and it
-
is a good point. Why do you think God allowed
-
this to happen, where it happened?
-
Where did it happen again? The threshing floor of naked.
-
What happens at a threshing floor?
-
Very good. What happens on the threshing
-
floors? You would have sheaves laid out
-
on a flat surface, and then you would have some oxen, or
-
different animals. And sometimes you would have
-
people with sticks and they would beat on the sheaves until
-
the hard external part is separated from, from the edible
-
part in other way. And another way of doing is that
-
you would take a mixture of things and you would take it
-
with a winnowing fork, and you would on a windy day, throw it
-
up into the air and the wind would blow.
-
And then the chaff would be removed and the grain would fall
-
to the ground and you would gather it as a harvest. and God
-
in the place where separation took place made a statement
-
There needs to be separation between the holy and the Unholy.
-
And I wonder if that click for them, it clicks for us because
-
we have the aerial view of the whole thing.
-
I wonder if it clicked for them in the same way that in life,
-
there are things that are separate and that's what those
-
laws are all about, by the way, you've probably heard it from
-
somebody who says, you don't believe that you should have any
-
approval of gay people. A, why are you wearing a
-
different piece of cloth? And why do you do this?
-
And why do you put grain in here and not the same agriculture?
-
Why do you do that? The whole thing is not about
-
necessarily. Just arbitrary random rules,
-
it's the principle of Separation.
-
That's what God is trying to communicate.
-
In those tax there is the uncommon, there's a common,
-
there is the holy there's the Unholy and in the place where
-
day-to-day activity took place, where there would be a
-
separation that occurred? God says, I want that in my
-
people. I want that for my church.
-
I want that in you. And here's the danger when we
-
refuse to after being exposed to so much especially after being
-
exposed with so much of what we grew up with.
-
We invoke God's discipline. We invoke God's discipline.
-
And here's what David learn and verse 8.
-
And that place is called Perez Souza.
-
Perez Souza to this day last week.
-
David named something else. Something what did he named that
-
place? Yeah, ball press seam, the Lord
-
of what breakthrough. So what did he learn?
-
Their God can break through like a flood and bring about a
-
blessing immediately in a second, God can turn things
-
around and the next chapter he realized Pres whoosah which
-
means breaking out again Sousa. That this God also can break out
-
in discipline. In judgment. and severity, and
-
not just in kindness, and David was angry at first He took a
-
deep breath. He was afraid.
-
He steps back. He does what the people did with
-
the house of abinadab, he takes the ark and he puts it in
-
another house, the house of obededom, and we will learn next
-
week. What will happen from there?
-
Let's pray. Lord, we thank you for this this
-
study for stimulating, our hearts Lord, we pray that in
-
this place. You would see a people who love
-
to obey the pattern of your word.
-
Help us in all things. to be able to say we do this because
-
God said, we do it this way because God said, we go this way
-
because God said, Lord. Would you rescue us from the
-
trap of familiarity? Would you keep us from coming to
-
a place where we can touch the arc?
-
we can defile that, which is holy, And without thinking twice
-
about it. Lord, we pray that we would not
-
be a statistic among those who become so familiar that we
-
become numb in the process because we've heard the stories.
-
And we know the gospel Because we've been to meetings and
-
enough conferences to hear these things over and over again,
-
where we lose our sense of the Majesty of Jesus Christ.
-
If anything Lord, would you be merciful enough that the more we
-
grow in years, the more we grow in our, aw, Lord help us resist
-
that temptation. Of the new cart.
-
As a ministry, as a church Even in our own lives help us hold on
-
to the ancient paths. And Lord though I may be slower
-
though may require more we want the true fruit of the spirit.
-
We want the true results that come when we trust the holy
-
spirit's leading and so, Lord, in this place, we gladly allow
-
you to separate us from the world.
-
We glad you. And we gladly invite you to
-
remove all the chaff We gladly invite you to say oh God make us
-
pure like you are pure. Holy Like You Are Holy, lovely.
-
Like you were lovely. And Lord help us really
-
understand. That even one person in this
-
place who is really committed and ignited by your spirit can
-
touch those around us without any effort on our part to try to
-
persuade them day after day. But just the live this out we
-
honor you we want to worship you tonight because you are the Holy
-
One you are awesome and mighty and glorious.
-
And we see you for who you are. We do not assume that you are
-
like us. And so, Lord.
-
We say how, how can you a mighty being be mindful of men to love
-
us, individually to care for us to actually have a plan for each
-
of Our Lives? That you have ordained before
-
the world was even created, how can it be that such a glorious
-
being loves us. So we are amazed that you Lord
-
that you would even consider saving us mere creatures that
-
came from the Dust. And you chose for us to be your
-
Abode. We are amazed at your presence
-
in Jesus name, we pray. Amen, let's stand as we close
-
together. Worshiping the Lord