Participants: John Stanton, C. A. Murray
Series Code: HCL
Program Code: HCL110021
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00:01 Hello friends, grab your Bible and a friend
00:03 and sit back as we explore God's word 00:04 together on this edition of House Calls. 00:21 It's great to have you here again 00:22 for another program of House Calls. 00:25 We're excited that you decided to join us today 00:27 and we have another exciting program for you. 00:29 My name is Pastor John Stanton 00:31 and with me in the studio today is Pastor C.A. Murray. 00:34 Good to be here John as always-- 00:36 C.A. it's great to have you here. 00:37 It's a blessing and I look forward 00:38 to the couple of programs 00:39 that we get a chance to do together here. 00:41 Thank you so much. 00:42 You know, we as we come to House Calls 00:45 from time to time to plan 00:47 and get ready for the program, 00:49 we are flooded with ideas. 00:51 Lot's of different opportunities, 00:52 lot's of different-- 00:54 not only challenging questions 00:56 that you bring to us, 00:57 but topics that we can share in a program 01:00 maybe two, three, or four that we can help 01:03 or at least we hope will help you along 01:05 that path of getting to know the Lord better 01:07 and what your responsibility is the ministry 01:10 is giving to you as followers of Christ. 01:12 Today I think we have such a program 01:14 and we are gonna talk about the priesthood of believers. 01:17 We will spend a couple programs on that 01:19 and hopefully really expound from scripture 01:22 what Gods plan is, 01:23 what His design for His church. 01:25 But, before we get into our topic 01:27 as usual the first half hour, 01:28 we like to spend time looking 01:30 and answering your questions. 01:33 And so we thank you, for sending those in. 01:35 I want to make sure first 01:36 that I give you some direction, 01:37 some instruction as to where to send those questions. 01:40 You can email them to 3ABN using housecalls@3abn.org, 01:47 that's housecalls@3abn.org. We will make sure 01:50 that we get your questions print them out, 01:53 take a look at them, 01:54 answer them possibly on the program. 01:56 We will do our best to answer them 01:57 by sending you an email back. 01:59 And if you like to send in just regular mail 02:01 and then some of you even 02:02 call into the call center here. 02:04 You are free to do that as well, 02:05 because those questions are passed right along to us. 02:09 Pastor Murray, before we dive into the questions, 02:13 would you be so kind to lead us in prayer. 02:15 Be glad to do so. Okay. 02:16 Shall we pray? Thank you. 02:17 Gracious Father, again we thank you 02:19 for the power of your word. 02:21 We are thankful, Lord, 02:22 that there is a power in that word, 02:24 and that when we read Your word 02:27 we come into Your presence. 02:28 We are exposed to the thoughts 02:31 of God the mind of God 02:33 and so we pray Lord 02:34 that you would give us discernment 02:36 as we open up your word now, 02:37 as we answer questions 02:39 and discuss those things talked about in your word 02:42 that your spirit may be the center 02:44 and circumference of all that we do, 02:46 that Christ maybe seen 02:47 and felt and experienced in a very special way. 02:51 Bless this program 02:52 and we thank you in Jesus name, amen. 02:56 Thank you, very much there, Pastor Murray, 02:58 and let's dive right into our questions here. 03:02 Some real good ones today and feel free 03:04 if you could start us off that will be great. 03:07 Already we have got a question 03:09 from Jane and she says, 03:13 I read in the Bible in Acts Chapter 8 03:15 where the apostles came down to Samaria 03:18 and where the-- and were some people, 03:22 there were some people who want to be baptized 03:24 and Peter said, 03:26 Peter laid his hands on them 03:27 and they receive the Holy Spirit 03:30 in that particular Chapter. 03:32 Simon actually saw by the laying out of hands 03:35 of the apostles that 03:36 these people receive the Holy Spirit 03:38 and he wanted to by the power. 03:41 Christ said that if you are not baptized by water 03:45 and the spirit can I enter into Kingdom of God. 03:48 And a question that is, 03:50 is that the only way to receive the spirit. 03:53 Well, what we see in Acts Chapter 8 03:57 is a singular example of a way to receive the spirit, 04:01 but there are many ways to receive the spirit 04:03 and many examples of the spirit 04:07 coming upon people in different ways. 04:10 And so in Acts Chapter 2 the day of Pentecost, 04:16 they are together, they are in one room, 04:18 they are one accord, they are praying 04:20 and the spirit comes then 04:22 and answer to prayer, the supplication. 04:27 We have the spirit coming in and filling the place. 04:30 In Acts Chapter 19, we have the spirit coming in, 04:33 in response to preaching, to in query. 04:37 So there are any number of ways 04:38 Jane that the spirit can be received 04:41 and I guess the easiest way would be simply we ask. 04:43 You know, when we ask and pray 04:46 and come to the presence of the Lord the spirit responds. 04:53 I am having a senior moment, text is slipping my mind. 04:55 But there was another a place in the Book of Acts 04:59 and perhaps it will come to me, 05:00 you know, when you think too hard 05:01 you have to put the thought out of your mind. 05:03 Right, exactly. 05:04 Where in response to preaching 05:07 a number of people again receive the spirit. 05:09 We are told in Romans, 05:10 that the spirit is there present 05:13 helping us in our prayer life. 05:15 So there are any number of ways to receive the spirit. 05:18 This is just one of several ways listed in the Bible 05:22 that the spirit comes into our lives. 05:24 I will say the most direct, 05:25 the most easy way ask for the sprit, 05:28 pray for the spirit 05:29 and you'll receive the power of the spirit of God. 05:32 You know, one of the things that comes to mind here 05:34 as we are talking about the work of the Holy Spirit 05:36 is the several ways in which he works. 05:39 He is always at work, yes, on our minds. 05:42 He is always at work wooing him to himself, 05:47 hopefully directing us to Christ to our Father. 05:51 This is his work and he does this all the time 05:53 and he is constantly working on the hearts of men 05:55 and that is even those that are not converted. 05:58 However there are instances in the Bible 06:01 where he manifests a power, a strength beyond 06:04 what is the general work of the Holy Spirit, 06:08 at least the conscious that we talk conscious sometimes, 06:11 yes, in the way that he works on our minds. 06:13 One of those examples is also found in Acts Chapter 4. 06:16 What we are seeing in this story is 06:19 both Peter and John were brought into the-- 06:25 well they were brought before the council 06:26 and they were beaten for preaching Christ. 06:29 And then as they, it's funny, 06:30 they left that beating rejoicing. Yes. 06:33 Which is something we can't imagine but, 06:36 but you know, rejoice always, right. 06:39 So they leave rejoicing, it's funny, 06:40 they come back to meeting with their, 06:44 the disciples and they gather together again 06:47 and this in the Acts 2 experience, 06:48 but they gather in together and they are praying. Yes. 06:50 And it says in verse 31 of Acts Chapter 4 06:53 that when they had prayed the place 06:55 where they were assembled together were shaken 06:58 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit 07:00 and they spoke the word of God with boldness. 07:02 The boldness, yes. 07:04 So, you know, I must ask the question 07:06 where Peter and John filled with the Holy Spirit 07:10 when they were preaching the first time 07:11 before they got whipped. Yes, yes. 07:15 But, they were filled again with the Holy Spirit here 07:18 and went forward preaching with boldness. 07:21 So the Holy Spirit will come upon us 07:24 in an answer to prayer for specific times of need, yes, 07:28 as well as he does in our everyday life. 07:31 So you almost have three examples. 07:33 The conscience working on us, 07:35 our minds before conversion, 07:37 upon conversion, upon baptism. 07:38 Hopefully, we are receiving the Holy Spirit 07:41 for both things happen at the same time 07:43 where by God begins to lead us in a new profound way. 07:46 And then at specific times of need 07:49 where it maybe revival, maybe the need for boldness 07:51 and maybe the need to come upon us 07:53 to give us a word of truth. Yes. 07:54 Whatever it maybe, the Holy Spirit works 07:57 in a mighty way in that regard too. 07:59 Yeah, I like that, you know, it's interesting, 08:00 if you look at my notes here, 08:01 I got Acts Chapter 4 right here. 08:02 All right, oh, good, good. 08:04 So it did possibly come into my mind. 08:06 I think there are certain times in our life, 08:07 you know, when we are being prepared 08:09 for a particular trial or something 08:11 that is coming upon us that is gonna try our faith. 08:14 The spirit will draw divine in near us 08:15 and give us strength for that particular trial. 08:17 So I think we proved the point 08:19 that there are many ways in which the spirit comes, 08:22 not just one way. 08:23 And the Bible does highlight 08:25 any number of ways and incidents 08:27 when the spirit of God comes to prepare us 08:30 for whatever life throws our way, 08:33 John, I think we can say 08:35 and we can get the spirit through that. 08:37 Oh, the easiest way I say again ask, 08:40 and if you ask, 08:41 God, will supply all your need according to His wish. 08:43 That's right. Specific promise from Christ. 08:45 Ask and you will receive the Holy Sprit. 08:48 Okay, here's another question. 08:50 It comes from David in San Antonio. 08:53 He says, thank you for your recent program 08:55 on a subject that was interesting to him. 08:58 And then he says, I have a question in John 1, 09:01 oh excuse me 1 John 4:1. 09:04 It says to test the spirits to see 09:07 whether they are from God. 09:10 And then he says in 2 Corinthians 12 09:12 verses 1 through 4, there seems to indicate 09:14 the possible out of body experience. 09:18 If all operations or sightings of loved ones 09:21 departed are demonic in nature 09:23 even if you didn't go to a medium 09:25 which I understand is wrong in the eyes of God, 09:28 wouldn't 1 John 4:1 be a good time 09:30 to put this scripture to good use. 09:34 In 1 Samuel 28, the spirit of Samuel 09:37 though brought up by a medium does not appear 09:39 to be demonic in nature nor in the message, 09:42 nor is the message that was revealed. 09:45 Okay, so there is an assumption here 09:48 and I will just mention this first. 09:49 This is an assumption made here, 09:51 it says that if all operations 09:53 or sightings of loved ones 09:54 departed are demonic in nature, 09:57 even if you didn't go to a medium. 09:59 And that statement is made because we have asserted 10:02 and have taught many times before 10:04 that Gods word says 10:05 that any revealing or appearance of those 10:11 who have died in the past are demonic. 10:14 So they are basically reaffirming that. 10:16 But then the statement is made here 10:18 that this demon that, oh it's not a demon, 10:22 at least it's not said here in the question, 10:24 but Samuel coming to Saul as brought up 10:26 by a medium does not appear 10:28 to be demonic in nature, 10:29 we would probably disagree with that. 10:31 Because it's very clear from Gods word 10:34 that when you die you are asleep. 10:37 You rest in the grave, 10:38 you have no more involvement in anything that goes on, 10:40 on this earth in heaven no where. 10:44 Your mind seizes to work there is no conscious state, 10:47 we do not believe with in a soul that departs 10:49 from the body consciously in existence, right. 10:53 So all those things being said, 10:55 all those things being taught according to Gods word, 10:58 we come to this question of 2 Corinthians 12. 11:01 Is it teaching an out of body experience? 11:03 So let's first take a look at that 11:06 and if you go there, this is Paul writing 11:09 and he tells about an experience 11:13 that he had and he begins 11:16 in 2 Corinthians 12 verse 1 by saying, 11:19 "It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. 11:23 I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 11:27 I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago 11:31 whether in the body I do not know, 11:33 or whether out of the body I do not know, 11:35 Christ knows or God knows 11:38 such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 11:42 And I know such a man, 11:43 whether in the body or out of the body 11:45 I do not know God knows 11:46 how that he was caught up into Paradise, 11:49 and heard inexpressible words, 11:51 which it is not lawful for a man to utter." 11:55 So someone could look at that, 11:57 Pastor Murray, and just say, 11:58 you know what here clearly his soul left his body, 12:02 yes, and he appeared in heaven 12:03 and he saw these wonderful things. 12:05 Well, first of all that's not possible, 12:09 even if you do believe that the soul is passed 12:11 or the soul can live apart from the body. 12:14 In every case that at least 12:16 what I understand those that teach that, 12:18 say that, that happens upon death 12:20 and this person did not die. 12:23 So this isn't talking about an out of body experience 12:26 so to speak the soul leaving the body. 12:29 What this is talking about is dreams 12:31 and revelations from the Lord, 12:33 visions that occur. 12:34 So when he is saying that, when Paul is saying 12:38 "I do not know 12:40 whether he was in the body or out of the body." 12:42 He is saying I don't know if this was a vision 12:44 where his mind was taken into heaven 12:47 and he saw things there 12:48 or God give him the vision of things there, 12:50 or whether God literally took him in person in body 12:54 to the place that he showed Him. Precisely. 12:56 And we know that's possible as well from the word, 12:59 so there is a couple possibilities. 13:01 So this is all that Paul is saying 13:03 with regard to this revelation, 13:04 this vision this man had in the body out of the body, 13:07 I don't know if it's a vision or if he actually him there, 13:09 I don't know but he saw things 13:11 in the paradise of God. 13:13 Yeah, and he sort of sets his premise 13:15 in the first verse there. 13:17 "It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. 13:20 I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord." 13:24 So it's kind of setting his premise. 13:25 We are talking about visions and revelations. 13:28 And then he is saying 13:30 I am not quite sure where this falls. 13:32 Given this context 13:33 vision which means that the Lord brought 13:36 something to his mind or revelation, 13:38 Lord, took him some place, I don't really know, 13:40 but here's what happened. Right. 13:41 Now you take this in a sort of run with it, 13:43 but I'm not sure what happened, 13:45 what caused it, 13:46 but this is what happened and this was the result. 13:48 But, it doesn't really give you 13:51 when you examine at the idea 13:52 of an out of body experience. 13:55 He is saying someone had an experience with God. 14:00 I'm not quite sure the mechanism, 14:02 I'm not quite sure what God used to make this happen, 14:05 but here is what happened, 14:07 be it vision, direct revelation, 14:09 I don't know but here is what happened. 14:10 So he is not leading us 14:12 towards out of body experience. 14:13 He is trying to explain 14:14 and experience that someone had 14:16 that he really doesn't have all the answers too. Right. 14:18 But I know this is the experience 14:20 and I know this is what they saw. 14:21 You know, it's almost like a, 14:23 you know, we read these legal documents, 14:25 its preamble. Yeah. 14:26 It's kind of sets the context 14:27 of what you are about to read. Yes. 14:29 He is saying, you know, 14:30 here is where I came from, I'm not sure entirely 14:33 how it happened but here is the issue. 14:35 And the real context of this is 14:37 what comes from that, that's the issue. 14:41 He is just simply commenting, 14:42 he didn't know exactly which-- as you were saying 14:44 which kind of experience this man had so. 14:46 Anyway now the other thing about this question 14:48 that I just want to touch on briefly is the scripture 14:51 to test the spirits 14:54 This is important, 14:55 because we have taught here on House Calls and at 3ABN 15:00 that it's very important to know 15:02 what happens when you die. 15:04 The nature of man that the soul is the whole being, 15:10 its body and spirit 15:12 that is the mind together with that life, 15:15 that breath that God has given us to live, 15:18 that creates the living soul, the being, the essence. 15:21 In fact, you know, 15:22 we have said many times when you look on TV 15:25 and it's often unfortunately the result of a plane crash 15:28 they will say a 100 souls onboard died. 15:31 They are not talking about spirit souls 15:33 they are talking about individuals. 15:36 And this is the same way that the scripture 15:38 reads as well when it comes to the soul. 15:41 So when we look at 1 John 4:1, 15:46 John seems to be saying here 15:48 that the devil is going to use demonic powers, 15:52 he will appear to many. 15:54 In fact some of these things are called familiar spirits. 15:56 That word familiar is where you get familiar, 15:59 the family, familiar is people you know 16:04 coming back and appearing to you, 16:06 but test the spirits to see 16:07 whether or not they are from God. 16:09 And so in one context pastor it is, 16:13 it's not saying the dialogue with these spirits 16:16 if they are dead folks, but it's testing 16:19 whether or not the experience in general is from God, 16:23 whether it be your experience or another experience 16:26 and the way you test that is 16:27 did this individual talked to someone 16:29 who is passed away, who is dead. 16:32 If that's the case that your first test, 16:34 no it's not true. 16:35 Yes, yes, yeah, very true. 16:37 And I think we ought to keep that in mind, 16:40 because one of the great deceptions 16:42 in these last days is spiritism, spiritualism. 16:48 When you look at TV now, 16:49 there is so much dealing with vampires, 16:51 the state of the dead and, 16:53 you know, its every now 16:54 and again this thing seems to comes in waves John. 16:56 You know, it's like, 16:57 it's like you go back to 1800 you got the Fox Sisters 17:00 and the rappings then it goes down in the 1920s 17:02 you got another resurgence of spiritualism. 17:05 Then in 1950s you got anther resurgence of spiritualism. 17:08 Now you got another resurgence of spiritualism 17:10 and of course in each successive wave media 17:14 is much more sophisticated, 17:16 so the saturation is much more sophisticated. 17:18 Now it's on TV and it's on your I-devices pad, 17:21 pod, phone, you know, 17:22 everything you see these kinds of things. 17:26 And it's sort of a, the devil softening us up 17:29 for ultimate deception, you know. 17:32 This idea that your mom, or your dad, 17:34 or someone you love can comeback and talk to you. 17:37 And yet we have got to go to the word 17:40 and the word says they have nothing 17:42 more for ever in anything. 17:45 Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 17:46 that happens under the sun. Correct. 17:48 So if someone comes 17:50 and says something immediately go to the word, 17:54 can't be the Lord, can't be them 17:57 it's got to be something else, 17:58 because the Bible says, 18:00 the dead are indeed dead, yeah. 18:03 Yeah, absolutely. 18:04 Overwhelming delusions for some, 18:06 this is just, it's hard to deny the existence 18:08 of a being in your room or wherever it may be 18:12 but that's why John says test that spirit. 18:15 Test that spirit-- 18:16 You know, in your mind you know 18:17 that this is not from the Lord. 18:19 You have another question for us? 18:20 Already! I am an Adventist Jews in a Caribbean. 18:23 At our church we only have piano and Psalms 150 tells us 18:29 what instruments to use. 18:30 Could you please enlight me 18:31 and my friends on why we don't use 18:33 drums and stuff in Adventist church? 18:36 Interesting, a number of things came to mind, 18:38 John, when I was looking at this 18:40 and going back to Psalms 150. 18:43 Martin Luther and really his best friend Melanchthon 18:48 disagreed on a couple of issues that really strained 18:51 their relationship for a time. 18:54 Got to try to get this straight. 18:55 I think Luther asserted 18:58 that if the Bible doesn't specifically state it, 19:02 you shouldn't do it. 19:04 Melanchthon said if the Bible 19:06 doesn't specifically prohibited, you can do it. 19:09 So one said, basically if I got to see it 19:13 in order to do it and the other said, 19:14 well, if it's not there, then its okay. 19:16 You know, it doesn't seem like a big thing, 19:19 but it really strained their relationship for a time. 19:21 So in applying that to 150 19:25 this is not a manual 19:28 of what instruments to use in church, 19:30 this is just a cataloging of things that were used, 19:35 but the Bible isn't saying you have to use these 19:38 and you can only use these. 19:40 These are some of the things 19:41 that were used in worship during those days. 19:46 Basically in worship in Bible times 19:48 you had things that were blown, 19:51 you had trumpets or something of that nature, 19:54 you had things that were plucked 19:55 or strummed, you had string things, 19:58 and you had percussion things. 19:59 Those are-- that's 20:01 what the technology allowed. Right. 20:02 So these fall in that category, 20:05 because that's what they have. 20:06 They are either blowing something, 20:08 strumming or plucking something 20:09 or banging on something and that was their worship. 20:12 Of course today, 20:13 you got any number of instruments played, 20:15 any number of ways including electronically. 20:18 And of course we have electronic instruments 20:20 that with a touch of a button 20:21 can replicate or duplicate all of these sounds. 20:25 The question for worship for me has always been, 20:28 because I have never pastored a church that used drums. 20:31 I have attended some that have. 20:35 For me it's-- first of all the skill 20:39 of the instrument that can be played 20:41 and then why are you trying to do 20:42 and what is the effect on your congregation. 20:44 There was a time preceded us 20:49 when the organ wasn't allowed, 20:51 because it was thought as a worldly instrument, 20:53 it wasn't played in churches 20:56 and then after a while it came in. 20:58 There was a time when the acoustic guitar 21:00 was sort of frowned upon. 21:01 Now, nobody has a problem with an acoustic guitar. 21:04 So we do evolve. 21:07 Are we evolving in the right direction, 21:09 sometimes I rather wonder, 21:10 you know, and perhaps we do. 21:13 The Bible says whatever we do, 21:14 do it to the glory of God. 21:16 The problem I have with a lot of drum playing 21:18 in the church is that the drummers seem to feel 21:21 that they are the star of the show 21:23 and I'll just put it that way. 21:25 A drum is an instrument designed 21:27 to keep time in rhythm. 21:29 Not particularly in the worship 21:31 context to be a lead instrument. 21:33 So if it's all about drum and thump and pound and beat, 21:37 then something is out of balance. 21:38 Obviously where it becomes the preponderate. 21:40 Precisely, yeah. 21:42 And many times even in contemporary music, 21:45 you can't even understand the word, 21:47 words for the accompaniment 21:49 and particularly worship music is all about the words, 21:53 it's all about what you are saying. 21:56 I have a good friend, I had a Bible study, 21:58 you know, take just a moment and said I had good friend 22:01 when I was in New York who was the drummer 22:03 and bassist for a disco group called Chic 22:06 back in the 80s and 90s. 22:08 And we had this Bible study and they would come 22:11 and after one study he said something to me, 22:14 because we are talking about music. 22:16 And my question to him 22:18 is why do kids listen to music 22:21 at the volume that they do, 22:23 you know, what's with this turn up in volume. 22:25 He said to me this, 22:27 he said contemporary music, 22:30 Christian music, rock, rap, 22:32 reggae, R& B, pop, soul, 22:38 name it was another designed to be listened to. 22:44 He said it was designed to be felt. 22:47 He said kids turn up the volume to the point 22:51 that it thumps them in the chest, 22:53 so it's not about, I'm hitting my microphones, 22:54 I know my production people having a meltdown, 22:58 but he said it's about thumping in the chest. 23:01 He says they want the volume to the point 23:04 where they can feel the music not necessarily hear it. 23:06 So it's not about hearing, 23:08 it's about this thump about feeling the music visibly. 23:11 So he said we know what, we know what, 23:14 what's the term we use. 23:15 We know what the formula is, heavy base riff 23:20 and a cadence that is close to the beating of the heart. 23:26 And when we approximate that, 23:27 he said we can put in any message that we want. 23:30 We can put in-- and we can say anything 23:32 and it goes right pass, 23:33 he said they draw bridge and into the soul. 23:37 And so that's what contemporary music 23:39 is all about. 23:40 This thumping of the drum 23:41 and the heavy base riff actually allows 23:43 the music to go right pass 23:45 the guardianship of the frontal lobes 23:47 and right into the, 23:48 right into the soul and they know that formula. 23:51 And so we need to be careful with all kind of music 23:55 that appeals to the flesh and not to the mind, 23:59 because God is trying to get into your mind. 24:00 The battle is for the mind and so if the thumping 24:03 and the beat is supersedes the words 24:06 and the lyrics and the message, 24:08 then something is wrong, 24:09 something is out of balance. Yeah. Yeah. 24:11 And there is another balance to, 24:14 you are the principle you laid out 24:15 there is very close to the same one that I use 24:17 and I have always used in pastoring. 24:20 But there is another-- the other balance 24:21 to that is your congregation. 24:24 I mean what is-- there are some 24:29 in the congregation that want just hymns only 24:32 and that's it. 24:34 And this whole thing battle between hymns 24:36 and praise music and this is being 24:37 going on for years too. Oh yeah. 24:40 I always said coming into a church 24:42 I am fairly traditional. 24:43 You will see a fairly traditional church with me. 24:45 You know, you are not going to see 24:47 a drums set up front, yeah, 24:48 and you are not going to emphasize that, 24:50 you know, the thump and the beat 24:51 all that kind of stuff, 24:52 but you are going to see 24:54 a balance of hymns and praise music. 24:56 Because I believe the Bible is very clear, 24:58 not only its hymns, its musical songs, 25:00 its spiritual songs that go along with that, 25:02 that's our worship experience. 25:04 And then there are some that just 25:06 are adamant to do it their way. 25:10 And you have the spirit then of 25:12 I'm gonna get what I want, true, 25:14 and not be open at least to allowing 25:17 someone else to experience worship 25:19 in maybe the way that they do it. 25:21 Now, I do realize there is a line 25:22 that we should not cross 25:24 and I think we kind of set some of those boundaries, 25:25 if it becomes preponderate, 25:26 if it wakes up the body and gets us moving in, 25:29 yeah, it just not really worshipful. 25:31 But on the other hand too, we've got to understand that, 25:34 that we have differences and likes and things 25:36 that within the realm it's acceptable, yes, 25:38 we need to be balanced with. 25:40 And I'll tell you honestly, 25:42 I have never seen a music debate 25:45 in a church ending well. No, very true. 25:48 Never, I have never seen one. 25:50 If it goes to the nth degree, 25:52 it causes division and ultimately separation. 25:54 Yeah, we tend to defy our own ethic 26:00 and interesting enough of those who have done 26:01 and I have read several books on ancient Hebrew worship, 26:05 it seems to be very joyous, 26:07 very up tempo, very spirited. 26:10 When I was pastoring in New York, 26:11 I spent a lot of time with some Jewish friends 26:13 and went to synagogue with them on a number of occasions 26:16 and the worship is quite joyous 26:18 and quite-- the music is spirit, 26:20 not it is not base driven or drum driven 26:23 but it is spirited music. 26:25 And there is this joy, 26:27 this elan that's part of the worship, 26:28 that I think was part of ancient worship also. 26:31 Worship was not intended to be a depressing 26:33 kind of sad morose kind of thing. 26:34 We come to the Lord with joy and with thanksgiving 26:37 and you do see that in the Psalms. 26:39 So you don't want to swing the pendulum 26:41 all away to the right, we say there is no joy, 26:43 there is no praise, there is no laughter 26:47 and happiness in worship, 26:48 because I don't think that's true worship either. 26:50 By the same token it can all be jumping in praise 26:53 and sing and, you know-- 26:54 there's got to be some appealing to the mind 26:57 and to reason and rational. 26:58 And so we do need to strike that balance. 27:00 I think you are very, very correct in that. Yeah. Yeah. 27:02 Yeah, pretty good, thank you for that question. 27:04 One more that hopefully won't take too long here. 27:11 Where is my question here? 27:12 Here we go, why do you think 27:15 it's necessary for God to be invisible? 27:18 And this comes from Jackie in Kalama Falls. 27:22 Why do you think God needs to be invisible? 27:23 He walked and talked with Adam and Eve face to face 27:26 at least until they sinned. 27:28 And even after sin He walked with them 27:31 at least one last time. 27:33 If it's because we are sinners 27:34 and Adam and Eve were at first, 27:36 were at first perfect, 27:38 we do become sinless now 27:40 with the righteous robe of Jesus and He forgives, 27:43 so why is He still invisible to us. 27:45 Okay, so a couple principles here, 27:47 let me give you a couple text. 27:49 Isaiah 59 verse 2. 27:55 And its Isaiah 59:2 we read 27:58 as I am turning, 28:02 "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened," 28:05 I'm reading from verse 1 to give the context 28:07 "that it cannot save, nor is his ear heavy, 28:09 that it cannot hear, 28:11 but your iniquities have separated you from your God, 28:15 and your sins have hidden His face from you, 28:16 so that he will not hear." 28:18 You know, we as sinful human beings 28:22 because of that sin have a concept now of space 28:29 and we have a concept of time. 28:32 And it is caused by separation from God. 28:36 Prior to sin, there was no concept of distance from God, 28:40 He was always there. 28:43 Not only just physically I mean spiritually felt, 28:47 but physically He was there. 28:50 Secondly there was no concept of time, 28:52 there was no this, there wasn't this idea 28:54 that we are ticking toward death. 28:57 And so those things were absent from Adam and Eve 29:00 and they were perfect, 29:01 they were sinless and so the Lord also freely, 29:05 because there was no separation commune 29:07 with them face to face. 29:08 They saw God they had a good intimate 29:11 personal visible relationship with God. 29:14 But then we know that after the fall 29:18 there is this distance this space 29:20 and then there is this time element that we're all stuck 29:22 with until His second coming. 29:24 But there is another text here 29:25 I think that tells us more about 29:27 why is he still invisible to us. 29:29 And it's not because God is not a forgiving God, 29:32 He absolutely is. 29:33 But Exodus 33 verse 20, 29:38 is part of a story that is about 29:41 Moses on the mountain meeting with God 29:43 and there were times that God 29:46 appeared to various patriarchs, 29:49 even matriarchs of the Old Testament 29:51 and was visible to them, 29:53 but He always was veiled in humanity. 29:56 But here we find an instant 29:57 where Moses is meeting with God and Moses is in 30:00 and God is not veiled. 30:02 But Moses asked to see Gods glory 30:06 and the Lord answers 30:08 and as He is dialoging with Moses, 30:09 He says these words. 30:11 And this is Exodus 33 verse 20, 30:17 He says, "You cannot see my face 30:22 for no man shall see me," 30:23 and do what? And live. "Live." 30:26 The reason why God is still invisible 30:28 to us is for our protection. Yes. 30:31 It's not because of separation 30:33 so much any longer, 30:34 but it is because we are still sinful human beings. 30:37 We are-- I should say maybe a more 30:38 appropriate word is we are not only sinful, 30:41 we are mortal human beings. 30:43 And mortality cannot stand in the presence of a Holy God. 30:47 And so for our benefit, for our protection, 30:49 we cannot see God face to face, 30:52 because we'll be consumed in an instant. 30:55 And so that is the reason 30:56 why He is still invisible to us, 30:57 but one day He will not be, we'll see Him face to face. 31:00 Yeah, righteousness and sin cannot inhabit same place, 31:04 same time like light and darkness. 31:05 When you turn on light, darkness ceases to exist. 31:07 So at this point 31:09 and your writer does say we are sinners. 31:15 Well, we're sinners because God declares us as such. 31:17 Not in our own right, 31:18 our righteousness is as filthy rags and so the truth 31:21 is that while we are being perfected, 31:26 God chooses to see us through 31:27 the justification process as being perfect. 31:29 So the prefix in that we've is a declaration 31:33 done by God. Right. 31:34 Its all God, it is not through 31:36 any inherent righteousness that we have. 31:38 We're very much sinners 31:41 who are being saved by grace through faith, 31:43 that's not of ourselves it's a gift. 31:46 So in that condition we still are unfit to stand 31:50 in the presence of a Holy God. 31:52 We're just not, we're just not there yet, 31:54 and since righteousness 31:56 and sin cannot inhabit the same place 31:57 as you've rightly said, 31:59 were we to come directly into His presence 32:02 and to see Him, we would cease to exist. 32:05 It's like putting a 220V, 32:07 you know, into a little light socket 32:10 or something just too much power, 32:12 too much just cannot handle it. 32:13 And so at this point, there is this separation, 32:16 but praise God that separation 32:18 will not be always. Yeah. Yeah. 32:20 You know, Christ came, this is a, 32:22 it's a matter of a heart. 32:23 Jesus came unveiled his divinity His perfection, yes, 32:26 with sinful flesh. 32:28 He says, He came in the lightness 32:29 of sinful flesh. 32:31 We receive in the righteousness 32:33 of Christ are "veiled" 32:35 so to speak by the robe of Christ's righteousness 32:38 but inside we're sinful. Yeah, we're sinful. 32:40 And that won't change until tell the second coming. 32:42 So for our protection 32:45 that's why God still remains invisible 32:47 but He is not still, He is not far from you, 32:49 because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. 32:52 All right thank you, again so much for your questions. 32:55 We appreciate your participation 32:57 in the program by sending those in. 32:59 Let me give you the address once again, 33:01 the email address, 33:02 its housecalls@3abn.org, housecalls@3abn.org. 33:08 Please send us your questions, 33:09 we'll do our best to get you involved in our program, 33:13 so thank you very much. 33:15 You know, Pastor Murray, we live in an age today 33:20 many people have different words for it, 33:22 the New Testament age, 33:25 we live under the New Covenant, 33:27 the Era of the Church. 33:30 But in what ever you wanna call it 33:32 I think there is something that Bible teaches us 33:35 very clearly that maybe not, 33:37 it's not entirely understood or at least as well 33:39 as it should be that there is a priesthood on this earth 33:44 that God has chosen to do His work. 33:47 And there are some text that allude to that, 33:48 we'll get to those in a little bit. 33:50 But the topic that we're gonna cover 33:52 for the next couple of days involves, 33:54 or at least we take a deeper look into this priesthood. 33:59 You know, pastor I was watching a program 34:02 I think it was 60 minutes 34:03 and it was a few months ago 34:05 and they did it on these monasteries 34:09 and monks within Mount Athos. 34:12 And of course Mount Athos means Holy Mountain. 34:15 It was founded or at least established 34:17 right around the late 10th century 34:21 and these monasteries today 34:23 that CBS was allowed in they have priest 34:26 there that practice very, very strict 34:32 lifestyle and spiritual kind of well, they practice, 34:37 I don't want to review we've done it, 34:39 but these are the practices of their faith. 34:41 This is what they do to honor God 34:43 to make sure they're close to God 34:45 and to live according to how God wants them to live. 34:48 And so they have these very rigid, 34:51 they almost appear they are legalistic practices 34:53 and they are very commendable. 34:55 I would say, you know, 34:56 anybody that's got that kind of dedication 34:58 should be commended at least for their dedication itself. 35:01 But what we find in Gods word 35:03 is that the church is not necessarily 35:07 to have each one of its members as a whole, 35:11 each one of us act out the part of a monk. 35:14 In a monastery we wouldn't get any work done, 35:17 they're very isolated and they're really sectarian, 35:20 they stand off from the rest of the world, 35:22 that is not God's design. 35:23 When we see priesthood of believers for the church, 35:26 it doesn't mean that priesthood 35:27 that stays isolated or secluded 35:29 it means we've a work to do as God's living priesthood. 35:33 And so I share this example, 35:35 because where ever there is a truth in God's word, 35:38 there seems to be a counterfeit as well. 35:41 And so where God has a living, 35:43 priesthood here I believe still on this earth 35:45 who is to do a work, 35:47 there is a counterfeit priesthood 35:48 that also exists on this earth as well, 35:50 and we got be careful to distinguish 35:52 what is true and what is false. 35:55 But, as we look back as we get to, 35:58 as we dive into the word here, 35:59 we're gonna see that God has established 36:01 He established very early on 36:03 a priesthood to do a work for Him through 36:07 and with the children of Israel. Yes. 36:10 From very, the very beginning God shows 36:12 His people through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. 36:16 Then after Jacob they were in bondage 36:18 they were in captivity, slavery to the Egyptians. 36:21 Finally after 400 years, He delivered them from Egypt 36:25 and then He established a priesthood again, 36:28 a very visible priesthood 36:29 that served around a sanctuary, 36:32 initially a sanctuary that was portable 36:34 as they went around wilderness, 36:36 they journeyed for 40 years 36:38 and then later on as they developed, 36:42 as they were established in Canaan 36:43 there was a temple in Jerusalem 36:45 and the services surrounded the temple. 36:47 And we find that through 36:48 the rest of the life of the Israelites 36:53 and then of course after they divide the king 36:55 and the Jews until the time of Christ. 36:58 So I want to first though go back early on 37:01 to Deuteronomy Chapter 7 and read a passage here, 37:05 about God choosing his people and what his intent is 37:09 and was from the very beginning 37:11 for choosing a specific people to Him. 37:14 And maybe you could start this off by reading, 37:16 would you mind. 37:17 All right, Deuteronomy 7:6 through 8, 37:20 "For you art an holy people to the Lord your God, 37:24 the Lord your God has chosen 37:26 you to be a people for Himself, 37:28 a special treasure above all the peoples 37:31 on the face of the earth." 37:33 In 7, "The Lord did not set his love on you, 37:36 nor choose you, 37:37 because ye were more in number than 37:40 any other people for you were least of all peoples, 37:43 but because the Lord loves you. 37:47 Wow, so because of the Lord's love, 37:49 he chose a people 37:51 and its not just Abraham He promised Abraham, 37:54 He would make His descendents like the sands of the sea. 37:58 And so as His people were growing in number 38:00 He assured them that 38:02 He chose them from the very beginning, 38:03 because of his great love for them. 38:06 And this is an important thing, 38:07 I mean we should probably not just slip pass 38:09 this very, very quickly without at least noting 38:12 God's love for His people. Yes. 38:15 And not just love for us individually, 38:18 but He loves His chosen people. Yes. 38:22 A group that he is calling out of the world 38:26 to be like Him to serve Him 38:29 and to minister them as an outreach 38:31 to rest of the world hoping to bring others in. 38:33 That's the part on the other side of the period, 38:37 John that I think we ought to always emphasize. 38:39 If we stop at God chose us, 38:41 because He loves us, 38:42 it will push us in a wrong direction. 38:45 It would tend to make us like these monks 38:51 that you are talking about sometime ago. 38:53 All right God chose me He loves me, 38:55 that's a nice thing. 38:56 On the other side of that period is chose me 38:58 for what? Yeah. 39:00 And that question must always be asked, 39:02 because if you stop at just He chose me, 39:04 He loves me, then you may think 39:06 that you're better than everybody else. 39:09 And actually He chose you and loves you, 39:12 but out of that love chose you to be a servant 39:15 to everybody else. 39:17 His choosing of you, 39:19 His selecting of you is to give you a special task 39:22 to do in accordance of what God himself does. 39:27 God loves the world and He is choosing you 39:30 as an instrument to help share that love to the world. 39:33 So you don't stop that He chose me, 39:34 He love me, but you ask the question chose me for what? 39:37 So it says that with that chosen, with that love comes 39:39 special responsibility with you 39:42 and that special responsibility 39:45 is to do the work of the Lord. 39:46 You know, and He seems to say that much here 39:48 because in the other 39:51 what He is saying leading up 39:52 to saying that the Lord loves you. 39:54 He says that He didn't choose you 39:55 because you were bigger in number or more 39:58 special than somebody else. Precisely. 40:00 So He's trying to be very clear here, 40:02 I'm not loving you, because you're lovable, 40:06 I'm loving you, because that's my nature. Yes. 40:08 I love all of my creation, I'm choosing you not 40:11 because you're greater or better or whatever 40:14 you want to assign to meaning the meaning better 40:17 but I loved you, 40:18 I poured out my love upon you to choose you, 40:20 so that I may share the love, 40:22 the same love to the world. 40:23 Yeah, ultimately His love is for the world, 40:27 your selection facilitates that, 40:29 that's what He is trying to-- 40:30 I'm trying to get to the whole world. 40:32 So I'm laying my hand on your shoulder, 40:35 because you are gonna help me 40:36 get my love to the whole world. Yeah. Yeah. 40:39 Our next couple text actually help to build on this theme 40:42 and we're just kind of establishing a foundation now 40:44 for God choosing Israel 40:46 and how He established Israel, 40:48 because we'll see some parallels 40:50 with how He establishes His church 40:51 as well in a little while. 40:54 Let's read from Isaiah Chapter 42, 40:58 and I'm almost there 42:6 and 7 and then, 41:04 C.A. maybe you can pickup 49:6 41:07 after I read 42:6 and 7 here. 41:10 It says in Isaiah 42:6 and 7. 41:14 "I the lord have called you in righteousness, 41:17 and will hold your hand, I will keep you, 41:19 and give you as a covenant to the people, 41:25 as light" to who? "The Gentiles." 41:29 So wait a minute, God didn't choose 41:31 the Gentiles from the beginning, 41:32 but He is saying that I chose you as a people 41:36 and to be a covenant to the people 41:38 and a light to who? The gentiles, 41:40 those outside your sect or your group, 41:44 so the motivation here goes far beyond just Israel. 41:47 Look at verse 7, to do what, 41:49 "to open blind eyes, to bring out 41:51 the prisoners from the prison, 41:53 those who sit in darkness from the prison house." 41:57 And then of course He says, "I am the Lord, 41:58 that is my name and my glory 41:59 I will not give to another." 42:01 So we've here God saying to Israel, 42:05 I'm choosing you to be a light to the Gentiles, 42:09 a light to others. Yes 42:11 But for you to be that light to others 42:12 I need to first work on you. 42:15 On you, yes, yes. 42:17 And we find this also in the New Testament. 42:19 God, when Jesus appeared He chose 12, 42:24 because we know that in the-- 42:26 with the Israelites He chose 12 tribes, 42:29 but here we find 12 disciples 42:30 and He chose them to teach them the ways of God. 42:34 And Christ taught them day by day 42:36 and led that by example, 42:38 so that they might be able to then 42:39 give that same teaching to the world. 42:44 This the idea of coming aside 42:47 in the Bible is only a temporary measure 42:50 as it prepares us to go out and do a wider work. 42:53 And that's why I think a lot of the monasteries 42:55 and the whole monastery tradition, 42:59 this is the a boat, if I can use that terminology, 43:01 you don't come aside for the purpose of coming aside, 43:04 you come aside to fortify yourself 43:07 to go back to the world and leave them in the way 43:11 that Christ would have them to go. 43:13 So Christ brought them aside, 43:15 He took them aside He spoke with them, 43:18 He talked to them, He walked with them. 43:20 He gave them examples from life and from nature 43:23 for a time and then He commissioned them, 43:26 now you got it, give it. 43:29 So you don't come aside just to be aside. 43:31 In fact, if you come to aside to be aside 43:34 you become unbalanced. 43:35 You know, it's like a stream or a river 43:39 that gets in but never exits, 43:41 it never goes out, you become unbalanced. 43:43 So you come aside simply to fortify, 43:46 to learn, to experience 43:48 and then you take what you've learned, 43:49 what you've experienced and you take that to a world 43:52 that needs to have what God has given you. 43:55 You know, and the ultimate motive 43:56 is found in that next verse there, 43:58 of Isaiah. 44:03 "And he said, It is a light thing that 44:06 you shouldest be my servant 44:07 and raise up the tribes of Jacob, 44:09 and to restore the preserved of Israel." 44:12 And here is the key part. 44:13 "I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles," 44:17 that's the key. 44:18 "I'm gonna give you as the light to them 44:20 because they need the light, 44:22 that thou mayest be my salvation 44:24 to the ends of the earth." 44:25 So God is saying I'm gonna put that light in you 44:28 and then you take that light to those dark places 44:31 throughout the earth. 44:33 And the objective there is to save the world. 44:36 Precisely, Yeah. 44:38 And this is where I think to degree 44:41 There is been this battle over time 44:44 The battle clearly was evident 44:46 when Jesus came to earth the first time 44:48 as He dialoged with the Pharisees, 44:50 there was this very exclusive club, 44:53 this group that was separate from the world. 44:56 They just knew in their heart 44:57 they were better than every one else, 44:58 that God chose them for what they had to offer. 45:02 And that translated very much down through time even, 45:05 to the perception of many still today 45:07 of the Jewish people. 45:09 And so you have very, you know, anti Semitic, 45:13 you know, folks who see that, 45:16 from way in the back and they just, 45:18 they hate that. Yeah. 45:20 And so what's the worse thing a church can do, 45:22 to give out any kind of even a semblance or possibility 45:27 that might be their thinking, 45:29 when they are trying to evangelize 45:30 the very people that, you know, 45:32 that God has sent them to do evangelize-- 45:33 Yeah, you know, its funny Pastor, 45:34 we tend to like as humans secret handshakes 45:38 and secret clubs, and secret signs 45:40 and secret, you know. We're special. 45:42 You have to be a part of the cognizant, 45:43 you have to be part of the inside, 45:45 you flash the secret sign, 45:46 nobody knows the secret sign, 45:47 you know, it's very, very, chic, very, very, very hit 45:51 to be have this secret clubs and secret signs. 45:54 And sometimes, the church falls into that little trap, 45:59 you know, we have certain words 46:01 and certain terminologies and certain things 46:03 we do that the world does not know. 46:05 But that turns what God wanted to be an open door 46:11 into a club house and you don't want 46:13 the church to degenerate into a club house. 46:15 Your job as a Christian, 46:18 talking about the priesthood of all believers 46:20 is to get out from the closet 46:22 and into the world with the light of the gospel. 46:25 So if you make it too difficult 46:27 or too eclectic to become a member, 46:30 then you're doing actually the opposite 46:32 of what Christ is asking you to do. Yeah. Yeah. 46:34 And there are many secret societies 46:35 and things out there that we know nothing about. 46:37 Precisely, we don't want the church 46:39 to become a secret society. 46:40 No, no, not, not by any stretch of imagination. 46:45 So we've established here now 46:47 as we looked at some of these text, 46:48 God's motive for choosing Israel 46:51 and that eventually, 46:52 He would use them as a light to the Gentiles. 46:54 When Jesus came to this earth, 46:57 He intended for Israel to accept Him as the Messiah 47:02 and as a result of that, 47:03 He would then use them to reach the world. 47:08 I said this several times and some people kind of, 47:11 they're taken back and then they think about it, 47:12 you know, what that's true. 47:14 There would have been no church. 47:18 There would have been no reason to establish a church, 47:21 if the Jewish people had accepted Christ 47:23 as their Messiah 47:25 He would have used them to bring salvation 47:27 to the ends of the earth. 47:30 The church was chosen, yeah, 47:31 because the Jewish hierarchy rejected Christ. Yeah. 47:36 Crucified Him, were involved in that, 47:37 they didn't have to be. Yeah. 47:39 The Romans would have done this on their own, 47:41 if they had assured him and his king, 47:43 what you think the Romans would have done. 47:44 Yeah, they have taken to panic-- 47:45 They would have crucified Him anyway. Precisely, 47:46 But they joined in united with Romans 47:49 and use the Romans to crucify Him, 47:50 that's rejecting Christ 47:52 which is why the church was established. 47:54 Yeah, the church was, 47:55 I don't want to say the default settings, 47:56 certainly was the alternate plan, 47:58 because we weren't and I'll use the terminology 48:00 buying into the original plan. 48:02 Right, which is one of the reasons 48:04 why Israel is used to talk to talking about the church. 48:09 The prophecies of Israel of the Old Testament 48:11 now apply to the church. Apply to the church. 48:13 And there is this false teaching out there, 48:15 this dual covenant theology where 48:17 God is a separate covenant with Jews, 48:19 that He has with the church. 48:21 And its complete misunderstanding that, 48:22 that covenant ended with the Jews as a nation. Yes. 48:27 And then was established 48:29 and brought as a new covenant through the church, 48:32 also to evangelize the Jews again, 48:34 who have been-- 48:35 Right, the covenant blessings 48:37 as well as the covenant responsibilities 48:39 now fall upon, now fall upon the church. 48:42 Even if you look at where Israel was placed 48:44 when they went into Canaan into "Promise land." 48:49 They were put on what we called 48:51 the crossroads of the nations. 48:54 The civilized world was concentrated in North Africa, 48:57 Mesopotamia and they to get where you have to go, 49:01 you had to pass through that area of the world 49:05 and may contact with God's people. 49:08 And so they were strategically placed 49:10 and then of course later through the Diasporas 49:13 and the intimate connection with the Roman Empire, 49:17 the goodness of the gospel, 49:18 the awareness of the gospel of Christ 49:21 will spread throughout the world. 49:22 That wasn't accidental, 49:23 they won't put in some islands, some place. 49:25 They will put right there in the center of 49:27 the then civilized world for a specific purpose, 49:29 and that was to share. 49:31 You had trade routes and caravans 49:33 moving to one fro to and fro and yet, 49:35 they chose to do the opposite to be insular 49:37 and sort of just keep it to themselves, 49:39 when all Christ wanted them 49:40 to do will share with everyone, 49:42 the goodness of His love and His mercy. 49:44 Yeah. Yeah. 49:45 Let's turn to Exodus Chapter 19, 49:48 we are gonna continue to build on this picture of God, 49:51 choosing a people to serve Him, 49:54 and to then extend salvation to the ends of the world. 49:57 Exodus 19 verses 5 and 6, 50:01 it says, "Now therefore, if you will indeed 50:03 obey My voice and keep My covenant, 50:08 then you shall be a special treasure to me 50:11 above all people, for all the earth is mine 50:14 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priest 50:18 and a Holy nation. 50:20 These are the words 50:21 which you shall speak to the children of Israel. 50:23 "This is God speaking to Mosses, 50:25 to then have Mosses carry to the children of Israel. 50:29 Now we find in this word priest 50:35 and I looked up in Merriam's dictionary, 50:39 in Merriam Webster's dictionary 50:41 and it says, with regard to priest, 50:44 that it refers to one authorized 50:46 to perform the sacred rights of the religion 50:48 especially as a mediatory agent. 50:52 A mediatory agent between humans and God. 50:56 Now this is a fairly narrow definition 50:58 and I think we're gonna expand that 51:00 greatly over the time that we're here. 51:02 But clearly I like the picture 51:03 though of mediatory. Yes. 51:06 Because God has chosen 51:08 His this entire nation initially, 51:10 the whole nation is to be a kingdom of priest. 51:13 And we're gonna find that 51:14 as we go through this choosing this kingdom, 51:17 or these people as a kingdom of priest, 51:19 they don't really necessarily like the idea. Yes, yes. 51:23 And it begins in the very next Chapter 51:25 because in the very next Chapter, 51:26 Exodus 20, 51:27 we have the people at the base of Mount Sinai, 51:31 God at the top of Mount Sinai thundering His law. 51:36 And interesting things, it says about that, 51:39 in fact, you want to read this one C.A., 51:40 Exodus 20:18 to 21? 51:42 Can do. I'm in Exodus 20. 51:48 "Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, 51:50 the lightning, flashes, the sound of the trumpet, 51:54 and the mountain smoking and when the people saw it, 51:58 they trembled and stood afar off. 52:01 Then they said to Moses, speak,you speak with us 52:06 and we will hear, but let not God speak with us, 52:10 lest we die." 52:11 And Moses said to his people, "Do not be fear, 52:14 for God has come to test you, 52:17 and that His fear maybe before you, 52:20 so that you may not sin." 52:22 And 21 "So, the people stood a far off, 52:25 but Moses drew near the thick darkness 52:28 where God was." 52:29 Ah, there is so much in this passage, 52:31 it just lights up my imagination, 52:34 but I think there is some wonderful teachings in here. 52:37 We find that God is appearing on this mountain 52:41 and the people respond by being fearful. Yes. 52:45 Of course, Moses says, it's kind of an, 52:47 kind of speaking in two different ways, 52:49 and this is a good text anybody use 52:51 when you're teaching about fear, 52:52 you know, the fear of God, do not fear, 52:55 in other words, do not be afraid. 52:57 "For God has come to test you, 52:58 that His fear maybe before you." 53:00 So we should fear, but not fear. Yes. 53:02 Don't be afraid like trembling 53:04 like you're afraid of God, 53:05 but your fear respect Him. Respect Him. 53:07 Because He does hold us to accountability. 53:11 And so we find these people 53:12 who are seeing these manifestations of miraculous, 53:15 just power on this mountain, and what do they do? 53:18 They stood a far off. And it says that twice. 53:22 Verse 21 again, it says, 53:23 "The people stood a far off, but, Moses did what?" 53:26 Drew near. Moses drew near. 53:28 Now notice, if you read the passage, 53:31 it says, God says, 53:33 "Put a boundary around the mountain, 53:35 and if you just step across that you'll die, 53:37 My holiness is as such where you'll die, 53:39 do not go near." 53:41 But Moses drew near, 53:43 he didn't step across the boundary. Yes. 53:45 He just drew near to it, where the people shrunk back, 53:49 they stood a far off from that boundary 53:50 and what you see here are two things, 53:54 you're seeing the people being afraid of God now, 53:56 warning to draw near as Moses did, 53:59 but you're also seeing their resistance 54:01 of being the mediatory agent, 54:04 God had called them to be just the Chapter earlier. 54:07 God is saying "Come in, commune with Me, 54:09 be a special people to Me, be My agent to others." 54:12 And He has called Moses to do the same. Yeah. 54:14 Moses draw near, draws near and says, 54:16 "Okay, I'm here, Lord." 54:18 The people say, "No, no, no, 54:19 Moses, you do it, not us." 54:21 Yeah, not us, not us. 54:22 You know the Lord is trying to, 54:24 to do any number of things. 54:25 One, I think, I like your point, 54:27 the idea that He wants us not to fear Him, 54:30 but it says, His fear, a Godly fear, 54:33 a Godly respect, the Lord is sovereign, 54:35 the Lord is the Lord, He's the Lord God, 54:38 and that always to be respected and understood. 54:43 Having said that, He doesn't get 54:45 any kicks out of having us tremble and quake before Him. 54:50 He wants us to come boldly, 54:51 particularly when we need something, 54:53 but to come in the respect and deference that 54:55 we are dealing with 54:56 the sovereign of the universe. Amen. 54:58 And that, when we come before Him, 55:01 we come in a certain mindset, 55:03 with a certain mind fit, mindset. 55:05 And, of course, His desire 55:06 when we come is to turn us right back around 55:09 and send us out to the world, amen, 55:10 they needs to have that. 55:11 So, as the people now are standing afar off. 55:14 Moses, the one, is the one to draw near, 55:16 we're finding a little bit of a plan B 55:20 kind of kick into place here. Yeah, yeah. 55:22 The people have almost solidified their resistance 55:26 to draw near to God, 55:27 especially as Moses went up the mountain 55:29 to get the tables of stone. 55:31 And then when he came back down, 55:32 we find that Golden Calf experience. 55:35 Well, as Moses broke those tables of stone, 55:38 which depicts really the breaking of the covenant. 55:42 He kind of places the test before the people 55:44 and he says, "Those who are with God, 55:47 stand here and those who are not, 55:50 who are part of this golden calf experience, 55:53 we want to separate from you." Amen. 55:55 And who we have, that are faithful 55:58 in that test are the tribe of Levi. Yeah. 56:02 Levi remained faithful 56:03 and we find that in this story. 56:06 And so as, God, sees a resistance of the people 56:08 in general to draw near 56:10 and to accept this priesthood of all believers-- Yes. 56:14 Creating a kingdom of priest. 56:16 We now see Levi, who is faithful 56:19 and God is going to call them 56:21 forward then to be His priest. 56:23 And we picked that up 56:24 in Numbers Chapter 3 verses 6 through 10, 56:27 and we don't really have time 56:28 to go into all of that right now. 56:30 I see our time is slipping away from here, 56:32 but I'll start off with Exodus 28:1, 56:35 where it says, "Take Aaron your brother, 56:37 and his sons with him, 56:38 and from among the children of Israel, 56:39 that he may minister to me as priests, 56:41 Aaron and Aaron's sons, 56:43 Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar." 56:45 So clearly God is now not just establishing 56:48 His priest with all the kingdom, 56:50 He's choosing Aaron and His sons, 56:52 yes, yes, and the tribe of Levi. 56:54 It's a powerful point that there's a subtle drawing back 56:56 from God's original plan, 56:58 even at the very earliest days of Israel. 57:01 You know they are at Sinai, 57:03 God wants everyone to be to service priest, 57:06 but we're not quite ready for that, 57:08 so then He's got another plan, 57:10 but it wasn't His original plan, 57:12 but He kicks in this other plan. 57:14 Yeah. Very powerful. 57:15 And we're gonna see a part of that, 57:16 we're gonna continue on in our story in our next program 57:18 which will be next week, so make sure you stay tune 57:20 for part two of this. 57:22 But we pray that the, Lord, is blessing you 57:24 as you open the word, as you study the word 57:26 and He has bless you today through this program. 57:29 May you have a great day in the, Lord, 57:30 as you serve Him as one of His priests. 57:33 God bless you. |
Revised 2014-12-17