Old Testament Survey Week 4
Chosen People 2
We open your Word Lord,
We open our hearts and say, Let the King of Glory come in.
We thank you Lord that You are the King of Glory, the Lord Strong and Mighty, the Lord Mighty in Battle…
We thank you for that You are going to do here this evening …
In Jesus Name… A-Men
Query about Jacob’s name change to Israel
The name Jacob tends to represent his born nature,
while the name Israel reflects his ‘taken-upon’ nature,
his nature based upon his relationship with God.
Names are important in the Scripture
Particularly in the Old Testament the names are often powerful
Chosen People 2
Removing the Obstacles
to Purpose and Intimacy with God
Key Words:
Chosen
Possession
Holy
We are going to talk this week
about removing obstacles that get in the way
of purpose
and intimacy with God…
Because guess what,
intimacy with God is the purpose
You can boil it all down to this
the purpose of God
was to bring the people of Israel
to intimacy with Himself
Why we are chosen…
We are chosen because He created us and we are simply His children
Here is what the scripture says:
7"The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you
because you were more in number than any of the peoples,
for you were the fewest of all peoples,
8but because the LORD loved you
and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers,
the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand
and redeemed you from the house of slavery,
from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
9"Know therefore that the LORD your God,
He is God, the faithful God,
who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness
to a thousandth generation with those
who love Him and keep His commandments;
Deuteronomy 7:7-9 NAS
He chose us because He loved us
and because He cannot lie…
He promised Abraham that He would make them a mighty nation
Genesis 12, 15 and 17
He said their descendants would be
more numerous that all the stars in the sky…
He repeated His covenant promise to
Isaac and to Jacob
He couldn’t lie…
it would be to go against His own nature…
That impacts us because…
1. We are apart of the covenant promise
that through the lineage of Abraham
all the nations of the earth would be blessed…
through Jesus Christ
2.In the early part of the Book of Romans
we also see that Abraham
is the father of all of those
who come to God by faith.
This is not just a promise
made by the blood line of Abraham
but also a promise
to all people who trust God.
Salvation comes to us
by his grace because of our faith.
The LORD “Set His love” upon Israel.
The LORD is attached to us.
The word “set” here means almost to be physically attached
i.e.
you can grow attached to a person,
attached to your spouse
attached to your dog
emotionally attached
endearment of the heart
connected
God makes a connection with us…
He’s not taking it back…
there’s no busy signal…
the lines have not been disconnected
He has a strong attachment to us…
He has an investment in us
The LORD chose Israel.
This was a deliberate choice on His part.
God’s choosing us
doesn’t have as much to do with what we do
as it does with who He is.
The nation of Israel messed up a whole bunch
Let’s be honest…
they were constantly disloyal
constantly turning their backs.
We all think we have the cutest children or grandchildren
They were born in our image
as we were created in God’s image…
the fact is we just love them
because they are ours.
God makes a deliberate choice in selecting us…
Chose is an important word
Holy is another important word…
qâdôsh qâdôsh (kaw-doshe', kaw-doshe')
From H6942; sacred (ceremonially or morally);
about removing obstacles that get in the way
of purpose
and intimacy with God…
Because guess what,
intimacy with God is the purpose
You can boil it all down to this
the purpose of God
was to bring the people of Israel
to intimacy with Himself
Why we are chosen…
We are chosen because He created us and we are simply His children
Here is what the scripture says:
7"The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you
because you were more in number than any of the peoples,
for you were the fewest of all peoples,
8but because the LORD loved you
and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers,
the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand
and redeemed you from the house of slavery,
from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
9"Know therefore that the LORD your God,
He is God, the faithful God,
who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness
to a thousandth generation with those
who love Him and keep His commandments;
Deuteronomy 7:7-9 NAS
He chose us because He loved us
and because He cannot lie…
He promised Abraham that He would make them a mighty nation
Genesis 12, 15 and 17
He said their descendants would be
more numerous that all the stars in the sky…
He repeated His covenant promise to
Isaac and to Jacob
He couldn’t lie…
it would be to go against His own nature…
That impacts us because…
1. We are apart of the covenant promise
that through the lineage of Abraham
all the nations of the earth would be blessed…
through Jesus Christ
2.In the early part of the Book of Romans
we also see that Abraham
is the father of all of those
who come to God by faith.
This is not just a promise
made by the blood line of Abraham
but also a promise
to all people who trust God.
Salvation comes to us
by his grace because of our faith.
The LORD “Set His love” upon Israel.
The LORD is attached to us.
The word “set” here means almost to be physically attached
i.e.
you can grow attached to a person,
attached to your spouse
attached to your dog
emotionally attached
endearment of the heart
connected
God makes a connection with us…
He’s not taking it back…
there’s no busy signal…
the lines have not been disconnected
He has a strong attachment to us…
He has an investment in us
The LORD chose Israel.
This was a deliberate choice on His part.
God’s choosing us
doesn’t have as much to do with what we do
as it does with who He is.
The nation of Israel messed up a whole bunch
Let’s be honest…
they were constantly disloyal
constantly turning their backs.
We all think we have the cutest children or grandchildren
They were born in our image
as we were created in God’s image…
the fact is we just love them
because they are ours.
God makes a deliberate choice in selecting us…
Chose is an important word
Holy is another important word…
qâdôsh qâdôsh (kaw-doshe', kaw-doshe')
From H6942; sacred (ceremonially or morally);
(as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary: - holy (One), saint.
Holy, set apart, clean, obedient, in His image, righteous, free,
Holy, set apart, clean, obedient, in His image, righteous, free,
a good book by Dallas Willard called Divine Conspiracy
it is all about the Sermon on the Mount –
it is simply the best most authoritative book
about the teachings of Jesus
The simple meaning for holy
is something that is dedicated
dedicated means that you have a new identity…
when a baby is dedicated to the Lord
it now has a new identity… it belongs to God
Think about Isaiah 6…
The angels in heaven are saying “Holy, Holy, Holy
Which by the way doesn’t mean
they are saying it three times repeatedly …
when you see things in threes
that means they are an antiphonal
it means that they are sung our continuously for all eternity.
They say this about God… He is Holy
Because God is dedicated to Himself
If you were God, who would you be dedicated to?
God is Love…
He is three who are dedicated one to another
God is dedicated to Himself.
When we are talking about the holiness of God
we are saying that God is Love
and that He is dedicated to Himself.
It is not God being dedicated to us…
that makes God our servant…
God is dedicated within Himself, to Himself.
We get to join in that, that is part of what worship is all about.
6"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God;
the LORD your God has chosen you to be
a people for His own possession
out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 7:6 NAS
Out of holiness, comes his choice, and then possession
It says we are holy
because we are dedicated
and belong to God
It is a good thing to belong to God!
Again,
2"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God,
and the LORD has chosen you to be
a people for His own possession
out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 14:2 NAS
He didn’t choose them because
they did more cleaver things…
because they were bigger,
because they had more weapons…
He chose them simply because they were His…
He loved them,
and because he was honoring
the covenant oath He had made.
3Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
Sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.
4For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself,
Israel for His own possession.
Psalm 135:3-4 NAS
He chose Jacob for Himself…
we are chosen for the Lord.
Often we look in the mirror
and wonder what it is that the Lord sees in us…
We don’t “get it!”
In the beginning God chose them
because of the faithfulness of one man Abraham.
Abraham’s father Terah
was a middle to upper class
idol making family in Ur (in ancient Babylon).
That was the height of decadence, prosperity…
I think the Lord was making a point…
He took someone out of this high place of bondage
and took them for Himself…
and transformed Abram
into a humble and faith-filled servant.
He saw something in Abraham…
he was receptive…
he saw that Abraham was willing to listen
and to be obedient…
It is quite possible that God
had also called Abraham’s father Terah…
Terra winds up leaving Ur and he stops at Haran
but he was not receptive to His call
it is all about the Sermon on the Mount –
it is simply the best most authoritative book
about the teachings of Jesus
The simple meaning for holy
is something that is dedicated
dedicated means that you have a new identity…
when a baby is dedicated to the Lord
it now has a new identity… it belongs to God
Think about Isaiah 6…
The angels in heaven are saying “Holy, Holy, Holy
Which by the way doesn’t mean
they are saying it three times repeatedly …
when you see things in threes
that means they are an antiphonal
it means that they are sung our continuously for all eternity.
They say this about God… He is Holy
Because God is dedicated to Himself
If you were God, who would you be dedicated to?
God is Love…
He is three who are dedicated one to another
God is dedicated to Himself.
When we are talking about the holiness of God
we are saying that God is Love
and that He is dedicated to Himself.
It is not God being dedicated to us…
that makes God our servant…
God is dedicated within Himself, to Himself.
We get to join in that, that is part of what worship is all about.
6"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God;
the LORD your God has chosen you to be
a people for His own possession
out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 7:6 NAS
Out of holiness, comes his choice, and then possession
It says we are holy
because we are dedicated
and belong to God
It is a good thing to belong to God!
Again,
2"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God,
and the LORD has chosen you to be
a people for His own possession
out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 14:2 NAS
He didn’t choose them because
they did more cleaver things…
because they were bigger,
because they had more weapons…
He chose them simply because they were His…
He loved them,
and because he was honoring
the covenant oath He had made.
3Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
Sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.
4For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself,
Israel for His own possession.
Psalm 135:3-4 NAS
He chose Jacob for Himself…
we are chosen for the Lord.
Often we look in the mirror
and wonder what it is that the Lord sees in us…
We don’t “get it!”
In the beginning God chose them
because of the faithfulness of one man Abraham.
Abraham’s father Terah
was a middle to upper class
idol making family in Ur (in ancient Babylon).
That was the height of decadence, prosperity…
I think the Lord was making a point…
He took someone out of this high place of bondage
and took them for Himself…
and transformed Abram
into a humble and faith-filled servant.
He saw something in Abraham…
he was receptive…
he saw that Abraham was willing to listen
and to be obedient…
It is quite possible that God
had also called Abraham’s father Terah…
Terra winds up leaving Ur and he stops at Haran
but he was not receptive to His call
And Terah took Abram his son,
and Lot the son of Haran his son's son,
and Sarai his daughter in law,
his son Abram's wife;
and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees,
to go into the land of Canaan;
and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.
Genesis 11:31 NAS
Notice Terah set out for the land of Canaan
but settled in Haran
Haran in Hebrew means “delayed”
It would seem that there was a call on Terah’s life
to go to Canaan
but he chose to settle in Haran instead.
The call was delayed.
Terah dies and is buried in that place of delay…
When God called Abram
the first thing that was apparent
was he would have to leave a few things behind…
his country, his family, his father’s house
He had to leave things behind
in order to follow God’s call
and obey Him fully
to inherit the blessings of God
This whole story (Terah – Abraham)
speaks to the redemptive nature of God
Why does God choose us?
4How blessed is the one whom You choose
and bring near to You
To dwell in Your courts
God chooses us
to bring us near to Himself
and that we might dwell in His courts
to be in His presence!
We will be satisfied with
the goodness of Your house,
Your holy temple.
Psalm 65:4 NAS
In other words to be satisfied with God Himself…
He chooses us to bring us near to Himself
that we might be satisfied by being in His presence
This is what is called the Doctrine of Election
in both the Old Testament and the New Testament
The Deuteronomy 7 passage
we have been looking at
is really the first passage of scripture
that describes the Doctrine of Election.
Look what Jesus says,
16"You did not choose Me
but I chose you,
and Lot the son of Haran his son's son,
and Sarai his daughter in law,
his son Abram's wife;
and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees,
to go into the land of Canaan;
and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.
Genesis 11:31 NAS
Notice Terah set out for the land of Canaan
but settled in Haran
Haran in Hebrew means “delayed”
It would seem that there was a call on Terah’s life
to go to Canaan
but he chose to settle in Haran instead.
The call was delayed.
Terah dies and is buried in that place of delay…
When God called Abram
the first thing that was apparent
was he would have to leave a few things behind…
his country, his family, his father’s house
He had to leave things behind
in order to follow God’s call
and obey Him fully
to inherit the blessings of God
This whole story (Terah – Abraham)
speaks to the redemptive nature of God
Why does God choose us?
4How blessed is the one whom You choose
and bring near to You
To dwell in Your courts
God chooses us
to bring us near to Himself
and that we might dwell in His courts
to be in His presence!
We will be satisfied with
the goodness of Your house,
Your holy temple.
Psalm 65:4 NAS
In other words to be satisfied with God Himself…
He chooses us to bring us near to Himself
that we might be satisfied by being in His presence
This is what is called the Doctrine of Election
in both the Old Testament and the New Testament
The Deuteronomy 7 passage
we have been looking at
is really the first passage of scripture
that describes the Doctrine of Election.
Look what Jesus says,
16"You did not choose Me
but I chose you,
This is interesting in that
in the days when Jesus said this
it was the custom that a Jewish male
would chose a Rabbi to follow… become his student…
Here Jesus is saying he chose us!
and appointed you
that you would go and bear fruit,
and that your fruit would remain,
so that whatever you ask of the Father
in My name
He may give to you.
17"This I command you,
that you love one another.
John 15:16-17 NAS
There is a connection there
in that we are chosen
and that we are required to love one another.
Part of the proof that we have been chosen is
that we demonstrate His love one to another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another.
John 13:35 NAS
5Listen, my beloved brethren:
did not God choose the poor of this world
to be rich in faith
and heirs of the kingdom
which He promised to those who love Him?
poor of this world = poor in spirit – humble
He is saying that
we were not chosen
because we had any distinction
or because we had great wealth…
but I chose those who are rich in faith
not in worldly gain.
6But you have dishonored the poor man.
Is it not the rich who oppress you
and personally drag you into court?
James 2:5-6 NAS
Those who are of the kingdom of God are heirs,
in the days when Jesus said this
it was the custom that a Jewish male
would chose a Rabbi to follow… become his student…
Here Jesus is saying he chose us!
and appointed you
that you would go and bear fruit,
and that your fruit would remain,
so that whatever you ask of the Father
in My name
He may give to you.
17"This I command you,
that you love one another.
John 15:16-17 NAS
There is a connection there
in that we are chosen
and that we are required to love one another.
Part of the proof that we have been chosen is
that we demonstrate His love one to another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another.
John 13:35 NAS
5Listen, my beloved brethren:
did not God choose the poor of this world
to be rich in faith
and heirs of the kingdom
which He promised to those who love Him?
poor of this world = poor in spirit – humble
He is saying that
we were not chosen
because we had any distinction
or because we had great wealth…
but I chose those who are rich in faith
not in worldly gain.
6But you have dishonored the poor man.
Is it not the rich who oppress you
and personally drag you into court?
James 2:5-6 NAS
Those who are of the kingdom of God are heirs,
sons and daughters, participants in the kingdom business…
The kingdom of God is not about
stuff,
events,
manifestations…
The kingdom of God is about love…
it’s about multiplying the nature of God all around us.
The kingdom of God is not about
stuff,
events,
manifestations…
The kingdom of God is about love…
it’s about multiplying the nature of God all around us.
This love of God
manifests righteousness, peace
and joy in the Holy Spirit…
We make the mistake of thinking
that the kingdom of God is signs and wonders…
signs and wonders are great,
but they are not the kingdom…
they are road signs that point to something,
but they are not the thing itself.
The kingdom of God
is the place where God is in the center
and we are holy beloved brethren,
we are chosen,
we are people who are not laying up treasure here,
we are people who highly value and are in love with God.
The kingdom is not about people who have right doctrine
It’s not about people who have right practice
It’s not about people who flow in signs, wonders and manifestations…
The kingdom of God is simply about people who love God.
2and when the LORD your God
delivers them* before you and you defeat them,
Deuteronomy 7:2a NAS
them* = all the ites”
the Hittites
and the Girgashites
and the Amorites
and the Canaanites
and the Perizzites
and the Hivites
and the Jebusites,
God says, ‘look, I’m going to deliver those dudes before you…
Then He says we will defeat them
then you shall utterly destroy them
You shall make no covenant with them
and show no favor to them.
Deuteronomy 7:2b NAS
This has to be with being chosen and being holy…
because if we get involved
this these nations (sinful emotions/ demonic forces)
we will be influenced by their evil ways
and no longer totally dedicated and separated unto God.
Another good book on this subject is Things We Adore, by Judson Cornwall…
manifests righteousness, peace
and joy in the Holy Spirit…
We make the mistake of thinking
that the kingdom of God is signs and wonders…
signs and wonders are great,
but they are not the kingdom…
they are road signs that point to something,
but they are not the thing itself.
The kingdom of God
is the place where God is in the center
and we are holy beloved brethren,
we are chosen,
we are people who are not laying up treasure here,
we are people who highly value and are in love with God.
The kingdom is not about people who have right doctrine
It’s not about people who have right practice
It’s not about people who flow in signs, wonders and manifestations…
The kingdom of God is simply about people who love God.
2and when the LORD your God
delivers them* before you and you defeat them,
Deuteronomy 7:2a NAS
them* = all the ites”
the Hittites
and the Girgashites
and the Amorites
and the Canaanites
and the Perizzites
and the Hivites
and the Jebusites,
God says, ‘look, I’m going to deliver those dudes before you…
Then He says we will defeat them
then you shall utterly destroy them
You shall make no covenant with them
and show no favor to them.
Deuteronomy 7:2b NAS
This has to be with being chosen and being holy…
because if we get involved
this these nations (sinful emotions/ demonic forces)
we will be influenced by their evil ways
and no longer totally dedicated and separated unto God.
Another good book on this subject is Things We Adore, by Judson Cornwall…
an excellent book, should be standard reading for all believers.
He makes an excellent observation saying
He makes an excellent observation saying
that the people of Israel moved into the holy land…
Before this time the people lived as shepherds in Egypt
then slaves, then wanderers for forty years…
Shepherds, slaves, wanderers…
Now they come into this place and have to become farmers
Did they know a thing about farming? No!
Here’s what God was talking about…
He said you have to utterly destroy those influences around you…
in that place that you are entering in to possess…
because if you don’t they (the ites)
will start to infiltrate your culture
and lead your hearts away from Me.
Judson Cornwall says, imagine this
They move into the holy land
then slaves, then wanderers for forty years…
Shepherds, slaves, wanderers…
Now they come into this place and have to become farmers
Did they know a thing about farming? No!
Here’s what God was talking about…
He said you have to utterly destroy those influences around you…
in that place that you are entering in to possess…
because if you don’t they (the ites)
will start to infiltrate your culture
and lead your hearts away from Me.
Judson Cornwall says, imagine this
They move into the holy land
and they don’t quite dispossess the people living there…
Instead of trusting God to show them what to do,
they trust man…
the Canaanite farmers began to instruct them how to farm
“O.K. here’s what you have to do…
you plow the furrows along this ridge…
and then you plant the seeds in the furrows…
and Oh by the way when you get to the end of that row
you take this little statue and put it up on this altar,
and it guarantees that your crop will grow every time…
Idolatry just kind of crept in amongst them
because they did not follow God’s instructions
to totally eliminate the enemy.
The same thing happens to us today…
Think about the language we use today
I am appalled sometimes when I watch television
of the disrespectful language we have.
Today, for example, fathers are often portrayed as idiots…
What happened to “Father Knows Best?”
Now it’s ‘father knows nothing’.
We have totally dismantled the family table…
We’ve made fathers into a joke…
One of the greatest shows
in the last thirty years on television
was the Cosby Show
because it showed a father who was honored
and he wasn’t an idiot!
He was a guy who was in touch with his kids…
He knew how to father kids; apparently he still does –
in real life he knows what he’s talking about.
This is what happened to the nation of Israel,
and this is what happens to us…
evil creeps in unobserved…
a little here, a little there, a little folding of the hands…
10Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11So shall thy poverty come
as one that travelleth,
and thy want as an armed man.
Proverbs 6:10-11 NAS
This is why God says
then you shall utterly destroy them
You shall make no covenant with them
and show no favor to them.
Deuteronomy 7:2b NAS
Utterly destroy means like, vaporize their influence.
We also often make covenants
and show favor with the world and society around us.
We want to look like the world,
so we are accepted by them.
Sometimes Christian entertainment
doesn’t look a heck of a lot different that the worlds.
Dress doesn’t look different
Attitude doesn’t look different
Language isn’t different
Divorce rate doesn’t look any different..
What’s that all about?
It’s because we have lost the holiness of God..
When is the last time you heard a sermon
preached on the holiness and righteousness of God?
Not a real popular thing… is that true?
We talk about the blessings of God
The mercy of God
But we need to understand that
Righteousness and Holiness are the foundation of His throne.
Mercy and faithfulness go before Him
but He is a Holy and Righteous God
He’s not going to change that and put it on hold for us!
Think about the High Priest,
when he goes into the presence of God
He wears this thing on his forehead
that says “Holy to the Lord.”
We need to be holy before God…
don’t make a deal with the devil here,
no covenants with evil,
no showing favor of any evil influences…
That means if something comes into my life
that is not pleasing to God,
I need to get rid of that influence.
He says also here -
3"Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them;
you shall not give your daughters to their sons,
nor shall you take their daughters for your sons.
4"For they will turn your sons away from following Me
to serve other gods;
then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you
and He will quickly destroy you.
Deuteronomy 7:3-4 NAS
If we make covenants with any evil influence
it will result in our children’s defilement,
they will serve other gods.
then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you
and He will quickly destroy you.
That doesn’t sound very promising.
When we are talking about Holiness,
we are saying that God is first,
dedicated to love within Himself
and He calls us into that same relationship –
He calls us to walk with Him in Holiness and Righteousness…
in thought and word and action.
He tells us “Don’t make a deal, don’t make compromises.”
A good passage of scripture to look at
they trust man…
the Canaanite farmers began to instruct them how to farm
“O.K. here’s what you have to do…
you plow the furrows along this ridge…
and then you plant the seeds in the furrows…
and Oh by the way when you get to the end of that row
you take this little statue and put it up on this altar,
and it guarantees that your crop will grow every time…
Idolatry just kind of crept in amongst them
because they did not follow God’s instructions
to totally eliminate the enemy.
The same thing happens to us today…
Think about the language we use today
I am appalled sometimes when I watch television
of the disrespectful language we have.
Today, for example, fathers are often portrayed as idiots…
What happened to “Father Knows Best?”
Now it’s ‘father knows nothing’.
We have totally dismantled the family table…
We’ve made fathers into a joke…
One of the greatest shows
in the last thirty years on television
was the Cosby Show
because it showed a father who was honored
and he wasn’t an idiot!
He was a guy who was in touch with his kids…
He knew how to father kids; apparently he still does –
in real life he knows what he’s talking about.
This is what happened to the nation of Israel,
and this is what happens to us…
evil creeps in unobserved…
a little here, a little there, a little folding of the hands…
10Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11So shall thy poverty come
as one that travelleth,
and thy want as an armed man.
Proverbs 6:10-11 NAS
This is why God says
then you shall utterly destroy them
You shall make no covenant with them
and show no favor to them.
Deuteronomy 7:2b NAS
Utterly destroy means like, vaporize their influence.
We also often make covenants
and show favor with the world and society around us.
We want to look like the world,
so we are accepted by them.
Sometimes Christian entertainment
doesn’t look a heck of a lot different that the worlds.
Dress doesn’t look different
Attitude doesn’t look different
Language isn’t different
Divorce rate doesn’t look any different..
What’s that all about?
It’s because we have lost the holiness of God..
When is the last time you heard a sermon
preached on the holiness and righteousness of God?
Not a real popular thing… is that true?
We talk about the blessings of God
The mercy of God
But we need to understand that
Righteousness and Holiness are the foundation of His throne.
Mercy and faithfulness go before Him
but He is a Holy and Righteous God
He’s not going to change that and put it on hold for us!
Think about the High Priest,
when he goes into the presence of God
He wears this thing on his forehead
that says “Holy to the Lord.”
We need to be holy before God…
don’t make a deal with the devil here,
no covenants with evil,
no showing favor of any evil influences…
That means if something comes into my life
that is not pleasing to God,
I need to get rid of that influence.
He says also here -
3"Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them;
you shall not give your daughters to their sons,
nor shall you take their daughters for your sons.
4"For they will turn your sons away from following Me
to serve other gods;
then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you
and He will quickly destroy you.
Deuteronomy 7:3-4 NAS
If we make covenants with any evil influence
it will result in our children’s defilement,
they will serve other gods.
then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you
and He will quickly destroy you.
That doesn’t sound very promising.
When we are talking about Holiness,
we are saying that God is first,
dedicated to love within Himself
and He calls us into that same relationship –
He calls us to walk with Him in Holiness and Righteousness…
in thought and word and action.
He tells us “Don’t make a deal, don’t make compromises.”
A good passage of scripture to look at
to determine if you are hearing God
or trying to determine what is holy and righteous
is Psalm 19 verses 7 through 11.
Edit fkj
The following are notes and reflections
Edit fkj
The following are notes and reflections
taken from Tom Gardner’s book Healing the Wounded Heart pp 62-66
Psalm 19:7-11 is a definitive statement about the Word of God:
Psalm 19:7a
7The law of the LORD is perfect,
restoring the soul;
The word perfect is the Hebrew word tamiym
which describes the ‘state of wholeness.’
When God speaks His Word is meant to bring wholeness.
The enemy speaks to tear us down,
to kill, steal and destroy. (John 10:10)
God’s Word brings healing (physical and emotional)
and restoration (brings us back into fellowship)
God’s Word will bring correction and discipline when it is needed;
but it is always brought with love and mercy
Even in His wrath He always remembers mercy
2LORD, I have heard the report about You
and I fear O LORD,
revive Your work in the midst of the years,
In the midst of the years make it known;
In wrath remember mercy.
Habakkuk 3:2
Any word that separates us from God,
did not originate from God.
Our Father has a perfect love for His children
God’s Word invites us into His presence,
they are healing words
that invite us into a greater intimacy with God.
Psalm 19:7b
The testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple.
Testimony means to ‘tell it again.’
God’s Word tells us again and again
about His acts of love and mercy
that are fashioned
to bring us back into His presence.
When God speaks He does so with clarity.
God is not a God of confusion, but a God of peace…
33for God is not a God of confusion but of peace,
as in all the churches of the saints.
I Corinthians 14:33
God always speaks in a way that brings life and safety
He desires to bring us into his presence
to build us up into the image of His Son
12for the equipping of the saints
for the work of service,
to the building up of the body of Christ;
13until we all attain to the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to a mature man,
to the measure of the stature
which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:12-13
God doesn’t want us in the dark
His Word is compared to the light
105Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
God doesn’t hide things from His children.
But will hide things as hidden treasures
for us to find
as they we are obedient to search out His Word.
God invites us and leads us to come into His presence
So that we might grow in intimacy
and respond correctly to what He says
Psalm 19:8
8The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
God’s voice has a unique righteous tone to it,
that-is-to-say that when we hear the Word of God
it just sounds right, because it is the truth.
The word ‘right’ here is the Hebrew word yashar,
which literally means to be straight,
but implies a moral and ethical correctness
The Lord’s voice always leads us in ways
that agree with His very nature;
because we were created in His image
there is a supernaturally natural resonance
that strikes a chord of agreement within us.
As a pastor friend I know well puts it –
“We just know in our knower!”
God is completely holy
and above the opinions of man.
His very nature is like a huge rock – steadfast and immovable.
When God speaks,
His Spirit witnesses to our spirits
and we just know that His Word is true,
it is not dependent upon our situation or circumstance.
It is settled simply because He has proclaimed it.
There is an old saying
that is frequent in Christian circles that says…
“God’s Word says it,
I believe it,
so that settles it.”
As good as that may sound, I believe it should state:
“God’s Word says it…
that settles it…
so I believe it!”
Our hearts rejoice in this matter
because we know deep down that we belong to Him
and that He ‘He has our back’… (our front, and both sides as well).
Psalm 19:8b
The commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
There is no impurity in God’s Word –
that which He speaks has no hidden agenda,
no secret motive, no bias, no evil intent of any kind.
Thus His Word is pure…
when he announces that He loves us
and that His mercy endures forever…
He really means it!
He is not going to reconsider tomorrow
and change his mind because we stumble, or fall.
He will be there with His pure love
to draw us into His presence
and restore us into right relationship,
because of the finished work of His Son on Calvary.
His desire is that we would so come to know
this purity of love
that we would see ourselves and others in the same light,
and agree in our mind with His assertion.
This is what He means by “the enlightening of our eyes.”
Psalm 19:9
9The fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true;
they are righteous altogether.
God is eternal and wants us to have an eternal perspective –
for we are eternal as well.
He desires that we are enduring… true… righteous… and clean,
because these virtues, these character traits of our God
are what will bring us to the place
of quiet confidence and peace.
His power and wisdom are without limits…
He wants to fill us with “The Faith of God”
rather than faith in God.
His desire is that we would walk a naturally supernatural walk
that will demonstrate His kingdom to the world around us,
so that they will see his heart and faithfulness
and be drawn to Him.
All that God says to us is solid, enduring, eternal and righteous.
There is a fundamental stability, a unshakable surety to all He says.
The Psalmist proclaims:
89Forever, O LORD,
Your word is settled in heaven.
90Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations;
You established the earth, and it stands.
91They stand this day according to Your ordinances,
For all things are Your servants.
Psalm 119:89-91
What God proclaims is faithful and will all be fulfilled in Him.
His Word gives us a peace and confidence
which witnesses to the fact
that we can trust everything He says.
Psalm 19:10
10They are more desirable than gold,
yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey
and the drippings of the honeycomb.
There is an unmistakable sweet fragrance
and sweet savor to God’s Word.
11"Your lips, my bride, drip honey;
Honey and milk are under your tongue,
And the fragrance of your garments
is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
Song of Solomon 4:11
His word is desirable because
the intent of His word
Psalm 19:7-11 is a definitive statement about the Word of God:
Psalm 19:7a
7The law of the LORD is perfect,
restoring the soul;
The word perfect is the Hebrew word tamiym
which describes the ‘state of wholeness.’
When God speaks His Word is meant to bring wholeness.
The enemy speaks to tear us down,
to kill, steal and destroy. (John 10:10)
God’s Word brings healing (physical and emotional)
and restoration (brings us back into fellowship)
God’s Word will bring correction and discipline when it is needed;
but it is always brought with love and mercy
Even in His wrath He always remembers mercy
2LORD, I have heard the report about You
and I fear O LORD,
revive Your work in the midst of the years,
In the midst of the years make it known;
In wrath remember mercy.
Habakkuk 3:2
Any word that separates us from God,
did not originate from God.
Our Father has a perfect love for His children
God’s Word invites us into His presence,
they are healing words
that invite us into a greater intimacy with God.
Psalm 19:7b
The testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple.
Testimony means to ‘tell it again.’
God’s Word tells us again and again
about His acts of love and mercy
that are fashioned
to bring us back into His presence.
When God speaks He does so with clarity.
God is not a God of confusion, but a God of peace…
33for God is not a God of confusion but of peace,
as in all the churches of the saints.
I Corinthians 14:33
God always speaks in a way that brings life and safety
He desires to bring us into his presence
to build us up into the image of His Son
12for the equipping of the saints
for the work of service,
to the building up of the body of Christ;
13until we all attain to the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to a mature man,
to the measure of the stature
which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:12-13
God doesn’t want us in the dark
His Word is compared to the light
105Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
God doesn’t hide things from His children.
But will hide things as hidden treasures
for us to find
as they we are obedient to search out His Word.
God invites us and leads us to come into His presence
So that we might grow in intimacy
and respond correctly to what He says
Psalm 19:8
8The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
God’s voice has a unique righteous tone to it,
that-is-to-say that when we hear the Word of God
it just sounds right, because it is the truth.
The word ‘right’ here is the Hebrew word yashar,
which literally means to be straight,
but implies a moral and ethical correctness
The Lord’s voice always leads us in ways
that agree with His very nature;
because we were created in His image
there is a supernaturally natural resonance
that strikes a chord of agreement within us.
As a pastor friend I know well puts it –
“We just know in our knower!”
God is completely holy
and above the opinions of man.
His very nature is like a huge rock – steadfast and immovable.
When God speaks,
His Spirit witnesses to our spirits
and we just know that His Word is true,
it is not dependent upon our situation or circumstance.
It is settled simply because He has proclaimed it.
There is an old saying
that is frequent in Christian circles that says…
“God’s Word says it,
I believe it,
so that settles it.”
As good as that may sound, I believe it should state:
“God’s Word says it…
that settles it…
so I believe it!”
Our hearts rejoice in this matter
because we know deep down that we belong to Him
and that He ‘He has our back’… (our front, and both sides as well).
Psalm 19:8b
The commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
There is no impurity in God’s Word –
that which He speaks has no hidden agenda,
no secret motive, no bias, no evil intent of any kind.
Thus His Word is pure…
when he announces that He loves us
and that His mercy endures forever…
He really means it!
He is not going to reconsider tomorrow
and change his mind because we stumble, or fall.
He will be there with His pure love
to draw us into His presence
and restore us into right relationship,
because of the finished work of His Son on Calvary.
His desire is that we would so come to know
this purity of love
that we would see ourselves and others in the same light,
and agree in our mind with His assertion.
This is what He means by “the enlightening of our eyes.”
Psalm 19:9
9The fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true;
they are righteous altogether.
God is eternal and wants us to have an eternal perspective –
for we are eternal as well.
He desires that we are enduring… true… righteous… and clean,
because these virtues, these character traits of our God
are what will bring us to the place
of quiet confidence and peace.
His power and wisdom are without limits…
He wants to fill us with “The Faith of God”
rather than faith in God.
His desire is that we would walk a naturally supernatural walk
that will demonstrate His kingdom to the world around us,
so that they will see his heart and faithfulness
and be drawn to Him.
All that God says to us is solid, enduring, eternal and righteous.
There is a fundamental stability, a unshakable surety to all He says.
The Psalmist proclaims:
89Forever, O LORD,
Your word is settled in heaven.
90Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations;
You established the earth, and it stands.
91They stand this day according to Your ordinances,
For all things are Your servants.
Psalm 119:89-91
What God proclaims is faithful and will all be fulfilled in Him.
His Word gives us a peace and confidence
which witnesses to the fact
that we can trust everything He says.
Psalm 19:10
10They are more desirable than gold,
yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey
and the drippings of the honeycomb.
There is an unmistakable sweet fragrance
and sweet savor to God’s Word.
11"Your lips, my bride, drip honey;
Honey and milk are under your tongue,
And the fragrance of your garments
is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
Song of Solomon 4:11
His word is desirable because
the intent of His word
is always to bless us with life, and life abundant (John 10:10b).
His greatest desire is to see us freed from ever bondage
that we might be free to worship Him in spirit and in truth.
His Word will confront us because
He wants to irradiate everything that keeps us from His presence.
Psalm 19:11
11Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
James summarizes the goodness of God
and the intent of His Word in this fashion:
17But the wisdom from above is first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, reasonable,
full of mercy and good fruits,
unwavering, without hypocrisy.
18And the seed whose fruit is righteousness
is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:17-18
5. Our bodies are His Temple (1 Corinthians 6:19)
we need therefore to discipline ourselves
that His word may dwell richly in us
so His glory will be displayed. (Colossians 3:16)
‘Lord help me to be obedient
to be in your Word each day,
that I might be disciplined to rightly divide your Word of Truth.
Help me to be a vessel fit for Your use,
that Your Word may transform me
so that Your glory will be evidenced by others.’
19Or do you not know
that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
who is in you, whom you have from God,
and that you are not your own?
1 Corinthians 6:19
16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you,
with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another
with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16
Psalm 19:7-11 NAS
End Edit fkj
Don’t intermarry with them
because they will lead your sons and daughters astray
and make them follow other gods.
Here is what He says we need to do:
5"But thus you shall do to them:
you shall tear down their altars,
and smash their sacred pillars,
and hew down their Asherim,
and burn their graven images with fire.
Deuteronomy 7:5 NAS
As you read the history and the chronicles of the kings
Of Israel and Judah
The single greatest measure
of weather they were successful or not
was weather or not
they tore down the high places.
There are still high places
in Australia there are still Aboriginal high places.
There are still high places in our own hearts.
These are usually groves of trees where secret sexual things are done, or demonic practices are carried out…
It is all about darkness…
because God is represented by Light
That’s what Asherim groves are all about
about darkness and secrecy hidden sin.
The Masonic connection:
The Masons do “really good things”
but why do they have all those
secret oaths, practices and meetings…
what is all that about?
I can’t seem to find that anywhere in scripture.
On the other hand
there are Christian’s who choose to work for the Masonic organizations
to be a light in the darkness.
Tear down their alters: mizbah
Alters are a place of influence
where life blood is presented.
The blood is about life!
Alters must be cast/ torn down.
An altar can be something that controls your life…
The book Healing the Wounded Heart
is fundamentally about finding the alters in my life.
We have altars of fear - Hittites
Altars of rejection - Girgashites
Altars of shame - Canaanites
Altars of worthlessness - Amorites
Altars of insecurity - Perezzites
Altars of defilement - Hivites
Altars of hopelessness- Jebusites
An altar is a place of control…
sometimes these influences can control your life…
those things have to be identified and dismantled.
that we might be free to worship Him in spirit and in truth.
His Word will confront us because
He wants to irradiate everything that keeps us from His presence.
Psalm 19:11
11Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
James summarizes the goodness of God
and the intent of His Word in this fashion:
17But the wisdom from above is first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, reasonable,
full of mercy and good fruits,
unwavering, without hypocrisy.
18And the seed whose fruit is righteousness
is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:17-18
5. Our bodies are His Temple (1 Corinthians 6:19)
we need therefore to discipline ourselves
that His word may dwell richly in us
so His glory will be displayed. (Colossians 3:16)
‘Lord help me to be obedient
to be in your Word each day,
that I might be disciplined to rightly divide your Word of Truth.
Help me to be a vessel fit for Your use,
that Your Word may transform me
so that Your glory will be evidenced by others.’
19Or do you not know
that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
who is in you, whom you have from God,
and that you are not your own?
1 Corinthians 6:19
16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you,
with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another
with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16
Psalm 19:7-11 NAS
End Edit fkj
Don’t intermarry with them
because they will lead your sons and daughters astray
and make them follow other gods.
Here is what He says we need to do:
5"But thus you shall do to them:
you shall tear down their altars,
and smash their sacred pillars,
and hew down their Asherim,
and burn their graven images with fire.
Deuteronomy 7:5 NAS
As you read the history and the chronicles of the kings
Of Israel and Judah
The single greatest measure
of weather they were successful or not
was weather or not
they tore down the high places.
There are still high places
in Australia there are still Aboriginal high places.
There are still high places in our own hearts.
These are usually groves of trees where secret sexual things are done, or demonic practices are carried out…
It is all about darkness…
because God is represented by Light
That’s what Asherim groves are all about
about darkness and secrecy hidden sin.
The Masonic connection:
The Masons do “really good things”
but why do they have all those
secret oaths, practices and meetings…
what is all that about?
I can’t seem to find that anywhere in scripture.
On the other hand
there are Christian’s who choose to work for the Masonic organizations
to be a light in the darkness.
Tear down their alters: mizbah
Alters are a place of influence
where life blood is presented.
The blood is about life!
Alters must be cast/ torn down.
An altar can be something that controls your life…
The book Healing the Wounded Heart
is fundamentally about finding the alters in my life.
We have altars of fear - Hittites
Altars of rejection - Girgashites
Altars of shame - Canaanites
Altars of worthlessness - Amorites
Altars of insecurity - Perezzites
Altars of defilement - Hivites
Altars of hopelessness- Jebusites
An altar is a place of control…
sometimes these influences can control your life…
those things have to be identified and dismantled.
Smash their sacred pillars
A pillar was a sacred memorial stone
A signature of the evil influence
that often sat next to the altar.
These were basically a reminder,
a signature of some sort of evil influence.
Hew down the groves – Asherim
These are places of darkness and sin
They must be revealed and
brought into the light.
These had to be cut down…
you can’t just trim them
Burn their false images of God
Evil influences must be subject to truth
images: pesıyl (pes-eel')
From H6458; an idol: - carved (graven) image, quarry.
It seems to me to be obvious
having studied some of these folks here (the ‘ites’)
the images and gods that they served…
were actually incomplete revelations of God
They were not truthful revelations of God
You see this all over the place…
another example is when Aaron in coerced
into making the golden calf
which was actually a symbol of one of the Egyptian gods…
the reason he is told to make that calf
is because the people who are fallen there
are saying we want God to go before us …
we want to control where God goes,
we don’t want Him to control where we go…
That is not a very good plan
It didn’t seem to work well for them…
earth kind of swallowed them up, as I remember.
I believe that sometimes you and I
have wrong ideas about God
about who God is…
Those misbelieves lead us into a bad place.
He says, we need to submit
those false images of God to the truth.
We need to let scripture tell us the truth.
Here is the New Testament version of this:
5Casting down imaginations,
An imagination can be
a false idea about God
and every high thing that exalteth itself
against the knowledge of God,
When we are talking about
the knowledge of God,
we are not talking about data,
A pillar was a sacred memorial stone
A signature of the evil influence
that often sat next to the altar.
These were basically a reminder,
a signature of some sort of evil influence.
Hew down the groves – Asherim
These are places of darkness and sin
They must be revealed and
brought into the light.
These had to be cut down…
you can’t just trim them
Burn their false images of God
Evil influences must be subject to truth
images: pesıyl (pes-eel')
From H6458; an idol: - carved (graven) image, quarry.
It seems to me to be obvious
having studied some of these folks here (the ‘ites’)
the images and gods that they served…
were actually incomplete revelations of God
They were not truthful revelations of God
You see this all over the place…
another example is when Aaron in coerced
into making the golden calf
which was actually a symbol of one of the Egyptian gods…
the reason he is told to make that calf
is because the people who are fallen there
are saying we want God to go before us …
we want to control where God goes,
we don’t want Him to control where we go…
That is not a very good plan
It didn’t seem to work well for them…
earth kind of swallowed them up, as I remember.
I believe that sometimes you and I
have wrong ideas about God
about who God is…
Those misbelieves lead us into a bad place.
He says, we need to submit
those false images of God to the truth.
We need to let scripture tell us the truth.
Here is the New Testament version of this:
5Casting down imaginations,
An imagination can be
a false idea about God
and every high thing that exalteth itself
against the knowledge of God,
When we are talking about
the knowledge of God,
we are not talking about data,
we are talking about our personal knowledge
the intimate knowing of God…
these imaginations,
these false images of God,
these things that the nation of Israel are encountering
or could encounter on their journey through the holy land
these are things that lead people away from God.
God says, ‘Look if you don’t get rid of all these influences
they are going to lead away from following me.’
It will lead you into all sorts of ridiculous relationships
and you will start to worship the creation
instead of the Creator.
these false images of God,
these things that the nation of Israel are encountering
or could encounter on their journey through the holy land
these are things that lead people away from God.
God says, ‘Look if you don’t get rid of all these influences
they are going to lead away from following me.’
It will lead you into all sorts of ridiculous relationships
and you will start to worship the creation
instead of the Creator.
and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Corinthians 10:5 KJV
Does this look like Jesus or not?
Here is how I know something is true of not…
I can put a little phrase in front of it… “Jesus said…”
Now if I stand in front of a mirror and say…
“Jesus doesn’t like me very much.”…
Another good book by Brennan Manning,
A Glimpse of Jesus: The Stranger to Self-Hatred
I would recommend that book… a tiny little book.
He talks about
what we are thinking and doing
and weather it reflects the nature of God or not.
If it doesn’t then what am I doing it for?
This whole thing about the nation of Israel
is absolutely critical for us to understand…
God is loading the GPS program right now…
He is saying,
“Look, I’m giving you the WAY
that you will be able to stay close to me.”
You have to forsake all this other stuff,
turn away all these false images,
you have to keep yourself holy for Me…
you have to utterly destroy these evil influences in your life.
I’ll be honest and transparent…
at one time in my life I had a problem with alcohol…
I don’t have alcohol in my house…
Now if you want to have alcohol in your house, that’s fine.
Now if I want to have a glass of wine,
I can sit down and have a half of glass
and not want any more…
there was a time in my life when that was not true.
There was a time in my life
when if you gave me a half a glass of wine,
I would drink that jug and the next one.
I learned that I could not have that stuff in my life…
I have to avoid it.
You may have other stuff…
maybe it’s the internet…
some people just can’t stay away from it…
I’m not just talking about pornography
People become consumed with technology
the latest and greatest computer equipment.
The fact is we have to know
what is going to lead me away from God…
I have to be intentional about
what I allow myself to view on the computer.
It doesn’t always come naturally,
we have to be intentional about it.
We have to have a plan and keep those things inline.
We want to make sure that nothing (idol) controls us.
Paul says that it is
the love of Christ that is supposed to control us.
For Christ's love compels us,
because we are convinced that one died for all,
and therefore all died.
2 Corinthians 5:14 NAS
I would recommend that book… a tiny little book.
He talks about
what we are thinking and doing
and weather it reflects the nature of God or not.
If it doesn’t then what am I doing it for?
This whole thing about the nation of Israel
is absolutely critical for us to understand…
God is loading the GPS program right now…
He is saying,
“Look, I’m giving you the WAY
that you will be able to stay close to me.”
You have to forsake all this other stuff,
turn away all these false images,
you have to keep yourself holy for Me…
you have to utterly destroy these evil influences in your life.
I’ll be honest and transparent…
at one time in my life I had a problem with alcohol…
I don’t have alcohol in my house…
Now if you want to have alcohol in your house, that’s fine.
Now if I want to have a glass of wine,
I can sit down and have a half of glass
and not want any more…
there was a time in my life when that was not true.
There was a time in my life
when if you gave me a half a glass of wine,
I would drink that jug and the next one.
I learned that I could not have that stuff in my life…
I have to avoid it.
You may have other stuff…
maybe it’s the internet…
some people just can’t stay away from it…
I’m not just talking about pornography
People become consumed with technology
the latest and greatest computer equipment.
The fact is we have to know
what is going to lead me away from God…
I have to be intentional about
what I allow myself to view on the computer.
It doesn’t always come naturally,
we have to be intentional about it.
We have to have a plan and keep those things inline.
We want to make sure that nothing (idol) controls us.
Paul says that it is
the love of Christ that is supposed to control us.
For Christ's love compels us,
because we are convinced that one died for all,
and therefore all died.
2 Corinthians 5:14 NAS
5We are destroying speculations
and every lofty thing raised up
against the knowledge of God,
and we are taking every thought captive
to the obedience of Christ,
Corinthians 10:5 NAS
5"The LORD your God,
He will thrust them out from before you
and drive them from before you;
and you will possess their land,
just as the LORD your God promised you.
6"Be very firm, then,
to keep and do all that is written
in the book of the law of Moses,
so that you may not turn aside from it
to the right hand or to the left,
7so that you will not associate with these nations,
these which remain among you,
or mention the name of their gods,
or make anyone swear by them,
or serve them, or bow down to them.
Joshua 23:5-7 NAS
If there is any of that influenced in your land (in your life)…
It will draw you aside…
Here are some subtle things
What if I have an unresolved bitterness?
If I have bitterness or unforgiveness…
that is is false image in my life.
That is something that is going to control me.
What if we have an unresolved conflict?
You see, Jesus who reveals the truth of all this stuff,
for instance in Matthew five he says.
‘Look, if you, when you are going to worship
and you remember that your brother has something against you,
then leave your offering…
go to your brother and resolve the issue,
then come back and offer your offering before God.
this is so classic…
it is so absolutely accurate
If I have some unresolved thing in my heart
there is no way I can come and worship
in Spirit and in Truth.
My attention will be divided at best,
by the unresolved conflict or the unresolved problem.
God is a jealous God.
Do not worship any other god,
for the LORD, whose name is Jealous,
is a jealous God.
Exodus 34:14 NAS
He says,
‘I am not going to share your love and devotion to me
with anything else, including your anger.’
Go and resolve that thing.
then come back without that guy in your eye
and worship Me
2"For in the way you judge,
you will be judged;
and by your standard of measure,
it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck
that is in your brother's eye,
but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4"Or how can you say to your brother,
'Let me take the speck out of your eye,'
and behold, the log is in your own eye?
Matthew 7:2-4 NAS
God wants us to be a people who are chosen…
Holy, and beloved of God… which Paul says by the way
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved,
put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience;
Colossians 3:12 NAS
He wants us to be people living in His kingdom…
people living on the basis of love
and not on the basis of the law.
The law is important…
when He talks about keeping the law,
He is not talking about righteousness
earned by things that we do…
he is talking about reflecting the nature of God…
our of a heart of love we keep the law.
12"Now, Israel,
what does the LORD your God require from you,
but to fear the LORD your God,
to walk in all His ways and love Him,
and to serve the LORD your God
with all your heart and with all your soul,
Deuteronomy 10:12 NAS
The first thing we need to do
is make sure that we have a clear view of God.
The children of Israel where chosen and holy…
not because of anything they did… but simply because God said so.
God wants us to live in this kind of relationship with him… if something is standing in the way then we need to get rid of it…
The place that Israel slips on (and we too)
are the places where
they did not get rid of these evil influences.
30
and every lofty thing raised up
against the knowledge of God,
and we are taking every thought captive
to the obedience of Christ,
Corinthians 10:5 NAS
5"The LORD your God,
He will thrust them out from before you
and drive them from before you;
and you will possess their land,
just as the LORD your God promised you.
6"Be very firm, then,
to keep and do all that is written
in the book of the law of Moses,
so that you may not turn aside from it
to the right hand or to the left,
7so that you will not associate with these nations,
these which remain among you,
or mention the name of their gods,
or make anyone swear by them,
or serve them, or bow down to them.
Joshua 23:5-7 NAS
If there is any of that influenced in your land (in your life)…
It will draw you aside…
Here are some subtle things
What if I have an unresolved bitterness?
If I have bitterness or unforgiveness…
that is is false image in my life.
That is something that is going to control me.
What if we have an unresolved conflict?
You see, Jesus who reveals the truth of all this stuff,
for instance in Matthew five he says.
‘Look, if you, when you are going to worship
and you remember that your brother has something against you,
then leave your offering…
go to your brother and resolve the issue,
then come back and offer your offering before God.
this is so classic…
it is so absolutely accurate
If I have some unresolved thing in my heart
there is no way I can come and worship
in Spirit and in Truth.
My attention will be divided at best,
by the unresolved conflict or the unresolved problem.
God is a jealous God.
Do not worship any other god,
for the LORD, whose name is Jealous,
is a jealous God.
Exodus 34:14 NAS
He says,
‘I am not going to share your love and devotion to me
with anything else, including your anger.’
Go and resolve that thing.
then come back without that guy in your eye
and worship Me
2"For in the way you judge,
you will be judged;
and by your standard of measure,
it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck
that is in your brother's eye,
but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4"Or how can you say to your brother,
'Let me take the speck out of your eye,'
and behold, the log is in your own eye?
Matthew 7:2-4 NAS
God wants us to be a people who are chosen…
Holy, and beloved of God… which Paul says by the way
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved,
put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience;
Colossians 3:12 NAS
He wants us to be people living in His kingdom…
people living on the basis of love
and not on the basis of the law.
The law is important…
when He talks about keeping the law,
He is not talking about righteousness
earned by things that we do…
he is talking about reflecting the nature of God…
our of a heart of love we keep the law.
12"Now, Israel,
what does the LORD your God require from you,
but to fear the LORD your God,
to walk in all His ways and love Him,
and to serve the LORD your God
with all your heart and with all your soul,
Deuteronomy 10:12 NAS
The first thing we need to do
is make sure that we have a clear view of God.
The children of Israel where chosen and holy…
not because of anything they did… but simply because God said so.
God wants us to live in this kind of relationship with him… if something is standing in the way then we need to get rid of it…
The place that Israel slips on (and we too)
are the places where
they did not get rid of these evil influences.
30
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