Hello, and welcome to
Foundation of Our Faith.
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And it is a pleasure to
be with you during this hour.
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My name is John Dinzey.
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And it is a pleasure
for me to introduce to you
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our speaker and
musical guest during this hour.
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During this hour,
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you will hear a
message from God's Word
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from a man that God has selected
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to bring to you the
message that you will hear.
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He has been
praying and this is a man
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that the Lord
called out of darkness
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and into His marvelous light.
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He was brought
up as a Christian,
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but as a youth
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he separated
himself from the Lord,
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but the Lord
called him and rescued him
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from a world of crime,
and a world of drug abuse.
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And he has been a
brand plucked from the fire.
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And called into ministry,
dedicated his life to ministry,
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and has been
preaching all across the US
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and in different
parts of the world,
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along with his wife Senia,
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they are a powerful
team for God's kingdom.
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We also have a musical guest
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that we are happy
that he is with us.
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It is Brother Mark Prentice.
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And at the age of three,
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the Lord blessed him
with the musical ability.
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As a matter of fact
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he was singing
along with his brother
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at the age of three,
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and they thought it was somebody
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on the radio playing.
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Soon his mother discovered
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that God has placed this talent
to bring praises to his name,
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not only does he
sing but he also writes,
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and he also prepares music.
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He has three albums
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and you can find
him easily on Facebook.
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His name is Mark Prentice
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and you will be
hearing from him in a moment.
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But before we continue,
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we'd like to go to
the Lord in prayer.
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We like to ask
for God to bless you
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those that are around you
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but those that are
joining us around the world.
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So let's go to
the Lord in prayer.
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Our loving heavenly Father,
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we thank You so much
for Your goodness and mercy.
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In this moment Lord,
we ask for You to bless
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our speaker Pastor
Bryan with your Holy Spirit.
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We pray that Pastor Edward Bryan
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will receive the
unction from one high
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direct from Your throne of grace
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to speak to Your children.
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And Father, we pray that
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You will also use
our musical guest.
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We pray that he too
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will be blessed
by Your Holy Spirit
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to bring the
message through song
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that will reach
hearts around the world.
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And we thank You, Lord,
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for this opportunity to come
before Your throne of grace,
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and we ask for these blessings,
in Jesus' name, amen, amen.
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In a moment you'll be
hearing a message entitled
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Burn, Baby Burn
through Pastor Edward Bryan.
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But first we would like to hear
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Brother Mark
Prentice come forward.
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As he brings us the
song We Know not the Hour.
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May God bless you.
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We know not the hour
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Of the Master's appearing
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Yet signs all foretell
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That the moment is nearing
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When He shall return
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'Tis a promise most cheering
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But we know
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We know not the hour
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There's light for the wise
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Who are seeking salvation
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There's truth in the book
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Of the Lord's revelation
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Each prophecy points
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To the great consummation
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But we know
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We know not the hour
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But He will come
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Let us watch and be ready
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He will come, oh, yes
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Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
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He will come in the clouds
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Of His Father's bright glory
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But we know
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We know not the hour
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I want to be ready
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Don't you want to be ready
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So we'll watch and we'll pray
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With our lamps
trimmed and burning
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We'll work and we'll wait
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Till the Master's returning
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We'll sing and rejoice
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Every omen discerning
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But we know
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We know not the hour
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But He will come
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He will come
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Let us watch and be ready
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Jesus will come
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Hallelujah!
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Praise His name
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He will come in the clouds
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Of His Father's bright glory
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But we know
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We know not the hour
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He will come
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I want to be ready
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When Jesus, Jesus
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When He comes
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Hallelujah!
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Praise His name
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He will come in the clouds
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Of His Father's bright glory
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But we know
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We know not the hour
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He will come
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I want to be ready
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When Jesus, Jesus
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When He comes
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Hallelujah!
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Praise His name
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He will come in the clouds
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Of His Father's bright glory
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But we know
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We know not the hour
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He will come
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He will come
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Let us watch and be ready
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He will come
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Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
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He will come in the clouds
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Of His Father's bright glory
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But we know
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We know not the hour
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We know not the hour
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We know
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Not the hour
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Church be ready
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Be ready
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Praise the Lord
for that beautiful song
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that speaks the
truth to our heart
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that we know not
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the hour of the
Lord's appearing.
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Today's message is entitled
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Burn, Baby Burn.
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Now I realize that sounds
like a hellfire and brimstone
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topic or subject.
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However it's
actually the contrary.
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Today's message is
going to be showing us
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how to stand in the
presence of a Holy God
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and not be consumed.
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But before we
jump into the Word,
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I invite you to bow your heads
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as we go to the Lord
with a word of prayer.
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Dear heavenly Father,
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Lord, You've just
lifted our hearts to heaven
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through that beautiful song.
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Now I pray that
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You would make an
impression on our hearts
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through scripture.
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Do what only Your
Holy Spirit can do Lord,
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and speak a practical word
in season to our hearts, Lord.
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In Jesus' name, amen.
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We're going to be studying
out of the Book of Exodus,
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I invite you to join me
if you would in Exodus 3.
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I'll begin reading in verse 1
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and I'm reading from
the New King James version,
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it says, "Now Moses was tending
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the flock of
Jethro his father-in-law,
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the priest of Midian.
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And he led the flock
to the back of the desert,
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and came to Horeb,
the mountain of God."
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So Moses is
tending these animals,
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and he's in the
back of the desert
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wherever that is.
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And I can't imagine
it's the most exhilarating
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or the most
eventful line of work.
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I'm sure it was productive,
I'm sure it was necessary.
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However
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unless the flock was
attacked by some wild beast,
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it probably wasn't the
most exciting job in the world.
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But Moses was at a point
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where he probably was
ready for a quiet life.
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Actually he lived a
quiet life, simple life
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for the last 40 years.
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If you recall
when he had left Egypt,
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40 years earlier,
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he was practically a fugitive
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escaping for his life.
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Therefore this loci existence
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was probably favorable to Moses.
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But while this started
off like any regular day,
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there was about to
be a dramatic twist,
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we read about it in
verse 2 of Exodus 3.
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It says, "And
the angel of the Lord
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appeared to him
in a flame of fire
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from the midst of a bush.
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So he looked, and behold,
the bush was burning with fire,
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but the bush was not consumed."
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Who is this angel of the Lord
that the biblical text tells us
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appeared to Moses
in the flame of fire
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in the midst of the bush?
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Well, as we continue to read
00:12:33.28\00:12:34.82
you actually see
that it's God Himself.
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That root word for angel
can be translated messenger,
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ambassador, representative.
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So this messenger of God,
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who is later
identified in verse 4 as God.
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I will tell you
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is none other than
Jesus Christ Himself.
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As a matter of fact I
will make that emphatic claim
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that whenever God appears to man
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in a physical and tangible sense
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on this earth,
00:13:11.69\00:13:13.66
the Bible is actually
referring to God the Son,
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who we know by his post
incarnate name Jesus Christ.
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Now Moses is not going
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into the
wilderness looking for God.
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As a matter of
fact at this point
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he didn't even realize
that that was God in that flame.
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He didn't go looking for Jesus,
he didn't go looking for fire.
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To the contrary God saw Moses,
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He saw Moses out
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and He used His burning
bush to get Moses' attention.
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Friends, God got his
attention, not vice versa.
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At times, I may speak
when sharing my testimony
00:13:48.76\00:13:51.79
about how God delivered me
from a life of crime and vices.
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And I say that one
day when I found God,
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everything changed
00:14:00.84\00:14:02.80
when nothing could be
further from the truth.
00:14:02.84\00:14:05.17
God had been in relentless
pursuit of me my entire life.
00:14:05.21\00:14:08.44
And one day, God was finally
able to get my attention.
00:14:08.48\00:14:12.98
And that's when
everything changed.
00:14:13.01\00:14:16.85
Now God often uses
unusual circumstances
00:14:16.89\00:14:19.95
in order to get our attention
00:14:19.99\00:14:21.76
as He's doing in
this story with Moses.
00:14:21.79\00:14:25.29
I don't know how
common it was to traverse
00:14:25.33\00:14:27.73
through the desert and
come upon a burning bush,
00:14:27.76\00:14:33.70
probably wasn't too common.
00:14:33.74\00:14:35.27
However I'm sure when Moses
ever did like in this case,
00:14:35.30\00:14:38.84
he probably just sat
there and watched it burn out,
00:14:38.87\00:14:42.64
in order to kill the
monotony, that was his life.
00:14:42.68\00:14:47.05
However in this scenario
00:14:47.08\00:14:49.72
it was actually quite
strange the bush the Bible says,
00:14:49.75\00:14:52.55
"Did not consume,"
it did not burn out.
00:14:52.59\00:14:55.52
Out of the thousands
of bushes in the desert
00:14:55.56\00:14:57.56
and all of the
plants that were available,
00:14:57.59\00:14:59.49
for some reason
00:14:59.53\00:15:00.86
Moses had stumbled upon
the only flame resistant bush
00:15:00.90\00:15:06.43
in the entire wilderness.
00:15:06.47\00:15:08.14
And this was blowing his mind.
00:15:08.17\00:15:10.51
Look what happens in
verse 3, and then Moses said,
00:15:10.54\00:15:14.14
"I will now turn aside
and see this great sight,
00:15:14.18\00:15:17.25
why the bush does not burn."
00:15:17.28\00:15:19.38
Once again, we see that
00:15:23.18\00:15:24.52
God had gotten his
attention utilizing this bush
00:15:24.55\00:15:27.76
because it was distinguished
from all of the other bushes.
00:15:27.79\00:15:29.89
This part, this is important,
I want you to hold on to stuff.
00:15:29.92\00:15:32.19
It had gotten his attention
because it was distinguished
00:15:32.23\00:15:34.46
from all of the other
bushes in the wilderness.
00:15:34.50\00:15:38.20
And now that he's
got Moses' attention,
00:15:38.23\00:15:40.00
Moses took the bait,
00:15:40.04\00:15:41.67
God begins to draw
him near to reel him in.
00:15:41.70\00:15:46.98
Yes, God was a fisher of
men even before the incarnation.
00:15:47.01\00:15:53.18
See, you may read that verse
00:15:53.21\00:15:57.65
since it says,
00:15:57.69\00:16:01.19
"Moses came aside
to see the great site,
00:16:01.22\00:16:04.59
and assume that
it was his curiosity
00:16:04.63\00:16:07.30
that had led him to
this encounter with God.
00:16:07.33\00:16:11.00
But John 16 tells us that
whenever we are led to truth,
00:16:11.03\00:16:15.37
it is actually the Holy
Spirit that is guiding us there.
00:16:15.40\00:16:19.44
Whenever we are led to truth,
00:16:19.47\00:16:20.81
it's the Holy Spirit
that is guiding us there.
00:16:20.84\00:16:23.01
Once again, let's
make this practical.
00:16:23.04\00:16:25.48
You might have
been seeking truth
00:16:25.51\00:16:27.38
when you stumbled upon
the gospel and God's Word.
00:16:27.42\00:16:31.45
You may have been seeking truth
00:16:31.49\00:16:32.82
when you got an invitation
to a prophecy seminar,
00:16:32.85\00:16:34.46
and decided to
surrender your life to the Lord.
00:16:34.49\00:16:38.16
You may have been seeking truth
00:16:38.19\00:16:39.53
when you
stumbled upon this church,
00:16:39.56\00:16:40.90
or when you were flipping
through the dial friends,
00:16:40.93\00:16:43.16
and came across this network.
00:16:43.20\00:16:46.13
However don't get it twisted,
00:16:46.17\00:16:48.54
you are only here
00:16:48.57\00:16:49.90
because the Holy
Spirit was prompting you
00:16:49.94\00:16:54.44
to search out the Lord.
00:16:54.48\00:16:55.98
You are here
because the Holy Spirit
00:16:56.01\00:16:59.21
was motivating you
00:16:59.25\00:17:00.72
to get into a
saving relationship
00:17:00.75\00:17:02.18
with Jesus Christ.
00:17:02.22\00:17:03.55
And praise the
Lord that you're here.
00:17:03.59\00:17:04.92
You know what?
00:17:04.95\00:17:06.29
Praise the Lord
00:17:06.32\00:17:07.66
that we cannot
easily run from His spirit.
00:17:07.69\00:17:10.86
You know sometimes
00:17:10.89\00:17:12.23
we try to run
from God as Moses did.
00:17:12.26\00:17:13.80
You know when Moses left Egypt,
00:17:13.83\00:17:15.33
he thought he left
the Israelites behind,
00:17:15.36\00:17:18.00
and I'm not sure what
his spiritual state was.
00:17:18.03\00:17:20.14
However he couldn't
leave the God of Israel behind.
00:17:20.17\00:17:25.17
Not even in the desert
could he hide from God.
00:17:25.21\00:17:27.04
And, friends,
00:17:27.08\00:17:28.41
there's nothing
that we can do to hide
00:17:28.44\00:17:30.18
from an omnipresent God.
00:17:30.21\00:17:33.62
Think about it.
00:17:33.65\00:17:35.22
You can't even hide
from the student loan people.
00:17:35.25\00:17:38.49
Or if you owe child
support or federal taxes,
00:17:38.52\00:17:41.76
they will find you.
00:17:41.79\00:17:43.12
How much less can we
hide from an all seeing God,
00:17:43.16\00:17:46.59
who is relentless
in His pursuit of us?
00:17:46.63\00:17:48.50
Now don't get me wrong,
00:17:48.53\00:17:49.86
I realize that we can
commit the unpardonable sin
00:17:49.90\00:17:53.60
and commit blasphemy
against the Holy Spirit.
00:17:53.64\00:17:54.97
Tell we want
nothing to do with him,
00:17:55.00\00:17:56.97
yet it takes a whole
lie to get to that point.
00:17:57.01\00:18:02.64
Luckily Moses did not
commit the unpardonable sin.
00:18:02.68\00:18:05.35
When God tried to get
his attention he responded.
00:18:05.38\00:18:08.68
When God called him,
00:18:08.72\00:18:11.02
let's look at God
calling him in 3:4.
00:18:11.05\00:18:15.52
It says, "So when the Lord saw
that he turned aside to look,
00:18:15.56\00:18:19.93
God call to him from
the midst of the bush
00:18:19.96\00:18:23.50
and said, 'Moses, Moses!'"
00:18:23.53\00:18:27.40
And he said, "Here I am."
00:18:27.44\00:18:31.37
Praise the Lord
00:18:31.41\00:18:33.21
that Moses was
willing to listen and react
00:18:33.24\00:18:37.15
to the voice of
the Lord calling him.
00:18:37.18\00:18:39.91
There he goes
again, God luring Moses,
00:18:39.95\00:18:42.45
this time even
calling him by name.
00:18:42.48\00:18:45.59
Some of us need
00:18:45.62\00:18:46.96
a more direct
appeals than others, right?
00:18:46.99\00:18:49.62
And I want you to notice
00:18:49.66\00:18:50.99
this and this will be
important a little later.
00:18:51.03\00:18:54.26
God is utilizing the bush,
00:18:54.30\00:18:56.67
the burning bush
to reach out to Moses.
00:18:56.70\00:18:59.80
He's speaking to him
through this burning bush.
00:18:59.83\00:19:03.37
The next words that God
00:19:03.41\00:19:04.74
decides to direct at
Moses are very interesting.
00:19:04.77\00:19:07.94
And that's where we're spending
the majority of our study.
00:19:07.98\00:19:10.55
It's verse 5.
00:19:10.58\00:19:13.45
Then he said, "Do
not draw near this place.
00:19:13.48\00:19:16.25
Take your sandals off your feet,
00:19:16.28\00:19:17.95
for the place where
you stand is holy ground."
00:19:17.99\00:19:23.66
Isn't it strange
that the Lord will go
00:19:23.69\00:19:25.06
through all of this effort
00:19:25.09\00:19:27.16
and go through
such extraordinary means
00:19:27.20\00:19:29.06
to get Moses'
attention, to draw him near,
00:19:29.10\00:19:31.77
and then to call him by name
00:19:31.80\00:19:33.64
only to tell him
to stop in his tracks,
00:19:33.67\00:19:37.41
to pump his brakes.
00:19:37.44\00:19:39.71
And get right before
he perceives any further.
00:19:39.74\00:19:44.75
Notice, God did not...
00:19:44.78\00:19:47.75
He did not
request, He did not suggest,
00:19:47.78\00:19:52.55
He did not propose that
Moses remove his sandals,
00:19:52.59\00:19:55.82
He instructed Moses
00:19:55.86\00:19:57.53
to remove his
sandals off of his feet
00:19:57.56\00:19:59.59
before approaching holy ground.
00:19:59.63\00:20:02.33
What was the
difference about the ground
00:20:02.36\00:20:04.40
that Moses was
approaching as opposed
00:20:04.43\00:20:08.80
to the rest of the wilderness?
00:20:08.84\00:20:11.54
What was it that made
that ground holy in particular?
00:20:11.57\00:20:17.58
Correct, it was
the presence of God,
00:20:17.61\00:20:21.02
the presence of God.
00:20:21.05\00:20:22.38
The story seems to imply
00:20:22.42\00:20:23.85
that while God longs
to draw us near to Him.
00:20:23.89\00:20:27.96
While He longs to
draw us near to Him,
00:20:27.99\00:20:29.82
His divine and holy nature
00:20:29.86\00:20:32.43
requires adequate
respect and reverence.
00:20:32.46\00:20:37.07
This is something He deserves,
00:20:37.10\00:20:38.93
it's not simply a
right which God reserves,
00:20:38.97\00:20:42.57
it's something that
He actually deserves.
00:20:42.60\00:20:44.17
Why does God deserve this?
00:20:44.21\00:20:45.54
Well, He created us for one,
00:20:45.57\00:20:48.18
and the rest of the
on looking universe,
00:20:48.21\00:20:50.18
and then when we sold Him out,
00:20:50.21\00:20:53.42
hence forfeiting
our own salvation,
00:20:53.45\00:20:56.55
He purchased us
by His only blood,
00:20:56.58\00:21:00.52
and then paid the
penalty for our sins.
00:21:00.56\00:21:03.79
Praise the Lord, is
that not worthy of awe?
00:21:03.83\00:21:07.23
Is that not worthy of
respect, of reverence?
00:21:07.26\00:21:12.10
You may be asking yourself
00:21:12.13\00:21:13.47
but doesn't God
want us to come to Him
00:21:13.50\00:21:16.67
freely and boldly.
00:21:16.71\00:21:19.14
Absolutely,
00:21:19.17\00:21:20.51
that's one of my
favorite verses in the Bible.
00:21:20.54\00:21:21.88
Hebrews 4:16 it says,
00:21:21.91\00:21:25.68
"Let us therefore come boldly
00:21:25.71\00:21:28.98
to the throne of grace
that we may obtain mercy
00:21:29.02\00:21:32.12
and find grace to
help in time of need."
00:21:32.15\00:21:37.19
God wants us to
approach Him confidently.
00:21:37.23\00:21:39.93
He wants us to
approach His throne
00:21:39.96\00:21:43.33
where we can
find mercy and grace.
00:21:43.37\00:21:46.50
That's what God is full of.
00:21:46.53\00:21:49.87
However we must realize that
00:21:49.90\00:21:54.58
God does not
cease to be holy simply
00:21:54.61\00:21:58.01
because He has an open
door policy for sinners.
00:21:58.05\00:22:02.58
I like the way
that one inspired writer
00:22:02.62\00:22:05.22
articulated
this in a book called
00:22:05.25\00:22:09.62
Patriarchs and
Prophets, page 252.
00:22:09.66\00:22:12.39
It says, "Humility and reverence
00:22:12.43\00:22:14.60
should characterize
the deportment of all
00:22:14.63\00:22:16.73
who come into
the presence of God.
00:22:16.77\00:22:19.37
In the name of Jesus
00:22:19.40\00:22:21.20
we may come before
Him with confidence,
00:22:21.24\00:22:23.74
but we must not approach Him
00:22:23.77\00:22:26.41
with the
boldness of presumption,
00:22:26.44\00:22:29.41
as though He were on
a level with ourselves."
00:22:29.44\00:22:34.62
Now I really want to read
the rest of this quote to you
00:22:34.65\00:22:37.75
'cause it's powerful
00:22:37.79\00:22:39.12
and I'll finish
reading it in just a moment.
00:22:39.15\00:22:40.82
But let's retake that quote
00:22:40.86\00:22:44.76
and what we've
read so far for granted.
00:22:44.79\00:22:47.46
I want to pause for a moment
00:22:47.50\00:22:49.16
and look at the
story through modern eyes.
00:22:49.20\00:22:53.10
I want to make
it very practical.
00:22:53.13\00:22:55.20
Therefore at this point,
00:22:55.24\00:22:56.57
I'm going to
take a few liberties
00:22:56.60\00:22:59.47
in making application,
00:22:59.51\00:23:00.91
but they're all
grounded in biblical principle.
00:23:00.94\00:23:03.71
I'm going to ask
you three questions
00:23:03.75\00:23:05.61
and we'll spend the
rest of our time together
00:23:05.65\00:23:08.05
answering these three questions.
00:23:08.08\00:23:10.72
One is where?
00:23:10.75\00:23:13.66
Two is what? Three is who?
00:23:13.69\00:23:18.66
Where? What? Who?
00:23:18.69\00:23:22.43
The first question,
where is this holy ground?
00:23:22.46\00:23:27.07
Where is this holy ground?
00:23:27.10\00:23:30.17
Is it...
00:23:30.21\00:23:31.54
Well, depending how
little you want to be
00:23:31.57\00:23:34.04
apparently it's the
back of the desert somewhere.
00:23:34.08\00:23:36.41
So is that where you need to go
00:23:36.44\00:23:37.78
to form and establish a
relationship with the Lord.
00:23:37.81\00:23:41.12
Get on an expensive flight
and get out to the Middle East.
00:23:41.15\00:23:43.95
No.
00:23:43.99\00:23:45.32
Some of you would say
the holy ground is where?
00:23:45.35\00:23:48.66
The sanctuary in
the local church,
00:23:48.69\00:23:50.46
that you're on holy ground now.
00:23:50.49\00:23:51.83
After all we do sing the song,
00:23:51.86\00:23:53.33
we are standing on
holy ground, right?
00:23:53.36\00:23:56.46
Many of us sing that to usher in
00:23:56.50\00:23:58.83
a worship service on Sabbath.
00:23:58.87\00:24:02.70
Where is this holy ground?
00:24:02.74\00:24:04.07
Well, I'm going to tell you
00:24:04.11\00:24:06.81
where I thought the
Lord impressed on my heart.
00:24:06.84\00:24:09.71
This holy ground is anywhere.
00:24:09.74\00:24:13.31
This holy ground is anywhere.
00:24:13.35\00:24:15.92
Now you ask yourself,
what do you mean it's anywhere.
00:24:15.95\00:24:18.62
If the holy
ground was everywhere,
00:24:18.65\00:24:20.62
then there would
be nothing special
00:24:20.66\00:24:21.99
about that
specific plot of land.
00:24:22.02\00:24:23.46
No, it's not
everywhere, it's anywhere.
00:24:23.49\00:24:26.19
Holy ground is anywhere
where God's presence resides.
00:24:26.23\00:24:33.03
And therefore as long
as God's presence is there,
00:24:33.07\00:24:35.30
the ground can be holy.
00:24:35.34\00:24:37.74
Think about the
song Holy Ground.
00:24:37.77\00:24:39.11
Let's recite the
lyrics real quickly.
00:24:39.14\00:24:41.14
And I hope I
don't get them wrong.
00:24:41.18\00:24:43.31
We are standing on holy ground
00:24:43.35\00:24:46.25
and I know that there are angels
00:24:46.28\00:24:48.58
all around.
00:24:48.62\00:24:50.15
Let us worship Jesus now,
00:24:50.19\00:24:52.75
we are standing in His
presence on holy ground.
00:24:52.79\00:24:58.59
Now think about those
lyrics for just a second.
00:24:58.63\00:25:02.43
Is the church and the
sanctuary the only place
00:25:02.46\00:25:06.60
where you want to be
standing in God's presence?
00:25:06.63\00:25:10.24
Is it the only place
00:25:10.27\00:25:11.61
where you want the
holy angels all around?
00:25:11.64\00:25:13.91
You want it limited
to the church grounds?
00:25:13.94\00:25:16.44
Absolutely not.
00:25:16.48\00:25:17.81
I would say we
probably want holy ground where?
00:25:17.85\00:25:21.55
Probably in our homes, right?
00:25:21.58\00:25:24.09
We probably want holy ground,
00:25:24.12\00:25:25.75
if you see all the
craziness going on in the news
00:25:25.79\00:25:28.09
and happening at
the local schools
00:25:28.12\00:25:30.03
where we're
sending our children,
00:25:30.06\00:25:31.66
we probably
want some holy ground
00:25:31.69\00:25:33.63
in the school grounds.
00:25:33.66\00:25:35.00
How about your jobs,
00:25:35.03\00:25:36.36
you never
thought about that, huh?
00:25:36.40\00:25:37.83
Would you not like to
be standing on holy ground
00:25:37.87\00:25:40.04
at your workplace?
00:25:40.07\00:25:42.04
How about in our vehicle?
00:25:42.07\00:25:44.77
And you may be thinking
00:25:44.81\00:25:46.14
that's not even
grounded that moves.
00:25:46.17\00:25:48.41
Well, holy ground is
not a geographic location,
00:25:48.44\00:25:51.08
it's about who is
dominating the environment.
00:25:51.11\00:25:55.98
I'm going to give you some
very practical explanations
00:25:56.02\00:25:58.92
as to what I'm talking
about here in just a second.
00:25:58.95\00:26:01.96
But let's think about the home.
00:26:01.99\00:26:03.96
We often worry
about the attacks,
00:26:03.99\00:26:05.49
the assails of the
enemy on the church.
00:26:05.53\00:26:09.16
We talk about how the enemy
has infiltrated God's church,
00:26:09.20\00:26:13.27
and He's at war with the church.
00:26:13.30\00:26:14.80
But in reality
what is the church?
00:26:14.84\00:26:17.07
The church is comprised of what?
00:26:17.11\00:26:20.78
Of individuals and of families.
00:26:20.81\00:26:24.81
The enemy's primary
attack is not on your church,
00:26:24.85\00:26:28.88
on the building or
on the worship service.
00:26:28.92\00:26:31.29
The enemy's primary
attack is on the families
00:26:31.32\00:26:35.16
that make up the church.
00:26:35.19\00:26:38.03
That's why we need
what good does it do us
00:26:38.06\00:26:41.26
to come weekly, and
stand on holy ground,
00:26:41.30\00:26:45.07
and then go back home
and live mundane lives
00:26:45.10\00:26:50.24
where we're vulnerable
00:26:50.27\00:26:51.61
to the attacks of
the enemy constantly.
00:26:51.64\00:26:53.68
That same aspiring writer
00:26:53.71\00:26:55.04
that I quoted a
moment ago also says
00:26:55.08\00:26:57.15
this in a book Adventist Home,
00:26:57.18\00:26:58.85
"God wants the home to be
the happiest place on earth,
00:26:58.88\00:27:03.45
the very symbol of
the home in heaven."
00:27:03.49\00:27:08.82
God intends for our
homes to be a slice of heaven.
00:27:08.86\00:27:14.10
Sadly enough for many Christians
00:27:14.13\00:27:15.46
that's not their experience,
00:27:15.50\00:27:16.83
for many home is actually
00:27:16.87\00:27:18.37
a slice of the
very opposite, right?
00:27:18.40\00:27:21.24
And it's interesting
'cause we get wrapped up
00:27:21.27\00:27:22.60
in politics
sometimes even as Christians
00:27:22.64\00:27:25.27
and we start debating viciously
our right to have prayer,
00:27:25.31\00:27:31.85
and to talk about
Jesus in public schools.
00:27:31.88\00:27:35.42
Meanwhile, oftentimes
we don't even have prayer
00:27:39.02\00:27:44.39
and we're not even talking
about Jesus and sharing Jesus
00:27:44.43\00:27:47.00
in our own homes
with our children.
00:27:47.03\00:27:51.47
And most importantly
modeling him at home.
00:27:51.50\00:27:54.50
I think we need to be
very careful sometimes
00:27:54.54\00:27:56.07
even what we're
asking for because sometimes,
00:27:56.10\00:27:59.01
we're talking about
when we say religious liberty
00:27:59.04\00:28:01.11
is trying to
really Christianized say
00:28:01.14\00:28:03.81
public schools
and legislative halls.
00:28:03.85\00:28:06.98
But we realize
00:28:07.02\00:28:08.35
when we study
prophecy that our actual threat
00:28:08.38\00:28:11.19
when it comes to
religious liberty...
00:28:11.22\00:28:12.65
is the government
imposing counterfeit worship.
00:28:16.32\00:28:22.53
But I'm getting off-track
00:28:22.56\00:28:24.23
so let me get
back to this study.
00:28:24.27\00:28:29.04
We should all, friends,
be making time in our homes
00:28:29.07\00:28:34.11
for personal time with Jesus.
00:28:34.14\00:28:37.38
We should all be
carving out times
00:28:37.41\00:28:40.02
for family time with Jesus.
00:28:40.05\00:28:42.32
If we really want
to be on holy ground,
00:28:42.35\00:28:45.59
that's not something
that takes place once a week,
00:28:45.62\00:28:47.99
that will make a weak Christian.
00:28:48.02\00:28:50.13
That's something that
has to take place in our home
00:28:50.16\00:28:52.06
but it requires intentionality.
00:28:52.09\00:28:53.80
We should all be making time
00:28:53.83\00:28:55.96
to pray both individually
and with our families.
00:28:56.00\00:28:59.37
We should be making
time to read the Bible
00:28:59.40\00:29:02.47
as much as
possible with our families,
00:29:02.50\00:29:04.01
to sing the praises of the Lord,
00:29:04.04\00:29:06.31
to share
testimonies with each other
00:29:06.34\00:29:08.01
and encourage each
other in our walks with Jesus.
00:29:08.04\00:29:11.95
Jesus is willing to
convert your living room
00:29:11.98\00:29:15.15
into holy ground.
00:29:15.18\00:29:16.82
He wants to convert your bedroom
00:29:16.85\00:29:18.69
into holy ground, your basement,
00:29:18.72\00:29:22.02
any space He want to do this
if you give Him an invitation.
00:29:22.06\00:29:26.16
That's an invitation
He will never turn down.
00:29:26.19\00:29:28.53
As a matter of fact
Revelation 3:20 tells us that
00:29:28.56\00:29:31.70
"Jesus actually stands
at the door and knocks.
00:29:31.73\00:29:36.57
He's longing to come in."
00:29:36.60\00:29:40.94
Now I just mentioned that
true Christian education starts
00:29:40.98\00:29:45.01
in the home, but it
extends beyond the home.
00:29:45.05\00:29:48.18
Many of our children,
00:29:48.22\00:29:49.55
they spent most of
their active hours where?
00:29:49.58\00:29:53.82
At school.
00:29:53.86\00:29:56.56
They spend their
active hours in school
00:29:56.59\00:29:58.79
during the most
influential years
00:29:58.83\00:30:01.06
of their life.
00:30:01.10\00:30:02.43
Don't we want
them to be somewhere
00:30:02.46\00:30:04.67
where holy ground
can be established?
00:30:04.70\00:30:07.94
I tell you, I
believe in Christian schools,
00:30:07.97\00:30:11.41
especially, you
know, SDA schools.
00:30:11.44\00:30:14.18
They're not perfect,
00:30:14.21\00:30:15.54
they're not
perfect by any means.
00:30:15.58\00:30:16.95
However realizing how much time
00:30:16.98\00:30:19.31
and how influential
this is on their lives,
00:30:19.35\00:30:22.35
I want to make
sure I'm putting my kids
00:30:22.38\00:30:23.72
where they have
the best opportunity
00:30:23.75\00:30:25.62
to learn about Jesus Christ
00:30:25.65\00:30:26.99
and establish a
relationship with Him.
00:30:27.02\00:30:28.96
I realize that this is
not a reality for many.
00:30:28.99\00:30:32.39
Personally I think that
home school when done right,
00:30:32.43\00:30:35.16
when focusing
both on the spiritual
00:30:35.20\00:30:37.40
as well as the academic
00:30:37.43\00:30:40.20
is the best
education one can get.
00:30:40.24\00:30:41.64
But if that's not
available Christian education,
00:30:41.67\00:30:45.41
SDA education is
important, it's pivotal.
00:30:45.44\00:30:51.31
However if you have no choice
00:30:51.35\00:30:52.68
but to put your
kids in a public school,
00:30:52.71\00:30:54.05
you better be establishing
holy ground at your home,
00:30:54.08\00:30:57.75
and teaching
them and training them
00:30:57.79\00:31:01.02
how to have a
personal relationship
00:31:01.06\00:31:02.39
with Jesus Christ
00:31:02.42\00:31:03.76
that they may go to any
sphere and create holy ground.
00:31:03.79\00:31:09.00
Yes, I said create holy ground.
00:31:09.03\00:31:10.60
And they may
take Jesus with them,
00:31:10.63\00:31:12.40
that they may
spend time in prayer,
00:31:12.43\00:31:13.77
that they may share Jesus Christ
00:31:13.80\00:31:15.17
with their fellow students
00:31:15.20\00:31:18.47
and create holy
ground just like a hotspot.
00:31:18.51\00:31:22.58
Now you guys
familiar with hotspots?
00:31:22.61\00:31:24.51
Look at this here, what's
this? This is a cell phone.
00:31:24.55\00:31:28.82
Well, I can log into
the WiFi in the building,
00:31:28.85\00:31:32.45
when there is no
WiFi in the building,
00:31:32.49\00:31:34.96
I could turn on a hotspot,
00:31:34.99\00:31:37.06
and not only have
reception and connection,
00:31:37.09\00:31:40.23
but though others who
do not have connection
00:31:40.26\00:31:42.76
would actually be able
to log in to my hotspot,
00:31:42.80\00:31:46.40
connect to my
hotspot and get connection.
00:31:46.43\00:31:49.77
And the Lord
works in the same way.
00:31:49.80\00:31:51.27
If we teach our children
to be connected with Him
00:31:51.31\00:31:55.14
to create holy
ground right there at home,
00:31:55.18\00:31:57.35
they can go on to their
school, and to any environment,
00:31:57.38\00:32:00.92
and they should be able
to establish holy ground,
00:32:00.95\00:32:03.02
and share Jesus,
00:32:03.05\00:32:04.62
and get others who would
never otherwise see holy ground
00:32:04.65\00:32:07.29
on to holy ground.
00:32:07.32\00:32:08.66
I want my job to be holy ground.
00:32:12.63\00:32:17.40
Don't you?
00:32:17.43\00:32:19.13
I want to be in
communion with the Lord
00:32:19.17\00:32:20.50
throughout the day,
00:32:20.54\00:32:21.87
I want to have Him by my
side nine to five and beyond.
00:32:21.90\00:32:27.54
Now you're probably saying,
00:32:27.58\00:32:28.91
"Okay, Pastor, well,
that's easy for you to do
00:32:28.94\00:32:30.28
'cause you work at a church."
00:32:30.31\00:32:32.75
As for me, my coworkers
they cuss and they swear,
00:32:32.78\00:32:36.32
and they're
blasphemous, and they,
00:32:36.35\00:32:39.35
you know, they
have suggestive jokes,
00:32:39.39\00:32:42.26
and they're lusting all day.
00:32:42.29\00:32:43.83
It's hard, I realize it's
hard. I wasn't always a pastor.
00:32:43.86\00:32:46.36
I remember being converted
and almost immediately...
00:32:46.39\00:32:52.17
I was about to lose my job
00:32:52.20\00:32:54.04
because I want going
to work on a Sabbath,
00:32:54.07\00:32:56.07
God got me another job.
00:32:56.10\00:32:57.74
And I went over there,
00:32:57.77\00:32:59.11
and I started dealing
with all sorts of temptation
00:32:59.14\00:33:00.48
that enemy was
throwing everything
00:33:00.51\00:33:01.84
he could at my
way on a daily basis.
00:33:01.88\00:33:03.78
I remember getting in my
cubicle often and praying.
00:33:03.81\00:33:06.92
On one occasion
00:33:06.95\00:33:08.28
I was even sitting
and praying in my cubicle,
00:33:08.32\00:33:10.75
and the manager came up,
00:33:10.79\00:33:12.12
he laid his hand on my shoulder,
00:33:12.15\00:33:13.69
he leaned over and he said,
00:33:13.72\00:33:15.19
"Ed, man, you can't
be sleeping on the job."
00:33:15.22\00:33:19.09
And I remember
leaning over to him and say,
00:33:19.13\00:33:20.46
"I'm praying."
00:33:20.50\00:33:22.40
Now I don't know
00:33:22.43\00:33:23.93
if he actually
believed me or not, right?
00:33:23.97\00:33:26.10
But that's
actually what I was doing.
00:33:26.13\00:33:28.00
He knew I was a Christian.
00:33:28.04\00:33:29.37
But that's
actually what I was doing.
00:33:29.40\00:33:30.74
But there're times
00:33:30.77\00:33:32.11
when the attacks
will get so intense,
00:33:32.14\00:33:33.48
there was times when
the noise going on around
00:33:33.51\00:33:37.45
just distracted me.
00:33:37.48\00:33:38.88
And I would have to
find somewhere else,
00:33:38.91\00:33:41.12
somewhere more private.
00:33:41.15\00:33:44.15
And I often found myself
going to this one rest room
00:33:44.19\00:33:47.22
that was very seldom utilized.
00:33:47.26\00:33:50.56
And going into a stall at
the back of that restroom,
00:33:50.59\00:33:53.33
I would put the lid
down, I would sit down,
00:33:53.36\00:33:54.76
and I would
pray, and I would pray.
00:33:54.80\00:33:56.30
And you know what?
00:33:56.33\00:33:57.67
It was in that bathroom stall
00:33:57.70\00:33:59.03
that the Lord gave
me many a victories.
00:33:59.07\00:34:00.40
It's in that bathroom stall
00:34:00.44\00:34:01.77
that the Lord gave
me strength and courage.
00:34:01.80\00:34:04.54
When I would pray
about my home situation,
00:34:04.57\00:34:06.44
when I would pray
about the temptations
00:34:06.47\00:34:08.24
that were coming my way,
00:34:08.28\00:34:09.61
when I would pray
about the salvation
00:34:09.64\00:34:11.11
of family members or friends,
00:34:11.15\00:34:12.91
God heard the prayers
in that bathroom stall.
00:34:12.95\00:34:17.15
While it may sound
ridiculous to some,
00:34:17.19\00:34:19.65
that bathroom
stall became holy ground
00:34:19.69\00:34:23.99
when I allow the Lord's presence
00:34:24.03\00:34:27.60
to pervade it.
00:34:27.63\00:34:31.53
I want my car,
friends, to be holy ground.
00:34:31.57\00:34:34.07
Do you realize
that for as much time
00:34:34.10\00:34:35.77
as we spend talking
about threats to our lives
00:34:35.80\00:34:41.14
that are very
unlikely to happen.
00:34:41.18\00:34:45.81
Every time you
get into your vehicle,
00:34:45.85\00:34:49.18
there is a likelihood
00:34:49.22\00:34:50.55
that you could have
an accident and die.
00:34:50.59\00:34:53.46
We talk about ISIS, we
pray when we get into a...
00:34:53.49\00:34:55.79
When we're about
to board a plane,
00:34:55.82\00:34:57.16
we're so scared of heights.
00:34:57.19\00:34:58.53
And you know what, that's okay.
00:34:58.56\00:34:59.89
I think that's right,
00:34:59.93\00:35:01.26
we should pray
about these things.
00:35:01.30\00:35:02.63
But you realize
how much more likely
00:35:02.66\00:35:04.27
you are to die
in a car accident,
00:35:04.30\00:35:05.63
and that's why I will not
turn the key in the ignition
00:35:05.67\00:35:07.84
without lifting up a
prayer before the Lord
00:35:07.87\00:35:10.47
without singing the same
tune about holy ground, right.
00:35:10.51\00:35:13.54
Asking for God's presence,
00:35:13.58\00:35:14.91
asking that He's
around us with His angels,
00:35:14.94\00:35:17.25
I'm not getting on the
road without doing that first.
00:35:17.28\00:35:20.08
I don't want God to
come in as a passenger even.
00:35:20.12\00:35:22.42
I want Him to be the conductor,
00:35:22.45\00:35:26.25
get me to my destination safely.
00:35:26.29\00:35:28.22
But how?
00:35:28.26\00:35:30.03
How does one create
holy ground say in a vehicle?
00:35:30.06\00:35:34.63
Simple.
00:35:34.66\00:35:36.40
What conversations
you have in your vehicle?
00:35:36.43\00:35:38.03
What are you
bringing in to the atmosphere?
00:35:38.07\00:35:40.37
Does God have a welcome mat?
00:35:40.40\00:35:41.74
I'll tell you one
thing, I praise the Lord,
00:35:41.77\00:35:43.10
I got 3ABN radio
at one of my churches.
00:35:43.14\00:35:45.71
And I had one in
my previous district,
00:35:45.74\00:35:47.48
and I would drive
around and listen to it.
00:35:47.51\00:35:49.78
I can't just depend on
the community to listen to...
00:35:49.81\00:35:51.45
No, I would listen to it
00:35:51.48\00:35:52.81
and it would fill me
with the Spirit of God.
00:35:52.85\00:35:56.55
I would listen to
Christian music as well,
00:35:56.58\00:35:58.39
elevating music.
00:35:58.42\00:36:01.76
And it would put me
in the right spirit.
00:36:01.79\00:36:03.12
I listen to audio sermons,
I listen to audio books,
00:36:03.16\00:36:06.53
and it completely
changes my demeanor, my attitude
00:36:06.56\00:36:11.60
as opposed to
how I would usually
00:36:11.63\00:36:13.34
react and respond to situations
00:36:13.37\00:36:14.84
when I'm in the vehicle even.
00:36:14.87\00:36:17.67
When I get in the car,
00:36:17.71\00:36:19.04
I want to get out
feeling closer to Jesus,
00:36:19.07\00:36:21.21
not get out feeling the
frustration of the world
00:36:21.24\00:36:23.38
and taking it out on
those who I love most.
00:36:23.41\00:36:27.05
Holy ground is what
we're talking about.
00:36:27.08\00:36:28.68
Now I asked where
is this holy ground
00:36:28.72\00:36:32.69
and the answer was what?
00:36:32.72\00:36:35.72
Anywhere. Anywhere.
00:36:35.76\00:36:39.06
Now here goes
question number two, what?
00:36:39.09\00:36:43.50
What are the
sandals? What are the sandals?
00:36:43.53\00:36:46.20
Anything, the
sandals are anything.
00:36:50.11\00:36:53.11
What? It doesn't
seem to make sense, yes.
00:36:53.14\00:36:55.74
The sandals are
anything that is inappropriate
00:36:55.78\00:36:59.45
to be in the presence
of God in a given context,
00:36:59.48\00:37:03.15
anything is inappropriate
to be in the presence of God
00:37:03.18\00:37:05.52
in a given context.
00:37:05.55\00:37:07.59
Now you may be saying
00:37:07.62\00:37:08.96
what are you talking
about, how does context matter?
00:37:08.99\00:37:10.83
Context absolutely matters.
00:37:10.86\00:37:13.83
Look at this.
00:37:13.86\00:37:15.26
Moses was asked to
remove his sandals.
00:37:15.30\00:37:18.73
I tell you something,
00:37:18.77\00:37:20.10
if you came to the United States
00:37:20.14\00:37:22.30
and removed your shoes
00:37:22.34\00:37:24.17
to enter into an
important building,
00:37:24.21\00:37:26.34
you would
probably be escorted out
00:37:26.37\00:37:30.05
'cause that's not
00:37:30.08\00:37:31.41
what is
culturally appropriate here.
00:37:31.45\00:37:33.88
However I can go and
have the same worship service,
00:37:33.92\00:37:37.22
give the same message on
the other side of the sea
00:37:37.25\00:37:39.65
with some of our
brothers and sisters,
00:37:39.69\00:37:41.09
and that's exactly what they do.
00:37:41.12\00:37:42.46
And it's actually
biblical as we just saw,
00:37:42.49\00:37:44.63
they remove their shoes.
00:37:44.66\00:37:46.09
And that would
be perfectly fine,
00:37:46.13\00:37:47.50
I would not go to
another church and say,
00:37:47.53\00:37:49.36
"You know what, I'm
going to buck the system,
00:37:49.40\00:37:51.20
and refuse to take off
my shoes when I walk in."
00:37:51.23\00:37:54.30
They have the right to do that,
00:37:54.34\00:37:55.67
it is what is appropriate
in that particular context,
00:37:55.70\00:37:59.37
especially when entering
into the presence of God.
00:37:59.41\00:38:01.54
However here in United States
00:38:01.58\00:38:02.94
we have a
different set of things
00:38:02.98\00:38:05.88
that are deemed
appropriate or inappropriate.
00:38:05.91\00:38:10.22
Usually when you walk
into an important space,
00:38:10.25\00:38:13.89
a gentleman would
remove his hat, right?
00:38:13.92\00:38:16.89
If I were not
entering in shorts.
00:38:16.93\00:38:20.83
How about cell phone?
00:38:20.86\00:38:22.63
Oh-oh, now I'm
getting dangerous.
00:38:22.66\00:38:24.87
Now I'm getting dangerous
00:38:24.90\00:38:26.23
because I'm touching
almost prized possession,
00:38:26.27\00:38:29.60
the cell phone.
00:38:29.64\00:38:30.97
But yes, the cell
phone is not appropriate
00:38:31.01\00:38:33.07
in many
settings, think about it.
00:38:33.11\00:38:36.21
It's not
appropriate to be driving
00:38:36.24\00:38:37.61
and looking at your
cell phone, was that...
00:38:37.65\00:38:41.42
distracted driving, right,
00:38:41.45\00:38:42.78
because you can
become distracted.
00:38:42.82\00:38:44.15
For the same reason
00:38:44.19\00:38:45.52
that it's not appropriate
00:38:45.55\00:38:46.89
to utilize in
school or in class,
00:38:46.92\00:38:48.72
you can get it confiscated.
00:38:48.76\00:38:50.09
And for the same reason
00:38:50.13\00:38:51.46
it's not
appropriate in a courthouse
00:38:51.49\00:38:54.56
to utilize while
court is in session.
00:38:54.60\00:39:00.37
However,
00:39:00.40\00:39:03.24
have you ever sat on a balcony
00:39:03.27\00:39:04.61
and looked down over
a church, God's house?
00:39:04.64\00:39:08.14
And noticed how often
00:39:08.18\00:39:10.21
this is actually being utilized.
00:39:10.25\00:39:12.71
And I'm not trying to...
00:39:12.75\00:39:14.32
Please, I'm not trying to hurt
or offend or condemn anybody
00:39:14.35\00:39:17.49
if you're using it
right now, praise the Lord.
00:39:17.52\00:39:21.12
But just as it's distracting
in all those other settings,
00:39:21.16\00:39:23.76
this is
distracting in our own setting.
00:39:23.79\00:39:25.23
You know, people
are increasingly...
00:39:25.26\00:39:26.59
doing away with this
book and not carrying it
00:39:29.70\00:39:33.54
and utilizing this instead.
00:39:33.57\00:39:38.04
Yes, this has a Bible but
you know what else it has?
00:39:38.07\00:39:41.84
It has Facebook, it has Twitter,
00:39:41.88\00:39:43.21
it has
Instagram, it has Snapchat,
00:39:43.24\00:39:44.91
it has email, it
has text message,
00:39:44.95\00:39:46.75
it has sports
updates, it has news updates,
00:39:46.78\00:39:49.08
it has politics, it
has every distraction.
00:39:49.12\00:39:50.85
See, God has a
thousand ways to save us
00:39:50.89\00:39:53.02
of which we know none
00:39:53.05\00:39:54.39
and the enemy
has a thousand ways
00:39:54.42\00:39:55.76
to distract us of
which we know none.
00:39:55.79\00:39:58.86
And oftentimes
that's what happens.
00:39:58.89\00:40:02.66
So, you know, I
think the simple thing,
00:40:02.70\00:40:05.90
the logical thing
to do is to cut it off.
00:40:05.93\00:40:10.31
But here's the thing.
00:40:10.34\00:40:11.67
We can easily excuse
or say, you know what?
00:40:15.84\00:40:21.08
It's not
practical to take it off,
00:40:21.12\00:40:23.02
I mean to turn it
off just as Moses, right?
00:40:23.05\00:40:25.39
When Moses was approaching God,
00:40:25.42\00:40:26.76
he was told to
take off his sandals,
00:40:26.79\00:40:28.89
he could have bucked,
00:40:28.92\00:40:30.26
he could have
said, you know what?
00:40:30.29\00:40:31.63
Why would I remove my
sandals, it's hot out here.
00:40:31.66\00:40:35.00
We're the
desert, the sand is hot,
00:40:35.03\00:40:37.60
it's even hotter
00:40:37.63\00:40:38.97
because of this fire
that won't be consumed.
00:40:39.00\00:40:40.77
No, I'm just not
going to do it, Lord.
00:40:40.80\00:40:44.54
But he would have never
gotten the opportunity to focus
00:40:44.57\00:40:47.58
and hear the message
00:40:47.61\00:40:48.94
that God was going to give him.
00:40:48.98\00:40:50.31
God was about to do
something incredible to Moses.
00:40:50.35\00:40:51.98
He was going to
deliver the Egyptians
00:40:52.01\00:40:54.25
I mean, the
Israelites out of Egypt.
00:40:54.28\00:40:57.09
But he would
have never been able
00:40:57.12\00:40:59.25
to get Moses' attention
00:40:59.29\00:41:02.36
if Moses hadn't
come with that spirit
00:41:02.39\00:41:04.06
'cause really the problem
is not the sound of the phone,
00:41:04.09\00:41:06.70
is not message in cell phone,
it's a spirit that we take,
00:41:06.73\00:41:10.33
and the way that we prioritize
or fail to prioritize things.
00:41:10.37\00:41:15.30
You know, I've realized
00:41:15.34\00:41:16.67
when I do my
personal devotionals
00:41:16.71\00:41:19.27
that I'm better off
turning this thing off.
00:41:19.31\00:41:20.94
I've realized at
church I'm better off
00:41:20.98\00:41:22.81
just turning this thing off
00:41:22.84\00:41:24.18
or leaving it
tucked away somewhere.
00:41:24.21\00:41:25.55
Why?
00:41:25.58\00:41:26.92
Because it just
becomes a distraction,
00:41:26.95\00:41:28.28
sometimes I'll do
my personal devotional
00:41:28.32\00:41:29.65
and I'll come
across a verse and I say,
00:41:29.68\00:41:31.02
"Wow, that's beautiful.
00:41:31.05\00:41:32.39
I got to share
that with the world
00:41:32.42\00:41:33.76
and I'll share it
00:41:33.79\00:41:35.12
and then I'll try to get
back to reading my Bible.
00:41:35.16\00:41:36.49
And I look, "oh
somebody liked that on Facebook.
00:41:36.52\00:41:39.96
Oh, somebody left a comment.
00:41:40.00\00:41:41.33
Oh, now I got to
reply to the comment.
00:41:41.36\00:41:43.53
Oh, I got an email work related.
00:41:43.57\00:41:46.13
Oh, I just got a text message
from my wife, I got to reply.
00:41:46.17\00:41:50.17
For the same reasons
we won't use it elsewhere.
00:41:54.78\00:41:59.15
We should probably
decide to put it away,
00:41:59.18\00:42:01.12
I'm talking about sandals here.
00:42:01.15\00:42:03.45
We're talking about sandals.
00:42:03.49\00:42:06.32
And, you know,
00:42:06.35\00:42:07.69
we have an
example in Moses' nephews.
00:42:07.72\00:42:10.86
We have an example of
strange fire coming down
00:42:10.89\00:42:14.36
and actually...
00:42:14.40\00:42:16.46
Well, not strange fire,
00:42:16.50\00:42:17.83
God who's referred to in Hebrews
00:42:17.87\00:42:20.44
as consuming fire.
00:42:20.47\00:42:22.24
Coming down and
making an example
00:42:22.27\00:42:25.31
out of Moses' nephews
00:42:25.34\00:42:27.38
for bringing strange
fire into the house of God.
00:42:27.41\00:42:30.28
If God is a consuming fire,
00:42:30.31\00:42:31.65
then what would be strange fire?
00:42:31.68\00:42:33.01
I would almost say it
could be a counterfeit,
00:42:33.05\00:42:35.08
it could be an idol, right?
00:42:35.12\00:42:40.82
We make idols
00:42:40.86\00:42:42.19
and counterfeit
gods of many things.
00:42:42.22\00:42:45.59
And many times I've realized
00:42:45.63\00:42:46.96
that when we are unwilling
to relinquish or moderate
00:42:47.00\00:42:51.10
our use of something
00:42:51.13\00:42:52.70
it's because it has
taken priority to God.
00:42:52.73\00:42:55.77
Let me ask you a question.
00:42:55.80\00:42:58.57
How much time do you spend
00:42:58.61\00:43:02.41
on the phone or on a computer
00:43:02.44\00:43:05.28
looking at Facebook
00:43:05.31\00:43:07.22
versus how much time you spend
with your face in this book?
00:43:07.25\00:43:13.72
How many times a day
do we go to this device
00:43:13.76\00:43:17.36
and read a text
message or send a text message
00:43:17.39\00:43:21.10
versus how many
times do we come here
00:43:21.13\00:43:24.63
and read a text in
search of a message?
00:43:24.67\00:43:28.90
How often do we go here
00:43:28.94\00:43:33.34
and talk about our day,
the things that went good,
00:43:33.38\00:43:36.54
the things that went
bad and talk about others?
00:43:36.58\00:43:40.62
And how many times do
we go here on our knees
00:43:40.65\00:43:45.49
to talk about the
same things with a God
00:43:45.52\00:43:47.12
who can actually
do something about it?
00:43:47.16\00:43:51.06
Friends, there are
sandals in our lives,
00:43:51.09\00:43:54.43
things that need to be removed.
00:43:54.46\00:43:56.73
Now, I will say this.
00:43:56.77\00:44:00.57
There are some things
00:44:00.60\00:44:01.94
that have no place
in a Christian's life
00:44:01.97\00:44:03.30
and we have to
understand that too.
00:44:03.34\00:44:04.67
Some of us our
favorite Bible verse is
00:44:04.71\00:44:06.31
everything in moderation,
everything in moderation.
00:44:06.34\00:44:09.14
Can somebody give me that text?
00:44:09.18\00:44:12.08
No, you know why?
'Cause it doesn't exist.
00:44:12.11\00:44:15.58
1 Thessalonians 5:22
00:44:15.62\00:44:18.02
actually tells us to
abstain from all forms of evil,
00:44:18.05\00:44:20.62
so there's things that
are just inherently evil
00:44:20.66\00:44:23.43
that are not compatible
with Christian principle,
00:44:23.46\00:44:27.00
that needed just be
expelled from our lives,
00:44:27.03\00:44:29.76
those are not
sandals that need to be left
00:44:29.80\00:44:34.24
out front and put back on later,
00:44:34.27\00:44:35.97
those just need to
be thrown in the trash.
00:44:36.00\00:44:38.97
But there's things in our lives
00:44:39.01\00:44:40.38
that are good in moderation
at the appropriate time.
00:44:40.41\00:44:44.51
And those
things we need to learn
00:44:44.55\00:44:46.01
how to utilize and
balance in moderation.
00:44:46.05\00:44:51.02
Vehicles.
00:44:51.05\00:44:54.46
I talked about
wanting to be on holy ground
00:44:54.49\00:44:56.96
wherever I am,
even in my vehicle.
00:44:56.99\00:44:58.76
So if I can listen
to Christian music,
00:44:58.79\00:45:02.36
listen to
messages that uplift God,
00:45:02.40\00:45:04.27
get on my phone on speaker,
00:45:04.30\00:45:06.57
and pray with others
and encourage others,
00:45:06.60\00:45:09.60
and I can create an atmosphere
where I am on holy ground
00:45:09.64\00:45:12.91
even in my vehicle,
00:45:12.94\00:45:14.98
then you think that
I can also do things
00:45:15.01\00:45:18.55
that would push
God out of my life
00:45:18.58\00:45:21.35
while sitting in a vehicle.
00:45:21.38\00:45:23.49
Most likely there
are sandals there too.
00:45:23.52\00:45:26.52
You know what?
00:45:26.55\00:45:28.16
My choice of entertainment,
maybe my choice of music,
00:45:28.19\00:45:31.03
I realize that
there are some things
00:45:31.06\00:45:33.33
that to me feel
fine in moderation,
00:45:33.36\00:45:36.56
you know, listening to the news,
00:45:36.60\00:45:38.13
maybe keeping update on
00:45:38.17\00:45:39.50
with what's
going on in politics,
00:45:39.53\00:45:41.00
maybe checking up on a
sports score or something.
00:45:41.04\00:45:45.24
But you know what?
00:45:45.27\00:45:46.84
Some of us allow these
things to consume our lives
00:45:46.88\00:45:50.78
to just absolutely consume us.
00:45:50.81\00:45:52.81
It's sad that
even in Christianity
00:45:52.85\00:45:54.82
you can log on to
social media and see that.
00:45:54.85\00:45:59.69
Sometimes we're
just as divisive,
00:45:59.72\00:46:01.82
just as spiteful as
everybody else in the world.
00:46:01.86\00:46:05.13
You know, we're
living in very divisive times
00:46:05.16\00:46:07.00
and it's sad that some
of us get sucked into that
00:46:07.03\00:46:08.63
but it's because rather
than making time for God,
00:46:08.66\00:46:10.60
and making time for God's Word,
00:46:10.63\00:46:12.23
and spending time in prayer,
and dwelling on holy ground,
00:46:12.27\00:46:15.87
we're caught up in
all this other stuff.
00:46:15.90\00:46:17.54
And we bring it into our schools
00:46:17.57\00:46:19.57
and we bring it also
into our church sometimes,
00:46:19.61\00:46:21.31
you bring it to
the potluck tables.
00:46:21.34\00:46:24.51
And God says, you know what?
00:46:24.55\00:46:26.01
Some of those are sandals,
00:46:26.05\00:46:27.38
you need to check
those at the door.
00:46:27.42\00:46:30.52
You need to
check them at the door.
00:46:30.55\00:46:33.52
That's why even
Sabbath rest sometimes,
00:46:33.56\00:46:35.52
God can't even get
that 24 hour period.
00:46:35.56\00:46:38.69
I'm telling you oftentimes
00:46:38.73\00:46:42.76
Sabbath is Facebook
Fridays and social media
00:46:42.80\00:46:45.90
Sabbath Saturdays.
00:46:45.93\00:46:49.00
And we spend more
time talking politics
00:46:49.04\00:46:52.21
and worrying about
the concerns of the world
00:46:52.24\00:46:53.78
than actually
allowing God to come in
00:46:53.81\00:46:57.15
and do a transformational
work that He desires to do.
00:46:57.18\00:47:02.02
There are sandals in our homes.
00:47:02.05\00:47:04.32
I'll tell you
one of the big ones.
00:47:04.35\00:47:05.69
I already
mentioned, entertainment.
00:47:05.72\00:47:07.06
There's things that have
no business in our lives.
00:47:07.09\00:47:08.42
You know what?
00:47:08.46\00:47:09.79
If I do a family worship,
00:47:09.82\00:47:11.66
if I do a family worship
but the second it's through,
00:47:11.69\00:47:14.76
I'm putting all sorts of
ungodly things on the screen,
00:47:14.80\00:47:17.80
brothers and sisters.
00:47:17.83\00:47:21.24
Who am I laying the
welcome mat out for?
00:47:21.27\00:47:23.54
Or am I flipping
the welcome mat around
00:47:23.57\00:47:24.97
and laying the red
carpet out for the enemy
00:47:25.01\00:47:26.34
to come in and have his way?
00:47:26.37\00:47:28.91
There are certain
things that we need to do away
00:47:28.94\00:47:30.75
with in our lives.
00:47:30.78\00:47:32.31
How about cherish things?
00:47:32.35\00:47:34.18
Some of us have
these cherished things
00:47:34.22\00:47:35.55
that we're fine with,
00:47:35.58\00:47:36.92
we're quick to
condemn somebody for their sin
00:47:36.95\00:47:38.79
but we have the
secret cherished sins
00:47:38.82\00:47:40.89
that we hold on to.
00:47:40.92\00:47:42.26
God's presence can
only dwell in our homes
00:47:42.29\00:47:46.76
and transform our lives
00:47:46.80\00:47:48.20
as we are willing
to surrender to Him
00:47:48.23\00:47:49.56
that which we
realize is keeping us at bay.
00:47:49.60\00:47:54.17
But I'll say
one of the huge ones
00:47:54.20\00:47:55.60
is our attitude.
00:47:55.64\00:47:57.87
Our attitudes, friends.
00:47:57.91\00:48:00.81
You know,
00:48:00.84\00:48:02.21
it's easy if you want
to call oneself a Christian
00:48:02.24\00:48:05.01
but by their fruits
you shall know them,
00:48:05.05\00:48:07.08
fruits of what?
00:48:07.12\00:48:08.45
Fruits of the Spirit.
00:48:08.48\00:48:09.82
Can we see the
fruits of the Spirit
00:48:09.85\00:48:11.19
in our lives?
00:48:11.22\00:48:12.55
Is there joy in our life?
Is there peace in our life?
00:48:12.59\00:48:15.16
Are we long
suffering with others?
00:48:15.19\00:48:17.43
These things are very telling.
00:48:17.46\00:48:19.73
Those are sandals.
00:48:19.76\00:48:23.06
These things need to be removed.
00:48:23.10\00:48:24.43
As a matter of fact like I
said those aren't even sandals
00:48:24.47\00:48:25.80
'cause we can't
put those back on.
00:48:25.83\00:48:27.84
See when Moses
took off his sandals,
00:48:27.87\00:48:29.50
he went in, God gave him a word,
00:48:29.54\00:48:31.44
he came out, he put them back on
00:48:31.47\00:48:32.81
and he went about
the Lord's business,
00:48:32.84\00:48:35.01
that's what I'm saying
with the cell phone, right?
00:48:35.04\00:48:36.48
I could very
easily turn the thing off,
00:48:36.51\00:48:39.21
spend time with the
Lord, hear from Him, come out,
00:48:39.25\00:48:42.25
share that Bible verse.
00:48:42.28\00:48:43.62
Call people and
encourage their day.
00:48:43.65\00:48:44.99
I can utilize it,
00:48:45.02\00:48:46.35
but there's some things
you just can't be utilized,
00:48:46.39\00:48:47.72
God can't use a
nasty critical spirit.
00:48:47.76\00:48:49.42
There's no fixing that,
00:48:49.46\00:48:51.09
that's not a
sandal, that's garbage,
00:48:51.13\00:48:52.79
throw it away,
remove it from your life.
00:48:52.83\00:48:56.87
A self-righteous
spirit, a envious heart.
00:48:56.90\00:49:01.34
These are the things
that have no business
00:49:01.37\00:49:03.87
in a Christian's life.
00:49:03.91\00:49:05.24
Church, we talk
about, it is holy ground.
00:49:08.41\00:49:11.91
Church is holy ground.
00:49:11.95\00:49:14.32
And increasingly we're
not treating it as such.
00:49:14.35\00:49:20.36
I'm realizing that many times
00:49:20.39\00:49:22.82
we take to the
podium with our agenda
00:49:22.86\00:49:28.20
and write God's Word down
00:49:28.23\00:49:29.66
to make people
comfortable in sin.
00:49:29.70\00:49:32.97
But the problem is
this is not a podium,
00:49:33.00\00:49:36.04
it's a pulpit.
00:49:36.07\00:49:37.41
And this is not our platform
00:49:37.44\00:49:39.17
to express our
agendas and our views.
00:49:39.21\00:49:41.48
This is the house of God.
00:49:41.51\00:49:42.94
This is His sanctuary, we
need to treat accordingly.
00:49:42.98\00:49:45.11
It's getting
increasingly difficult at times
00:49:45.15\00:49:47.15
to distinguish between
the music that actually...
00:49:47.18\00:49:51.09
is created to glorify a holy God
00:49:54.39\00:49:59.83
and that which is
created intentionally
00:49:59.86\00:50:02.50
to arouse the
basis passions of men.
00:50:02.53\00:50:06.60
It's hard to distinguish
between the two sometimes.
00:50:06.63\00:50:08.90
We need to be
careful not to be jumping
00:50:08.94\00:50:10.74
to just do any
old thing for God.
00:50:10.77\00:50:12.64
You know, Ecclesiastes 5:1 says,
00:50:12.67\00:50:15.11
"Walk prudently when
you go to the house of God,
00:50:15.14\00:50:17.25
and draw near to hear
00:50:17.28\00:50:19.25
rather than to give
the sacrifice of fools,
00:50:19.28\00:50:22.38
for they do not
know that they do evil."
00:50:22.42\00:50:26.89
Some of us seems to do
like Moses and pump our brakes
00:50:26.92\00:50:29.22
before we get to running
out into Egypt to do things
00:50:29.26\00:50:31.76
for the Lord
before we come running
00:50:31.79\00:50:33.13
into the house of God
to do things for the Lord.
00:50:33.16\00:50:34.50
We need to really
think and analyze this thing.
00:50:34.53\00:50:37.37
Talked about
bringing distractions
00:50:41.54\00:50:42.87
into the house of God.
00:50:42.90\00:50:44.64
But even clothing,
00:50:44.67\00:50:46.01
as most things you
can't really touch on it
00:50:46.04\00:50:47.38
because nobody
wants to hear that
00:50:47.41\00:50:48.74
talking about
appropriate dress and attire,
00:50:48.78\00:50:51.55
telling somebody to remove
00:50:51.58\00:50:53.11
a ball cap or
something in God's house.
00:50:53.15\00:50:55.05
And I'm not
telling you to go out
00:50:55.08\00:50:56.42
and tell anybody do anything,
00:50:56.45\00:50:57.79
I'm saying we need to apply
00:50:57.82\00:50:59.15
these principles in our
lives and lead by example.
00:50:59.19\00:51:02.02
But it's funny
that we can recognize
00:51:02.06\00:51:04.56
what is appropriate
00:51:04.59\00:51:06.09
in the secular
areas of our lives.
00:51:06.13\00:51:08.40
I've never
turned on a television
00:51:08.43\00:51:10.10
and seen somebody walking around
00:51:10.13\00:51:11.77
the White House
with a hat, with shorts
00:51:11.80\00:51:16.64
utilizing disrespectful conduct.
00:51:16.67\00:51:19.81
I haven't seen it
inside of the White House.
00:51:19.84\00:51:23.55
However it's too
common a scene in God's house.
00:51:23.58\00:51:30.02
You know, there was recently
00:51:30.05\00:51:31.82
the team that won
the NBA championship...
00:51:31.85\00:51:37.99
was invited to the
White House as it's customary.
00:51:38.03\00:51:40.80
The president will usually
00:51:40.83\00:51:43.37
invite the winner of
any major sporting event
00:51:43.40\00:51:45.47
to come to the White
House, and spend time there,
00:51:45.50\00:51:48.30
and getting to
know him and his family.
00:51:48.34\00:51:50.91
And one of the players
that won the championship
00:51:50.94\00:51:52.77
and they actually won the game,
00:51:52.81\00:51:54.14
they went back
into the locker room,
00:51:54.18\00:51:55.54
and they were
partying with their shirt off,
00:51:55.58\00:51:57.35
and all these pictures surfaced.
00:51:57.38\00:51:59.15
And then they were at night club
00:51:59.18\00:52:00.72
with the rest of
the team in Las Vegas
00:52:00.75\00:52:02.08
and they were
partying still shirtless
00:52:02.12\00:52:04.69
and the pictures got out.
00:52:04.72\00:52:08.19
And then they
showed pictures of them
00:52:08.22\00:52:09.82
of the team jet
arriving back in the city,
00:52:09.86\00:52:12.49
the corresponded to the team
00:52:12.53\00:52:13.86
and he gets off the
team jet, private jet
00:52:13.90\00:52:16.20
and he's still shirtless.
00:52:16.23\00:52:19.07
And then they do the
parade almost a week later,
00:52:19.10\00:52:22.74
they're driving to the
city doing this big parade,
00:52:22.77\00:52:25.11
and sure enough
he's still shirtless.
00:52:25.14\00:52:26.47
Well, guess what?
00:52:26.51\00:52:27.84
When the
president called the coach
00:52:27.88\00:52:30.98
about two weeks after
they had won the championship
00:52:31.01\00:52:33.18
to give him the invitation,
00:52:33.21\00:52:34.55
it was actually
recorded, and he said,
00:52:34.58\00:52:35.92
"Hey, congratulations
on that awesome victory.
00:52:35.95\00:52:37.89
I want to
invite you and the team
00:52:37.92\00:52:39.39
to the White House.
00:52:39.42\00:52:40.76
Oh, but one last thing,
00:52:40.79\00:52:43.66
tell JR to put his shirt on
00:52:43.69\00:52:45.89
'cause we don't play
that in the White House."
00:52:45.93\00:52:48.93
And, you know, it's
funny how we recognize that
00:52:48.96\00:52:51.73
and we'll have respect
00:52:51.77\00:52:54.34
for secular quarters.
00:52:54.37\00:52:58.74
But sometimes most of
them will have forgotten.
00:52:58.77\00:53:00.84
I'm going to
finish reading that quote
00:53:00.88\00:53:02.21
from Patriarchs and
Prophets at page 252,
00:53:02.24\00:53:03.65
it said, "There
are those who address
00:53:03.68\00:53:06.15
the great and
all-powerful and holy God,
00:53:06.18\00:53:08.78
who dwelleth in
light unapproachable
00:53:08.82\00:53:10.15
as they would an
equal or even an inferior.
00:53:10.19\00:53:16.93
There are those who
conduct themselves in a house,
00:53:16.96\00:53:19.16
in His house
00:53:19.19\00:53:20.53
as they would not presume to do
00:53:20.56\00:53:21.90
in the audience-chamber
of an earthly ruler.
00:53:21.93\00:53:24.13
These should remember
00:53:24.17\00:53:25.50
that they are
in the sight of Him
00:53:25.53\00:53:26.87
whom seraphim adore,
00:53:26.90\00:53:28.74
before whom
angels veil their faces.
00:53:28.77\00:53:31.04
God is greatly to be reverenced,
00:53:31.07\00:53:32.67
all who truly
realize His presence
00:53:32.71\00:53:35.41
will bow in
humility before Him."
00:53:35.44\00:53:40.02
Friends, it's that
00:53:40.05\00:53:41.38
which is
appropriate in God's house
00:53:41.42\00:53:42.75
and that which is not.
00:53:42.78\00:53:44.12
And I'm going to
mention another sandal.
00:53:44.15\00:53:45.49
Once again we've
talked about in homes,
00:53:45.52\00:53:46.96
let's talk about in
the church, attitudes.
00:53:46.99\00:53:49.06
These things are just not
appropriate in God's house.
00:53:49.09\00:53:50.43
You know what?
00:53:50.46\00:53:51.79
When Jesus gave
00:53:51.83\00:53:53.16
the parable of the
Publican and the Pharisee
00:53:53.19\00:53:55.33
which one left justified?
00:53:55.36\00:53:57.57
The publican 'cause he
came in with a humble attitude,
00:53:57.60\00:54:00.40
he didn't come in
beating his chest saying,
00:54:00.44\00:54:02.64
"I am worthy, I
hit the check list.
00:54:02.67\00:54:04.01
He didn't come in
criticizing others."
00:54:04.04\00:54:06.64
I don't even like
preaching sermons on reverence
00:54:06.68\00:54:08.34
only because some of us feel
00:54:08.38\00:54:10.11
like we have
authority and we are empowered
00:54:10.15\00:54:12.31
to turn around
and give a death stare
00:54:12.35\00:54:14.02
to a child making noise,
00:54:14.05\00:54:15.62
to sit there and gossip about,
00:54:15.65\00:54:17.09
and tear down
somebody who's dress...
00:54:17.12\00:54:20.49
inappropriate it may be.
00:54:20.52\00:54:22.76
But that doesn't
give us permission
00:54:22.79\00:54:24.86
to be un-Christ
like and uncompassionate.
00:54:24.89\00:54:29.13
The real mark of Christianity...
00:54:29.16\00:54:30.87
is seeing in our
Christ like character
00:54:34.07\00:54:37.27
which is never more evident
than when we are compassionate
00:54:37.31\00:54:41.41
with the most
vulnerable among us.
00:54:41.44\00:54:44.68
Oh, I got to end
with this last question
00:54:44.71\00:54:46.08
because we're
running out of time here.
00:54:46.11\00:54:48.65
So the first question was
where is this holy ground?
00:54:48.68\00:54:52.55
It's anywhere.
00:54:52.59\00:54:56.02
What is the
sandal? It's anything.
00:54:56.06\00:54:59.03
The last question is
who is the burning bush?
00:54:59.06\00:55:02.70
Who is the burning bush?
00:55:02.73\00:55:05.97
Notice I said who, now what?
00:55:06.00\00:55:08.44
It's any one, any one.
00:55:08.47\00:55:11.17
Now you may say,
"Hold on, hold on, hold on.
00:55:11.21\00:55:12.67
I thought we said that was God."
00:55:12.71\00:55:14.74
No, the flame in the
midst of the bush was God.
00:55:14.78\00:55:20.02
But the bush itself is anyone.
00:55:20.05\00:55:23.79
Anyone who has a
fire of Jesus Christ
00:55:23.82\00:55:26.65
burning in his bosom
00:55:26.69\00:55:28.72
can be a burning bush.
00:55:28.76\00:55:30.13
Jesus desires to be in our heart
00:55:34.13\00:55:37.67
and to have us on fire for Him.
00:55:37.70\00:55:42.77
When we spent
time with the Lord,
00:55:42.80\00:55:44.44
this is the natural
result catching fire for Him.
00:55:44.47\00:55:49.01
You remember when,
on the road to Emmaus,
00:55:49.04\00:55:52.45
Cleopas and his friend,
they had Jesus in their home,
00:55:52.48\00:55:56.32
it became holy ground.
00:55:56.35\00:55:57.95
And afterward they said
00:55:57.99\00:55:59.32
was our heart not
burning within us,
00:55:59.35\00:56:02.59
that's that holy fire, friends.
00:56:02.62\00:56:04.19
God wants us to
be on fire for Jesus
00:56:04.23\00:56:06.36
but it doesn't
just happen any old way,
00:56:06.39\00:56:08.60
we have to be
rooted on holy ground.
00:56:08.63\00:56:12.80
There's things in our
lives they have to be removed
00:56:12.83\00:56:15.14
so that God can
come in and do the work
00:56:15.17\00:56:16.57
that He desires to do
and help us catch fire.
00:56:16.60\00:56:18.71
And you know that this is
how natural evangelism happens,
00:56:18.74\00:56:21.38
it doesn't happen by throwing up
00:56:21.41\00:56:22.74
half of the strangers.
00:56:22.78\00:56:24.45
Yes, that can
help but it happens
00:56:24.48\00:56:26.82
when as we saw in the experience
00:56:26.85\00:56:28.18
of the burning bush,
00:56:28.22\00:56:29.55
when God gets
people's attention through us.
00:56:29.58\00:56:34.32
When He draws them near,
when He calls them by name,
00:56:34.36\00:56:37.33
when He speaks through us
00:56:37.36\00:56:38.69
that He spoke
through that burning bush.
00:56:38.73\00:56:41.86
This is how God
wants to utilize us
00:56:41.90\00:56:43.97
to bring others in to His fold.
00:56:44.00\00:56:49.17
Friends, this sermon
is not about hellfire like
00:56:49.20\00:56:52.87
I said at the beginning,
it's about the opposite,
00:56:52.91\00:56:55.24
it's about being able to stand
in the presence of a holy God,
00:56:55.28\00:56:59.91
and not be consumed.
00:56:59.95\00:57:01.58
God wants us to
be burning bushes.
00:57:01.62\00:57:05.85
That when He returns
and we know not the hour,
00:57:05.89\00:57:09.52
we might be able to stand
in His presence not consumed.
00:57:09.56\00:57:13.63
But we must learn now
00:57:13.66\00:57:15.66
to be rooted in
the holy things of God.
00:57:15.70\00:57:18.27
Friend, I want
to invite you today.
00:57:18.30\00:57:21.57
If there's
something in your life
00:57:21.60\00:57:22.94
that needs to be done away with,
00:57:22.97\00:57:24.31
do away with it,
00:57:24.34\00:57:25.67
to make holy
ground in your home,
00:57:25.71\00:57:27.34
to spend time with Jesus.
00:57:27.38\00:57:30.15
Amen.
00:57:30.18\00:57:31.51