The
00:01:33.12\00:01:38.13
ship was just over 300 metres
long and about 50 metres wide.
00:02:02.82\00:02:07.66
The ship could carry almost
one-and-a-half million barrels
00:02:07.66\00:02:13.63
of oil. This monstrosity of a
ship was designed to carry
maximum payloads across the seas
00:02:13.66\00:02:19.83
of the world.
00:02:19.87\00:02:21.24
On March the 23rd, 1989, this
marvel of mankind departed the
port of Valdez in Alaska, just
00:02:21.70\00:02:31.48
after 9PM, carrying over
50 million gallons of oil.
00:02:31.51\00:02:36.89
Joseph Hazelwood was in command
of the ship and sailed with
after 9PM, carrying over the
00:02:36.89\00:02:36.92
final destination of Long 50
million gallons of oil. Joseph
Hazelwood was in command of the
00:02:38.62\00:02:43.59
ship and sailed with the final
destination of Long Beach,
California, most certainly on
00:02:43.63\00:02:47.10
his mind. They operated the ship
under the caution of icebergs
floating about and performed
00:02:47.10\00:02:52.87
several manoeuvers to
stay clear of that ice.
00:02:52.87\00:02:56.77
Sometime around 11PM, Captain
Hazelwood left the command and
retired to his stateroom.
00:02:56.77\00:03:03.58
He left the ship in the hands
of Gregory Cousins and Robert
00:03:03.58\00:03:08.32
Kagan. Now, there are a number
of things that happened next in
what would be described by many
00:03:08.32\00:03:14.26
as possibly one of the greatest
environmental disasters in
00:03:14.26\00:03:19.63
history. It seems that a
combination of an overworked
crew, a captain possibly
00:03:19.63\00:03:26.43
impaired by alcohol, and
insufficient warning systems all
played a role in this disaster.
00:03:26.47\00:03:33.34
Yet one of the biggest and most
major issues was a radar that
was not turned on and
00:03:33.34\00:03:43.12
non-functional. The absence of
this key navigational tool
allowed for a mistake in
00:03:43.15\00:03:50.03
routing, and that early morning
of March the 24th, 1989, at
12:04AM, the Exxon Valdez ran
00:03:50.06\00:03:59.10
aground on the Bligh Reef and
spilled somewhere between 11 and
20 million gallons - over
00:03:59.13\00:04:08.58
quarter million barrels - of
oil into Prince William Sound.
00:04:08.61\00:04:17.65
In light of this huge
environmental disaster, a great
deal has been written, and there
00:04:17.69\00:04:21.92
have been a great many lawsuits.
00:04:21.92\00:04:24.99
However, the Exxon Shipping
Company was held liable for this
00:04:24.99\00:04:31.40
tragic occurrence. To date, it
is estimated that Exxon has
spent at least 2 billion dollars
00:04:31.40\00:04:39.91
in cleanup efforts, and over 1
billion dollars in restitution.
00:04:39.94\00:04:43.81
They'd committed a wrong act.
00:04:43.81\00:04:45.98
There was no doubt of their
guilt and their responsibility.
00:04:45.98\00:04:49.98
They had to pay the penalty
and make the situation right.
00:04:49.98\00:04:58.09
As I ponder this environmental
disaster caused by the crash of
the Exxon Valdez, it makes
00:04:58.13\00:05:03.50
me wonder, what
about each of us?
00:05:03.50\00:05:06.57
Is it possible that this
tragic story has in it a lesson?
00:05:06.57\00:05:12.17
Possibly even hope for our
spiritual lives, our walk with
God?Now, in our previous
00:05:12.17\00:05:22.12
program, Israel asked for a
king, and Israel received her
00:05:22.15\00:05:28.29
king. After Saul lost the
kingdom, the kingdom was given
00:05:28.29\00:05:32.63
to David. The story of David is
summed up beautifully in the
words, "And David was a man
00:05:32.63\00:05:38.93
after God's own heart."
00:05:38.97\00:05:41.20
David submitted himself to God,
was open to the will of God, and
00:05:41.20\00:05:46.17
followed Him. Now, while his
life had turmoil David submitted
himself to and times of
00:05:46.17\00:05:46.21
disobedience and God, was open
to the will where he made wrong
choices, of God, and followed
00:05:47.91\00:05:54.08
Him. Now, while his life had
turmoil and times of
disobedience and where he made
00:05:54.12\00:05:58.59
wrong choices, he continually
desired to do that which is
right. He was a man after God's
00:05:58.59\00:06:01.62
own heart. The kingdom
thrived under his leadership.
00:06:01.62\00:06:04.76
The nation grew in
strength and prosperity.
00:06:04.76\00:06:08.20
When David died, he passed
the kingdom to his son Solomon.
00:06:08.20\00:06:12.00
Now, certainly, Solomon was a
man that had some significant
issues himself, with many
00:06:12.00\00:06:18.51
wives and
concubines and false worship.
00:06:18.54\00:06:21.54
Yet, under his leadership, the
temple was built in Jerusalem,
the home, the permanent
00:06:21.54\00:06:28.48
home, where the presence of God
would reside, rather than in a
wilderness sanctuary.
00:06:28.52\00:06:34.39
Israel was becoming what God
intended her to become, that
she, as His chosen nation
00:06:34.39\00:06:39.29
Israel was becoming what God
intended her to become, that and
chosen people, would she, as His
00:06:39.29\00:06:39.33
chosen nation be a light to the
nations. and chosen people,
would be a light to the nations.
00:06:40.40\00:06:44.23
However, after Solomon's death,
and his son Rehoboam's ascension
00:06:44.23\00:06:50.07
to the throne, the
kingdom lost its focus.
00:06:50.11\00:06:53.38
Because of Rehoboam's
pride, the kingdom was divided.
00:06:53.38\00:06:56.75
The northern kingdom
separated itself from the south.
00:06:56.75\00:07:01.58
That nation, the northern
kingdom, was called Israel, and
they made their capital city
00:07:01.58\00:07:07.92
Samaria. They were led by their
first king Jeroboam, and the sad
testimony of the northern
00:07:07.92\00:07:14.30
kingdom, as recorded in the
Bible, and as recorded about
00:07:14.36\00:07:19.23
Jeroboam: And he did evil in the
sight of the Lord and walked in
the as recorded in the Bible,
00:07:19.23\00:07:19.27
and way of his father, and his
sin, as recorded about Jeroboam:
And he did evil in the sight of
00:07:20.97\00:07:26.68
the Lord and walked in the way
of his father, and his sin, by
which he had made Israel sin.
00:07:26.71\00:07:31.68
Over and over again, the
testimony of the leadership, by
which he had made Israel sin.
00:07:31.68\00:07:31.71
the testimony of the kings of
Over and over again, the
testimony of the leadership, the
00:07:33.38\00:07:37.59
testimony of the kings of the
northern tribes, was that they
did evil in the sight of the
00:07:37.59\00:07:41.39
Lord. And as they grew further
and further away from God, God
allowed the nation of Assyria
00:07:41.39\00:07:46.63
to come and defeat
the northern kingdom.
00:07:46.63\00:07:49.96
Israel and its ten tribes were
dispersed in 722 B.C. when
Assyria conquered Israel.
00:07:49.96\00:07:56.84
However, in the south,
there was a different testimony.
00:07:56.87\00:08:01.34
The kingdom of Judah, although
founded on the prideful
principles of Rehoboam, the
00:08:01.34\00:08:07.22
nation changed.
00:08:07.25\00:08:09.28
Judah was established with the
capital in Jerusalem, and
Jerusalem served not only as
00:08:09.28\00:08:14.82
the nation's capital, but as the
centre of worship for the true
00:08:14.82\00:08:19.29
followers of God. For many of
the kings of Judah, the Bible's
testimony is that they did what
00:08:19.29\00:08:24.90
was right in the eyes of God.
00:08:24.93\00:08:27.37
However, there were several
kings that followed in the ways
of the kings of Israel, yet
00:08:27.37\00:08:32.17
through God's grace and His
mercy and the sending of
prophets, He tried to revive His
00:08:32.17\00:08:38.45
people in Judah.
00:08:38.48\00:08:40.55
However, when Manasseh became
king over Judah, known in Jewish
history as the most evil king
00:08:40.55\00:08:46.15
ever to reign in Judah, the
kingdom spiralled into
uncontrolled apostasy.
00:08:46.15\00:08:52.99
And although the Bible testifies
that Manasseh did in fact
repent, it was seemingly was too
00:08:53.03\00:08:58.77
late for his son Amon, who
the Bible says, did evil in the
00:08:58.77\00:09:05.17
sight of the Lord. There was a
brief revival in Judah under
Josiah's reign, but it seems
00:09:05.17\00:09:11.45
that it was likely
too little too late.
00:09:11.48\00:09:13.58
Jehoahaz, Jehoikim, Jehoiachin,
and Zedekiah, the final rulers
of Judah, are described with
00:09:13.58\00:09:23.56
those fateful words, "He also
did evil in the sight of the
00:09:23.59\00:09:31.77
Lord." God wanted to revive and
renew His people, to bring His
00:09:31.80\00:09:37.37
people back. And so, in an act
of mercy, God allowed invaders
from the north to come.
00:09:37.37\00:09:43.35
Those invaders from the north
were the kingdom of Babylon.
00:09:43.35\00:09:46.68
Babylon, under the leadership of
Nebuchadnezzar, invaded
Jerusalem in 605 B.C.
00:09:46.68\00:09:53.72
They fell into the hands of
Babylon, and you know the story
of Daniel well, may of the
00:09:53.76\00:10:04.30
princely types, the upper
echelon, were taken away to
serve in the courts of Babylon.
00:10:04.33\00:10:11.27
Jeremiah the prophet predicted
this trouble coming from the
00:10:11.31\00:10:15.01
north. Other prophets predicted
this trouble coming from the
00:10:15.01\00:10:18.51
north. Yet, the invasion of 605
B.C. seemingly was not enough of
a lesson, because the people
00:10:18.51\00:10:24.59
continued to rebel.
00:10:24.62\00:10:26.76
And so in 586 B.C., the
Babylonian armies came to
Jerusalem and destroyed
00:10:26.76\00:10:32.83
Jerusalem, including the temple.
00:10:32.86\00:10:35.16
And God's people
went into captivity.
00:10:35.16\00:10:37.10
But God, in fact, had a plan.
00:10:37.10\00:10:41.47
Judah was not to
stay in captivity forever.
00:10:41.47\00:10:44.44
The prophet Jeremiah, in
Jeremiah 25:12, promised with
00:10:44.44\00:10:53.85
these words: "Then it will come
to pass, when 70 years are
completed, that I will punish
00:10:53.88\00:10:59.72
the king of Babylon and that
nation, the land of the
Chaldeans, for their iniquity,"
00:10:59.72\00:11:05.26
says the Lord, "and I will make
it a perpetual desolation."God
tried to convert Babylon, and
00:11:05.26\00:11:15.14
through the prophet Daniel was
able to reach Nebuchadnezzar.
00:11:15.17\00:11:18.74
But we know that his son and
grandson did not follow in the
ways of their father and
00:11:18.74\00:11:23.55
grandfather Nebuchadnezzar.
00:11:23.55\00:11:26.01
They did not yield
themselves to the Almighty God.
00:11:26.01\00:11:28.52
And so God would punish Babylon
because they were not, as the
chosen vessel to draw Judah
00:11:28.52\00:11:34.92
nearer to God, acting in
accordance with His will.
00:11:34.96\00:11:39.09
Jeremiah further prophesied in
Jeremiah 29:10-14 these words:
00:11:39.09\00:11:43.80
For thus says the Lord: "After
70 years are completed at
Babylon, I will visit you
00:11:43.80\00:11:51.54
and perform My good Word toward
you and cause you to return to
this place, for I know the
00:11:51.57\00:11:57.01
thoughts that I think toward
you," says the Lord, "thoughts
of peace and not evil,
00:11:57.01\00:12:02.25
to give you a future and a hope.
00:12:02.25\00:12:05.05
Then you will call upon Me
and go and pray to Me and I will
00:12:05.05\00:12:09.86
listen to you. Then you will
call upon Me and go and pray to
Me And you will seek and I will
00:12:09.86\00:12:09.89
listen to you. Me and find Me.
And you will seek Me and find
00:12:10.69\00:12:13.16
Me. When you search for Me with
all your heart, I will be found
by you," says the Lord,
00:12:13.16\00:12:17.50
"and I will bring you
back from your captivity.
00:12:17.50\00:12:20.70
I will gather you from all the
nations and from all the places
where I have driven you,"
00:12:20.70\00:12:25.41
says the Lord, "and I will bring
you to the place from which I
cause you to be carried
00:12:25.41\00:12:31.38
away captive."
00:12:31.41\00:12:34.75
God promised His
people that they would return.
00:12:34.75\00:12:37.59
They would not
remain in captivity forever.
00:12:37.59\00:12:40.86
However, I want you to notice
that there is more than just a
physical returning to Jerusalem.
00:12:40.86\00:12:46.33
There would also be a
spiritual return to God.
00:12:46.33\00:12:50.07
God said, "You will call
upon Me and go and pray to Me.
00:12:50.07\00:12:54.97
I will listen to you.
00:12:54.97\00:12:56.57
You will seek Me and find Me.
00:12:56.57\00:12:58.41
I will be found by you.
00:12:58.41\00:13:00.24
I will bring you
back from your captivity.
00:13:00.24\00:13:03.45
I will gather
you from all nations.
00:13:03.45\00:13:05.48
I will bring you to the place
from which I cause you to be
carried away captive."
00:13:05.48\00:13:09.45
You see, God did not just only
want to restore His people to
the land which He had led them
00:13:09.45\00:13:16.52
to so many years ago, but He
wanted to restore His people
spiritually, that they would
00:13:16.56\00:13:23.37
call upon Him, that He would
listen to them, that He would
answer their prayers.
00:13:23.40\00:13:29.30
God desired to
restore His people fully.
00:13:29.34\00:13:36.71
In 539 B.C., Babylon was
conquered by the Medo-Persian
00:13:36.75\00:13:42.12
empire. This conquering
happened against all odds.
00:13:42.12\00:13:45.29
But just as God predicted in
Isaiah chapter 45, Babylon was
conquered by Medo-Persia under
00:13:45.29\00:13:51.79
the leadership of
the general Cyrus.
00:13:51.83\00:13:54.83
It was then under that Persian
rule that the Jews were in fact
allowed to return to Judah.
00:13:54.83\00:14:01.84
History records that there were
actually three decrees where the
Jews were allowed to return
00:14:01.87\00:14:06.27
home.
00:14:06.27\00:14:07.81
In 537, under Cyrus,
Jews were allowed to return.
00:14:07.81\00:14:11.78
In 520, under Darius' rule,
Jews were allowed to return.
00:14:11.78\00:14:16.28
But then in 457, under
Artaxerxes, a decree was given
that gave permission for the
00:14:16.28\00:14:23.76
restoration of a civil state and
the fulfilling of the decree of
00:14:23.79\00:14:29.66
Daniel 9:25. The first two
decrees did not allow for that
restoration of a civil state; it
00:14:29.66\00:14:35.37
only allowed for
a physical return.
00:14:35.40\00:14:37.57
But in 457, the fulfilment of
the promise of Daniel 9:25 was
answered with Artaxerxes'
00:14:37.57\00:14:45.21
decree to restore the
civil and religious state.
00:14:45.25\00:14:48.85
God's people needed spiritual
restoration in addition to civil
00:14:48.85\00:14:56.02
restoration. Nehemiah chapter 10
verses 32-34 of Nehemiah chapter
10, the Bible says this:
00:14:56.06\00:15:01.10
Also, we made ordinances for
ourselves to exact from
ourselves yearly one-third of a
00:15:05.07\00:15:11.97
shekel for the service of the
house of our God:, for the
showbread, for the regular grain
00:15:12.01\00:15:16.64
offering, for the regular burnt
offering of the Sabbaths, the
new moons, and the set feasts,
00:15:16.64\00:15:21.68
offering, for the regular burnt
for the holy things, for the
offering of the Sabbaths, the
00:15:21.68\00:15:21.72
sin offerings to make atonement
new moons, and the set feasts,
for Israel, and all the for the
00:15:23.32\00:15:26.82
holy things, for the sin
offerings to make atonement for
Israel, and all the work of the
00:15:26.82\00:15:28.96
house of God. We cast lots among
the priests, the Levites and the
people, for bringing the wood
00:15:28.96\00:15:34.36
offering into the house of our
God according to our fathers'
houses at the appointed times
00:15:34.36\00:15:40.17
year by year to burn on the
altar of the Lord our God, as it
is written in the law.
00:15:40.17\00:15:48.48
Verse 34 makes mention
of something that is rather
00:15:48.51\00:15:53.18
interesting. It makes mention of
the wood offering and the
bringing of wood for the
00:15:53.18\00:16:01.26
offering at appointed times.
00:16:01.29\00:16:02.76
It leads us to ask the question,
"What is the wood offering?"
00:16:02.76\00:16:08.20
Now, according to Leviticus
6:12-13, God outlined very
specific laws for the fire upon
00:16:08.20\00:16:19.01
the altar of burnt offering: And
the fire on the altar shall be
00:16:19.04\00:16:24.25
kept burning on it.
00:16:24.25\00:16:25.25
It shall not be put out.
00:16:25.25\00:16:27.32
And the priest shall burn wood
on it every morning and lay the
burnt offering in order
00:16:27.32\00:16:31.82
on it, and he shall burn on it
the fat of the peace offerings.
00:16:31.82\00:16:35.99
A fire shall always
be burning on the altar.
00:16:35.99\00:16:40.13
It shall never go out.
00:16:40.13\00:16:43.63
And so for there to be a
continual fire, there must be a
continual supply of wood.
00:16:43.63\00:16:50.47
The wood provided
fuel for the fire.
00:16:50.51\00:16:55.48
The wood provided Now, why
is this important? fuel for the
00:16:55.48\00:16:55.51
fire. Now, why
is this important?
00:16:56.14\00:16:58.61
Well, when we think about the
fire for the altar of burnt
offering, we must understand
00:16:58.61\00:17:04.05
that even the wood used in the
sanctuary service was carefully
00:17:04.05\00:17:09.02
examined. Wood that had been
infested with bugs wouldn't be
00:17:09.02\00:17:12.13
allowed. The wood was to be on
the altar of burnt offering, and
it was a representation of the
00:17:12.13\00:17:18.43
sacrifice of Christ.
00:17:18.47\00:17:20.44
And it was required to have
perfection, even in this wood.
00:17:20.44\00:17:25.41
What was seemingly the And it
was required to have smallest of
matters was perfection, even in
00:17:25.41\00:17:25.44
this wood. actually important to
God. What was seemingly the
smallest of matters was actually
00:17:26.94\00:17:31.41
important to God. The wood would
have been carefully placed upon
the altar, and in order, and
00:17:31.41\00:17:36.32
with absolute The wood would
have been carefully placed upon
the altar, and in order, and
00:17:36.32\00:17:36.35
with absolute care and
reverence. care and reverence.
00:17:36.85\00:17:39.09
All of the offerings of the
sanctuary system represented
Christ and have symbolic meaning
00:17:39.09\00:17:44.43
for us today.
00:17:44.46\00:17:45.96
The sanctuary system
pointed forward to Christ.
00:17:45.96\00:17:50.77
And these offerings placed upon
the altar of burnt offering were
00:17:50.77\00:17:56.44
consumed fully and demonstrate
the reality that Jesus gave of
Himself completely and fully.
00:17:56.44\00:18:03.48
And just as the burnt offering
was a sweet savour to God, so
the complete sacrifice of
00:18:03.51\00:18:09.62
Christ was a sweet savour to
God, because it was reconciling
00:18:09.65\00:18:19.36
man to God. The wood offering
represented the bringing of wood
to the altar of burnt offering.
00:18:19.39\00:18:25.53
The wood itself was not an
offering, but the wood itself
was the supply and the fuel for
00:18:25.53\00:18:31.91
the burnt offerings.
00:18:31.94\00:18:34.01
You see, the Israelites were
appointed times to keep the fire
going and appointed times
00:18:34.01\00:18:40.38
to offer the offerings.
00:18:40.42\00:18:43.65
This is why Paul, in Romans 12:1
says this: I beseech you,
therefore, brethren, by the
00:18:43.65\00:18:48.66
mercies of God, that you present
your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable to God,
00:18:48.66\00:18:55.73
which is your
reasonable service.
00:18:55.76\00:18:58.40
And just as the burnt offering
was consumed completely, we too
must give ourselves to
00:18:58.40\00:19:04.51
God fully.
00:19:04.54\00:19:07.24
Just as the sacrifice was to be
perfect, Jesus Christ is the
Lamb of God, slain before the
00:19:07.24\00:19:12.98
foundation of the world, and
He was without spot and blemish.
00:19:12.98\00:19:17.89
The burnt offering pleased God
foundation of the world, and He
because it revealed the true was
00:19:17.89\00:19:17.92
without spot and blemish. desire
of the heart of the The burnt
offering pleased God because it
00:19:19.62\00:19:23.99
revealed the true desire of
the heart of the individual.
00:19:24.03\00:19:26.09
At appointed times, these
offerings affirmed the trust and
faith of the believer.
00:19:26.09\00:19:32.17
And my dear friends, it is in
the same way that we too must
have appointed times to come
00:19:32.20\00:19:38.54
before God and confess our sins
and by faith be restored and
00:19:38.54\00:19:47.42
renewed in Him. Now, in the
original sanctuary, God Himself
kindled the fire on the altar of
00:19:47.45\00:19:54.92
burnt offering. And that fire,
according to Jewish history,
burned continually until the
00:19:54.96\00:20:02.06
Babylonian captivity. Verse 39
of Nehemiah 10 summarizes the
importance that these steps
00:20:02.10\00:20:08.47
represented to the children of
Israel, when it says these
words: We will not neglect the
00:20:08.50\00:20:16.85
house of our God. In the same
way, as we look forward to the
appointed time of Christ's
00:20:16.88\00:20:22.05
return, we must not neglect our
relationship and time with God.
00:20:22.05\00:20:25.75
We must have appointed times to
be renewed and revived by Him.
00:20:25.75\00:20:33.26
Nehemiah 13 gives further
insight to the importance of
this renewal when it says this,
00:20:33.29\00:20:42.57
beginning in verse 30: Thus
I cleanse them of everything
00:20:42.60\00:20:47.58
pagan. I also assign duties to
the priests and the Levites,
each in verse 30: Thus I cleanse
00:20:47.58\00:20:47.61
to his service, and to bringing
them of everything pagan. I also
assign duties to the priests and
00:20:49.31\00:20:54.12
the Levites, each to his
service, and to bringing the
wood offering and the
00:20:54.15\00:20:58.35
first-fruits at appointed times.
Remember me, O my God, for good.
00:20:58.35\00:21:02.76
The essence of the restoration
of the spiritual life of the
ancient Hebrew people was to be
00:21:02.76\00:21:09.53
cleansed and then renewed
at those appointed times.
00:21:09.56\00:21:14.50
And that is the
longing of God's heart.
00:21:14.50\00:21:18.57
That longing is emphasized in
Jeremiah 33:8-9 when the Bible
00:21:18.57\00:21:25.65
says this: I will cleanse them
from all their iniquity by which
they have sinned against me and
00:21:25.68\00:21:31.12
I will pardon all their
iniquities by which they have
sinned and by which they have
00:21:31.12\00:21:36.12
transgressed against me.
00:21:36.12\00:21:38.23
Then it shall be to me a name of
joy, a praise, and an honour
before all nations of the earth
00:21:38.23\00:21:43.90
who shall hear all the
good that I do to them.
00:21:43.93\00:21:48.00
They shall fear and tremble, for
all the goodness and all the
prosperity that I provide for
00:21:48.00\00:21:54.14
it.
00:21:54.18\00:21:56.58
And here's the amazing thing.
00:21:56.58\00:21:58.65
That is not just God's desire
for His ancient people, but that
is the desire of God's heart
00:21:58.65\00:22:05.72
today.
00:22:05.75\00:22:07.69
First Corinthians 7:1
says: Therefore, having these
00:22:07.69\00:22:17.93
promises. Now, what promises,
before we finish that verse;
00:22:17.97\00:22:25.34
what promises? Those promises
that came just before in chapter
6 verses 16 and 17.
00:22:25.37\00:22:30.35
Those promises that came just
before in chapter 6 verses 16
and 17. What are those promises?
00:22:30.35\00:22:30.38
What are those promises?
00:22:30.91\00:22:33.01
For you are the
temple of the living God.
00:22:33.01\00:22:36.15
As God has said, "I will dwell
in them and walk among them.
00:22:36.15\00:22:39.25
I will be their God and
they shall be my people.
00:22:39.25\00:22:42.06
Therefore, come out from among
them and be separate," says the
00:22:42.06\00:22:45.79
Lord. "Do not touch what is
unclean, and I will receive you.
00:22:45.79\00:22:48.76
I will be a Father to you, and
you shall be My sons and
daughters," says the Lord
00:22:48.76\00:22:58.67
almighty. The promise of God is
that you are His temple, that He
will dwell with you.
00:22:58.71\00:23:04.55
He will be your God.
00:23:04.58\00:23:06.75
You will be His people, that He
will receive you, that He will
be a father to you, and
00:23:06.75\00:23:12.19
you shall be His
son or His daughter.
00:23:12.22\00:23:15.46
And so, in light of those
promises, Paul writes in First
00:23:15.46\00:23:22.53
Corinthians 7:1: Therefore,
having these promises, beloved,
let us cleanse ourselves from
00:23:22.56\00:23:29.07
all filthiness of the flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in
00:23:29.10\00:23:36.54
the fear of God.
How can we be cleansed?
00:23:36.58\00:23:38.88
How is it that
we can be cleansed?
00:23:38.88\00:23:41.38
Well, the Bible is clear
that this cleansing comes in two
00:23:41.38\00:23:49.42
related ways. Ephesians 5:25-27
says this: Husbands, love your
wives just as Christ also
00:23:49.46\00:23:56.87
loved the church and gave
Himself for her, that He might
sanctify and cleanse her.
00:23:56.90\00:24:04.14
How is that we're cleansed?
00:24:04.17\00:24:06.17
And cleanse her with the washing
of water by the Word, that He
might present her to
00:24:06.17\00:24:11.15
And cleanse her with the Himself
a glorious church, washing of
water by the Word, not having
00:24:11.15\00:24:11.18
spot or wrinkle or that He might
present her to any such thing,
but that she Himself a glorious
00:24:12.88\00:24:17.45
church, not having spot or
wrinkle or any such thing, but
that she should be holy and
00:24:17.49\00:24:21.39
without blemish. How is it?
00:24:21.39\00:24:22.62
How is it that the
Bible says we are cleansed?
00:24:22.62\00:24:25.03
By being washed in the Word.
00:24:25.03\00:24:28.56
Whose Word?
00:24:28.56\00:24:30.03
But of course, my dear friends,
being washed in God's Word.
00:24:30.03\00:24:35.20
But there is a second related
way that the Bible says that we
00:24:35.20\00:24:40.18
are cleansed. First John 1:7-10
states: But if we walk in the
light as He is in the
00:24:40.18\00:24:49.82
light, we have fellowship with
one another, and the blood of
Jesus Christ His Son cleanses
00:24:49.85\00:24:55.56
us from all sin.
00:24:55.59\00:24:57.66
If we say that we have no sin,
we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us.
00:24:57.66\00:25:01.46
If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse
00:25:01.46\00:25:06.43
If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from
00:25:06.43\00:25:06.47
all unrighteousness. us
from all unrighteousness.
00:25:07.10\00:25:09.47
If we say that we have not
sinned, we make Him a liar and
His Word is not in us.
00:25:09.47\00:25:16.51
So how does this
verse say we are cleansed?
00:25:16.54\00:25:18.81
We are cleansed by the blood of
Christ: "Though your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be made
00:25:18.81\00:25:24.32
white as snow."
00:25:24.35\00:25:25.59
How does that cleansing come?
00:25:25.59\00:25:27.82
Through confessing our sin.
00:25:27.82\00:25:30.09
And through that confession, the
guaranteed and the promise of
God is that we are forgiven
00:25:30.09\00:25:38.50
and cleansed.
00:25:38.53\00:25:42.20
And just to make sure that we
don't miss it, let us be clear
about this promise of
00:25:42.20\00:25:46.37
God.
00:25:46.37\00:25:48.71
Just as in the Old Testament,
there were appointed times of
cleansing and renewal, so God's
00:25:48.71\00:25:52.75
people today are to have
appointed times also to be
cleansed and renewed.
00:25:52.75\00:25:58.32
And once again, don't miss it.
00:25:58.32\00:26:01.39
How is it that we are cleansed?
00:26:01.39\00:26:03.46
First, we are cleansed through
washing of God's Word, through
the washing of God's Word.
00:26:03.46\00:26:10.80
Friend, do you have an appointed
time to be awash in God's Word?
00:26:10.83\00:26:15.47
That word "wash"
literally means "to be bathed."
00:26:15.47\00:26:19.04
It's related to the word
"baptism," literally meaning to
00:26:19.04\00:26:24.48
be immersed. You know, near
eastern religions, which are on
the rise today, teach that you
00:26:24.48\00:26:30.32
must empty
yourself to be renewed.
00:26:30.35\00:26:31.99
But the Bible
doesn't teach that.
00:26:31.99\00:26:33.72
The Bible teaches
that we must be filled.
00:26:33.72\00:26:36.62
We must be filled with the Word.
00:26:36.62\00:26:38.89
Do you have an appointed
time with God to be in His Word?
00:26:38.89\00:26:41.86
Daily, are you being
immersed in His Word?
00:26:41.86\00:26:46.03
And just as there was great care
taken in the collection of wood
and placing it upon
00:26:46.03\00:26:51.01
And just as there was great the
altar, are you taking care taken
in the collection great care to
00:26:51.01\00:26:51.04
be in God's Word? of wood and
placing it upon the altar, are
you taking great care to be in
00:26:52.17\00:26:55.64
God's Word? Every day,
bathing yourself in it?
00:26:55.64\00:27:00.35
But number two.
00:27:00.35\00:27:01.78
Do you have appointed
times to confess your sins?
00:27:01.78\00:27:04.32
Are we taking time, appointed
times, to daily be with the Lord
and confess before Him the
00:27:04.32\00:27:10.39
reality of who we are and by
faith asking Him to cleanse us
00:27:10.39\00:27:17.07
and renew us? Do we have
appointed times for personal
reflection and accountability
00:27:17.07\00:27:23.30
before the most Holy God? My
dear friends, Jesus is coming
00:27:23.34\00:27:26.74
soon. He is coming
at His appointed time.
00:27:26.74\00:27:29.51
Will you be ready?
00:27:29.51\00:27:31.85
Do you have a daily appointed
time with Him to experience
cleansing and renewal?
00:27:31.85\00:27:38.15
Do you have daily appointed
times to be bathed and immersed
00:27:38.15\00:27:42.92
in His Word? Do you have daily
appointed times to confess your
sins that you might experience
00:27:42.92\00:27:49.73
true renewal in being
forgiven and cleansed by Him?
00:27:49.76\00:27:53.47
Jesus has an appointed
time that He is coming again.
00:27:53.47\00:27:56.74
He desires to have daily
appointed times with you to
prepare you for that coming.
00:27:56.74\00:28:02.84
My dear friends, will you today
carefully consider and commit
yourself to daily having
00:28:02.84\00:28:09.72
appointed times with Him, that
you would be ready for Him at
the appointed time?
00:28:09.72\00:28:14.69