So many times throughout history, God’s chosen people, the Jews, and His chosen nation, Israel, have fallen into deception, disobedience, rebellion and played the “harlot” by going after and serving gods of this world.

They clearly understood that they were to forsake the world and serve God only. In obedience, they would live and prosper, and in disobedience they would reap death and despair. They were told to destroy their enemies but often chose to live with them and even adopt and worship their gods — “they did not destroy the peoples, as the Lord commanded them, but they mingled with the nations, and learned their practices, and served their idols, which became a snare to them. They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted, with the blood. Thus they became unclean in their practices and played the harlot in their deeds.”

To mingle here means to join in with, share with, undertake; to be surety for someone, meaning to be contracted to be responsible for another.

John also cautions all of God’s people not to mingle with the world and says, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” 

We, as God’s priests, must not mingle nor touch the things of this world but rather commune with God by entering the Holy of Holies through the blood of Jesus. We are not to be conformed to this world but rather “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Paul said, “'Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me,’ says the Lord almighty.”

References: Psalm 106:34-39; Isaiah Chapter 5; I John 2:15-17; Hebrews 3:12-14; 2 Corinthians 6:17; Romans 12:2

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Some of you may remember the comedian Flip Wilson and his humorous routine where he would say, “Here come da judge, here come da judge”. Is that the song people sing when you come in the room? I hope not, but if you struggle with being somewhat judgmental, Jesus has a remedy. He says, "don’t”!

Ever notice that some Christians are piercingly critical people. Get a revelation folks; our criticism often crushes the one being criticized – whether you know it or not, it does. Criticism is NOT correction. Criticism is the Adam nature’s version of correction!

The Spirit of God is the only One in a position to criticize because His criticism is not disparaging, it is correction in the superlative. We have to let Him do it because He is the only One who can do it with hurting and wounding. You may never voice your criticism but if you’re even thinking it, you have a problem!

Let’s look at God’s training manual on this issue: Mathew 7:1-5, Romans 2:17-29, Romans 5:8-11.

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David was incited (provoked, urged, and stimulated) by Satan to number Israel. Satan appealed to David’s pride and David was curious to take an inventory of his army’s power and numbers. God was greatly displeased with David’s actions and even his general, Joab, was alarmed when he was ordered to carry out David’s command.

David acknowledged and confessed his sin to God by saying, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” God wanted David to understand that it was not his strength, wisdom, or ability that brought him many victories, but it was God alone that enabled him to conquer his enemies.

God further instructed the prophet Gad to give David the choice of three punishments for his disobedience. “…either three years of famine, or three months to be swept away before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.” “…and David said to Gad, ‘I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are very great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man.’” God struck Israel with judgment, and 70,000 men perished from a pandemic pestilence carried out by an angel of the Lord with a drawn sword.

David knew there was hope in the midst of this calamity and held on to his God of mercy and grace! He obeyed God’s command to build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. “Then David built an altar to the LORD there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And he called to the LORD and He answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering. The LORD commanded the angel, and he put his sword back in its sheath.”

Today, the altar of the Lord is in our hearts, and we must minister to God as His priests and bring Him an offering of praise and thanksgiving – for God inhabits the praise of His people. We have been granted access into the Holy of Holies through the sacrificial blood of Jesus where we meet with God and call down His presence to push back the darkness in the world today. Build Me an altar!


References: I Chronicles 21; Psalm 22:3; Acts 27:15-18

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God called Abraham when he was 75 years old to leave his home in Ur of the Chaldees and journey to the land of Canaan. This was the land He was promising to Abraham and his descendants forever. The Canaanites were a culture living in darkness serving Baal and other false gods. They practiced witchcraft, and spirits of darkness were in control of the land influencing the nature of the Canaanite people.

However, God had a plan to use Abraham as a forerunner to “push back the powers of darkness” and prepare the way for Joshua to conquer the Promised Land for His people, Israel.

In fact, after Abraham arrived at Shechem, God appeared to him and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord and called upon the Name of the Lord.

Abraham, an obedient and faithful servant of God, knew that he was facing a spiritual warfare with the powers of darkness and Satan. He went directly to his Source of strength, wisdom, might and life and “He called upon the Name of the Lord,” to push back the dark forces of evil in the land.

Abraham traveled on from there and pitched his tent between Bethel on the West and Ai on the East, and yes, once again, “He built an altar to the Lord and called upon the Name of the Lord.”

As God’s children we, too, like Abraham, must establish prayer altars in our own personal lives, our families, our work places, our churches and throughout our nation. These prayer altars today are not to be stone monuments or physical structures, but the altar of God in our hearts. These altars are hearts devoted to God through Christ Jesus in worship, adoration and praise to Him. The voluminous reading of God’s word is imperative and a sincere urgency to minister to God through Jesus as His devoted priests are a must to call down His presence. We are to enter the Holy of Holies in God’s very presence through the atoning blood of Christ and offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving due to Him. God inhabits the praises of His people! God’s presence therefore will push back the darkness of evil forces seeking to destroy the communion He so desires between Himself and His beloved children.

References: Genesis 12:1-7; Psalm 22:3

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Psalm 119 starts out stating, "How blessed are those whose way is blameless. Who walk in the law of the Lord. How blessed are those who observe His testimonies. Who seek Him with all their heart."

Just like that Psalm, we often start out great guns in the Lord, then life hits you in the face and you spend more time trying to get through the battle than remembering that the Lord said for us to remember that, “The battle is not mine, but the Lord’s”!

We grow weary, we get confused in the fog of that spiritual warfare and it’s so much easier to pull away from the Lord and take a nap, or worse still, just pass out on Him.

Psalm 119 is your defibrillator! Read it! Don’t fade out now – wake up you sleepy head. Get going!

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Jesus told us “the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve.” This reality alone sent the disciples into a state of confusion. How in the world could this be possible? Jesus also said, “He who is least among you all – he is the greatest.” (Luke 9:48) In this world’s thinking, more often than not, we put ourselves first ahead of all others.

With a puffed out chest, many do what they do for the notoriety, fame, rewards and adulation of peers. But, “NEWS ALERT!”, we are nothing compared to the One we need to be like.

Most everyone seems to “like” Jesus. But they don’t really understand. You don’t just “like” Jesus as you would a “friend” on Facebook or other social media. By the same token, you don’t just “unlike” Him as you would a friend simply because you disagree with Him. We need to “be” like Him.

Some attempt to silence the teachings of Jesus by seeking for themselves and omitting and twisting His words.  They change the meaning because what He said doesn’t settle well in their souls. Not serving themselves is the greatest wall they cannot get over – they can’t get over themselves.

The way of Jesus is the path of servant hood. This is not a test to see if we deserve better. It is God offering us the best of Himself and the best of life. Jesus calls us to the servant way because He was and is a servant to all of us.

References: Romans 12:3, 9-13

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Some people are those “glass half full” people who … complain, complain, complain! God doesn’t want us living like that, for sure. But how can we live a better life in a world that sometimes seems so bitter and full of evil?

Viewpoint … viewpoint … viewpoint – that’s how. We can’t brush sin and hardship under the rug; I’m not suggesting that. Just realize there are beauty, treasure, and holiness here, too! What you train yourself to see and think on is the key. That training must be based on the Word and will of God. Remember, all the positive thinking in the world will only get you so far; but a life in Christ will cover all aspects and truly make you BETTER not bitter.

God tells us to set our affections on things above and not on things of the earth. There is no way you can stay bitter and not get better when you realize that in Jesus you have:

• The love of God (Deuteronomy 30:5-6)
• Blessedness and happiness (Psalm 119:1-2)
  
• Warnings of evil (Psalm 19:7-14)
• Assurance and not ashamed (Psalm 119:4-6)
• Understanding (Psalm 119:97-104)
• Freedom and safety (Proverbs 1:33)
• Assurance of salvation (1 John 2:3-6)
• God’s presence (John 14:23)
• Eternal life (1 John 2:17)
• Entrance into heaven (Revelation 22:14)

A better life, not a bitter life is right here for the taking!

(Listen to entire sermon below. Originally recorded 06/01/14.)