Date: November 11, 2019
Special Guest Minister: Reverend Bill Cox
Personal Holiness
Ezekiel 44:10-17
Worship is ushering ourselves in his presence. Don’t care if you like it…It’s not about you it’s about Him!
Read: Ezekiel 44:10-17 Good news this morning
What in the world are we gonna talk about today? I do want to communicate a fresh word from the Lord. If you will lean in the Lord will give you a first time or new perspective on this passage. I don’t have a title for the sermon yet…. maybe together we can figure it out.
I’ve got good news this morning but first we must address the bad news so relax
Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” When God gives a gift he does not take it back. He does not say no longer will this gift work. Bad sin can be happening for a season God will allow that person to continue to function as normal. You might say that’s a good sermon for ministers but I’m not a minister I’m not a priest. Well the bible says in
In this text Gods was saying I see there are two priesthoods that are in my house that are in my temple.
Eli priesthood is impure living a life of compromise saying I can live like I want, and my gifts still work. Judgement doesn’t immediately come. LISTEN God could be blessing your socks off Business person, your gift may be in spite of personal sin. Merciful gracious God long suffering and patience with us waiting on repentance.
Question. What Kind of priesthood do you want to be? Do you want a walk that looks religious outwardly and everybody thinks one thing but personally your unclean?
An outward relationship but far from God? I want to have a good life that enjoys life has fun is blessed is successful ..but more than that I want to be pure I want to be clean be holy like Jesus I want to be sanctified and set apart
Title of the Sermon ARE YOU NASTY?
The Eli priesthood is corrupt and unclean…BUT THEN there is the priesthood in verse 15 the Levites that have kept my charge they shall come near to me they shall minister to me They shall be clothed with linen underwear because I don’t want them to sweat….mans curse from Adam for sinning you will have to now produce instead of getting provision. Coming near to God is not done by our work our sweat its done by his wiliness for us to be holy set apart and our love response of conforming to His desires personal holiness. The Priesthood of Zadok who kept charge of my sanctuary.
Nobody knows what you are wearing under your priestly garment?
Nobody knows what color your underwear are, and were not gonna check! Nobody knows if you have underwear on. Only God and you know and that is what he is saying in the text! Only God and you know personally if you are living the life.
Remember growing up and going to fancy place .GRANNY PUT ON YOUR GOOD UNDERWEAR YOU MIGHT BE IN A WRECK.
But there are others who will say purge me sanctify me and take it out of my life take my life God. I’ll give it up and take up my cross and God says come on in.
Question (7 billion people) God mercy gives us chance after chance, but you will sense something is still missing…chance after chance but closeness missing….Success blessing you can’t tell if a person is intimate with God…look at them how religious…you don’t know they can be doing remarkable things but not be intimate with God…People say oh look how holy and great but the truth is God says both are in my house…good results towards Gods people doesn’t always mean personal holiness and closeness with God.
God is getting ready to change the priesthood on some people if they don’t get it right.
Your either of the priesthood of Eli at arm’s length or the priesthood of Zadok that can come near
We go on and on accepting Gods mercy thinking God’s winking at you….he aint winking at you. Eli corrupt family unclean drugs looking at places on the internet smoking….I shouldn’t have said that I got a bunch of you made at me….might as well go for broke this morning and leave pastor Brent a mop! Just get it all out. Do you think I’ll go to hell if I smoke cigarette NO youll just get to heaven quicker than I am. Vaping get rid of it. Not doing you any good. If God wanted you to smoke he would have put a chiminy on your head.
I’ll tell you what I would rather have someone who smokes in the church than some one who talks about people. Someone who is real with there weakness and confesses it before God truly wanting to come close to Jesus. They stumble forward toward Jesus wanting to do right. God knows the difference of faking it and really wanting to do right. EVERYTIME GODS GRACE SHOWS UP SAYING get up I CAN DEAL WITH YOU come to me come. I can’t deal with the fake outward stuff BUT I can deal with some body’s heart who wants to change wants to come wants to do better.
What I’m trying to say is to be used by God is a precious thing…treasure it! Don’t play with Gods gifting talents favor Mercy and Grace. You lose your closeness and anointing the difference between a Eli priesthood business, teaching, playing serving for the people but far away from God and a Zadok Priesthood close and intimate ministering to God.
Play the game for a season Eli with no underwear personal holiness you will be lonely and one day will be exposed OR Come in this season Zadok humbly and honestly asking God to purge you cleanse me change me and as you empty out God will pour in getting closer and closer
You want Gods favor ask to be purged if a man will purge himself God honors that.
What mom puts milk in a dirty bottle purge yourself and God will pour himself in. I’m not talking about perfection there are no perfect people but people that wants to please God. FCN become a people that wants to purge anything in our lives that is not like God. I know this is heavy, but this is the kind of peaching that will get you to heaven the kind of preaching that will make you do an inspection of your soul.
Grace giving you what you don’t deserve Mercy not getting what you deserve. You don’t know what He has held back…what he’s holding back today…waiting for you to draw near. Red Sea baby’s in grave danger didn’t know..
Leave Eli’s outward religious life and draw near to God like Zadok with holy undergarments…things done for him that only you and he know living a clean life for him that only he and you know …a life that is pleasing satisfying blessed merciful gracious abundant and intimate for others and more importantly for your closeness with God. Amen