- Virgins, Socerers and Fur Babies Exodus 22:16-31
- “other duties as assigned” is a catch-all phrase used by employers.
- Covers all the stuff not covered in the manual. Today, we have a few random laws
- Cant really have a coherent substantive cohesive thought- Just random stuff
1. Include parents in Wedding plans.
- Read v 16-17
- In antiquity, a woman would not be allowed to get married without the consent of her father
- Many people had no wealth, so offering a hand in marriage would create wealth for a family
- In this instance, the man entices her, takes advantage of her, convinces her. Not forces her.
- When the dad finds out, whether or not he is allowed to marry her, still has to pay.
- Modern application- Exodus, Duet, Levi, Jesus- All say honor your father and mother
- It is not good to pursue a relationship without the consent of your parents. It’s wrong
- Firstly- you are still under their authority, but also It’s dishonorable. There is rare exceptions
- But if your parents tell, encourage or demand that you don’t marry someone- trust them.
- They are not trying to ruin your life. “that it might go well with you”
- I have seen many a couple where one of them is a dirtbag and they wont listen.
- Past performance is indicative of future behavior. Don’t let loneliness cloud your brain.
- They aren’t going to stop drinking, gambling, beating, not working, not going to church
- People do not change that much. They mature, but they are, or should be who you married.
- Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
- You do not want to be one flesh with the wrong person. Don’t settle. There is more out there.
2. Stay away from the occult
- 18 “You shall not permit a sorceress to live.
- Deuteronomy 18:10-12 READ
- Different kinds of Occult practices- Can’t go into great detail today.
- People think to themselves- I don’t take part in occultism, but by proxy they do
- You can unknowingly participate in deeds of darkness because you aren’t watching
- Individualism (being one’s own authority; independent; self-styled)
- Humanism and self-deification (treating humans as the most important, or divine)
- Pantheism (belief that all is god and god is all)
- Mysticism (spiritual knowledge comes primarily by direct subjective experience)
- Depersonalizing God (interpreting God as an energy/force; God is an “it” not a “He”)
- Vague/pseudoscientific view of energy (e.g., chakras, lunar energy, the force, etc.)
- Spiritual (not “religious” per se but idealistic about and intrigued with the spiritual realm)
- Magickal thinking — belief that everything is related by some principle/force/element that can be manipulated by human will.
- Ennegrams, feng shui, superstition, trying to find meaning in everything, thinking yourself more inspired or spiritually adept than others, trusting your feelings, yoga, zodiacs, tarot, fortune tell.
- My job as your pastor is to teach you Bible, push you towards YHWH. I reject EVERYTHING not of him that is spiritual in nature unapologetically. I turn off movies, stop music, leave places, throw away books. We have enough- Prophecy, Tongues, the Holy Spirit. More than good.
- I need to make heaven. I don’t need to manipulate or understand or coerce the world
- Reject all non Christian spirituality. Only focus on the things of God. Be careful out there
- It is never a Jesus worshipping, Bible reading, committed Church goer. Some lukewarm.
3. Animals are not your equal. They are not your fur babies
- 19 “Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death.
- This is a condemnation against bestiality. Obviously it’s wrong. Everyone should know this
- But the essence of it is that Animals weren’t intended for everything. Spiritual bestiality.
- Main goal of Animals is to eat them, the other is to work them. Quit worshipping them
- Ro 1:22-23 Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
- There is an epidemic with people who care far too much about animals than people
- We had a dog, we have cats, And they serve their purpose. Reggie 140 ft. Ooops.
- But there are people that fill God gaps with Animals. Talk more to them than God
- People who have deeper relationships with Animals than people. (Fur babies- Holly A)
- Lady we had over to house in Army “I have to go and check on the baby” huh?
- People who use animals as a defense mechanism for relationships.
- We are not supposed to treat animals cruelly, but they cant be primary relationship
- I’m probably going to get a one star review for this- but get over your animals
- People have not come to church because their dog died. You have wrong priorities.
- “You don’t understand”. Ranger died. I cried for a minute. I went to church. I moved on.
- If your family can’t afford, or it creates chaos, get rid of the animals. God first.
4. Keep God First
- 20 “He who sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
- Verse after verse in the bible demands that there should be no one or no thing above our God
- Worshipping anything other than God will destroy you! God intends full allegiance
- Too many people want to mix their Jesus with something else, instead of God
- Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
- Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before Me.
- Christians today don’t typically go and sacrifice to other Gods, but in Bible times, people would meander down to the false temple and maybe try a sacrifice to a false God to see if it would work. God saw this. His Demand was that if anyone sacrificed to any other God, destruction.
- Modern day Gods are different. You’re not going to erect an altar in your back yard
- The greatest God we sacrifice to every day is the God of ourselves. We worship self more than God. Our time, energy, desires, focuses and hopes are planted directly upon ourselves.
- We don’t see it that way because society tells us to put self first.
- Goes into personal sexuality and gender and self expression and self care
- The God of Mammon- working too hard, sacrificing too much for money, not giving God his money and keeping it for yourself, or spending it on things that you shouldn’t
- God’s of entertainment, sports, diversions, etc. any one of those things can pull you away
- But also, believing that other religions are OK. Islam, Judaism, Buddhists, secularists, humanists
- Quit bowing to other Gods. Serve him Alone! Honor him alone!
5. Treat Others well.
- Read v 21-24
- Strangers- Sojourners- People that are passing through on way to other land, not permanent residents who refuse to become part of Israel. There were ways to join, not force your way in
- True Widows and orphans. How you deal with those who are vulnerable matters don’t do it.
- Modern example- There are ways to take advantage of people who don’t have the ability to provide for and defend themselves. Don’t take advantage of them. Realize what you’re doing
- God does not turn a blind eye to those who take advantage of other people.
- If there is someone, whom you know, that you can take advantage of, don’t.
- Protect those who are vulnerable. Find ways to support those who struggle to support themselves or are in a bad way. “Will burn hot” sounds bad.
- It’s like this- even when it comes to lending money to a person who needs it
- V25-27 READ Lending money
- Don’t charge him interest. If you’re a bank, charge interest. If you’re a friend or fellow church member, charging interest on a loan is not acceptable.
- If you’re doing business with other people’s money, much diff, but need a few until payday? No
- And don’t cut off someone’s lifeblood. Someone offers tools as collateral, let them work, car, let them work, don’t take as a pledge something that someone needs if its all they have.
- Two verses that help direct me-
- Rom 12:3 “don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought to” and Phil 2:3 “consider others better than yourself”
- There are people who are easily taken advantage of and don’t do it.
- Christians should be the most giving, loving, serving, helping people around. Just because
6. Be honorable
- 28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
- This means you should not attack God with your words- Revile.
- Ecclesiastes 5:2 Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.
- You cannot both curse and bless God with the same mouth. Choose your words
- We’re supposed to have a heart condition that wants to honor people and trust God
- Do you know what honor is? Treating people tenderly with words, actions and disposition
- Everyone is your equal, but that doesn’t mean you don’t honor them.
- God is in control of everything, your leaders are influencing somethings.
- On plane to Ghana- Kid talked back to adult- kid kept seat up the whole time.
- We’ve elevated Kids to a status they were never intended to be at, so they don’t honor anyone
- I wasn’t allowed to sit on couch, talk, breathe, be inside, have an opinion.
- Now I go places people let kids eat first. Huh? You’re not teaching your kids humility and honor
- Typically, dishonorable people don’t teach their kids how to honor others. Including leaders
- My mom didn’t yell at teachers, complain to coaches, argue with youth leaders. Neither did I
- Kids don’t curse me here. I’m sure some adults do. But if you’re cursing me in front of your kids, you’re setting them up to be dishonorable.
7. Give God your first fruits
- 29 “You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe produce and your juices. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. 30 Likewise you shall do with your oxen and your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.
- I’ve been wanting to do a month long series about tithing, but a quicker way around the mountain is for everyone who refuses to give God their firstfruits to start.
- Here’s what I would appreciate- Let me know specifically if you don’t tithe and wont. Please don’t lead me to believe that you are. I treat everyone like they are as committed as me.
- Secondly- Admit that you need help getting your finances in order to get there.
- The bible is clear that God owns a portion (typically 10%) of your increase back to him
- He actually owns it all. Melchizadek, Malachi, Jesus, Pastor Jay Sermon
- I’ve found that people that play Bible gymnastics with the scriptures in regards to not having to give God their money have usually not given God their all.
- Every week we say “God doesn’t need your money” and we believe that. But God does need your obedience. You are not experiencing the blessings of God that you could.
- But scripture declares over and over that God owns the first 10. It does not belong to you.
8. Be holy. Do what God says.
- 31 “And you shall be holy men to Me: you shall not eat meat torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
- What this scripture means is that not everything that is possible is beneficial
- You can eat meat that is meat, but not that meat. That meat is not for you.
- Some things that seem acceptable, aren’t because it aint for you.
- There are things that Christians shouldn’t take part in. Not wear. Not do. Not go.
- 1 Cor 10:23 “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.”
- There’s a lot that you’re able to do, that you shouldn’t do because its not befitting a Christian
- Last week, I was thirsty, and got a monster. Returned first one. Went to other store.
- Mugi “ you do energy drinks”? with this sad look on his face.
- I can drink whatever I want. Whenever I want. Where does he get off? But not in front of him
- Why? Cause apparently he don’t want his pastor drinking energy drinks.
- Matthew 5:48 “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
- The point is, holiness is setting yourself apart. Set yourself apart. Don’t be like the world.
For more sermons please visit our SERMON PAGE
Please subscribe to our YOUTUBE PAGE
