Go up the Mountain- Exodus 19:10-25 (NKJV)
You ever feel like you don’t have what it takes to do what you need to do? This is for you
- In Exodus 19:10-25, God instructs Moses to prepare the Israelites for His appearance on Mount Sinai by consecrating themselves and setting boundaries around the mountain. On the third day, amidst thunder, lightning, and a loud trumpet blast, God descends on the mountain in fire, causing it to tremble. The people are warned not to approach the mountain. Moses and Aaron are called to the top while the rest of the people and priests must stay back to avoid perishing. Moses conveys these instructions to the Israelites.
- A little road map to show you where we’re at and where we’re going.
- Exodus 19 God instructs Moses to prepare the people for His appearance on Mount Sinai.
- Exodus 20 God gives the Ten Commandments.
- Ex 21-23 God provides additional laws and commandments, the Book of the Covenant.
- Exodus 24 Moses writes down the laws, and the covenant is confirmed with the people through a ceremony involving sacrifices and the sprinkling of blood.
- This event of today is commemorated in Judaism as the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), which celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. This whole timeline is only a couple weeks.
- This scripture is right before the giving of the ten, the covenant and the ceremony.
Lets start the process-
- The Call to Purity at Mount Sinai
- Exodus 19:10-11 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.’”
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- God Commands purification- It is a requirement for us to be made clean to enter into a relationship with God. He cannot be in relationship with uncleanliness. This is today scripture
- It has always been the Lord, his spirit and Grace that cleans us, but we must go to him
- He promised-Ezekiel 36:25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
- But watch this-Eze 36:22“I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake”
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- Holiness is never about cleaning you up for you, its for HIM. In this scripture, when Moses tells them to wash, its ceremonially to prepare them to meet God.
- When I say “For Him” its denoting who holiness is for. Your holiness does benefit you, but it’s not for you specifically, its for God. be in relationship w/ him, bring him glory, draw more to him.
- Some people have no idea of what holiness is bc they have no idea of what cleanliness is.
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- Remember the phrase cleanliness is next to godliness? Dirtiness and slovenliness translates to other areas of your life. Its filthiness. I am always amazed at some peoples filthiness.
- If you want to live that way, be that way, but I aint going to your house or car. I can’t do it.
- Many years ago, (one of reasons I don’t help move) showed up, covered in cat urine, hair, dust
- Why? Because I want it clean. Not just my house and car. My life. Maybe I’m off, but I’m not addicted to anything. I’m not controlled by my flesh. I also have really clean hands.
- So when God says “consecrate” its easy for me to make the transition- get the hard to see parts.
- God’s presence demands holiness and purity from His people (Hebrews 12:14, NKJV: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord”).
- Consecration is preparation. God is cleaning you to prepare you for what he wants in you.
- GOD Does it by his spirit, but you must take part in it. You are obedient to the cleansing.
- Street vendor videos- Some of the grossest. Cutting chicken with toenails, poor hygiene, disgusting conditions. I’d never eat the food. You neither- because its defiled. Contaminated
- God is undefiled. He doesn’t want your botulism and salmonella. He wants PURITY
- We partner with God with his cleansing. We change our actions, he changes our hearts.
- 2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
- But we remove the filth. We confess our sins. We receive his spirit
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- 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
- James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
- 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.
- Confess your sins. Draw near to God. Obey the truth. Do what you know.
- From Sinai to Pentecost: Law and Spirit
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- This is OT Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks, celebrated 50 days after Passover. Pente- 50
- Exodus 19:16-19 READ
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- The Israelites are being prepared to be able to uphold the law that is going to be given. They are going to be given the guide to be able to live a holy life. But BEFORE They receive the commands, they must be purified Like we’ve been talking about.
- This is why legalism doesn’t work. You cant have unconsecrated people trying to follow God’s commands. They don’t have the heart for it. They are still Unclean. Has to be God doing it.
- They are about to receive The Law as a guide to living a holy life (Exodus 20:1-17 The Ten Commandments). They will need this external purity to uphold the Law. Law isn’t enough
- In the Old Testament it was (External Purity):
- The Law was written on tablets of stone Exodus 24:12 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.
- Purity always the plan- Leviticus 19:1-2 “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
- But then God says he will do it- Ezekiel 36: 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
- What a treasure for us to be able to be in relationship with God and be cleansed.
- Part of the process of the OT moving to the New Covenant was our inability to cleanse ourselves and make ourselves pure before God. The law couldn’t change the heart of the people.
- But when and how did that happen? The New Testament Pentecost:
- Acts 2:1-4 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
- The outpouring of the Holy Spirit fulfilling Jesus’ promise John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
- The Holy Spirit’s role in internal purity and sanctification Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”).
- The New Testament is different than OT in that is Internal Purity
- The Law is now written on hearts through the Holy Spirit Jeremiah 31:33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them
- If I had a glass jug- filled and covered with dirt, and you only washed the outside, the inside would still be dirty. The water flows from the inside out, it cleans both in and out.
There are Connections Between Sinai and Pentecost
- Both involve a divine encounter and a call to holiness. One is external- one is internal
- The Law given at Sinai and the Spirit given at Pentecost both aim to guide God’s people into deeper fellowship with Him. One is outward obedience one is inward obedience
- Jesus as the perfect sacrifice who fulfills the Law Matt 5:17 do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
- The power of the Holy Spirit enables us for grace based obedience. It’s HIS Spirit in us!
- The Holy Spirit as the fulfillment of God’s promise to write the Law on our hearts
- What do we do?
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- Receive the Holy Spirt and the spirit of Pentecost so we can live holy lives towards God and fulfill his commands and demands! You pray- Holy Spirit, come into my life!
- We have a desire for holiness, but we are unable to do it on our own strength.
- You must move from ritualistic obedience to a Spirit-led life Romans 8:1-4
- You Evaluate areas in your life where consecration is needed. Don’t lie to yourself.
- Through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling power, you’re consecrated. You’re clean. Yes.
- But here’s the kicker- is what we’re doing, thinking, practicing reflecting that?
- This is where the separation is. Some will say “there’s nothing I have to do” or “Jesus paid it all” or “he fulfilled the law” But that is not biblically accurate
- We go to prayer. We change our behavior. We put guardrails on our life.
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- Its like this- and I’ve said this before- I work out 6 days a week. But pancakes chase me.
- I don’t eat vegetables because I like them. Its because I know they are good for me.
- SOME of my desires have changed now that I eat cleaner. I’ve gone from hating to- I feel better when I eat cleaner. But that has taken time. It wasn’t over night. I’ve realized its better
- Following God not much different. Goes from obedience to seeing the benefits.
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- Used to be hard to get up early to read and pray. Now I notice a difference.
- Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
- But how? With the indwelling power of the Holy Spirt! Its only through HIM
- how the Holy Spirit helps believers:
- 1. Guidance and Teaching John 16:13: “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
- The Holy Spirit guides believers into all truth, helps understand God’s will and discern right from wrong, which is essential for overcoming sin. You don’t have what it takes to guide yourself
- Practically- out loud pray- Lord, I need guidance right now. Show me in your word. Reveal to me by your spirit. Do not let me move forward against your will.
- Most people don’t do this. They don’t go to God in prayer. They rely on themselves.
- Empowerment to Live Righteously Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. PRAY FOR THE HS INSIDE YOU AND TO LEAD YOU
- The Holy Spirit empowers to live righteously and witness for Christ, helping them resist sinful temptations and live according to God’s standards. The flesh no longer controls- spirit does
- Since repenting from my sins, the power of Christ has changed my desires. I’m not sinless, but I sin-less. I find that what I desire is closer to what God desires. Only by his spirit!
- Conviction of Sin John 16:8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.
- The Holy Spirit convicts me of sin, leads me to repentance and a desire to turn away from sinful behaviors. It’s the red line on the tachometer that shows me that its not good for my engine
- I’m always surprised when People say they are saved and can continue in sin. It PAINS me
- I’ve had times where I turned the car around and went back to apologize to a worker.
- Transforming Character: Galatians 5:16-17, 22-23 READ
- The Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit in believers, transforms their character and helps them exhibit qualities that counteract sinful tendencies.
- You will change when the HS Comes upon you. You will not be the same.
- Interceding in Prayer Romans 8:26: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
- The Holy Spirit intercedes for believers in their prayers, aligning their requests with God’s will and helping them overcome spiritual weaknesses.
- I believe this is the HS in you, pouring out for you, sometimes in tongues, for your benefit.
- Renewal of the Mind: Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
- The Holy Spirit renews the minds of believers, enables them to think and act according to God’s will rather than following worldly patterns of sin.
- When you THINK differently, you ACT differently. You are CHANGED by the the HS
- Set up your life for less chances for God to have to consecrate you.
So pray- Holy Spirit, come dwell in me as you promised to do. I give my will to you to do as you will. Cause me to be obedient and change my heart to desire what you desire. Through your power, cause me to overcome the sins that hold me back from the holiness you desire.
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