TEXT: Exodus 19:12; Romans 14
TITLE: Journey of Holiness - Don’t Go there!
SERIES: Lessons Learned From God’s people (part 3)
TOPIC: Spiritual Boundaries, sin
OCCASION: Burnside Christian Church, April 26, 2009
PROP.: God’s people have always had boundaries they are expected to live within. Boundaries are needed in order for us to live holy lives!
INTRODUCTION: Good morning! There is no Jr. church today.
We are on a journey towards Holiness. We have been looking at the parallels between the Israelites Journey towards the promised land and our journey towards holiness. Last week, we gave you a key word that you need in order to be holy. That word is: SEPARATION.
I also told you last week, that our journey towards holiness starts with the call to be SEPARATE! Jesus Christ is different than the rest of the world. And we are following Him so we are called to look differently than the rest of the world as well - in the way we live our lives we are called to be separate!
So the Israelites have left Egypt, they’ve crossed the Red Sea, and now three months later, they come to a mountain. We know it as Mt. Sinai. This is where our story picks up.
Exodus 19:12. That’s it. Just one verse today out of Exodus. But I think you’ll see that this one verse is an important lesson to learn in regards to “How to Be Holy”
Exodus 19:12
Put Limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, “Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.”
Today’s keyword is another one you’ll need on your journey towards holiness. Today’s keyword is: BOUNDARIES. And the sermon title is simply: “Don’t Go there!”
Because, you see, in order for you to be holy, you need to have some boundaries! Some convictions. You need to say, I will NOT do that. I will not go there! In fact, the title of this morning’s message is simply: “Don’t Go there!”
ILLUSTRATION: One of the most impressive boundaries ever constructed is the Great Wall! (no, not that one CHINESE RESTAURANT) I’m talking about this one. The one in China!
Listen to these figures concerning the great wall…
The great wall stretches over 4,000 miles!
The thickness of the wall ranges from 15 - 30 feet
The wall is 25 feet tall!
During the ming dynasty (1368-1644), the wall was enlarged and renovated
It can be seen from Earth orbit, but contrary from legend it is not visible from the moon.
http://www.chinahighlights.com/greatwall/fact/
Go there for facts on great wall!
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF BOUNDARIES?
The great wall is an impressive boundary!
Now why was the great wall built? Just so we Americans would aspire to go visit China? I don’t think so. There are two reasons the great wall was built.
1. To keep people out (for protection)
Armies were stationed along the wall as a first line of defense against the invading armies of the Huns. Signal fires from the wall provided early warning of an attack.
And today, I want you to know that boundaries in your life are necessary for your protection!
--To keep people in!
Boundaries are necessary because they set up limits for us. As long as you live within these boundaries, you will be safe.
So too, the boundaries you set up in your life, are there as limits.
And both of these reasons are good things! They are blessings.
So I want to help you put up fence. To mark out your boundaries so that you can begin to live a life that you are called to live!
And I know what you’re thinking, “Mark, I’m an adult. I don’t want boundaries.”
Well I’ve got news for you, you all ready have SOME sort of boundaries. We’re memorizing them this month. The 10 commandments. Have you killed anyone lately? Have you stolen anything? No? Why? Because you have some boundaries set up. Those are easy boundaries to establish. Those are boundaries that God has set up! God said DO NOT MURDER. DO NOT STEAL. In those areas, God has placed a sign that reads: NO TRESPASSING. But what about the “grey” areas of life? Grey areas of life? What could you possibly mean? I’m talking about areas where the lines are not so easily established.
Those things that the Bible doesn’t specifically say anything about. Do you have boundaries established in your own mind concerning those things?
All I’m encouraging you to do, is set up some more boundaries.
And so our parallel text is found in Romans 14:1-3;
Romans 14:1-3; 4-22
“1) Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.
(did you catch it? Disputable matters. Paul is about to address a ‘grey’ area that was a source of conflict for the church in Rome. This dispute in particular dealt with food. Particularly, food sacrificed to idols. You see, after a sacrifice was offered to a god in a pagan temple, only part of it was burned. The remainder was often sent to the market to be sold. And so the debate raged on: “Should a Christian eat meat offered to idols or not? Some had no problem with eating this meat…others gave up meat all together to avoid a guilty conscience. Paul also addresses this source of conflict in 1st Corinthians 8. Verse two continues)
2) One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak eats only vegetables. 3) The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.”
What’s clear in these three verses that in matters of grey area (where God’s word doesn’t specifically address such issues), is this: our boundaries will look different. But please remember, don’t judge one another…God will take care of that.
T.S.: So it would take us a month to go over all the details in this chapter. I just want to show you two principles that will guide you as you set your boundaries in life…
First of all, “Don’t Go There!”
I. If it bothers you (vs. 5)
Verse 5 says: “One man consider one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.”
If it bothers you to do something, then you’ve over-stepped your boundary. Time to back it up.
In Acts 24:16, Paul is on trial before Felix, and Paul simply states: “I strive to always keep my conscience clear before God and man.”
Paul is saying that he won’t do anything that he feels would contradict what he believes to be right…in how he acts towards God and how he acts towards men, Paul will do what he believes is right. How can Paul make this bold claim? Because He has the Holy Spirit as his guide!
A. Trust Your Guide! (Holy Spirit)
The Holy Spirit convicts you of what you believe to be right and when you feel guilty, the Holy Spirit is telling you that you’ve overstepped your boundaries. It is possible to do something so often that it causes you to NOT feel remorse or guilt.
ILLUSTRATION: Let me explain it this way. The triangle symbolizes the Holy Spirit. It’s kind of like a triangle within a circle. When you do something wrong, the triangle spins inside the circle and those sharp edges bother you. But when you do something long enough, those edges get worn down and it doesn’t bother you. When you ignore and refuse to listen to what the Spirit of God tells you to do…that’s called: quenching the Holy Spirit.
Is that clear? No? Then Let’s take cheating as an example.
ILLUSTRATION: Let’s take cheating for example.
You could cheat once and the first time you cheat it bothers you REALLY REALLY bad. You lose sleep. You worry what will happen if you get caught. But then you cheat again. And the second time it isn’t so bad. And you continue to do it until cheating doesn’t bother you at all!
So how do you get it back to good? How do the edges of the triangle get sharp once again? How do get things to ‘bother’ you? The answer is this…set up boundaries! Choose to not cross the boundary. And if you should fail, and cross the boundary you’ve established, then trust me, you’ll feel bad again! And with the Help of the Holy Spirit, you will stay within the boundaries you’ve established!
So let me give you
B. Two questions to help you
In establishing boundaries for your life. They come from 1st Corinthians 6:12 which says:
“Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything!”
1. Question: WILL THIS HURT ME?
Is it helpful (physically, spiritually and mentally) for me?
You see, there may be things that you are not bothered by…but the question remains…is this going to help me? Will this help me be a better Christian, husband, friend, minister? If the answer is no, then I need to take a step back.
2. QUESTION: Does it bring me under it’s power? Could I be addicted to it?
What masters you? What are you addicted to? Time to set up some boundaries?
If this answer is yes to both of those questions…THEN GUESS WHAT? Don’t Go there!
“Stand firm!”
The second observation based on our text this morning is this…
Lastly, “Don’t Go There!”
II. If it bothers others (vs. 21)
Verse 21 says, “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.”
The second concerns others. Don’t do something if it’s going to cause them to question their faith or beliefs. Or question your character. DON’T GO THERE!
A. Love is the motivation behind this boundary
Don’t cause your brother or sister stumble because you love them and care about them!
ILLUSTRATION: It would seriously disturb some of you if you saw me drinking a beer or smoking a cigarette. I know this. And because I love you and value you as my brother or sister, I won’t cause you to stumble.
B. Two more questions to help you
1. QUESTION: Will this hurt others?
1st Corinthians 8:13: “Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again so that I will not cause him to fall.”
Do your actions cause others to sin? Ladies, are your clothes a distraction? Do the clothes you wear cause men to lust after you? “Well that’s their problem…” No. It’s YOUR problem. Dress modestly if not for your sake, the sake of men around you. Dads, help the rest of us guys out. You know how guys think. Do you really want your daughters being looked at like that?
I don’t have the privilege of having kids, but should Lindsay and I ever have a daughter of our own, she’s going to have two options in her closet.
1. Burlap sack
2. Rain parka for Sundays.
And so ladies, I implore you, I plead with you…please watch what you wear…because guys are!
2nd question to ask yourself is…
2. QUESTION: Does it glorify God?
1st Corinthians 10:31 which says: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God!”
If there is any question in your mind if this a boundary you should cross, stop and ask yourself: Can I offer this as worship to God?
That question will solve a lot of issues for you…of that I’m confident!
So don’t go there if it bothers you. Don’t go there if it bothers others.
I want to leave you with some application. 4 commitments to Holiness.
Commitment to Holiness…
1. I will avoid the appearance of Evil 16:45 No More Games, 8 principles to build my life upon part 2
2. I will avoid behavior that will cause my weaker brother to stumble (if you can quote the passage, you are NOT the weaker brother! You have a different problem. Some people walk around as though they were an offense machine!)
3. I will avoid things which could enslave me. 1st Corinthians 6:12
The Bible is clear about illegal substances or behaviors. And Bible makes it pretty clear you are to have ONE Master - and His name is not money, sex, or drugs. His name is Jesus! And he died to set you free! Don’t return to your chains of slavery.
4. I will seek to always do what I believe Jesus would do! Romans 12:1,2
What a great way to end! How clear is that? Would Jesus do this? No? Then neither should I.
CONCLUSION: Bags of rocks. It has been my desire to help you set up some boundaries just as the Israelites set up boundaries. They did so by placing piles of rocks as reminders. I want to give you some rocks that they may be reminders to you and your family about the boundaries you are setting up.
Place the bag on your TV. To remind yourself you WILL NOT watch anything that God would find despicable. If something crass comes on the show you are watching, you might have to change the channel. But I’ll be changing the channel a lot. Yep! You might!
In what you watch
In what you wear.
Ladies - place a bag of rocks in your dresser drawers. Reminding yourself to dress in a way that will not cause men to lust after your appearance.
Place a bag of rocks in your purse. Or near your bills. Are you crossing boundaries with what you spend your money on?
Place the bag near your laptop. If you are looking at content that is un-holy, use these rocks as a reminder that you need to STOP. Don’t go near those websites or those pictures or videos that will not be for your benefit! Or maybe you’re not looking at bad stuff, you’re just spending too much time on the internet! In fact, you spend so much time on the internet, that you it takes away from quality time from your family. Maybe you need to set a boundary on the TIME you spend on the internet.
Use these rocks to help you live a holy! Use these rocks to help remind you of the boundaries that you need to set forth in order to live a holy life!
We come now to our time of decision.
