How to Let God Incinerate Yesterday’s Sin
July 18, 2010
A Review
1 The secret of the Most Holy Place is that God’s presence is accessible to us now.
2 The secret of 1 Corinthians 13, love is the way to the Most Holy Place.
B Tonight, the secret of unapproachable light.
1 The sanctuary is divided into two parts: Holy Place & the Most Holy Place.
a In the Holy Place you smell the incense, strong smell of frankincense in the air. The aroma of fresh bread weighs thick in the room.
b By the flicker of the menorah you notice the floor: streaks of crimson stripe the floor.
aa Similarly disappear, under the veil
bb Hear a voice that says: Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Heb 10:19-22 (NASB)
2 There is a new way inside! (Not religion, custom, tradition, doctrine, or denomination)
a Clear conscience-sprinkled clean (my guilt, my shame, my past!)
b I can have hope again!
aa A spirit of religion has chained me to guilt/ fear, but now I hope again! Sing again!
bb Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful...Heb 10:23 (NASB) I want in!
C Beyond the veil is just the presence, & nothing else is allowed.
1 Nothing made with human hands, out strength-in fact, these things must stay out.
a Every thing I’ve done to this point was to get God’s approval, love.
aa God doesn’t want things/works-He wants “us”.
bb He loves you for who you are, not for what you think you can give Him.
b All my works, all I’ve done, my “things” are not allowed beyond the veil...but I want in!
2 So, I cry out for forgiveness: “Please forgive me of my prideful/human attempts to get your approval!”
a He does! Free, forgiven! His presence overtakes you as forgiveness floods your soul.
b He calls, “Come, my child. The blood of my firstborn Son has made you clean.”
aa Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 1 John 3:2 (NASB) We see Him, & we realize the things we’ve tried to bring into His presence.
bb Confession & repentance are different things.
cc We must lay down the things that we only moments ago thought defined us.
3 My doctrine is the first to go at the base of the Mercy Seat.
a Talents, gifts, ministry, idolatry, financial/career security...external.
b Personal ambition, greed, lust, bitterness/unforgiveness, pride/arrogance.
aa Then I said,"Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs.7 He touched my mouth with it and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven ." Isaiah 6:5-7 (NASB)
bb Hatred/sorrow, insecurity/unbelief are the last to go.
4 We have literally laid everything at the feet of the Mercy Seat.
a Feel free, exhausted, but lighter than air!
b “Come up here, My Son has sprinkled His blood on the Mercy Seat.” "For it was not David who ascended into heaven , but he himself says:'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand,35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for your feet ."'36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ —this Jesus whom you crucified."Acts 2:34-36 (NASB)
D Gen. 3:7-11 becomes real (you’re naked). Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.9 Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"10 He said, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself."11 And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" Gen 3:7-11 (NASB)
1 “Who told you that you were naked?”
a On the floor, you notice what you did earlier...the blood.
aa You know God has provided a covering for you.
bb Somehow, in God’s economy, you’re not naked.
b What would happen if we stood up? Obeyed, we’re clean, pure, holy...so we get up.
2 ...who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. 1 Tim 6:16 (NASB)
a We are immediately enveloped in Him!
aa By man’s standards, we’re naked.
bb In the veil, you’re clothed in His light.
b For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matt 16:25 (NASB)
aa Lay everything down to really get gain.
bb Become naked to be clothed in His righteousness.
E He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30 (NASB)
1 God not only requires us to become bare before Him, He is also requiring us to become smaller.
2 “God, may I always stay small before You, my King.”
a Never exchange Your presence for the trappings of religions.
b Never allow idolatry to replace Your spectacular nearness.
c Never use my gifts/ministry to try & purchase your love & approval.
aa I’m nothing
bb What I’ve given you today, I never want to see again.
F His eyes full of love turns to you...never be the same again (changed!).
1 Then His eyes turn to anger-
a He stares at all the “things” at the base of the Mercy Seat.
aa Burn in a violent flame
bb Not even ashes left
b For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NASB)
aa You are His!
bb Sit with Him on the Seat of Mercy...
2 You will see the people/world like He does...Your heart will break (in three weeks, we’ll learn about the secret of intercessory prayer).
G Tonight, God wants us bare & small.
1 Will you?
2 Pray
Notice to Sermon Central Users:
My name is Mike Fogerson, and I pastor a Southern Baptist Church in Chester, Illinois. I have been a long-time user of Sermon Central and truly appreciate its content and contributors. Some of the best sermons I’ve ever preached have been reworked material from this website. As you use the material from my sermon bank, understand that it is work that has been done from not just myself, but from hundreds of other pastors as well. If you see part of your message, or a bunch of your message with my name on it and this upsets you, please email me and I will quickly respond and cite you as the main source. My intent is not to claim someone’s work as my own. I am disclaiming up front that I use the resources from Sermon Central and appreciate the tool. I simply want all those who use my work to know that some of these messages were inspired by the Holy Spirit working through other pastors. Because I do use the messages of other pastors I waive all claims of originality or origin of creativity for the messages posted under my messages. I pray God blesses your preaching ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.
Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
