Sermon for 7/17/2005
Psalm 15
Who can live on God’s Holy Hill?
Introduction:
A little girl sat with her parents during a baptismal service one Sunday night, which was a new experience for her. She exclaimed in surprise, ‘Why did he push that guy in the water? Why, Dad, why?’ Her mom tried to explain briefly and quietly, but she just wouldn’t be satisfied. Later that night the parents tried to provide an answer that a child’s mind could comprehend. They talked about sin and told the little one that when people decide to live for Jesus and ‘do good’ they want everyone to know. They then explained that water symbolizes Jesus’ washing people from sin; when they come out ‘clean,’ they are going to try to be ‘good.’ The little girl immediately responded, ‘So then why didn’t the Preacher just spank the man?’”
WBTU:
A. Who may abide in your tabernacle? Who may dwell in your sanctuary?
1. Who is counted worthy by God of being a worshipper forever and ever?
2. Who is allowed access into the Holy of Holies?
3. In the Old Testament, only the high priest once a year for a small amount of time was allowed into the Holy of Holies.
4. Today’s English Version says, “Lord, who may enter your Temple?” The only ones allowed into the Temple were the ones born of the line of Israel. The Gentiles had to worship in an outer courtyard. They were not allowed in the Temple itself.
5. Who has the privilege of enjoying communion, intimacy with the God of the universe?
B. Who may live or dwell on your holy hill?
1. The holy hill is a reference to the hill where the Temple was, Mount Zion. Today’s English Version says, “Who may worship on Zion, your sacred hill?”
2. The Temple, Mount Zion, was to be the dwelling place of God. The very presence of God was between the cherubim on the ark.
3. Who can live or dwell with God?
4. The book of Revelation mentions that one day there will be a new heaven and a new earth. It mentions that one day there will be a New Jerusalem where God will dwell. Who can live with God forever and ever?
5. I like what the Amplified version says here, LORD, WHO shall dwell [temporarily] in your tabernacle? Who shall dwell [permanently] on your holy hill?
C. Now this question is asked of the Lord, not of us. We can. Oh, really?
D. Vs. 1 is the question and vs. 2 to 5 the Lord answers that question.
Thesis: Who can live on God’s Holy Hill?
For instances:
1. No one can
A. The Lord makes it plain that no person in this room can.
B. (Heb 12:14 NIV) Make every effort … to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
C. (Rom 3:10 NIV) As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;(Rom 3:11 NIV) there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.(Rom 3:12 NIV) All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."
D. No one is holy, no one is righteous, and no one is good. No one will see the Lord.
E. Well, let’s look at the Lord’s answer.
1. Whose walk is upright or blameless?
a. This means to be without blemish, guiltless, without reproach.
b. If we were to interview your parents, your friends, your co-workers, your spouse, and your teachers and if we tried to find something on you, would we?
c. A person who obeys God in everything- Today’s English Version.
2. Who does what is righteous, or works righteousness.
a. To be just without partiality or prejudice.
b. Have you ever been easy on some people and hard on others?
3. Speaks the truth from his heart
a. (Eph 4:15 NIV) Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.(Eph 4:25 NIV) Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
b. When he speaks, he speaks not lightly, but with truth and love sincere.
b. How many of us have avoided the truth because it might hurt or it might cost us something?
4. Vs. 3- No slander, no backbiting, cast no slur on his fellowman
a. No gossip, no rumors
b. No name calling
c. No flattery to the face and then behind the back stab them.
5. Who does his neighbor (friend) no wrong?
6. Vs. 4- Who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord. Not that we hate sinners but that our close friends are those who fear the Lord. To live above with saints we love, oh, that will be glory. To live below with saints we know, well, that’s a different story. Idolize those who hate the Lord and trivialize those who love the Lord.
7. Who keeps his oath even when it hurts; swears to his hurt and does not change.
a. The New Testament tells us not to swear at all but our word is as good as an oath. Let your “Yes” by “Yes”, and your “No,” No.
b. Found a better offer.
c. Make our promises good.
8. Who lends his money without usury?
a. Lending to get something back in return.
b. Freely to the needy lending,
9. Does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
a. And the innocent befriending,
b. He desires not praise of men.
F. Well, how do we measure up! I did well on some but not good on others.
G. (James 2:10 NIV) For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
H. (Rom 3:23 NIV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
I. God cannot dwell with sin, God cannot dwell with unholiness. No one can live with him on his holy hill. Michael W. Smith- I have been unfaithful. I have been unworthy. I have been unrighteous. And I have been unmerciful. I have been unreachable. I have been unteachable. I have been unwilling. And I have been undesirable. I have been unbroken. I have been unmended. I have been uneasy. And I’ve been unapproachable. I’ve been unemotional. I’ve been unexceptional. I’ve been undecided. And I have been unqualified. When it comes with dwelling with God in heaven the word is “un”. Not us.
J. (Rev 5:1 NIV) Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.(Rev 5:2 NIV) And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?"(Rev 5:3 NIV) But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.(Rev 5:4 NIV) I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.(Rev 5:5 NIV) Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."(Rev 5:6 NIV) Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne. (Rev 5:7 NIV) He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. (Rev 5:8 NIV) And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. (Rev 5:9 NIV) And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
K. Only one worthy to live with God in His Holy Hill and that is Jesus Christ.
2. Jesus Christ can
A. Look at the character of Christ from this Psalm.
1. Blameless, upright
a. If we tried to find something bad on Jesus by interviewing his parents, his friends, his co-workers, his teachers, anyone having any connection to him, we would find nothing but good.
b. Heb 7:26 tells us that Jesus Christ is one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
2. Righteous
a. Peter said of Christ in (Acts 3:14 NIV) You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.
b. Jesus was fair with everyone and showed no partiality.
3. Jesus spoke the truth from his heart.
a. (John 7:45 NIV) Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why didn’t you bring him in?"(John 7:46 NIV) "No one ever spoke the way this man does," the guards declared.
4. No slander, no backbiting, cast no slur on his fellowman
a. (1 Pet 2:22 NIV) said of Christ "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
5. Who does his neighbor (friend) no wrong?
a. Peter said of Christ in (Acts 10:38 NIV) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
6. Who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord.
a. Jesus friends were his 12 disciples.
b. In his dealing with the woman caught in adultery, Jesus did not honor her for her sins but he loved her and he told her, Go now and leave your life of sin.
7. Who keeps his oath even when it hurts?
a. When Jesus said something he made good on his promise.
b. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he kept his oath even when it hurt.
8. Who lends his money without usury?
a. Jesus gave all he had. Jesus had no where to lay his head, he had no money saved away, he gave his life for us and what does he expect in return?
b. Like Jesus said to his twelve disciples, Freely you have received, freely give.
9. Does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
a. We have no incident where Jesus accepted money for his help.
b. A rich young ruler came to him and Jesus said to him, (Mat 19:21 NIV) "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Obviously Jesus wasn’t concerned about the approval of men.
B. (Heb 4:15 NIV) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.
C. (Eph 4:8 NIV) This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."
3. We can through Jesus Christ
A. (Eph 2:6 NIV) And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, (Eph 2:7 NIV) in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
B. Plan of salvation
C. If I am to live on God’s holy hill, then there should be a consistency between what I say and what I do.
D. If I am going to live on God’s holy hill then I need to restrain those negative actions toward my neighbor.
E. If I am going to live on God’s hill then I better learn to keep company with God’s people.
F. If I am living on God’s hill, I don’t let the cost stop me from doing the right thing.
G. If I am living on God’s hill, I have my priorities in the right order.
H. Living on God’s holy hill is the only way to be unshaken by the circumstances of life that we will face. Vs. 5-He who does these things will never be shaken (moved).
