What God expects from all who desire to live in His presence
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Introduction
Introduction
One of the things that society has lost over the years is the demand for quality. We see that in manufacturing, I still have some toys of my childhood, now if I buy a toy if it lasts a week we are lucky. I had lawn mowers that lasted 20 years and now if they last a couple we’re struck gold. Education is an area where we have seen a decrease in quality. That is one reason why we began to home-school. Yes there were moral reasons but also the idea that no child can fail no child can repeat a grade if they needed a little more time was a big reason for us. It is if the school system is putting all the children on an assembly line thinking that they all learn at the same pace, or if they don't its OK we’ll push em to through and they will catch up, not realizing or caring that with a higher grade comes more difficult work. Everybody gets a participation trophy and a passing grade. We were not raised that way. We had to earn the right to go to the next grade, there was a standard that we had to meet, if we didn’t we would repeat. Work was the same way we had embedded within us a work ethic, get to work 15 mins early, always do more than is required, go above and beyond, work hard. It just seems that quality doesn't matter anymore. we as a society have lessened our standards. Of course we see that socially as well. Things that were socially unacceptable in the past is now rampant and sometimes celebrated. Rudeness, and disrespect is excepted just ask teachers who are in the classroom daily and they can tell you first hand. Society has allowed kids to yell, curse, cuss, even bark and growl at teachers and others and they allow that. Now we wonder why we have a crime issue. Our standards has allowed our society to be soft on crime. You can commit bunch of crimes today and be one the street tonight to do some more, and they call that reform? (I went to my dad once and said dad I have to go and find myself)
This is what happens when the world looks to itself for answers. We who call ourselves Christians are warned not to look to the world standards because it is flawed. We don’t have a gun issue in the world we have a sin issue in the world. Why is it getting worse? because we as a society call what is sin good, and what is righteous bad. Now we can focus and spend all our time looking at what is wrong with the world and shake our fists and try to change this world, but its never going to happen. You will not change the world. The only thing you have control over is changing yourself. But you are not going to be able to do that by embracing the worlds standards, remember the world is broken, corrupted by sin. You are not going to change yourself by even looking into your self, you know why? because you are broken yourself… So we must look somewhere else. The worlds standards are a joke, your standards are a joke, my standards are a joke… There is only one place to look to for answers and that is Gods standards.
As Christians those who turn to God and ask Him for salvation, know that we are committing our lives to Him and His standards. If we want to be Christians we must live by His rules, His guidance, His standards this is what we call holiness. We are let the world do their thing but we, we are called to a higher standard. That is what God expects from us, all of us who desire to live in His blessed presence. This world might not expect much, you might not even expect much, but God does expect much from us if we want to experience His salvation, not that we are saved by our good works but we are saved to do good works.
Lets turn to psalm 15 and see God’s standards
The scope of this short but excellent psalm is to show us the way to heaven, and to convince us that, if we would be happy, we must be holy and honest. Christ, who is himself the way, and in whom we must walk as our way, has shown us the way MT 19:17 “And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”” The narrow question of what God requires, what He expects from all who desire to live in His blessed presence is shared here in this psalm.
Now the weighted questions that are asked in the first verse of Ps 15:1 “O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?” can of course only be one person, one person who is worthy, one person that meets all the requirements of the rest of the Psalm, and that of course is Jesus Himself. So you may ask “if this is only about Jesus and He is the only one who can meet this requirement, than what chance do I have?” The answer is quite simple it is not by our own works or power but it is through and only through the indwelling holy spirit living in us once we believe on the Lord Jesus and live for Him. Our Psalm today shows us God’s expectation for us and we are going to look at 3 expectations for God’s people.
The first expectation and requirement for God’s people is
I. We must be Morally Conscious -Ps 15:2 “He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;” I suppose a definition is in order here because Morals is one of those topics that seems to be fluid yet shouldn’t be. Morals means - society’s standard’s of behavior concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do. The idea of what is proper or improper, of the words we don’t like to hear nowadays the difference between right and wrong. Now the world and society today has this thought that each person has this right that morals are a personal decision, and that is fine for them outside of Christ, do you expect any different? But this world conveniently think that murder is wrong, stealing, lying, and adultery, is wrong how did they come to that conclusion? Ex 20:1-17 For the Christian we don’t get to make up the morals or standards with which we live by. They have been given to us, why? For the very fact that even though we have Christ we are still flawed and sinful people. If given to our own devices we would mess up and mess up badly. Just look at the world around us, look at those Christian leaders who have failed...
The Bible must be our guide - We must place the Bible as the foremost collection of truth and holiness. It must for us be the ultimate authority and fully sufficient for all our needs and decisions. If it is sufficient for your salvation than it is sufficient for life Heb 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Matt 4:4 “But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”” Ps 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” 2 Tim 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
History is not to be neglected - Throughout history God has used people who were smarter than us to communicate God’s words in ways that are understandable. Why were they smarter…they were not as busy, no cell phones, no tv, no 50 hour work weeks, no distractions like we have today. That is why if you want to read from Christian authors read from people who lived at least 100 years ago. Because they had the time to learn and slow down to properly meditate on God. I have what are called dead mentors. I rarely read modern christian authors, just because there is no deep thoughts. With that said historical Christianity has continued moral consciousness throughout the centuries. They are solid and can be trusted
The need for Communion with others - We need each others. for example when I got saved and began my journey as a Christian I started hanging out with folks who didn’t cuss, get drunk or high, steal, sleep around… guess what that helped me realize that there are behaviors that didn’t jive with God’s standards. Acts 5:1-11 Shows us in an extreme manner the importance of Christian accountability and the high standard that God demands from His people.
Morals are important and for us they are not fluid they do not change because society says so or the culture changes. Yes times do change clothes, transportation, technology changes but our moral fabric and truth does not
the next expectation and requirement for God’s people is
II. We as Christians must tame our tongue - It may seem like a simple thing and not so important but our mouth is extremely important and must be guarded. Why well our mouths are vessels of the Gospel, the word of God, and words to bring encouragement and hope to others it is not for the christian to mix the Good with the filthy. Ps 15:2-3 “He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;” Matt 12:34 “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
The mouth is the first indicator of who you are and whose you are - Ps 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Eph 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Your mouth will be judged - A lot of people think it is just our actions and behaviors will be judged and yes they will. But your words tell your heart and God promises us something in his word Matt12:36 “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,”
Your mouth has the potential to change peoples lives - Pro 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” You as a Christian through the power of the Holy Spirit have the ability and the command to breath life into others. The primary way is sharing your faith, but words of encouragement, kindness, compassion empathy
your words are a vital part of your salvation - Rom 10:9-10 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” Matt 12:37 “for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”” Yes salvation includes more than your words but it is vital.
The final expectation and requirement for God’s people we see in this psalm is
III. We must be people of Honor and integrity - Ps 15:4-5 “in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.” another ambiguous word we hear a lot is the word Honor, how do we define it? literally means to adhere to what is right or the standard of conduct, or a commitment you have resolved to live by a code for life. Integrity is defined as trustworthy, it is the quality of being honest and moral uprightness. Again we have a standard, the world does not, or at least a wishy washy ever changing standard, our changes not.
Evil is not tolerated - Ps 15:4 “in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change;” we have an obligation not to follow, celebrate, walk with, or agree with the works of evil, those things that goes against God’s standards. We are not to be hateful, mean, violent but we are to stand for and stand by our code. “Aaron tippin you’ve got to stand for something or your fall for anything” The world demands we agree with whatever they believe even if it goes against our core beliefs. We as Christians must respectfully disagree, and if we are hated for it than so be it. I don’t force you to agree with everything I believe, i will not be forced.
Our dealing with money is unquestionable - Money is necessary but has much uses yes it gives us things we want, but it also makes us steal cheat and lie because we want more we need more, we desire and we cannot get enough so we get it no matter who we hurt. Or we use money for power because like material stuff, or that high we get we need we need we need. That is a Good indicator that God is nowhere in your life, except for the day of judgment. For the Christian God is enough, His grace is sufficient. Heb 13:5 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”” 1 Tim 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” Matt 6:24 ““No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Ecc 5:10 “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.” James 4:1-4 “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Had a lady look so strangely at me at walmart when I forgot to pay for a soda…
With a solid foundation we will not fall apart - Ps 15:5 “ He who does these things shall never be moved.” One of my dead mentors that I read all the time Charles Spurgeon said “A bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t” One thing that really defines a solid Christian is their ability no to get rattled when life around them is falling apart. James 1:6-8 “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” 1 Cor 16:13-14 “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Cor 13:11 “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.”
Today we see that the Standards for God’s people are not suggestions but rather proof of a changed life in Christ. Solid in their moral convictions not compromising the truth for the whims of the culture, Being men and women of self control and restraint in with our tongues, and Living with honor and integrity. These are the bedrock virtues of the Christian walk. Also knowing we cannot do this without the power of Christ in our lives. We are not perfect but at least we have benchmarks in our lives, we have the gold standard to live by and strive for. Are we always going to get it right? no are we always going to live up to God’s standards no, but we forget what is behind and push toward the mark of the upward calling in Christ.
Are you here today, lost confused about life? Always wanting to live by a code with honor and integrity , but have failed so often. Are you here today looking to live a life that will leave a lasting legacy? Are you sick and tired looking for answers that you have searched this world for and never found them. Stop searching stop looking everywhere else, what you seek cannot be found in this world it is only obtainable from God. Believe on the Lord Jesus and be saved today. The answer is set before you. The bible tells us
god created this world and it was perfect and good
Sin entered in (the pride of life the bible calls it) and the world and all that is in it became currupted and broken unable to fellowship with our creator.
But God in His love for us provided a cure for the Brokenness and that was His Son Jesus. John 3:16-17 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Rom 10:9-13 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””
today if you want to end the struggle, repent of your sins. Acknowledge you are a sinner in need of a savior. Believe on the Lord Jesus and be saved. Call on Him today to be saved, during prayer pray, “Lord Jesus i am a sinner and I need a savior, in faith I believe you died on the cross and I ask you today to save me”