SANCTIFY THE SANCTUARY 2 CHR. 29:1-36

INTRODUCTION

TODAY, WE ARE EXPOSED TO SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THE CHURCH HAS TO COME UP WITH PROGRAMS, GIMMICKS, AND FOOD TO GET PEOPLE TO COME TO CHURCH

THE CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS OF THE DAY INCLUDE GOING TO THE MALL AND WATCHING SPORTS

PEOPLE TAKE PLEASURE IN THE WAY THAT THEY DRESS AND APPLY COSMETICS

THE WORLD WORSHIPS OTHER THINGS BESIDES THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD

SLOWLY AND SUBTLY, THE WORLD CATECHIZES THE HEART

IT IS NOT SO MUCH THAT THESE THINGS ARE BAD, BUT IT FOCUSES ON SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN THE KINGDOM

AND THE NATURAL WORLD SUBTLY AND CRAFTILY SHAPES THE WAY IN WHICH PEOPLE THINK, BELIEVE, AND ACT

OH, HOW EASY IT IS TO CONFORM TO THIS WORLD AS MOST PEOPLE WANT TO BE ACCEPTED

AHAZ, HEZEKIAH’S FATHER, HAD ASSUMED THE PRACTICES OF THE NATIONS AROUND HIM

THE MORE THAT HE CONFORMED TO THE WORLD AROUND HIM, THE MORE THAT HE WAS DEFEATED

BUT, HIS DESIRE WAS TO DO WHAT HE WANTED AND NOT WHAT GOD WANTED.

MOST PEOPLE, TODAY, EVEN BELIEVERS, DO WHAT PLEASES THEMSELVES MORE THAN WHAT PLEASES THE LORD

PEOPLE WANT TO PLEASE AND SATISFY THEMSELVES

WE HAVE ALMOST LOST THE WONDERFUL FOUNDATION OF SACRIFICE

USUALLY, PEOPLE TURN TO THE LORD OR GO TO CHURCH WHEN THEY ARE IN TROUBLE, BUT NOT AHAZ

IN HIS TIME OF TROUBLE, HE BECAME MORE UNFAITHFUL TO THE LORD

HE HAD ALLOWED THE WORLD TO SUBTLY SHAPE HIS HEART

THAT’S WHY THE BIBLE SAYS, A LITTLE LEAVEN, LEAVENETH THE WHOLE LUMP

SINCE, PEOPLE PRIORITIZE THEMSELVES, GOD DESIRES THAT WE PLEASE HIM BY SANCTIFYING OUR SANCTUARIES.

HOW DO WE DO SUCH A WORK WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY ALTERNATIVES AND PRIORITIES OTHER THAN THE HOUSE OF GOD?

BODY

OUR PASSAGE TODAY TELLS US ABOUT AHAZ’S SON, HEZEKIAH

AND HEZEKIAH DID THAT WHICH WAS RIGHT IN THE LORD’S EYES

A GOOD SEED CAN COME OUT OF A BAD ONE

NO ONE HAS TO BLAME THEIR ENVIRONMENT FOR WHO THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY HAVE BECOME

HEZEKIAH WATCHED HIS FATHER CONFORM TO THE PRACTICES OF THE DAY, BUT CHOSE TO WALK A DIFFERENT PATH

HE SHOWS US THAT HE DIDN’T HAVE TO DO WHAT HE WANTED, HE HAD THE COURAGE TO DO WHAT GOD WANTED

HE PUT GOD BEFORE HIMSELF

A. HE POSSESSED THE PROPER PRIORITIES

HE DIDN’T PLACE THE BUILDING OF HIS OWN HOUSE OR PALACE FIRST

HE DIDN’T FORTIFY HIS ARMY OR MILITARY FIRST

HE DIDN’T PUT HIS MONEY, TUITION, CAREER, JOB, OR EXAMS FIRST

HE PRIORITIZED THE PRESENCE OF GOD

WHEN MOST PEOPLE COME INTO POWER, THEY WILL PRIORITIZE THEMSELVES

BUT, NOT HEZEKIAH

HE SAW WHAT HAD HAPPENED WITH HIS FATHER THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND OBVIOUSLY WANTED A DIFFERENT TYPE OF RULE

HOW DO YOU WANT TO RULE YOUR LIFE

HE STARTED REIGNING WHEN HE WAS 29 YEARS OLD, WHICH TELLS ME THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL YOU BECOME OLD TO SERVE THE LORD

YOU CAN SERVE THE LORD AT A YOUNG AGE

AS A MATTER OF FACT, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE YEARS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO SERVE THE LORD

HE CAN TAKE YOU TO PLACES THAT YOU NEVER THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD GO

AND WHEN HE TAKES YOU INTO A PLACE OF INFLUENCE, IT IS NOT FOR YOUR REPUTATION, BUT GOD’S

1. HE PRIORITIZED SPIRITUAL MATTERS OVER SENSUOUS MATTERS

HE DID NOT USE HIS AUTHORITY TO FURTHER HIS OWN AGENDA

HE DID NOT USE HIS AUTHORITY TO FURTHER HIS OWN AGENDA

HE DID NOT PRIORITIZE HAVE MORE CONCUBINES THAN SOLOMON

HIS HEART WAS SET ON SPIRITUAL MATTERS

WHEN YOU PRIORITIZE SPIRITUAL MATTERS, YOU SEE THE NECESSITY OF WORSHIP

AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE

SOME OF YOU SIT BACK AND WAIT FOR SOME KIND OF SIGN, BUT THE BLOOD UPON MY LIFE IS ENOUGH OF A SIGN TO MAKE ME TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO WORSHIP GOD

PD211 Christian Life from a Kingdom Perspective Introduction

It was John Knox who originally said, and then it later appeared in the Westminster [Shorter Catechism], “What is the chief aim [or purpose] of humankind? To love God, to adore God, to worship God, and enjoy Him forever.”

WORSHIP IS THE THING THAT DOES MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE TO SPIRITUALLY FORM US, MORE THAN PRIVATE BIBLE STUDY READING, MORE THAN PRIVATE PRAYER, MORE THAN GATHERING WITH FRIENDS FOR FELLOWSHIP

HEZEKIAH MEANS THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD-WORSHIP IS THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD,

I FIND IT AMAZING THAT WHEN THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT WORSHIP, MOST OF THE TIME IT IS TALKING ABOUT VISIONARY EXPERIENCES—-I SAW THE LORD, IN AND ESPECIALLY .

ALL OF THESE TELL US THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SO CAUGHT UP IN LOVE ND WONDER OF GOD THAT THERE ARE NO DISTRACTIONS

WORSHIP IS ALL ABOUT ENCOUNTERING GOD

2. HE PRIORITIZED THE PRESENCE OVER HIS POSITION

OPENING THE DOORS OF THE TEMPLE WOULD CAUSE THERE TO BE ACCESS AGAIN TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD

IF THE DOORS OF YOUR HEART ARE BROKEN DOWN AND SHUT UP, OR IF YOUR WORSHIP HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN, THEN IT IS TIME TO OPEN THE DOORS OF YOUR HEART

EVEN BEFORE YOU ENTER THE PHYSICAL SANCTUARY, YOU NEED PREPARATION FOR HIS PRESENCE

WE SHOULD BE FELLOWSHIPPING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOT ARGUING WITH OUR FAMILIES

MANY TIMES, WE DO NOT HEAR OR SEE WHAT GOD WANTS TO COMMUNICATE TO US BECAUSE WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO WORSHIP

WE NEED TO BE IN THE SPIRIT ON THE LORD’S DAY

WE NEED TO BE IN A SACRED CONDITION AT A SACRED TIME

THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE IS A VOICE SAYING, COME UP HERE.

HERE IS THE REAL PRESENCE AND NOT JUST EMOTIONS

HERE’S WHERE OUR MEDIATOR USHERS US INTO THE VERY THRONE ROOM OF GOD.

WHEN YOUR PRIORITIES ARE RIGHT, GOD’S PRINCIPLES START KICKING INTO EFFECT.

Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

B. PREPARATION

PREPARATION IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST IF YOU ARE GOING TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE ANYTHING IN LIFE

IN ORDER FOR HEZEKIAH TO PREPARE FOR SANCTIFYING THE SANCTUARY, HE HAD TO OPEN AND REPAIR THE TEMPLE DOORS

THE DOORS STARTED TO DECAY

WHEN YOUR WORSHIP LIGFE SHUTS DOWN, THE GATES OF YOUR HEART BEGIN TO DECAY, YOUR PRAISE BEGINS TO DECAY, YOUR FAITH BEGINS TO DECAY.......

THERE IS AN URGENCY BECAUSE TODAY POOR ATTENDANCE, GIVING, BEHAVIOR ARE CAUSING DOORS FOR THE PRESENCE OF GOD TO BE SHUT.

1. THE GREATEST PREPARATION IS PURIFYING

FIRST, THE LEVITES AND THE PRIESTS NEEDED PURIFYING.

WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH PREACHING NOW DAYS ON PURITY

INSTEAD GRACE HAS REPLACED PURITY

Hebrews 12:14 KJV 1900

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

PURITY IS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY FOR SEEING THE LORD

JUST AS JESUS PROCLAIMED IN HIS BEATTITUDE-BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART, FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD

AFTER PURIFYING THEMSELVES, THE TEMPLE NEEDED TO BE PURIFIED

THE POLLUTION OF THE TEMPLE WAS TWO-FOLD

IT WAS BOTH PHYSICALLY POLLUTED AND SPIRITUALLY POLLUTED

Proverbs 25:26 KJV 1900

A righteous man falling down before the wicked Is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

NOT ONLY WERE THEY TO REPAIR THE DOORS, THEY WERE TO FORTIFY AND STRENGTHEN THEIR WORSHIP

THIS WOULD STRENGTHEN THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN AND THROUGH THEIR LIVES

THEY HAD TO MOVE THE DUST AND THE DIRT OUT AS WELL AS THE SPIRITUAL FILTHINESS OF IDOL WORSHIP

WE MAY NOT SEE AN IDOL IN THE CHURCH TODAY BUT IF WE OFFER NO SACRIFICE

IF WE ARE THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES, THEN MOST BELIEVERS ARE THEIR OWN IDOLS

WE NEED HOLY CHURCHES, WITH HOLY MUSIC, HOLY MESSAGES, AND HOLY PEOPLE

THEY HAD TO OFFER A BURNT SACRIFICE, WHICH REPRESENTS THE TOTAL CONSECRATION OF ONESELF TO THE LORD

AND AS SOON AS THEY STARTED CONSECRATING, THE SONG OF THE LORD BEGAN ALSO

THIS WAS A SONG THAT WAS NOT PRE-WRITTEN, BUT A HEAVENLY SONG THAT STARTED COMING FORTH

LOOK AT HEAVEN WHEN YOU ENTER INTO CONSECRATION

HEAVEN STARTS REJOICING AND SONGS COME THAT A HUMAN MIND COULDN’T COMPOSE

IT JUST SUPERSEDED YOUR MIND, DIRECTLY TO YOUR SPIRIT

2. THE PROCLAMATION FOR THE PURIFYING

HEZEKIAH COMMANDED THEM NOT TO NEGLIGENT. HOWEVER, THERE ARE ALWAYS COMPLACENT PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH

PEOPLE COME LATE TO CHURCH, LATE IN GIVING THEIR OFFERINGS,

AND YET THEY WANT POSITIONS, PRESTIGE, AND PRIVILEGES

THE CAUSE WAS URGENT AS the WRATH OF THE LORD WAS UPON THEM AND IT WAS VISIBLE TO ALL WHO WERE WATCHING

WE NEED TO PREACH MORE ON PURIFICATION

PEOPLE PROCLAIM HEALTH

PEOPLE PROCLAIM WEALTH

PEOPLE PROCLAIM GRACE

PEOPLE PROCLAIM WHAT EVERYONE WANTS TO HEAR

BUT THE PROCESS TO REVIVAL IS PRIORITIZING GOD, PURIFYING YOURSELF

THEN, IT IS TIME TO PROCLAIM, IF GOD BE FOR YOU THEN WHO, WHAT.....?

THE WORLD EXPECTS US TO REACT TO THE CRISIS ACCORDING TO THE CRISIS

WHEN THE CHURCH IS INFECTED WITH WORLDLINESS, WE NEED TO PREACH PURITY

WHEN WE ARE IN A FINANCIAL CRISIS, THE FIRST THING THE WORLD THINKS ABOUT IS MONEY

BUT, YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT JIREH-HIS PROVISION SHALL BE SEEN

HE WILL KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE WHO’S MIND IS STAYED ON THE LORD

WHEN THERE IS A COMMUNICATION CRISIS, THE WORLD SPEAKS THE LANGUAGE OF THE MODERN GENERATION, BUT I WILL SPEAK OF THE GOODNESS OF GOD

I WILL STILL SPEAK OF THE CROSS

WHEN THE CHURCH HAS AN ATTENDANCE CRISIS, WE TRY TO GET OUR NUMBERS UP

BUT I BELIEVE THT GOD WILL FILL THE CHAIRS WITH GOOD PEOPLE

INSTEAD OF LOOKING TO WORLDLY WAYS

I WILL LIFT UP MY EYES, FROM WHENCE COMETH MY HELP....

I’M NOT GOING TO LOOK TO MAN

I’M GOING TO LOOK UNTO JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF MY FAITH

ARE YOU RIGHT WITH GOD-IF YOUR TEMPLE IS OPEN, CLEAN, GLORIOUS WITH PRAISE-GOD WILL FILL THE TEMPLE

I’M PREACHING PURITY IN THE MIDST OF POLLUTION