A0307_Dont Touch This

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Date:      25th April 2007                                                                       (Wednesday PM)                                                                                Ref: A0307

Place:     Kambah P.S.

Title: Don’t Touch This

Text:        & 1 Chron 13:7-14

Illust:     A few weeks ago there was a storm in the media over Kevin Rudd plans to go to Vietnam to pay tribute on Anzac Day to the Diggers who died at Long Tan.  Sounds reasonable even a good think. Well he was going with the crew from Channel 7’s Sunrise program & they had together planned to film a live Dawn Service. Small problem was that due to the time difference between Vietnam & Aust the “Dawn Service” was going to be about an hour earlier than Dawn in order to be able to be televised during the programs peak viewing period. – It was to be a fake Dawn Service, a publicity stunt. The real dawn service would follow after. Emails between diplomats at the Australian Embassy in Ho Chi Minh City and the Department of Veterans' Affairs expressed the concerns that led to the media storm: "The question then is do we government officials attempt to stage a mock service with taped music to an audience of TV technicians and rubber trees?", "Are we at risk of incurring some sort of criticism for assisting with a deception of what is the most important event to veterans in Australia?" The clearly angry diplomats – not usually given to colourful language – described the plan for a 4am service as a "beat-up for television ratings" – There are some things that you do not mess with. – Anzac Day is one of them

I.                   The Sacred

A.               The Sacred Things

i.                 What does it mean for something to be sacred?

       Dedicated to or set apart for the worship of a deity, Dedicated or devoted exclusively to a single use, purpose, or person:

       Worthy of respect; venerable. [Middle English, past participle of sacren, to consecrate,

       Synonym: Consecrated: solemnly dedicated to or set apart for a high purpose;

ii.               We say that ANZAC day is sacred, set apart for the remembrance of those who have served & those who paid the ultimate sacrifice that we might enjoy the freedoms we have today in our nation.

iii.             In the same way God has ordained that certain things are to be sacred, set apart, consecrated to Him & His service.

B.               What is Sacred?

i.                 In our text the Ark of God was sacred; The design was from God, the manufacturing blueprints came from God, The owners instructions were from God & Exodus 25:10-15

ii.               This evening the church of Jesus Christ is a sacred thing. Design from God, manufacturing, instructions – Sacred thing.

         Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (NKJV)

         Ephesians 3:10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, (NKJV)

         Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (NKJV)

iii.             Your life; - Called to be a sacred thing: We have been conditioned to through a constant media and education barrage to separate life into two distinct spheres. 1 the secular and day to day life and 2. the religious – Jay Adams puts it this way;

       The “religious” has been conveniently separated from the “secular.” A part—the really operative part—of life has been called “secular” (neutral). Churchly, otherworldly things have been called “religious.” [1]

iv.             This leads to the problem of Sunday Christians. The Bible presents a very different view:

       All of life is sacred; none is secular. All life is God-related; none is neutral. Systems, methods, actions, values, attitudes, concepts are all either God-oriented or sinful. None are neutral. Creation was not neutral.

         Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” (NKJV)

       God created all things to bring honor and glory to Himself. Creation is God related; it is committed. It is not neutral; the creation is not secular. – Creation, all of your life is sacred.

II.                 Profaning the Sacred

A.               A Profane Man

i.                 Kevin Rudd, brought on his head the condemnation of many when he reached out to touch the sacred thing. From the directions we read earlier, God had made it clear the Ark was to be carried by the Priests with the poles. ~  & Exodus 25:14-15

ii.               David was bringing the Ark up on a cart & Uzza reached out his hand to touch the sacred thing. It was nothing to him, just a valuable box. Profane man.

       Show disrespect for religion or something sacred. Marked by contempt or irreverence for what is sacred. To treat with irreverence. To put to an improper, unworthy, or degrading use; from Latin profanus, in front of the temple :

iii.             Not in the temple but outside, in front of the temple, The sacred is inside the profane is outside. – No respect or reverence for the sacred

B.               For Personal Gain

i.                 A profane man will always reach out their hand to touch the sacred. They will seek to step in and put their carnal fleshly influence over the sacred. Seek to profit from the sacred.

         Acts 8:18-19 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” (NKJV)

ii.               There is a term from this: Simony is the ecclesiastical crime of paying for offices or positions in the hierarchy of a church. – The profane man looking for personal profit / gain

iii.             The profane will attack the sacred. Attack the church. ~ We expect the world to attack the church, It is when people in the church lay hands on the sacred thing, attack leadership, the fellowship, the church of Jesus Christ – Cynicism, hyper critical – Carnal profane.

III.              A Right Handling

A.               Sacred Trust

i.                 Understand the need to have a right attitude and approach to the handling of the sacred. The people of Israel had a sacred trust. They were the chosen people of God. They had an obligation to present to the world the joy, the blessing of obedience & service to God.

ii.               They were the people of covenant, the people with the privilege of accommodating the presence of God & of ministering to God. – The Ark, with the Mercy seat on the lid a sacred thing supposed to be located in the Holy of Holies. Symbolic of the presence, majesty & mercy of God. Placed on a cart.

iii.             To be a part of the blood brought church is a sacred trust. – We need to view it as such.

B.               Clean Hands

i.                 When the plans for a fake dawn service started to surface, Kevin Rudd at 1st denied any knowledge, then emails were released that showed his office certainly knew & his air tickets were already booked.  – Turns out his hands weren’t clean.

ii.               Need to have clean hands. – We see David learns from the incident with Uzza & this time when he goes to bring the Ark into the city he is going to do it right. & 1 Chron 15:11-13 ~ The priests were to sanctify, to consecrate themselves.

iii.             Important that we are a people of clean hands, that we treat the sacred things of the Kingdom of God in the right manner. – To have clean hands, needs to be repentance.

IV.             Altar Call


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[1]Adams, J. E. (1986], c1979). A theology of Christian counseling : More than redemption. Reprint. Originally published: More than redemption. Phillipsburg, N.J. : Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co., c1979. (43). Grand Rapids, MI: Ministry Resource Library.

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