Dwelling in the Presence of God

Prayer

Our merciful and faithful Father,

Gracious and holy Lord Jesus

Loving Holy Spirit

You are our God and we are you people. Today is the day you rose and left the dead, and Satan’s empire fell. Deliver us, we pray.

Subdue our stubborn hearts and turn us again. Revive us, and we will be revived; give us the living water and we will never thirst again.

Our souls pant for the living God. Show yourself strong and mighty, merciful and just this morning through your word. Pour out your spirit upon us and dwell with us.

For if your presence does not go with us, there is no point to any of this. Be present with us by your word and spirit. Seal your promises in our hearts – your covenant faithfulness is better than life. Sanctify and cleanse us, prepare us as a bride prepares for her husband.

Father of beauty, we praise your holy name. We praise you for the flowers and the meadows and the majesty of your mountains. We praise you for the wisdom of the ant and the strength of the lion and the cunning of the dolphins and clockwork of the heavens – for these all praise your name; these all declare your wisdom and your beauty and your strength.

For you are everlasting to everlasting; your power is not bounded by space or time or the weakness of the creature. You do not fade or grow old, you do not change – and so we see the beauty and wisdom and power of your creation and our eyes look up to the throne where Christ is, seated at your right hand.

Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto the lamb forever and ever.

Gracious father, remember your mercy. Look upon us.

And merciful Father, you are the king of nations – give a spirit of justice and righteousness to our leaders.

In our own community, give wisdom and protection to those who guard our streets. And bless our city council and our county board of supervisors. May they prosper in their work and be filled with your grace.

And bless our community. Give comfort to the oppressed, food for the hungry, clean water for those in need, protect us from wicked men who seek to destroy and tear down, deliver those with no strength. Protect the weak from oppressive and violent men and women, and save us, we pray, from slander, gossip and lies.

Give wisdom to the Chans as they make decisions about Hugo’s health care. Provide healing and peace for Bud. Provide for Roger and bless him.

And above all, Father – bless the proclamation of the gospel today wherever it takes place. In our community, in our state, in our country and throughout the world – may your word be as rain on dry ground, as rays of sunshine shining in a dark world, as a colorful rainbow of promise in a world of night.

Teach us to not hide our lamp under a bushel, but proclaim in throughout the world. For the faithful shepherds, we pray for peace and boldness and protection. Give them the right words and bless those words.

Bless our mothers with wisdom and peace. May they be as strong as Jael, as gentle as Mary, as wise as Abigail – and as meek as our Lord Jesus.

Give us peace today. Provide our needs. Forgive us our many sins.

And lead us in the paths of righteousness for your name’s sake

In Jesus Name

Scripture

Revelation 21 NKJV

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” 9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Text

Zechariah 14:20–21 NKJV

20 In that day “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in the Lord’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts.

Sermon

(continued from last week)

Last week we looked at the reality of hell and the coming judgment of God. God’s judgment is always perfect, righteous, and final.

Proverbs 10:24 NKJV

24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him, And the desire of the righteous will be granted.

We saw last week the fear of the wicked - shame, fear, hiding, powerlessness, loss of health, significance, status, position.

So when God describes judgement to Zechariah’s contemporaries, he uses those terms - plague, outcast, fear, infighting, shame, alienation...

Which is everything that Paul means when he says, “Ousiders of the covenant of God.”

But it doesn’t have to be like this.

Look at verse 16- a remnant left. From every country and every nation and every people group - even Egypt, Israel’s ancient enemy - God has his remnant.

That is language that is used for Israel after their exile. The remnant returns.

God’s church is the church of the remnant. And what does this remnant do?

They celebrate the feast of tabernacles. “Tabernacle” is just a fancy word for “tents”.

This was the yearly feast that was similar to a harvest festival. The nation gathered in Jerusalem and had a joyful 8 day party - with a Sabbath at each end of it.

They built tents out of branches and basically camped out around Jerusalem, celebrating God’s guiding hand and provision through the 40 years of wilderness.

In Old Covenant terms, it was a glorious celebration of God’s goodness.

The church is marked by praise in God’s favor and celebration of his goodness.

Outside of thanksgiving, there is only plague and death.

But God delivers his people. It is true that there is none who do good. But there is something even grander - God has provided a redeemer. Where sin was abundant, grace was much, much more abundant. Jesus’ compassion was with the thief on the cross, if only he had asked. Where we are the weakest, where we are the most helpless, where we are the most vulnerable, huddled on the floor in tears with nothing left - THERE is where his compassion is. The church was delivered from Egypt when they were slaves, at their lowest.

God has provided the righteous king. The holy priest who has clothed us and made us fit to stand before God. The prophet who teaches us and doesn’t leave us ignorant.

And we believe on his name and trust in his provision - OR we suffer the plagues of the curse.

There is no middle ground. You celebrate his goodness and love for you together with the people of God - or you remain cast out forever.

We are already born cast out. But God has delayed judgment because he doesn’t take delight in it. He delights in his bride and he is calling his bride home. He hasn’t come in judgment yet because, just like in the days of Noah, the ark is still being offered to anyone who will enter. Hope and peace and welcome are there for the asking.

That is what is included in “celebrating the feast of tabernacles.” You either rejoice in the salvation of God and take shelter in his covenant of peace -

OR - you remain forever outside, strangers to his promises.

And all of his mercy and all of his peace is found in one place: Jesus Christ.

If only you receive it with a believing heart. Jesus has promised that he will take you home.

And this glorious picture of home is given in verses 20 and 21.

holiness code

I don’t have time to go through the whole holiness code of ancient Israel. But God gave them this code with very strict rules. Things that are holy are things that are used in God’s presence. Things that are holy are things that were in the house of God, made holy for his use.

Priests were holy. The tongs that they used to stir the altar was holy. The pots that they used to take the ashes away were holy. The robes of the priests, the specific mix of incense, the knives that they used, the basins for carrying water - there were holy instruments. And there were profane instruments.

If you were cooking soup at home, that was OK. But you didn’t use a holy pot. Holy pots were only used in the temple.

There were holy animals and unholy animals. “Holy” and “clean” were related concepts. A clean animal was one you could eat and one your could sacrifice. Unclean animals were not eaten and not sacrificed. Dogs were unclean. So were horses.

They didn’t enter the presence of the Lord.

Holiness

Holiness is another word and another subject that has been corrupted by our American religion. To so many, holiness is almost the same thing as righteousness. It means to quit our sinning and to purify ourselves and be more and more dedicated to God.

“Take time to be holy” - when we separate from the world and from sinners, then we will be pure, and when we are pure God will reward us. Even our word “hag” comes from the Greek word for holy. An ugly old woman separated from the world and living in the woods alone - holy.

How many refuse to come to Christ because they don’t want anything to do with that kind of holiness.

You may have heard, “Marriage isn’t designed to make you happy. It is designed to make you holy.”

Codswallop. Not only is that a complete misunderstanding of marriage, which is actually a gift of God for the comfort and happiness of those called to it, but it also completely misunderstands what holiness is. Holiness IS what we aspire to, holiness is perfect happiness as we will see.

John Wesley taught that we can strive toward holiness and reach the goal of perfection in this life. This was proclaimed from the pulpits throughout the 19th century - the “fire and brimstone” preachers.

Quit going to saloons. Quit going to the theater. Quit wearing vain clothes. Quit listening to the world’s music. Quit reading the world’s books.

This was called “holiness”, and it was ingrained in our thinking and stamped into our DNA. After the second great awakening, there was one church split right after another. First holiness church. Second holiness church. Third holiness church.

Even in our language “Miss Holier than thou”. As if it were a competition.

Our “holy” people became like the hags of the ancient world. As if holiness had to do with plain food, water to drink, plain clothes, avoiding smiling, avoiding fun, never dancing, never singing, never doing anything that anyone might perceive as being sinful...

Holiness in our culture means separation from sin and anything that someone might perceive as sinful.

The problem is that they miss the point completely about holiness. It is true that holiness involves cleansing from sin - but it goes so much deeper than that. Holiness has to do with beauty, acceptance, welcome, entering the presence of God.

Those things that were used in the temple were holy. Those that were not were profane. But all of it pointed to something far greater.

Holiness in scripture is always connected to beauty - without spot and without blemish. God is holy, which means he is supremely beautiful. There is no hidden blemish, no hidden vice. No ugliness, no hidden motives. He is perfectly pure, white, clean…holy. Set apart.

Zechariah 9:17 ESV

17 For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty! Grain shall make the young men flourish, and new wine the young women.

Isaiah 33:17 NKJV

17 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; They will see the land that is very far off.

Psalm 96:9 NKJV

9 Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.

And the revelation of this perfect beauty - without spot or blemish - is Jesus. The lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.

Isaiah 4:2 NKJV

2 In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing For those of Israel who have escaped.

We, on the other hand, have been twisted and made ugly by sin and we are cast out of the presence of God.

And there is something inside of us that knows that we are ugly. That also, is called, “Shame”.

No matter how beautiful someone is, they still look in the mirror and say, “ugh”.

Because no matter how beautiful we are on the outside, we are still not what God has created us to be. We are not holy. We are not clean. We are not beautiful. And our bodies fade day by day.

But in Christ, we are MADE beautiful. THIS is what sanctification is - it is being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, made beautiful and clothed with perfect clothing, and being washed and welcomed at the table.

We are welcomed right now - but how can we enter God’s presence of perfect bliss and joy and still look in the mirror and say, “ugh”.

Isaiah 61:3 NKJV

3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

Psalm 149:4 NKJV

4 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.

THIS is what Jesus is promising us in Ephesians 5:26-27

Ephesians 5:26–27 NKJV

26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

He makes us beautiful by the sacraments, the preaching of the word, the indwelling of the Spirit of Beauty - that we might be a glorious bride.

And we will be as welcome in his presence as a beautiful, loved Bride is welcomed by the groom

Song of Solomon 4:7–10 NKJV

7 You are all fair, my love, And there is no spot in you. 8 Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, With me from Lebanon. Look from the top of Amana, From the top of Senir and Hermon, From the lions’ dens, From the mountains of the leopards. 9 You have ravished my heart, My sister, my spouse; You have ravished my heart With one look of your eyes, With one link of your necklace. 10 How fair is your love, My sister, my spouse! How much better than wine is your love, And the scent of your perfumes Than all spices!

THIS is holiness. Is it not what we LONG for?

And it is so much greater than what we avoid. It isn’t a drudgery. It is the desire of the righteous.

And the desires of the righteous will be given them.

Bells on the Horses

So God ends this magnificent prophecy with a promise - the distinction between clean and unclean will be taken away.

Even bells on the horses would be clean when the redeemer comes.Even the pots in the houses would be clean when the redeemer comes.

Even Egyptians would be clean when the redeemer comes.

For all of us will be in the presence of God wherever we are.

As Paul wrote, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and so we are not only clean, but everything we use is clean.

All of our pots, our clothes, our goods, our food, our wine, our bread, our animals, our cars, our…everything…gifts of God given to us for His service, because we are all the temple of the Holy Spirit.

This is in contrast to those who refuse to bend the knee and come out of hiding.

The one - everything about them is unclean and they are forever outcast and alone and at war with everything.

The other - everything about them is clean and acceptable and welcome in the presence of God.

It is the picture of being loved without reservation; desired by another - the one whom our soul loves.

We all know in this world that the beautiful face and perfect body will open doors and be more welcomed at the tables of the world than the less than perfect face.

The problem is that the beauty of this world is fading. It is imperfect and it will never cover shame. So it isn’t a beauty to strive after.

1 Peter 3:3–4 NKJV

3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

There is nothing wrong with dressing nicely, fixing your hair, and looking beautiful. That isn’t Peter’s point. His point is that it isn’t your ADORNING.

That isn’t your beauty - whether you are a man or a woman. Your beauty is not in this earthly body that is fading away.

It is your union with Christ, your likeness to HIM, that makes you beautiful. And this applies to you all.

Holy to the Lord - you, all that you touch, all that you use. Your labor, your household, your hands, your feet, your face and body - holy to the Lord.

Beautiful. Fit for service. Welcomed at the table in the house of God.

And this sets you free. Which is the last line of this great book.

Merchandising

There is no “Canaanite” in the house of God in that day. The word is the same word for a merchant, or a trader.

Here is the point - when everyone is holy before the Lord and stands in the presence of God - there is no money to be made by the merchants.

When one is fighting to try to make themselves clean, marketing opportunities abound.

How much money is made with beauty products? The more ugly the advertisers can make you feel, the more money they can make off of you. Pick up any fashion magazine and this is the message. You aren’t enough. You aren’t near beautiful enough.

So also those who promise holiness. We can make you fit for God’s table, if only you go to our conference, buy our book, pay our fees.

When we have to earn our place back at the table, the ones who hold the keys are the ones who make the money, and they get richer and richer. This is also why they war against the people of God.

Luther is the perfect example. If he was right, and forgiveness of sins was freely given by God only for the sake of Christ's merits, then the Medieval popes would lose all of their power and their money.

Today, how many look the other way at the horrendous scandals of the modern ministries - because there is too much money in conferences, book endorsements, merchandise.

How many non-disclosure agreements are signed to hush up the victims of assault and theft because there is too much money and power in the church.

But in the true church of God, the merchants have no place - for even the bells on the horses are holy.

In the advancing armies of Babylon - in the world obsessed with money, power, health, and the pleasures of the world - there is nothing clean, but a lot of money to be made in selling a place at the table.

But the fear of the wicked will come upon them. If it is for sale, it isn’t the bread of life.

And the judgment of God is a fearsome thing.

The desire of the righteous

What do the righteous long for?

We don’t seek a place at the earthly table. We don’t seek the baubles and trinkets of this earth. We are seeking a more lasting treasure. We comb our hair and make ourselves presentable, but we understand that this isn’t our adorning. It isn’t our beauty. What we long for is to stand before our groom without shame, without the filth and stench of sin, clean, and beautiful - welcomed at the table of God.

A seat at the marriage supper of the lamb - a place in the garden, where the river of life flows.

And it isn’t for sale. It is freely offered to all who will come out of hiding.

And on the road there, there are a lot of scary trials - Jesus said you will suffer loss.

You won’t gain the respect of the world. You won’t often have good health.

You will have pain and sorrow. You will learn to mourn. And you will hunger and thirst after righteousness.

You might learn what it means to scrape your sores with a broken pot, like Job did.

But it is only temporary. This earth isn’t our home.

Our life isn’t in the grand feasts of this earth - but in the grandest feast of all - the table where we hear the voice of our father saying,

Welcome! We’ve been expecting you! I’m so, so glad that you are here! Enter into the joy of the Lord!

And until that day, rejoice! Your names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Remember that you are beautiful already in Christ.

Learn to dance and sing again. Learn to lift up your head. Live as if you were the most beautiful person in the room, just like everyone else, for you are holy before the Lord.

Rejoice in goodness. Laugh and love, eat and drink and let your garments be white, for God now has accepted your works.

And let your beautiful light shine, wherever you are. For the world is a dark and ugly place and it needs the beauty of Christ in every corner.