0:07 As we meet together, some of us as we come together might have something that's on our mind. And sometimes that may prevent us from hearing what God wants to say to us and us thinking in heaven, if you look at the you know, on the earth 0:25 all the rivers, oceans, everything, there's always waves and wind blowing on them. And it's always unsettled. But if we turn our gaze towards heaven, this is how it is. Revelation chapter 4. Revelation chapter 4 verse 6. 0:42 Revelation 4:6 And before the throne there was like a sea of glass, like crystal in the center and around the throne. And so in heaven the sea is there but it's like glass. It's completely still and calm. 1:02 And just like Jesus calmed the storm God can do that for each one of us and says, "Lord help me calm my heart today as I'm listening to your word." And as we've been thinking about what Jesus said in Matthew 28, you can turn 1:20 with me to Matthew 28. The thing he told us to do before he ascended. Matthew 28. Verse 18. And Jesus came up and spoke to 1:42 them saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples in all nations baptizing them, the disciples, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe or to do all 1:59 that I've commanded you. And lo, with those of us who seek to be disciples, to be baptized, to follow Jesus, obeying all that he has commanded us to do, with those, he says, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." 2:17 And so, as we think about that, what are the things that Jesus commanded us? And one of them is this, you shall worship and serve God only. That was one of the things that when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he answered Satan and said, 2:34 "We must worship and serve God only." And as I I was thinking of there was a about us obeying and teaching only the things that we're doing ourselves. We should not be teaching things that we're not seeking to do ourselves. 2:54 I was reminded of a incident that happened in Hudson Taylor's life. Hudson Taylor was a missionary to China, but sometimes more than what they accomplished in China and other places, some of the things that they do in preparation for going there is what's 3:13 challenged me. And well, there's one thing that I've noticed in Hudson Taylor's life. He said, "When I go to China, I'm not going to know the language. I'm not going to know different people. How am I going to trust God there 3:26 if I've not learned to trust God here, where I do know the language and I know all of these things, and I can ask people for help? How am I going to trust God here before I go to a place in China where I don't know people?" 3:41 And he made this decision. He was working for a doctor, his name was Darker Hardy, and he was the assistant to the doctor, and he said, "God, one way I'm going to prove that I can trust you is I'm not going to ask my my doctor who's going to give me my 3:58 salary to I'm not going to remind him to pay me. You need to remind him to prove to me that I can trust you that you'll speak to his heart to give me my salary at the right time. And so he goes and um 4:15 every time near as the time approaches the salary time he's waiting expectantly for God to remind his boss. And there's one occasion where he's having a and again I don't know how um the English money is but they call it a 4:30 half crown. A half crown of money. And it's it's it was the money that he had which was going to keep him till the end of the week or until he can uh get the salary. And so he had this one crown in his pocket and as he's 4:46 coming he goes down this alley and there's this man who calls him and says, "Please come. My wife is sick. I need you to pray for me." And so he calls him and he he takes him by the hand and he goes up this and it's very desolate. All these 5:03 um people screaming and crying and all very poor and in need. And so he's there and he's touching his pocket to make sure he has this half crown in his pocket that he has. And he's thinking to himself, "If only I went to the bakery yesterday I could 5:18 have got some change so that I could give some money to this man who's calling me. But now I have a half crown. I have How can I give this because this is all I have?" As he's going he's he's going there he sees the the the his wife and the 5:34 little children there all in need. And he's thinking to himself I know that they need this money but but how can I get by if I give this? And he's he's been telling God that I'm trusting in you. And so they ask him to pray for him and 5:51 he says um here in in the book of his biography As he followed along, Hudson put his hand into his pocket and felt this last half crown coin. If only there were three smaller coins, I would gladly give this man a third of what I have. 6:09 Hudson talked to himself stepping in around the pile of rotting vegetables and peelings. He stopped by and looked up there. And he says up there, my my family is up there. And so he's going there and then he he says, "Pray, please pray." 6:25 The woman's husband begged and he entered the house. Hudson again thought he the half crown in his pocket. If only I'd stopped by at the bakery yesterday, I would have had one shilling coin and I could give it to this man. 6:38 And he goes down and he's praying. And he says Praying he decided it would be easier than talking. He began reciting the Lord's Prayer figuring out that this man and his children would be familiar with it and he could pray along. Our Father, 6:55 he began. See, a voice prodded him him inside his head. God is our Father inasmuch as their Father provide Father as much as their Father as he is yours. He is a Father who wants to provide for 7:12 you as for them. Do you really this? You're praying for them that you have a Father that God's going to take care of you. Do you believe that God's going to take care of you, Hudson Taylor? Hudson stumbled as he recited the Lord's 7:26 Prayer, hallowed be your name, thy kingdom come. But the prodding voice inside his head would not stop. You're asking them to believe they're my children but do you not believe that you are mine? Do you believe I will look after you? 7:43 And so, as he goes down, he says, "If you can do anything, please help." And he knew what to do. He reached out, and he took out of his hand the half crown and handed over to the man and explained that was all the money he had, but God 8:00 was his father, and he provided for all his children. As the man took the coin, peace and joy flooded into Hudson. Something deep inside had changed. And so, the moment he obeyed, and not only believed what he said, 8:19 but actually acted on what he believed, God filled him with peace. And I see that for each one of us as well. There comes a time where our faith needs to come into reality. And God is saying, and I I remember a a scenario a 8:38 situation that happened recently, and this was the thing. How can you say this when you still have one half crown in your pocket? We say a lot of things, but is it true? And that's what Jesus said. Teaching them to do all that I've 8:57 commanded. I tell you, you need to do it first before you can tell others. Take heed to your life and your teaching. Thereby you save yourself and those who hear you. That's what Paul told Timothy. And so, it's very important for 9:13 each one of us that we do what God has commanded us. And as I was I was thinking about this, you shall worship and serve God only. This was in response to what the devil's temptation was. So, you can turn with me 9:30 to Matthew chapter 4. Matthew chapter 4, verse 8. Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to them, "All these things I will give you 9:47 if you fall down and worship me." And if Jesus tempted Jesus with all the kingdoms of this this world and its glory, do you believe that he would tempt us as well in that same way? What do you think? 10:05 I believe he will. I believe every disciple of Jesus, if they go the way and following Jesus, it says the Holy Spirit led him into the wilderness. The Holy Spirit will also lead us into those temptations, where we will also be tested, each one 10:24 of us going through testing. And the Lord will allow the devil to show the glory and the kingdoms of this world. And say the the devil to us today as well, "I will give you all of these things if you kneel down, bow down, and worship me." 10:43 And we also have that choice. Jesus was triumphant. He said He says, "Go, Satan, for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and serve him only." How will I worship the Lord and serve 11:01 him only? It's like Jesus did. First, he said no to the things of this world, the kingdom and its glory. And then he could worship the Father and serve him only. And as I think about that, I see examples. 11:19 There's a man, a prophet, in the Old Testament that was probably one of the most frequently quoted in a bad way in the New Testament. Do you want to take some guesses of who this could be? Jonah 11:39 Okay, we heard Balaam. Actually, it's Balaam. One of them. There's many others as well. But one of the most frequently quoted prophets of the Old Testament as an example of one who went headlong into money and wages of the 11:58 unrighteousness was Balaam. Would you need three of the apostles to repeat it? One was Peter. In 2 Peter Other one is Jude. And then in Revelation John also. 12:15 This one example of Balaam. When the devil showed Jesus the kingdoms and its glory he said no. But there's another man Balaam 12:34 and he didn't say no. But neither did he say not no. He didn't say no. Just waffling between the two. And so you can see if you read with me Jude chapter 1 There's only one chapter 12:51 actually. Jude chapter 1 verse 11. And when you think about the people he's talking about who is he writing to? Look at this. What he's he's writes, "Woe to them for they have gone the way of Cain 13:08 for paid they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam and perished in the rebellion of Korah. Verse 12, these are men who are hidden reefs in your love feast when they feast without fear, caring for 13:27 themselves, clouds without water, carried along by winds, autumn leaves trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted. Waves of the sea casting up their own shame 13:45 like foam, wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever. Who are these people that Judas talking about? He says that some have crept in, verse four, unaware, ungodly persons who took the grace of 14:04 God and made it a license to sin, denying our only master, the Lord and Jesus Christ. And I see that he's speaking to those people in a church who had love feast. He's speaking to them, and I'm Lord, 14:23 the rebellion of Korah, the way of Cain, were you jealous of your brother? Balaam, And so I wanted to turn to Numbers chapter 22, Numbers 22. What can we learn from this way 14:44 the way of Balaam to see if there might be of any of that in us. These were written for our our benefit. And if three of three of the apostles wrote about this, and they had a burden for this, 15:03 I believe there's something that the Lord wants to share with us. And it says Moab was very afraid. It says in verse three, so Moab was in great fear because of the people, because they were numerous. And this is an interesting expression. 15:18 Verse four, Moab said to to elders of Midian, "Now this horde will lick us up and all around us as the ox licks up grass. That's how the people of God were meant to come and wipe all of everything and they were afraid. 15:37 And so, he calls up Balaam and says to Balaam, verse six, "Now, therefore, please come and curse these people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know he whom 15:55 you bless is blessed and he whom you curse is cursed." The first invitation for Balaam was saying, "Balaam, look at you. You're such a man of God. Anyone you bless is blessed and anyone who you curse is cursed." 16:14 Kind of giving him a a high opinion, a high creditation over him and he's like, "Oh, look at these people. They value me." Setting himself up, you might remember in Proverbs, flattery is like a is like a trap. 16:34 And you see this. And so, this man he's he's he sees this, he sees how he's appreciated. Verse 10, "And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and repeated Balak's word. 16:49 Here's the money. Come and curse the people and here's the money for it." And so, God came to Balaam, verse nine, and says, "Who are these?" And so, he asked God, "God, what should I do?" And verse 12, God said to Balaam, "Do 17:09 not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." Numbers 22, verse 12. What does God tell them? And young people, old people, what does God tell them? What does God tell Balaam? 17:26 Was it a trick question? No. What did God tell him? Was it a yes or a no? You can say it. To go or not to go? Not to go. It was clear, right? So, Balaam arose in the morning and this is what he said to the people, "God 17:45 Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you." I would want to come with you, but you know what? Unfortunately, God told me I can't come with you, so I can't go with you. Look at the spiritual talk about it, you 18:01 know. God is the reason for I can't go with with you is because God told me. And for us also, when God says no to something, he says no, Ajay, I don't want you to do this. We also can either own up to it and say, "Lord, 18:17 you're saying no, and I want to obey you, and you have a reason because you said these people are blessed not to do it. So, I'm going to obey you." Or I can use God as an excuse and say, "Oh, because God is not allowing me, 18:35 I'm not going to do this thing." And so, so Balak, I believe, saw this man, yes, there's a particular price. The fees of divination I gave him was not high enough, but if I raise the price, maybe he'll compromise. 18:53 We heard a couple of weeks ago, 10 shekels and a shirt. That was his price. That Levite's price was 10 shekels and a shirt. Gehazi, he had a price. Silver, a talent of silver, and two changes of clothes, I believe. 19:13 Everybody had a price. And I believe the devil is saying, "Okay, in the midst of all of these people, what's their price? How much can I give them of the kingdoms of this world and the glory to have them give in?" 19:32 And so they say, verse 15, Balak again sent leaders more numerous and distinguished, more honorable people, noble people. He sends them. And then Balaam said to him, "Thus says Balak, let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from 19:48 coming me. I'm begging you, come. Don't say no. And this is what I'll tell you, for I will indeed honor you richly. Do you want some honor? I'll give you all the honor you want. Just come." Verse four. Verse I'm sorry, verse 17. I'll indeed 20:07 honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. You name the price, I'll do it. Blank check. Here it is. What was What was God's answer to Balaam? You can say it out loud. 20:27 No. Okay. Verse 18, Balaam replied to the servants, "Though Balak should give me a house full of silver and gold, I could do nothing, either small or great, contrary 20:43 to the command of the Lord my God." He said it wasn't the God of the Israelites, this is my God. The Lord my God. You know what we're learning? Doing all that Jesus taught. See, he's saying, 21:01 "I'm not going to do anything other than what God has commanded me to do." If you heard man say this, I'm not going to do anything other than what God told me to do. And even if he was giving me a full house of gold and silver, 21:19 I will not take it. What would you think of that man? This man has zero love of money. He seeks God whether to go or not. All of these things, every check box is checked up. Yet, there was something in his heart that only 21:37 God could see. And he knew in his heart. For each of us as well, there's a secret place which only God and us know. We might be able to fool everyone else, but God sees our heart and he knows exactly what our thoughts and motives. 21:57 He'll give us tests to see what we do. And so he says, "Okay." Verse 19. Now, please, you also stay here tonight and I will find out what else the Lord will speak to me. I was not happy with the answer that he 22:18 gave me, so I'm going to ask him again. Maybe the second time I might get a different answer more in lines with what I'm thinking of. You know how they you know do they toss a coin heads and tails and you lose. They say, "Okay, let's do best of three 22:37 now. Let's try again." And you lose again and then you say, "Okay, let's do best of five." Until you get the answer you want. And that's this man. So, God replies to him and gives him a test. He says, "God came to Balaam at 22:54 night and said to him, 'If listen, it says if the men come to call you, then go up to go with them, and only the word which I speak to you you shall do. So, he said you can go, but there's a condition. If they come 23:12 and call you, then you go. Verse 21, listen to this. So, Balaam arose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the leaders of Moab. Did the people come and call him? No. When a man is determined to do what he wants to do, 23:32 he will do it. Even if God says, "No." And the sad thing is, when God gives us to let us have our way. And so, it says here, verse 22, but God was God was? Angry because he was going, and the 23:52 angel of the Lord took his stand as an adversary against him, and he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. Verse 23, when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and with his drawn sword in his hand, 24:08 the donkey turned off the way into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back into the way. Which way? The way of Balaam, which is this way. The way where I get my own way. 24:28 I want to get that money. I want to get that honor. I want that. And there's only one thing that's stopping me from getting what I want, and what is that? What is that standing in his way between him and getting what is way? 24:43 What? The donkey. The donkey is the one thing standing in his way from getting what he wants. And so, he takes out the stick, whacks the the donkey. There's one thing that's standing between him and 25:03 judgement and death. What's that one thing that's standing between him and judgement and death? The donkey. He hits the donkey and the He goes the donkey goes further. It's interesting that the donkey can see the angel but he 25:18 can't. And then it says, "When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. So, he took and he struck again. This donkey is making my life 25:37 uncomfortable. I'm getting pain on my foot because of this donkey. It's not letting me have its own way. Having my own way. And all his frustration is lashed out on the donkey. Is our conscience bothering us like that donkey? 25:56 Is there a godly man speaking into your life saying, "Don't go this way." Is there a correction you got which is painful but you know the words that are being spoken to you are for your good, for your eternal well-being 26:13 that will preserve you from internal loss? Yes. But it's painful. And then it goes on again. It sits down on the way in the narrow place, verse 26. 26:31 And then the donkey saw the angel road under it she sat down and she he struck the donkey again. Verse 28. The Lord opened the mouth of the donkey and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you that you struck me these three times?" 26:49 29. Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me, if there had been a sword in my hand, guess what I would have done? I would have killed you by now." The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all 27:06 your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to doing so?" And he said, "No." And that's the testimony of all those like that who stand in the way, godly men, men that would stand in the way receiving all of this 27:27 for the sake of those they're seeking to preserve. And it says that verse 31, "The Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, 27:45 and he saw the angel standing him in the way with the drawn sword. Why have you stricken the donkey three times? Behold, I came out as an adversary be- because of your way was contrary to me. This way you were taking was not right. 28:03 I told you, you didn't listen. Then you prayed, I told you not to go unless they called you. After that, I put the angel before you. I put the donkey in front of you. All of these things, obstacles, so that you wouldn't do it what what you're doing." 28:19 And this is what his testimony. Verse 34, "Balaam said to the angel, the Lord, I have sinned, for I did not know you were standing in the way against me." He didn't realize that God was against him. That's how blind he was 28:36 when he was seeking to do his own way. It says, "Now then, look at his response. If it is displeasing to you, I will turn back. What do you What What do you think? Do you think after reading all of this, do 28:55 you think it's displeasing that he go? What do you think? Didn't he answer that question all the way in verse 12 where he says, "Don't go." But when a man or woman or young person is determined to go away. 29:14 This is the question. If you think If you still think it's displeasing, then I won't go. But when God sees a man wants or women or sister, brother, young person, but the angel the Lord says, "Go. Go with the men." Speak the word which I tell you. 29:33 And he goes and he blesses the people. Thousands of people, all the Israelites. He goes and blesses them. Was his ministry successful? You tell me. Four times he goes and blesses the people. His ministry was very very 29:53 successful. He blessed so many people. It says in Numbers 23, verse five. Then the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth. Does God put the word His word in the 30:09 mouth of a disobedient prophet? Yeah. It says in Jeremiah chapter one, verse nine, it says the Lord put His word in the mouth of Jeremiah. He's doing that for Balaam as well. But was God happy with Balaam? 30:28 No. Was he happy with Jeremiah? Yes. Jeremiah, they didn't listen to what he had to say. Here, he was blessing all these people. He shared all these verses, so many promi- promises he shared that we are blessed by what Balaam said. 30:47 Because God put his words in his mouth. It says here in verse 20 in chapter 24. Numbers 24:2, "And Balaam lifted his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe, and the spirit of God came upon him." God's Holy Spirit came upon 31:07 Balaam. And he blessed so many people. Yet God was unhappy with him. Yet he could deceive himself thinking everything was right. Because God blessed him. He spoke through him. All of these things. 31:26 The Holy Spirit was came upon him. Do you know the end of what happened to Balaam? It's found in Joshua chapter 13:22. Joshua 13:22. He became a diviner. This man who spoke the words of God, who 31:45 prophesied, later became a diviner and is killed. The end of a man who at one point in time spoke for God. And so I I see this danger in Peter saw this danger. Jude saw this danger. John saw this danger. And that's why he 32:05 shared with the church, "Be careful." And you see that in If you turn with me to 2 Peter. 2 Peter. Verse 14. 2 Peter chapter 2:14. 32:28 "Having eyes full of adultery and never ceasing from sin." 2 Peter chapter 2:14. A heart trained in greed, accursed children. Verse 15, forsaking the right way, they have gone 32:45 astray having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. But he received a rebuke from his own sin. For a mute donkey speaking with the voice of man restrained the madness of a prophet. 33:05 The one thing that would save him his life was that donkey. And that very donkey that would save his life it was And you see this over and over again with Herod. Herodias and Salome. He says, "I'll give you half half of my 33:23 kingdom. I'll give you up to half of my kingdom to you. All half of the chariots, half of the servants, half of all the palaces, half of it." That would be millions in today's thing. "I'll give you You'll be settled for life." 33:42 But she bore a grudge against John the Baptist. Millions or this voice that's convicting you. Millions? Voice that's convicting you. She says, "That voice that's convicting 34:02 me is worth more than millions." I don't want to hear that voice. Every time I hear that voice, it's convicting me. And so she valued more than millions. She said, "I don't want to hear his voice." John the Baptist's head on a 34:21 platter. >> When the When the children of Israel, they asked 34:38 for a bread, did God give them bread? Yes, he did. But it says that he also gave them something else. If you turn me to Psalm 106, Psalm 106. When I get my own way, 34:58 maybe the Lord gives me my own way. Psalm 106, verse 14. Psalm 106, verse 14. But craved intensely intensely in the wilderness 35:17 and tempted God in the desert. Verse 15. So he gave them their request. But sent a way wasting disease among them. Or it says in my margin, a leanness into their soul. They were filled in their belly, 35:35 but their soul became lean. That's the sad thing when we get our own way. And I say, "Lord, help me, Lord. I see just like Balaam, he's tempted. Lord, help me, Lord. 35:54 Fill me with your Holy Spirit." You'll hear a voice say behind you, "This is the way, walk in it, Lord. Help me, Lord. Let me not compromise just like he did when he saw all the things the glories of the kingdom and gave into it. 36:12 Lord, let me not follow this way of Balaam to seek my own, what's good for me." On the contrary, the Father is seeking for those who will 36:30 worship him in spirit and truth. And I say, Lord, if you're seeking for those who will worship him, worship you in spirit and truth, I pray, Lord, that I may be one among them. That each of us, Lord, the Lord has placed us in this family, 36:49 in this church, that we would be his worshipers. That's what God is seeking for. When he's saying, "I seek for a church." The woman at the well said, "We worshiped here as a congregation. We worshiped here in this mountain. What 37:06 how should we worship now?" The Lord is still looking for worshipers, those who will worship him in spirit and truth. And God has, I believe, brought us here as well. Those who have rejected the kingdoms of the world, rejected the way of Balaam, 37:24 and say, "Lord, I want to worship you, Lord. But my worship will be only true if I said no to the kingdoms of this world. If I've seen him as precious and said no." And you see this in the life of Abraham. 37:42 And God may put our finger on things in our life which is like Isaac in our lives, things that we have a hold on that we're not willing to let go. And he says here, Genesis 22:1, "Now it came about after 38:00 these things that God tested Abraham and said to Abraham, he said, 'Here I am.' Verse two, he said, 'Take your son, now your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go into the land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering on one of the 38:17 mountains which I will tell you." Abraham had left the Ur of the Chaldees. He passed that test. Isn't one test good enough? No, the Lord tests him again 38:36 with Lot. Are you going to grab? Are you going to let him pick first? And he passed the test again. Does God test him again? Yes, again, one more time. You passed those tests, but I'm testing you again. And it says here, 38:58 verse three, "So Abraham rose early in the morning, and what did he saddle? He saddled his donkey and took his two young men with him and Isaac his son." Another person also saddling up a donkey 39:16 with two men and going. One saddled up a donkey and went to do what he desired to do, do his own will. Another one also saddled up his donkey early in the morning with his servants and decided to go and give that which was precious 39:39 as worship. He said, "Lord, I'm willing to give up anything for you." And as I journey along these three days, I think about it. It's a costly decision. And for each of us as well, some of these things that Lord puts 39:57 finger on might not be easy. We take some time to think about it. We hear, "Lord, I want to I want to put it on the altar, Lord." But the Lord allows us to think about 40:16 it. And it says that verse five And Abraham said to young the young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go up over there, and we will worship and return to you." You see the one who went like Balaam 40:36 to do his own will, and the other one who saddled up his donkey to go and worship the Lord. And he goes up there. And it says in verse 10 Genesis 22:10, "Abraham stretched out 40:53 his hand and took the knife to slay his son." Verse 11, "But the angel of the Lord called him in from heaven and said, 'Abraham, Abraham.'" And he said, "Here I am." Verse 12, he said, "Do not stretch your hand against the lad, and do nothing to 41:11 him. For now I know that you fear God since you have not withheld your only son and your only son from me." God's test was to see if he would fear him. 41:29 And Abraham passed that test. He says, "Lord, I'm going to I'm willing to give up anything that you put your finger on because you mean more to me even than this son that you had given me." That's what he said to to to God. 41:48 And God was able to He had a test. And Abraham passed the test. And God gave him that seal saying, "Now I know that you fear me." Just like he could Balaam had the test. And God could say, "You got your own way." You might remember 42:14 in uh in the ark God took in the ark two of every creature. But among the clean animals, he took seven pairs of clean animals. And I think about it. If you were among those two animals, again, we're not animals, but if we were a part of the 42:34 two animals, and we were one of the two animals to even be in the ark when God was going to judge the world, it would have been a tremendous privilege. Lord, I'm one of those that you saved from destruction, one of those two animals that you gave. 42:53 The unclean animals, there was only two of them, but among the clean animals, there was seven pairs. Two of Some of them would be like the unclean animals. Once they got off the ark, they'd go about being thankful. Lord, I'm thankful 43:12 that you saved me. But among the the clean animals, there were some that while they were saved from destruction, from the flood and judgment, do you know 43:28 what their life was [snorts] about? If you turn with me to Genesis chapter 8. Genesis 8. Again, think of it. They went through the They were saved from the flood. They were saved from judgment. They got in the ark. And when they got out of the ark, 43:50 verse 20, then Noah built an ark altar to the Lord, and he took every clean animal and every and of every bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. They were saved from judgement. 44:09 They were in the ark for 1 year. But they knew that their life was not for their themselves. Their life was going to be something that we read here in verse 20 21. The Lord smelt the 44:27 soothing aroma. They were a aroma to God. Their life even though they were saved they said, "No, our lives are going to be ones for you, God, so that you can get a aroma from my life." 44:47 Romans 12:1 we read of the living sacrifice. What is the living sacrifice? It's a sacrifice though it was saved decided to be a sacrifice. And I could picture those lambs one saying to another, "Hey, why don't you go and be the sacrifice? 45:06 Let me live." And others saying, "Let me be the sacrifice so that I may be a aroma to God. Pick me." And God probably saw the ones that were ready to give up their lives and it was this they they gave up their life 45:24 so God can get pleasure out of it. And they were created and for thy pleasure they were created. And if you read with me 2 Corinthians chapter 2 I'm sorry, 2 Corinthians chapter 5. Why did God die for us? 2 Corinthians chapter 5 45:52 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 15 2 Corinthians 5:15 and he died for all so that they who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who died and rose again on their behalf. 46:12 And in Romans chapter 12, Lord, what is an acceptable sacrifice, Lord? What is the sacrifice that you want? What is the worship you want? Romans 11:36, for from him that is from God through God and to God 46:30 are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. And therefore, because God deserves all the glory, therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice. Like those clean animals, every one of 46:47 those clean animals they offered their life that was saved. A holy sacrifice acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship. This is the true worship. Where I take my body and I say, "Lord, these 47:06 eyes, everything." Just like those clean sheep, they didn't have a life to live for themselves anymore. This life that God had saved was given up for God itself. And so I say, "Lord, show me." You might remember uh if you turn with me to 2 Corinthians 47:23 chapter 2. 2 Corinthians chapter 2. We read about that soothing aroma that came from those clean animals when they were offered up. Verse 14. Now, 2 2 Corinthians 2:14, but thanks be to God who leads us in triumph 47:43 in Christ and manifest through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. And we We how those that aroma comes. It's in secret before God. 48:02 When I decide to lay my eyes, my my body as a sacrifice in the situations of life, that's where this aroma comes from. Verse 15, for we are a fragrance of Christ to whom? 48:18 We're a fragrance of Christ to God. The fragrance of my life is not for others primarily. The fragrance of my life in secret, which God only sees is for God. And when my fragrance is towards God 48:37 then that fragrance will also spread to others, those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To one, the aroma of death to death. And to the other, the aroma of life to life. And who is adequate for all these 48:53 things? Who is adequate? Only God, the Holy Spirit. And I say, "Lord, when there's two paths before me, one to go the way of Balaam to live for myself, to seek my own to do my own will. 49:13 And then I see a way of sacrifice and worship to God which Abraham took, Lord. Which am I taking, Lord? You have both ways in front of me. And these are all transactions that happen in night. God spoke to Balaam at night. God spoke 49:32 to Abraham at night. In the secrets of our heart. And we each have to make that choice. Jesus made that choice. He said, "We must worship and serve God only. The prince of the world comes. 49:51 John 14:30, and he has nothing in me. He tried for 33 and 1/2 years to put something of this world in its glory in my life. He had nothing. And so, may the Lord help each one of us. Let us pray. 50:10 Heavenly Father, I pray, Lord, that you'd help us, Lord. You said to Abraham that "Now I know that you fear me, Lord." And I pray for each one of us in the secret altars of our heart, Lord, where you alone see, Lord. I pray, Lord, 50:29 we would worship you, Lord. I pray, Lord, that everything that you put a finger on, Lord, that we're willing to lay on that altar, Lord. And you said, Lord, the secret of the Lord is with those who fear you, Lord. And I pray, Lord, that 50:44 you would share those secret, the intimate words with those of us who seek to fear you, Lord. And you will You said the one who fears you, you will teach them how to choose what is best, Lord. I pray, Lord, that you would help us, 51:00 guide us even in these situations, Lord. I pray, Lord, that we would seek to do your will and worship you and serve you only, Lord. I pray that you'd make this a reality in every one of our lives, Lord. We confess our hope here this morning 51:18 that you will do this, Lord. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and do that work in each of our hearts. In Jesus' name. Amen.
