<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

Dunlap SDA Church

P. Gerard Damsteegt

Reverence in the House of God

For I go to God's word. Let us pray. Heaven Father made the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be fully acceptable in your sight or savior and redeemer. Amen. So let us just look here that referencing God's house as in the handout is stated, is in statement from scripture that you find Leviticus 19 verse one, two and 30 And the word of God says there. And the Lord speak unto Moses saying, speak unto unto the congregation of the children of Israel and say to them, you shall be holy for angel Lord your God am holy. So we should be holy because God is holy. There's no doubt about it here. No, no discussion about it. But then at the end of this chapter you find a number of things that if you are holy and God is holy, that is what we should do. And so at the end of this chapter we read, you shall keep my Sabbath and the reference my sanctuary, I am the Lord. And the same is repeated in Leviticus 26 verse two and onward where it is connected to the covenant blessings and curses. If you are reverend, you get, you follow those suggestions. If not, you're being cursed. And here the point is if you are holy, then if the Lord is holy, you are holy and then you keep my Sabbath. But together with keeping the Sabbath there you will reverence my sanctuary. So keeping the Sabbath is intimately related for Sabbath keepers to reverence of God's sanctuary. It's very interesting. Then in 0.2 here we find a terrible incident again Ticus. But this time chapter 10 verse 1, 2 3, there is the transgression of naeb and a bajo and the sons of Aaron. And they took either of them, his censor put, fired her in and put instance wrong and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not to do. So here are instructions of the leaders in the sanctuary, God's people and you have to follow certain procedure, but they did not in some way they were affected in manipulated with their mind and took fire that was not prescribed in the reference of the sanctuary. And so they were and it says, and then they went out fire from the Lord and devoured them And they died before the Lord. And it says also that Aaron was not too mourn of what his sons had done. So it was a terrible judgment. But again, they didn't follow the counts of the Lord in reverence and what he should do and specifically an offering and therefore they were killed. And throughout the Bible you find the importance of we have in everything we do, we have to glorify God as your reverence in Psalm 89 verse seven and says, God is great to be feared in the assembly of the saints and to be had in reference of all them that are about him. So again, if you want to glorify God, you follow this especially in regard to reference. Then I look at the spirit of prophecy and there is a major section here in the book Child Guidance. And it seems that in the book Child Guidance which is for children and parents, how to educate your children, that she is very concerned about the parents and the children be reverent in the sanctuary and whole major section there in child guidance you find it and in on page five 40 she says, nearly all need to be taught how to conduct themselves in the house of God. Does it apply to us why it says he and nearly all. So there seem to be a great need of reverencing God's people. Then it says here, and that is also on 0.4 here, parents should not only teach but what Command their children. You can follow this in the outline their children to enter the sanctuary with sobriety. I reverence. So it is not simply a teaching how to do this, but it is a command. This is what the Lord says and that is what you should do is no option, option. So how are you going to teach people reverence? You know, I mean we use this term frequently, but but how to teach this and the next statement, it's clearly showing the two important things. How to teach them Through reverence for God is inspired by a sense of his what? Infinite greatness and the realization of his presence with this sense of the unseen, the heart of every child should be deeply impressed. So first of all, the almighty greatness, infinite greatness, I mean God is beyond everybody and everything else and therefore because of his greatness of the Lord, the God we should be reverend, but at the same time isn't only far away powerful there. Now he is, his presence is with us in the sanctuary shall both his infant greatness impresses us, but at the same time his presence among us and those two elements we should keep in mind when we are going to worship. Now people say, you know what? I'd like to worship, I like to see my friends and whatever and socializing over that, that is not a part of worship. If a fellowship dinner afterwards, you know you can do that all the time. But worship deals with focusing on whom God, his greatness and his presence. And if he keep those things in mind every time when we go to church, friendship will be enlightened by this. Then she continues hearing child guidance. 5 38, the hour and place of prayer and services of public worship. The child should be taught to regard as sacred because why? God is there, God is there. So we have normally the common place and the sacred place and the church itself is a sacred place, not a fellowship meal, you know, that we get in in a, in the church, very important, but it is specifically the sacredness because God is specifically there. And then what you see in the Bible in the New Testament, especially how Jesus is angry and uses a whip and he kicks many people out, the many changers, the sellers, the cattle, and specifically stated here because of the noise and the bedlam. Matthew 21, verse 13 and John two verse 16 And then she spirit of prophecy shows a picture of the situation there in the time of Jesus in regard to the sanctuary. And it seems that he desires a holy stillness, a perfect order, neatness and humility in the church. That's interesting, a holy stillness. Now I think if you are really impressed with that concept, things may change in the church. You think so, you know, reflect upon what is going to take place in every, every service. Is there a holy stillness, perhaps the first service, but is the second service a holy stillness? Again, see rights. The house of God is often desecrated and Sabbath violated by what? By Sabbath. Believing children in some cases that even allowed to run about the house, play, talk, manifest the evil tempers in the very meetings where the saints should worship God in the beauty of holiness and the place that should be holy and where a holy stillness should reign and where there should be a perfect order and neatness and humility is made to be a perfect baby. And confusion. This is enough to bring God's displeasure and shut his presence from the assemblies. Now you know, we may not think that if there is not a holy stillness, but the consequences is the displeasure of God and it shut out his presence from our assemblies. So we go there to meet God and because of the behavior he will not be present. Now that's really serious, very serious. Then in number seven here, don't talk to the sermon during the sermon. Do not have so little reverence for the house and worship of God as to communicate with one another during the sermon. Now may maybe the people say ya, but you know we are talking about the sermon. If you talk about a sermon, you better pay attention to the sermon, right? If those who commit this fault should see the angels of God looking upon them and marking their doings, they will be filled with shame and Abner abhorrent of themselves. God wants attentive heroes. Then it continues on the same vein. Number eight here, don't read whisper and laugh. Reverence is greatly needed in the youth of this age. I am alarmed as I see children, youth of the religious parents show heatless on the order and pro propriety that should be observed in the house of God While God's servants are presenting the words of the pope of life to the pope. It some will be reading others whispering and laughing. Their eyes are sinning and why is it sinning here comes by diverting the attention of those around him. So if he do those things, what what will it do to people around us? Because they certainly observed that. In fact, you know, not too long ago I saw that some parents helped their children because they were very hungry and maybe they didn't get a breakfast or whatever, but you know, those children were really e e eagerly eating what they were offered. This habit, if allowed to remain unchecked, will grow and influence others. Again, here it says common talking, whispering and laughing should not be permitted in the house of worship either see, not during, but either before or after the service. And it's interesting, you know how people when they come in, they greet each other, talk a little bit, but then when they're being ushered out, you don't have even the idea that you're in a church because people are laughing and talking. Well the elder said, you know, I can't understand this. What is taking place after the service? Anyway, this is some of the comments that are made that stimulated me to research this. Number nine, maintain a true spirit of devotion and have intercessions prayer for conversion. Other of others before the service. You know when I, we were in Korea as a missionaries many years ago, it might be different now, but members were very irreverent in the church. Every person came quietly with the Bible. Then upon sitting down in their seat, they bowed her head and prayed. Very impressive. Another example from Ellen White, when she visited Europe, she said the Scandinavians, and in fact nearly all European worshipers manifest much more reverence in the 19th century that was than is seen among the Americans. And as soon as they enter the place of worship, they bow their heads and offered silent prayer. And so Illinois recommended when the worshipers entered the place of meeting they should do with the quorum passing quietly through the seats. And if some have to wait a few more minutes before this meeting begins, let them maintain a through spirit of devotion. By what? Silent meditation, keeping their heart uplifted to god's in prayer, that the service may be of special benefit to their own heart and leading to the conviction and conversion of other souls. So they prayed them for themselves and for other souls that are attending the church. And then they should remember that heavily messengers are in the house of God. We are to lose much sweet communion with God by our restless and not by encouraging moments of reflection. Okay, Let me just continue here. Number 12, and this is something that I had to learn because when I joined the church I didn't know that, but all need to have a special Sabbath suit. Many, many needing structure as to how they should appear in the assembly for worship on the Sabbath. They are not to enter the presence of God in common clothing worn during this week. They should have a special Sabbath suit to be warn when attending the serves in God's house because you are in the presence of God. If you are get an invitation of President Biden, would you go into your genes and whatever? No you wouldn't. You would be respectful of the person that has invited you to come and this. Now, you know, this thing is not everybody has the money, whatever. Not too long ago when I baptized somebody, I said, have you a suit? No, this is only what I have. He says, so now can you not get a suit? No, I I I don't have the income, I don't have the money. Okay, I said, let's go to Chattanooga, to men's warehouse. But he said, I don't have the money. Come on, don't worry about it. So we went to men's warehouse, he got the best suit for his size and then I paid for it Because if people don't have it, the money, you have to help it. And so then he came to church from that one in a suit and when he was baptized it was in a suit. And so France as a picture that people have about our God depends on what? On how we behave in the Lord's work, how we behave it. And if you really appreciate this, then on several people said, Hey, They are dressed up. Why are they dressed up? And they may ask you questions because they go and worship their God, the God of the Sam. Now at sometimes there is really a problem with children and parents cannot control them selves, what are you going to do? What are you doing? How to deal with children who disturb the service? Here again is in testimony, in child guidance, your child should be taught to obey the child, the the children of God. As the children of God obey him. This is the standard. If this standard is maintained, and that is number 13, if this is maintained, you will have some weight when your child is restless. And but if the children cannot be restrained, if the parents feel that restraining is too much of an exception, and that is why you have frequently that the parents don't want to disturb the children, the child should be removed from the church at once. Why? Because it should not be left to the children to divide, divert the mind of the healers by talking or running about God is dishonored by the loose way in which parents manage their children while at church. So if you let your child go, it'll affect the audience that want to have a blessing from the sermon. And it is impossible if a child is allowed to do this. And yeah, you may say, you know, that is really terrible. We don't want to put those children away from church. But who is responsible? What is the responsibility of the parents? Are they faithful in training the children? Are they? If not, then they should it. And you know, you make say yes, but you can. You can sit there because you don't have any more children. When our children are small, that's exactly what we did because our children were not angels. Definitely not. And when they really were restless and, and, and, and, and, and disturbed with the people, not my wife, but I had to take her. I don't leave it to my wife. And I took the children out. And if they continued then he went downstairs to the bathroom and that is what he didn't like. What happened happened in the bathroom. And then they said, no, no, no, no, no, mercy, mercy, mercy. And we had mercy provided you back quiet. And so that is what we did. And in a couple of months the matter was settled. Was settled, Settled. You have to be consistent kind and this is it. And then we go here to the last one here. The church is the very gate of heaven. And that is very, very good for instructions and that course with the experience of Jacob who was asleep on the rock. And so angels are sending and descending on the letter between heaven and earth. And that is a safe, what happened today, angels will also go between heaven and earth. Genesis 28 for 16 and 17. And Jacob waken outta the sleep. And he said, surely the Lord is in this place. And I knew it not, and he was afraid and said, how dreadful this this place that is none of earth than the house of God and this is the gate of heaven. And again, he called this place battle the very gate of heaven. And so every Sabbath we can have a battle experience as angels and scent and descent with precious blessings on our congregation. And the realization that a place of worship is at the gate of heaven. God is high and holy. And to the humble believing souls, the house on earth is the place where the people meet to worship is the gate of heaven. So if you drive to the church, think about it, I'm going to visit the gate of heaven. What is it? The gate of heaven and the resurrection. We go also the gate of heaven and the angels are there and whatever. And it it's beautiful, beautiful. And so if you think about the beauty of going to church with our children and teach them this is the gate of heaven, what an impression should I be? You see the gate of heaven. And so when we go to church, it is tremendous. What are we doing? If you take your Bible, you find that specifically here. Psalm one 50 here, praise the Lord. Praise he God in his sanctuary. Praise him in the firmament of his power. One 50, praise him for his mighty ex. Praise him according to his excellence and praise. This is what we do when we go to the gate of heaven. We praise him. What are you going to do if you are early in church? Praise him. Thank him that you are not struck down by covid 19. Praise the Lord that he's preserving our church. Praise the Lord that he's giving me jobs to earn many praise the Lord that he's giving me a marvelous family, marvelous children. And so you can go to the church in the gate of heaven and continue to praise the Lord before and after the church. What do you say? What a beautiful, I mean, what are we going to do to church? If you go earlier, no. In Korea we noticed that people sometimes came 15 minutes earlier to do what? To praise God, to seek praises to his name and for instance, by hope and thrust and and my desire that this handout will stimulate you to make the worship experience so much that here in this church raised the stillness of a holy God. What do you think? A France this morning I want to make an appeal. Those who want to follow these councils and to walk with the Lord and in the holy stillness of this, considering the church as the gate of heaven, if that is your your desire that you want to implement all those councils, can I see your hands? Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Let us pray Heaven. Father, you have seen the hands of those who are determined to make this sanctuary experience more reverence that we may experience this as the gates of heaven when the Father, we are weak and we may forget those things. But help us to put those councils that I have printed of, bless them to put it in a Bible so that every time when they go to church, they may reflect upon the beautiful councils that you have given to your servants, the spirit of prophecy. And may we not forget those things, but may this church be really the sanctuary of his greatness. Thank you so much, father bless this church and bless our experience in this church. In Jesus' name and for fork, amen. This media was brought to you by Audio verse, a website dedicated to spreading God's word through free sermon, audio, and much more. If you would like to know more about audio verse or if you would like to listen to more sermons, please visit www.audio verse.org.

Back to Menu

Reverence in the House of God

Sponsor

Recorded

Attachments

Sound Doctrine