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The Holy and the Profane
20/07/2024
Separate the Holy and the Profane
Ezekiel 22:1-31 v26, 30 V 26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things; they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
V 30 And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none.
Holy – qodes 6944, qados 6918, cherem 2764
- Sanctify –separation to God, Relationship, Lifestyle
- Separate- to mark off by bounds, withdrawal from, to avoid, hareem
- Consecrate- dedicated, perfected, one purpose,
- Devote – aspect of worship, gift of love to
Profane – halal 2490
- Defile – pollute, cross a boundary, trodden on
- Wound – injured, sick, not whole, damaged
- Desecrate- insult, ignore ownership, show contempt for
- Common – available to anyone for any purpose
Genesis 2:15-17 And the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; But of the tree of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
The Lord God gives man a garden to steward, diligence and faithfulness will result in all of his needs being met. But there are boundaries to this and in this area. He is told the consequences of transgressing these boundaries.
Death – separation from God and from the resulting blessing of that relationship.
Good stewardship is the Lord's qualification for releasing increase into our lives.
Luke 16:10 N I V "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."
Consecration - Joshua 5:2-9 Circumcision before entering the promised land
V9 And the Lord said unto Joshua, this day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of this place is Gilgal unto this day.
Shame of slavery removed, and they step into freedom in their own land. They have been in the land of not enough, just enough and now entering the land of more than enough.
Stewardship Test - Jericho was declared "cherem" that meant all the spoil was to be given to the Lord. One man – achan –Joshua 7:1 took some of the spoil and hid it in his place and the consequence was that Israel lost their next battle. One person's sin affected the whole nation.
Malachi 1:6-8 Ye offer polluted bread on my altar…
Malachi 3:8-12 Will a man rob God?
Individuals affect open heavens Tithes and Offerings being accepted or rejected. Tithes are holy unto the Lord; offerings are common and need to be separate from tithes.
Financial Eunuchs – One who is not tempted by money no matter how much is involved. Luke 19:17 Well done, my good servant, His master replied. Because you have been trustworthy in an exceedingly small matter, take charge of ten cities.
Financial Boundaries – come into agreement with the Lord on your financial needs and ask that he provide them and know that everything over this amount the Lord is entrusting to you to manage on His behalf. Matthew 18:19 Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
Financial Grants – Would a large Trust Fund release a large sum of money to someone who can't show an accurate record of accomplishment of how they have used the money available so far and an accurate budget for how they will use the grant in the future. You are seeking grace not mercy!
Shall we ask the Lord to circumcise our hearts financially, reveal the level of lifestyle for us at this time and what He would have us to do with the overflow He releases to us.
Prayer: -
Lord, open our eyes, that we may see the difference between the Holy and the profane. We ask that you give us the grace to consecrate our hearts to your will in our life and that we would become good stewards of all that you entrust to our care.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Written by Pastor Graeme Foster