This morning, we're gonna jump in and we're gonna continue our focus to a degree on the children of Israel. This is not going to be the most enjoyable message. That's my disclaimer, all right? It will be extremely practical. but it's going to more than likely hit home for most of us, if not all of us, in one way or another. We've been dealing with the thought of dying in the wilderness. You know, why does so many people die in the wilderness if God intends those who trust in Him to thrive and to flourish and to be blessed? Why are so many falling off and dying in the wilderness, and it doesn't appear as though the blessings and the thriving and all of that just seems to be lost. Well, some will tell you, you just don't have the faith. If you just have enough faith, all things are possible. That sounds really good and super spiritual, but it's very shallow. Because I've been around the faith preacher individuals. Go to Nigeria. if you ever get a chance. Nigeria is plastered with their themes every year, just nonstop. It is a new way of saying the same thing over again, and it has all to do with thriving and prosperity. The most prosperous people in Nigeria, some, some of the most prosperous people in Nigeria are the prosperity preachers. They drive around in rich, matter of fact, they don't even drive, they get driven around in very ritzy cars in Nigeria. Huge buildings, fancy stuff in Nigeria. Now you get to Nigeria, the first thing you're gonna find in Nigeria is it's very dirty. Very, everything is just, I mean, it's just a dirty area. When they have dry season, I mean, dirt and sand blows everywhere. Then they have wet season and everything turns to mud. I mean, it just, it is a rough area, but we support Brother Mark Holmes. I've been there two different times, spent two weeks both times. I've seen a lot of areas in Nigeria. I've been in the back areas where there's the thatch roof huts and that's all they've got, literally going into, The little villages, and that's all that it really is, the village. You drive on a little Okada, which is a little motorcycle that is a death trap. And you don't drive, you ride on the back. And you weren't talking about having fun. Very sarcastically fun. Somebody driving and you're on the back holding on for dear life. with your Bible, hoping you don't drop it. We're going to go preach in a village. He didn't tell me it's going to take an hour and a half of riding on the back of that motorcycle through every pothole you can possibly imagine. and going down in and coming back out and hoping that it's not so deep that you're doing this to breathe, okay? I'm serious, it was something else. But you go there and you'll notice of all the poverty, the ones who are really rich are the ones telling everybody else, if you'll just have the faith, you can have prosperity. Because God wants all his people to be rich and wealthy and prosperous. And you know, if you by faith will give to our ministry out of your poverty, God will prosper you. And they live prosperous and all the people who give to their prosperity live in poverty. By the way, that is not spiritual giving. That is not scriptural giving. when it has all to do about the benefits of the one area here, the mother church and the growth of all those that oversee it. That's not spiritual or scriptural giving. That is using God's people against all scriptural aspects. I'm gonna leave that alone. Moving on. I thought about shooting at that squirrel. I'm just gonna let him go, okay? But as a whole, God does want his people to understand what it is to thrive and not just survive. But as we've already said, you cannot thrive in the will of God and in the blessings that God wants to provide if we try to do it through disobedience. Blessings come through obedience. And we don't have time to go through all the aspects, but God told the children of Israel over and over and over and over again, if you will do, if you will follow, if you will remain faithful, I will pour out the blessing. But it always came with the understanding that God can only provide the blessings he desires when we allow the opportunity through obedience. Children of Israel did not go into the promised land the first time around. They chose rather to go against God. They didn't know exactly what they were gonna do, but they found out afterwards that God said, fine, you don't wanna go in, then you're gonna spend 40 years wandering in the wilderness for not obeying me. Oh, nevermind, we'll go in, we'll go in, let's go. And God said, no, I'm not going with you now. They disobeyed, they refused, and we're gonna see today again that their willingness to disobey God went against all evidence they had on a daily basis that God was going to go with them. They had everything they needed to choose to follow God, and yet they still allowed themselves to choose to turn their back on him. So let's look, if you would, we're gonna start off, we're gonna go back to Exodus, but first go with me to 2 Timothy, if you would. 2 Timothy chapter three, and in everything we've been looking at, in examining the children of Israel and their issue, and why they ended up 40 years in the wilderness, and all those that were 20 and upward died in the wilderness. God told them, you will not go in. I gave you a chance, I showed you everything you needed, I promised you every promise that you needed, and you said, nah, we'd rather go back to Egypt than go forward into the promised land. And so you turned your back on what I had for you, so you're gonna die in the wilderness. Your children will get an opportunity to make the right choice 40 years later, but you will not be alive. The only ones allowed at that point to have the hope of going in was Joshua and Caleb and their families because Joshua and Caleb said, we can do it, let's go. And they went against the grain of the majority. But they said, let's go with God. The majority said, let's go with ourselves. Forget God. And so Joshua and Caleb are promised that they will have opportunity and their families. You have Moses, you have Aaron, all of those that sided with following God will get the chance to go in, but they will also have to wait 40 years. So we tie all of this in because even Paul says the Old Testament is for our learning. Even the psalmist talks about how the Old Testament and this timeframe is for our learning. There are many, many different times when we are reminded that what we are given in the Old Testament account of what God did with the children of Israel especially is for our education and knowledge as a child of God today, learning from those who called themselves the people of God back then. Where did they fail, and how can I learn from it? Because I don't want to fail. in the area of following the Lord. So how do I learn from others' mistakes? Well, let's look very quickly, if you would, 2 Timothy 3, kind of a springboard for us. And as we look at 2 Timothy 3, verse number one down to verse number five, this tells us a little bit about the day and age we live in. This is an education for us to understand what we're dealing with. Bible says, I do believe we are in the last days. I do not believe that we are in the time of tribulation. I am pre-tribulational rapture in my doctrine and belief. I believe the church will be caught out and then will be ushered in the seven years of tribulation. But I do believe being in the last days, we will get to experience and see things that the Bible has declared you are going to be aware of the timeframe you are in because of what you will witness. But here's the thing, we also must be very careful lest we fall prey or fall for the aspects of being somewhat involved in the same mentalities ourself. Sometimes when you're surrounded by something, you can be affected by it and not even know that you're being affected. And so we gotta be aware of it. Verse one, 2 Timothy three says, this know also that in the last days, perilous times shall come for men shall be lovers of their own selves, check. Covetous, check. Boasters, check. Proud, check. Blasphemers, check. Disobedient to parents, check, check, check, check, check. Unthankful, check. Unholy, check. Without natural affection, double check. Truce breakers. Anybody here wanna shake a hand and make an agreement and believe that it's gonna stick? Very rare today that you can give somebody your word and they'll believe that it's actually going to be so. Why? Because we live in a timeframe of truce breakers. Promise keepers don't exist as much anymore. False accusers, check. Guilty until proven innocent is pretty much the mantra today. Incontinent, check. Fierce, check. One of the fastest growing quote unquote sports is MMA. MMA, the best way to describe, basically blood fight. It is simply the Coliseum in a much smaller scenario. That's what it is. If people actually could legally cry out, kill him, kill him, kill, they would. Finish him, that's exactly what they would think, okay? By the way, that's ingrained in the minds because you go back into the 80s and 90s and there were games that came out and that's what it has been a constant, just think about it, think about it, think, and now we actually have the sports where that could be real. Moving on, so fierce. Despisers of those that are good. Check. Traitors, check. Heady, check. High-minded, check. Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Check multiple times on that one. And don't get me wrong, I'm not against enjoying things, but I have never seen a timeframe when people need a vacation every month. Gotta go to the beach every other week. We gotta go have fun and play time 24-7. Moving on. Get out of here, squirrel. But here's the key, verse number five. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. And here's what we're told to do. From such, turn away. Why? Because who you're willing to hang out with. Well, I ain't doing what they're doing. Who you're willing to hang out with is who you'll end up being like. It ain't going to affect me. I walk with God closer than that. Who you're willing to hang out with is who you'll end up being like. More than once, a Christian young person has made the determination, I'm gonna hang out with this rough crowd because I wanna be a witness to them. And instead of turning the crowd that's going the wrong way, right, the wrong crowd turned them wrong. But I have a desire to reach them, good, but don't do it by trying to be like them or be around them or hang out with what they're doing. There is a timeframe when you can reach people, but there's a way in which you should not go about it. As a whole, the Bible says we reach perilous times, and you're gonna see these things. We check off every box in the day and age we live in, even down to a form of godliness. I'm gonna give my favorite word. Religiosity is a big thing today. But here's the thing, it's very divided. You're either gonna be all in on the whole religious thing, or you're basically gonna turn your back and run because you can't stand all them religious people. And there's not really a middle ground much anymore. You're either considered religious or not religious. I would much rather be considered biblical or not biblical. because religion is killing people. Religion is dooming people. Religion is the problem. People can be very religious and not be godly. And we're gonna see that today. This morning I wanna preach this thought. I told you this is not necessarily a fun one, okay? But this morning I wanna preach this thought. Improper Equations, okay? Improper, you say, what in the world does that mean? You'll get it in a minute. Improper equations. Let me pray and then we're gonna jump in and we're gonna look at the children of Israel and see how what happened to them is happening today. And if we're not careful, we fall into the trap and join in before we know it. Let's pray and then we're gonna look at it. Heavenly Father, we do thank you for this morning, this opportunity to open up your word. I pray that you would give us clarity and wisdom as we look at these things. Would you, Lord, show us in any area whatsoever that maybe we are giving our mindsets over to an improper and incorrect way of thinking concerning those things which are godly and truly spiritual. Would you help us as your people to be the kind of people that would please the God that we serve? We ask all this in Christ's name, amen and amen. Well, with the children of Israel, prior to their first opportunity to enter in the promised land, the children of Israel are found doing some really positive things. However, none of these things led them to obey God and go into the land. They do several positive things, several good things, but those good things did not amount to obedience. The two-sided coin presented in scripture is faith and obedience. Faith leads to obedience. Obedience leads to more faith. Faith leads to obedience. Obedience leads to more faith. There's a two-sided coin in daily walk with the Lord and in true, genuine, biblical Christianity. There's a two-sided coin of faith and obedience. Faith and obey, like the song, trust and obey. What is trust? It's having faith in the God who directs my life. Trust and obey, trust and obey. The more I obey, the more I learn to trust him. The more I trust him, the more I'm drawn to obey him. It is over and over, it's a two-sided coin. However, the modern day coin for most Christians And most churches today has changed massively. And here's the way I would describe today's modern day Christianity coin. You ready? Spiritual carnality or carnally spiritual. Spiritual carnality or carnally spiritual. You say, they're the same thing. Nope, they're different. Because which one comes first? Spiritual aspect, yet carnal. Carnal aspect, yet attempt to be spiritual. Okay? And here's the best, I mean, these two phrases will describe both of these sides of the coin. Spiritual carnality. How do we define that? Here we go. Well, we all worship God in our own way. Spiritual, but completely carnal. Why? Because God never said, worship me in your own way. He said, I've given you the instructions of how it is that a holy God should be served, should be loved, should be followed. He did not say, I've given you suggestions, I've given you commands. You say you are a child of God. You say that you follow the will of God. Here is how you go about it. God did not leave it up for interpretation as to, well, we just worship God. We all worship God in our own way. No, that is a spiritual shell housing carnality. So let's flip that coin over. What would be a good saying of describing carnal spirituality? Well, me and God have an understanding. Y'all with me? Me and God have an understanding. Typically, you get that statement when somebody is trying to help another individual by letting them, hey, listen, you know, been missing you, hasn't seen you in a long time, boy, you've been out of church, you've been out of this, you're not around, or better yet, in the workplace, you call yourself a Christian. And yet if I asked anybody around here if they thought you were a Christian, they'd laugh in my face. Well, me and God have an understanding. It doesn't matter how I live, it doesn't matter what I do, me and God have an understanding. That's carnally spiritual. That's being carnal while trying to sound like I am spiritual. So I'm either living carnal and claiming to have a walk with God, or I'm claiming to have a walk with God and claiming to do things while I am actually hiding my carnality. Does that make sense to y'all? Y'all getting where I'm going? Okay, or as one preacher said, y'all catching what I'm throwing? All right, so as a whole, that is a description of the two-sided coin of today. It's not faith and obedience. It's more spiritual carnality or carnal spirituality. By the way, you won't find the second coin in the Bible. In too many instances, Christians have become. Y'all hold with me. Christians have become spiritual junkies. Some of you that come from that time and era. The spiritual junkie. They cut way back on their time that they give to the Lord and time they spend with the Lord, but they meet up with other junkies when they need a spiritual fix. Oh, I'm really struggling lately. I think we're gonna go back. Don't get mad at me, okay? I'm trying to be as gentle with this as possible, but this is truth. You end up in a scenario where people are coming together for the emotional fix and the spiritual high. because they've gone so low that they almost can't stand themselves and they need something to boost them back up and so they now need to get around other people and have an environment where they can, oh, oh, oh, praise God. Spiritual junkies. Shoot me up with the Spirit, Lord. Now, I'm not trying to be mean. But you watch. Just look. Just observe. You don't have to say a word. You ain't got to straighten nobody out. Just observe. and tell me if people aren't failing to walk with God, but they're showing up to try to get a little bit of a shoot up with the Holy Spirit because now their life is in such a wreck. I need help, Lord. I need help, Lord. I need help, Lord. Lord, I'm so depressed. I need to be lifted, Lord. Lift me, Lord. And they walk out on a spiritual high just to walk right back in. to their carnality of life. And they survive their carnality on that high until all of a sudden, I've gotta have another fix. Spiritual junkies. Now you say, well that's just mean-spirited to say that. No, it is truth, and I don't have any particular individual in mind when I'm saying it. It's in a general sense of truth. You watch, you observe, and you tell me if you see that I am wrong on the majority of the case. I'm not saying all. But in a very large sense, the reason a lot of this new church movement stuff is so effective is because it fulfills the need to get the spiritual high in just a little bit of short time that I give so that I can go back to what I was doing without any change whatsoever, but I feel like I can survive it for a little while longer. That's not biblical Christianity. It is, however, the way the children of Israel lived a lot. God did something miraculous and boy, they were on a super high, wow! And it didn't take very long and they were murmuring and complaining again. God brought some judgments, some hard times, and they struggled, and then all of a sudden, oh God, help us God, we're sorry. And then all of a sudden, the Lord does and comes through for them because He is merciful, and He is kind, and He is loving, and He would come through, and He would provide time and again, and they would be on their high, and they'd be serving the Lord until the next opportunity to turn their back on Him arise. The reason it's a back and forth and a back and a forth and a flip and a flop is because, and I'm gonna get ahead of myself to a degree, but because conforming to the moment is not transformation of the heart. We are creatures of the moment. And if we're not careful, we will live by that. And instead of letting God change the heart, we just get God to help us conform in a moment. But then we can flip-flop back. Now, let me give you these thoughts, and we'll be quick. Go with me to Exodus 35. Exodus 35. Here is the whole thing. Say, what's the title for? Improper Equations. All right, here it is. In a nutshell, too many Christians, or those that call themselves Christians today, because I don't know, I don't know the heart, I can't see who's actually saved or not, but those who claim to be a Christian, too many of them equate certain things with being godly, or with serving God, or equate certain things with obedience to God. And those things do not necessarily equate with genuine biblical obedience. Though we feel much better about ourselves if we can redefine, that's not the whole thing. People need to stop redefining what things mean. Because we live in a world today where if you don't like what it meant originally, you can just redefine it to be whatever fits and suits your fancy. And so you can use the same word as everybody else, but you don't mean the same thing. Stop it. All right. But here's the thing. As the children of Israel, are going forward, they begin to equate certain things with a mentality of obedience to God. Just like people today, they equate certain things with being obedient to God. But it's a momentary thing. It's not a true heart issue change. It is a momentary conforming, which is not genuine obedience to God. It's just conforming because it's beneficial for the moment. The reason the children of Israel never went in is because all the good things they were found doing just before that opportunity to go into the land, they were only conforming to what they had to do, but there was no heart change. And so when the opportunity came to obey God, none of that good stuff affected their decision whatsoever. Those moments are gone. Those moments are past. Those moments, we remember that, but we don't, that's not now. Now is different. Now, it's because there was never a heart change. It was just, we do it because we have to. We do it because right now it requires it. But then when they came the opportunity to go in the land, they did not go because their heart was not already given in obedience to God. So what are some things that people equate to obedience and to godliness? Remember, having a form of godliness. That just simply means taking the word godly and redefining it to fit so I can say I am godly when technically it's not according to God's definition of godly, it is according to my definition of godly. And I can redefine it however I want. You know, I did one thing good for God, and I know that I'm godly because of that. I'll give you some examples, you ready? Here are some things that children of Israel did that were good, that unfortunately were equated to being the wrong thing. Things that do not equal a heart of obedience. Here we go. Giving, service, and sacrifice. That's number one. Three things in one. Giving, service, and sacrifice. Exodus 35, look at verse number 4 and 5. And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying, Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord, whosoever is of a willing heart, Let him bring it an offering of the Lord gold and silver and brass and then he goes on and he names several other Additional things and this is for the work of the tabernacle the building of the tabernacle They needed God's people had it because God had placed it in their hands give it to all these riches to them as a spoiled Egypt when they left the land they had all these riches they have all this stuff God put it in their hands because he knew that he would require it of them and they had nothing to give that was needed unless God put it in their hands first So God gave it to them from the Egyptians so that when he asked of them, give out of a willing heart for the building of the tabernacle, they would have to give that which wasn't theirs in the first place. It belonged to somebody else, but God put it in their hands and gave them opportunity to offer back to the Lord what was needed for the tabernacle. Sound familiar? That is the essence of the understanding of giving back to the Lord as he has blessed us. And so they give, and there are those, they give with a willing heart. Look at verse number 10. It says, and every wise hearted among you shall come and make all that the Lord hath commanded. Okay, here's the service. Those whom God had given talents and abilities, not only did they have to give the materials, but somebody had to have the abilities to build. to sew, to fashion, and even to gold plate, and all that kind of stuff. I mean, all the different things that happened with the tabernacle, and they needed people to do the work. So you had people, they gave, they even got involved and they served. And they even sacrificed. In verse number 21, it says that, and they came, everyone whose heart stirred Him, and everyone whom His Spirit made willing. And they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all His service, and for the holy garments. But they gave. They sacrificed of themselves and gave to what God needed for them to put in the hands of those and then to fashion and all that was needed to build the tabernacle, a place for God to dwell with them. And in that moment, they gave and they served and they sacrificed. But were they really godly? Were they really surrendered? Were they truly of a mindset of a heart saying, Lord, we will follow you? Or were they in the moment stirred to give, to serve, and to sacrifice? There's a big difference, and there's a whole song, there's a whole hymn song written to it, tired of being stirred and not being changed. People get stirred up all the time. Some good things, some bad things. People get stirred up all the time. But stirring and genuine change are not the same thing. On several occasions, the Israelites were known to be a giving people. When it was time here, as we've seen, they gave and brought more than was needed for the building of the tabernacle. However, don't forget, now think about this, they gave for the building of the tabernacle, but don't forget, there was also a time when they gave in abundance for the molding of a calf God. So giving is not a picture of just pure obedience. I mean, you can give and not be to God. You can give and it, you know, God gave you and you're actually using it against him. In the building of the tabernacle, those with the talent and ability all pitched in and did their part in service. However, don't forget that the number of times we're told in scripture that those that once served the Lord, forsook the Lord and served other gods. So service itself is not necessarily a showing of somebody's spiritual aptitude. The sacrifices they made in those moments are quite clear, but momentary sacrifice does not equate to sacrificial heart and life. Ed Cole, I don't necessarily agree with him in everything, long time back, dead now, but Ed Cole did say this, and I do agree with this statement. He said, a passion for God isn't necessarily the same as abiding in God. it must be coupled with obedience to be true love for God. Hmm, just because you got passion doesn't mean you've got genuine obedience and love for God. Second thing, not only giving, service, sacrifice, those things don't equate to automatic, oh, there's somebody who served, that's an obedient child of God. Anybody can give, serve, and sacrifice, and their hearts still not be sold out for God. But they're a Christian, yeah, okay, so they know Christ as their Savior. Doesn't mean they let God lead them. Doesn't mean they'll obey and follow into the promised land that God wants to take them into. Doesn't mean they're gonna cross over Jordan and be obedient, trusting God for the battles ahead. It just means in the moment, they gave, they served, and they sacrificed. Anybody can look good for a second, Very quickly, I gotta hurry. The visible presence of God did not equal or define their obedience. the visible presence. In Exodus chapter 40, very, very quickly, I'm not gonna spend a lot of time on this one, because it's just clear, but in Exodus 40, verse number 38, 34 through verse number 38, the Bible says, then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle, and Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys. But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and the fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. Now that is descriptive and absolute in the sight of all the children of Israel throughout all their journeys. The entire time they built the tabernacle, they had the place for God to dwell amongst them with the tabernacle, and the entire time there is either a pillar of cloud or there is a pillar of regardless, there is always the visible evidence of the presence of God in their lives. And yet that was not enough to be able to define that they were obedient to God. Well, I tell you, I go to a church where Jesus meets with us. Woo, yes. God just gets all over us. Now, I'm not trying to make fun. What I'm telling you is, just because someone claims that God is in their presence all the time, me and God walk together, that's wonderful, that's great, but it does not necessarily define that you are obedient to the will of God in your life. just because you can go to church, and I've been there, and I have too. I have seen God move in a church. I have seen God work in a people. I have seen people come down and barely even make it to an altar, crying so hard they couldn't even see, begging God to forgive them because they can no longer withstand the need of salvation. Been prayed for for years. Moms and dads come down, a grown man hit the altar. Mom and dad come down behind him, boo-hooing and sobbing because they've been brokenhearted for years, praying that God would get his attention before one day he lost his life without ever receiving Christ as his savior. Well, I've seen that move. I've seen the Lord move throughout a service where it took two hours of an altar call. And you say, oh my goodness, what is all that emotions for? I'm gonna tell you what it was for. You had people on this side of the church that literally hated people on that side of the church from something that had happened 10, 15, 20 years ago, and they never got over it. And the preacher was preaching, and you're having revival services, and it's tight, and it's tight. and nothing's happening. Then all of a sudden, one night, the preachers preach him, and with the leading of the Holy Spirit, he just outright says, some of you in here have got a problem with somebody else in here, and the Holy Spirit can't move in this place. He can't tell you anything because you're not listening. You have aught with a brother, you have aught with a sister, and you would rather them go to hell than have to go talk to them and get right. You say, oh my goodness. He hit the nail on the head. And in that moment, by the way, the Holy Spirit was already working on hearts. Watch as an individual just broke down, his head just sunk. got up and walked over to that other person. Before they even got there, that person started sobbing. And that person, they met and they came straight to an altar. Next thing you know, their families are coming down with them. Next thing you know, the preacher stepped back, shut down the service, stopped preaching, and just let the invitation take place. He didn't know what was going on. He just knew something's not right. I have watched God move in massive services. Now, I've also watched people who are in those services, and I knew what kind of life they were living. And they walk out, boy, and they tell everybody, whoo, man, God met with us. And the very next day, they're drunk as a skunk, saying and doing things that no child of God could ever represent God while they're saying and doing. Well, but God was with us, yes, but that's no evidence that you are actually obedient. Listen, God was in their presence the entire time, either a cloud or a fire, and even them seeing God and his presence all the time did not make the difference for them because their hearts had not been given over to obeying God. They saw God move, they saw God work, they saw God's presence, and it still didn't make a difference. Because momentary conformity does not equate to genuine heart transformation. Improper equations. Last one, I'm done, gotta be done. And this one hits hard. And I'm just gonna tell you where to go, and I'm not gonna go read it at the moment. I'll get you to read it for yourself so you can see it. But in Numbers chapter seven, verse one through three, and then in chapter nine, verse one through five, chapter seven, verse one through three, it talks about how it was time for the a sanctifying of the tabernacle and all, and boy, they brought the sacrifices, it says in carts, in wagons, I mean, they brought for the sacrifice, the sacrifices of the tabernacle, you know, you ready for this? It was a time of worship. Y'all know where I'm going now? It was a time of worship. And then in chapter nine, God tells them that they are to observe the Passover. All their generations, they're never to stop observing. The Passover was massively important. And so in chapter nine, they once again observe the Passover of what God has done and the promise of what God would one day do with his son who would die for sin. But then of course, don't forget he's not dead. He was buried and rose again. But when I see the blood, I will pass over you. It's all about salvation and God's plan of forgiving sinful man if they will turn and ask for forgiveness that has been offered. And God said, you will observe it. And by the way, they willfully and joyfully observed the Passover. It was a form of worship. that giving for the sacrifices at the tabernacle was a form and time of worship. May I say, just because people know how to do outward worship does not give an indicator of their heart condition. So preach, are you saying these things are bad? No, all these things are good. They're just being equated with the wrong thing. You cannot say that somebody who gives, serves, and sacrifices is walking with God just because they give, serve, and sacrifice. I can do that and be as wrong with God as I've ever been. I can be out of His will and still in the moment give, serve, and sacrifice because everybody else is doing it and I feel compelled to be a part of it. I can see and experience and be around the presence of God on a regular basis and keep it from allowing a change in my heart. I can see it, I can enjoy it, I can even talk about it and how exciting it is and still go on with my life because my heart is not set on Him. And I can be very good, very professional at how to worship, especially in front of people. By the way, here's my reminder. Anything that is outward is not actually worship. The Bible's very clear on that. We have redefined things and they don't fit the biblical definition. Worship was always a personal thing done before you ever outwardly expressed that which has already happened inwardly. Worship is personal. Worship doesn't need a crowd. Worship is what you and I do before a holy God as we serve and follow Him in our personal lives. Worship is what you do before you ever come to the house of God so that you can, with God's people, praise His holy name. See, it's not praise and worship, it's worship then praise. Because what flows up and what bubbles up inside of me as I spend my personal time with Him, what bubbles up and flows up and fills me overflows into outward praise. But here's the thing, we become very good at professional worship. We even know the exact time to raise that hand? When is it gonna get the most reaction? Which song can we sing to draw the emotions? I'm telling you, I've witnessed it, I've been around it, and if all we're good at is outward, visible worship, it has no clear indicators of where we truly are in our walk with God personally. Everyone can be fooled but God. By the way, anyone looking at the children of Israel when they were following all these good things would have said, boy, they love their God. Until it came to the fork in the road. And the real them showed. because you can't fake your way through, follow God or don't follow God. You cannot fake your way through, do I go with God or go with me? When you hit the fork in the road and it's one way or the other, there is no other option than you have to either show that you are willing and you've decided to follow God or you're gonna show that you don't wanna go with him, you'd rather go back to Egypt. I want God to be in my life on my terms. spiritual carnality. I want God on my terms. Children of Israel struggled with it. Why did they not go in? Because all the good things they did did not equal an evidence of their true heart. Their true heart was shown. when they said, I don't care what God promised. I don't care what that looks like. I don't care that we have seen the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud. I don't care what God has provided. I don't care what things he's done. I don't care what victories we've seen. I don't care, I ain't going in there. We live in a world today that think much like King Saul. King Saul had this type of issue. He disobeyed God because he spiritualized his choices. Samuel said, hath God as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken the fad of rams. Oh, but God, we had a wonderful worship service with you. Oh, but God, I've been at worship all the time. That, okay, fine. You do really good in front of everybody. What about when it's just you and God? Or me and God? What about us when it's just us and God? Do we actually know what genuine worship is? Genuine worship leads me to genuine obedience. J.C. Ryle said this, obedience is the only reality. It is faith visible, faith acting, and faith manifested. It is the test of real discipleship among the Lord's people. Anybody calling themselves a Christian can look good in a moment. But when rubber meets the road, that's when we find out. Am I merely conforming for the moment? Or have I allowed God to transform my heart? And say, Lord, I'm all yours. Take me where you wanna take me. Do with me what you wanna do with me. Send me where you want, Lord, I'll go. Ask of me what you will, I will do it. Don't know how, but I'll just trust you that you'll show me how. Regardless, Lord, I will according to your will. That's when you know whether or not you're conforming or your heart has been transformed to his will. Children of Israel didn't have it. They didn't go in. They ended up wandering in the wilderness and dying because of improper equation. Good things don't necessarily equate to genuine obedience. Where are we with God this morning? Only you and God truly know. Heavenly Father, I pray that you take...