In Exodus:19, we read how the Children of Israel had left Egypt and for three months had been traveling toward the promised land of Canaan.  It was in the desert region of Sinai that God spoke to Moses, saying, “Moses, come upon the mountain; I have something for you to give to my people.”   Moses climbed the mountain and there God told Moses, “Go back and tell the people to sanctify and wash themselves clean because I (God) am coming to them.”  God said, “I will appear on top of Mount Sinai in thunder and lightning; and the smoke will be as if it were a volcano. I have a word for the Children of Israel.”

We may not be living in the desert of Sinai, but we are living in the desert of life.  There are those of you who are going through struggles such that if you would listen to God, He would have a word for you.  Lately, I have been on my knees seeking God for direction.  I have had doubts about whether I am standing in His word and the Lord is giving me information.  People ask, “Preacher, are you sick?”  The answer is, “No, I am not sick.”  But I am tired of the Devil kicking me around. It is time I stopped letting him bounce me around.  It is time I kicked him in the face.

As we go through the desert times we have two options.  We can seek the face of God or we can continue to wander in the desert. Personally, I am tired of being in the desert.  I am tired of the confusion.  I am tired of the selfish way people treat me -- in ways they would not want to be treated themselves.

In the desert God told Moses to tell the people to sanctify and clean themselves.  As a church it is time for us to get ourselves cleaned up as well.  There are too many worldly things going on for God to be pleased.  We, like the Children of Israel, are being too disobedient to God.  We don’t have a fear of Him. Not only do our temples need cleaning up, our personal lives are in need of a house cleaning.  God said, “Moses, tell them to sanctify themselves and wash their clothes, because I am coming for a word with my people.  Tell them to be ready in three days.” You know, some of you may not have three days to put things in order.  There are those who have been dilly-dallying in Christianity with one toe stuck in salvation and the rest of their body mired in the muck of sin. You either get in all the way or get out and let someone else take your place.  Those words sound harsh, but they are true. The scripture says that on the third day God descended upon Mount Sinai.  It was a cloud of darkness with thunder and lightning and smoke as if a volcano had erupted.

Moses said, “Don’t touch the mountain, for the presence of God is there.” Then Moses went up to speak to God.  It was while Moses was there that God gave him the 10 Commandments.

Oh, I wish we could get back to what God wants us to do, not only as individuals, but as a following as well. I want to put my hurts out of the way, to put my problems out of the way, to put my concerns out of the way, and to look at other with a need.

The Lord said, “Moses, come back, I have more information for you.”  And Moses went up and spent forty days and forty nights on the mountain with God.  At the end of those forty days, God told Moses to go back to the people because there was something going on in the camp.  On the way down from the mountain he met Aaron.  As they walked into the camp they saw terrible things were happening.  The Bible says that the Children of Israel had taken their golden bracelets and earrings and fashioned them into a golden idol. They were dancing naked around the golden calf.  This was in direct violation of God’s commandment.  Thou shalt not worship any graven image.  God was so angry that He would have destroyed them had it not been for Moses and his righteous prayers. Moses took the tablets of stone and cast them down.  The Bible says Moses’ anger waxed hot.

There is a time to be mad, but it must be done in righteous indignation.  There is a time and place to deal with anger and hurt.  Once you have dealt with it…Move on and get over it!

We as a church can be angry at sin.  We can be angry because of the killing of innocent babies in the act of abortion.  We can be angry because of the drugs and alcohol that are killing our loved ones and tearing our homes apart.  That is righteous indignation.  If we feared God there would be a lot less sin going on in the world today.  But you see, we have lost our fear of Him.  I am not talking about the fear you get when you pull the blankets around your head in fear.  I am talking about the fear called reverence -- Holy fear.  If you would talk-the-talk and walk-the-walk for God, you would not have any trouble living the faithful life that pleases God.

We as a nation have lost the fear of God.  We have politicians in Frankfort and Washington DC that are working to pass laws to make sin legal.  God help us!  We must do more than dress in our finest clothes and go to church on Sunday.  We must have a changed heart and live our life as close to God as we possibly can.  We must fear God and love Him with our whole heart and soul.  It is time to step up and let the presence of God move in this church and in our lives. We cannot let the enemy rob us of our holy walk with God. You can’t treat God like you do “Uncle Herman.” We talk to Him when we want to and go visit him only when we feel like it or need something from Him.  He must be first in our hearts on our jobs and in our daily walk every minute of every day.  God must be God, and we must show reverence to Him. Nothing less will do.

Sermon edited by Mary King