Walking Blamelessly: Dwelling in God's Presence

Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to honor and glorify God, seeking His presence and guidance as we worshiped together. We lifted up numerous individuals in prayer, asking for God's intervention in their lives. We also prayed for our nation, its leaders, and for a revival of faith. Our focus was on Psalm 15, where David asks who can dwell in God's sanctuary. The answer is those whose walk is blameless and who do what is right. This involves controlling our tongues, agreeing with God's moral standards, keeping our promises, and practicing financial integrity.

David emphasizes that controlling our tongue is crucial for dwelling in God's presence. Gossip, slander, and harsh words can destroy relationships and communities. We must speak truth from our hearts and avoid tearing others down. Next, we must align our moral compass with God's standards, not picking and choosing what to follow. God's nature defines what is good and right, and we must agree with Him to walk blamelessly.

Keeping our promises, even when it hurts, is another essential aspect. In a culture where promises are often broken, we must be people of integrity, honoring our commitments. Finally, financial integrity is vital. Jesus spoke extensively about how we handle our possessions, emphasizing that our treasure reveals our heart. We must use our resources to bless others, not hoard them for ourselves.

Walking blamelessly and doing what is right allows us to experience God's continuous presence. As we practice these spiritual disciplines, we grow into the likeness of Christ, dwelling in the sanctuary of the Most High.

### Key Takeaways

1. Control of the Tongue: Controlling our tongue is essential for dwelling in God's presence. Gossip, slander, and harsh words can destroy relationships and communities. We must speak truth from our hearts and avoid tearing others down, as this aligns us with God's will and fosters a spirit of unity and love. [37:04]

2. Moral Alignment with God: We must align our moral compass with God's standards, not picking and choosing what to follow. God's nature defines what is good and right, and we must agree with Him to walk blamelessly. This alignment is crucial for maintaining a genuine relationship with God and living a life that reflects His character. [45:00]

3. Keeping Promises: Keeping our promises, even when it hurts, is a mark of integrity. In a culture where promises are often broken, we must be people who honor our commitments. This steadfastness builds trust and reflects the faithfulness of God, who always keeps His promises. [52:57]

4. Financial Integrity: Financial integrity is vital for a blameless walk with God. Jesus emphasized that our treasure reveals our heart. We must use our resources to bless others, not hoard them for ourselves. This practice demonstrates our trust in God's provision and our commitment to His kingdom values. [54:09]

5. Continuous Presence of God: Experiencing God's continuous presence requires walking blamelessly and doing what is right. This involves controlling our tongue, embracing godly morality, keeping our word, and practicing financial integrity. As we yield our lives to God consistently, we grow into the likeness of Christ and dwell in His sanctuary. [59:18]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[11:08] - Prayers for the Community
[12:15] - Prayers for the Nation and Leaders
[19:32] - Prayer for Grace and Good Works
[30:42] - Introduction to Psalm 15
[31:55] - Experiencing God's Presence in Worship
[33:30] - Who Can Dwell in God's Presence?
[35:23] - The Importance of a Blameless Walk
[37:04] - Controlling the Tongue
[40:42] - The Dangers of Murmuring
[43:51] - Agreeing with God's Morality
[47:03] - The True Meaning of Tolerance
[52:24] - Keeping Promises Even When It Hurts
[54:09] - Financial Integrity
[59:18] - Continuous Presence of God
[01:00:53] - Closing Prayer and Song
[01:07:48] - Holy Communion
[01:19:18] - Invitation to Communion
[01:29:48] - Final Blessing and Sending Out

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 15 (NIV)

#### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 15, what are the characteristics of a person who can dwell in God's sanctuary? ([33:30])
2. What does David emphasize as the first and crucial step to walking blamelessly in God's presence? ([35:23])
3. How does the sermon describe the impact of gossip and slander on relationships and communities? ([37:04])
4. What does the sermon say about the importance of keeping promises, even when it hurts? ([52:57])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does controlling our tongue play such a significant role in maintaining a blameless walk with God? ([37:04])
2. How does aligning our moral compass with God's standards affect our relationship with Him and others? ([45:00])
3. In what ways does financial integrity reflect our trust in God's provision and our commitment to His kingdom values? ([54:09])
4. How does the sermon suggest we can experience God's continuous presence in our lives? ([59:18])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily conversations. Are there instances where you might have engaged in gossip or slander? How can you change your speech to align more with God's standards? ([37:04])
2. Think about a promise you made recently. Was it difficult to keep? How did you handle it, and what can you do to ensure you honor your commitments in the future? ([52:57])
3. Consider your financial habits. Are there ways you can use your resources to bless others more effectively? What specific steps can you take this week to practice financial integrity? ([54:09])
4. How do you currently align your moral values with God's standards? Are there areas where you struggle to agree with God's definitions of right and wrong? What can you do to address these struggles? ([45:00])
5. The sermon emphasizes the importance of experiencing God's continuous presence. What spiritual disciplines can you incorporate into your daily routine to help you walk blamelessly and do what is right? ([59:18])
6. How can you foster a spirit of unity and love in your community by controlling your tongue and speaking truth from your heart? ([37:04])
7. Reflect on a time when you felt God's presence strongly. What were you doing differently during that period, and how can you recreate those conditions in your current spiritual walk? ([31:55])

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of the Tongue
Controlling our tongue is essential for dwelling in God's presence. Gossip, slander, and harsh words can destroy relationships and communities. We must speak truth from our hearts and avoid tearing others down, as this aligns us with God's will and fosters a spirit of unity and love. David emphasizes that controlling our tongue is crucial for dwelling in God's presence. Gossip, slander, and harsh words can destroy relationships and communities. We must speak truth from our hearts and avoid tearing others down. [37:04]

James 3:5-6 (ESV): "So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell."

Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where you may have spoken harshly or gossiped. How can you seek reconciliation and speak words of life and truth today?

Day 2: Aligning with God's Morality
We must align our moral compass with God's standards, not picking and choosing what to follow. God's nature defines what is good and right, and we must agree with Him to walk blamelessly. This alignment is crucial for maintaining a genuine relationship with God and living a life that reflects His character. Aligning our moral compass with God's standards is essential for a blameless walk. We must not pick and choose what to follow but agree with God's nature, which defines what is good and right. [45:00]

Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where your actions or beliefs do not align with God's standards. What steps can you take today to bring this area into alignment with His will?

Day 3: The Integrity of Keeping Promises
Keeping our promises, even when it hurts, is a mark of integrity. In a culture where promises are often broken, we must be people who honor our commitments. This steadfastness builds trust and reflects the faithfulness of God, who always keeps His promises. Keeping our promises, even when it hurts, is a mark of integrity. In a culture where promises are often broken, we must be people who honor our commitments. [52:57]

Psalm 15:4 (ESV): "In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change."

Reflection: Reflect on a promise you have made recently. Are you struggling to keep it? What can you do today to honor that commitment, even if it is difficult?

Day 4: Practicing Financial Integrity
Financial integrity is vital for a blameless walk with God. Jesus emphasized that our treasure reveals our heart. We must use our resources to bless others, not hoard them for ourselves. This practice demonstrates our trust in God's provision and our commitment to His kingdom values. Financial integrity is vital for a blameless walk with God. Jesus emphasized that our treasure reveals our heart. We must use our resources to bless others, not hoard them for ourselves. [54:09]

Proverbs 11:1 (ESV): "A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight."

Reflection: Examine your financial habits. Are there ways you can use your resources more generously to bless others and honor God?

Day 5: Experiencing God's Continuous Presence
Experiencing God's continuous presence requires walking blamelessly and doing what is right. This involves controlling our tongue, embracing godly morality, keeping our word, and practicing financial integrity. As we yield our lives to God consistently, we grow into the likeness of Christ and dwell in His sanctuary. Experiencing God's continuous presence requires walking blamelessly and doing what is right. This involves controlling our tongue, embracing godly morality, keeping our word, and practicing financial integrity. [59:18]

Psalm 24:3-4 (ESV): "Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully."

Reflection: Consider your daily walk with God. What specific actions can you take today to ensure you are living blamelessly and experiencing His continuous presence?

Quotes

1. "It's all about practicing the presence of God in our lives day-by-day. God the reflect of His 10- czas learning how to hear his voice learning how to pray without ceasing learning how to how to walk in that place to walk in the light is he is a thala and fortunately our Sunday morning worship has always been a real of a power the celebration of a person is kontxein Santiago Tahourism without a strong페." [31:55] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "When we are in corporate worship, we're encouraged, our faith is expanded, and corporately, you know, we do that, all of a sudden God's manifest presence becomes more manifest. We experience him in a different way. But I believe now that God is calling us to something deeper, not just Sunday morning pick me up, but that God wants us to worship God. We learn how to dwell with him on an ongoing, consistent basis. How do we live our life walking in the presence of God?" [32:30] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "David asked this question, who can dwell in the presence of God? And he said, I can dwell in the sanctuary of the Lord. And when David talks about dwelling in the sanctuary of the Lord, he's talking about being in God's immediate presence because it was in the sanctuary, and he's speaking about the holy of holies. And the Bible tells us that God's presence under the old covenant, that God dwelt in the holy of holies between the two cherubim over the mercy seat." [33:30] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The person who can dwell continuously in God's presence is he whose walk is blameless and who does what is right. That, if you looked at this in the original language, you would see that this clause is the main clause. That's the action clause. Who can dwell in the place where God lives? Who can dwell with God? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is right." [34:30] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The one thing that will jeopardize the presence and power of God the quickest is the tongue. Slander and gossip and murmuring and harsh words will break a church and leave it powerless. It will destroy an individual's walk with God. Gossip and slander are a huge part of it. David specifically mentions gossip and slander. And so, for me, as I've grown in my walk with the Lord, I've come to the place where I cringe when someone walks up to me, marches up to me usually, and announces, they want to fill me in on the truth about so-and-so in order to help me pray for them, right?" [37:56] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "To say what is untrue, what is unkind, or to say it, even if it's true, unkindly, constitutes a failure in our Christian life and witness. In our Jerry Springer culture, we have experienced an escalation of people getting up in one another's face to clobber them with perceived truth. But God's word consistently teaches us that we can't be targeted, that we can't be targeted by somebody else. God's word consistently teaches us that we are to use truth as an instrument of peace and edification, to build up, not to tear down. It's never meant to be a weapon." [39:39] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Walking blamelessly, in other words, requires that we agree with God morally, about moral issues. I have a lot of people in the Catholic Church and in the Protestant world who say, well, you know, I'm a Christian, but I don't agree with... and then they begin to list the things that they sort of have decided they're not going to follow, you know. So they pick and choose as if Christianity is some sort of giant smorgasbord." [44:29] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "God is good, according to the Bible, but God is not good according to some standard that we lay against God and see if he checks the blocks, right? The Bible says God is good. In other words, God is the definition of what is good. There's not an external standard of right and wrong. God himself is the measure, is the standard, is the plumb line. God is good. And so when we disagree with God about moral issues, we're not disagreeing about moral issues. We're disagreeing about the very nature and the very character and the very purposes of God himself." [45:00] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Integrity is keeping my commitment even if the circumstance change when I made the commitment. Guys, we as believers must become people not only of God's Word, but people who keep our Word. My dad taught me that a man is only as good as his Word. We're only as good as the promises and the vows that we make and keep. So walking blamelessly so that we can dwell in God's presence requires tongue control, godly morals, keeping our promise, and he saved probably the most uncomfortable for the last." [53:13] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "The only reason God places wealth in the hands of believers is so that we can become a conduit of his blessing to others, not so that we can hoard stuff and become rich. Both our wealth and our ability to create wealth are gifts from God. I heard a sermon by Tony Campolo once, and they were trying to raise money for, I think it was a hospital in a third world country, and he said this, if Jesus were walking the earth today and he had $40,000 and he knew that children were starving in some third world country, what kind of a car do you think he would buy?" [55:41] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

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