Title: Four Commandments to Prepare for Experience
Exodus (49) The four commandments to prepare for the experience (Exodus 19:7-15)
1. Let the clothes be washed
“Hurry up your clothes!” is a command to get rid of things that you would have to throw away to make yourself clean. Faith is the decision to let go of what you give up. The reason life becomes shabby is because you can't let go of what you throw away. Just as the manna from heaven fell when the food brought out of Egypt is cut off, the word of God and God's blessings come only when we throw away what we throw away.
Why can't many saints meet God? Because there is no abandonment. If you don't throw away what's in your hand, you won't get anything better. Today, many believers say they follow God and still hold too many things in their hands. Even if they go to church for a long time, there is no change in their life, no change in their family, and they have no ability to save a society in crisis. If you hold too many things in your hand, you won't even be able to hold God. It is not something that God can catch as a bonus by grabbing everything with both hands. Only when we let go of what we have in our hands can we grasp God.
2. Wait for the third day
After two days of preparation, God promised that God would descend on Mount Sinai on the third day (verse 11). Based on these words, today's Wednesday Worship is called 'Three-day Worship'. Worship is longing and waiting is a very important part. I look forward to seeing a good soap opera a week in advance. I look forward to the World Cup soccer match from several months in advance. When we wait and long for the worship service like that, we can overcome all misfortunes and curses and overcome the inability to do the Lord's work well.
Successful worship comes when we prepare our hearts in advance and wait for God's presence. You cannot experience God's presence and grace by sitting in front of a TV or computer late into the night and forcing yourself to come to church in the morning in a sleepy state. ‘Today and tomorrow’ is the day to prepare for history, and the ‘third day’ is the day to make history. When we prepare well for today and tomorrow, we can hear God's voice and experience God's presence on the third day.
3. Do not violate holiness
At that time, a boundary was set on all sides for the people and ordered not to climb the mountain or invade the boundary. If you break that command, you will surely die (verse 12). Even animals were not allowed to invade (verse 13).
The Old Testament saints could not come close to God so as not to harm God's holiness. Instead, there were people who acted as intermediaries to meet God. However, New Testament believers can boldly come to the throne of God by relying on the blood of Jesus. However, we must not lose our fear of God and disregard God. Do not act rashly or rashly in the presence of God and in the church that is the body of Jesus. God's voice is heard not in the 'reckless spirit' but in the 'reverent spirit'
4. Do not indulge in pleasure
Then Moses told the people to wait for the third day and not get close to the woman (verses 14-15). “Do not approach women” means “avoid marital sex.” This command does not in any way condemn fair sex between husband and wife. In the circumstances of the time, such an order was given not to indulge in pleasure in preparation for the important work of receiving the commandments upon which the theocracy was founded.
Modern people tend to be more drawn to ‘Sowol’s Wandering’ and ‘Schopenhauer’s Vanity’. So, you don't think about using your time creatively, you just find a way to spend your time, and you end up in pleasure. Pleasure is glamorous on the outside, but it is ‘hidden despair’. And pleasure drives us into the abyss of desperation. Only when we strive to get out of the abyss of such pleasure can God's voice be heard vividly.