And she said the glory is departed from Israel for the ark of God is taken and the title of the sermon this evening
Is ikabod when the glory departs when the glory departs now here in this passage of scripture in this story
We find israel in a state of defeat against the philistines and they not only lose the battle
But to add insult to injury they even lose their spiritual leader by the name of eli and to make matters even worse
They actually lose the ark of the covenant as well to the philistines now losing a battle is one thing
You know, uh, you can pick yourself back up and go fight again another day
But when you lose a leader, obviously this is a grievous thing and that's a that's that's difficult
However, when you have the ark of god stolen by the enemy, okay
It's not only a great reproach, but it also represents the loss of god's blessing and his presence and that's exactly what the ark of god
Represents in the old testament it represents the hand of god's blessing his presence the fact that god is with that nation
That's what it represented at that time
Now the children of israel anytime they had the ark of the covenant
They would prosper they would succeed whether in wars or just you know, serving god
Whatever it may be they were able to just prosper and succeed whenever they had god's presence
They were able to go forth into battles and win they had god's blessing on their land and on their lives
Okay
Now go to the beginning of the chapter if you would the beginning of the chapter here in verse chapter four verse number one
It says here the word of samuel came to all israel
Now israel went out against the philistines to battle and pitched beside ebeneezer and the philistines pitched in affect
And the philistines put themselves in array against israel and when they joined battle
Israel was smitten before the philistines and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men
So by the way that that second loss was a great loss
But it wasn't their first obviously we see here that four thousand men were smitten in its first battle against
The philistines look at verse three and when the people were come into the camp the elders of israel said
Wherefore hath the lord smitten us today before the philistines?
Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the lord out of shiloh unto us
Then when it cometh among us it may save us out of the hand of our enemies good thinking
They're thinking well, we don't have god's presence. We don't have his blessing the ark of the covenant is not here
Let's bring it from shiloh so we can fight against the enemies of god and god can give it give us
You know the victory that we need verse number four says so the people went to shiloh
That they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the lord of hosts which dwells between the cherubims
And the two sons of eli hofni and phanehas were there with the ark of the covenant of god, okay?
So who are hofni and phanehas their reprobates the reprobate children of eli so they're also depending on the ark of the covenant
They're bringing that
And verse number five says and when the ark of the covenant of the lord came into the camp
All israel shouted with great with a great shout so that the earth rang again
So they see the ark coming and they're like, yeah, we got it. We're gonna win. This is it
You know four thousand were smitten in the first battle, but we got this in the bag now
Hofni and phanehas are bringing the ark everything's going to be a-okay
Everything's going to be all right, but here's the thing. That's not what happens, right?
They actually get smitten hofni and phanehas died because the bible actually tells us in first sam in chapter number two
That god would slay them god wanted to destroy hofni and phanehas because there were reprobates there were wicked people
Who were laying with the women at the assembly of the doors of the house of god?
They were very wicked reprobates who were just bringing a reproach upon the name of god because they were priests unto the lord
And they were reprobates. There were false
Prophets so to speak
But we see here that even though they had the ark of the covenant in the midst of them
When they needed it the most they still lost the battle
Now, why is it that although israel had the physical arc with them that they still lost?
Well, look at chapter number three go to chapter three if you would
And look let's look at verse number one. We actually read this this morning in a different context of what we were talking about
But let's look at it from the actual story's perspective
It says in verse number one and the child samuel ministered unto the lord before eli
And the word of the lord was precious in those days
There was no open vision and it came to pass at that time
When eli was laid down in his place and his eyes began to wax them that he could not see
And ere the lamp of god went out in the temple of the lord where the ark of god was
And samuel was laid down to sleep that the lord called samuel and he answered here am I so what do we see? Well?
Eli is the prophet of the lord during this specific time. Okay, and he's actually the judge of israel at this time
He's teaching the word of god or at least he's supposed to be
And unfortunately, he has not restrained his sons from committing these wicked acts and wicked sins
And we see that eli is in his latter years that his eyes are waxing dim that he cannot see he cannot even see
That god has basically removed his blessing from not only him but also from the nation itself
Okay
And he even says in verse three an air which means before before the lamp of god went out into the temple
In the temple of the lord where the ark of god was so already we see a foreshadowing
Of god basically saying i'm going to remove my hand of protection
I'm going to remove my hand of victory my hand of blessing from the nation of israel because of the spiritual leadership
Okay. Now look at verse number 11. It says and the lord said to samuel behold. I will do a thing in israel
So he calls to samuel
And we see that he calls him a few times and then eli finally tells him
Hey when he calls again just say hear my lord and then god begins to impart the message unto samuel
And this is exactly what he wanted to tell him
He says and the lord said to samuel behold
I would do a thing in israel at which both ears of everyone that heareth it shall tingle now. What does that mean?
Well, you ever hear something? It's like oh
That's bad
That's basically your ears tingling when you hear something really bad is about to happen. It's like oh, man
That's basically what he's telling them. He's like i'm gonna do a thing in israel that anybody who hears it
They're gonna be like, oh
Okay
And that day I will perform against eli
All things which I have spoken concerning his house when I begin I will also make an end
For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity
Which he knoweth because his sons made him made themselves vile and he restrained them not and therefore I have sworn into the house of eli
That the iniquity of eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever
So god wanted to destroy not only hofni and phanehas, but also eli himself
Why because they led the nation astray
They were he wasn't being a good prophet his eyes were waxing dim
He couldn't he didn't have his children in subjection with all gravity even to the point where they actually became reprobates
And god's basically saying i'm done with you. I'm done with you. I'm done with your sons. I'm gonna destroy them
I'm gonna kill them and guess what the ark of god is no longer gonna be here
I'm, no longer blessing you the glory of god is gonna depart
So god wanted to do that
And what he's basically telling them there is basically it's too late and that's why when they have the ark of god
In chapter four doesn't make a difference
God is basically already left
It's like when samson said I shall go out as other times and he wished not that the lord had departed from him
You know, he thought even though you know that he was samson. He was a judge
He can go out and just break the bands of sunder destroy the philistines and fight the enemies of god
Guess what god's power was no longer on that man anymore
You know, and that's the most dangerous place to be is it not when you think you have god's blessing on your life
But you actually don't you think you're gonna go out as other times but you wish not that the power of god has left you
You don't even know that the ark of god, even though physically present is no longer there
Okay
Now let's look at the response of the philistines look at uh chapter four verse number eight
So this is after they bring the ark of the covenant. They see that and the philistines know what this means
It's like this is god's presence, right?
Verse eight says woe unto us who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods
These are the gods that smote the egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness
Verse nine be strong and quit yourselves like men. Oh you philistines that you be not servants unto the hebrews as they have been to you
Quit yourselves like men and fight. So what do they do? They just manned up
They're like, hey if we're gonna go out we're gonna go out, you know, like men we're gonna act like men
We're gonna play the part. We're gonna do what we have to do to win this battle
But really what it was is the fact that just god was just wasn't on the hebrew side. That's the reason they won
Okay
And the philistines verse 10 fought and israel was smitten and they fled every man into his tent
And there was a very great slaughter for they fell of israel 30
thousand footmen
And the ark of god was taken and the two sons of eli hofni and phanehas were slain
So they're destroyed they take it and by the way, this just basically increases their confidence
Because i'm like, wow, they have their ark of god and we still destroyed them
So what do they do? They take the ark of the covenant with them and the nail in the coffin to basically confirm
That god's presence was no longer with israel is the fact that
Phanehas's wife who gives birth to a son ends up being named what his name ends up being ikebab
And you'll see that throughout the bible that a child is given a name according to the event that's taking place during that time
And this is why his name is given ikebab to basically say hey god's done with us the glory of god has
Departed it says in verse 29 verse excuse me verse 21
And she named the child ikebab saying that glory is departed from israel
Because the ark of god was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband and she said the glory is departed from israel
for the ark of god is
Taken now as I mentioned the ark of god is representative of the presence of god
And if you would go to hebrew chapter number nine
We'll come back in a little bit to the story go to hebrew chapter number nine
So this is representative of the presence of god, which was the glory of israel. Okay
This is what made israel glorious. It wasn't because they were you know, uh israelites or they were strong
They were mighty they were special. It's because they had god, okay
Now in hebrew chapter nine, it tells us the contents of what was in the ark of the covenant says verse three
And after the second veil the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all
Which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold
Wherein was the golden pot that had manna and erin's rod that budded and the tables of the covenant
so this chest which is referred to as
The ark of the covenant was overlaid outside and in with it was plated with gold
It had four rings so they can carry it
It had the pot that had the manna erin's rod that budded and the stone tablets known as the ten commandments
Okay, and of course on top of that you have the mercy seat
But this collectively represented the presence of god. It was the glory of israel because of the fact that it symbolized
God's presence god's glory in them. Okay. Now what does glory mean?
Well, glory is basically something that is a source of honor. It's a source of admiration
It basically something that distinguishes a person or a place because of you know at this in this case the ark of the covenant
Now what is it that made israel special? What is it that made them admirable?
Or distinguished it wasn't the fact that as I mentioned that there were israelites. It's because they had god with them. Okay now
What is the application here? The application is this is that what makes us honorable and distinguishable?
Well christ than us the hope of glory
So, you know, we're nothing special because we're a particular race
We're nothing special because of our background or because of whatever pedigree we have whatever
Accomplishments and achievements that we have in our lives
The reason we have we're glorious so to speak is because the glory that dwells within us
Without christ without god, we're nothing. Okay
What makes us valuable is the fact that we have the holy ghost dwelling within us leading us
Giving us the power to do great exploits for the lord. This is what causes us to be glorious so to speak. Okay now
Go with me to first corinthians chapter number one. This is all introduction
Look at first corinthians chapter number one
And here's the thing we should never glory
In ourselves we should never glory if you are a person of great talent
If you have great character if you have you know gifts and talents and skills and abilities
You should never be the type of person to glory in that
Oh, i'm so special because i'm capable of doing x y and z no without christ. You're nothing
Okay, you can have all the talents and skills and capabilities
And achievements but you know what?
In regards to being in god's will and just being in this world as a christian it means nothing
If you don't have god with you look at first corinthians 1 26 says for you see your calling brethren
How that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called
But god has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise
And god has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty
So here we see that god chooses weak things. He chooses the foolish things
You're like well, hold on a second, but i'm chosen and i'm not weak
I'm chosen and i'm not foolish. I have all kinds of talents. I'm smart. Yeah, but in comparison to god, you're foolish
In comparison to god's capabilities you're weak
Your so-called strength
Is not strengthened in god's eyes
He says embase things of the world and things which are despised have god chosen
Yea things which are not to bring to not the things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence
But if him are ye in christ, jesus who of god is made into us wisdom righteousness and sanctification
And redemption that according as it is written he that glorieth let him glory in the lord
But let me say this is that we can get to a point as a church or even as a believer
Where the glory of god departs?
Okay
Now i'm not talking about salvation obviously we understand we can't lose our salvation i'm talking about that which makes us honorable
admirable and even distinguished
Okay, the glory that god imparted to us
We could actually lose that glory just as israel did and become ikabod, okay
We can become an ikabod type of a christian go to first corinthians chapter 11. Let me give you a couple examples of this
As a as a church we could have a name that we're living but we're actually dead that means the glory has departed
Now what about as an individual? Well, i'm going to give you a couple things here when christians become ikabod
Okay, by the way, don't ever name your child ikabod
Name your dog that if you have to name your goldfish that but don't name your child ikabod
Okay. Now keep in mind that ikabod means the glory has departed, right?
Departed right
Now what is one thing that will cause a christian to become an ikabod so to speak? Well when gender rules are not distinguishable
The glory of god has departed
What does that mean? Well, look at first corinthians 11 four
Every man praying or prophesying having his head covered
dishonoreth his head
But every woman that prayeth or prophesied with her head uncovered dishonor with her head for that is even all one as if she were
Shaven for if the woman be not covered let her also be shorn
But if it be but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven let her recover
For a man indeed ought not to cover his head for as much as he is the image and glory of god
But the woman is the glory of the man. Now. What is what what is it that's being taught here? Well
This isn't teaching the doily doctrine by the luz del mundo, okay
What am I talking about? How many know what the luz have you heard of la luz del mundo?
Okay, it's a major cult. They have one of their churches here in east la
Okay, it's a wicked cult whose leaders is a pedophile big surprise, you know
By the way, every single one of their pastors or apostles as they like to call them have been caught for pedophilia
including the most recent one
and
This so-called congregation this church, you know
They teach that basically when you go when you're in church the men sit on the right side
All the ladies sit on the left and if you ever go to one of their services all of their ladies have like these doilies
Over their head. I mean you've seen that before, okay
And I remember I actually went to la luz del mundo in long beach years ago before I was saved
And it was because I liked a girl and so I she invited me to go so I went
And I remember thinking myself. Why am I even here? I can't even sit next to her
It's like I have to sit over here. She's sitting over there
And uh, but I remember going i'm like why are they wearing this thing on their head
And they pointed me to this scripture right here. Gotta have our head covered. Gotta have our hair
But this basically goes to show you the ignorance and the stupidity when natural men try to interpret the bible
They just get a couple scriptures. Don't even read it in context and and they can clearly see
What this is actually referring to you see the concept of having the head covered
Is referring to the length of hair that a man or a woman has okay?
Here we see that if a woman prays or preaches the gospel with short hair
It's a shame
Okay
Like well, that's not what the culture teaches. Well phooey with the culture teaches
Let's go with what god teaches and god says here that if a woman has short hair in other words if she is uncovered
Okay
That is a shame unto them
Why because the covering of her head having long hair is a glory unto her the bible says
So what do we have when a christian woman cuts her hair short the glory of god's departed?
Ichabod is what we have
You know when women begin to look like men the glory of god is departed
And in like manner when men begin to look like women
When they're growing out their hair looking like a bunch of queer little sissies. Oh, yeah
The glory of god is the party you can just just tattoo ikabot on that dude's head face forehead, okay
This is what that's referring to. Okay. How do we know look at verse four we see that
In verse four, excuse me
We see that man shouldn't have his hair covered and this is later reiterated as if a man have long hair
It is a shame unto him. Okay
This tells us that men
Shouldn't have long hair and women should look at verse 12. It says for as the woman is of the man
Even so the man also by the woman but all things of god judging yourselves. Is it comely? What does that mean?
Is it admirable?
Is it distinguishable? Is it an ornament of glory?
That a woman pray unto god uncovered
By the way, I mean
What about these women preachers out there?
right
Joyce myers with their butch haircut
The glory of god is the party
You know, they're looking at their hair and it's like the glory of god is the part it's ikabot
There is no glory
And oh, but I just she just makes me feel so good that it she's like as bad as phanehas and hofnite
Yeah worse
So what verse am I in verse 14 does not nature itself teach you that if a man have long hair
It is a shame unto him
But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her for her hair is given her for a covering
Oh, but it's in style to have short hair. It's always in style to look like a stinking butch
Oh, but you know, what about I have a I have a guy friend who
You know, he grows out his hair and he has a man bun
The glory god's departed from that guy
Okay, and look man buns are queer. Okay, it's faggoty. It looks garbage
You know if you have to put a scrunchie on your hair
Or a rubber band and you got this stupid ball on top of your head and you think that looks good
You got rocks in your head
You look like a stinking transvestite is what you look like
That's what you look like
Okay, you know
Cut that thing off
Wear your hair short
And allow the glory of god to come back upon your life. Okay, don't beat ikeba
and look
Sometimes men have a certain length of hair that's sometimes questionable. That's not how you should live
Don't have hair that is questionable
Don't cause people to question. What is he doing with that?
I don't know where he's going with this
Or even ladies. It's like I don't know where she's going with that. It's confusing me. It's confusion
You know what i'm saying? Hey, you about to be ikeba
You're you're you're
Borderlining becoming an ikeba where the glory of god has now departed because you're not distinguishing yourself as a female
And a male as a male. Okay, that is pleasing unto the lord
When a man has short hair, it's glorious when he grows it out
You know, it makes a man bun out of it
The glory of god has departed folks
The bible tells us in deuteronomy 22 verse 5 the woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man
Neither shall a man put on a woman's garment for all that do saw an abomination unto the lord
Think about that. Look
This is proof enough that women should not be wearing pants
Amen
Women should not be wearing that which pertaineth unto a man. What does it say pants?
Yeah, it says that which pertaineth unto a man and guess what pants pertain into a man
You can say well culturally i'm not talking about culture i'm talking about the bible
The bible says these things and the bible clearly states. What is
Admirable what is becoming even to a man which is wearing a man's garment breaches, okay?
We see that throughout the word of god, you know, oh there's no pants in the bible. Yeah, but there's breaches
Okay, and they basically come to the knee it's the same thing
You know and look ladies don't be a hypocrite
Don't be a hypocrite you said what do you mean, you know don't wear skirts to church on sunday
But you're wearing your tight pants and you're all you know, daisy dukes or whatever while you're outside of church
You know shopping or whatever or doing whatever you got to do outside don't compartmentalize
god's standards
Right
You know, this should be look you said well, I wear skirts to church because I don't want to be abomination
Well, so it's okay for you to be abomination out there
So the glory of god is here
But once you go home once you go to the store once you go to your family's house, it's ikabat after that
The glory of god has departed and look man lead your wives in that area
You know tell your wives nope not in my house
Like wow, she might get mad at me. Well, hey, you know what?
You married her
And she married you okay
And you need to lead your wife. You need to teach your wife
You need to be able to inspire your wife and motivate your wife to live biblically. Amen
You know keep the glory
on your wife
Keep the glory in her clothing keep the glory on her head, right?
By not causing her to get this butch haircut or getting a mohawk
I mean how many times have you seen out in the street where a woman like she's?
Facing one way she has like long hair as soon as she turns like completely shaving on the other
What in the world did you just you just mortified yourself you just
completely destroyed
Yourself by doing such a stupid thing and these people do it to be distinguished
To be distinguishable right to be special
Not knowing that to be distinguished and admirable is actually to do the exact opposite of that
And be what god considers to be glorious
Wear their hair long now. Look i'm not saying you have to like grow your hair out to like the floor
I know some cholas who do that
Okay, where literally they have their hair that goes down to like their calves or something like that
I mean if that's your prerogative then, you know, so be it
I'm, just saying that you know, it should be at a length that you know, no one would have to question and say man
Is that?
You know that doesn't look appropriate
Okay, if you're wearing it and it looks like a helmet on you
Then this
There's probably then at that point the glory of god's departed. Okay
if someone has to question if your husband has to question whether it's appropriate or not, it's probably because
Your hair has become ikabat. All right, you know, let's keep
The god's standards
Of dress and god's standards of the way we look
Admirable glorious the way he intended for it to be the bible says the king's daughter is all glorious within her clothing is of wrought
Gold the bible says and obviously we understand that what's inside is the most important
But if you're right with god on the inside, it's going to flesh itself out as well and look man make sure
That we remain glorious as well
Okay, look like a man talk like a man act like a man
You know if you have tendencies of being a little effeminate, that's not good. That's shameful. Okay
Being an effeminate man is a shameful trait that you need to correct
And if you're wondering man, I wonder if that's me. It's probably you
Okay, what you need to do is get with one of the men in the church and say hey
I need you to help me become more manly
What is it that I need to do to become more and I know that's for some guys
It's like why do you have to ask that, you know, but you know, sometimes guys they grow up with their sisters or
You know, they don't have a father figure in their life or they didn't grow up in the hood or whatever
They they didn't have you know, gangsters beating them up and stuff jumping them and they just have to
They don't learn so learn that this is the best place to learn it. Amen
Go to the men and copy the men in our church get some godly attributes and some godly mannerisms
You know speak, right?
Look folks men, let's not have a lisp when we talk
Talk with some authority
Don't be shy or afraid when you're speaking to other people
like
I try to tell myself i'm like hey speak up son. You got to speak up speak up
Men need to speak with authority and i'm not saying like you're just going to go to every single person just
How's it going how's your day today
I'm just saying you know, you need to have some some some volume to your voice
And speak with appropriate authority so that people know. Okay, this guy's a man, you know
And you know, sometimes there's men who are shy just naturally shy
and it's difficult for them to
To really get out of their shell, but let me just say this is in a christian life
We don't have the luxury of being shy. I mean we have to go tell
thousands of people
Every month and year that they're going to hell
And get them saved and tell them that their way of believing is wrong and the bible's right
I mean that takes a lot of boldness to just tell a complete stranger
To do those things. Well, you know, you need that same boldness in just your day-to-day
Interactions with people and not be a shy person, you know, correct your way of speaking. Hey, correct your way of shaking hands. Amen
When you shake someone's hand man, look them in the eyes
Okay, look them in the eyes give them two pumps
slap on the back
Punch in the shoulder sometime, you know, i'm kidding, but i'm saying, you know be
Manly make sure that you have male characteristics. Hey when you eat eat like a man
I was giving this example earlier. There's this guy that I knew
and
He was so effeminate
That when you would eat his burger
Okay
He would like eat like this
And look, I don't believe he was a queer. I don't believe he was a queer. I honestly don't
I think he was just really effeminate
And he would eat like this, you know, and then when he would this I just feel dirty doing this
You know like he would eat like this and then like when you take a bite he just
Like do one of those and I remember I told him I said don't do that
He's like, what are you talking about I said
You look like a girl
This is how girls eat food
He said well, how am I supposed to eat food? I said hoard over your food
I was like grab your bird and you gotta like as if someone's gonna steal it from me
lean over and just like
Just like a like an animal
You know, I said you need to like go do push-ups on your wrist or something
Because your your wrist don't be limp-wristed, you know, we joke about being limp-wristed. Well, sometimes that's true for certain people
Okay
And look, I don't I don't think he's a reprobate. I don't think he was some sodomite
I just think he was just really effeminate and
There's a lot of guys that are like that sometimes they're just effeminate
And they need to correct that why because if a man is effeminate the glory of god is departed
That person's ikabod
It doesn't matter how much they claim to love the lord or if they read the bible
Well, apparently they haven't read first corinthian six
We're talking about how effeminate is a sin
right
So read the bible read the fact that the bible tells us to quit ourselves like men
To have godly traits and characteristics. Hey mimic the male characteristics of jesus christ
Amen
Don't allow the glory of god to depart from you, okay
Well, you know, it's just all my friends are like that then you need to get yourself some more manly friends then
Okay
Don't hang around some soft limp-wristed queer little sissies and look every man who struggles with being effeminate is also emotional, too
You know and i've said it before and it's funny but it's true you got to get off the soy
You need to evaluate your whatever you're eating and make sure soy is not part of that
Because that can make you girly
Okay
Sugar all that stuff can often be
a detriment to you in that area, okay, but
I chased a rabbit here, but it's it's necessary because this is glorious to be a man is glorious. Amen
This is how god made us
And that's what we need to do and i'm thankful
Look, there's been guys who come to our church and man, they learn a lot
Okay, they learn a lot by being with the men around in their church. They become more manly
They take on manly characteristics and traits and they learn okay
Don't be the person where ikabod is on your forehead because you're so effeminate
That you just are not willing to change and the glory of god is departed learn. Amen
Look after church hang around with some of the guys. Well, i'm too scared. What if they're gonna do something to me?
He's like
You know, no one's gonna hurt you here
Okay, and you know don't
Go get into a conversation. Look when the guys start, you know, they cluster
Somewhere and it looks like there's like fight club happening
Go get in that thing
Go get in that conversation. Okay, go talk and why because it rubs off. Okay
I'm halfway joking, but i'm honest i'm being
Serious though at the same time, okay
It's important and look the church is an institution where we learn to be christians where we learn practical living
And we learn it by being around other people who have those attributes that we desire in our lives as well
You know the way you learned how to be like some or the way you learn a specific characteristic or an attribute
Is you hang around the people who have those attributes and characteristics and you end up taking those upon yourself as well
Okay, go to second corinthians chapter number four
Don't be an ikabod christian. Don't be an ikabod woman
Don't be an ikabod man where the glory of god is departed ladies. Let your hair grow
Men cut your hair
Okay
Cut that stinking thing off cut the fag tag off
Cut the fag bun off
Oh
Okay, get rid of that crap
That piece of dung on your head get rid of that thing
Because that's what it looks like, especially if you have brown hair
Okay
Don't let the glory of god depart
Is anybody here with a man, but I don't think so, right? All right, that would have been bad
So when are christians ikabod well when you can't distinguish the genders when the genders begin to intermingle
You know their attributes the glory of god is departed
Okay, but not only that how about when we forsake the lord in our latter years
We become ikabod. Okay
And an example of this is eli, right?
An example of this is the old prophet in the old testament an example of this is solomon who was glorious
Right in the beginning of his years when he first started to be a king. He was just like putting it down
He he was executing the wicked people he was the wisest man that ever lived he had a lot of achievements and exploits
But then in his latter years he departed from the lord
The bible tells us that the hoary head
Is a crown of glory if it be found one way of righteousness
So, how do you retain that glory by continuing in righteousness even in your latter years?
Okay, and here's what's funny you hear about older men talking about the what the glory days
They condemn it they condemn themselves by saying that
Why because they're literally admitting to the fact that they no longer have that glory anymore
They're basically saying we're ikabod, you know
We are the glory of god is departed from my ministry. It's departed for me back in the day
I remember back in the new year. We used to see all kinds of people saved
I remember when we first started the church
So why don't you just shut up and just just summarize it by saying the glory of god is departed
Why don't you just talk about how you had the arc of the covenant the arc of the testimony god was blessing you
But it's no longer like that
Because that's what basically what you're saying. Okay
You know we as christians don't want to forsake we should not forsake the lord in our latter years
And in fact the older we get the godlier we must get the older we get the more we should love the lord
The older we get the more we should hate sin
the older we get
Obviously the more compassionate we should be but you know what there should be a a hatred for the things that god hates
Okay, why because we've been around a lot longer
And we see the wickedness of this world
We see what sin does to people we see what it does to families husbands and wives and children
And it should cause us to hate sin so much the more not become a little compromiser and forsake the ways of the lord
Not become watered down not become just this lame christian who just forsakes the ways of the lord in their latter years
Well, i'm just kind of putting it in neutral. No, you're basically putting it in and stop
You're basically parking the vehicle you're getting out and you're gonna go do something else
The glory of god's departed. Okay
Now look what the bible says in second corinthians 4 16
For which cause we faint not
But though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day
What does that mean when it says the outward man perish? Well, I don't know if you notice this but the older you get
The more you're perishing outwardly
You know things don't work the way they used to okay start getting those backaches and your knees start hurting and
You know, you start having all these issues. I know we got a lot of young people, but there's some older folks here
Okay, and i'm sure you know what i'm talking about, you know, that is the outward man perishing
But you know what the inward man can still be renewed day by day. It says in verse 17 for our light affliction
Referring to that outward man perishing which is but for a moment
Worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory the bible says go to first corinthians chapter 15
So what is it telling us it's basically explaining us that we should not be weary in well-doing for in due season
We shall reap if we faint not
What shall we reap the glorious?
Resurrection, okay now every christian everyone who's saved will partake in the resurrection, but some will have a better resurrection than others
Some will receive a greater glorious body than others based upon the work that they do
if they be found in the way of righteousness if they just
Make it all the way through look at verse 40. It says there are also celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial
But the glory of the celestial is one and the glory of the terrestrial is another
There is one glory of the sun and another glory of the moon
And another glory of the stars for one star differs from another star in glory
So also is the resurrection of the dead it is sown in corruption. It is raised in incorruption
It is sown in dishonor it is raised in glory it is sown in weakness and it is raised in
Power the bible says so in order for us to have a glorious resurrection a glorious
You know rapture so to speak
We need to make sure that we serve god even in our latter years if god permits us to live that long
Now if you're serving god now and you died tomorrow. Hey, you're you're good to go man
Okay, because you're serving god you went soul winning you're reading your bible you're loving the lord
But you know what may be said that you're still doing those things if god so chooses not to take you tomorrow
If he so chooses to take you 30 40 50 years from now
Hey, may you be still found in the way of righteousness? Don't be like these christians that
Now that they hit 50 or 40. Well, I don't really do so anymore
I kind of just visit people and you know do the I just try to do the bare minimum brother. Why?
Why
Oh because i'm because i'm old now. So what?
Do as much as you can even in your older years
You know if you're preaching the guys like what if I like
I'm out there preaching the gospel and I like get a heart attack or something man. You die for like going to hell
And just boom that's a that'd be awesome
That's a legit way to go out
You know what that person will do like I really need to get saved
This guy was was so into the gospel day. He
Even when he's having a heart attack is trying to get me saved. Okay
That's how it ought to be
Is that we just burn out for the lord to the our very last day
We we just commit to serving god no matter what so we can partake of that glorious
resurrected body
Romans 8 17 says and if children then heirs heirs of god and joint heirs with christ
If so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
Which shall be revealed in us go to second timothy chapter number two second timothy chapter number two
You know the glory of god departs
When you begin to depart from the ways of the lord and look sometimes people don't wait till their latter years
Sometimes people do it now
They backslide or they're in church, but they're backsliding in their heart
And just mark it down anytime you see someone leave church
And they get out of church. They're like, oh man that person backslid. No that person backslid in their heart like months ago
That's the way it works
Okay
If you see someone ever get out of church and you don't see them again for for forever or whatever whatever amount of time
Just mark it down. They backslid in their heart months before that
They were already gone
The arc of god was already gone
You know, it was already taken away or the presence of god. Excuse me was already taken away
The taking of the arc of the covenant was just a confirmation of that
Just like when christians when they leave church
It's like what does that tell us it tells us that the glory of god is departed from that person's life
The fact that they left church is just confirmation of that
Okay
You know you can backslide even here you can forsake the ways of the lord even in your younger years
You know, we need to make sure that we remain steadfast unmovable always abounding in the work of the lord
And look there is no one key
To succeeding in the christian life and making sure that doesn't happen. It's multiple things
It's your bible reading. It's prayer. It's making sure that you're still soul winning
It's making sure that you keep your heart tender
Look, it's making sure that you're dying to self every single day when you wake up in the morning
Like well, that's that's like a lot. Yeah
It is
But it's it's it's a lot easier
To do that daily then try to repair yourself after you've backslidden for many many months and years
Okay, the damage you can create when you backslide
It's a lot harder to fix than maintaining a proper walk with god. Okay, so pay the price now
Pay the price by reading your bible now pay the price by going so many when you don't feel like it
Pray the pay the price by praying now pay the price by getting your heart right with god now
So the glory does not depart, okay?
Getting that sin right now look at verse 10 says
Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake that they may also obtain the salvation which is in christ. Jesus with eternal glory
It is a faithful saying for if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him if we suffer
We shall also reign with him if we deny him
He will also deny us if we believe not yet. He abided faithful. He cannot deny himself now
I've i've often asked this question like what if I backslide and i've been serving god for let's say 10 years 15 years
And I backslide do I just lose all my rewards?
Now my personal opinion is yes. I believe you do. Okay
But here's the thing the bible doesn't really clearly say whether
You do or you don't okay?
I believe you do and I rather keep believing that you might or that I might
Because of the fact that that's strong motivation for me to just continue to go forward
Now here's the thing though is like I don't want to roll that dice though
And let's say you don't believe that
You don't want to roll that dice either
You've been serving god for years on end and then all of a sudden you backslide
Well, you're like, oh I got a bunch of reserves of rewards. I want a bunch of people to christ. I serve god
You know, I think i'll be rewarded. Do you really want to roll that dice though?
Do you really want to take that chance?
Don't take that chance
Because here it says in verse 12
If we suffer we shall also reign with him if we deny him. He also will deny us
so the bible is clearly telling us here that even if you're to
Backslide or deny the lord by not preaching the gospel, you know, he's gonna deny us as well not salvation
He's gonna deny his rewards
Okay, and that would be my text verse to prove that. Yeah, you can be denied. My text verse would also be
Galatians where it says, you know, we should not be weary in well-doing for a due season. We shall reap if
We faint not
You know that if you know bothers me
Because it's basically telling me. Hey
I could potentially lose that reward if I don't continue steadfast in the lord
You know, don't forsake god in your latter years. Don't forsake god in your younger years bear the yoke in your youth
You know if you're a young man
This evening if you're a young lady serve the lord without distraction
Read your bible love the lord learn how to cultivate a heart for god and for souls and for his service. Okay
Do that now create a good foundation for your latter years
Don't forsake god don't be an ikabod type of a christian. Okay
Go with me if you would to proverbs chapter 4
Proverbs chapter number four
on that same note
of forsaking the lord in our latter years or even in our younger years
You know when christians forsake the bible they become ikabod
Okay, when you stop reading your bible
When you whenever you stop reading your bible
It's easier to stop reading your bible one day
Excuse me the second day than the first day
The first day you're just like oh man, I can't believe I just missed my bible reading
And then the next day when you stop reading it again, it actually is a little easier to do that
And in fact the third and fourth time those are the easiest ones
And then you're just like, okay. Well starting next monday
On sunday, I mean technically I read it on sunday in church when we were reading the scriptures together
You know you start making all these excuses
You know don't forsake the word of god and look
Obviously we give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine while we're here and we read the scripture
But that should not be a replacement for your personal bible reading
You ought to start january with being in your bibles and look
We've done everything we can to basically encourage you to read your bible through whether you know cover to cover
With the bible reading calendar or the new testament four times in a year or just create your own schedule
But do something but read your bible every day though
That should be in your heart that should be part of your life look at verse six of proverbs four forsake her not
And she shall preserve thee love her and she shall keep thee wisdom is the principal thing
Therefore get wisdom and with all that getting get understanding and exalt her
And she shall promote thee. She shall bring thee to honor when thou dost embrace her
She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace
a crown of glory
Shall she deliver?
To thee the bible says, you know if we're going to become glorious christians, so to speak
If we're going to avoid being ikabod, we need to make sure that the word of god is a vital aspect of our life. All right
Go to ephesians chapter number five ephesians chapter number five
We're talking about being ikabod here when the glory of god departs. When does it depart when a woman looks like a man?
And a man looks like a woman. Okay when a woman has short hair and a man has long hair the glory of god departs
When christians begin to forsake the lord in their latter years or even in their younger years, but also
What about for a church? Okay, so those are for individuals. But what about for a church? Well when sin
Apathy and worldliness infiltrates the church. It's ikabod
Look, there's a lot of churches out there liberal churches independent fundamental baptist churches. They have congregations. They have members
But i'm telling you it's ikabod
The glory of god has departed from that church
That's the vast majority of churches today. Unfortunately, you know what some of those need to be ikabod though
Some of the the glory has has been gone for so long
You know, they're just basically on cruise control and you know, they're in for a rude awakening at the second coming of christ
Okay
But we don't want to be that way. Okay. Look at the bible says in ephesians 5 25 husbands love your wives
Even as christ also loved the church and gave himself for it
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word that he might present it to himself a glorious church
Not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish now
Look god judges individuals, but he also judges churches as well
And if you don't believe that come thursday when we go through revelation chapter number two
You know come the following thursday when we go through revelation chapter three where god is dealing with churches
The good the bad and the ugly of churches and what was wrong with some of those churches like thyatira
Well, they were not a glorious church
They had spots they had wrinkles. They had blemishes. They were not glorious. Okay
And we as christians or as a church, we want to keep that glory
We want to stay away from ikabat as much as possible, how do we do that keeping sin out of the church
Specific sins that god says should not be in the church
Okay, not being a worldly church making sure look I know we got these spotlights here, you know shining them on the sign here
But they're never going to be purple lights though
right
They're never going to be blue and purple lights with the fog machines
And
The electric guitar and the drums and the special singer making love to the mic
It's not going to happen
And when you see a church like that don't say oh man, the glory is about to depart from that church. No, no
No, the glory has departed
It's gone
It went to like another church
Okay
You know the bible says they're not having spot
The bible also tells us in jude 12, these are spots in your feasts
So how can a church lose its glory? Well, they lose their glory when they have hafni and phanehas
Right, which were spots in the feast of israel
You know when when churches begin to welcome the sodomites and the perverts and the train trainees and all every big beast of the field
Okay
At that point the glory of god is departed from that church
No, no, no, no, we're starting a new ministry that means it's growing. No, no, no, no, no, you're ikabat
You're ikabat. You're done. Okay
In fact, the bible even says in first corinthians 5 6 your glorying is not good
Knowing not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump go to second corinthians chapter number four
Second corinthians chapter number four in order for our church to become glorious. We need to make sure that we still
Execute church discipline when necessary that we're keeping the church as holy as we possibly can not allowed to you know
Atrophy into worldliness. We need to make sure that it's without spot that we're keeping the beast of the field out of the church
Not a perfect church. Just a glorious church. Amen
Hey, how about when a church or a soul owner ceases to preach the gospel they become ikabat
Now why is that look at first corinthians 4 6
For god who commanded the light to shine out of darkness has shined in our hearts
To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of god in the face of jesus christ
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of god
And not of us look at verse go up to verse four in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them
Which believe not lest the light of the power may be of god and not of us?
The light of the glorious gospel of christ who is the image of god should shine unto them
And look if the gospel we hit is hit to the end of our loss
By us, unfortunately, you know
The bible tells us sin not for some have not the knowledge of god. I speak this to your shame
Which is the opposite of glory, okay
When the church decides and we're going to cut back on soul winning we're going to do door hangers
We're going to cut back on soul winning. We're going to do ding dong ditch
Track dropping, you know or when a christian says, you know, i'm not going to really preach the gospel as often
I'm going to cut back a little bit. Hey the glory is departing
You will become ikabod if you choose not to give out the gospel and be a soul winner
now here's my last point go with me if you would to
Go to psalm
psalm 20 if you would
So
Or is this my last point it is my last point let's check
When an individual becomes dependent on their abilities rather than on god they become ikabod
Because the fact of the matter is is that yeah, maybe god gives you has given you skills or knowledge or wisdom
But when you become dependent on those things
You're basically saying saying that you don't need god anymore. Okay, and hey musicians you better still be dependent on god
Hey song leaders, you better still be dependent on god
Hey soul winners you even though you might be articulate. You're a good orator. You're able to speak
Well, you're just one of the best owners in the church. You still better be depending on the lord
Well, I got this great speaking ability. Who cares you need god
Right
Don't be an ikabod type of a christian
Okay
Where the glory of god's the part because you're so dependent on yourself on your ability to speak your ability to play
Your ability to sing that you're no longer dependent on god
The bible tells us you don't have to turn to jeremiah 17 5 thus saith the lord cursed be the man
That trusted the man and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departed departed from the lord
The bible says in psalm 20 verse 7 some trust in chariots
Some in horses, but we will remember the name of the lord our god
We never want to be a church that says well, you know, we're first first. I mean first works man
We are all that
No
That's not the attitude that we we should ever have
Like we're better than anybody else because of the great exploits we're capable of doing. No, we need god. Okay
And before you go out sowing before you start your day you should always ask the lord lord's hand upon you
Say god, I need you i'm thankful for these gifts. I'm thankful for these talents. I'm thankful for these abilities, but I need you
Because without without you
These abilities mean nothing I can do nothing without you, you know without him. We can't do anything nothing of value. Amen
The bible says in proverbs 21 31 the horse is prepared against the day of battle but safety is of the lord go to psalm 33
psalm 33
Don't depend on your horse
Don't depend on your abilities your skills your your possessions your attributes. Well, i'm just like a good-looking guy
You know, I just I really depend on the door that people would just see that i'm just a really good-looking guy
Just a really good-looking guy, you know, by the way, don't don't don't express that to anybody here, okay
But hey, maybe there's someone here who believes like that
Well, you know what?
The glory is departed from you
Okay, because pride is ugly in the eyes of god
Humility is beautiful in god's eyes. Look at psalm 33 verse 17 and horse is a vain thing for safety
Neither shall he deliver any by his great strength behold the eye of the lord is upon them that fear him
Upon them that hope in his mercy
To deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine man
He's like I could care less about your horse. I can care less about your car
I could care less about your bank account. I could care less about your muscle
I can care less about your intellect and your wisdom. I want you to fear me
That's what he's saying
He's like i'm looking for the person who fears me who hopes in my mercy
You know what? That means that it's a person who's right with god who's
Fearing the lord in such a way that's saying man. I hope god's merciful merciful to me today
I hope god is merciful. He's gracious to me today
This is a person who has a healthy fear of god who is dependent on the lord, you know before you go out soul winning
And you're preaching the gospel lord help me use me. Please don't help me to be ashamed
Okay, help me not to embarrass myself
Help me not to embarrass you or shame you
Or not be capable of preaching the gospel to someone and show show them from the scriptures help me lord
This is the kind of attitude we need to have. Okay
It says in psalm 147 verse 10. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse
He taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man
The lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him and those that hope in his mercy, you know
and this often reminds me of churches today because
A lot of churches have quote unquote the horse
They got all the finances
They got all the nice building
They got all the buses
they have the fountains and the lcd screens and
five pianos and
They have they have the bible colleges they have all the horses
But that's why they stop depending on god
It's because they have all these things
You know you say well, would you be happy to have a big building? I would
Yeah, but you know, we don't need a big building because this is the church right here
The church is the people
and you know
Obviously this building's like not the nicest. How many of you notice that we painted the inside and raise your hand be honest
All right, all the old ifbers, okay
You know, we try to make it look nice in here, but everyone now everyone's all looking around like oh, yeah
Yeah, it had like a prison look to it before okay
You know, obviously we want to we want to try to beautify the house as much as we possibly can but at the end of
The day it's better than we beautify the people
By teaching them doctrine by helping them to live godly lives
What good is it to have a nice building but it's just filled with a bunch of ravening wolves
with a bunch of backbiting
Just backslid in lukewarm christians who can care less about the word of god and his work. I don't want that
You know you go for you, you know, you got like lancaster baptist church one of the most beautiful buildings
You ever seen?
beautiful immaculate
Some of the most wicked people
Soft wicked people
Who are just flatterers?
Just limp-wristed I mean
Talk about effeminate
You know, we have to dig deep to find an effeminate guy around here over there. It's just like it's like starbucks. It's on every corner
They're everywhere, you know, oh, but the building's beautiful
Oh, but the music is just just immaculate and great and wonderful. Well, yeah, but the people are ugly
And i'm not saying everyone there is not right with god, but the vast majority of the people there are not right with god
Okay, because guess what they're they're a byproduct of that man who's pastoring that church
Okay
You know and I can we can go on about different churches that have a beautiful building that have beautiful things and beautiful
Carpets and all these things but you know what?
They're not depending on the lord
Okay, and they can say they are but but if that were the case then why does every sermon mention money, you know
If that were the case, why is there a sermonette before every offering?
If that were the case
if that were the case, why do they have to just
Constantly ask for money for their building constantly ask for money for missions constantly ask for money for you know, christmas gift for jesus
You know why because they're not really depending on the lord
Okay, they're depending on the pocketbook of their members
That's what they're doing. We don't want to be like that. We want to make sure
We'd appreciate a horse. But if we never get a horse
We're still fearing the lord
We want to be dependent on him. This is how we could remain glorious
Okay
And so what's the sermon today?
The sermon is basically this let's avoid ever becoming an ikabod as a christian or even as a church where the glory has departed
We need to make sure that we're depending on god that we have the gender, you know, this uh, distinguished perfectly
That we know what we're dealing with when we're talking to people
We need to make sure we don't forsake the lord in our latter years or even in our younger years
And that we're constantly depending on god, amen inspire heads and have a word of prayer father. We thank you so much for your word
And god, I know that a lot of churches they go astray in their latter years
I pray that not be the case for our church here
And if god forbid if something were to happen to me
And the next man who takes over I pray that he'd do a better job than I did
I pray that he would
lead the congregation in the way of righteousness and not
Not compromise that this church would never become ikabod baptist church
Where the glory of god has departed because there is no vision
The blessing is gone. The presence of god is no longer here help us lord to always be dependent upon you
And i'm sure that as we continue as a church, you will bless us with certain possessions maybe a bigger building
Certain things that we can use for ministry
But may we never be dependent on those things may we always recognize where we came from
Who we are and how we got here was because of you
And I pray god that you'd help us to do so we love you so much and we thank you
Pray these things in jesus name. Amen