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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 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