Living Before the Lord — Erlo Stegen

Isaiah 6 and the Holiness of God

I'd like to, before we continue, read our text from Isaiah chapter 6. We read from verse 1. In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne high and lifted up and the train of his robe filled the temple.

Above it stood seraphim, each one had six wings, with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.

The whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said, Woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

We'll read thus far. Now I asked, what is an engagement? It's actually very seldom that there are engagements, especially engagements conducted in a holy way. We live in a depraved society where there is rottenness right to the core.

AIDS, Sin, and the Consequences of Turning from God

We see people just infecting themselves with AIDS. Yesterday somebody bought a paper for me and when I looked at the headlines it was written in bold letters on the front page, nobody dies from AIDS. They die from chest complaints, respiratory problems, and many other problems, but certainly not from AIDS which does not kill anybody.

Even the president of our nation has said he doesn't know of anybody in his family that has died of AIDS. I'm just telling you as I read it in the paper, I don't know how true it is. It could be that he says his family because actually I've heard also that he has no children.

But you don't need any convincing. You have seen for yourselves how people get AIDS, what they are like. The Bible repeatedly tells us that the one who trusts in God is blessed and happy, but the one who lives in wickedness and turns his back on God lives in misery and calls upon suffering to stay with him.

If you really want happiness and blessing, then you need to be surrendered to the Lord God of hosts. But should you turn your back on God, well, the awful things that await you. We as Christians do not have love affairs like the world.

Christian Engagements and Seeking God's Will

You know that in the pagan way, people just choose for themselves. But we Christians rely on God to choose for us.

No preacher chooses or other person.

No council or no authority except God himself does the choosing. A certain person once decided that he'd rather choose for himself and make sure that he chooses his own pretty peach. He had deceived himself into thinking that in Christianity one is short-changed and you don't really get the proper thing.

And like we say in the Zulu proverb, if you choose a pretty peach, there's probably a worm inside. He got his way, did what he thought he should do, got married to her, and just soon after that he came to me terrifically worried saying, she seems to have an enormous growth that I don't know whether she's going to die.

I suggested he take her to the doctor. She though, the wife, said, no, I'm not so keen on going to a doctor, I'd rather just trust in the Lord. They insisted and she was taken to a doctor. So the doctor, In diagnosing her, he said, well, it's a simple case, she's pregnant.

And it was discovered then that she was three or four months pregnant from another man and not from her husband. As you find, in the pagan way, they sleep with each other before marriage. And the traditional Christian marriage is held where there's a white veil and all the significance of purity and holiness that she's untouched.

However, despite her spotless gown, she might already be expecting. That's what things are like today. But we find that not only among pagans, but also among Christians, even those who claim to be saved.

Till one is even nervous when they get married and one counts the months. Maybe they're not complete. One young lady, a newly married woman, giving birth after six months, that was the time she scolded me and her minister as well.

I was taken to task for saying that it's not possible. She said, what is your faith so small that you, I can't have a baby, a fully developed baby after six months? Where is your faith? I said, well, my faith doesn't lie in messing around and being sexually promiscuous.

A true Christian waits and looks to God for the answer. They hold it, they keep it holy. Not like those who, when the lights are off, they go around like dogs at night where you don't know where they are and they're off being promiscuous.

But instead they watch and pray and say, Lord, you show me. That is why we tell believers, you let the Lord choose for you. You leave it over to him, seek his will. Because otherwise, if you just do it according to your own logic and your own mind, well, you'll get a pretty peach that is rotten because of worms.

And things go wrong when people say, I'll do it for myself. I can handle it. And they don't know how to pray, what it is to kneel before God and seek his will and get an answer from him. A certain island not far off Africa, on the northeast coast towards Madagascar.

There are many varieties of palm oil.

There are many varieties of palm trees. One of which is used for an occult fortune-telling process where they use it to create a love potion, especially if it's one of these unique ones, which is a double coconut.

And so you find that people who do it for themselves, they don't know how to pray, they don't know how to seek his will, they don't know how to seek God's will.

And so you find that people who do it in an un-Christian way rely on their own hearts or they rely on occult powers. And so they'll have all sorts of strange fetishes and do strange rituals. And they resort to all sorts of occult and strange practices.

Occult Practices and Moral Compromise

Now there's a true incident in Johannesburg. There were some men who used to work there and on the way home they'd always go via a certain bar.

And they'd say,.

They found it irresistible. They had to go by her. And one day they said to each other, these men, but men, we have paid so many cattle in dowry for our wives, we have our families, but why is it that we are just pulled to go towards this?

Let's have a look. And so they, there was a big, It was a traditional home brew. And where they would make this brew and where this lady would, she was the one who owned this illicit bar and the man put his, rolled up his sleeve, put his hand in, came out with the lady's underwear.

Well, you men who go to these places,.

You drink all sorts of things.

And you fall into the occult things like this and you might accuse somebody else of being to blame, but maybe you're the one who's to blame and you're the one who's eaten of these things. But we find Christian young people who are willing to do it in God's way.

This young couple today, your parents, they have made you proud. They have uplifted the standard. Be thankful that you have children that are not living in the rubbish of this world. I am. Now, I want you to Be thankful for the children that you have.

Holiness in Christian Appearance and Conduct

I came across a person the other day whose business is creating wigs. Here in Africa, it seems like it's a roaring trade. Over a billion rand is spent every year in our country. So, you find that all sorts, whether black or white, they spend their money on their hairdos, their perms, and they fall into this which we have been read to this Galatians verse, fall into the desires of the flesh, the lust of this world.

And they just fail to live for the Lord. You just look at their appearance and you say, the world. But the Bible says, as we have read, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. This is the holiness we want to see in our young people.

We're tired of the world. We don't want the world's things. But this is God's rule. This is how he directs you. And I said, yes. I inquired a little bit about the young lady from her counselor, from those that she works with, and they all had good reports that she lives for the Lord, so much so that they asked those who she's working for, we want to know about the young man.

Is he really faithful? Is he worthy of her hand? And you find it different, though, with the advent of cell phones. Sometimes it can be useful, but it can also be bad. You'll find that a lot of flirting goes on, sending messages, phoning each other, and love affairs going on via the cell phone.

You'll find that a lot of flirting goes on, sending messages, phoning each other, and love affairs going on via the cell phone. You'll find that a lot of flirting goes on, sending messages, phoning each other, and love affairs going on via the cell phone.

You'll find that a lot of flirting goes on, sending messages, phoning each other, and love affairs going on via the cell phone. You'll find that a lot of flirting goes on, sending messages, phoning each other, and love affairs going on via the cell phone.

You'll find that a lot of flirting goes on, sending messages, phoning each other, and love affairs going on via the cell phone.

You'll find that a lot of flirting goes on, sending messages, phoning each other, and love affairs going on via the cell phone. You won't be able to flirt around with a girl. You are the devil here amongst us.

Do it outside. You are free to do it there. But don't associate yourself with us. I see you as a devil.

And they flirt around, they go to restaurants together, and you'll find them chatting each other up in these places. That's not what we want. But they will say, no, we don't have any affair going on. We're just having a social.

We're just being friendly. Don't come to me with such foolishness and rubbish. Jesus associates himself, and so do we, only with what is holy. The Lord also says that if you look upon a woman lustfully, you have already committed adultery.

Fleeing Lust and Living Before the Holy God

Meet with this thrice holy God. Get to know His fire of holiness, and then all these other things you won't want to touch. You will not be able to look at pornographic pictures. You will know the holiness of God.

You'll live for God, Jesus being your first love.

You won't be running after girls or boys, because if you do it in that way, the flames of hell are already licking at your feet. But if you've been doing it, confess your sin. Remember the holiness of God, where Moses met with God, he took off his sandals because of the holy ground.

We come into church with these things, with these same sandals.

But remember...

The Bible says that we ought to flee from youthful lusts. So it doesn't mean just in your mind, but also physically. If you know the Lord Jesus, you will stay away from the opposite sex. See how promiscuity has led to this awful epidemic of AIDS, and people stubbornly go on in their ways.

No wonder, and little wonder that God should pour out His wrath in this way. The destruction of young people is awful. Parents having children, and then they have to bury them. It is awful. Times are bad today.

It would have been better if we were in the times where kings like King Shaka were ruling. They had a standard of virginity. They even had girls who were tested for virginity, and their parents or father would be fined a beast if she was found to be impure.

Shame would be poured upon her who was found not to be a virgin at that time. The whole tribe would pour scorn upon this sinful way. But the one who was found to be pure would run to the white flag that had been put up, and there was joy because of her.

But you find today that even those who are not Christians, who have come from this culture, who are dying of AIDS anyway.

Abortion, Sexual Morality, and Separation from the World

You parents who...

You parents who will bury you if your children are dead. You find that the trend today is not how many children do you have, but how many abortions have you had. Family clinics are set up and you find unmarried people going now to take the pill and all sorts of contraceptives.

They are not yet married. They will be taken down with a raging river into the sea where the sharks eat them. Let there be a distinct separation between what is wrong and right. Let God's holiness be evident.

Not that you are busy visiting each other, flirting around, going around in a group together. Billy Graham, a preacher from America who is now old. A person who is lawless is the one who complains about their family.

And they say, but you are making laws for us. Why can't we do this? Why can't we do that? They made a covenant together, Billy Graham and his team. In those early days they said, let's make a covenant to be sexually pure before the Lord and take certain precautions such as never to travel in a car alone with the opposite sex.

Not to be in a room alone with the opposite sex. These men and women have been godly and the Lord has preserved them into old age. They haven't died from promiscuous living. And in this covenant they also said that they will preserve financial integrity.

We will not be dishonest regarding money. They made these rules with each other and they remained an example. We too need to be an example as we preach to others.

We need to be an example to others.

Here God fills the temple with his holiness and his glory. We are the temple of God. His holiness needs to be proclaimed. Maybe you are the child of a preacher and you are the one who is loosening the standards.

Well, you will find yourself cursed. Here are the blessings, on the other hand here are the curses if you are disobedient to the Lord. Here is happiness but here is tragedy and misery if you do not heed the word of the Lord.

Choosing Wisely and Accepting the Consequences

Listen carefully you children as well. I love young people but I am often so disappointed in their lack of understanding. Their ignorance. You will find an infatuation will come over a boy or a girl and they completely head over heels infatuated and they don't know what is happening to them.

Listen carefully you children as well. I love young people but I am often so disappointed in their lack of understanding. Their ignorance. You will find an infatuation will come over a boy or a girl and they completely head over heels infatuated and they don't know what is happening to them.

Listen carefully you children as well. I love young people but I am often so disappointed in their lack of understanding. Their ignorance. You will find an infatuation will come over a boy or a girl and they completely head over heels infatuated and they don't know what is happening to them.

So be free to choose whatever you want to choose but remember you can't decide the consequences of your choice. One thing will help us that we meet with God. Lord of hosts. The holiness of God was proclaimed by these angels covering their feet with wings.

Covering their faces with wings with two they flew and proclaiming God's holiness that shook the foundations causing the man of God here to cry out about his sinfulness.

Revival Through Confession of Sin

Jenny are you here? Where is Jenny Engelbrecht? Just stand up that I see you.

See that wife? The one who is standing here? Her sister? I was married to her sister. The Lord has taken her. She is in heaven. She is in heaven today. My children last night came excitedly to me and said but you know the wonderful testimony that auntie Jenny has got and they hadn't known it.

That's why the Bible says tell your children and your children's children that they would know the workings of God. She had come to help babysit. One of my daughters has just had a baby and she was coming to help and in that time she used the opportunity to tell the testimony.

She grew up in the Anglican church. They were very strict Anglicans. Regarding confession of sin it's done in the liturgy. When revival broke out they said to each other she and her husband well we're going to be left out if we don't become part of it.

But the Lord gives us revival and they came to Mapumulu at that time and they asked then what shall we do? She came to me as well and asked me Olo what should I do? I said you go and ask the Lord what does he say to you?

She went back in with tears and told her husband they asked well what do we ask the Lord to say? How will he speak to us? She said I need to confess my sins. I don't know how I replied.

She said I need you to know my sins. I want you to know it. She said should I tell you my sins that you know my sins? And by the way there aren't any sins that I remember. I don't know what I said. I said why don't you try it?

And when she tried it she got the foretaste of heaven. And then she experienced revival.

Dr. Edwin Oh he says revival starts when you confess your sins and it stops when you stop to confess them.

And it's not an issue of well should I tell you? You should know you are before God. You should cry out to him. He who is thrice holy. And get right with God. Make right with him. When you do it you will receive life.

Outside of that you won't have it. And so it's good?

And so it's good?

It's good that repentance brings about change. And so with the young man who has got engaged today his life has been utterly changed. Many of them know what he was like in his old life but today the Lord has cleansed him.

And they say he is completely different. They acknowledge it. Even the expression on his face. The Bible says Lord let your glory be revealed among your people. Let his glory his shine be upon us. Amen.

A Holy Marriage and Final Exhortation

And so to the young man, to the young lady who has got engaged today may their lives shine. May that flame never be extinguished. Amen. And also with arguments. We don't allow arguments. If you want your sin and you want to cling to it then pack your bags and go.

We don't allow that here. Amen. Amen. The gospel makes a clear separation between those who live for the Lord and are protected and secure but those who do not live for the Lord it just becomes evident and plain.

They die 15, 20, 30 years of age they are dead already because of their living. I'm going to close the Bible now. Amen. Now the young man and the young lady may this promise which you have made be kept faithfully.

Let them rejoice as the Lord keeps us also in your marriage and that it will be consistent that all the relatives of both sides of the family would rejoice and be glad and see what God has done in your lives.

If you surrender to the Lord then sanctify yourselves. If you are not determined to follow the Lord, goodbye. But you will regret it out there. I'm thankful to have witnessed many who have been dying of AIDS who in their last days say forgive us I was disobedient.

I'm thankful to have witnessed many who have been dying of AIDS who in their last days say forgive us. I was disobedient.

I'm thankful to have witnessed many who have been dying of AIDS who in their last days say forgive us I was disobedient. I'm thankful to have witnessed many who have been dying of AIDS who in their last days say forgive us I was disobedient.

I'm thankful to have witnessed many who have been dying of AIDS who in their last days say forgive us I was disobedient. I'm thankful to have witnessed many who have been dying of AIDS who in their last days say forgive us I was disobedient.

I'm thankful to have witnessed many who have been dying of AIDS who in their last days say forgive us I was disobedient. I'm thankful to have witnessed many who have been dying of AIDS who in their last days say forgive us I was disobedient.