Holy Ground

Genesis 28:10-22, Matthew 5:14-16

April 24-25, 2004

Have you ever been on Holy Ground? What’s it like? Does Holy Ground look different from other places? Does it a unique aroma? Can you somehow feel the presence of God in a special way when you’re on Holy Ground? What is it like to be in the place where God’s glory dwells?

1. The Old Testament talks a good deal about holy places.

n Bethel, where Jacob saw the stairway to heaven.

We just read a story about a time when Jacob found himself on Holy Ground.[Genesis 28:10-22] He didn’t know it was Holy Ground when he got there. To him it just seemed like a good place to get some sleep. (Funny how people seem to think the same thing about the church buildings today – a great place to get some sleep!) But as Jacob slept he had a dream, a vision. He saw a stairway to heaven, with the angels going back and forth between heaven and earth. And at the top of the stairs He saw the Lord, who promised to bless him and his descendants, and to make him a blessing to all the world.

When Jacob awoke the next morning he said to himself, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” [Genesis 28:17] You see, it’s possible to be on Holy Ground and not even know it. One day Jacob found himself on Holy Ground and there he decided to give God a try. That decision changed his life and the course of history. And Jacob changed the name of that place from “Luz” to “Bethel,” The House of God.

n Horeb / Sinai, where God called Moses to service, and gave the Law.

But that isn’t the only piece of Holy Ground the Bible talks about. There’s another sacred spot where someone had a life changing, world changing encounter with God. One day a fugitive murderer named Moses was tending sheep near Mount Horeb when he saw a burning bush that wasn’t being consumed by the flames. [Exodus 3:1-12] When Moses moseyed over to investigate, God spoke to him from the bush! “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” [Exodus 3:5] Then God told Moses that He had chosen him to be the one to go back to Egypt and lead his people, Israel, out of slavery.

Moses came up with all kinds of excuses, but God said to him, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”

At Mount Horeb, Moses heard the call of God. He discovered what God wanted him to do with his life. And Moses obeyed.

God used Moses to free His people from bitter bondage. And as God said, Moses brought them back to that same mountain, which is also known by another name, Mount Sinai.

At Mount Sinai God gave Moses His Law, the 10 Commandments. God told His people the best way to live life. The Creator of human life told His people how to live life to the fullest. For Moses, and for all of Israel, Mount Horeb, Mount Sinai became Holy Ground.

n Mt. Moriah / the Threshing floor or Arunagh / the Temple. The place of sacrifice.

Yet there was a place even more holy than Bethel or Sinai: Mount Moriah. That’s the place where God told Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. You remember the story. God had promised Abraham a son. God had promised to make Abraham a great nation. Yet when Abraham was in his late nineties, the promised son still hadn’t come. Oh, he had a son, Ishmael, by his wife’s handmaid. But God said that boy was not the child of promise.

Finally when Abraham and his wife Sarah were both way too old to have children, God’s promise came true. Isaac was born. He was the apple of his father’s eye. If ever a son were a father’s pride and joy, it was Isaac. His very name means “laughter.”

Then one day several years later, when Isaac was probably about 10 or 12, God called Abraham to do something astonishing. Breathtaking. Unthinkable. [Genesis 22:1-19] God told Abraham, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

Remarkably, Abraham obeyed. He and Isaac traveled three days to Moriah. They climbed the mountain together, Isaac himself carrying the firewood and the knife. As they climbed the mountain, Isaac asked a question that must have ripped at his father’s heart. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” ⁸ Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” [Genesis 22:7-8]

When they came to the appointed place, Abraham built an altar, put the firewood on it, tied his precious son Isaac and placed him on the altar. He drew his knife and raised his arms to sacrifice to God that which was many times more valuable to him than his own life had ever been.

Just at the last second, an angel spoke. “Abraham!” The angel showed him a ram caught by his horns in the thicket. Abraham released his son and sacrificed the ram.

Then the Lord spoke to Abraham. “I swear by myself, declares the LORD , that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷ I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, ¹⁸ and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” [Genesis 22:16-18]
Mount Moriah was the place of sacrifice. But it was NOT the place where Abraham sacrificed his son. It was the place where God provided a ram to take the place of Isaac. And there God prefigured the amazing reality that one day He would provide His own Son, Jesus, as the sacrifice who died for you and me. The Lamb of God, who took our place.

But Mount Moriah was still Holy Ground long after the days of Abraham. About a millennium later King David needed a place to offer a sacrifice to God. [I Chronicles 21:18-22:1] An angel of the Lord told him to offer the sacrifice on the threshing floor of a man named Araunah the Jebusite. Araunah offered to give the land to David, but David replied, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” [I Chronicles 18:24]

So David bought the land and offered his sacrifice to God. But even that is not the end of the story. II Chronicles 3:1 tells us what David’s son, King Solomon, did with that piece of property. ¹ Then Solomon began to build the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.

Mount Moriah, Araunah’s threshing floor, the Temple Mount. The place of sacrifice. This was Holy Ground.

Have you ever been on Holy Ground?

2. As you know, there are a number of pastor’s who get together here every Tuesday morning to pray. We pray especially for the spiritual well-being of this community. It is often a very powerful prayer time. But three or four times something has happened that took me completely by surprise. One or another of the pastors would start praying especially for Woodbury Presbyterian Church. They pray for me, and our officers, and the people. In fact, one week I led us in prayer for each elder by name.

They have prayed that God would open the gates of heaven and pour out His blessings upon this place.

One week one of the men prayed that our ministry on Woodbury Road would be so effective that this strip of land would be a testimony to Central Florida, to the country, to the world, demonstrating what can happen when a community falls in love with Jesus.

Another week a different pastor prayed that this would be “Ground Zero,” the epicenter of a great work of God, transforming this community. He prayed that, like ripples in a pond, the transforming power of God’s Spirit would radiate to all of East Orange County – not from the church he served, or from all of the churches together, but particularly from 1501 Woodbury Road.

Now on the one hand this perplexed me. I’ve never paid much attention to the “theology of place.” God is here with all of us. He isn’t limited to any one location. The New Testament never talks about one place being more holy than another, and we Protestants tend not to think too much about sacred places.

On the other hand, the prayers certainly sounded sincere and Spirit-led. It felt to me, and to the others, I believe, as though God were telling these pastors to pray these things. I didn’t know what to think. I was deeply moved and humbled. And a little confused. I guess I was like the Virgin Mary at the birth of Jesus, when she heard all that the shepherds and others were saying about her Son. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. [Luke 2:19]

Could it be that this is Holy Ground?

I don’t mind telling you that since that time, I have added my prayers to the prayers of those other pastors. I have walked around the property and prayed that God would indeed pour out His blessings on this place. I’ve prayed that the Spirit of God would be so strong here that people would sense His presence, not only when they come on the property, but even when they drive by on Woodbury Road or on the 408. I’ve prayed that people would be healed of diseases and convicted of sin and convinced of God’s mercy on these eight acres of land. I have prayed that marriages would be restored and children would find love and direction. I have prayed for God to do miraculous things here.

And I invite you to join me in those prayers. Come here to the church and pray – even if the doors are locked and you can’t get in. Pray in the prayer garden. Walk around the grounds and pray. Come during the day and pray in the worship area or the portables when they aren’t in use. Especially I am asking for people to come and pray in the prayer chapel during our worship services. Come to one service to worship, and come to another service to pray for the people who are worshiping then. Maybe not every week. Maybe just once or twice a month.

Next Thursday, May 6, is the National Day of Prayer. We’ll be setting up a 24 Hour Prayer Vigil. Plan to come and pray for a block of time that day. (We’ll have a sign up sheet next weekend.)

And of course, even when you pray at home or at work, join me in praying that God will work in mighty ways here at Woodbury Presbyterian Church.

Could this be Holy Ground?

3. But of course, God has already done wonderful things here, hasn’t He? We have seen people healed of diseases through prayers that have been offered here. Cancer. Birth defects. Paralysis.

Babies have been baptized here, and we have claimed the work of God’s Spirit in their lives. Couples have been married here, and people have started their families with Jesus Christ at the very center of their lives, right where He belongs.

What’s more, many people have dedicated or rededicated their lives to Christ here. Confirmation. Adult baptisms. People have stood here and declared to us and to all the world that they want to follow Jesus Christ. That He is most important in their lives.

Like Jacob at Bethel, people have discovered God’s purpose for their lives here. They have claimed His promise of blessing to them and their families. They have learned that, like Jacob (and Abraham), they are blessed to bless others. Here, in this place, many people have decided to give God a try.

And like Moses at Mount Horeb, people have encountered God here in new ways. They have heard Him calling them beyond a life of self-absorbed “meism” to Christ-centered service. And like the Israelites on Mount Sinai, they have heard God’s Word teaching them how to live in a way that pleases God. How to live in joy and meaning and purpose.

Further, like Abraham on Mount Moriah, people have responded to God’s call to sacrifice. But they have learned what Abraham learned. You can’t out give God. They have learned the incredible message of grace: that no matter what we may give to God, He loves us freely. And He always gives us more. In fact, He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have ever lasting life.

Wonderful things have happened on this property. We have encountered God in significant ways. In fact, let me ask you, if God has touched your life in a positive way on this piece of land – if He has made Himself known to you in a clearer way, or drawn you closer to Himself, if you, like so many others, have stood here in the front of this church and said, “I want to follow Christ,” would you please stand.

Thank you. Be seated.

My dear brothers and sisters, this is indeed Holy Ground! For we have encountered God here. And for us, at least, that makes this place Holy.

So, dear ones, remember that when you come here! Remember that this is a place where God works. God touches people. And when you need to be healed, come here. And when you need solace or direction, come here. And when you need forgiveness, come here. And when you need direction, or reconciliation, or peace, when you just need to know that you are loved, come here. This is Holy Ground.

And likewise, when you come here, whenever you come here, expect to encounter God. Expect God to meet you, and touch you, and give you exactly what you need. We’ve seen God do that over and over again, haven’t we? I don’t care if you come here dressed formally or informally, but never come casually, with a casual attitude. I don’t care which service you come to. But let me encourage you never to come here without a heart full of expectation. For this is Holy Ground.

This is Holy Ground because so many of us have encountered God here.

4. But there is another sense in which this is Holy Ground.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” [Matthew 5:14-16]

Woodbury Presbyterian, YOU are the light of the world. YOU are a city on the hill. Jesus said so. And when you live the Christian life, when you just keep growing in your faith and in your faithfulness, God’s light radiates from you to the whole community. Like ripples in a pond.

When you take your faith from here to your neighborhood, when you take your faith from here to your workplace or school, this becomes the epicenter of what God is doing. This becomes ground zero for God’s transforming power.

Now it may seem to you that you’re not really making much difference. But I know better. You are planting seeds. And at first you can’t see those seeds growing. But believe me, underneath the surface soil, they are sprouting and sending out roots. And they will grow into a beautiful garden. That’s how God’s Kingdom comes. Jesus Himself said so. Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? ³¹It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. ³²Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.” [Mark 4:30-32]

One day when I was praying not long ago, I told God that I felt like I had come up against a wall. That there was something more that He had for us. Something about living in His power and in His presence. But I didn’t know how to get around that wall, or how to break through it. I prayed for guidance. Then I went on to pray about other things.

Before long God spoke an answer to my heart. It was an answer I had heard from Him before. Many times before. In fact, I imagine even God, as patient as He is, is tired of having to tell me this. Can you guess what He said to me? “Do what you know to do.”

That was it. Do what you know to do. That’s the key to breakthrough. That’s the key to transformation. That’s how His light radiates from His people. Do what you know to do.

Keep reading your Bibles and taking classes. Keep praying diligently and faithfully. Keep serving, and loving one another in your families, and in your small groups, and in the church. Avoid gossip. Avoid lust. When you fall, repent and ask God to forgive you. Do what you know to do. And God will do what He wants to do through you. Then God’s light will radiate from you, like ripples in a pond. Then God’s light will radiate from you and shatter the darkness, scatter the darkness.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Have you ever been on Holy Ground?

My dear friends, this is Holy Ground.

YOU are Holy Ground.