In this exhortation from the ministry chapel, Steve Gallagher challenged the men in the Residential Program to reject the outward forms of American Christianity for the real faith and trust in Jesus that saves and transforms lives.

From Genesis 17:1 he encourages us to live in God’s presence and be blameless.(From #359 - What Role Does Consecration Play in Freedom from Porn?)

I want to read something from Genesis 17.  Really, it's just one statement, but as I was meditating on it, I was thinking about that there are two different forms of Christianity. The easiest way to make it simple is to say that one is outward, and one is inward. That's the simplest way to say it; One is religious, and one is spiritual. One is taken up with the forms of Christianity, the rituals of Christianity, how you look to other people, the image involved; Doing the things that are expected by our Christian culture in America. An outward form of Christianity, there is that.

And all you men in the program came here from that culture. You did that thing, but something was wrong inside, right? Something was lacking inside. It was a spiritual life with God. All right, so just keep that in the back of your mind.

Let me just read these first two verses. “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and be blameless. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and I will multiply you greatly.”

And I wish I could just somehow stamp that into your brain, that when you leave this place, that's all I care about right there. If you would just do that, I would be one happy man. Just live in the presence of God and live a blameless life. Never mind about all the religious stuff, all the outward trappings, how you look and, you know, making sure you dot all the I’s and cross all the T’s of the culture, the Christian culture of our day. Making sure everyone sees you in the way you want them to see you, and that no one could possibly criticize you. Throw that all away and just do this thing. Live in my presence and be blameless. That's it! That's all that God requires of you! Live in His presence and be blameless.

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His presence is there for the taking. You don't have to go home to a dead existence. Something is being put into you while you're here in this place. You are learning to humble yourself before the Lord, to seek Him with all your heart, and if you will live your life that way His presence will fill you inside, and you will take His presence with you when you go home. And then, living a blameless life will not be that difficult. It will be second nature to you, because you will have the Spirit of the Living God indwelling you and influencing you, having a tremendous influence inside of you. That will then translate into the way you live your life when no one else is watching.

Live in my presence and be blameless. Live in my presence and be blameless. That's what the Lord would say to you: Live in my presence and be blameless. Don't worry about all the other stuff. You do that, and you won't go wrong.

Lord I thank You that You are a mighty God. You could show up at any time. Abraham was ninety-nine years old and all of a sudden there You are. His eyes were opened, and he saw the Almighty. And You spoke with him. Then You promised a covenant with him. You promised to multiply him greatly. All you asked of him was to live in Your presence and be blameless.

Lord, as You know, we live in a time when we have allowed the culture to dominate us inwardly, to dominate our hearts and minds. We’ve allowed ourselves, our inward wife to be overrun by the spirit of this world, all the while keeping up a religious appearance to those around us.

Lord, I just pray that You will get it into us all, the importance of living in union with You in humility before you. Walking with You and conversing with You. Living in Your presence. Walking blamelessly before You. We just worship You, Lord. You are worthy of our worship. You are worthy to receive our praise. We honor you, Lord; we glorify you, in Jesus’ Name.