Stirring Up Our Pure Minds

Temple Baptist Church - 6-6-2018

2 Peter 3:1-7

Introduction:

A.  Stirring up our minds is an important part of the work of the pastor.  Reinforcement is one of teaching’s greatest tools.  Repetition, repeatedly using the same facts or verses keeps the mind stirred.

2 Peter 1:12-15  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.  (13)  Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;  (14)  Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.  (15)  Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

B.  Like most preachers, I am always looking for “nuggets” in the Bible so that I can peach something different or from a different perspective.  This is good, but it is also important to preach and reproach on the same subjects. 

C.  Often, people write in the margins of their Bibles who preached and when a portion of Scripture was preached.  This is both necessary and biblical. 

1.  First, we tend to forget over time.  

2.  Secondly, in the past 10 years, we have had children who have grown up and need to hear what you heard. 

3.  Thirdly, there are new people who join our fellowship who have never heard.

D.  We stir our cooking food often to keep the right consistency and flavor. 

1.  The Problem.  The possibility and probability of our minds tend to sleep spiritually as we live from day to day.    

a.  We are to remember and be mindful.  Romans 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

b.  Have you noticed when someone begins to quote a verse that we have not read of thought of in a long time, we are able to finish it?  Though we know these verses, we do not think upon them because of our busyness. 

2.  The Prophecy.  The Bible, correct as usual, prophesized the rising denial of creation.  To deny creation is to deny God. 

a.  The God Is Dead Theory.  Verse 4.

1)  In this verse, we find the prophecy of the “God is Dead Theory.”  That God created the heavens and the earth and, in the process of time died.  I am sure that you older folks remember those days. 

2)  Modern “scientists” reject the “God Is Dead Theory, because it implies that there was a God in the beginning.  They want that thought thoroughly erased because they do not want there to be a God.  Thus:

b.  The Evolution Theory.  Verse 5. 

1)  Over the past 100 years, the Evolution Theory has become the “Evolution Fact” to be taught in public schools.  “Science falsely so-called” has taken the place of true science.  To do away with God, some plausible beginning must be concocted.  

2)  To view the universe in all its perfect design, to view this earth in all its distinction and perfection, and to reject God requires (verse 5) willful ignorance!  No randomness caused by the destructive force of an explosion of something that had to previously exist which denies a “true beginning” that all believe in.

3.  Their Person.  Scoffers! 

a.  By both biblical definition and Merriam-Webster, to deride or to ridicule, to jeer or mock, to make fun of.  They reject the judgement of sin (Genesis 6) because they do not want the judgement of eternal fire (Revelation 20:15-20) that is to come. 

b.  Our society puts people on medication or in mental institutions that talk to someone who does not exist.  When Vice President Pence said that God spoke to him, he was ridiculed but Christians understood what he said.  God speaks to the heart of His children and they know His voice. 

John 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

1 Kings 19:12-13  And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.  (13)  And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

4.  Their Perversion.  “Walking after their own lusts.”  When men scoff at the very thought of God, perversion becomes the norm.  Just look at our society over the past 60 years as God has been banished from the homes, schools, and nation.  Perversion is taught as normal and to be accepted while true Christianity has become abnormal and to be rejected.

Conclusion:  Saved people have “pure minds” and understand how the beginning transpired but must be careful to not fall into the trap of public opinion and scoffers.

Safeguards of Purity

Temple Baptist Church - 12-10-2014

1 John 3:1-3

 

 

Introduction:

 

A.  We could all agree that the condition of our nation has continued in serious decline over the past century.  Morality is at an all time low; national pride is at an all time low; everything is in a constant condition of decay.

 

B.  We could all agree that the effect of this decline has affected us all to some degree.  We are constantly bombarded in a satanic war of attrition. 

 

C.  We could all agree could all agree that the Lord could come at any moment.  The world’s condition along with the spiritual decline of just the last 14 years is indicative of the fulfillment of prophecy.

 

D.  Our day is prophesied and described as:

 

1.  Days of Sinfulness:

 

a)  The days of Noe or Noah - Matthew 24:37-39  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (38)  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  (39)  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 

b).  The days of Lot - Luke 17:28-30  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  (29)  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.  (30)  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

 

Ezekiel 16:49-50  Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.  (50)  And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

 

2.   Days of Deception - 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,  (2)  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.  (3)  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

 

3.  Days of Spiritual Peril - 2 Timothy 3:1-5  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 

4.  Days of Apathy - Revelation 3:14-16  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;  (15)  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

 

E.  Within our text for tonight lie some safeguards that will help us to remain pure:

 

1.  Safeguard #1 – “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us” – (Knowledge of what God did for us – His Sacrificial Love.  May we never forget the price paid for our eternal salvation!  Free but not cheap as it cost God His Son, the Son His life, and heaven it’s glory!)

 

2.  Safeguard #2 – “that we should be called the sons of God” - Knowledge of who we are – Sons of God  (We have been adopted into the most wonderful family!  Sons of God with brothers and sisters the world over.  I thank God for that.  Twice, the Song of Solomon says, “My beloved is mine, and I am his!”)

 

 

3.  Safeguard #3 – “Beloved, now are we” – (Knowledge of why we are what we are – We chose to believe and Desire Him – we desired Him over the world – we came to Christ because we chose to do so.)

 

4.  Safeguard #4 – “it doth not yet appear what we shall be” – (Knowledge of what we are to strive to be – a separate people zealous of good works.  God not only saved us from something, He saved us to something.)

 

5.  Safeguard #5 – “but we know that, when he shall appear” – (Knowledge that He could appear at any moment – Our blessed hope.  We are to be watchful for He is coming as He said and we are going home.)

 

6.  Safeguard #6 – “we shall be like Him” – (Knowledge of what we desire to be (our blessed hope) – we look forward to a world and body without sin.  We look for a city wherein dwelleth righteousness; a prepared place for a prepared people.  The song writer said , “Some call it heaven; I call it home.)

 

How To Stay Pure

Temple Baptist Church - 8-16-2009

Proverbs 7:1-27

Introduction: A few weeks ago, I preached a message on Fornication: Why Not To Commit It. Now I want to preach on Fornication: How Not To Commit It. Often we tell people what not to do without telling them how to avoid doing it.

A. There has been a great move in the past few years in churches to get young people to sign pledges of purity.

B. It is certainly an issue of great important in an impure society. (By some estimates, over 60% of teenagers have lost their purity before High School graduation.)

C. Many times young people sign these purity pacts, but are not shown from the Bible how to remain pure.

1. Failure To Remain Pure Will Destroy Your Testimony - 1 Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.

a) Impurity Tarnishes Your Character
b) Impurity Destroys Your Health
c) Impurity Shames Your Family
d) Impurity Hurts Your Church

Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

2. Failure To Remain Pure Will Haunt Your Conscience - 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

3. Failure To Remain Pure Will Hurt Your Marriage (Feelings Of Guilt Will Hurt Your Relationship With Your Spouse Because That Which Belongs to Them Has Been Given To Another)

1 Corinthians 7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

4. Failure To Remain Pure Will Hinder Your Effectiveness (You Will Always Have An Instant Replay)

Job 20:11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Proverbs 7:1-27

A. The Description Of The Foolish – vs. 7

1. He Was Simple – Simple means foolish! - Proverbs 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Ecclesiastes 11:10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

2. He Lacked Discernment – 7 – “young man” - A lack of perception! - Ezekiel 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

3. He Was Void Of Understanding – He did not understand at all! - Psalms 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Psalms 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

B. The Descent Of The Foolish – vs. 8-9

1. He Knew Where She Lived – “her corner”
2. He Went To Where She Lived – her house”
3. He Did So On A Continual Basis – “twilight…evening…black and dark night” (His failure was progressive)

C. The Description Of The Seductress – vs. 10-12

1. Her Dress Was Seductive – “attire of an harlot”
2. Her Heart Was Subtle – “subtile of heart” – Deceptive
3. Her Attitude Was Rebellious – “loud…stubborn…abide not”
4. Her Kind Is Everywhere – “without…streets…every corner”

D. The Deceiving Of The Foolish – vs. 13-21

1. She Caught Him – vs. 13 - He was looking for her!

2. She Kissed Him – vs. 13 - Kisses are reserved for those who you love, not for strangers! This was the kiss of betrayal – Amasa, Judas

3. She Lied To Him – vs. 14-15 – She pretended to be right with the Lord!

4. She Tempted Him – vs. 16-21

a) Her Preparation – vs. 16
b) Her Perfume – vs. 17
c) Her Performance – vs. 18 – The pretense of love!
d) Her Persuasion – vs. 19-21 – You won’t get caught!
e. The Destruction Of The Foolish – vs. 22-27
1. Blinded To Sin – vs. 22
2. Blinded To Judgment – 22-23

A WONDERFUL ADMONITION – vs. 24-27

A. Fornication Is A Sin That Proceeds From A Wicked Heart - Matthew 15:18-19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

B. Fornication Is A Sin Against The Body - 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

C. Fornication Is A Sin That God Judges - Colossians 3:5-6 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

HOW TO STAY PURE!

1. Keep your thoughts pure - Proverbs 23:7a For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2. Keep your eyes pure - 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Psalms 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. (Stay away from pornography!)

Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

3. Make sure you keep the right company - Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (Birds of a feather! Show me your friends and I will tell who you are!)

4. Stay away from areas of compromise. (Being alone with others of the opposite sex.) abstain for all appearance.

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (If it does not glorify God, leave it alone!)

5. Listen to your parents and pastor and seek their guidance - Proverbs 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: (They love you and only want the best for you!)

Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (I will be a real friend to you if you will let me!)

6. Hide the Word of God in your hearts - Psalms 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Either this Book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this Book!)

7. Commit to purity from this day on - Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? (Purity is both DESIRE and DETERMINATION!)