Wholly Sanctified

Temple Baptist Church - 7-10-2016

1 Thessalonians 5:23

Introduction:

A.  In our verse for tonight, for the first time within the context, we find the word “And” which is the spiritual connection of verse 23 with the preceding verses: 14-22.  We normally preach on verses 14-22 individually but the unity and context of the Bible is of great importance. 

B.  The Holy Spirit has set forth things that we are to do in order for Him to sanctify us wholly: spirit, soul, and body.  Practical Sanctification should always follow Positional Sanctification.  Positionally, we are placed into Christ at the moment of salvation.  This is an act of God.  Practically, we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.  This is an act of gratitude and obedience.

C.  There is an obvious lack of preaching on the subject of sanctification in these days of the Laodicea Church Age where being lukewarm and apathetic have become the accepted norm in Christendom.  Preachers of old preached on the holiness of the believer but today’s pulpits are strangely silent on the subject as individuals as well as churches become more like the world and less like Christ.

D.  Biblical sanctification is a good thing, not a bad thing.  It has been preached as a list of things that the child of God can and cannot do instead of being preached as a close, personal relationship with our wonderful Lord.  It is what God’s children have been “created in Christ Jesus” for. 

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

E.  Now to our verse.  “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  There are several things in this verse that need to be looked at closely.

F.  God wants us practically and completely sold out to Him! 

1 Corinthians 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. We are sanctified in salvation but God wants to sanctify us wholly and present us unto himself blameless.

G.  God made man in the image of God: a trichotomy or three in one.  As God is a Trinity, so man—made in the image of God—is also a trinity.

1.  The creation of man finds these three aspects in reverse order from our text.  God formed the body, breathed into that body a living soul, and man became conscious of God. 

Genesis 2:7, 16  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground (Body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Soul) ... And the LORD God commanded the man (Spirit), saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

2.  The body is world conscious, the soul is self-conscious, and the spirit is God conscious.  Notice with me that, in our text, the order is reversed: spirit, soul, and body.  This is by design and is important.

H.  “sanctify you wholly”  God wants us completely set apart from the world and that requires the sanctification of spirit, soul, and body.  Notice the word “whole.”  “Whole” describes each individual aspect of the person to be sanctified.

1.  Whole Spirit – God conscious!  Not just conscious of God when you think of Him but wholly conscious of Him. God’s person should permeate our thinking and inspire each of us to have that close, personal relationship with Him that He desires for us.  When we are wholly God conscious, then we become soul conscious!

Ephesians 4:22-24  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  (23)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  (24)  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

2.  Whole Soul – when we are God conscious, it makes us self-conscious!  As we come to realize that we walk in His presence throughout our day, it should cause us to want God’s will in our lives.

Colossians 3:1-2  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  (2)  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3.  Whole Body – when we are God conscious and self-conscious, it makes us world conscious!  How important is the body to the Lord?  God wants our whole body to glorify Him all of the time.  With the whole spirit and soul sanctified, the body will naturally follow.  Why the importance of the body?  Because this is who we are and what the world sees. 

1 Peter 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  (Peculiar – odd, strange, weird, unusual, irregular!  Called OUT of darkness; called into His Marvelous light!   Marvelous – wonderful, amazing, stunning, spectacular, excellent!)

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  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?  (20)  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Why Revival?

Temple Baptist Church - 7-10-2016

Psalms 85 

Introduction: 

A.  Next Sunday, Bro. Max Alderman will be with us, Sunday the 17th through Wednesday the 20th.  I want to look at this Psalm for a few minutes as it answers the question: “Why Revival?”  It needs to be understood that:

1.  Revival cannot be brought.  Bro. Max will preach but he will not bring revival with him when he comes.

2.  Revival cannot be bought.  No amount of giving of tithes and offerings can bring about revival.

3.  Revival cannot even be taught.  I thank the Lord for the great men of God that I have been privileged to sit under the past 40 years but their preaching and teaching cannot bring revival.

4.  Revival MUST be sought.  Verse 6 asks the question, “Wilt thou not revive us again?”  Revival is individual; revival is up to each of us; revival is life! 

B.  A lack of life of revival in a local church brings about some real problems:

1.  You lose the blessings of God – vs. 1  “favor

2.  You become a slave to sin – vs. 1  “captivity”

3.  You incur the chastening of the Lord – vs. 2-3  “wrath … anger”

4.  You will bring judgment upon your children – vs. 5  “all generations”

5.  You will lose the joy of your salvation – vs. 6  “rejoice in thee”

C.  What is or is not revival?

1.  Some Think That Revival Is Shouting – This is a result of revival, not revival itself.

2.  Some Think That Revival Is Soul Winning – This is a result of revival, not revival itself.

3.  Some Think That Revival Is Sanctification – This is a result of revival, not revival itself.

4.  Some Think That Revival Is Service – This is a result of revival, not revival itself.

5.  Revival Is Simply Getting Personally Right With God!  Revive means to make alive.  God has quickened us in salvation and yet we have a continual problem with leaving our “first love” and settling upon our lees.

D.  When do we need revival?  First, let me say that we need revival all of the time.  Psalms 85:6  Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?  (Again and again and again and again!)

1.  We need revival when we do not love Him as we once did.

2.  We need revival when earthly interests are more important to us to us than eternal ones.

3.  We need revival when we would rather watch TV than read the Bible and pray.

4.  We need revival when church dinners are better attended than prayer meetings.

5.  We need revival when we have little or no desire to pray.

6.  We need revival when we would rather make money than give money.

7.  We need revival when our Christianity is joyless and passionless.

8.  We need revival when we know truth in our heads that we are not practicing in our lives.

9.  We need revival when we make little effort to witness to the lost.

10. We need revival when we have time for sports, recreation, and entertainment, but not for Bible study and prayer.

11.  We need revival when we do not tremble at the Word of God.

12.  We need revival when we seldom think thoughts of eternity.

13.  We need revival when God’s people are more concerned about their jobs and their careers, than about the Kingdom of Christ and the salvation of the lost.

14.  We need revival when church services are predictable and “business as usual.”

15.  We need revival when believers can be at odds with each other and not feel compelled to pursue reconciliation.

16.  We need revival when Christian husbands and wives are not praying together.

17.  We need revival when our marriages are co-existing rather than full of the love of Christ.

18. We need revival when our children are growing up to adopt worldly values, secular philosophies and ungodly lifestyles.

19. We need revival when we are more concerned about our children’s education and their athletic activities than about the condition of their souls.

20.  We need revival when we tolerate “little” sins of gossip, a critical spirit and lack of love.

21.  We need revival when our singing is half-hearted and our worship lifeless.

22.  We need revival when our prayers are empty words designated to impress others.

23.  We need revival when our prayers lack fervency.

24.  We need revival when our hearts are cold and our eyes are dry.

25.  We need revival when we aren’t seeing regular evidence of the supernatural power of God.

26.  We need revival when we have ceased to weep and mourn and grieve over our own sin more than the sins of others.

27. We need revival when we are content with explainable, ordinary Christianity and church services.

28.  We need revival when we are bored with worship.

29.  We need revival when people have to be entertained to be drawn to church.

30.  We need revival when our music and dress become patterned after the world.

31.  We need revival when we start fitting into and adapting to the world, rather than calling the world to adapt to God’s standard of holiness.

32.  We need revival when we don’t long for the company and fellowship of God’s people.

33.  We need revival when people have to be begged to give and to serve in the church.

34. We need revival when our giving is measured and calculated, rather than extravagant and sacrificial.

35.  We need revival when we aren’t exercising faith and believing God for the impossible.

36.  We need revival when we are more concerned about what others think about us what God thinks about us.

37.  We need revival when we are unmoved by the fact that over 2.5 billion people in the world have never heard the name of Jesus.

38.  We need revival when we are unmoved by the thought of neighbors, business associates and acquaintances who are lost and without Christ.

39.  We need revival when the lost world around us doesn’t know or care that we exist.

40.  We need revival when the fire has gone out in our hearts, our marriages and the church.

41.  We need revival when we are blind to the extent of our need and don’t think we need it.

E.   Why do we need revival?

1.  We need revival in order to increase our zeal for the Lord.

2.  We need revival in order to increase our soul winning efforts.

3.  We need revival in order to increase our sacrificial giving.

4.  We need revival in order to increase our love for one another.

5.  We need revival in order to increase our joy.

6.  We need revival in order to increase our praise and worship of the Lord.

F.  When we fail to have revival:

1.  We lose the freshness of salvation – the excitement and wonder is gone.

2.  We lose our burning love for a wonderful Savior.

3.  We lose our desire for service – we become mechanical and go through the motions.

Psalms 85:6  Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

1.  There Needs To Be A Discernment Of Need. “Wilt” (Notice the personal pronouns in these verses.  Revival is personal.  You cannot expect others to get right, but must make sure that you are perfectly right.  It is so easy to judge others while walking at a guilty distance from God yourself.)

Psalms 51:1-13  Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.  Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.   Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.   Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

2.  There Needs To Be A Direction Of Help.  “Thou” (Life comes from the Lord and revival comes from Him also.)

Acts 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Ezra 9:8  And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

John 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

3.  There Needs To Be A Desire For Change.  “Revive” (As long as we are satisfied with our spirituality and life, we are not even a candidate for revival.)

Psalms 121:1-2  I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

Psalms 34:14  Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalms 27:4  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

4.  There Needs To Be A Determination To Achieve.  “Again” (Revival is a constant need of God’s people and does not exist in a simple 3-7 day meeting.  Revival needs to be daily and perpetual.)

Philippians 1:20-21  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

A Compassion That Makes A Difference

Temple Baptist Church - 7-6-2016

Jude 22-23

Introduction:

A.  As a general rule, these verses are too often preached out of their context.  They are used as “soul winning” verses though nothing in the Book of Jude alludes to winning the lost to Jesus Christ.  I actually have no problem with a preacher making a spiritual application of these verses as long as he makes a Biblical interpretation (which is what I am going to do tonight).

B.  With that said, let us notice the people that are mentioned in Jude:

1.  Those that are saved but not contending.  Jude 1-2  Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: (2)  Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

2.  Those that are saved and willing to contend.  Jude 3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

3.  Those that are lost and destroying the “faith once delivered.”  Jude 4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

C.  Jude gives Old Testament examples of those who “left their first estate” or, to use a modern term apostatized.  Again, the word “apostasy” simply means, by my definition, to “stand away from a former position.”  They once stood for truth and the faith once delivered but now have becomes the enemy of the truth and the Bible.

D.  Jude gives the Old Testament of Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesying the “falling away” of his day and the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the final, eternal judgment of the ungodly.

E.  I see no place in the Book of Jude where we are to sympathize with the apostate or try to win them to Christ as they are under the eternal judgment of God.  Apparently, according to Jude, they have “crossed a line” with God!  At this point, let me say that I will witness to anyone anywhere as I do not know who has crossed a line with God of the difference between the true apostates and the ignorant believer who is led astray by them.

F.  There is no mention of the unsaved in general in the Book of Jude nor of the Great Commandment or Commission to win the world to Christ.  Jude is all about contending or not contending which brings us the context of verses 22-23.

G.  Verses 20-21 are the mature Christians who are self-starters, self-feeders, and walking with the Lord.  Walking with the Lord is walking with and in the Word of God.  Jude now admonishes the mature Christian who is earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to help those who are not!  Too many churches run off the people who do not “conform” instead of trying to be an encouragement to them and help those who get into trouble.

H.  I believe the two questions found in Genesis 4 can be applied at this point.  Genesis 4:9  And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

1.  The Lord asked, “Where is Abel thy brother?”  I understand the interpretation but, by way of application, I believe that we are responsible to know where our brother is spiritually!  I believe that it is important that we watch, not in a critical way but in a loving compassionate way, over our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Why?  Because sometimes they cannot see the forest for the trees.  When they get involved in things that they should abstain from, they see through clouded eyes.

2.  Cain asked, “Am I my brother's keeper?”  We live in a day where “what I do is my business” or “MYOB!”  We are each other’s business spiritually.  Now, by that statement, I do not mean that you are accountable to me or report to me but what each of us does directly or indirectly affect others.  Plus, we do love each other and want the very best for each other.  

James 5:19-20  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;  (20)  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.  (In order to convert the sinful one, we must be able to observe their error.)

2 Thessalonians 3:13-15  (13)  But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.  (14)  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.  (15)  Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.  (In order to “note that man,” we must be able to observe that man.)

I.  Now, I want to look at three points found in these 2 verses.

1.  “And of some have compassion, making a difference”  Not all Christians are the same and not all grow at the same rate.  Some reach a plateau of spirituality that they are comfortable with and want nothing else. Some are in good, fundamental churches.  They are taught by good pastors for many years and fail to grow spiritually.  Saved 50+ years and, when they should be teachers, still have need of the milk of the Word instead of strong meat.

2 Timothy 2:24-26  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,  (25)  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  (26)  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.  (What do you do for them?  Be compassionate and loving with them.  Be patient and gentle with them.  If they never grow, just love them!)

Hebrews 5:11-14  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (12)  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  (13)  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  (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.  (Leave their spiritual state between them and the Lord but be there with them and for them.  I am so glad that God never leaves us nor forsakes us!)

1 Corinthians 12:25-26  That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.  (26)  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.  (Make sure that they are as loved as the most spiritual or most talented member of the church.  Compassion can make a difference!)

1 Peter 3:8  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, becourteous:  (The “Golden Rule” was taught to this pastor long before I came to know the Lord.  “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”)

2.  “And others save with fear … hating even the garment spotted by the flesh”  When we see a brother/sister walking in a sinful condition, we need to be careful while restoring them.  At this point, we need to be assured of our own personal spiritual state before making such a move.  A good “rule of thumb” is to alert the pastor with your concerns and allow him to assess the situation.  Pastors have to be careful at this point also as they too are susceptible to sin also.

Galatians 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  (We who offer help to the fallen need to “hate even the garment spotted by the flesh.”  True hatred for sin is a necessity for restoring a drifting or fallen brother/sister.)

Romans 15:1  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (“We that are strong” does not mean that, if we think that we can handle sin, then we can sidestep “abstain for all appearance of evil” and get involved.)

2 Corinthians 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.  (Spiritual strength is show when one realizes that, without Christ, they are as weak and susceptible as anyone else.)

1 Corinthians 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.  (Be careful and scriptural when trying to help some who has spiritually stumbled!)

Proverbs 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

3.  “pulling them out of the fire”  We save them by pulling them out.  We have to pull them because they either will not come out or cannot help themselves.  Too often, God’s children drift to the point of “jumping from the frying pan into the fire.”  Eventually, there sets in a sense of helplessness and hopelessness.  At this point in time, we MUST be there to help and encourage them!  They have no one else.

2 Thessalonians 3:14-15  (14)  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.  (15)  Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

a.  Note them – watch, in a right way, those who sit around you; watch, in a right way, when we shake hands before the preaching!  When someone misses a service where they had been faithful before hand, tell them that you missed them and are praying for them. 

2 Thessalonians 3:14  “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man …”

b.  Keep yourself clean and on a high spiritual plane.  This does not mean that you avoid them.  Notice the word “company” that the Holy Spirit used.  It means to mix and mingle.  Company is when someone comes to our home.  “We have company!”  Evil communications still corrupt good manners! 

2 Thessalonians 3:14  “and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.” 

Galatians 6:1-2  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

c.  Love them!  He/she is not your enemy but you brother/sister in the Lord!  Charity covers a multitude of sins.  Charity thinketh no evil!  Charity is longsuffering!  Charity is kind!

2 Thessalonians 3:15 “Yet count him not as an enemy”

d.  Admonish them!  To caution or gently reprove.  It does not mean to rebuke them as that comes under the heading of church discipline.

2 Thessalonians 3:15  “but admonish him as a brother”

e.  Pulling them!  Not pushing them but pulling them.  The Bible is always perfectly correct.  In order to pull someone from a fire, you have to keep the fire closer to them than it is to you.  They are between you and the fire.  The closer to the fire and the hotter the fire, the longer the rope!  Keep a safe spiritual distance from all types of sinfulness.

Jude 23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

d.  Disciplining them!  This is always a last resort and is to be beneficial the the sinful and as a protective measure for the people in the church as well as for the protection of the church’s testimony.  The Bible clearly names the sins that, when not repented of, bring about church discipline.  Church discipline is always to be done Scripturally, in love, and with repentance/restoration/reconciliation in mind!

1 Corinthians 5:4-7  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,  (5)  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.  (6)  Your glorying isnot good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?  (7)  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:  (Sometimes, you just have to let the fire either purge the sinful or destroy them!  Chastening is a sign of sonship and love.)