PERSONAL PURITY IN A DIRTY WORLD
SERMON STARTER
In Thursday night's Anger Management class one of the young men sneered at my "old-fashioned" approach to courtship, love and marriage. I explained that it would be impossible for me to engage in meaningless sex with a person I was barely acquainted with. Sexuality and your personal sense of integrity, identity and self esteem are a part of sexuality. Without taking the time to know the other person first before sexual contact trivializes sexuality. Today's generation throws away something precious in their rush to the bedroom and "get beneath the sheets."
The younger men howled with derisive laughter. Over the past fifty years I've seen how we have systematically defiled human sexuality. We've reduced the miracle of human conception to potential human DNA waste material that can be forcibly removed from a woman's womb and discarded. We've changed our definition of marriage from a man and woman to two persons.
No wonder that the "moralists" and clergy among conservative Islam call we in the Western World, "The Great Satan." Are they wrong in their assessment? How have we fallen from being the world's great moral leader to become "The Great Satan? It hasn't happened overnight, but gradually.
The challenge of today's young Christian believer is keeping themselves morally pure from our present corrupt, sin-darkened world. Today's sermon text from James 1:27 defines it.
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from
the world.
The NT Greek word for "world" is κόσμος, pronounced, "kos'-mos." Cosmos is defined as the "orderly, harmonious systematic order of the universe." Today's sermon explores the necessary tension of keeping oneself unspotted from the world.
Pastor Phil <><<
June 22, 2014 - Sheepfold Ministries
Pastor Phil Roland
PERSONAL PURITY IN A DIRTY WORLD
STAYING MORALLY CLEAN IN AN UNCLEAN WORLD
JAMES 1:27 - Jude 1:20-21
"Moral Purity in a sick world grows more difficult as time passes. The challenge of moral purity is awesome for Christians in the Western World. Keeping your eyes on Jesus is an excellent strategy for a start." Pastor Phil
26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless.
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from
the world. James 1:26-27
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:20-21
I. MAINTAIN OUTWARD PURITY, CARE FOR OTHERS
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from
the world.
A. We are born Narcissistic, Selfish, Grasping, Self-Centered
1. Proper Nurture, Parental Love and Discipline we outgrow it
2. For a lot of Reasons many don't outgrow the selfishness
B. Giving to those unable to meet their own needs is a way
1. "Visit orphans and widows in their trouble" is God's way out 2. Psalm 146:7-9 is God's way of Righteousness
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners. 8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises those who are bowed
down; The LORD loves the righteous. 9 The LORD watches over the
strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the
wicked He turns upside down.
C. Contamination from the World is Gradual and Deadly
1. Eg. The Frog and the Beaker Experiment
a. Beaker filled with hot H2O, Frog Jumps Out
b. Put Frog in warm H2O, gently apply heat, Boiled Frog
2. The "World" "Kos-Mos" uses Time and Repetition
3. Like Russian Behavioral Scientist, Pavlov and the Dog
a. Used a Bell, a can of Dog food, Dog's Saliva response
b. Classical Conditioning: Dog Salivates at sound of bell
D. The Cosmos has a Deadly Hierarchy of Worldly Power
(The ability to Control your own Environment)
PERSONAL PURITY IN A DIRTY WORLD, cont. p.2
1. HEDONISM - Obsessed w/Satisfying own personal appetites
a. Food - Whole Cable Channels devoted to food
b. Sexuality (Multiple Sexual Partners)
Eg. Charlie Sheen - 5,000 Sexual Partners
Hugh Heffner - 1000 Sexual Partners
c. Lose your soul to Promiscuity - Matt. 16:26
26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
d. Pleasure (If it feels good, do it!)
2. MATERIALISM -
a. Get all you can, Can what you get, Sit on the Can
b. Eg. Storage Wars
c. Eg. John D. Rockefeller: "Just a little but more"
John D. Rockefeller, an Ohio native, started Standard Oil. Rockefeller was at one point the world’s richest man and first ever American billionaire. Considering he was a billionaire in the early 1900′s he is still considered as the richest person in modern history.
When a reporter asked him,
"How much money is enough?”
He responded, “Just a little bit more.”
http://starwinar.wordpress.com/daily-short-story/just-a-little-bit-more/
d. Greek Philosopher, - Epicurus - 341-270 BC wrote,
"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not;
remember that what you now have was once among the
things you only hoped for."
3. NARCISSISM - Excessive Self-admiration, and Self-Centerednes
a. Self-Worshippers
b. Entitlement
c. Needs constant Admiration
d. Seeking Ideal Lover
4. GODLESSNESS -Intentional Elimination of God from Culture
a. Psalmist David said they are Fools - Psalm 14:1
1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are
corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none
who does good.
b. Started in 1956, Elimination of Compulsory Prayer
and Bible Reading in Schools
II. MAINTAIN INWARD PURITY, CARE FOR YOURSELF
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from
the world.
A. Use Inward, Personal Discipline - James 4:7,8
PERSONAL PURITY IN A DIRTY WORLD, cont. p.3
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw
near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners;
and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
1. What is "unspotted?" - OT - Lamb without blemish
2. Personal Purity of Behavior, Heart and Mind
B. Take Responsibility for Yourself - Discipline yourself
1. Constant Tension - Keeping Yourself Morally pure
2. Avoid "Buying into" the World's Negativity
3. Keep yourself in the Love of God - Jude 1:20,21
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God,
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
C. Use Outward Discipline - Take Care of Yourself
1. Holiness, both in Hebrew and Greek mean "Separateness"
2. Do I "blend in" too much?
3. We are in the world but not of the world - 2 Cor. 10:3-6
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the
flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in
God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and
every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
D. Maintain a sincere love of the Brethren in Christ - 1 Peter 1:22,23
22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit
in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible,
through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
CLOSING ILLUSTRATION
Two theological students were walking along a street in the Whitechapel district of London, a section where old and used clothing is sold. "What a fitting illustration all this makes!" said one of the students as he pointed to a suit of clothes hanging on a rack by a window. A sign on it read: SLIGHTLY SOILED -- GREATLY REDUCED IN PRICE.
"That's it exactly," he continued. "We get soiled by gazing at a vulgar picture, reading a course book, or allowing ourselves a little indulgence in dishonest or lustful thoughts; and so when the time comes for our character to be appraised, we are greatly reduced in value. Our purity, our strength is gone. We are just part and parcel of the general, shopworn stock of the world." Yes, continual slight deviations from the path of right may greatly reduce our usefulness to God and to our fellowman. In fact, these little secret sins can weaken our character so that when we face a moral crisis, we cannot stand the test. As a result, we go down in spiritual defeat because we have been careless about little sins.
Source Unknown.
After a violent storm one night, a large tree, which over the years had become a stately giant, was found lying across the pathway in a park. Nothing but a splintered stump was left. Closer examination showed that is was rotten at the core because thousands of tiny insects had eaten away at its heart. The weakness of that tree was not brought on by the sudden storm; it began the very moment the first insect nested within its bark. With the Holy Spirit's help, let's be very careful to guard our purity.
Our Daily Bread.
http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-james-1-26-27.htm
2 Peter 3:10-14 (NKJV)
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/trust-in-the-lord-keith-davis-sermon-on-faith-general-57860.asp
Systematic Desensitization
A technique of behaviour therapy, developed in the 1950s by the South African-born US psychiatrist Joseph Wolpe (1915–97) for treating phobias in particular, in which each member of a hierarchy of increasingly anxiety-provoking imaginary situations involving the phobic stimulus is repeatedly paired with a response that is physiologically incompatible with fear and anxiety, such as deep muscular relaxation, starting with the least frightening item and working up the hierarchy by degrees. An adaptation of the technique involving exposure to the actual phobic stimulus or situation is called in vivo desensitization .
Systematic desensitization is a type of behavioral therapy based on the principle of classical conditioning. It was developed by Wolpe during the 1950s.
This therapy aims to remove the fear response of a phobia, and substitute a relaxation response to the conditional stimulus gradually using counter conditioning.
This is done by forming a hierarchy of fear, involving the conditioned stimulus (e.g. a spider), that are ranked from least fearful to most fearful. The patient works their way up starting at the least unpleasant and practicing their relaxation technique as they go. When they feel comfortable with this (they are no longer afraid) they move on to the next stage in the hierarchy.
HIERARCHY OF FEAR
The list could look something like this.
1. Looking at a toy plane (least)
2. Hearing or watching a plane fly in the sky
3. Going to an airport
4. Walking onto a plane
5. Taking off and flying in the air (most)
Psalm 10:4 (NKJV)
4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.
Psalm 36:1-4 (NKJV)
1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates.
3 The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
4 He devises wickedness on his bed; He sets himself in a way that is not good; He does not abhor evil.
1 Timothy 6:6-16 (NKJV)
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing,
15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
Romans 13:8 (NKJV)
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
1 Peter 1:22-25 (NKJV)
22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
24 because "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away,
25 But the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.
Titus 1:15 (NKJV)
15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
http://www.11points.com/Dating-Sex/11_People_Who_Claim_To_Have_the_Most_Sexual_Partners_In_History
Psalm 10:4 (NKJV)
4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.
Psalm 36:1-4 (NKJV)
1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates.
3 The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
4 He devises wickedness on his bed; He sets himself in a way that is not good; He does not abhor evil.
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Jas/Practice-Pure-Religion
Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
Young's Literal: "Happy the clean in heart--because they shall see God."
BE HOLY / SEPARATE
1 Peter 1:14-16 (NKJV)
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
Leviticus 19:1-2 (NKJV)
1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
Leviticus 20:7 (NKJV)
7 Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 14:44,45
Leviticus 19:2
Leviticus 20:7
CLOSING ILLUSTRATION
Two theological students were walking along a street in the Whitechapel district of London, a section where old and used clothing is sold. "What a fitting illustration all this makes!" said one of the students as he pointed to a suit of clothes hanging on a rack by a window. A sign on it read: SLIGHTLY SOILED -- GREATLY REDUCED IN PRICE.
"That's it exactly," he continued. "We get soiled by gazing at a vulgar picture, reading a course book, or allowing ourselves a little indulgence in dishonest or lustful thoughts; and so when the time comes for our character to be appraised, we are greatly reduced in value. Our purity, our strength is gone. We are just part and parcel of the general, shopworn stock of the world." Yes, continual slight deviations from the path of right may greatly reduce our usefulness to God and to our fellowman. In fact, these little secret sins can weaken our character so that when we face a moral crisis, we cannot stand the test. As a result, we go down in spiritual defeat because we have been careless about little sins.
Source Unknown.
After a violent storm one night, a large tree, which over the years had become a stately giant, was found lying across the pathway in a park. Nothing but a splintered stump was left. Closer examination showed that is was rotten at the core because thousands of tiny insects had eaten away at its heart. The weakness of that tree was not brought on by the sudden storm; it began the very moment the first insect nested within its bark. With the Holy Spirit's help, let's be very careful to guard our purity.
Our Daily Bread. |
