A Cleansing

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

A Cleansing Because of Immanuel

I. Introduction
-Ill. IGA door lock
1. In Nashville, I locked my car door whenever I was out and about.
2. There were some scary ppl.
3. In Greensburg @ IGA a teen in passenger seat power locked the doors to the car she was in!
4. Am I that scary?
-Emmanuel= God with us
-What's so big about that?
-What does that mean in our day to day lives?
-Let's see what Paul says...

II. Scripture

III. Unequally Yoked
-"Unequally yoked" is more than just marriage advice.
1. True for marriage though.
2. vv. 14-16a deal with a question the church today must ask itself.
3. Are we yoked with the world?
-Could you pick out a Christian in a line up?
-v. 16b "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them"
1. NIV- "I will live with them" boo!!
2. KJV/ NASB- "I will live in them"
3. Greek word- epsilon, knew
4. Immanuel is more than "with" us like somewhere in the room.
5. Closer to "in" or "within" us.
-If God is going to be with us, he demands that we be holy.
-Ill. Cleansing and necessity of temple utensils to be pure in order to be used for holy purposes.
-Is that an emphasis in the church today?

IV. Christian vs. Sinner
-There should be a dramatic difference.
-The Bible describes it as polar opposites...
1. Life vs. death.
2. Light vs. darkness
3. Good vs. evil
-That's why he deals w/ being unequally yoked!
-"I'm just a sinner saved by grace."
1. No, I'm a new creation.
2. If you've been saved by grace you are not a sinner.
-We believe you can do some good things to appease the bad things.
-That's not how it works.
1. That's work's righteousness.
2. Good things you do, do not cancel out bad things you do.

V. God's Priority
-Do you know that God wants you to have a pure heart, more than doing "great" things for Him?
1. A pure heart more than becoming Billy Graham
2. ....coming to church all the time.
3. ....giving a tithe of your income.
4. ...witnessing to your neighbor.
5. ...being a "big shot" leader in the church.
6. ...anything else!
-Matthew 15:11 "It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person."
-And where does the mouth stuff come from?
1. Matthew 15:18-19 "But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. [19] For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander."
2. The heart drives your actions.
3. It's an issue of getting the cart before the horse.
-It's the reason so many ppl feel they have to make a sacrifice for God to be "okay."
1. Sacrifice to come to church and be miserable.
2. Sacrifice to be nice to a co-worker.
3. Sacrifice to do good to a neighbor, etc.
-1 Samuel 15:22 "And Samuel said, ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams."

VI. The Dirty Heart Problem
-When we refuse to obey God and receive a cleansing, we create a host of problems in the church.
-Dirty Heart problems:
1. Sinners have the spiritual gift of discernment (seeing phonies) more than some in the church.
2. "Full of hot air"
3. Hypocrisy...
-Ill. "______ is a member of your church!?"
1. They see hypocrisy!
2. Rigorous membership b/c you are billboards for the kingdom of God!
3. "If Nazarenes really lived what they believe, it would be the best church."
4. If Christians...."
5. "We can't help our imperfections." No, you just need a heart cleansing!
-Ill. "Nazarene Church is so strict!"
1. Yes! Exactly! That's the point!
2. There are enough sinners masquerading as Christians causing destruction for the kingdom of God!
-My goal is not to get you to put on a better act, but to have a heart cleansing!

VII. Real Cleansing!
-I've heard there use to be testimonies of miraculous conversions!
1. Drug addicts were delivered!
2. Ppl living together separated and then got married.
3. Murderers repented.
4. Sexual perverts believed and were transformed.
5. Ill. Song- "they baptized Jesse Taylor in Cedar Creek...." Dad met him at Grenada MS @ Johnny Scallion barber shop.
-Why isn't that happening anymore?
1. I admit, the longer I'm in ministry the harder it is to believe!
2. Is the problem God? ...or is it the church?
-Church growth today isn't radical transformations, it's transitions from one church to another.
-Maybe the problem is b/c we don't really believe a cleansing could take place.
-We don't believe b/c it has never really happened in our lives!
-If God cannot take care of the "little sins" in my life, how could he take care of the "big stuff" in the world?
-James 4:2 "You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask."
-We do not ask for these things anymore...
1. I'm not talking about drug addicts, murderers, prostitutes, etc.
2. I'm talking about a cleansing in our own lives.
-Otherwise we have the problem Jesus dealt with in Luke 11:39 "And the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.'"
-What kind of things does this cleansing take care of?
1. Pride, hatred leading to anger, unforgiving heart, and self-centeredness
2. 1 John says all unrighteousness
3. James says it cleanses a double-mindedness.
-2 Corinthians 7:1 "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God."
1. Bringing holiness to completion.
2. Not our own spiritual walk.

VIII. Conclusion
-The church today needs a cleansing.
-Ill. Preachers falling.
1. Lay people leaping back into the world (partly backsliding, but partly they never were saved).
2. Children growing up and leaving the church.
3. We got problems in the church today!
-There is only one solution to the problem of the church!
1. We need a cleansing!
2. We need a transformational work of God in our midst.
-I came across a verse I've read a million times, but it's huge.
-Mark 11:24 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
-Do you believe that?
-Not in the guy down the street, but in our own hearts!
-Ill. If you cannot swim you cannot be a lifeguard!
1. If you are not cleansed you cannot help someone be cleansed!
2. A dirty church cannot call the community to holiness.
-1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [24] He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."

Response

A Form Without Power

2 Timothy 3:1-5

A Form Without Power: Denial of Power

I. Introduction
-This morning I woke up and took a shower. (15 min.)
1. Got dressed, brushed my teeth, combed my hair, shaved, etc. (25 min.)
2. On most days I may take more time to get ready for the day.
-Maybe you took a long time to get ready.
-My question is: How much time did you spend getting ready spiritually?
-Don't we tend to spend more time on our appearance than our soul?
-We sometimes try to work on our spiritual appearance.
1. There's no real substance.
2. But superficially we can fool some people.

II. Scripture

III. "Last Days"
-Paul is writing to the young Timothy to encourage.
-He says in v. 1 "...in the last days..."
1. Then he describes the present for us.
2. We are living in the last days!
3. Last days = everything after the ascension of Christ.
-"in the last days there will come times of difficulty."
-Why? B/c of the people described.
1. "Lovers of self" "Abusive"
2. "Heartless" "ungrateful"
3. "Treacherous" "brutal"
4. Amen! Amen! Amen!
5. All these descriptors are accurate today... even in the church.
-The difficulty we face is a result of these descriptions being a reality in our world and in our own lives.
-But the one I want to focus on is v. 5 "...having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power."
-All the things described are bad descriptions!
-But this one doesn't seem to be too bad.... "the appearance of godliness."

IV. That's Not Bad!
-"...the appearance of godliness."
-Sounds positive & good.
-I've seen a lot of ppl who didn't look very Godly!
-Wouldn't our churches be better off if people had the appearance of godliness?
-I wouldn't be insulted if someone said: "You appear to be a Godly man."
-So why is this bad?
-Ill. Car Junk Yard
1. Man looking for something to work on.
2. Saw a corvette.
3. Worker: "This car is a beauty!"
4. No scratches, no dents, no missing windows, all the seats were in perfect condition.
5. The car wouldn't start.
6. It had no engine.
-The appearance alone denies the power.
-The church today has settled for the appearance of godliness instead of the substance.
-We need more than just the appearance!

V. More than Appearance...
-We have denied the power by settling for appearances.
-There's a big difference between appearance & power.
-Ill. Appearance vs. power.
1. Dress like a policeman.
2. Put on a fire helmet.
3. Walk in front of the White House w/ a cord from my ear into my jacket, but not protect anyone.
4. I could bark like a bull dog, but not tear you up like one.
-Don't settle for the ‘appearance of godliness.'
-"There are three ppl living within your body..."
1. "Who you think you are."
2. "Who others think you are."
3. "Who God knows you are."
4. The only one that matters is the third one.
5. We have put all our attention on the first two.

VI. A Holy Nature
-God desires to make who you are: holy.
1. Not look holy, act holy, seem holy, appear holy, etc.
2. But a change of your very nature, the foundation of who you are, your spiritual DNA.
-2 Peter 1:4 "He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."
-Don't settle for appearances, but strive for the power.
-God desires to give us his very essence so it might be at work in our lives!
-And if God's Spirit is at work in our hearts it works it's way out into everyday life w/ power.
-You might...
1. ...know "Amazing Grace" but do you know amazing grace?
2. ...walk into the church every Sunday, but do you walk w/ the Lord on Monday?
3. ...sing praise, but do you live a life of worship?
4. ...know how to talk spiritually, but do you truly speak of what God has done in your life?
5. ...put some money in the offering plate, but have you offered up yourself to God?
6. ...have your name on the membership role, but is it written on the Lamb's book of Life?
7. ...look like a Christian, but are you a Christian?
-Ill. "Keeping Up Appearances."
1. BBC show about a lady trying to appear to be something she is not.
2. Too many Christians today are just ‘keeping up appearances.'
3. And it would be comical if it were not so sad.
-God desires to start a work in our hearts that transforms us from the inside-out!

VII. Appearance and Reality
-This is a concern in the church today, but it is in our church as well.
-Ill. People come to fun stuff.
1. Potluck next Friday, Singin', something for you!
2. People would fill the place.
3. But call a prayer meeting: intercession, tears, clinging to the throne of grace; and nobody shows.
-Where are you on Wednesday night?
1. "The best tv show was on."
2. "I usually just pray at home."
-How many visits have you made to invite someone to church?
1. I'm no good.
2. ...in the last year?
-How many people have been saved as a result of you allowing God to use you? ...ever?
-How much time did you spend in prayer for this service?
1. "Preacher just didn't preach well this morning."
2. But did you pray for the preacher? ...song leader? Etc.
-Too many good ppl mean well, but settle for the appearances of godliness!

VIII. The Whole Church
-Some whole churches have fallen to it.
-God said to the church in Sardis in Rev. 3:2b "I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead."
-Ill. Fisherman
1. He had a beautiful boat, sonar, rod & reel, a net, bait, tackle box, wadin' pants, etc.
2. All top of the line stuff.
3. He would appear to be a great fisherman.
4. But he never caught any fish.
-What about your life?
-We've bought into the idea that if you have your life under control you are okay.
1. As long as I'm not having family troubles
2. No money problems, no major illness, no ‘big' sins, etc.
-But God wants to work in your life.
1. He wants to give you real power.
2. To make you a Christian from the inside to the out.
-Many "christians" today have never experienced this kind of conversion, they've only learned how to keep up appearances.

IX. Conclusion
- Do you know what it really means to walk w/ the Lord?
-You haven't prayed this whole week? ...you only have appearances.
-Don't deny the power of God in your life.
-The worst thing about keeping up appearances is that you can never be honest w/ God.
-You can never admit to a problem you have in your life.
-I want to invite you to shed the appearance of godliness, and take on the nature of God this morning.
-To begin to live in the power of God.
1. The very power at work when Christ rose from the dead.
2. The very power at work at Pentecost.
3. The power that will be revealed to the world when Christ returns.

Response

At Ease in Zion

Amos 5:21-6:1a

At Ease in Zion: A Complacent People

I. Introduction
-God has blessed us!
-God has blessed our church!
-Greensburg started in 1985 in the basement of the Farm Bureau building.
1. It took some work to seek God's plan to this day.
2. Time, talent, and treasures of many people.
-Ill. Over 350 years ago a shipload of ppl landed on the NE coast of America.
1. First year they established a town site.
2. Second- elected a town government.
3. Third- government planned to build a road running five miles West out of town.
4. Fourth- the ppl tried to impeach their elected officials
5. "Who needs a road five miles West?"
-Ironically they had come over three thousand miles across the Atlantic, but lost sight of what was five miles out of town.
-Same problem I think the Israelites had.

II. Scripture

III. Background
-The kings of the day were Uzziah (Southern kingdom) and Jeroboam II.
-Times were good!
1. There was peace!
2. There was wealth, prosperity, and great times!
-People were religious!
1. They had religious festivals
2. They even had solemn assemblies (boring services).
3. They performed the sacrifices they were suppose to.
4. Even paid their tithe.
5. They sang praise to God.
-But for all the good things, God says He hates, rejects, refuses all of this from them.
-Why? Amos 6:1 "Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure in the mountain of Samaria."

IV. Lack of Urgency
-When times are good, we tend to lose our sense of purpose/ urgency.
-Ill. Pain in my foot.
1. If is continues I'll see the doctor.
2. But if it suddenly goes away the urgency is gone.
-We identify spiritual need today by bad circumstances.
1. Economic troubles.
2. Relational troubles.
3. Emotional, family, job.
4. If you have those troubles, you must have spiritual trouble.
-But that's not who Amos is talking to.
-He speaks the comfortable!
1. To a ppl who feel no urgency to act on anything.
2. There is nothing so important to them that needs their attention.
3. Nothing that demands their actions change.
-He speaks to you and I today!

V. Been Through the Wilderness
-The Israelites had been through the wilderness.
1. Through attacks, and wars, and famines, and hardship.
2. Finally they come to a point in their history were there is a little peace.
-And they grow at ease in Zion (ie. Jerusalem)
1. The stronghold.
2. Feel safe on the Mountain of Samaria (N. kingdom capitol).
-Amos proclaims God's truth to them.
-Ill. Geese call to ducks.
1. Ronald Meredith, an author, writes about a night he awoke to the call of geese overhead.
2. He ran to the window and watched them fly over in formation calling.
3. He noticed the tame ducks that lived in the pond next to his house.
4. As the geese honked the tame ducks fluttered a little bit, but the temptation of the corn that Ronald through out was too much.
5. They stayed.
-Amos' call was little more than the geese flying overhead.
-They reject his message.

VI. Ease and Complacency
-Their complacency restricts their ability to do right over time.
-Ill. Dandelions in the garden.
1. Gardner tried everything to get rid of the weed.
2. Nothing worked so he wrote the department of Agriculture.
3. "What shall I try next?"
4. Their response: "Try getting used to them."
-Unfortunately that is the advice Christians tend to take concerning sin in their life.

VII. Greensburg History
-Started in 1985 in the basement of the Farm Bureau building.
-Now in this beautiful building.
1. We can pay our bills.
2. We have a pastor.
3. We are blessed with all kinds of talents.
-I wonder... have we become at ease in Zion?
-The cornerstone of this building says ‘1987' have we been at ease since then? (Church is nice.)
1. Since January when we got a new pastor?
2. Since there haven't been any problems?
3. Since there haven't been any difficulties?
-Praise God for what He has done in our past!
1. We wouldn't be here today if God was not in it!
2. He has blessed us with this building.
3. With resources and talents to continue in ministry, but...
-Are we at ease? ...do we feel comfortable and secure?
-Are we preoccupied with keeping the status quo?
-Are we blinded by yesterday's accomplishments?
1. Garbage Can
2. Awards thrown away.
-What we did yesterday is in the past?
-What Amos asks us, is what we are going to do today?

VIII. Amos Today
-I wonder if our scripture could read for us today?
-"I hate, I reject your revivals, I do not delight in your special services.
Even though you offer up to me elaborate prayers and beautiful songs, I will not accept them.
And I will not even look at your offerings...
-Are you willing to lay down your reputation in this community for Christ?
-Willing to roll up your sleeves and get dirty.
-You know what made the difference in the early church?
1. They never became at ease in Zion.
2. They never came to a point where they were coasting. (Even after Pentecost and the thousands of ppl who became Christians.)
3. They were willing to rock the boat.
-Every great movement of God in history is accompanied by people unwilling to waver from God's Will.
1. Unwilling to be influenced by culture.
2. But fervently seeking God's will in the world.
3. Biblically defined vs. culturally defined Christians
-We need some people who are willing to rock the boat!
-Let's see the vision of what God wants to do...
1. Not grow the Greensburg Church.
2. Build His kingdom in Green county.
3. You could account that to

IX. Conclusion
-You would think that the people, after hearing Amos, would have repented and loosed themselves from the apathy and ease.
-Not the case.
-Amaziah, the priest!, rejected Amos and his message.
-He even went so far as to pursue and attempt to destroy him.
-Will you leave here still at ease in Zion?

Response

Are You Sanctified Wholly?

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Are You Sanctified Wholly?: How to Know You Are

I. Introduction
-The church has always tried to define what a sanctified person looks like.
-Amish say they wear all black, don't have electricity, or any modern conveniences (what is modern and how long before it isn't anymore?)
-Pentecostals say it's speaking in tongues
-Catholics say it's participating in their liturgy.
-Early ppl of the holiness movement said it was wearing your hair in a bun.
-1. Some went so far as to say it was not wearing deodorant.
-2. Your tie couldn't be more than two inches wide; etc.
-So with all these definitions floating around, how do we know if we are entirely sanctified?

II. Scripture


III. What is Your Heart's Desire?
-What is the single most important thing in your life?
1. What is it that motivates you more than anything else?
2. What drives you every day?
-What do you want on your tombstone?
1. Is it different from what others would put on it?
2. What are ppl going to say about you after you're gone?
-Do you love God w/ all your heart, mind, soul, & strength?
1. Or is He one of many loves?
2. Is he simply on the list of the top ten most important things in your life?
-I've hit on this a lot lately.
1. The Fact: God wants all.
2. The Question: Have we given Him all?
-Does only one desire fill your heart?
-Do you desire to be obedient even to the point of death?
-Do we miss out on simple obedience?
-Ill. Dietrich Bonhoeffer "The Cost of Discipleship"
1. His life of persecution under the Nazi regime
2. He calls this ‘single-minded obedience.'
3. "The elimination of single-minded obedience on principle is but another instance of the perversion of the costly grace of the call of Jesus into the cheap grace of self-justification."
-We have become so self-absorbed that we cease to be obedient to Him!
-We have failed to acknowledge Christ's call to "Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me."
-We're unwilling to deny ourselves.
1. Cost of Discipleship: "To deny oneself is to be aware only of Christ and no more of self, to see only him who goes before and no more the road which is too hard for us."
2. We don't deny, we give in to the lusts of the flesh!
a. Watch TV instead of pray.
b. Do yard work instead of witnessing to your neighbor.
c. Do this or that instead of going to church.
d. Do something that gratifies the flesh instead of obedience to God.
3. Ill. Set your alarm clock five minutes earlier to get up and pray and see if the flesh doesn't battle you!
-We're unwilling to take up a cross.
1. If I have to suffer for the cause I'm bailing from the ship!
2. If it cost me something, count me out.
3. Money, time, etc. are mine.
4. How sad when Christ shed his blood for our sins.
-We're unwilling to even follow Him.
1. Too busy chasing after self-gratification.
2. Chasing self-fulfillment.
-Do you love Him w/ all you are?

IV. Do You Love Others?
-Is your heart full of love for others?
1. Do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ?
2. Do you love even "enemies", those who mistreat you, the poor, the rejected, the ‘unlikeable', etc.?
-When you love the Lord w/ all your heart that love transfers to all His creation!
-1 John 4:7-8 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
1. We love b/c God is love!
2. If we do not love, we do not know God!
-1 John 4:19-21 "We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen."
1. You cannot say you love God, but hate your brother.
2. If you cannot love your brother, you cannot love God.
-We are pretty selective in who we love.
1. It's easy to love ppl in the church.
2. But I sure don't love my boss at work!
3. I just get disgusted about my neighbor living in sin.
-We'll talk about adultery, drug addicts, murderers, etc., but don't mention love!
1. Love is not a virtue for the Christian, it is a necessity!
2. No love, no Christian!
-And that love should permeate the people of God.
-I'm not saying we won't have disagreements.
1. I'm not proposing that we don't confront sin.
2. I'm not suggesting we look the other way to sin.
-But God's Word says we should be active in our love for everybody!
-Is your heart full of love for others?

V. Got Consecration?
-Have you totally consecrated your all to Jesus?
-Consecration is our part in sanctification.
1. Just like repentance is our part in justification.
2. Sometimes called surrender.
-Is there a "hold-out" in your life?
1. Sometimes we battle the Lord for control of our lives.
2. It's hard to surrender.
-Does God have all your time, talent, money, family, future, etc.?
-God will bring to your mind as I talk whatever he has been asking. [pause]
-Have you given that over to Him?
-Have you consecrated your all to Jesus?

VI. Do You Know Victory Over Sin?
-Have you experienced power over sin? (Victory?)
-Would you consider yourself a victorious Christian or defeated?
-Do you know what it means to walk with the Lord just one single day w/ consistency?
-Out of ten temptations, how many times might you fall?
-Some believers are never tempted by any demon, b/c they have made sin such a habit in their life the devil doesn't have to fool w/ them!
-Have you found power from the Spirit to resist willful sin?
-Do you live more in obedience or more in guilt?
1. Do you have power over sin or does sin have power over you?
2. Have you defeated sin in your life or has sin defeated you?
-Sin and the Sanctified...
1. It is not possible to sin (false).
2. It is possible not to sin (true).
-The sanctified believer has been given power not to sin the Holy Spirit.
-*I like to discuss this issue but defining sanctification by how much you sin is like defining your marriage by how much you cheat on your spouse.

VII. Have You the Witness of the Spirit?
-Finally, has the Spirit witnessed to your heart that He has done this work?
-If you are open and honest before the Lord, He will let you know if He has done it in your life.
-If you do not play games of self-deception.
-The Spirit will bear witness w/ your spirit.
-Sure, there will be stronger and weaker times of this "witness of the Spirit."
1. But God's grace will always be evident long term.
2. God's voice in your life will be heard over everything else.

IX. Conclusion
-Are you Sanctified Entirely?
-Ask yourself these questions:
1. Do I love God with all my heart?
2. Do I love my neighbor as myself?
3. Am I living sacrifice to God holy and pleasing to Him?
4. Do I know real victory in Jesus?
5. Does the Holy Spirit bear witness to my spirit?

Response