A Return to Holiness: Sins of Thought
A Return to Holiness • Sermon • Submitted
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· 59 viewsIf we want revival, we need a return to holiness and that return begins with a transformation of the mind.
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Introduction
If there ever was a time where revival was needed, which there has been, it is today. The church is in decline. People coming to faith in Christ is on decline. Baptisms are on decline. Churches are closing every day. Pastors are dropping like flies from the ministry. We need revival brothers and sisters. It is my prayer that 2023, will be a year of revival. It will be a year of personal revival, a year of revival for Macedonia Baptist Church, a year of revival for the Church in America. We need revival! The question that we all must ask ourselves is how do we do this? You cannot schedule revival. You cannot force revival. You cannot demand revival. What you can do is seek revival, ask for revival, and pray for revival. All of this begins with a return to God, a return to holiness. As found written in the Word of God:
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Beginning this morning, we will spend the next weeks in a series of messages in preparation for a Spring Revival. This series of message is brought in line with Gregory Frizzell’s book, Returning to Holiness: A Personal and Churchwide Journey to revival. May we individually and corporately find ourselves returning to holiness and in this journey find genuine, heartfelt revival.
Opening Passage: Proverbs 23:7; Matthew 15:19
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Outline
Sin of Doubt
If we are going to find a return to holiness, we must address the the first sin of the heart and mind, doubt. We must make sure your calling and election.
On the day of judgement, many who think they are saved will discover they do not know God (cf. Mt. 7:22-23)
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
True salvation consists of knowing Christ in a life-changing personal relationship (cf. Jn. 17:3)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
People who are genuinely saved have a supernatural assurance of their salvation (cf. Rm. 8:16; 1 Jn. 5:13)
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Sins of the Flesh that Drive Us
Sin of lust (cf. Mt. 5:28)
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.
Sin of improper desires (cf. Col. 3:1-3; Mt. 22:37)
1 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 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Sin of improper motive (Jam. 4:3)
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Sin of False Worship (cf. Mt. 15:8-9; Amos 5:21-24)
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. 22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. 23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. 24 But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
The Need for a Renewed Mind
Be renewed by the transforming of your mind (cf. Rm 12:2)
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Be renewed by destroying and making captive every thought in submission to Christ and His will for your life (cf. 2 Cor. 10:5)
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;
Be renewed by keeping fresh God’s Word in your heart and mind (cf. Psa. 1:2; 119:15-16; Jn. 15:7)
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Let Us Pursue Holiness
Without holiness, we will not see God (cf. Heb. 12:14)
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Holiness should be our mindset (cf. 1 Jn. 3:3)
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
We are to be holy for our God is holy (cf. 1 Pt. 1:15-17)
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
As Gregory Frizzell writes in his book, Return to Holiness, “Seeking God’s holiness is a daily action, not a theological theory”.
Conclusion
Where are your thoughts today? Are they pure or carnal? Are they driven by the Lord and His will or driven by lust, improper affection and motive? Do you need a change of heart and mind? There is but one source and one source alone that can change the mind, change the heart, and that source is Jesus Christ. This change of mind, this transforming of the mind and heart only comes through a new birth found in a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. As we found earlier, this salvation is not found in works.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
It is only found when one puts their faith in Christ and is born again.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
What is the will of the Father? It is to accept Christ as Lord and Savior.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
For those who accept Christ as Lord and Savior, God has promised them that they will become His children and have eternal life. They will become new creations in Him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Want you surrender to will of God this morning and make sure your salvation?
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: