Aug 23, 2012 
Paul urges the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 11:1-15 towards a pure and sincere devotion. These are important words we must take to heart as well.
This is my sermon preached on August 19, 2012.
worshipping God, building up His church, reaching the world
Browsing the archives for the holiness tag
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Andreas Kostenberger has given the church a valuable resource in his newest book, Excellence. It is not a topic often written about, but he provides good exegesis and application on 2 Peter 1:3-11. After a brief personal testimony, he examines the excellence of God, equating it with His holiness, then proceeds to apply His excellence to our excellence in the spheres of work, morals, and relationships. The author targets his audience as Christian scholars and those in the world of academia, but the principles are timeless and apply to believers in all areas of vocation. It is a call to excellence, based on our being children of God, who is excellent. A bibliography, notes, general and scripture index are provided for further study. Although targeted to Christian scholars, this book is well-written and motivating for all believers in all fields.
This book was provided to me by Amazon Vine at no cost for the purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review.
The words we speak reveal our character, our hearts, and our allegiances. The words we speak say alot about who we are. This is my sermon from Matthew 12:33-37 I preached on November 20, 2011
Another sleep-troubled night filled with worry and anxiety and “what-ifs” and maybe’s – it would just be easier to spend the time on trying to sleep instead of worrying. Grab on to a good worry and you can stay up for hours! Really good worrying is an art form, birthed and crafted and molded and shaped and painted and put on display for all to see.
I resolve today not to spend my time worrying anymore. “Be anxious for nothing.” “Whatever is true and noble and worthy and pure, think on these things.” “Be thankful and let your requests be known to God.” This is a much better use of my time and a more beautiful piece of art.
Sinclair Ferguson writes a helpful article on “Killing Sin” at this link. He examines Colossians 3:1-17 and makes 4 practical points of application:
1. Learn to admit sin for what it really is. Call a spade a spade — call it “sexual immorality,” not “I’m being tempted a little”; call it “impurity,” not “I’m struggling with my thought life”; call it “evil desire, which is idolatry,” not “I think I need to order my priorities a bit better.” This pattern runs right through this whole section. How powerfully this unmasks self-deceit — and helps us to unmask sin lurking in the hidden corners of
our hearts!
2. See sin for what your sin really is in God’s presence. “On account of these the wrath of God is coming” (3:6). The masters of the spiritual life spoke of dragging our lusts (kicking and screaming, though they be) to the cross, to a wrath-bearing Christ. My sin leads to — not lasting pleasure — but holy divine displeasure. See the true nature of your sin in the light of its punishment. Too easily do we think that sin is less serious in Christians than it is in non-believers: “It’s forgiven, isn’t it?” Not if we continue in it (1 John 3:9)! Take a heaven’s-eye view of sin and feel the shame of that in which you once walked (Col. 3:7; see also Rom. 6:21).
3. Recognize the inconsistency of your sin. You put off the “old man,” and have put on the “new man” (3:9–10). You are no longer the “old man.” The identity you had “in Adam” is gone. The old man was “crucified with him [Christ] in order that the body of sin [probably “life in the body dominated by sin”] might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin” (Rom. 6:6). New men live new lives. Anything less than this is a contradiction of who I am “in Christ.”
4. Put sin to death (Col. 3:5). It is as “simple” as that. Refuse it, starve it, and reject it. You cannot “mortify” sin without the pain of the kill. There is no other way!
St. Ignatius wrote, “Apart from Jesus, let nothing dazzle you.” Christ must so captivate our souls and fill our spirits that, in contrast, the attractions of the world grow pale and cheap. He must become to us more precious and dear until He is “altogether lovely.” Then well we be constrained by the love of Christ! Then will the mere mention of His name, in favored moments, bring a lump to the throat and weeping to the heart! Then will we feel that holiness is not so difficult after all.
Clyde Cranford, Because We Love Him, p. 31
As we continue to hear from the Word about forgiveness, we deal with what Jesus said in Matthew 5:43-48, “love your enemies.” This is hard for us to do – only through the power of the Spirit and the great love that He has shown us in His Son can it be done.
Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 is powerful and far reaching. It serves us well to be praying this for ourselves and churches today.
The Revised Edition of Desiring God by John Piper is a dense book, rich with complex thought and emotion and theology. It is not a book to be read lightly, nor can it be done so. This is the 25th year reprint of the book and all of the original work is meaningful for today, although much of the world itself has changed. A chapter on suffering has been added, and a study guide is included. Detailed Scripture, person, and subject indexes are included as well. The purpose of the book is to explore the relationship between seeking happiness and walking closely with God; the author’s premise is that these concepts are not opposed to each other, but go hand-in-hand. We are commanded to seek happiness in life, which only comes from God and can only be fulfilled by and in Him. In the ten chapters that follow, the author explains and expands and explores this concept, and puts it into daily practice through the disciplines of Word and prayer, missions, worship, marriage and stewardship and suffering. The author approaches his subject deeply and passionately and personally. This is not an easy book to read, but many rewards and much fruit is to be found on every page. It is highly recommended for followers of Jesus and others who may be curious about the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
This book was provided to me at no cost by the publisher for the purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review.
“The pursuit of holiness requires sustained and vigorous effort. It allows for no indolence, no lethargy, no halfhearted commitment, and no laissez-faire attitude toward even the smalles sins. In short, it demands the highest priority in the life of a Christian, because to be holy is to be like Christ – God’s goal for every Christian. At the same time, however, the pursuit of holiness must be anchored in the grace of God; otherwise it is doomed to failure.”
Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace
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