PURSUING TRUTH, Part Two.
*INTRO> A seminary professor in London once talked about a section of London called the White Chapel District, where old and used clothing is sold. There are signs there which read, "Slightly Soiled--Greatly Reduced Price." Th professor teaches his students in their first class every semester how these signs are sadly an accurate description of some Christians who "dabble" in that which isn’t pleasing to God. He tells them, "The sign of their lives would read: ’Slightly Soiled--Reduced In Spiritual Power--Reduced In Effective Service’ because we get soiled by gazing at a vulgar picture, reading a seedy book, or indulging in dishonest or lustful thoughts. Then, when we encounter difficult times we wonder why our spiritual power seems reduced from what it ws in the past. The answer to why is because we’ve conformed to the world."
You see, dabbling in such things means we’ve chosen to lead a compromised life. We’re no longer pursuing holiness, no longer pursuing God’s pleasure. And, as a result, if we continue in that condition, we’ll miss out on God’s blessings He has in store for us, and miss out on the joy He alone can give.
I invite you to open a Bible and turn to 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.
Last week we began our focus on this topic. To summarize, we recognized these things...
-->Holiness is not a matter of never cutting your hair, wearing high-necked shirts even in summer, or priding ourselves on being more "godly" than others.
-->Instead, the standard of holiness is not how we compare to others, but how we compare to God and His standard.
-->Holiness is being set apart, sanctified. It means complying with God’s standards, thinking as God thinks, and willing as God wills.
-->Holiness begins with our thoughts, how we think, because our actions are a response to our thoughts.
<>PURSUING HOLY THOUGHTS is a 5-Fold Process.
<>Last week we looked at the first two steps:
1) CONCENTRATE.
-->We begin with concentrating on that which is pure, that which is holy, edifying and pleasing to God.
--->Philippians 4:8 -- "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."
--->Concentrating on that which is pure is itself a two-fold process, involving:
----->a) Filling our minds / focusing our attention on that which is pure, holy, edifying and pleasing to God.
-------->Controlling where we focus our attention, on what we listen to, read, watch, etc.
-------->However, sometimes there are messages that come to our ears from outside stimuli we have no control over, so we have to do more than just present a strong offense; we need to also be prepared and know how to defend ourselves, defend our thoughts against outside intrusions, and that which is not edifying.
----->b) Forbidding, eliminating from entering into our minds that which is impure, not edifying, not pleasing to God.
This brings us to the 2nd step:
2) CAPTURING and COMPARING.
--->2 Corinthians 9:5 -- "...we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."
--->1 John 4:1 -- "...do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God."
--->We’re to be on the alert and skeptical of anything presented as truth until we have examined it and compared it to what the Bible says and unless it pleases God.
We also talked last week about recognizing Satan’s favorite tactics in presenting untruth as truth, etc., but today our focus moves to the final three steps.
3) CAST AWAY.
-->We are to cast away from our thoughts anything that is not pure, which does not glorify God.
--->2 Corinthians 10:5 -- "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ...destroying (casting down) speculations (imaginations) and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God."
Simply put, there is a REAL BATTLE going on...a battle for your mind...a battle for your thoughts...a battle being waged by Satan and his unholy spirits, the forces of evil, against the influence of the Holy Spirit of God.
As we’ve said earlier, living a holy life, a life pleasing to God, BEGINS with thinking holy thoughts, guarding our minds from that which is unholy, not pleasing to God, and which would inevitably lead to unholy actions.
-->ILL>A fatal dose of botulism bacillus is .00003 micrograms per kilogram of body weight. That’s the equivalent of a flea derailing a 100-mile freigh train. Such a tiny amount can bring tragic results.
-->The same is true in our pursuit of living a holy life...a life that brings God glory...a life without compromises, without any mixture of error. Even the slightest impurity will hinder our effectiveness and stymie our pursuit.
-->Look at these key words:
----->"speculations" or "imaginations"
-------->Literally it means that which goes outside the boundary of that which is true. We call that imagination.
-------->In many situations imagination (coloring outside the lines) can be a good thing.
----------->For example, we applaud the imagination of an artist or a writer, a performer or an inventor.
----------->Disneyland is fun because it’s the product of Walt Disney’s fantasy "world of imagination," where imaginations can come true.
----------->Bill Gates is declared a genius because he can imagine and produce machines that can store information and make calculations at speeds that boggle our minds.
----------->Steve Jobs is applauded because he came up with the I-phone.
-------->All these were brought about by the ability to "dream big," they were outside the usual limits of thinking.
-------->However, when we talk about being theologically correct, morally correct, when we talk about the nature of God, the purpose of life, what’s absolutely right or wrong, etc., we need to stick to the "logos," God’s defintive and final word on those subjects, not man’s imagination.
-------->SO...NO, God hasn’t "changed His mind" and now accepts homosexual unions: that’s a fantasy, man’s imagination.
-------->NO, we cannot become a "god" and raise spirit children in a celestial kingdom with our "divine families." That’s the imagination of Joseph Smith, not the truth of God.
-------->NO, there are not "many paths" to God.
-------->NO, it’s not enough to just be sincere. It’s quite possible and happens often that sincere people can be sincerely and fatally wrong.
-------->NO, not everyone is going to heaven. In fact, the Bible clearly tells us the way is narrow that leads to life, and FEW there are who go that way as opposed to the broad way that leads to death.
-------->YES, there IS a hell, there IS a coming judgment, absolute truth DOES exist, there ARE moral absolutes, and, YES, there IS only one God.
-------->How do we know these things? Because of the "logos" of God, the definitive and final word of God which teaches us genuine truth, and which has the finay say on such matters.
-------->Truth is not the realm of false teachers, Hollywood activists, or the political correctness "police." What they advocate is merely the constructs, the devices, the imaginations and speculations of men...which they raise up AGAINST the knowledge and truth of God.
-->We need to cast away, cast out, cast down, destroy (keep from doing any damage to us), anything that is impure, not glorifying to God, is anti-Scripture.
-->We need to cast it out, just like Satan himself was cast out of heaven, cast down to the earth, cast away from the presence of God. He was cast down because of the same action we’re to beware of: anything or anyone who "raises up" a lie or a personality in opposition to God.
-->We need to refuse it any credence whatsoever, recognizing it for what it is: mere speculation and imagination, not the truth.
-->Why Cast These Things Away, not allow them to take root in our thoughts?
---->a) Because "garbage in" leads to "garbage out."
------->Prov. 23:7 -- "For as (a man) thinks within himself, so he is."
------->As we noted last week, it’s no big surprise to learn that 95% of convicted rapists admit to having extensive pornography collections, and that most addmitted to have looking at pornography within one hour of the sexual assault they committed.
------->Likewise, it’s no real surprise that many violent crimes committed by teenagers / minors "mirror" the actions of violent video games.
------->It’s no real surprise that young men who listen to gansta-rap hold women in lower esteem than other young men.
------>Why are these not surprising? Because if you fill your mind with garbage, negative images, wrong stereotypes, degrading and demeaning material, those wrong ideas will affect your actions.
------>The question we should ask concerning these materials before giving our attention and focus to them: "Does this material meet the standard of being pure, lovely, of good report?"
--------->If so, great.
--------->However, if not, then cast it away.
---->b) Because we’re to bring glory to God.
-------->1 Corinthians 10:31 -- "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
------>The questions to ask here: "If I were to advocate this "truth," would it glorify God? Would others desire to know Him better?
--------->If so, great.
--------->If not, cast it away.
---->c) Because our focus is to be pleasing God.
-------->2 Corinthians 5:9 -- "Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him."
------>The question to ask here: "If Jesus were to walk in while I was reading this, or watching this, or listening to this, or saying this, or doing this would He be pleased?"
--------->If so, great.
--------->If not, don’t watch it, don’t read it, don’t listen to it, don’t say it, don’t do it.
------------>Instead, cast it away!
---->d) Because our example is Jesus.
-------->John 8:29 -- "He Who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."
------>The question to ask here: "If I were to learn that Jesus was reading this, or watching this, or listening to this, or saying this, or doing this would I be disappointed in Him?"
--------->If not, great.
--------->If so, however, why do you think it would be okay for YOU to do it?
------------>Cast it away!
--->The summary is this: we’re to cast away that which disagrees with Scripture. That’s what Scripture itself teaches us:
------>Rom.13:12-14 -- "...lay aside the deeds of darkness...and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."
------>Eph.4:22-24 -- "...lay aside the old self…and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."
------>Ja.1:21 -- "Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humilitiy receive the word implanted..."
4) COMPLY & APPLY.
-->We are to comply with and apply to our lives that which is pure, holy, and pleasing to God.
--->Rom.12:2 -- "...that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, acceptable, and perfect."
--->Lk.6:46 -- "Why do you call me, ’Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?"
--Ja.1:22 -- "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves."
-->We need to remember two important truths here:
---->a) If the Bible teaches it, it’s true.
-------->1 Pet.1:20-21 -- "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
-------->2 Tim.3:16-17 -- "All Scripture is inspired b God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness..."
-------->In other words, ever word in the Bible is inspired, it’s literally "God-breathed," it’s directly from God’s mouth, and directly reflects His character and righteousness. It is true.
----------->ILL>In September of 1938, a man who lived on Long Island purchased a barometer. However, when it arrived at his home, he was extremely disappointed to find that the indicating needle appeared to be stuck. It pointed to the sector marked "hurricane." After shaking the barometer several times, he sat down and wrote a scorching letter to the company he had ordered it from, and took the letter the next morning with him and mailed it as he drove into New York city to go to work. That night, as he returned home, he discovered that not only was his barometer missing, so was his house...the barometer had been right. A hurricane had come through, and his house was gone.
----------->You see, the Bible is our accurate barometer of truth. It always tells us the truth, because God is holy, He can’t lie, He’s never wrong. As the quote correctly states it, "If God said it, that settles it."
---->b) If the Bible teaches it, it’s important.
-------->2 Tim.3:16-17 -- "All Scripture is inspired by God...that the man of God may be adequate, equipped..."
-------->In John 21:25, the last verse of John’s gospel) John tells us: "there are other things which Jesus did, which, if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books which were written."
-------->That means the Holy Spirit was "picky" in deciding what would become, be included in Scripture. That means what’s there isn’t there by accident.
-------->The Holy Spirit deliberately and specifically included what IS included...to teach us, reprove us, correct us, train and equip us...so we would be adequately prepared for every good work.
-----APP>So, we need to know what it says and obey what it commands. That’s how God is pleased.
SO...we need to CONCENTRATE, we need to CAPTURE and COMPARE, we need to CAST AWAY, and we need to COMPLY and APPLY. But, finally, we need to...
5) CONTINUE.
-->We need to continue this process for each thought from here on.
----->2 Thess.3:13 -- "But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good."
-->Holiness is a life-long pursuit...with the key word being PURSUIT...it’s a continuous process.
-->Christianity is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. It’s lived daily, it’s lived moment to moment.
BRINGING IT HOME...
-->If we’re serious about pleasing God, then we must, and will commit ourselves to guarding our thoughts, and filling our minds with only those things that please God.
----->Capturing and casting out false teaching.
----->Rejecting truth simply because others might think it’s so, or just because it’s a popular idea.
----->Accepting nothing without first comparing it to what the Bible teaches.
Pursuing Holiness? -- It begins with pursuing holy thoughts.
Pursuing holy thoughts? -- It means applying what we’ve just learned.
