WE NEED H.A.I.R. FOR THE NEW YEAR
Matthew 10:27-31
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In December 2005, I’ve made a choice concerning a hair style that I still wear today, shaven!
Many in this room have changed the style and color of their hair a dozen times or more since I went with the style that I’m still sporting this morning.
I’ve been asked by many people whither or not I would like to have hair - to which I’ve replied, "Even if I could grow a full head of hair tomorrow, I’d still shave my head."
Some of you not believe it, but God made only a few perfect heads - all the rest He put hair on!
I’ve been given all kinds of items as a joke concerning my hair style - one of my favorite and have received the most of is - a bald man’s hair brush, which is nothing more than a piece of wood shaped like a brush without any bristles.
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I’ve recently discovered the word, Pe-la-do-phobia. This is a fear of bald people.
If you have this disease, you can go to a web site called, "Phobia-fear-release.com" for help.
What are the symptoms of peladophobia…
Your fear of bald people can result in the following symptoms: breathlessness, dizziness, excessive sweating, nausea, feeling sick, shaking, heart palpitations, inability to speak or think clearly, becoming mad or losing control, a sensation of detachment from reality or a full blown anxiety attack.
On this website you can find help groups if you find yourself suffering from peladophobia.
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I know some of you are sitting here this morning trying to figure out what this has to do with anything - but I assure you there is appoint to my madness.
This morning and tonight, I want to preach from this title…
WE NEED H.A.I.R. FOR THE NEW YEAR
This morning we are going to deal with… HAIR GROWTH
And then tonight we are going to look at… A HAIR CUT
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Take your Bibles and let’s go to Matthew 10…
27 "Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
To lots of people - their hair is important. They spend hours every day making sure that it’s in the right spot.
And even though I give those people are hard time, don’t you find it interesting that God is so concerned about your life that He knows how many hairs are on your head.
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The Bible is clear that God wants growth in our lives.
Ephesians 4:15-16
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head -- Christ --
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
2 Peter 3:17-18
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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One of the stories about HAIR growth in the Word of God - is about Samson.
Samson was a Nazarite from birth. A portion of the vows, as a Nazarite, was that no razor was to come to your head.
Samson’s hair grew from birth till it was finally cut by Delilah. She enticed him to tell her the secret of his strength - and when he told her that it was his hair, she caused him to sleep and while he slept, his hair was cut.
But the Bible says, (Judges 16:21-22) Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison. However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven.
Once his hair grew, we find him standing at the pillar of the great temple and with his returned strength, he pushed the pillars and caused the temple to collapse.
Samson’s hair grew and he won a great victory over the enemy.
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I want to tell you that we need HAIR growth.
Not a physical growth, but a spiritual.
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I know you have - but have you wondered what I would look like with hair?
•Many have seen the hat with hair…
•A few years ago, mullets were the thing…
•I remember in the 8th grade going to school one day after a night in the barber shop getting a perm.
Yes that’s right, I had a blonde afro. Can you just imagine what that looked like.
(put on afro wig)
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With wig on…
I’m pretty sure that if I walked around town with this wig on - people would make the comments concerning my hair growth.
It would be obvious to the beholder, that I’ve had some growth in the area of HAIR.
Let me spend a few moments on sharing with you some areas that we need to have growth in…
Using the four letters of HAIR…
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1:"H"
There are a few areas that we could talk about here, where growth is needed, like...
HARMONY: We know a house divided cannot stand. It is important that the people of this church stand united and together.
HUMILITY: We know pride comes before a fall. If anything good happens in your life, we do need to recognize it as a blessing and give God the glory.
HONESTY: Honesty is always the best policy.
But the area that I want to talk about is…
WE NEED GROWTH IN - HOLINESS
Hebrews 12:14
14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:7
7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
1 Peter 1:13-16
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
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."
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Holiness defined…
1:devoted to the service of God, a god, or a goddess
2:pure: morally and spiritually perfect and of a devoutly religious character
3:consecrated: dedicated or set apart for religious purposes
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I don’t know if you taken notice or not, but there isn’t a large difference between those in the world and those who confess to be a follower of Jesus Christ.
Which is what holiness boils down to.
Peter, after Jesus was arrested, was found out because he talked and looked different than the others that had gathered in that court yard.
Holiness isn’t an option that can be chosen or not, it is a lifestyle that must be present in the life of a believer.
I know lots of ministries that no longer preach on sin and the don’ts of religion, but just because it is ignored doesn’t erase the fact they do exist.
In the book of Exodus, God gave us 10 Commandments - 10 Thou Shalt Nots. As far as I can tell they are still in effect today.
I know we like to highlight the positives of Christianity - but there are still some things that God calls SIN and boundaries we cannot cross.
2 Corinthians 6:16-17
16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
17 "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.
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R.C. Sproul in his book “The Holiness of God” says this… “What God does is always consistent with who God is, He always acts according to His holy character.
God’s internal righteousness is the moral excellence of His character. It is rooted in His absolute purity. There is no “shadow of turning” in Him. As a holy God, He is utterly incapable of an unholy act…
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A story is told in which an accountant answered an advertisement for a top job with a large firm. At the end of the interview, the chairman asked, “One last question—what is three times seven?”
The accountant thought for a moment and replied, “Twenty-two.”
Outside he checked himself on his calculator and concluded he had lost the job. But two weeks later he was offered the post. He asked the chairman why he had been appointed when he had given the wrong answer.
“You were the closest,” the chairman replied.
Some people have the mistaken idea that God is like the man who conducted the interview. They think it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re close to the truth.
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Here’s a truth we can’t just be close to -- we must hit the bull’s eye…
Hebrews 12:14
14 …without holiness no one will see the Lord…
For 2008, we need to really strive to grow in HOLINESS!!!
Not just being close, but being HOLY!!!
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Pastor and author Tony Evans says this about God: “Holiness is the centerpiece of God’s attributes. Of all the things God is, at the center of His being, God is holy.
Never in the Bible is God called, ‘love, love, love,’ or ‘eternal, eternal, eternal,’ or ‘truth, truth, truth.’
However, around His throne you will hear the shouts of Holy, Holy Holy.
1 Peter 1
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."
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2:"A"
There are a few areas that we could talk about here, where growth is needed, like...
AUTHENTICITY: I do not believe there has even been a time where people are really searching for what is real and authentic.
ABSORPTION: We need to absorb God’s Word into our lives more than ever.
ACCESSIBILITY: We need to accessible for being used by the Lord. So many people aren’t prepared for instant service. Many are ready during season, but few are during the off season. You could also say we need to grow in ACTIONS.
But the area I want to talk about is…
WE NEED TO GROW IN - AWARENESS
Matthew 24:45-51
45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ’My master is delaying his coming,’
49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,
50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,
51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-5
1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
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I’ll never forget what Jennifer Walker said from the pulpit,
…the early church lived as if they had very little time, but had the most - - while today’s church lives like they have the most time but really have the least…
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You and I need to live with the awareness that Jesus Christ is coming really soon.
We need to be aware of the things that are going on around us in the world and realize that they are moving us rapidly toward the rapture of the church.
•The things that are happen in and around Iraq are not by chance…
•It’s not by chance that America could see a Muslim has president in Obama…
•It’s not by chance that our weather patterns seem to be all messed up…
Everyday I get to read the paper or watch the national news - I’m aware - that time is growing short before Jesus comes.
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I want you to hear again the words of Paul…
1 Thessalonians 5
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
I believe Paul is telling us that if we are walking in the light - as we should - we are going to be very aware of the times and seasons leading up to the Lord’s return.
So if we are going to grow in AWARENESS, the side effect to that will be we are going to be walking more in the light and being children of the light.
Don’t just shrug off the things that are happening in the world and go bury your head in the sand.
Things are happening for a reason. Jesus is coming and we the church need to start being aware of that.
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3:"I"
There are a few areas that we could talk about here, where growth is needed, like...
INTENTIONALITY: I know that is a big word, but it simply means, doing things with a purpose.
You go to school for the purpose of learning.
You go to work with the purpose of being paid.
So much of a worldly life has a purpose, but few have a purpose spiritually.
INTIMACY: One of the definitions for intimacy is a close personal relationship.
INFANTS: My meaning here is two fold, we need to become more childlike in our faith and we need to grow in the arena of spiritual births.
But the area I want to talk about is…
WE NEED TO GROW IN - INEBRIATION
Acts 2:13-17
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!
16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 "’In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people...
Ephesians 5:18
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
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Let me ask…
…when was the last time you were so overwhelmed in the Spirit that you felt unable to stand?
…when was the Spirit so strong on your life that you felt unable to walk?
…when was the last time you were "under the influence" of heaven’s new wine?
I want to stress today that Trinity Temple Assembly of God church should not be a Pentecostal church in name only.
But our actions should mirror those of the early church in the book of Acts.
AND ONE SUCH ACTION WAS TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST.
Jesus said, Acts 1
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;
5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
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You may not agree, but you can’t fake being good and drunk. I’ve watched movies where someone played being drunk and they did it pretty good, but then you witness a real drunk and you can tell the difference.
My encouragement to you today is stop acting like a spiritual boozer and all God the Father to fill you with the Spirit where you can be for real.
As the Bible says, ’taste for yourselves that they Lord is good"
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You and I need to grow in inebriation. Be filled with the Spirit till it overflows out of your life and becomes evident to those around you.
Galatians 5:16
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
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4:"R"
There are a few areas that we could talk about here, where growth is needed, like...
REVELATION: We need growth in all the Spirit to reveal God’s plan and purpose in our lives and in our church.
REST: There are those that are trying so hard to keep your life from falling apart that you wouldn’t know real rest if it came up and knocked you in the head.
But the area I want to talk about is…
WE NEED TO GROW IN - RESILIENCE
Resilience is defined as…
1.the ability to recover quickly from setbacks
2.the ability of matter to spring back quickly into shape after being bent, stretched, or deformed
2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (AMP)
7 However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.
8 We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair;
9 We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed;
I have no doubt that 2007 was a tough year for some folks in this church. You’ve had to endure some things that seemed unfair and more than your share.
But it’s time to grow in resilience…
…to spring back into shape
•You know what it means to be hard pressed on every side.
•You know what it’s like to be perplexed and unsure of the direction.
•You know what it means to be struck down.
But it’s time to grow in resilience…
…to spring back into shape
Many me remember the illustration but if I were to take a crisp 100 bill and crumple it up, stomp on it with both feet, take it outside and rub it in the mud - it may not look like much, but it’s still worth 100 dollars.
Church, I want you to know that you may feel like you be crumpled, stomped on a dragged through the mud - but you’re still valuable to God.
Allow Him to heal you in every area so that you may spring back into shape.
But it’s time to grow in resilience…
…to spring back into shape
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This morning I spent my time talking about HAIR GROWTH...
Tonight I want to deal with HAIR CUTS...
This morning, we talked about growing in...
HOLINESS
AWARENESS
INEBRIATION
RESILIENCE
I’m not going to rehash those here tonight, because I want to deal with things that need to be cut from our lives.
A H.A.I.R. CUT!
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Take your Bibles and let’s go to Matthew 10…
27 "Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Our title is…
WE NEED HAIR FOR THE NEW YEAR
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Before we begin, I want to read you a story…
On his sixteenth birthday a son approached his father and said, "Dad, I’m sixteen now. When I get my license, can I drive the family car?" His dad looked at him and said, "Son, driving the car takes maturity, and first, you must prove that you are responsible enough. And one way you must do that is to bring up your grades. They are not acceptable. Second, you must read the Bible every day. And finally, you must get that hair cut; it looks outrageous." The son began the task of fulfilling his father’s requirements.
When his grades came out he went to his dad with a big smile. "Look, Dad, all A’s and B’s on my report card. Now can I drive the family car?"
"Very good, son. You are one-third of the way there, but have you been reading the Bible?"
"Yes, Dad, every day," said the son.
"Very good son. You are two-thirds of the way there. Now when are you going to get that hair cut?"
The son, thinking that he could out smart the father, responded, "Well, I don’t see why I should get my hair cut to drive the car. Jesus had long hair, didn’t he?"
The father looked at his boy and said, "That’s right, son and Jesus walked everywhere he went."
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Tonight as an illustration I tried to find someone willing to get a haircut, buzzed down to nothing.
Now, I know you might have been willing if I’d asked you, but I didn’t, so there will be no buzz tonight.
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Tonight let’s again look at the four letters of HAIR and deal with some things that we need to cut from our lives.
1:"H"
There are a few areas that we need to cut, like...
HERESY: defined means, an opinion or belief that contradicts established biblical teaching.
I did something this week that I’ve never done. I received a letter from a ministry attacking my faith and belief in the Trinity. I responded with a letter and enclosed all the material they had sent me.
Going into the office Friday, this ministry had left a message on the recorder want to talk about this new revelation God had given him.
I encourage you to GROW in Bible knowledge. Our opinions mean nothing if they are contrary to God’s Word.
HABITS: Let’s face it we all have habits that are unproductive in our lives. Some of which are sinful and some are not, nevertheless they need to be cut away.
HALLUCINATIONS: This may sound strange, but some allow their imagination to run wide. Stop seeing things that are there. Stop imagining a demon behind every rock or bad thing that happens to you.
2 Corinthians 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;
But the area that I want to talk about is…
WE NEED TO CUT - HOSTILITY
Hostility defined means, a feeling or attitude of hatred, antagonism or anger toward somebody - also - a strong opposition toward someone.
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A great example of this would be King Saul and David.
David served Saul faithfully. But because of jealousy Saul became hostile toward David.
Saul set out to kill David. Chapter after chapter we read about Saul pursuing David and laying in wait to destroy this young man.
Saul assuredly had feelings of hatred, antagonism and anger toward David. He was filled with hostility and it eventually cost him the kingdom.
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Romans 8:5-8 (NIV)
5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
Even though I really believe that there wouldn’t be someone here that would seek real and permanent harm to another - it wouldn’t hurt your feelings if something did happen bad to them.
I’ve heard it said like this, If something awful happen to them, you’d have to think of something really sad to shed a tear.
But the problem with that is, like Saul, it will eventually cost you everything.
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Luke 6:27-36
27 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.
30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.
31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
32 "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.
35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
If in this new year, we are going to grow to be more like Jesus, we are going to have to cut hostility from our heart and our actions.
It is not in our nature to forgive, but it is in God’s.
Romans 8:7-9
7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.
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2:"A"
There are a few areas that we could talk about here, where cutting is needed, like...
ANGER: We live in an angry world. Short fuses are a thing of the past, it goes straight to BOOM!
ATTITUDE: We also live in a world where a majority of the population has an attitude problem.
The problem with that is, it’s usually a bad one.
ATHEISM: This one also sounds strange, but let me explain.
Atheism means a disbelief in the existence of God or deity. Now I’m not calling anyone an atheist, but how many times do we allow disbelief in our mind and heart that says, God isn’t there for me in my situation?
Have you ever heard someone say, Where is God when I needed Him?
Again, that doesn’t make you an atheist, but that is an atheistic spirit.
But the area I want to talk about is…
WE NEED TO CUT - ADULTERY
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Revelation 2:1-5
1 "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ’These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands:
2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.
4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place -- unless you repent
Adultery means, a voluntary relations between a married person and somebody other than his or her spouse…
This is mostly thought of sexually - however Jesus said, if one looks upon another with lustful thoughts, adultery has been committed in the heart.
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The facts of spiritual adultery can be seen in every local church across this nation and around the world.
•Once faithful followers, but now have found another one to love.
•Once sold out soldiers, but now march to the beat of the world’s drums.
•Once a bold believer, but because of another love, they have gone after the forbidden.
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Come one church, I know isn’t going to move you to stand and shout - but unless we forsake all others and follower after Jesus, we might come up short.
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To better illustrate this point I turn to the book of Hosea. Hosea the prophet was given this instruction by the Lord.
Hosea 1:2
2 When the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: "Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the LORD.
And for a time, his wife, Gomer, stayed with him and bore him children.
But it wasn’t long that she returned to her old life and the lovers she had known. She even strays back to the old place of walking the streets and turning tricks.
But God speaks again to the prophet…
Hosea 3:1
1 Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods…
He buys her back. He’s good to her. He loves her with his whole heart, but she is back and forth.
Church, this New Year, commit all you are to the Lord and stay with Him.
In Revelations, to the church at Ephesus, God commends them for all the good works, but He rebukes them because they no longer love He like they once did. They found another to take His place.
IF WE ARE TO GROW IN THE LORD
WE MUST CUT ADULTERY FROM OUR HEART
Jesus said, Luke 16:13
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
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3:"I"
There are a few other areas that we could talk about cutting that begin with "I", like...
IDLENESS: I hear a lot of people say, I too busy, but truth be known spiritually busy people aren’t usually the ones doing the things they shouldn’t.
An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.
INGRATITUDE: This one pretty much speaks for itself. There are much deeper issues in one’s life if they cannot be thankful for the blessings of God.
IRREGULARITY: How many know - some folks need a good spiritual laxative.
Listen you and I need to exhibit faithfulness. You need to be able to be counted on.
But the area I want to talk about is…
WE NEED TO CUT - IMMATURITY
Hebrews 5:12-14
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
There probably isn’t a person here tonight that doesn’t want to stay young at heart. Growing older isn’t a joyful process.
But no matter how you may try, becoming physically older automatically happens. You don’t have to do anything to get old.
You can look around at the little ones tonight and remember when they were born - but now they are walking, talking, going to school and soon to go off to college.
Physically older just happens.
Spiritually doesn’t.
Somewhere in the spiritual journey a lot of people have become satisfied with the spiritual maturity and made a decision to stay right there.
FAILING TO MATURE IS A SIGN OF IMMATURITY
People who don’t grow up are labeled immature in our society. Isn’t it or shouldn’t it be the same for us spiritual?
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I find it interesting that Paul in his writing uses God’s Word as a measuring stick to maturity.
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age,
How many can remember a parent or teacher telling you or some else to grow up?
Maturity comes, for the believer, in a daily does of the Word of God.
•You may be able to sing all the new worship choruses by memory…
•You may be able to quote saying by great men and women…
•You may be the best greeter in all the land…
•But a sign of spiritual maturity is skillful in the Word of God…
2 Timothy 2:15-16
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Immature means…
1.not fully developed: young, and not fully grown or developed
2.childish: lacking the wisdom or emotional development
Even though we talked about growth this morning, a little saying fits right here - WE NEED TO GROW UP SPIRITUALLY!!
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4:"R"
There are a few other areas that we could talk about cutting that begin with "R", like...
RACISM: Even though I do not believe there is a whole lot of this going on - however, if we find ourselves treating other differently based on race, gender or something else we are guilty of racism.
We are called and commanded to love like Jesus did. And as far as I can see, He loves us all the same.
REBELLION: The Bible says rebellion is the same as witchcraft. That includes rebellion against God, parents and earthly authority.
Young people don’t expect God to bless you beyond measure when you continually disobey your parents.
Adults, we may not like our boss, but we better not find ourselves undermining them around the office.
RESENTMENT: Harboring ill feelings toward another because of something they said or did against you, usually hurts you more than them.
But also, don’t find yourself here because someone is being blessed more than you.
But the area I want to talk about is…
WE NEED TO CUT - REPETITIVENESS
A modern definition for insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting something different.
To receive something different one must try something new.
Whiter agree or not, if you find yourself always scrapping the bottom financially and you are not a faithful tither, try tithing. If what you’re doing isn’t working try something else.
If you’ve tried handing your kids free reign and they are nothing more than a spoiled brat that no one wants to hang around, try involving them in church and giving them boundaries.
Whatever the area may be, CUT doing the same thing if it’s producing what you don’t want.
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The only person that likes change is a wet baby. However change is necessary because no one wants to remain the same all the time.
As you look in your life, what is an area that you need to change?
A byproduct of change is knowledge and maturity. Usually when we change an area in our life we learn something new.
Sometimes we learn to never do that again, and sometimes we learn how to do something different that brings about positive reinforcement.
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This year, there may be some areas of our services that get changed. I’ve learned if it doesn’t work we can always go back to the way it was.
But nonetheless, if we want a different result, let’s change the equation.
I challenge you to allow the Lord to make a change in your life.
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We’ve talked about growing in…
Holiness - Awareness - Inebriation - Resilience
But we also need to makes some cuts…
Hostility - Adultery - Immaturity - Repetitiveness
