Chico Alliance Church
"People of Distinction" Part Two
REVIEW
We have been gathering data about elements of revival from Nehemiah's journal. We must first focus on buidling protective walls. We need a good, protected environment consisting of a solid Biblical walls.
Then, with walls in place and the enemy at bay, we can give our full attention to cultivating a deeper walk with the Lord as a family.
This happens as we develop in five basic areas.
1--Rally together
2--Read and study the word together
3--Rejoice and worship together
4--Reflect together
5--Resolve together
Resolve to make changes in four specific areas.
FIRST--My Response to the Word
Commit to a life of discipline by the Word. (hear and obey)
SECOND--My Relationship to the World System
Commit to a life of distinctiveness in the world.
THIRD--My Relationship to God
Commit to a life of devotion to God.
FOURTH--My response to giving.
Commit to a life of dedication of all my resources to God.
Today we turn our focus once again on our relationship to this world system.
PRAY
INTRODUCTION
We are all people of distinction. Whether it be your nose, your ears, your walk, your diet, your musical abilities, or your aptitudes. Each of us have distinctions that are characteristic of our family. Some of those distinctions are genetic, some are learned by exposure to our parents, our peers, our culture, our environment. In the same way, we have certain distinctions as those born into God's family, some by spiritual genetics, some by transformation and exposure. We are special people, people of distinction. This distinction is called "sanctification", "holiness".
The word to sanctify means to set apart as special for a special use. It can refer to things or people. The items for temple use were sanctified.
The priests were sanctified.
The people were sanctified.
There are three sheres in which this concept applies to Christians.
*Calling
*Conduct
*Covenant
1--Distinct People By Calling (past)
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1Pe 2:9
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2Co 5:17
And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all...because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being sanctified. Heb 10:10,14
I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. Joh 17:14-17
I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' Act 26:18
By reason of our calling, we are special people with a special mission in this world. Not only are we set apart and distinct by calling, we are to demonstrate that distinction by our behavior.
2--Distinct People By Conduct (present)
If we are to be light in this world, there must be a distinction between those who claim to know Jesus Christ. There must be a marked difference in behavior. Over and over in Scripture, we are called to demonstrate a behavior different than the world in which we live. Mostly what happens is that the Christian community has paralleled the world in its slide into corruption.
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10
As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do - living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 1Pe 4:7
Titus 2-3
We are called to walk different than the culture and world around us. We are called to respond as Christ would respond.
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Eph 4:24
In what ways are we to be different?
Not in the ways we normally assume.
Different in dress but not in deeds.
Different in activities but not in attitude.
Different in ministry but not in motives.
We are not only distinctive by reason of our having been called by Him. God calls us to demonstrate our distinctiveness to the world.
Selfishness Fervent love
Indulge fleshly drives Abstain fleshly drives
Rebellion against authority Submission to authority
Use freedom for self indulgence Use freedom as bondslaves of God
Tear down others Honor all men
No fear of God Fear God
Dishonor the president (king) Honor the king
Revenge Suffer for righteousness
Threat for threat Entrust to Faithful Creator
Complain about injustice Patiently endure injustice
Harsh, brash, independent women Submissive, quiet/gentle spirit
Insensitive, selfish husbands Understanding, loving husbands
Disharmony in relationships Harmonious
Proud and arrogant spirit Humble in spirit
Return evil for evil Give a blessing for cursing
Sensuality Controlled senses
Unbridled desires Delight in the Lord
Drunkenness, escapism Filled with the Spirit
Parties, entertainment Ministry and service
Idolatries Seek first the kingdom
Subjective thinking Sound and sober judgement
Isolation Hospitality
Self serving Serving one another
Lying Speaking truth in love
Stealing Working hard to share
Empty conversation Constructive conversation
Bitterness and wrath Kindness, forgiveness
Hard hearted Tenderhearted
Immorality & impurity Pure
Filthy, silly or coarse talk Giving thanks to God
Greed Contentment
Pursuit of money Providing money
Outbursts of anger Gentle spirit
Worry Trust
Fear Confidence
Earthly minded Heavenly minded
Controlled by appetites Control appetites
3--Distinct People by Covenant (future)
One day the purifying, sanctifying process will be complete.
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phi 1:6
who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Phi 3:21
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2
The other term for this process is glorification.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Rom 8:30
How Are We Sanctified?
The Father Sanctifies
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Th 5:23 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. Joh 17:19
Christ Sanctifies
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, sanctifying her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Eph 5:25-27
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! Heb 9:14 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Heb 13:12
The Holy Spirit Sanctifies
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Rom 15:16
But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 2Th 2:13
Our part in Sanctification
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2Co 7:1
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20
Romans 8:10-17 Gal 3:1-7 2 Peter 1:1-11
1--Hear the truth (The Truth)
2--Believe the truth (Faith)
3--Act upon the truth in the power of the Spirit who mightily works in us (The Spirit)
All the water in the world however hard it tried Could never sink a ship unless it got inside.
All the evil in the world the wickedness of sin Can never sink the soul's craft unless it got inside.
CONCLUSION
Story of the artist who invited a friend to his studio to his latest painting. He was escorted to a dark room where he waited for 15 minutes. "I knew that if you came into my studio with the glare of the street in you eyes, you could not appreciate the fine coloring of the picture, so I left you there until the glare had worn out of your eyes."
I believe that revival will come if we will come apart into the dark room away from the glitter and glamour of this world system in our eyes; away from the pull and deadening screams the world's "music" in our ears.
With our senses restored, we will be able to see and hear again the wonderful promises by which we become partakers of the divine nature.
We can again see the magnificence of our salvation and having heard we believe with a faith that transforms and gives life to the members of our earthly body that becomes a weapon of righteousness in the Master hand.
DECISION
1. Acknowledge and confess failure to let the light of Christ flow.
2. Ask for the cleansing of Lord
3. Acknowledge your inability to change
4. Acknowledge that real life can only come from Christ our Sanctifier
5. Allow the Holy Spirit access to every aspect of your life.
6. Enter in to His life.
7. Put to death the deeds of the flesh by the power of the Spirit.
