2023.10.29.Sermon.Depart from Evil. Abstain from the appearance of evil.
William Akehurst
Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22, Proverbs 3:5-7, 1 Thessalonians 2:12, Proverbs 4:23-27, Matthew 12:34, 1 Thessalonians 2:4, Philippians 4:7, 1 Corinthians 8:9, Matthew 5:13-16, 2 Corinthians 6:17, Proverbs 23:7, Matthew 7:1-5, Ephesians 5:8-12, Romans 13:14, Romans 12:2, Psalms 119:9-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
BIG IDEA: Halloween, people decorate with of skeletons, goblins, ghouls, witches, etc… Evil.
What are they allowing into their homes, minds, souls? What are they exposing themselves to? The Bible says to Depart from Evil, even the appearance of it. Guard your heart and mind in CHRIST JESUS.
I think about what we are seeing in Israel and the evil that has occurred. I want to make the statement clear, I stand with Israel. And yet all around the world, we are seeing people demonstrating and siding with the evil that occurred. It's hard to believe that even in our own country, there are demonstrations against the Jews in Israel and the world. We are seeing the uprise of evil, and as strange as it sounds, we can see the things happening in our world lining up with Scriptures. JESUS is coming soon! And people need to get right, now!
1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 (NKJV)
BE AT PEACE AMONG YOURSELVES
12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
WARN THE UNRULY
COMFORT AND UPHOLD THE WEAK
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
DO NOT RETURN EVIL FOR EVIL, PURSUE GOOD
15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
NEVER STOP REJOICING IN THE LORD
16 Rejoice always,
BE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH GOD
17 pray without ceasing,
NO MATTER WHAT YOU GO THROUGH, GIVE THANKS
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
THE SPIRIT IS A FIRE WITHIN US, SHOWING, TEACHING, LEADING AND GUIDING. DO NOT THROW WATER ON THE FLAMES
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
GOD’S WORD IS TRUTH, AND STANDS THE TEST OF TIME AS WE SEE ANCIENT SCRIPTURES COMING TO LIFE IN THESE LAST HOURS.
20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
ABSTAIN, REFRAIN, HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH EVIL, EVEN IT’S APPEARANCE.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
(KJV) Abstain from all appearance of evil.
SO MANY TIMES, WE ONLY LOOK AT VERSES 5-6, BUT TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER FOR MORE TRUTH.
Proverbs 3:5-7
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
DON’T LEAN ON OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING, DO NOT BE WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES.
FEAR GOD, REVERENCE HIM, AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE MUST BE SEPARATE FROM EVIL.
WALK WORTHY OF GOD
1 Thessalonians 2:12 (NKJV) that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
GUARD YOUR HEART
Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Proverbs 4:23-27 (NKJV)
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
GUARD YOUR MOUTH*
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.
GUARD YOUR EYES
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.
GUARD YOUR STEPS, YOUR ACTIONS
26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.
BE SEPARATED FROM EVIL
*Matthew 12:34b …For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
*Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
GOD TESTS YOUR HEART
1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NKJV) But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.
GOD’S PEACE WILL GUARD YOUR HEART AND MIND
Philippians 4:7 (NKJV) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
ABSTAIN FROM EVEN THE APPEARANCE OF EVIL. WE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO BE A STUMBLING BLOCK TO THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING US AS CHRISTIANS.
1 Corinthians 8:9 (NKJV) But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED SAVORY SALT AND THE LIGHT OF GOD’S GLORY TO THOSE AROUND YOU.
Matthew 5:13-16 (NKJV)
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
BE SEPARATED FROM EVIL. DON’T GO WHERE YOU SHOULD NOT.
2 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV) Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”
EXAMINE AND JUDGE YOURSELF FIRST
Matthew 7:1-5 (NKJV)
1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
YOU SHOULD BE CHANGED. ONCE IN DARKNESS, NOW IN THE LIGHT.
HAVE NO ASSOCIATION WITH THE WORKS OF DARKNESS. RATHER EXPOSE IT
Ephesians 5:8-12 (NKJV)
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
WRAP YOURSELF IN JESUS – DISCIPLINE YOURSELF AND BE SEPARATE
Romans 13:14 (NKJV) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
SET APART, NOT CONFORMING. TRANSFORMED AND RENEWED IN YOUR MIND
Romans 12:2 (NKJV) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
HOW? BUT STUDYING, OBEYING, TAKING GOD’S WORD TO HEART TO FORTIFY YOUR BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT IN CHRIST JESUS.
Psalms 119:9-11 (NKJV)
9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
Benediction
BE SANCTIFIED, SET APART BY GOD’S PEACE, THAT YOU MAY BE FOUND BLAMELESS AND FAITHFUL. GOD CALLS YOU TO BE HOLY, AND IT IS HE WHO WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
BE BLESSED AND BE A BLESSING,
BILL
