JOHN 2:13-25
ETS: Jesus was zealous for holiness (purging of sin)
ESS: We need a zeal for holiness
Life can be like the game of Monopoly. There was a bumper sticker that proclaimed, He who dies with the most toys wins. That’s wrong. It should say, He who dies with the most toys dies anyway.
A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine. - D.L. Moody
Sign on door: "Gone out of business. Didn’t know what our business was." - 1963—University Christian Church in NY
Imagine people going to work day after day without knowing their company’s business, yet that’s exactly what happens when church members don’t know what their church is trying to do. - Anon
What was he looking for? What did He find?
What does it take or how can we channel our zeal to become a person who ‘s life is marked by holiness? What does it take to become a holy believer in a practical way? There are three categories (yet they all tie together) of believers that have the greatest potential of practicing holiness.
I. SANCTIFIED BELIEVERS 1:15 They were worldly
sanctification 37 hag-ee-ad’-zo: to make holy, i.e. (ceremony) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate (to mentally reverence God) :- hallow, be holy, sanctify.
We were: Ephesians 4:17-24 & I Corinthians 6:9-12
2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
In a practical sense, how do you become a sanctified (one set apart completely to the father’s business) believer?
A. Choose
Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
B. Prepare
Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom(mental) and stature (physical), and in favour with God (spiritual) and man (social).
C. Yield
Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God.
II. SPIRITUAL BELIEVERS 1:20 They were fleshly
Romans 8:5-6 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
"Be Filled" 5744
Tense - Present: The present tense represents a simple statement of fact or reality viewed as occurring in actual time.
Voice - Passive: The passive voice represents the subject as being the recipient of the action. E.g., in the sentence, "The boy was hit by the ball," the boy receives the action.
Mood - Imperative: The imperative mood corresponds to the English imperative, and expresses a command to the hearer to perform a certain action by the order and authority of the one commanding. Thus, Jesus’ phrase, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel" #Mr 1:15 is not at all an "invitation," but an absolute command requiring full obedience on the part of all hearers.
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Based upon the preceding verses, The principles of God consciousness are:
1. We have the mind of Christ
2. The Holy Spirit is in us
3. Jesus goes before us
4. We are to listen to Him
5. We should submit and yield to His leading
III. SINCERE BELIEVERS 1:23-25 They were hypocritical
Matthew 23:27-28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men’s] bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
A. Commitment
B. Confession
C. Christlikeness
