Taking Out The Trash

"Taking Out The Trash" by Pastor Larry Sopchak

Sunday, July 17, 2011

TEXT: 1 Thessalonians 4:7

1 Peter 1:13-16

INTRODUCTION

We need a revival of HOLY LIVING in our time today...

God's people need to return to our HOLY CALLING...

2 Timothy 1:9, tells us that God "has saved us and called us with a HOLY CALLING.."

"Holiness" defined: "Belonging to, derived from, or associated with

divine power; set apart for a spiritual purpose;

to live according to a strict moral and/or spiritual code"

God's not expecting us to be perfect, but He does expect us to keep ourselves pure...holy...

It's time for the Church...the people of God, to "Take Out The Trash"!

[EXPOUND]

WHY DO WE TAKE OUT THE TRASH AT HOME?

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T TAKE OUT THE TRASH?

1) The Accumulation of Mess...Clutter...

2) Unwanted Stench...the smell of rottenness...

3) Unwelcomed Guests...rodents....roaches...gnats...maggots...

Uncleanliness can open the door to illness...even death...

[EXPOUND on the Spiritual Parallels of the above]

God expects us to keep a clean house!

NOTE: "What you permit will persist"!

"What you fail to master in your life will eventually master you"

"People decide their habits, and their habits determine their future"

"Watch your thoughts, they become words,

Watch your words, they become actions,

Watch your actions, they become habits,

Watch your habits, they become your character,

Watch your character, it becomes your destiny"

[EXPOUND]

"Sin will take you take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer

than you want to stay, and cost you more than you can pay"

[EXPOUND]

Samson is the epitome of a person who got caught up in the WEB of Sin that the enemy had prepared for him through Delilah...

Here's some wisdom to remember:

"When God wants to bless you, he puts a person in your life...When Satan wants to destroy you, he puts a person in your life"!

[EXPOUND]

Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall"

NOTICE the middle letter of "pride" and "sin"..."I"...

Lucifer, who became Satan said, "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds...I will exalt my throne above the stars of God... I will be like the Most High" (Isa. 14:13-14)

Samson, a man gifted and blessed by God cavorted with the enemy, and lost!

Samson, "went to sleep"...

[EXPOUND]

Listen to the Pride of Samson in Judges 16:20...

"So [Samson] awoke from his sleep, and said, 'I will got out as before, at other

times, and shake myself free!' But he did not know that the Lord had departed

from him"

[EXPOUND]

SO, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS WE MUST DO TO KEEP THE TRASH OUT OF OUR LIVES...

I. WATCH OUR THOUGHTS :

Proverbs 23:7, "For as [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he"

Philippians 4:8, "...whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy---meditate (focus) on these things"

Romans 12:2, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."

[EXPOUND]

NOTE: What we see, hear, and think will come out in our words and in

our actions...

IMPURE ACTIONS BEGIN WITH IMPURE THOUGHTS!

II. WATCH OUR WORDS...WHAT WE SAY :

Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue..."

Luke 6:45, "...For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks"

NOTE: What we talk about is a reflection of our heart!

A Christians' speech should be noticeably different from that of

other people!

What we say not only affects our own purity, but also the purity

of those who hear us!

[EXPOUND]

III. WATCH OUR ACTIONS :

Where we go, what we do...

1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV), "Abstain from all appearance of evil"

(MSG) - "Throw out anything tainted with evil"

[EXPOUND]

IV. WATCH OUR HABITS :

Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way

of death"

1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "...do you not know that your body is the temple of the

Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

For you were bought at a price, therefore, glorify God in your body and in your

spirit, which are God's"

[EXPOUND]

WHAT ARE YOUR DAILY HABITS?

WHAT DISCIPLINES DO YOU PRACTICE AND LIVE BY DAILY?

[EXPOUND...Prayer, Worship, Time in The Word...]

V. WATCH OUR RELATIONSHIPS :

1 Corinthians 15:33 (GNT), "Don't be fooled: bad companions ruin good

character"

(NCV) - "Do not be fooled: bad friends will ruin good habits"

(GWT) - "Don't let anyone deceive you: associating with bad people will ruin

decent people"

(WEB) - "Don't be deceived: evil companionships corrupt good morals"