What's Best, Pure And Blameless? Series

Philippians 1

What’s Best, Pure and Blameless?

August 25, 2019

Psalms 139:23-24 NIV

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.

Philippians 1:9-11 NIV

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.

v. 10 - Best, pure and blameless

Can we spot what’s best, pure and blameless today?

V.10 - Discern – (Greek) To test and approve, to allow.

We should test and approve everything.

Wise judgment is a sign of maturity.

The Holy Spirit is our filter.

1 John 4:1-3 NIV

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

• He could have written the same letter to any church in America and it would be just as relevant and just as helpful.

Tribalism

“My group is always right and is superior. If you believe differently than me, you are the enemy and a threat.”

Revelation 7:9 NIV

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.

Greed

“Get as much as you can any way you can, regardless of who it hurts.”

Proverbs 11:23 NIV

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Hedonism

“The chief pursuit of life is pleasure and entertainment.”

Luke 9:23 NIV

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

How do we know if we’re hearing and believing what’s best, pure and blameless?

We’ll want to know and follow Jesus.

We’ll love people.

Matthew 22:37-40 NIV

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."