WEBVTT 00:00:31.233 --> 00:00:34.732 Good morning, Church. How are we doing? 00:00:34.732 --> 00:00:36.365 It's great to be with you this morning. 00:00:36.365 --> 00:00:39.165 We're continuing our series in Grow. 00:00:39.165 --> 00:00:43.299 And we're going to be in First Thessalonians chapter four this morning. 00:00:43.299 --> 00:00:50.700 So if you have your scriptures before you as a physical copy, first Thessalonians chapter four, it's near the end of the Bible. 00:00:50.700 --> 00:00:56.299 It's a letter written by the Apostle Paul to a church in a city called Thessalonica. 00:00:56.299 --> 00:01:05.533 We'll also have the words on the screen for you to see, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to walk with you through this important idea of grow. 00:01:05.533 --> 00:01:12.965 And we've already had two weeks where we've walked through this series, and we're continuing this theme about this idea of growth. 00:01:12.965 --> 00:01:19.700 And to this morning we're going to look at this idea of growth in the sense of spiritual growth in Christ. 00:01:19.700 --> 00:01:24.832 And specifically, we're going to talk about a word that might be ambiguous to some of us. 00:01:24.832 --> 00:01:36.066 We may have heard it before, but it's this idea of sanctification, long word, but important word in the biblical theology and understanding of the Christian faith. 00:01:36.066 --> 00:01:39.332 And so we're going to be in First Thessalonians chapter four this morning. 00:01:39.332 --> 00:01:42.465 And I'm excited about what God is going to do. 00:01:42.465 --> 00:01:47.266 And while my family and I just got back from vacation, it was a good time away. 00:01:47.266 --> 00:01:50.200 You probably can't tell, but I did go to the beach. 00:01:51.799 --> 00:02:01.066 I'm already pale, so I had to lather myself up with as much sunscreen as humanly possible to avoid the slightest of burns. 00:02:01.066 --> 00:02:07.733 In fact, funny enough, I got sunburn on the drive down there from the sun, through the window on my thighs. 00:02:07.733 --> 00:02:09.966 I don't understand, but that's just the... 00:02:09.966 --> 00:02:12.599 that's just the world that I live in. 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:14.966 And so I made sure not to get sunburned. 00:02:14.966 --> 00:02:18.432 So I'm thankful that God blessed me in that way on the trip. 00:02:18.432 --> 00:02:24.500 But we drove to Florida, and for any of you all, that have taken a long distance trip. 00:02:24.500 --> 00:02:35.665 You know that there is a tension on that long of a drive, but on top of that, my three year old who's in the back of the car, she is a wild child. 00:02:35.665 --> 00:02:40.066 If she was in here right now, if you haven't seen her before, she would be running up and down the aisle. 00:02:40.066 --> 00:02:43.199 She is hard to maintain and she is full of energy. 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:47.066 And so you can imagine us driving this long distance. 00:02:47.066 --> 00:02:50.599 And she just learned, she's just potty trained. 00:02:50.599 --> 00:02:51.765 So she's fresh off of that. 00:02:51.765 --> 00:02:53.832 So praise God we've gotten through that stage. 00:02:53.832 --> 00:02:55.665 But occasionally she has accidents. 00:02:55.665 --> 00:03:01.665 So you can imagine the words that are coming out from the backseat of the vehicle right? 00:03:01.665 --> 00:03:02.866 I need to stop. 00:03:02.866 --> 00:03:04.165 I need to go potty. 00:03:04.165 --> 00:03:06.832 I need to play with this. Come hold me. 00:03:06.832 --> 00:03:10.966 And we even got a little bit of are we there yet? 00:03:10.966 --> 00:03:18.733 Well, just by looking around at our surroundings, we weren't there yet, so it's a pretty, pretty easy answer. 00:03:18.733 --> 00:03:32.032 But then we also have my wife, who is sitting next to me, who graciously was awesome on the trip, but understandably being almost six months pregnant at this point, she, has to go to the bathroom as well. 00:03:32.032 --> 00:03:37.099 I mean, when you have a baby that's kicking on your bladder, you know you have to go more often. 00:03:37.099 --> 00:03:38.432 As some of you all know. 00:03:38.432 --> 00:03:41.199 I don't know that feeling, but some of you all do. 00:03:41.199 --> 00:03:46.233 And so despite the fact that she did incredibly well, she also had to make stops. 00:03:46.233 --> 00:03:49.966 And this tension of we need to get there, right. 00:03:50.966 --> 00:03:56.233 But I think if we pause and consider this whole idea, are we there yet? 00:03:56.233 --> 00:04:01.099 I think there's something here for for us as Christians, us as believers to learn. 00:04:01.099 --> 00:04:03.932 So I have this quote that I wanted to throw up here for you. 00:04:03.932 --> 00:04:05.733 It's a writer named Dallas Willard. 00:04:05.733 --> 00:04:08.000 He wrote a book called renovation of the heart. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:13.633 I'd recommend it to anybody who's interested about the idea of growing as a Christian. 00:04:13.633 --> 00:04:14.466 And he writes this. 00:04:14.466 --> 00:04:19.865 He says, in the spiritual life, one never rests on one's laurels. 00:04:20.065 --> 00:04:23.300 It is a sure recipe for falling. 00:04:24.199 --> 00:04:34.632 He explains, We deserve nothing before God, no matter how far we have advanced, and we are never out of danger as long as we are at home in the body. 00:04:34.632 --> 00:04:42.466 That's a quote from from Scripture from Paul that is, in this life we are still just recovering sinners. 00:04:43.165 --> 00:04:52.800 And in these respects, though only in these respects do we remain as a wicked, as wicked as anyone else, mother Teresa as Hitler. 00:04:54.199 --> 00:05:02.065 His quote is making a point that we can't become complacent or content with where we are. 00:05:02.533 --> 00:05:09.699 So I want to get out of this morning, and we're going to see in our passage that you will grow in your relationship with Christ. 00:05:09.699 --> 00:05:14.733 If you keep the attitude that you are never there yet. 00:05:14.733 --> 00:05:31.266 Meaning we have an attitude, a posture in our heart that we are never there yet in perfection, we have never attained or reached a particular level of our growth that we can stop. 00:05:31.266 --> 00:05:37.233 Because complacency or contentment in this sense can be dangerous for a believer. 00:05:37.233 --> 00:05:43.065 Because once you stop growing, you don't just stay, you tend to go backwards. 00:05:43.065 --> 00:06:00.199 And so my concern for all of us and for me this morning, I'm up here speaking not as someone has who has arrived, but I am in process, just like everyone else here, because there is no one who should not, or there is no one in here that should be complacent and content with where they are in their faith. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:08.800 So when we talk about this idea of growth, it's crucial that we have an attitude that we are never there yet. 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:20.865 And what I mean by that is when Jesus returns or God calls us home, we will be practically made perfect in the image of God again. 00:06:20.865 --> 00:06:22.399 Amen. 00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:29.199 But until that day, what Paul is saying to these Christians in the first century is that you can't stop. 00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:32.365 So look here with me in first Thessalonians chapter four, verse one. 00:06:32.365 --> 00:06:34.665 We're going to look at one through 12. 00:06:34.665 --> 00:06:41.333 And this is what the apostle Paul and his getting towards the the end of his letter is going to say to these believers. 00:06:41.333 --> 00:06:58.466 He says, Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you receive from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you were doing, that you do so more and more. 00:06:59.233 --> 00:07:20.500 Do you see that? Paul is saying, I am asking and urging you in the Lord Jesus, that as we have taught you before, all these instructions, all of these ways in which God has called you and I to live, we are asking and urging you not to stop, but to do so more and more as we walk and please God. 00:07:21.165 --> 00:07:27.766 So Paul says this phrase twice in this passage alone, this idea of urging them to do so more and more. 00:07:27.766 --> 00:07:31.000 He says it here in verse one, but also we'll see it in verse ten. 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:37.632 And you can imagine why Paul would want to do this, why he would need to urge people on in their faith. 00:07:37.632 --> 00:07:51.665 You all, you and I both know that the tendency for all of us to drift, we all have a tendency to say, I'm following Jesus, but then we tend to drift off into other things and we stop growing. 00:07:52.266 --> 00:08:00.766 So Paul is concerned about these believers who he couldn't call on the cell phone or Skype or video call with his phone. 00:08:00.766 --> 00:08:04.699 Instead, he had to write a letter sending it to them, only hearing reports. 00:08:04.699 --> 00:08:07.333 And he's telling them, listen, don't stop. 00:08:07.333 --> 00:08:10.333 Keep going. 00:08:10.665 --> 00:08:13.966 And I want to share another quote with you this morning. This is Benjamin E Hayes. 00:08:13.966 --> 00:08:18.533 He was a Baptist pastor and a civil rights activist around in the time of Martin Luther King Junior. 00:08:18.533 --> 00:08:37.500 He says this, The tragedy of life is often not in our failure, but rather in our complacency, not in our doing too much, but rather in our doing too little, not in our living, above our ability, but rather in live and are living below our capacities. 00:08:39.633 --> 00:08:49.399 See, when we get to a point where we are content or complacent in our growth in Christ this week I want to call that spiritual complacency. 00:08:50.265 --> 00:08:52.299 And there's a number of reasons why that might happen. 00:08:52.299 --> 00:09:02.732 But listen, spiritual complacency exists when we believe that we have already arrived there with enough growth and holiness. 00:09:02.732 --> 00:09:06.666 Meaning I've arrived, I've got to my plateau and I'm done. 00:09:06.666 --> 00:09:08.133 I'm I it doesn't matter. 00:09:08.133 --> 00:09:10.332 My age doesn't matter my maturity. 00:09:10.332 --> 00:09:10.899 I'm here. 00:09:10.899 --> 00:09:11.732 I'm good. 00:09:11.732 --> 00:09:14.732 God, I'm ready. 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:17.633 But that's a dangerous place to be. 00:09:17.633 --> 00:09:19.166 And that could be in anything in life, right? 00:09:19.166 --> 00:09:21.732 Our job, our careers, our parenting. 00:09:21.732 --> 00:09:23.533 Imagine if we just thought, you know what? 00:09:23.533 --> 00:09:24.600 I'm good enough for my career. 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:28.399 I don't I don't need to learn anything else or I'm a good enough parent. 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:29.799 I don't need to learn anything else. 00:09:31.033 --> 00:09:34.232 That type of attitude gets us in trouble, doesn't it? 00:09:34.232 --> 00:09:37.100 But imagine applying that to your spiritual life, your growth in Christ. 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:38.666 Like it's all right. It's all right. 00:09:38.666 --> 00:09:40.466 God, I've got enough. 00:09:40.466 --> 00:09:43.466 I'm good. 00:09:43.732 --> 00:09:46.166 That's a dangerous place to be. 00:09:46.166 --> 00:09:51.299 And complacency really can happen because of maybe there's an idol in our heart. 00:09:51.533 --> 00:09:56.799 Something's leading us away to worship other things than than to worship God. 00:09:56.799 --> 00:09:59.332 We become complacent. 00:09:59.332 --> 00:10:08.633 Maybe there's a roadblock in our spiritual life that's keeping us from going further on in our journey towards Christ, in holiness. 00:10:08.932 --> 00:10:17.299 But for us this morning, my concern for you and for me is that we can't rest on our laurels and become complacent in our faith. 00:10:17.299 --> 00:10:20.066 Look what Paul says in verse two. 00:10:20.066 --> 00:10:24.765 He says, for you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus? 00:10:25.732 --> 00:10:26.832 See this entire letter? 00:10:26.832 --> 00:10:36.265 Paul's been writing with a positive tone, because the people, the believers in Thessalonica were doing great, as it were, to see here towards into the passage. 00:10:36.265 --> 00:10:39.200 They were loving their brothers, they were following Jesus. 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:41.799 They had good theology, they kept good doctrine. 00:10:41.799 --> 00:10:45.365 But Paul's concern was, is that they would stop. 00:10:45.365 --> 00:10:48.365 So they have the instruction. 00:10:48.466 --> 00:10:50.732 They knew what to do. 00:10:50.732 --> 00:11:00.600 But sometimes it's not necessarily knowing, but it's about the doing, because plenty of us know the instructions that God has given us. Amen? 00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:01.865 We know God's word. 00:11:01.865 --> 00:11:03.732 We've been in the church life. 00:11:03.732 --> 00:11:05.500 We know the expectations. 00:11:05.500 --> 00:11:10.200 But sometimes the problem is not just about knowing, but we drift. 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:15.832 So Paul's recalling to them, listen, you all know the instructions, but listen, keep going. 00:11:15.832 --> 00:11:18.832 Do so more and more and more. 00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:26.832 So here's my first point for us this morning that you will grow when you keep the mindset that you are never there yet. 00:11:28.332 --> 00:11:53.033 When you have an attitude of, there is always an area or a level in which I could be growing in my faith, in my time in God's Word, in my sanctification, in my how I deal with sin, and how I do In relationships, there is always areas in which we could be growing and having the mindset of I'm never there yet will keep you from being stagnant. 00:11:53.033 --> 00:11:55.200 Will keep you from being complacent. 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:59.533 Will keep you in a posture of humility and growth. 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:12.633 And so I would encourage you all to have this attitude, a mindset of yourself in your mind, so that when you are pursuing Christ, you don't become complacent or content. 00:12:12.899 --> 00:12:19.899 So Paul goes on here in verse three, he says pretty blatantly, this is the will of God for your life. 00:12:20.899 --> 00:12:25.600 So if anybody here this morning is asking what God's will for my life, I'll tell you right here. 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:29.299 Paul says it, for this is the will of God. 00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:32.299 Here it is your sanctification. 00:12:33.432 --> 00:12:35.633 Can we be any more simple? 00:12:35.633 --> 00:12:37.533 Who who are like simple? 00:12:37.533 --> 00:12:41.932 I like it when it is straightforward and I don't have to guess. 00:12:41.932 --> 00:12:55.700 Paul says, here's my here is God's will for your life, your sanctification, not just the Thessalonian believers in the first century, but everyone in this room and anyone who would ever choose to believe and follow Jesus. 00:12:55.700 --> 00:12:59.265 This is God's will, your sanctification. 00:13:00.566 --> 00:13:11.066 Now, this word is is pretty unique in that this is a Greek word, and this may be too much or, you know, you know, too nerdy for you all, but it's hagiasmos. 00:13:11.066 --> 00:13:17.899 It's basically a word that is used in the Bible, but it's really not found elsewhere outside of the Bible. 00:13:17.899 --> 00:13:21.033 It's kind of a unique word to to Scripture. 00:13:21.033 --> 00:13:27.966 In fact, early Christians use this word to describe their growth and their walk with Jesus. 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:37.100 And what it really means is, is, is sanctification, is this gradual process of being made holy. 00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:45.166 And it begins internally with your heart, in your mind, but then it externally comes out with your actions and your words. 00:13:45.166 --> 00:13:48.500 So notice it's a process. I'm growing. 00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:56.966 I'm developing to be more like Jesus. Begins internally and it comes out into your life externally. 00:13:56.966 --> 00:14:00.799 Now the Bible also says this is pretty, pretty interesting. 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:07.365 The Bible also says that you have been sanctified. 00:14:09.432 --> 00:14:19.799 So how can we be in the process of sanctification, but also past tense, I have already been sanctified. 00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:22.166 Two things are true at once here. 00:14:22.166 --> 00:14:23.932 Do you see that? 00:14:23.932 --> 00:14:35.166 It's because Jesus died on the cross and shed his blood, so that all of your sins are forgiven, so that when God Almighty looks at you, he no longer sees you as you were. 00:14:35.166 --> 00:14:37.232 He sees you as he sees Christ. 00:14:38.633 --> 00:14:42.533 So that means you have been sanctified in one sense. 00:14:42.732 --> 00:14:49.765 But catch this. Now Paul is saying, you now are starting the process of becoming more like Jesus practically. 00:14:50.865 --> 00:14:54.200 Yes, positionally, you look like Jesus. 00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:58.232 You have all of your sins forgiven and you are seen as holy by God. 00:14:58.232 --> 00:15:01.232 But now the test is to live it out. 00:15:02.332 --> 00:15:04.600 It's one thing to be holy in God's eyes. 00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:08.533 It's one thing to now live it out practically in your life. 00:15:09.166 --> 00:15:13.865 So when I mean sanctification here, what I mean is it's the process part. 00:15:13.865 --> 00:15:19.700 You and I are on a process, on a journey of growing in holiness and growing to be like Jesus. 00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:21.200 Our sins are forgiven. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:23.466 We have been saved by grace through faith. But listen to me. 00:15:23.466 --> 00:15:24.932 You have a responsibility now. 00:15:26.566 --> 00:15:29.566 You're no longer a bench player. 00:15:29.666 --> 00:15:32.365 You play a key role in the team. 00:15:32.365 --> 00:15:42.566 You have a responsibility now to grow in your faith. So listen, we cannot expect to grow closer to God by following our own will. 00:15:43.932 --> 00:15:49.666 This is why Paul says, for this is the will of God, your sanctification. 00:15:49.666 --> 00:16:01.666 Notice he doesn't say, for this is the will of man, because frankly, if it was up to me what I would prefer God, I want the blessings of salvation, but I still want to live the same way. 00:16:01.966 --> 00:16:04.332 Thank you God for saving me from my sin. 00:16:04.332 --> 00:16:07.100 Thank you for for for saving me for eternity. 00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:11.265 But now I still want to live the same way that I used to live. 00:16:11.732 --> 00:16:13.166 It sounds like a pretty good plan, doesn't it? 00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:24.033 But that's why it is the will of God for your life, for your sanctification, God's will for your life isn't to come to Jesus and keep living the same way. 00:16:24.033 --> 00:16:29.200 God's will for your life is to come to Jesus and transform into being more like him. 00:16:30.066 --> 00:16:34.633 And I think it's really important to see this played out in the book of Romans here. 00:16:34.633 --> 00:16:37.466 These first two verses of chapter six, look at this in Romans six. 00:16:37.466 --> 00:16:38.932 This helps us understand it. 00:16:38.932 --> 00:16:44.265 Paul's addressing Christians who who he's just said are been saved by grace through faith, by God's love. 00:16:44.265 --> 00:16:52.365 And it says, what shall we say then are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 00:16:52.365 --> 00:16:55.666 He answers it for him by no means how can he? 00:16:55.666 --> 00:16:57.732 We who died to sin, still live in it. 00:16:59.466 --> 00:17:02.466 So the proof is in the pudding. 00:17:02.466 --> 00:17:06.865 If you're alive in Christ, you're no longer going to live in sin anymore. 00:17:06.865 --> 00:17:12.200 I'm not talking about perfection, because all of us are going to continue to fight in the struggle and our and fight against sin. 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:20.400 Yes, but we should see an upward trajectory in our life and upward growth, that we're becoming more like Jesus and less and less like the old self. 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:22.599 Amen. 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:27.665 We should be saying goodbye to the old self and hello to the new. 00:17:28.432 --> 00:17:30.032 So I want you to hear this. 00:17:30.032 --> 00:17:44.299 The process of sanctification is not optional for believers, but it is the inescapable response to knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior. 00:17:45.066 --> 00:17:50.566 Meaning, once you come to know Jesus, you can't escape the desire to become more like him. 00:17:52.732 --> 00:17:59.266 I remember the first time that I held my daughter the day she was born. 00:17:59.266 --> 00:18:02.266 I was filled with all kinds of emotions. 00:18:04.232 --> 00:18:11.133 But I remember also feeling a strong sense of responsibility in that moment as well. 00:18:12.165 --> 00:18:17.799 That once I saw my daughter born, I only had one response to it. 00:18:18.333 --> 00:18:26.266 That was that I was going to do all that I could to love her, protect her, and provide for her for the rest of her life. 00:18:26.266 --> 00:18:33.165 I had no other response to that situation but to do all that I could for her. 00:18:33.965 --> 00:18:39.700 And it's similar of how when we come to know Jesus, we only have one response. 00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:41.865 I want to be like him. 00:18:41.865 --> 00:18:53.365 I want to be more like Jesus, more like God, because of how beautiful, how wonderful, how holy, how awesome, how magnificent, how graceful God is. 00:18:53.365 --> 00:18:55.165 I want to be like that. 00:18:56.900 --> 00:19:04.465 So a test for us, if we truly know Jesus, is that we are taking steps to being like Jesus. 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:10.865 So this is why Paul is considering this to be so important for these believers who had it right. 00:19:10.865 --> 00:19:13.566 But they should continue going. 00:19:13.566 --> 00:19:14.066 Look at this. 00:19:14.066 --> 00:19:15.766 I'm going to come back here to verse three. 00:19:15.766 --> 00:19:20.599 It says, for this is the will of God, your sanctification. 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:22.365 And Paul gives a specific sin here. 00:19:22.365 --> 00:19:24.333 Notice what he says. 00:19:24.333 --> 00:19:35.932 The specific sin that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor. 00:19:36.665 --> 00:19:40.965 Now notice he uses a specific instance of sin right here. 00:19:41.865 --> 00:19:46.532 This word, porneia, it can be many different kinds of sexual sin. 00:19:46.532 --> 00:19:48.665 In fact, it's like an umbrella kind of term. 00:19:49.732 --> 00:19:51.200 It can be adultery. 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:53.165 It can be lust of the heart. 00:19:53.165 --> 00:19:57.532 It can be homosexuality, like it is an umbrella of many sins. 00:19:58.732 --> 00:20:03.633 But I was thinking, why would Paul specifically use this sin in this instance? 00:20:03.633 --> 00:20:06.200 And no other ones? 00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:11.566 It's interesting because he could say abstain from anger, right? 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:13.965 Abstain from lust. 00:20:13.965 --> 00:20:15.165 That's part of anyway. 00:20:15.165 --> 00:20:16.700 Abstain from envy. 00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:18.965 Abstain from greed. 00:20:18.965 --> 00:20:20.333 He could put any sin here, right? 00:20:20.333 --> 00:20:24.599 Because we're called as Christians to fight against sin. All sin. 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:27.299 But why this one? 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:30.299 See, I think there's a particular reason. 00:20:30.465 --> 00:20:52.365 Now, this is me coming out on a little bit of a limb here, but what I think Paul's doing here is he's pointing to the most obvious example of going against God's word, a sin that is so far reaching and effective to not just the people involved directly, but indirectly involved. 00:20:52.833 --> 00:20:58.000 A sin that can be hidden behind a computer and behind stored files. 00:20:58.465 --> 00:21:10.432 A sin that can be hidden behind a closed door, a sin that can creep quietly and then explode and change the trajectory of a church, of a community, of a family. 00:21:11.133 --> 00:21:20.865 I think the reality of this sin is so pervasive and so horrible that Paul puts it here as the clearest example he could probably think of. 00:21:20.865 --> 00:21:29.266 This is not elevated above all other sin, because all sin condemns us before God, but this sin has a little bite to it. 00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:35.465 So I would believe I want to say this here, that the greatest hindrance to your spiritual growth is sin. 00:21:36.599 --> 00:21:38.000 Do you hear me? 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:42.165 The greatest hindrance to your spiritual growth is sin, generally speaking. 00:21:42.165 --> 00:21:47.232 But I will say this sexual sin is of the foremost. 00:21:47.633 --> 00:21:53.099 Sexual sin has a way of hindering our spiritual growth in a way that others don't. 00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:54.232 It's far reaching. 00:21:54.232 --> 00:21:57.032 It affects more people than most other sins. 00:21:57.032 --> 00:22:10.066 But I want to say this that we need to be careful about what's going on in our heart, because it can hinder you from following Jesus and being holy and sanctified. 00:22:10.833 --> 00:22:13.365 But generally speaking, look here at Hebrews chapter 12. 00:22:13.365 --> 00:22:26.032 It says, therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:37.365 You and I are on a race towards godliness, towards holiness, towards sanctification, and there are sins that want to trip you up and form roadblocks in your life. 00:22:37.865 --> 00:22:40.965 And I don't know what that is for you this morning. 00:22:40.965 --> 00:22:47.932 I don't know if there's a particular sin that is a roadblock in your sanctification and your growth in holiness right now. 00:22:48.165 --> 00:22:56.766 And the reality is, if we're all honest with ourselves, some of us probably know what that sin is, but we're unwilling to admit it or talk about it. 00:22:56.766 --> 00:23:00.099 Which is why it's crucial that we have life groups, we have accountability. 00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:04.799 We have people that can pour into our lives that we can walk with to deal with sin. 00:23:05.232 --> 00:23:13.165 So in Christ, sinful passions, the beautiful part about this, that sinful passions and desires that once ruled your life, listen, they are crucified. 00:23:14.599 --> 00:23:19.299 In Jesus, a relationship with Christ, all of those sins that once had control in your life. 00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:20.500 Guess what? 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:24.299 They no longer have power over you, in Jesus. 00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:28.266 The only response that we can actually give sin is we give into it. 00:23:28.266 --> 00:23:29.766 We give sin power. 00:23:29.766 --> 00:23:33.165 But now in Christ we have crucified the flesh. 00:23:33.165 --> 00:23:41.665 Look at this in Galatians five, and those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its own passions and desires. 00:23:42.365 --> 00:23:44.865 That's a beautiful thought this morning. 00:23:44.865 --> 00:23:51.266 You have power over sin in Jesus and you can say no to it. 00:23:51.266 --> 00:24:01.365 But it's also true that believers have the personal responsibility to one, abstain from sin, and control their own bodies. 00:24:01.865 --> 00:24:07.665 Jesus has given you the victory over it, but now you and I are in charge of of saying no to it and controlling our bodies. 00:24:09.066 --> 00:24:12.165 It's not just, Jesus, you do all the work and I'm gonna sit over here. 00:24:12.165 --> 00:24:13.833 It's Jesus gave us the victory. 00:24:13.833 --> 00:24:16.833 Now we're going to walk in it. 00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:23.032 So for us talking about growth in Christ and spiritual growth, we need to fight sin. 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:51.299 Here in verse five, Paul goes on-- not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God, that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all of these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you, Paul, saying here, just like the Gentiles, the worldly unbelievers, just like they live in the flesh, live out their lust, do whatever sin tells them to do. 00:24:52.266 --> 00:24:59.599 Believers are called to the opposite-- to walk in self-control, to walk in abstaining against the flesh. 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:05.932 And he goes on here in verse seven, For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 00:25:07.732 --> 00:25:13.532 God's call for your life is different than the world's calling on your life. 00:25:13.532 --> 00:25:16.365 The world is calling you to sin and rebellion. 00:25:16.365 --> 00:25:20.432 God's calling you to holiness and sanctification. 00:25:21.665 --> 00:25:31.799 He says, therefore, whoever disregards this disregards not man, but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 00:25:32.766 --> 00:25:35.633 And we need to be humbled by this reality. 00:25:35.633 --> 00:25:41.432 You see, sin is not disregarding man's advice, but God's Word. 00:25:42.465 --> 00:25:50.400 When we sin, it's not just we didn't take the advice of a friend, it's that we didn't listen to God's calling on our life. 00:25:54.099 --> 00:25:58.066 And the beautiful part is that God has given us His Holy Spirit. 00:25:58.066 --> 00:26:04.532 God desires to put His Holy Spirit in us, to dwell in us, to correct us, to change us. 00:26:04.532 --> 00:26:08.865 And how dare we ever step away and say, God, I don't want Your Holy Spirit. 00:26:08.865 --> 00:26:10.232 I don't want your guidance. 00:26:10.232 --> 00:26:11.732 I'm going to do it my way. 00:26:13.665 --> 00:26:19.099 There's a famous song I'm sure we're all familiar with it by, Frank Sinatra. 00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:24.566 And he said two words that I think will, will stand the test of time in America. 00:26:24.566 --> 00:26:29.032 And those words are My Way. 00:26:29.032 --> 00:26:34.365 It reflects really, this American mindset that no matter the outcome of life, at least this. 00:26:34.365 --> 00:26:37.365 I did it my way. 00:26:38.099 --> 00:26:42.900 But often we don't think that sometimes our way isn’t God's way. 00:26:43.465 --> 00:26:46.465 In fact, they tend to be the opposite. 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:50.200 But is that true of you today? 00:26:50.365 --> 00:26:52.566 Are you following God's will for your life? 00:26:52.566 --> 00:26:56.865 Are you following your own will for your life? 00:26:56.965 --> 00:27:05.200 So my second point for you this morning is that you will grow when you pursue holiness through killing sin and feasting on God's Word. 00:27:06.333 --> 00:27:11.665 Pursue holiness through killing sin and feasting on God's Word. 00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:15.400 Two very important things practically, as Christians, we should be doing. 00:27:15.400 --> 00:27:18.200 Killing sin and feasting on God's Word. 00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:19.266 And here's why. 00:27:19.266 --> 00:27:25.766 5, put to death therefore what is earthly in you. 00:27:25.766 --> 00:27:27.465 It doesn't mean put it to the side. 00:27:27.465 --> 00:27:28.833 It doesn't mean cover it up. 00:27:28.833 --> 00:27:33.532 It means kill the sin or else it's going to kill you. 00:27:34.432 --> 00:27:36.700 Kill sin in your life. 00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:38.133 Don't give it breath. 00:27:38.133 --> 00:27:39.566 Don't give it time. 00:27:39.566 --> 00:27:41.000 Don't give it energy. 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:43.165 Don't give it your eyes on your phone. 00:27:43.165 --> 00:27:45.732 Kill it dead. 00:27:45.732 --> 00:27:51.766 And notice the first thing that Paul says in the book of Colossians sexual immorality. 00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:58.799 It is such a pervasive sin that Paul had to deal with it in bunches because of the Greek culture that he lived in. 00:27:58.799 --> 00:28:03.232 And we live in a similar culture today than we than they did in the first century. 00:28:04.965 --> 00:28:06.432 Puts into death. 00:28:06.432 --> 00:28:08.299 Second thing, we need a feast on God's Word. 00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:12.165 7, Sanctify. 00:28:12.165 --> 00:28:13.732 There's that word sanctification. 00:28:13.732 --> 00:28:15.566 Sanctify them in the truth. 00:28:15.566 --> 00:28:17.932 Your word is truth. 00:28:17.932 --> 00:28:19.333 You want to be sanctified? 00:28:19.333 --> 00:28:21.900 Get in the Word of God. 00:28:21.900 --> 00:28:25.066 You want to pursue holiness and obey the will of God. 00:28:25.066 --> 00:28:28.066 You have to get in his word. 00:28:29.165 --> 00:28:31.365 Let's get back here to the verse. 00:28:31.365 --> 00:28:36.732 Actually, I’ve got another point for us, actually. Jump to the next point before we get back into the verse. 00:28:36.732 --> 00:28:47.200 Your sanctification, and this is crucial, your sanctification is not a waiting game, but an active struggle to grow in holiness. 00:28:47.566 --> 00:28:49.700 You and I are a part of this now. 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:55.066 When you accept Christ, you and I are now pushing to become more like Jesus. 00:28:55.133 --> 00:28:57.032 So I'll give you this third point here this morning. 00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:04.133 You will grow when you remember you are never on your own. 00:29:05.032 --> 00:29:10.365 I think this is a reality you all need to remember, because sometimes we think I've got to do it all myself. 00:29:10.465 --> 00:29:15.400 The Bible is not a do it yourself help book. 00:29:15.400 --> 00:29:19.599 It is, in fact, God will empower you to do the work. 00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:32.566 18, And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. 00:29:32.566 --> 00:29:37.732 And notice for this comes from the Lord, who is the spirit. 00:29:37.732 --> 00:29:42.432 The Holy Spirit will empower you to grow, to be sanctified in your faith. 00:29:42.432 --> 00:29:44.333 And here's a verse that I hope would encourage you 00:29:44.333 --> 00:29:55.333 6, And I'm sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 00:29:55.333 --> 00:29:58.932 If Jesus started it, he's going to finish it. 00:29:58.932 --> 00:30:04.566 If he started the work of sanctification in your life, you can bet he's going to finish it. 00:30:04.566 --> 00:30:06.665 So trust him in the process. 00:30:06.665 --> 00:30:11.665 You are not on your own this morning or ever. 00:30:11.665 --> 00:30:14.732 Let's wrap up these final verses here in this passage for us. 00:30:14.732 --> 00:30:21.299 First Thessalonians four verse nine, it says, now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write to you. 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:24.732 For you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. 00:30:24.732 --> 00:30:30.266 For that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. 00:30:31.232 --> 00:30:36.965 But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more. 00:30:38.266 --> 00:30:40.465 So Paul gets to a practical thing here. 00:30:40.465 --> 00:30:45.232 He says, you were already loving your brothers in Christ. 00:30:45.232 --> 00:30:47.500 Keep going. 00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:49.900 And honestly, for us, sanctification. 00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:55.665 This process can be seen and how we love one another in the church. 00:30:55.665 --> 00:30:59.133 And I'm so thankful for this at Valley View. 00:30:59.133 --> 00:31:09.299 I'm so thankful for how we love one another at Valley View, and this is a a proof that we're being sanctified is that we love people. 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:10.865 But it's also true here in verse 11. 00:31:10.865 --> 00:31:26.965 Look what he says here, he says, and to aspire to live quietly and to mind your own affairs and to work with your hands as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. 00:31:27.266 --> 00:31:37.365 So not only should we be loving our brothers in Christ in the church, but sanctification can also be seen in how we love and work among those outside the church. 00:31:39.465 --> 00:31:53.766 That your place of work, the grocery store, your families, those people who exist outside the church, but how you work, but how you love them, that's a proof of that you're sanctified. 00:31:53.766 --> 00:32:01.665 So consider are you growing in this way that you're loving those inside the church and loving those outside the church? 00:32:01.799 --> 00:32:13.299 And here's my final point for this this morning. You will grow when you remain active in love and work, you will grow and remain. 00:32:13.299 --> 00:32:16.333 When you remain active in love and work. 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:23.165 I believe it keeps us from being complacent when we are active in loving people. 00:32:23.165 --> 00:32:28.465 It keeps us from being complacent when we are active and working alongside of others. 00:32:28.465 --> 00:32:28.965 Look at this 00:32:28.965 --> 00:32:43.932 9, for you remember, brothers, our labor and toil, we worked night and day that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaim to you the gospel of God. 00:32:43.965 --> 00:32:56.633 See for you and I we are called to live out our faith wherever we go and whether we are at work or at home, in the church, outside the church, that we love people and we carry ourselves so that we're not a burden to anybody. 00:32:56.633 --> 00:32:59.566 So here's your challenge for this morning. 00:32:59.566 --> 00:33:06.266 Do you have the attitude that you are never there yet in your spiritual growth? 00:33:07.365 --> 00:33:11.932 Would you say that's your attitude in your posture towards God? 00:33:11.932 --> 00:33:18.599 Would you say that you have this, this pursuit of God that's unending in this life? 00:33:18.599 --> 00:33:25.365 Or is it that you feel like you've kind of drifted, you've become complacent, and I'm here to tell you that I've been there. 00:33:26.833 --> 00:33:28.799 I'm not speaking as someone who's arrived there yet. 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:30.965 I'm speaking as someone who's on the journey with you. 00:33:30.965 --> 00:33:34.532 And it is often that I sometimes get complacent in my faith. 00:33:34.532 --> 00:33:37.532 But hear me out. 00:33:37.566 --> 00:33:39.900 You're not alone. 00:33:39.900 --> 00:33:41.700 You're not alone because God is with you. 00:33:41.700 --> 00:33:43.365 Your church is with you. 00:33:43.365 --> 00:33:54.932 There is no sin that can hinder you so far to keep you from God, and you have every ability and opportunity to grow closer to Christ. 00:33:54.932 --> 00:33:58.932 If we keep this mindset that we are never there yet. 00:33:58.932 --> 00:34:01.532 And I want to encourage you with this, with this final verse here. 00:34:01.532 --> 00:34:05.900 I know I've given you a lot of Scripture, but if you know me, I am more. 00:34:06.066 --> 00:34:09.000 I'm more concerned about you hearing from God's Word than my word. 00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:09.833 Right? 00:34:09.833 --> 00:34:12.099 That's why I throw up so much scripture. 00:34:12.099 --> 00:34:15.500 I had some of my students say, why do you use so much scripture? 00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:18.865 Because I'd rather you hear from God instead of me. 00:34:18.865 --> 00:34:21.166 But I want to encourage you with this last bit of scripture, okay? 00:34:21.166 --> 00:34:22.300 And I'm just going to read this for you. 00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:31.900 I'm not going to explain it because it's I think it's pretty self explanatory, but I want to read this for you this morning, and I hope this would encourage you for this reason. 00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:50.632 Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge and knowledge with self-control and self-control, with steadfastness and steadfastness with godliness and godliness with brotherly affection and brotherly affection with love. 00:34:51.400 --> 00:35:03.766 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing --they're growing-- they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:35:03.766 --> 00:35:11.865 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 00:35:11.865 --> 00:35:22.766 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 00:35:22.932 --> 00:35:27.800 I urge you, brothers and sisters, this morning, don't stop. 00:35:28.266 --> 00:35:30.000 Keep going. 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:40.000 Do so more and more till the Lord Jesus returns or you go back to be home with the Lord because it is a journey to be more like Jesus in this life. 00:35:41.333 --> 00:35:42.000 Let's pray.