(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph. Happy reading!)
Continuing in the subject of change, we have seen how we ought to be selfless just as Jesus, and humble ourselves just as Jesus did. The word of God reveals to us the glory of God-we must behold the glory of Jesus; and when we do that we ourselves will be changed from glory to glory according to 2 Cor. 3:18. Apostle John knew this first hand: he says in 1 John 2:6, “He who says he abides in Him (Jesus) ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” So the onus is really upon us-believers in Jesus Christ, whether to follow Christ or to refrain from following Him. If we want to follow Jesus, every walk that we walk must be filled with purposeful decision to walk just as He walked!
And today I would like us to concentrate on just one aspect of change, that of purity. 1 John 3:3 says: And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Now turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face; and we, though living in a wicked world among a wicked generation, can experience change, and live pure lives.
Apostle John was writing to the believers at a time when there was a heresy being propagated which held the view that the spirit is always pure and invulnerable to what happens in the soul and body; therefore one can do whatever he wants in the body, yet commune with the Holy Spirit because his spirit is always pure. And believers were being deceived by this heresy, and were turning to wickedness and immorality. Apostle John writes a simple, uncomplicated letter to those believers with a central theme: Walk as Jesus walked.
John’s letter is written in a simple language, in contrast to the letters of Paul to the churches that had deep theological content and rich language. John addresses the issue directly: Do you have a hope of seeing Jesus? If you do, then walk as Jesus walked. It does not matter what the world says; it does not matter what close friends or neighbours do. They may call black as white and say white is black! They may say that times are changing, and knowledge has increased, and that social acceptance will decide what is right and wrong. But you, just look at Jesus!
And today we sang songs that describe God’s holiness. The Bible says that we ought to be holy and without blame before Him (Eph. 1:4). And for practical application in our own lives, I have divided this message into parts: let’s see them one by one.
1. Be pure in thought and heart
One of the beatitudes that Jesus spoke on that mountain is this: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matt. 5: 8)
In the Old Testament times, it was commanded in the law that one should not commit adultery. That is a sin in the body. But in the New Testament, Jesus has raised the bar higher, and now the expectation by His enabling is that we should be pure in our thoughts and in our hearts. We have a new standard, set by Jesus Himself; follow Him.
2. Be faithful in little things
Luke 16:10 says: He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
Honesty is not only the best policy, but also a necessity for a Christian. In all our dealing with people, we must be known as people of integrity and faithfulness. People of this world may not find this attractive, but will give in to shrewdness rather than honesty. But do not let the lower standards of the world, have its influence in any area of your life, because our example is not from the world, nor from our own friends, nor from the people of the church, but really only Lord Jesus. Apostle Paul in one of his letters admonishes that those who are not faithful in the church are not worthy to be called as a brother!
3. Pay your debts
This is a very practical approach to purity. Do not owe anyone anything, mostly with regard to your finances. Pay all that you owe. Apostle Paul has this practical advice for each one of us, according to Romans 13:8 which says: Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
4. Speak the truth
Eph. 4:25 goes like this: Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
There is neither a white lie nor a black lie, but just a lie. Therefore lay aside every form of lie and speak the truth always!
5. Say no rotten word
Apostle Paul writes again in Eph. 4:29: Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Look around yourself and see what the world is talking about, what the newspapers talk about and what people write in social networks-you can find corrupt words more often than not. I remember a church service many years ago, where a foreigner who had come to India, shared the word of God. I do not remember what he shared about, but during the course of his speaking, he uttered one rotten word, that still lingers in my mind. Maybe they use it frequently in their own country, but it was quite shocking for me. When in doubt, what I have learnt is to, look at Jesus. Our standard is God’s own word-and it says not one rotten word!
6. Seek good company
Do not be deceived saying, you will never be influenced by your peers and friends you hang out with. For the word of God says, Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; (1 Cor. 15: 33, 34)
Therefore choose your friends (and social network ‘friends’) with care; choose friends with good moral values and good habits. It is good to on a Sunday and sing songs about the holiness of God; but it is even better to walk like Jesus walked. This will please our God more!
We serve a Holy God, we are made a holy nation of His own choosing-a royal priesthood. Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love...but fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting... [Eph. 5: 1-4]
Read Psalm 1, where it says blessed are those who do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the law of the Lord... this man shall be blessed and whatever he does shall prosper.
We require a whole change in our lifestyle; maybe we have to give up some profitable means of earning; maybe we have to give up on a few ‘friends’; maybe we have to adjust ourselves to the new and higher standard of God’s calling... I do not know what you have to do, but I know you know and you can decide for yourself. Holiness is not a ‘feeling’ in times of worship and song; it is a lifestyle to live all day long. Bring every thought into captivity as only a child of God could, being faithful in even little matters. Be honest with yourself and with others, and carefully choose your companions. No rotten word, and no debt... as we purify ourselves just as He is pure, because soon and very soon, we are going to see the King Jesus.
Let me close with the benediction found in 1 Thess. 5: 23, 24:
“Now may the God of p sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”
Amen.
