Joshua Shetter - Jan. 20th, 2018

That is one of the beautiful providences of God to establish the church as a place where people who have been redeemed. who have been resurrected who have tasted and seen the goodness of God and come together and remind each other and seen together of the beautiful truth of the Gospel another word of God. So this is a blessing for me every week to seeing these truths with y'all to be reminded of them because during the week if you're like me you get kind of Beat down by something you get distracted by something. You you miss it missed your time of the word hear you miss your time. And where they're you miss prayer there in before, you know, what the the cares of the world in the in the ways of the world are kind of pressing in. And in a and nudging out the things of God is going to come and just be reminded of these glorious truths that glorious certain for crisis in me. And I have died to this world to sing it to say it. This is true of me in such a blessing. So I hope you see that as well that we're not just hope we're not just parroting words, but you're surrounded by people who believe the same thing and they're they're struggling with you. They're walking with you until when you hear them sing. I hope you hear them say I'm with you I'm with you I'm with you. I believe the same thing and that's what the God and His Providence has given us what a gift to walk with people. in Christ likeness

So let's go to the beach and 6. 17 is where we are today Vision 6:17.

We look at the beginning of 17 last week the helmet of salvation this week. We're looking at the second part of that verse. Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation in the day. We're looking at and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.

There is a particularly dangerous teaching and some churches that. Is old it's almost as old as the church itself. And that is at the god of the Old Testament is different from the god of the New Testament. I'm sure you all heard that it's even taught in churches, unfortunately and in the even people allow people to go to church believe that as well because the god of the Old Testament is vindictive and mean and scary and judgmental and got in the New Testament is sweet and kind and cuddly and to be fair the Old Testament is pretty violent time and you can just think of a few stories right now. I'll give you a few one that I believe Kevin mentioned last week was Samuel hacking to death King agag in front of the Lord. Hacking him to death with a sword hewing him to pieces. Then you have Aiken member Aiken. He grabbed something from Jericho of forbidden items from Jericho and they were defeated in battle and got to do sin among you and so they they took lots and they found it was making you know, what they did to end a stone him in his whole family. Stone it like blood in them to death isn't really I then the one of the most disturbing stories is what happened to give you a human what happened to give you it was it is it kind of a Cycle through again of the Sodom and Gomorrah story that the men of the Town gathered around this this travel Who coming to town and said bring them out so that we may know him as what the what the Bible says about. We have relations with him until the man says, let me send out this my my concubine of my daughter and so he sends out the concubine the daughter and them in Buda brutalizer all night and in the morning the guy gets to leave and he says come on get up and she's dead. So he chops her up into 12 pieces and sends a piece to each of the Twelve Tribes as a warning. That's so that the tribes rise up and say we need to do something about this. So they go to give me and say turn over those men and the benjamites that's for the tribe was I said, we're not going to turn them over. So they have this war thousands die. So is the Old Testament bloody? Yes, it's bloody to say the least steak. If we think the New Testament isn't. We don't see as many stories about people being hacked to Pieces. We don't see people like being bludgeoned to death. So actually better word to say the New Testament is a bloody nose a violent is the New Testament violent. Yes, but in a different way, isn't it? I think sometimes we fall into the mistake of saying the Old Testament that they were violent and they in the end everything was kind of out in the physical world. And so they had to send in the camping so they had to kill akin to to cleanse the scent that the camp from Sand and so they were able to the follow God and they had to put that God had a literal Pillar of Fire and a column of smoke and you can see the quail fall in the New Testament. It's all kind of feelings and it's all internalized and So it's not as serious as not as a violent. It's it's more of a weave baby proofed the Christianity in a sentence. But really I mean look at what pulse and effusion chapter 6 he's talking about armor. Unless this is a dress up party unless we're just saying. Hey, let's all where are more cuz it look cute armors meant to deflect arrows is meant to keep you from dying it armor by its very nature is violent. And if you say if you tried it, if you come to this point in the passage and you say well, you know, it just kind of is a defensive thing and I'll just wear the armor and stand in the corner when you get 2 verse 17, you're you're not really left with that option. Are you there's a sword? Unless you're going to leave it in the Scabbard and then when this big hulking man comes up to you just got to go. And point at it and you hope that's enough that he'll walk away. She ain't easy when I got down here. Oh, sorry, bro. But that's kind of how we think of the New Testament is in it. That is all kind of safe safe for the whole family. That was the tagline of the Christian radio station in Texas safe for the whole family. Every time I said, I would think of Aslan for that the quote about Aslan he is a picture of the Lion of the tribe of Judah in the in The Chronicles of Narnia and they say is he safe and he says no, but he is good. So Jesus isn't safe, but he is good. Being a Christian is not safe. if you want to be safe from from from danger and from struggle and from trial and even from Fear Christianity is not the place for you. Yeah, yeah, you can eat if you can put all your fears on him and you can and you can have your confidence in him, but you will not always do that perfectly. So you're a have time of Doubt like like David did. You have you have times of pain and struggle? The Christian Life my friends to be clear is one of violence. The violence wasn't left in the Old Testament. The Christian Life is one of violence. So we're going to talk about today. How how are we to be violent know? What does it mean that the Christian Life is Viola? Let me just say before you continue that when I use the word baby proof, you know anywhere you round all the sharp edges in your house because you have a baby and you put all the Knives Out Of Reach. I feel like sometimes we've done that to church and we want to make everything soft and palatable because we don't want the baby Christians and come tottering by and grab a hold of something that sharp and then I get scared and they don't come back, but you know what baby Christians want Truth they want something sharp because out there they're getting their butt handed to him. They're getting beat up to get beat down. There there. The world is filling their mind with lies and they come to church and they say give me something give me something give me truth. Give me give me some rock to hold on to give me give me at the glory of God. Show me Jesus and we're giving them. 7 tips on how to have good finances

You know who wants the the route that the sharp edges rounded, you know who wants all the sharp things put away. non-believers and so we are setting up our church to cater to people who don't want the shark things of God who don't want violence. Those are unbelievers true baby. Christian say feed me feed me give me a sort of hold onto so I can stand in the evil day and having done all to stand there hungry the ones you don't want any part of the non-believers. We should cater to them. I can go on about that. I better not. Okay back to the verse 17 the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. So how do we as Christians? Will the sword of the spirit the word of God? How do we do violence in the Christian Life? What is two ways one where violent against our own sin? We're violence against our own heart. We're violent against ourselves. You see what they did in the Old Testament aikenhead sin. And then those those benjaminites had sinned and you see how the whole people rose up and said we will destroy we will eradicate this Sin from us. We hate sand. We want Purity one Holiness we want intimacy when want to walk in lockstep with our God and then we get to the New Testament we lose that.

Retreats in as I said before like it's a piece of lint on her clothes.

When it's actually a cancer of the Soul. Two cancer of the heart and it can spread and incorrupt more and more things in progress more and more. Are we serious about this sin in our lives? Are we violent to use that? That's what the Puritans called a holy violence to rise up and violence against this the corrupting presence of sin in our lives. Do we hold the gospel up to it? What do we take the word of God and use it as a effective sword weapon against the sin in our lives or do we just say

It'll go away of its own accord.

During the 1860s in the state's you might have heard they have had a civil war. And there were two camps one. Let's just let it go on its own. Let's just over over the course of a few years slavery will just kind of died on its own.

and the other Camp was let's end it now. Let's Outlaw it. Let's get let's get arms together. Let's forcefully in slavery because it is inhuman it is a sin it is immoral. And so y'all know what happened they say what date did the Campostella send it now one and they got the Army together and half over half a million men died in the American Civil War 600,000 men.

Because they saw it as a immoral sin against God a lot of them. So they said we will rise up and we will stop this inhumanity of owning human being it is wrong. And the man who said his own record, they had a misunderstanding of the human heart. All of their own accord, they'll give up this money making scheme. I know give up these simple practices because there are decent people know it took it took Force to end it and so are you thinking about that sin in your life in such a way that was going to go along with what are you going to rise up against it are going to gather your forces of goodness and righteousness in the word of God in the holy spirit of God. And in the people of God to say I will in this so how does this happen?

Hebrews 4 chapter 12

Hebrews 4 is an interesting passage because he says he's using the example of the people of Israel going through the desert and when they come to the promised land not everyone and not everyone is able their promise to answer but not everyone is able to enter because of their unbelief and he says in verse 2 chapter 4 verse 3 indeed we have had good news priests to us just as they also but the word they heard did not profit them because it was not United by faith in those who heard so they did not believe whatever 6 he says therefore since it remains for some to enter it and those who formerly had good news Priests of them failed to enter Because of Disobedience. So belief and faith is tied to obedience.

And then verse 11 after he's talked about entering rest. He's talked about the promised land then he taught he ties it to us. Therefore. Let us be diligent to enter that rest so that no one will fall through following the same example of Disobedience. So the Israelites who fell in the wilderness because they were disobedient. They did not believe God they were not able to enter the rest. I'm looking for 12. If you've ever noticed that the context of this verse is in the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as a division of Soul and Spirit of both joints and Marrow and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from his sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of him. With whom we have to do. What's interesting there? If you look at verse 13 that phrase with whom we we have to do after it says laid bare to the eyes of him. With whom we have to do in the Greeks actually with whom we have a word. So he uses the word again. It's kind of he's doing a play on words Sunburst movies has the word of God is living and active and I could show you what your the thoughts and intentions of your heart who you really are what your priorities really are and there is no creature hidden from his sight. Everything is light beer to him to him to whom we have a word or to put it in English. I guess more Modern English to him. We have to have a word with at the end or to put even more simply does your word matches? Does your word match his? Because at the end you're going to have to have a word with him and judgment. So does your word match is how do you know what his word says verse 12 his word shows you his will but it's weird also judges your heart. What are the thoughts and intentions of your heart? Some of you may be more organized in other than more fastidious and careful and if he could careful record of everything but scripturally speaking even in the Old Testament. He said be careful to obey be careful to obey Universe 11 be diligent.

Oh when I think about it, no be careful be diligent use the word of God to judge the thoughts and intentions of your heart. The heart is deceitful. We we deceive ourselves so easily and so we could be like that the people of Israel going on to the world Ernest and the end in knowing that there's a promise that of this this this canaanland. This is Heavenly promise to us. It's Heavenly promise. The faces you not is not United with obedience. And as James says that's not faith. It's all remember in Ephesians chapter 6 Paula saying this is how you stand you put on the armor of God you put on these things any of the sword of the spirit. You can use the sword of the spirit to understand or to see that your own heart. Where do you stand? If you find yourself falling falling falling falling falling falling falling falling that you have no desire for obedience. You have yet you have no evidence of obedience have no evidence of fruit. You have you have no desire to stand you. Have you have no no history of any standing? Then maybe if you deceive yourself.

You go out into the Wilderness and you come just short of the Promised Land. Because you say I professed Faith but I haven't I haven't really had faith. I haven't really stood I haven't been able to stand because I don't have the spirit within me. I don't I don't have the armor of God because I'm not a child of God. The word of God is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of your heart. And this is another reason why we come together in church. Are you deceiving yourself? Are you rationalizing on sin? Are you ignoring the hard parts of scripture and going to the part that just make you come feel comfortable. Are you humble in your life under the authoritative word of God that ferrets out those things in your life that you try to hide the things that you hold onto? The things you push to the back and say, yep, I'm a Christian and the the holy spirit is saying what is this Josh? What is this? You know, what does that the spirit uses the word to ferret those things out? So some of you may not even ever touch the bible. Never read it never open it until you come to church ask yourself. Why is it because you know what it will do to you.

When I was running from the call to Ministry, and I knew God was just pounding me. I didn't read the Bible for months. Cuz I knew the second I opened it would just be God hitting me and I would know the truth as soon as I as I read it. I saw it everywhere. It was after me in every verse and that's what he does. So ask yourself. Are you avoiding the word of God because it will cut you. And you rationalize by saying Jesus is nice. The Bible isn't is friendly the holy spirit is cuddly like a teddy bear Christianity is cute and fun. No, it's not. It's violent. It's serious. It's diligence. It's fighting it's striving. It's running. Paul says I have fought the good fight. I have finished my course running course. I have kept the faith. You didn't say I have taken a good nap. I have a good sit-down no is a fight. So if you're not fighting you not living you're not a Christian now does it mean you going to be perfect? What it means there will be movement Derby trajectory. the Rio a hatred of sin

So James go to chapter James chapter 1. What is this look like further? How the spirit wields the sword of the word of God in our own lives.

James chapter 1 verse 21

therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness and in humility receive the word implanted which is able to save your souls. But proved yourselves doers of the word, not merely hearers who delude themselves. There's a deluding yourself that deceiving yourself. So you go to church you like? Yes. I love to hear it. I love it. You do it that's Old Testament. No do it if anyone is he here of the word and not to do or he was like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror for once. He has looked at himself and gone away. He has a meet Lee forgotten what kind of person you was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law the law of Liberty and abide by it not having become a forgetful here, but ineffectual do this man will be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious and yet does not Bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart. There's a deceiving your heart. Again. This man's religion is worthless pure and undefiled religion in the side of our God and Father is this to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

So please do not do what I did for years as a teenager and as a Young Man. D serious eyes passages like this that's not really work. But to make passages like this more palatable in and fluffy and friendly and say maybe the super Christians maybe the pastor's do this. No he is talking about Christianity diligence looking intently at the perfect law-abiding buy it and if you are a do or you are a effectual and you are blessed and what you do, you are not deceiving your own heart you are not deluding yourself to do think of Christianity is just hearing and going through the motions is to delude yourself.

A Christian will walk a Christian will fight a Christian will run the race again, not perfectly if you have to stumble down the track. If you have to stand like in the Alamo and fight to the last man to die, you will because you know the truth and the truth will set you free. And so there's no other no other place you rather be as it's as if it's as if you're like Peter and then are you going to leave me too? And he said where else would we go? You have the words of life. I'm not going to go anywhere else. You have the words of life. You are the truth. I will stand and fight if I get my arms locked off no matter what that's a Christian to do not delude yourself into saying that that's another level but it's it's all Christians. The spirit wields the word of God to show you who you are looking verse.

23 he looks I hear the word and I'll do her. He was like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror. So you see yourself in the word of God. You see your true self verse 25. He looks intently at the perfect law the law of Liberty and abides by it. So you look at the law you look at the word of God and it shows you who you truly are. So that's the antidote to deluding yourself.

I'm a pretty good old boy. I do this I do that. I haven't done this bad thing. I've done that band thing. I'm doing pretty good. You look at the perfect law. You see what you really really are. And that you still are in need of Grace now as in when you first believed. And so you like I say hey you say you say I walk in Grace? And by God's grace, I put to death this thing that I see reflected in the mirror this sin that I see pointed out by the word of God to the spirit grabs ahold of the word and applies that to the to the send in my life that I didn't see before but I come to church and I've heard this lesson. I've heard this Sunday school lesson for this sermon and is convicted me and because I'm a doer of the word I will repent of that. I will get accountability if I need it. I'll get somebody in my life and say how's that fight going brother? How's that fight going sister? I will not just put it on the list and put it on a list and put it in a drawer and forget about it. I will fight it. The spirit has revealed it to me and by the spirit. I will kill it. John Owen says be killing sin or it will be killing you. best of violence against the sin in your own life That's number one in the spirit Wills the word incentive in sanctifying US cleansing us from all sin II way that the spirit Wills the word is outside of us against the schemes of the devil in this world. Go to John chapter 16.

John 16

47 John 16:7

But I tell you the truth it is to your advantage that I go away for if I do not go away. The helper will not come to you but if I go I will send him to you and he when he comes that's the spirit. He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment concerning sin because they do not believe in me and concerning righteousness because I go to the father and you no longer see me and concerning judgment because the ruler of this world has been judged. So you see that the spirit will do three things. He will convict the world of sin. You can fit the world of righteousness and he will convict the world of judgement. What does that mean will hear Jesus gives us a little bit explanation. He says in verse 9. He was convicted World concerning sin. Why because they do not believe in me. So what is a synonym convicting that he's a conviction the world of unbelief? Unbelief, not believing in Jesus. And so now that Jesus has gone and we see in and burst any says concerning righteousness because I go to the father and you no longer see me. So now that Jesus is gone and we have the spirit sent to us. How is the world convicted of unbelief? How was the world convicted of their unrighteousness? And how is the world shown their judgment there? Just judgment under God. I'll tell you how through the word of God. The spirit convicts the world concerning sin and righteousness is in judgment through us proclaiming the word.

Because if we stand up and we say it is by my own authority that I Proclaim judgment on you it is by on my own authority that I say that what you're doing is none righteous. It is my own authority that I'm saying that you are unbelievers and that you are justly condemned because you do not believe in Jesus. Who am I to down Josh? You want me to thority? But if we stand on the authority of the word of God if we Proclaim that then their beef is not with us their beef is with the word of God is with what he has said regarding himself his own standards. This send that I judge you for is not believing in the only Messiah I sent to save and you rejected him. Thus your judgment is just This righteousness that I put in front of you is not my righteousness as Josh shutter. What is the righteousness of Christ is the description of righteousness from the word of God so I can say here is God's standard? I'm not the one I'm not the standard. The church is not the standard is the standard. And you are justly condemned if you reject this standard revealed by God for your salvation. And so the Holy Spirit takes of the word of God and can fix the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. But how are they going to do that? If you're not preaching the word?

Or how are they going to do that? How how are they can be convicted of sin? If you're watering it down. If you're removing the violence, if your rounding off the sharp edges of the sword if you're turning the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God into a Maybe The Wooden Spoon

Maybe one of those inflatable swords.

And then you say why isn't the world impressed? It's an inflatable sword. You're not offering anything. You're not offering any cutting. You're not offering any hope not offering any solution to the problem. You're not offering any truth. You're offering a knockoff version of the truth. Which is a lie. I told to set up Church in a palatable comforting Safeway is to do Injustice 2 the truth of God, but also is to lie to the world would they need to hear is that they stand under the just Judgment of God for their sin? And the only hope for their salvation is Jesus Christ his only death on the cross. And so if we tried around that off we let this we keep the sword and then in the Scabbard or we try to make it cute sea and we try to bring all these other things other than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We try to bring in fun and games and and smoke machines and all these things in it. We they lose the power.

Imagine if we went to death row. And we had pardons in our pockets. But we thought what we want to be we want to make them feel comfortable. So we had his dancing. We're doing all this stuff seem like they would say just tell me what you're here for tell me what I need to hear. I need a pardon. Oh, yeah, you just say so what is it always business? So can we cut to the Chase and say there is a God he requires righteousness. You are unrighteous. He sent a righteous one to be righteous in your place. Have faith in him. And you proclaim the gospel boldly. But you helped me become a pathetic and we become passive. This is one of the this is our speaking especially to the man. This is one of the pernicious lies and dangerous and the church passive men. imagine Your kids at school. They're on the playground and some man has set up a little table and he's handing out drugs to your kids or he's handing out pamphlets that tell of debauchery or or lies are coltish material. Would you sit at home be like, well, you know, that's not ideal. It's not what you want to shame. Maybe I'll pray against it. No, hopefully you go to the playground and stop him. Can I get a witness? Who is Josh Wood? Good. Yooper. Can't you protect your kids you stand between them and evil and lies. And yet don't are we kind of doing that with our kids with our wives? What the world? I know it's not what you want to see is it no, no get out there and proclaim the truth. This is wrong. You don't have to be mean, you know what they're like it people over there when you go there and this is the truth. How do I know because it's in the Bible. This Is What God Says This is only thing that saves what they're saying is lies don't listen to them. Fight For Truth Proclaim boldly, why might get hurt

Is the song I like he says I'm coming. I'm coming home singing to his wife. He says I'm coming home to you with my own blood in my mouth. Not like the image he's gone out there and he's fought and he's gotten hit in the face a few times and he's bleeding in his mouth, but he's coming home and he's fought for his family. He's fought for the truth. So that's where violence is needed in the Church of violence in in yourself. First to say Where am I sending? Where am I holding on to sin? And by God's grace. The spirit of God is going to take his weapon and apply it Like a Surgeon to me. And then by God's grace, the spirit will allow me to take the weapon of the word of God and Proclaim boldly the truth to this lost and dying world and I will stand in the Gap to protect my wife to protect my children to to protect my church from wolves. And I will just pray against them. I won't sign a petition. I'll go get in their face and say here is the truth. You will not disseminate lies to my kids and my wife.

They will hear and believe the truth only.

Romans 10:17 faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. So the clothes application number one know the word Psalm 119 11 that the famous verse that word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against the

very clear. How do you not send? Hide the word in your heart.

That's not a magic formula. I memorize the whole body when I'm still standing Josh. Are you hide the word in your heart and you do what Jesus did on a spit when that when the when Satan came to him or what he did he responded to the temptation to Satan with the word with the word with the word with the word man does not live by bread alone. But by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Satan here's a truth seems like and I'll give you this I'll give you this. How about this? How about this? Here's the truth. Here's the truth. Here's a truth hears the word of God. And that's how you resist temptation. That's how you fight sin in your own life.

numbers 15

Has turned re4u numbers 15, this is what God Said to the people of Israel 1537. The Lord also spoke to Moses saying speak to the sons of Israel and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations and they shall put them on the put on the tassel of each Corner. A quart of blue is Shelby a tassel for you to look at and remember all the Commandments of the Lord why so what's to do then and not follow your own heart and your own eyes after which you play the Harlot. In order that you may remember again to do all my Commandments and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God. remember remember remember so when you are being violent against this in your own life to here's what he's saying to do remember the commandments so that you will follow them and not follow your own heart and your own eyes the less the guys remember the scriptures print them on their forehead. Put them on your heart soak yourself in them memorize them.

I was going to say this but go ahead and say it. If I hear one more time, somebody tell me. I don't really like reading because I'm a visual learner. I'm going to slap you across the face.

In reference to the Bible. Do you want anything else fine, but that to me says why didn't God do this in a PowerPoint presentation? Why didn't he bring some sort of cool video that I can watch instead of read the Bible. This is how he's revealed himself to you and the word of God.

Have to read the Bible you have to you have to you have to if you're not a visual learner Sorry God didn't make a PowerPoint presentation read the scriptures so that you will not follow your heart and you'll be holy to your God knows how I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God to be your God. I am the Lord your God he repeats himself and he reminds them of what he's done. Remember me?

secondly that is that is for the violence of a fight in the senior on like the second application is for the boldness and proclaiming the word to the world Titus Chapter 2.

first one

I don't have a line of people after the service saying I'm a visual learner don't do nothing but ask for you to speak the things which are fitting for sound Doctrine older men are to be temperate dignified as sensible sound in faith and love and perseverance older men likewise iffy rev in their behavior. Not malicious gossip snoring say too much wine teaching what is good so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands to love their children to be sensible pure workers at home kind being subject to their own husbands so that the word of God will not be Dishonored likewise urged young man to be sensible in all things show yourself to be an example of Good Deeds with Purity and sound. Doctor and dignified sound and speech which is beyond reproach so that the opponent will be put to shame having nothing bad to say about us. Orange Bond slaves to be subject to their own masters and everything to be well pleasing not argumentative not pilfering but showing all good faith so that they will Adorn the doctrine of God our savior in every respect for the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly righteously and godly in the present age looking for the Blessed hope in the appearing of the glory of our great God and savior Christ Jesus who gave himself for us to redeem us from every Lawless deed and to purify for himself up people for his own possession zealous for Good Deeds these things all of these things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you. So this isn't just for the minister. This is for everyone older mended our to be do this and and to teach the young men and older women are to teach the young women in to be sensible to be kind to to be an example of pure Doctrine dignified sound and speech Beyond reproach and 14. He gave himself why to redeem us from every last deed and to purify for himself a people for his own possession zealous for Good Deeds. Action we've seen an infusion. Whatever action action action walk stand firm. Says be zealous for Good Deeds. You were purified to be zealous. And so these are actions that we can all taken. So it seems to be like all the pastor needs to be proclaiming the word of God. We all do the old men teach the younger men the older women teach the younger women that you stand that you are show yourself an example with Purity and Doctrine sound in speech so that the opponent will have nothing to say so you're bold in your speech with your bowl in your actions that you show that you are following the word of God that you're not you that you're a Jew or not. Just a hearer only and never send you a door in the doctrine of God our savior in every respect.

And noticing the verses 1 through 10. He's basing all these actions on verses 11 through 15. The grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and Lou sensibly and so he in the verse 14 is the ultimate ground. So we live in light of the Gospel that we live because of the Gods. We have been Sada living called out from this ungodly world to display the glory of God and righteousness but to speak also the glory of God of righteousness to this lost and dying world. It's so tempting in our relative ACH be called out to be separated to be a Christian and say you do you. I'll do me or you believe that that's fine. I believe in Jesus. No, no building in the end. You saved you choose to go to the basement to get it to escape from the burning building. I'm going to go out the front door, but you do you if you want to go the basement burn up. That's fine. Jesus is the only way Jesus is the only way or you have a false teacher who comes in and says there is no fire.

We're all fine. We're going to head over here playing Uno. There is a fire. There is a fire. There's a judgment there's sin there is unrighteousness, but there was a righteous one and in him, we can be declared righteous. We can leave we can be set free we can be saved from the Wrath to come there is a fire. So you not only protect your children and your wife and your church, but you stand on in the world and you say I'm going to testify to the truth that there is a judgement to come on all of us and there was only one way out Jesus Christ. And therefore you will the spirit do you're in your own life and in the world and you testified to the glory of God as pray?

Lord thank you for giving us such a weapon.

And thank you Lord for the grace that you display in arming the spirit. to sanctify us to cut us Lord help us to be willing to be violent For Your Glory first and foremost against our own sin. Understanding that we do it in your grace. But it's by your grace that our hearts have been changed to hate sin. So Lord help us to see that the New Testament Christian is is is a man and a woman of action.

being zealous for Good Deeds

And jealous to put sin to death. Lord help us to be bold in our proclamation of your word. that if we hear a false Doctrine if we hear of Lies being propagated in our community, we do not stand by and

say well that's unfortunate. Well, I'll pray against it but not only do we pray but we go out and we speak the truth. We stand in front of them and say here is the truth in a way that glorifies use of that by our actions. They have nothing to say against us. So we are not mean or vindictive or abusive, but we testify solemnly to your truth.

The stakes are that high? Eternal destruction or eternal life are at stake Lord. Let us not be apathetic or lackadaisical and say will someone else will get the power washers in the John Piper's they'll take care of it. I'll just sit back here and read their books Lord. Let us all be bold the stand in our communities and our families in our churches and say I know the truth it's in the word of God.

And more than that, it is glorious. It is changed me. It has saved me.

And in God's grace he can save you. Or let us be so serious and bold.

But let us be humble understanding that is the spirit willing to sword in both cases. whether we preach the word or whether we put to death the sins in our lives. It's all the spirit. It's all your grace. That doesn't.

We trust you.

To give us the words to say.

To give us more grace. To be humble combos on the authority of your word to put send to death and finally Lord let them into this church be bold active. To protect their wives and their families from Evil from sin from lies.

All this we ask in Jesus name. Amen.