Holiness is a daily battle, continued

The external battle … with Satan, continued

He is an active enemy … but one we can fight.

• James 4:7 – submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you
• I Peter 5:8 – your enemy walks about like a roaring lion, resist him
  • Be soberminded – there is something for us to do!

He is persistent …

• Luke 4:13

He is crafty …

• II Corinthians 11:3, 13-15 – serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, transforms into an angel of light
• Matthew 7:15-16 – false prophets dressed like sheep
• II Corinthians 2:11 – he uses schemes and tricks

He is subtle …

• Psalms 1:1-2 – progression of sin: walk, stand, sit

The internal battle … within ourselves

• Galatians 5:16-17 – lust of the flesh vs. spirit
• Why does the flesh have lust?
  • James 1:12-16 – drawn away by his own desires and enticed
• Romans 7:22-25 – Paul says the internal battle is hard!
  • I do the things I hate
  • I do evil I do not want to do
  • He recognizes the battle

Introduction

• Proverbs 11:6

Greed is the desire to have more.

• Romans 1:28
• I Corinthians 6:9—10
• I Corinthians 5:9
• I Thessalonians 2:5
• II Peter 2:1-3, 14 – False teachers were greedily extorting them.
• Mar 7:21-23 – Greed comes from the heart.
• II Corinthians 9:5-7 – Don’t let greed spoil things.
• Ephesians 4:19; 5:3 – Greed can involve desires other than money.
• Colossians 3:5

Money is not the answer we think it is.

• I Timothy 6:9-10 – The love of money is the problem.

“lottery winners declare bankruptcy at twice the normal rate”

• Ecclesiastes 5:10 – If you loe money, you won’t be satisfied with money.
• Matthew 22:39
• Ephesians 4:28
• Gambling is an avenue for greed.
• The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

Greed is fixed by spiritual maturity, not more money.

• Luke 12:13-21
• Philippians 4:11 – Paul learned to be content.
• Colossians 3:1-4
• I Timothy 6:6-12

New Testament slavery, continued

• Ephesians 6:5-9
• Colossians 3:22-4:1
• I Timothy 6:1-2
• Titus 2:9-10
• I Timothy 1:10
• Matthew 20:26-28 – If you wish to be great, be a servant.
• John 13:13
• Luke 17:1-10 – The centurion and his relationship with his slave.
• Philemon 1:10-17 – This might indicate that Paul was involved in the conversion of Onesimus. The gospel transforms every relationship, even master/slave.
• Colossians 4:7, 12, 9 – People referred to as slaves of Christ.

Philemon 1

• Philemon 1:1-3 – Apphia and Archippus might be Philemon’s wife and son (Colossians 4:17). Possibly, Archippus was a preacher working there.
• Philemon 1:4-5 – Paul constantly mentioned his prayers for others.

Introduction

• Colossians 3:17
• Hebrews 10:25
• I Corinthians 14:23
• Acts 20:7
• We have authority to assemble and need a place to do so.
• John 4:21

Classrooms for Biblical teaching

In the New Testament, we find authority for churches to be involved in the teaching of God’s word.

• Acts 15:35
• Acts 13:1
• Acts 18:4, 8, 11
• I Corinthians 4:17
• I Corinthians 14:26
• Acts 20:28, 32 – Arranging Bible classes is one way that elders can shepherd the flock.

As far as I know, there are two main arguments against classes:

• First, some object to classes by saying that it divides the assembly, and we have no authority to divide the assembly (Hebrews 10:25; Acts 15:30; 11:26).
• Another objection to Bible classes is that it involves women in an unscriptural way.
  • I Corinthians 14:34-35
  • I Timothy 2:11-12

No kitchen or fellowship hall

The church building is not sacred like the temple was.

As a local church, we need to abide by what the New Testament authorizes us to do as a church.

• Provide for needy Christians
  • Help needy saints in the local church (Acts 6:1-6)
  • Help needy saints in other churches (Romans 15:26)
• Preaching the gospel
  • Sound forth the word (I Thessalonians 1:8)
  • Support preachings in other places (Philippians 4:15-16)
• Worship and edification
  • Add/subtract members (Acts 9:26-28; I Corinthians 5:13)
  • Assemble to worship God and edify each other (I Corinthians 14:23-26)
  • Have elders (Acts 20:28)
  • Have deacons (I Timothy 3:8-13)
  • Make decisions (I Corinthians 16:3)
  • Help sinners repent (Matthew 18:17)
  • Partake of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:17-24)
  • Sing spiritual songs (I Corinthians 14:26)
  • Pray (I Corinthians 14:15)
  • Teach God’s word (I Corinthians 14:26)
  • Collect money (I Corinthians 16:2)

There is no passage that gives a church authority to provide facilities for regular meals.

• Churches can provide for needy Christians
  • Acts 6:1
• Churches can provide for the Lord’s Supper
  • I Corinthians 11:17-22, 34

The difference between an individual and the church

• Matthew 18:15-17
• Philippians 4:15 – Sometimes the church acts via money.
• Acts 4:32-5:4
• I Timothy 5:16
• Matthew 9:10
• Acts 16:34
• Acts 2:46-47

Can’t the church practice fellowship?

• (share, contribute, participate)
• Philippians 4:15
• Luke 5:19
• I Corinthians 10:16
• I Timothy 5:22
• I John 1:7
• Acts 2:42

We can make the same point about edification

• Acts 20:32; I Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians 4:11-12

Holiness is a daily battle

What prevents us from being holy?

• External influences
• Pride
• Doubt

This battle takes on two forms:

• External
• Internal

We are being lied to by external influences all around us:

• Godless society
• Moral relativism
  • The idea that there is no absolute right and wrong.
  • Judges 17:6; 21:25
• Pluralistic ideology
  • The idea that we’re all going to heaven, just on different paths.
  • This is somewhat related to the idea of multiculturalism when it is applied to religion.
  • Isaiah 5:20

Reminders:

• Romans 12:1-2 – Don’t conform, be transformed
• II Corinthians 6:17 – Come out and be separate
• I Peter 1:15-16 – We CAN be holy

Battle – Ephesians 6:10-13

• Ephesians 6:10 – Be strong
• Ephesians 6:11 – Put on armor; stand firm against devil’s schemes
• Ephesians 6:12 – Struggle not against flesh/blood

External battle … with Satan

• He is an active enemy … but one we can fight
  • James 4:7 – Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.