to you, to you all.
So let's read from 1 Thessalonians.
Chapter 4, verse 1.
Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God.
And as in fact you are living,
now we ask and urge you in the Lord...
Sorry.
Now we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
It is God's will that you should be sanctified,
that you should avoid sexual immorality,
that each of you should learn to control his own body
in a way that is holy and honourable,
not in passionate lust like the heathen who do not know God,
and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him.
The Lord will punish men for all such sins,
as we have already told you and warned you.
For God did not call us to be impure,
but to live a holy life.
Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man,
but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
Now about brotherly love,
we do not need to write to you,
for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.
And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia.
Yet we urge you, brothers,
to do so more and more.
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life,
to mind your own business,
and to work with your hands,
just as we told you,
so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders,
and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Amen.
Thanks, Nick.
I'll just ask Mike to come up now.
And before Mike speaks to us,
I just want to pray for him.
Mike, you're very, very welcome.
And we look forward to hearing what God is going to say
to us through you this morning.
Just before you start, we'll pray.
Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, we just thank you for those you give to us
who are able to speak to us through your word, Lord,
about your word, and about what it has to say to us.
We pray that you would help us
as we listen to Mike this morning, Lord,
that you would teach us
and that you would show us
what it is you want us to learn from your word this morning.
We pray for Mike, Lord,
that you would anoint him with your Holy Spirit
and just help him as he speaks to us.
We ask these things, Lord Jesus, in your name.
Amen.
Thank you.
Well, it's nice to be here in my son's place.
It's normally the place that he occupies.
You'll know the difference between him and me.
I'm the one who still has some hair.
Well, we want to look together at God's word
and so we're going to be looking, as you've heard already,
at 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 through verses 1 to 12.
Do you believe that you can be perfect in this life?
Do you actually can arrive at a state of perfection?
Well, that's a question that has been debated
by Christians down through the years.
John Wesley thought it was possible.
George Whitefield believed it to be impossible.
I asked you this morning,
have you ever met a perfect person?
I think it was Spurgeon who said,
my experience of perfect people
has been most unfortunate.
And I think we understand exactly what he meant by that.
But where do we stand on the issue?
Do you believe in absolute perfection
in the here and now?
Well, what do the scriptures teach?
Well, I would suggest that the passage before us
will put to bed once and for all,
or it should do,
the idea that we can be perfect in this life.
There's always room for improvement.
There's always a need in each one of us
to increase in our holiness of life.
To please God, as Paul says in verse 1,
more and more.
He reminds them also of how they might love
the brothers locally and in all of Macedonia.
But he urges them to love them more and more
in verse 9.
So are we loving more and more?
Are we increasing in holiness?
Now we should want to increase in holiness
in light of the Lord's return.
As you know, in 1 Thessalonians chapter 1,
and indeed throughout the whole book,
you have this continual returning
to the theme of the Lord's return.
In verse 12 of the previous chapter,
as I gather you looked at last week,
we find the apostle saying,
May the Lord make your love increase
and overflow for each other
and for everyone else,
just as ours does for you.
May he strengthen your hearts
so that you may be blameless
and holy in the presence of God and Father
when our Lord Jesus Christ comes
with all his holy ones.
So we should want to increase
for this reason alone
that the Lord Jesus Christ
is coming back
to receive us to himself.
Now when we speak about holiness,
we're not speaking about a legalism,
the kind of legalism
that will lock up the budgie's swing
on a Sunday.
We're not calling that kind of legalism.
What we're speaking about tonight
is this morning
is not just morality.
The Pharisees were very moral,
but they were not right
in their relationship with God.
We want to be holy,
not just because the Lord is returning.
We want to please God.
We want to give glory to him.
We want to honor him
in the way we live.
And we want to be a witness
to a watching world
that we are different,
that there is something in us
that is not out there
in the world in which we live.
So let's look at this passage together.
And I want you to notice,
first of all,
that Paul does call for holy living
in verses 1 to 8.
And he calls us to be holy in the world.
To be holy in the world
in which we live.
As he called them
in that day and generation,
as he speaks to the Thessalonians,
that they too were to live
in the world
as holy people.
And how does he do this?
Well, first of all,
he reminds them
of past instructions.
He refers to those instructions
in verse 1.
We instructed you, he says,
how to live
in order to please God.
In verse 2 he says,
for you know
what instructions we gave you
by the authority
of the Lord Jesus.
What were those instructions?
Well, certainly we know
that Paul,
when he visited Thessalonica,
was able to give instructions.
It doesn't say a great deal
in the account of Paul's visit
in Acts chapter 17.
Only that he was there
for a few Sabbaths.
But it's evident
that the work of God
took place.
We read in Acts 17
and verse 4
that the Jews
were persuaded.
Large numbers
of God-fearing Greeks
and not a few prominent women
came to believe,
came to understand
that the Lord Jesus Christ
had come into the world
to save sinners.
They entered into
a relationship with God
through the Lord Jesus.
And they were called
in this light
to live
holy lives.
Paul must have
instructed them then.
But Paul also
left people behind
in order that they
might be instructed
further
as to how
they ought
to live.
of course,
Paul would have
wanted to obey
the biblical mandate
to preach the gospel,
yes,
but also to
make disciples,
to instruct people
in the way.
Elsewhere,
Paul says,
I am free
from the blood
of all men
for I have not
shunned to declare
unto them
all the counsel
of God.
so instruction
would have
been given.
And Paul's
visit
and the visit
of others
and the talking
with others
instructed
the people.
They came
under deep
conviction.
We know that
from chapter 1
and verse 4
of Thessalonians.
We know that
they turned to God
from idols
as what chapter 1
and verse 9
tells us.
And we know
also
that they were
encouraged
and comforted
as they were
urged to live
lives
worthy of God
who had called
them into
his kingdom.
Chapter 2
and verses
12 and 13.
We know
also that
Timothy
was with them
in order to
strengthen
and encourage
them in
their faith.
So in various
ways,
they received
instruction
and Paul
reminds the
people
of the
instruction
that they
had received
regarding
living
holy lives
pleasing
unto God.
And we
have it.
It wasn't
just Paul's
instruction.
It wasn't
Timothy
and others
alone.
No,
it was God
speaking to
them.
It was the
Lord coming
to them
and speaking
to them
making it
very clear
how they
ought to
live.
As chapter
4 and
the latter
part of
verse 2
tells us,
by the
authority
of the
Lord Jesus
were these
instructions
given.
And in
verse 3
he says,
it is
God's
will
that you
should be
sanctified,
that you
should be
holy,
that you
should be
set apart
so the
reminder
that they
had.
And we
too need
to be
reminded
of what
we have
heard
in the
past.
Remember
the various
things that
you were
taught
perhaps
in Sunday
school,
or those
things that
you were
taught when
you first
became a
Christian,
instruction,
the
things that
you heard
last week,
the
instruction
that you
have
received.
It's good
to be
reminded of
past
instructions.
We should
all have
listening ears.
We should
all know
without a
shadow of
doubt that
God has
spoken to
us through
his word.
And it is
through his
word that
we become
the people
that we
ought to
be,
namely
holy
people.
Remember
the Lord
Jesus?
As he
prays for
his disciples
who are
living in
a real
world,
sanctify
them,
he says,
by the
truth.
Your
word is
truth.
The
instruction
that we
receive from
God's own
holy word,
as we're
reminded in
Hebrews 4
and verse
12,
is living
and is
active.
It's
sharper than
any
double-edged
sword.
It
penetrates
even to
the dividing
of soul
and spirit,
joints and
marrow.
It judges
the thoughts
and attitudes
of the
heart.
So
remember the
instructions
that you
have received
in the
past.
don't
let the
devil take
them away.
Don't
listen to
those new
ideas that
say it
doesn't matter
how you
live.
Instructions
are important
as they
come to
us from
the word
of God.
So Paul
calls for
holy living
by reminding
them of
past
instructions.
But he
also does
it in
another way,
by encouraging
them to
continue.
To continue
in the way
that they
were going.
Now he's
treating them
very gently.
Paul,
you cannot
accuse him
of not
having a
pastoral
concern.
He's like
a father
dealing with
his children.
As we
see from
chapter 2
and verse
11.
For you
know that
we doubt
with each
of you
as a
father
deals
with his
own
children
encouraging,
comforting,
and urging
you to
live lives
worthy of
God who
calls you
into his
kingdom
and glory.
He says
in chapter
2 and
verse 8,
we love
you so
much that
we were
delighted to
share with
you not
only the
gospel of
God,
but our
lives as
well,
because you
had become
so dear
to us.
And it's
because he
had this
intimate
relationship
with them,
this loving
relationship
with them,
he can
speak as
he does.
You were
living as
you should
do.
Now we
ask you to
do it
more and
more.
He wants
them to
overflow
in holiness.
He wants
them to
excel in
holiness.
He wants
them to
abound
in
pleasing
God.
There's a
tender
firmness
here as
he exhorts
them to
live
sanctified
lives.
Are you
Christian here
this morning?
continue on.
Seek to
become more
Christ-like.
Live your
life in
the light
of the
Lord's
return.
Live as
pleasing
God.
Present
yourselves
daily as
those living
sacrifices.
I encourage
you if
you're a
Christian and
feeling the
way hard
this morning
to continue
on in
your Christian
pathway.
Continue
on to be
more like
him who
has called
you out
of darkness
into his
marvelous
light.
Paul calls
for holy
living by
reminding them
of past
instructions,
by encouraging
them to
continue.
But also
he does it
by calling
them to
be different.
What were
the people
of Thessalonica
like before
they heard
the gospel?
What was
their culture?
What was
their way
of life?
Well we
know that
Paul didn't
have a warm
welcome when
he arrived
in Thessalonica.
In
particular
the Jews
made it
very difficult
for him.
They caused
a riot
in the city.
It was
a difficult
time for
Paul there.
And that
was from
people who
claimed to
be God
fears.
How about
the rest of
the people
of Thessalonica?
Those who
weren't Jews?
Well certainly
we know that
idolatry was
present.
Which must
have meant
that there
were heathen
temples.
And heathen
temples often
involved
prostitution
both of
male and
female variety.
It was a
seaport.
It was a
place of
trade.
So there
would have
been various
vices there.
In other
words we're
talking about
a heathen
city where
people would
have lived
immoral lives.
What was
said about
the
Corinthians
could have
also been
said about
the Thessalonicas.
Thessalonians.
In 1
Corinthians
chapter 6
and verse 9
Paul reminds
the Corinthians
of what they
used to be
like.
He says
you were
sexually
immoral.
Idolaters,
adulterers,
male prostitutes,
homosexual offenders,
thieves,
greedy,
drunkards,
slanderers,
swindlers.
That is what
you were he
says.
But you were
washed,
you were
sanctified,
you were
justified.
And it
could equally
have been
said of the
people of
Thessalonica.
You see
Paul wasn't
writing into
a vacuum.
He knows
what people
were like.
He knows
the temptations
that were all
around them.
And he
knows that
these Christians,
these comparatively
new Christians,
the world
would be
trying to
squeeze them
into its
mould.
So he
says to
them,
avoid
sexual
immorality.
Learn to
control your
own body
in a way
that is
holy and
honourable.
Not in
passionate
lusts,
no one
should
wrong
his
brother.
And I
think he's
warning there
against the
danger of
adultery.
Bring your
body into
submission.
Have you
been watching
the Olympic
Games?
I was
watching him
yesterday.
And I was
watching,
listening to
the interviews.
And sorry,
I know there's
an Australian
present this
morning,
an Australian
people,
I'm sorry
about this,
but they
were interviewing
the men
of the
four,
the
cockless
fours,
I think
is what
they're
called,
you know.
And they
managed to
beat Australia,
sorry about
that,
but you
know it
happens
sometimes.
And they
beat them.
And then they
were being
interviewed.
And one of
them said
this,
he says,
it's four
years of
daily
training.
Four years
of hard
work in
order to
win one
race.
Bring our
bodies into
subjection.
The hard
work, if you
like, of
sanctification.
we work
because God
is at work
within us.
Sometimes
when an
athlete is
training, he
has to go
through the
pain barrier.
He has to
discipline
himself in
order that he
may obtain
maximum
fitness.
And we
have to
train ourselves
through the
word of
God, through
fellowship.
And there
will be those
outward
circumstances.
that come
upon us.
So providence
sent from
God in
order that
we might
live holy
lives.
Set
yourselves
apart for
holy use.
Even as
an athlete
sets himself
apart in
order to
win an
earthly
crown.
You know
what used
to happen
in the
Old
Testament?
There were
those various
instruments
that were
used in
the temple.
They were
set apart
for holy
use.
They couldn't
be used
for anything
else because
they were
dedicated to
God.
We're to be
holy vessels
unto the
Lord.
We're not
allowed,
we must not
allow secular
influences in
upon our
lives.
We must be
different.
That is what
Paul called
the Thessalonians
to and that
is what he
calls us to
today.
You see,
what's our
world like?
What's our
culture like
today?
Well,
there's so
many similarities
aren't there
between the
modern world
and the
world of
Thessalonica.
We live in a
world of
sexual
immorality
and it's
right there
present with
us.
It's in our
front room
on some of
our television
programs.
It's there
on our
internets
and it's
the lifestyle
of so
many around
and about
us.
Adultery
is perfectly
legitimate
in the eyes
of so
many.
To live
together
outside of
marriage is
perfectly
acceptable.
It's
alright to
bring children
up with no
regard for
Christian morals.
And because
it's all
around us,
we're not
shocked by
it anymore.
So Paul's
words are
relevant.
And never
think that we
cannot fall
into sin.
Many of us
have lived
long enough
to see
even strong
or seemingly
strong
Christians
fall.
And as
1 Corinthians
10 and
verse 12
says,
if you think
you are
standing firm,
be careful
that you
don't
fall.
Be
different
and ready
to be
different
whether you
find yourself
in school,
in university,
in an
apprenticeship,
in a job
situation,
whether you
find yourself
in a home
with an
unbelieving
partner.
Seek to
live to the
glory of
God.
Be
different.
The other
day I was
with my
wife in
a pet
shop
in
Middleton
and on
the door
of the
pet shop
there was
a parrot
and I
said to
the lady
in the
pet shop,
I said,
aren't you
afraid of it
going out
into the
road?
She said,
no,
it's afraid
of the
traffic,
it will
never go
far.
Lovely
little
parrot,
nice grey
parrot and
I thought,
when I went
out I put
my finger
up and
he very
gently
came on
to my
finger.
Looked
beautiful,
lovely.
And I
tried to
let him
go and
he wasn't
having it.
He caught
hold of
one finger,
I tried to
take him
off and
he caught
hold of
that.
And have
you ever
been bitten
by a
parrot?
It's not
very nice,
it's very
very painful
as a matter
of fact.
And it
ended up
with me
having to
go for
a tetanus
injection
into the
bargain.
You know,
I invited
him.
It looks
so nice.
And sin
sometimes
looks nice.
It isn't
always horrible.
It doesn't
always look
horrible.
But it
bites.
It
destroys.
Be
different.
And Paul
calls for
difference.
Don't be
like the
heathen.
Don't be
like those
around and
about you.
Be
Christ-like.
So,
he
encourages
them.
He
reminds
them of
past
instructions.
He
encourages
them to
continue.
He calls
them to
be
different.
But he
also
reminds
them that
they live
their lives
before the
Lord.
verse 1,
we ask
you and
urge you
in the
Lord Jesus.
Verse 2,
the instructions
we gave you
by the
authority
of the
Lord Jesus.
Verse 3,
it is
God's
will that
you should
be
sanctified.
failure to
live their
lives as
they should
could bring
the judgment
of God
upon them.
See what he
says in
verse 6
and 7,
the Lord
will punish
men for
all such
sins as
we have
already told
you and
warned you.
For God
did not
call us to
be impure,
but to
live a
holy life.
Therefore,
he who
rejects
this
instruction
does not
reject
man,
but God
who gives
you
his
Holy
Spirit.
It's
always good
to remind
ourselves
that we
live our
lives
before the
triune
God.
the Son
has saved
us through
his precious
blood.
His
perfect
righteousness
has been
given,
put to
our
account.
The
Father has
loved us
in Christ
and we're
now reconciled
to the
Father.
Every
Christian
knows the
work of
the Holy
Spirit
within
their lives.
And let
us remind
ourselves
this morning
that he
is the
Holy
Spirit.
It is the
Holy Spirit
who lives
in us.
It is by
the Holy
Spirit that
we have
been born
again into
the very
family of
God.
Our
very bodies
have become
the temple
of the
Holy Spirit.
We're
living in
the presence
of the
living God.
And as
we remind
ourselves of
this
relationship
we have
with
Father,
Son and
Holy
Spirit.
So we
are to
live holy
lives.
And the
evidence
that we
have this
relationship
will be
that we
will live
holy
lives.
Let us
not pretend
that we
are
Christians
if we're
living lives
of sin
and
wretchedness.
The
evidence
that we've
been born
again
is that
God lives
in us
and we
want to
be
holy.
But let
me say
this to
you this
morning.
If you've
failed,
and we
all fail
at times,
let us
remind
ourselves
that there
is one
to whom
we can
confess our
sins.
Doesn't
one John
remind us
that if we
confess our
sins,
he is
faithful and
just to
forgive us
our sins
and to
cleanse us
from all
unrighteousness.
So Paul
calls for
holy living
in the
world.
But secondly,
Paul calls
for holy
loving in
verses 9
and 10.
Now about
brotherly love
we do not
need to
write to
you,
for you
yourselves
have been
taught by
God to
love each
other,
and in
fact you
do love
all the
brothers
throughout
Macedonia.
Yet we
urge you
brothers to
do so
more and
more.
Why was
there no
need to
write?
Well there
was no
need to
write because
the divine
teacher had
entered their
lives.
They have
been given
the Holy
Spirit,
and the
fruit of
the Spirit
is what?
Well amongst
other things
is love.
One of the
characteristics of
Christianity,
one could
argue the
principal
characteristic of
Christianity
is love.
What they
knew,
we know.
We don't
need to be
taught to
love one
another,
do we?
Or do we
need to be
taught?
are we
putting into
practice the
love that we
ought to
have, not
just for the
local believer,
which is the
hardest form of
love.
I love
everybody in
Africa.
I don't have
any problem.
You see, I'm
not rubbing
shoulders.
But to love
each other in
a local
sense.
the
Thessalonians
were
demonstrating
their love
by their
actions,
are we?
Now we
know this.
Do we
do it?
And are we
doing it
more and
more?
You see,
there's always
need for
improvement.
There's
need for
improvement in
the home.
There's
need for
improvement in
the church.
There's
need for
improvement
before a
watching world.
And we
may not
always find
it easy
to love
one another.
Sometimes
it's extremely
difficult.
Now you
may have
heard this
before,
but turn
to 1
Corinthians
chapter
13
and verse
4.
Here is,
if you
like,
the test
card.
Now,
I don't
know if
there's
anybody
else as
old as
I am
here this
morning.
I think
there may
be one
or two.
But they
used to
have on
the television
many years
ago when
there wasn't
24-hour
television,
what they
called a
test card.
And it
used to
appear.
Even Ian
remembers it.
Ian,
you're getting
old.
And, you
know, it
was there.
And you
could adjust
your set
according to
the test
card.
Now, here's
the test
card for
each one
of us.
Go for
it to
verse 4
of 1
Corinthians
chapter 13.
And instead
of using
the word
love, put
your own
name there.
Michael
Grant is
patient.
Don't say
anything,
Rosemary.
Michael
Grant is
kind.
Michael
Grant does
not envy.
Michael
Grant does
not boast.
trust.
Michael
Grant is
not proud.
Michael
Grant is
not rude.
Michael
Grant is
not self-seeking.
Michael
Grant is
not easily
angered.
Michael
Grant keeps
no record
of wrong.
Michael
Grant does
not delight
in evil.
Michael
Grant
rejoices
in the
truth.
Michael
Grant
always
protects.
Michael
Grant
always
trusts.
always
hopes.
Always
perseveres.
Michael
Grant
never
fails.
How often
do I
come
short
of that?
Of course
you can't
go on
to verse
13 but
now these
three remain
faith,
hope and
Michael
Grant
and the
greatest
of these.
But you
can't go
that far.
But you
know it's
a good
test case
to look
at that
and examine
our own
lives and
say well
we have
to love
more
and more.
We're not
there yet
are we?
And if
you think
you are
well come
and see
me afterwards
or let
me speak
to your
wife or
your
family.
So Paul
calls for
holy
loving
in the
church.
And the
final thing
he says
to us
is this
as he
calls for
holy
ambition.
make it
your
ambition
verse 11
to lead
a quiet
life.
To mind
your own
business
and to
work with
your hands
just as
we told
you.
So that
your daily
life may
win the
respect of
outsiders
and so
that you
will not
be dependent
on anyone.
You can't
accuse
the apostle
of not
being
practical.
He's
continually
in his
letters
reminding
his
readers
how they
should
live
in an
evil
world.
So it's
not surprising
that he
ends this
section with
three very
practical
points.
Make it
your
ambition
he says
make it
your
goal.
Make it
your goal
to lead
a quiet
life.
And that
doesn't mean
getting rid
of the
children.
And it
doesn't
mean
hiding
yourself
away
in a
hermitage
or a
monastery.
But it
does mean
living a
life that
is calm.
I like the
authorised
version which
translates it
study it
says to
be quiet.
It's the
opposite of
being contentious.
It's the
opposite of
being full of
strife.
it's the
opposite of
running around
like a
headless
chicken.
Of having
a hasty
temper.
Study to
be quiet.
Live a
life that
is calm
in your
home,
in your
church,
in your
workplace.
Make it
your holy
ambition
to have
that
meekness
of spirit
that
characterised
the Lord
Jesus.
Of whom
we read
in 1 Peter
2 in
verse 23
that when
they hurled
their insults
at him
he did
not
retaliate.
When he
suffered
he made
no
threats.
And he
did this,
he was like
this,
when the
storm clouds
were
gathering,
when
Calvary
beckoned.
There was
this quiet
calm and
confidence
that God
would vindicate
him.
Do we
have this
holy
ambition?
Make it
your goal,
your holy
ambition to
mind your
own business.
Was this
exhortation
needed in
Thessalonica?
It seems
that it
was.
And it
seems that
they didn't
take it
to heart.
For in
the second
letter,
chapter 3
and verse
11,
we read,
we hear
that some
among you
are idle.
They're not
busy,
they are
busy bodies.
Such people
we command
and urge
in the Lord
Jesus Christ
to settle
down and
earn the
bread
that they
eat.
Now it's
right,
surely,
for all of
us to
have a
concern
for others,
a concern
to help
others,
but that's
different to
interfering so
that we
become busy
bodies,
to become
another
person's
conscience
in the
church.
Make it
your ambition
to mind
your own
business.
Very
personal,
isn't it?
Remember
Peter?
Peter who
had denied
his
lords with
oaths and
curses.
And Jesus
speaks to
him after
his
resurrection.
And Peter
realizes that
he's failed
the Lord,
but the
Lord
recommissions
him.
Feed my
lambs,
feed my
sheep.
But Peter
needed to
learn other
lessons.
And you
remember on
that occasion,
Peter says
to Jesus
in John
chapter 21
and verse
21,
as he
looks at
John,
who had
lent against
the breast
of Jesus
at the
last supper,
Lord,
he says,
what about
this man?
And the
Lord turns
to Peter
and says,
well,
if he's
alive and
remain,
when I
come,
what is
that to
you?
You
follow
me.
And that
should be
the concern
of each
one of us
here this
morning.
We can
point the
finger,
we can
look at
others and
say,
they are
failing.
What about
you?
You
follow me,
said the
Lord Jesus.
Mind your
own business,
make it
your business
to walk
with the
Lord as
you should.
And the
final very
practical lesson
is to work
with your
hands,
not to
be idle.
It seems
that some
had given
up work
in anticipation
of the
Lord's
return.
time.
But that
was wrong.
The
Christian
should be
active.
The
Christian
should be
ready to
work.
Oh, we
live in
days here
in Ireland,
don't we,
of mass
unemployment.
I hear that
they're more
on the
live register,
as they
call it,
than there
ever has
been,
or certainly
in recent
years.
unemployment
is rife,
but that
doesn't
mean that
we need
to be
idle.
There are
things that
we can
do that
will still
be pleasing
to the
Lord.
There are
things that
we can
do that
will glorify
His holy
name.
Speak to
your leaders
in the
church,
and there
will be
things that
need doing
to reach
out into
a world,
to be an
influence to
those around
and about
us.
We can
still be
active.
Why should
we be
this way?
Well,
verse 12
tells us
that outsiders
are looking
on.
They're
seeing what
is happening.
And we
want with
our daily
life to
win the
respect of
outsiders.
And it
goes back
that we're
different.
people look
upon us
and say,
yes,
that person,
that man,
that woman,
that young
person,
is living
their lives
differently.
And they
will want
to glorify
our Father
who is in
heaven.
May this
be the
experience of
each one of
us.
That as we
live our
lives to the
glory of
God in
the world.
And that we
live those
pure lives.
That we
have this
loving
relationship
with each
other.
That we're
making it
our holy
ambition to
be the
kind of
people that
we ought
to be.
That others
will notice
and come
to know
the Savior
that we
know.
And that
the Savior
that has
transformed
our lives
to be
made more
like unto
his life.
And may
his be the
glory forever
and ever.
Amen.
Let's pray
together.
Father,
we do live
in a world
that is
sinful.
And we
know the
sin that is
within our
own lives.
And we
know that
there are
times that
we try,
as it were,
to pull
ourselves up
with our
own
shoelaces.
And we
fail,
and we
fail miserably.
So we
pray that
you will
empower us
by your
Spirit.
That we
might live
the kind
of lives
that we
ought to
live.
In the
society
in which
we find
ourselves.
In our
homes.
In our
personal
walk with
you.
Lord,
we thank
you that
you have
begun a
work in
us.
And we
thank you
that that
work will
be continued
as we
rely upon
you and
you alone.
Father,
help us
day by
day to
live the
kind of
lives that
will bring
glory to
your name
and will
influence a
community in
which we
find ourselves.
And all
this we
ask that
your name
might be
glorified.
Amen.