The Church Is Holy Part 1

One reason for its Jesus phone number for 1 Sentence We Have Way too many options to fill our time thousand voices scream at us via smart phones, streaming TV and the World Wide Web developing godly character requires developing our inner lives today. Words of challenge on holiness from the Moody Church in Chicago this morning to with Dr. Sir was clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line elixir.

Some of us can't even go to bed without our phones nearby. What is happened even Bible believing Christian date. I have to say that one of my great concerns for the church is its addiction to technology were thankful that technology can be used for good purposes, but at the same time.

Many people are becoming addicted to the smart phones that you just mentioned were thankful for the technology of radio because running to win is actually heard in Iraq, Syria, and Saudi Arabia, Jordan, all throughout different countries of the Middle East and we can do that because of the involvement in the support of God's people, would you consider helping us some friends of put up a matching gift challenge up to $90,000. What that means is that whatever you give will be doubled.

You've never contributed to the ministry of running to win before this would be a great time to do it. Here is what you do go to RTW offer.com RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 and now let us listen to God's word as we remind ourselves that we are called to holiness.

What would you do if five thieves were to come into your home and steal your children wake up in the morning and they're not there is a will that would never happen. The doors are locked.

The windows are bolted. The police would be called, and they'd find our children.

What if I were to tell you that thieves even now are already in your home stealing the hearts of your children, their values, their souls and their leaving you with the bodies to deal with, but their allegiances lie somewhere else.

What if it were true that these thieves are not only stealing the hearts of our children but also the hearts of adults and families and parents are blinded by these thieves that have come in and they have come in with the express purpose of taking over the thieves that I'm referring to basically one word. The media, the trip had this article. Media options swamp the nation. The average American spends 9.6 hours a day inhaling the media watching television using computers listening to the radio going to the movies. According to the Census Bureau's statistical abstract.

We as a nation.

Apparently spend on average two months of every year just watching TV.

Perhaps it's not crazy. Given that, according to a certain senses that television and video almanac. We have 392 national cable channels to choose from and about 40,000 DVD titles Brian grade him Pres. of entertainment for MTV networks says the more media that's consumed, the more it drives overall usage. It's like an echo chamber effect the more you use it the more you use it. It's called addiction. That's what it is today. I'm talking about television that with all of its impurity that comes into our homes. I'm speaking about the movies with their violence and sensuality and occultism and I'm speaking about the Internet with all of its potential for good and its potential for harm, such as pornography and at the end of this message.

I'm going to read a letter from someone who is caught in that trap and I'm also going to read his story of deliverance also speak about videogames. Have you ever wondered why they are so violent I didn't know why they had all this violence on video games until I spoke to someone who is converted out of the occult, and she said that in the occult, you gain points and you gain strength in the hierarchy of demonic spirits by the shedding of innocent blood.

And that's why the videogames are so violent and that's why kids kill one another on these games.

In fact, somebody told me that they were in a home and a little boy, seven years old comes to his mom and says I just killed 94 and she just shrugged her shoulders, but it's just a game is just a game.

Teaching you principles of violence, however, and it is drawing you into the violence of occultism and the power of demonic spirits. Another pastor and I here at the church try to help a boy who was in the videogame he was going from one level of difficulty to another with all kinds of foreign gods from false religions, and clearly he had received demonic spirits, the spirits wouldn't even let them sit down. He was just a perpetual motion machine and get parents say well you know it is only a game, but it is addictive saw on TV recently new game.

Can't remember the name of it and it is so addictive that that's the thing that they talked about.

They had a section on the news about the addiction of this video game where you connect with people in other countries or something like that. And one guy said, I took off work for two days so that I could just play it straight and not have to not have to be interrupted. Addiction. That's what it is all of the media has the power of addiction going to introduce you to a word today that we aren't very fond of using in our churches in this century.

It's the word holiness the word holiness makes us feel uncomfortable, doesn't it. God says, be ye holy, for I am holy word holiness and it is a scriptural requirement for the church and for individuals to be holy. Today were going to wander right into Satan's territory right into his toy shops and therefore there will be some resistance to this sermon. Some of you are going to tune me out.

Some of you will find it hard to stay awake.

Some of you will come with so many rationalizations that you won't even be able to hear what I'm going to say I tell you that when we speak about this were speaking about all of us.

This is not a message rhyme appeared. I'm preaching this to you. You know those of us who have had the good fortune of never being even tempted by alcoholism or drugs.

We can all identify with addiction and we can all identify with the power of sensual sexual temptation because we bowl been there so this is a message in which we as a family of God's people are speaking God's word but it's for every one of us, including those of us who are in leadership and because it is so important. I would like us to bow in prayer one more time and ask that God will give us receptive spirits and hearts as we listen to his most holy word father we pray that those who have fallen into traps of sensuality. We pray today that even as they have concluded that they can't get out and they can change.

We pray that you shall surprise them and bring deliverance and hope and help because Lord apart from you. We can do nothing. We asked now that all who are listening may say, Lord, whatever you are going to tell me to do. I will do.

By the way those of you who are listening. Are you willing to tell God that whatever you show me today. I will do if you are you telling in Jesus name a first Thessalonians chapter 4 series of messages when God comes to church when God comes to church.

The church is holy. That's the theme of first Thessalonians chapter 4 and please find it because were going to plunge right into the text were gonna find out what it has to say to us today.

Paul preached to pagans and now he expected these pagans to be holy because Christianity is different from all of the other religions of the world. All other religions are external only Christianity actually changes the heart and the desires and the aptitude and gives inner strength so that it isn't just a matter of willpower.

It's actually the power of God in deliverance and strength.

So if you've never trusted Christ as Savior. I urge you to do that. That's the entry point to be able to find God's power and God's strength. Now let's plunge into the text.

Finally, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus Christ.

That is, you receive from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing that you do so more and more for you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus for this is the will of God, your sanctification, you say what's that word.

This word sanctification is really the word holy idea is the word holy to be set apart, high gas loss is sanctification.

In fact, that's why the footnote says we could read it for this is the will of God, your holiness that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God that's characteristic of someone who doesn't know God they can't control their passions that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter because the Lord is an adventure of all these things as we told you. Just that are today were going to answer three questions what pleases God. Why should we please God and how do we do it in each one of those questions is critical and very important.

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey. First of all, of what pleases God. Well, this is the will of God. Even your holiness abstain from sexual immorality.

The Greek word is cornea from which we get the word pornography, but it refers really to a whole range of sexual impurity, prostitution, all sex outside of a man, woman, marriage would fall into this category. All kinds of bizarre things that are happening in our society. And so Paul is saying out first of all, you abstain. Next you'll notice positively says that you should learn to control your own body that's probably the best translation. The word is that's also some people think that it has to do with the wife but probably way in which we have the translated here it's correct to control your own body in holiness and honor. The Bible says in the book of Romans chapter 8 verse 13 put to death the deeds of the body because if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live Puritans used to say you have to hunt down the sin you have to kill sin or sin will kill you been reading about that text in Romans during the past weeks, and someday I'll preach a message on it, but for now to simply point out, the Bible says glorify God in your body and in your spirit is God and by the way control your body with honor and holiness. If you're getting into somebody today sexually. That really means that you think more of them and what they want to do than you do the honor of your own body and the holiness of your own body therefore glorify God in your body. The Bible says and then the apostle Paul goes on and he says I don't transgress and get involved in hurting your brother, it says that verse six that no one transgress and wrong. His brother in this matter. What settle about will I you can maybe say brother or sister or maybe Paul means that broader than simply a brother in Christ. Maybe also, what he saying is, is that if you miss treat her brother's wife and get her involved. You have obviously defrauded and transgressed and hurt your brother or maybe if you're involved with some some young woman inappropriately and from the standpoint of impurity and you've introduced her to impurity, you are actually having an effect on some brother someday who will marry her. At any rate, Paul is very very clear here that in our relationships. There are always relational issues that are involved there. God issues as we shall see. But there are relational issues when it comes to this matter of sexual sin. So the question is, so what pleases God and the answer is, says sexual irritate. That's what pleases God and the next question is that one should we please God, I mean why bother why you listen to this message.

Why order the tape or the CD. Why should you keep hanging in here. At this point. Well let me give you some reasons why we should please God.

First of all, you do want to please him because you love him, don't you don't you want to please somebody that you love is that the whole motivation of love is to please that's what the Scripture says right there in verse one that you want to live and to please God, just as you are doing, but he says do it more and more. You want to please God and pleasing God is the one factor that we cannot rationalize in all of this business.

I often think of Joseph when Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him. He could have justified it rationally. He could've said nobody's going to know about it were gonna come armed with a pack of lies that were found out today. You can add to that we can control pregnancy. We can do all this and we love one another and furthermore is one couple told me it's much cheaper to live together so we can rationalize it all. But the thing that you can't rationalize is God. Joseph said how can I do this great wickedness and sin against God.

I don't want to hurt God.

I love he said that's the one thing that you can't rationalize all the lies in the world. All of the deceptions in the world you can't get around the fact that you're hurting the God you love your displeasing God. And so that's one reason it says that you want to please God. That's characteristic of somebody who has been born of the Holy Spirit. You're here today and you're blowing God often thing out or what he thinks.

Then you have all the marks of somebody who does not know Christ as Savior.

You're not part of the family were glad that you're here were glad that your listening but you haven't entered into the family. Yet, I hope you will. So that's one reason the other reason is in verse six you'll notice I rated briefly. A moment ago that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter because the Lord is an engineer of all these things out God is an avenger to those who are involved in sexual immorality. God does this in two ways.

First of all, inherently in his moral law inherently.

There are two kinds of laws there is the law of the stop sign, you can put up a stop sign and then City Hall can say we don't need a stop sign there. They can take it down. There's another law characterized by the law of the fire below the fire says that when I put my hand into the fire. It will get burned. You say what City Hall could change that. I mean the Congress of the United States could change that.

I'm sorry, Congress can't change that because you see that's inherent within it an inherent within sexual sin are certain consequences that can never be expunged or circumvented society tells us that is true, but Congress can change that Hugh Hefner can't change that you think of all of the broken lives you think of the degrading experiences that I don't tell you about today because God just put it right in and of the whole business of sexuality that there are certain consequences that can't be overcome, and then in the future. God will judge us you say. Well, not us as Christians because after all we are under grace and so it is safe to sin.

Did you know that under grace and how we thank God for grace, but under grace.

It's not safe to sin, because someday even at the judgment seat of Jesus Christ. The Bible speaks about it is a time that connects it with the word terror that it doesn't mean that God is going to judge us or condemn us because it is true there is no condemnation, which is in Jesus Christ.

When we see our lives just burn up as Woodhaven stubble and when we have nothing to offer Jesus.

That's why the Bible says live in such a way that you will not have shame at his coming said it's a terrible thing now never safe to sin. Just because you're under grace notes very sobering to realize that God does indeed call us to holiness in the church today has lost that focus but there we are in the presence of God and we are supposed to live for him in a culture that has lost its way. Running to win exists to help us refocus our energy and our ability to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Because of people like you running to win is heard in more than 20 different countries. I'm so glad to say that during this month of August. We have a special gift emphasis we have what we call a matching grant challenge.

That means that whatever you give will be doubled. What an opportunity for you to invest in this ministry. If you want to know more. Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com RTW offer.com or you can call us at 1-888-218-9337 running to win exists for the church to bring us back to our focus on holiness. Yes indeed, it also enables us to live in this culture as to what holiness means, in a nation that is increasingly dark that phone number again is 1-888-218-9337 or if you prefer. Go to RTW offer.com it's time again for you to ask Pastor Blitzer a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Darrell listens to running to win in Ohio and wants advice on what for him is a real dilemma. Here's the story. My wife's dad lives over a thousand miles away and is a Jehovah's Witness every year. My wife insists that our children should spend the month of June with her grandfather. I disagree. I don't think is a Christian that our children should be separated from us for weeks. While there exposed to what I regard as occult. Their meetings are held in the home that our children are staying in our teenage daughter now tells us that when she's 18 she's moving there to be with her friends that are in this group. I also miss them so much when they're gone. Please give me some direction will my friend.

I want to speak to you very candidly.

You are the father and you are to be the head of your home, and even though I can understand the pressure that you are under to satisfy your wife who wants the children to be with her father.

The fact is that this is a very serious matter and your children are being led astray, and you can see, not only by the doctrines that are being propounded with which you disagree and I also disagree but also friends, probably in friendships are being made in that environment and that's why your 18-year-old daughter wants to go back there when she is old enough you at this point must take authority and help your wife to understand that the answer is no. Your children are not going to be going there there probably alternatives for your children to be able to be with her grandfather. I just pray that it isn't too late for your 18-year-old daughter and I'm concerned about your other children so this is a matter that needs to be resolved between you and your wife and it needs to be handled lovingly, but there needs to be some tough love and you need to say where the lines are being drawn even as I talked to you my friend. I'm praying for you because I know that this is difficult but you need to see your way through. You have responsibility for your wife and God will hold you accountable for the teaching and the guidance of your children. I pray that you'll be able to step into that role and do it successfully thank you Darrell for bringing that question to us. Thank you Dr. Blitzer for the clarity of your answer if you'd like to hear your question answered. Go to our website@rtwoffer.com and click on ask Pastor an answer or call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 running to win comes to you from the Moody Church in Chicago next time by the best advice when thinking about committing a sin is to run in the other direction. Thanks for listening for Dr. Erwin Luke certain this is Dave Callister running to win is sponsored by the Moody Church