Guarding Our Thoughts: Living in God's Holiness
Summary
In our journey of faith, it is crucial to capture and control our thought life, especially at night when our minds are most vulnerable. When we fail to do so, we risk waking up with thoughts and opinions that are not aligned with God’s will, quenching the Spirit He has gifted us. This gift is not to be taken lightly or abused. Many people, including those in positions of spiritual leadership, are guilty of living in sin while pretending to uphold God’s standards. This hypocrisy not only harms their own spiritual walk but also misleads and damages the faith of others. We must have a healthy fear of God, recognizing His holiness and the seriousness of our calling as believers.
We live in a time where many are playing with God, not taking their faith seriously. This is not a time for complacency or compromise. We must live in the presence and center of God’s will, avoiding sin and the appearance of evil. Our lives should be a testament to God’s holiness, striving to live in a way that honors Him. The Holy Spirit should be our guide, not something we suppress or ignore. When we allow the Spirit to lead, we experience the fullness of God’s power and presence in our lives.
The church is not immune to these challenges. Even within the church, there are those who quench the Spirit by allowing worldly influences to take precedence over God’s truth. We must prove all things, holding fast to what is good and abstaining from evil. Our lives should reflect the holiness of God, and we should strive to be examples of His love and grace to others. This requires humility and a willingness to be used by God in whatever way He sees fit.
As believers, we are called to be preserved in spirit, soul, and body, living blamelessly before God. This preservation is not in our own strength but through the power of the Holy Spirit. When we are preserved in Him, our lives flow differently, and we become living testimonies of His grace and power. We must not quench the Spirit but allow Him to work in and through us, bringing others to the knowledge of Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- Capturing our thought life is essential to prevent waking up with ungodly thoughts and opinions. This discipline helps us align with God’s will and avoid quenching the Spirit. [01:06]
- A healthy fear of God is necessary to avoid hypocrisy and sin. Recognizing God’s holiness and the seriousness of our calling helps us live in a way that honors Him. [04:19]
- The Holy Spirit should be our guide, not something we suppress. Allowing the Spirit to lead brings the fullness of God’s power and presence into our lives. [07:23]
- We must prove all things, holding fast to what is good and abstaining from evil. Our lives should reflect God’s holiness, and we should strive to be examples of His love and grace. [14:06]
- Being preserved in spirit, soul, and body is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. When we are preserved in Him, we become living testimonies of His grace and power. [24:23]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:06] - Capturing Our Thought Life
[04:19] - The Seriousness of Our Calling
[05:06] - Living in God’s Presence
[06:17] - Challenges Within the Church
[07:23] - The Holy Spirit as Our Guide
[08:41] - The Gift of the Holy Spirit
[11:31] - The Role of Prophecy
[13:25] - Proving All Things
[14:42] - Holding Fast to Goodness
[15:27] - Abstaining from Evil
[17:18] - The Call to Holiness
[19:13] - Living Humbly and Meekly
[21:13] - Being Used by God
[24:23] - Preserved in Spirit, Soul, and Body
[27:52] - Faithful is He Who Calls
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-24
2. 1 Corinthians 14:3
3. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
#### Observation Questions
1. What does the sermon suggest happens when we fail to capture our thought life at night? [01:06]
2. According to the sermon, what are some examples of hypocrisy within spiritual leadership? [04:19]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives? [07:23]
4. What does the sermon say about proving all things and holding fast to what is good? [14:06]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon interpret the concept of quenching the Spirit, and what are the consequences mentioned? [08:41]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that a healthy fear of God can prevent hypocrisy and sin? [04:19]
3. How does the sermon relate the idea of being preserved in spirit, soul, and body to the power of the Holy Spirit? [24:23]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of living blamelessly before God, and how is this achieved? [23:30]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your thought life at night. Are there specific thoughts or opinions you need to capture and align with God's will? How can you start doing this? [01:06]
2. The sermon mentions hypocrisy in spiritual leadership. How can you ensure that your actions align with your beliefs, both in private and public? [04:19]
3. How can you allow the Holy Spirit to be your guide in daily decisions, rather than suppressing His influence? [07:23]
4. What are some practical ways you can prove all things and hold fast to what is good in your life? [14:06]
5. Consider the areas of your life where you might be quenching the Spirit. What steps can you take to allow the Holy Spirit to work more freely in you? [08:41]
6. How can you cultivate a healthy fear of God that leads to a life of holiness and integrity? [04:19]
7. In what ways can you strive to be a living testimony of God's grace and power, as mentioned in the sermon? [24:23]
Devotional
Day 1: Capturing Our Thought Life for Spiritual Alignment
In our journey of faith, it is crucial to capture and control our thought life, especially at night when our minds are most vulnerable. When we fail to do so, we risk waking up with thoughts and opinions that are not aligned with God’s will, quenching the Spirit He has gifted us. This gift is not to be taken lightly or abused. Many people, including those in positions of spiritual leadership, are guilty of living in sin while pretending to uphold God’s standards. This hypocrisy not only harms their own spiritual walk but also misleads and damages the faith of others. We must have a healthy fear of God, recognizing His holiness and the seriousness of our calling as believers. [01:06]
"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, ESV)
Reflection: What thoughts tend to dominate your mind at night? How can you intentionally align them with God’s will before you sleep tonight?
Day 2: Embracing a Healthy Fear of God
A healthy fear of God is necessary to avoid hypocrisy and sin. Recognizing God’s holiness and the seriousness of our calling helps us live in a way that honors Him. We live in a time where many are playing with God, not taking their faith seriously. This is not a time for complacency or compromise. We must live in the presence and center of God’s will, avoiding sin and the appearance of evil. Our lives should be a testament to God’s holiness, striving to live in a way that honors Him. [04:19]
"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." (1 Peter 1:13-15, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself compromising? How can you cultivate a deeper reverence for God’s holiness today?
Day 3: Allowing the Holy Spirit to Lead
The Holy Spirit should be our guide, not something we suppress. Allowing the Spirit to lead brings the fullness of God’s power and presence into our lives. The church is not immune to these challenges. Even within the church, there are those who quench the Spirit by allowing worldly influences to take precedence over God’s truth. We must prove all things, holding fast to what is good and abstaining from evil. [07:23]
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:26-27, ESV)
Reflection: How often do you seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your daily decisions? What is one decision you can bring before Him today?
Day 4: Proving All Things and Holding Fast to Goodness
We must prove all things, holding fast to what is good and abstaining from evil. Our lives should reflect God’s holiness, and we should strive to be examples of His love and grace. This requires humility and a willingness to be used by God in whatever way He sees fit. The church is not immune to these challenges. Even within the church, there are those who quench the Spirit by allowing worldly influences to take precedence over God’s truth. [14:06]
"Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:21-23, ESV)
Reflection: What influences in your life need to be tested against God’s truth? How can you hold fast to what is good today?
Day 5: Being Preserved in Spirit, Soul, and Body
Being preserved in spirit, soul, and body is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. When we are preserved in Him, we become living testimonies of His grace and power. As believers, we are called to be preserved in spirit, soul, and body, living blamelessly before God. This preservation is not in our own strength but through the power of the Holy Spirit. [24:23]
"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways do you rely on your own strength rather than the Holy Spirit’s power? How can you invite Him to preserve you today?
Quotes
1. "I'm going to tell you there was a time and I'm going to go back a few years in the early 90's when I felt myself backsliding I resigned the ministry no one knew in the ministry they didn't want me to leave they cried when I left the church in Conway, North Carolina but I felt myself slipping in my mind and I needed to go out and seek the face of God I did not need to be standing in that pulpit but there are many today that do not have a healthy fear of God" [00:02:59] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We're walking in a serious time, brothers and sisters, tonight. This is a serious hour. This is not a play hour. It's not a playroom hour. It's not carnival time. There are people dying and going to hell. Because we failed to live in the presence and the center of the will of God. We move in ourselves in a way that we should not move and we think it's alright." [00:04:55] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You went towards this world. You quenched the Holy Spirit and you think you have the Holy Spirit completely operating in your life and you have suppressed you have let the Holy Spirit become a back seat in your life. Go ahead. Go ahead. The Holy Spirit must be your steering wheel when you grab that wheel. Glory to God." [00:07:33] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We serve a holy God tonight. Not only has he given this gift to us as believers. He is holy. Holy. Yes he is. And we need to strive every minute of every hour of every day to be holy. We need to strive to live holy. And if you look at me and you say well I do. You're lying. You're lying. You're lying. Because those that try and strive to live holy are humble." [00:18:48] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Oh, tonight we need to let the Holy Spirit move at liberty in our services. It would have been fine with me a few minutes ago if someone had started singing. We'd have went on with it. I was waiting. If there was a believer that the Lord was inspired to say something, I was waiting. Did you notice it?" [00:20:22] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "We all as believers, if we have the gift operating in us, and we do not want to quench the Holy Spirit, we want to come in, God use me tonight to help somebody. was at my happiest as I've been all week. You say you've been on vacation. Oh, yes. But I'm at the happiest I've been since the last time I preached because I'm in my happy place." [00:21:51] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "If we stay preserved and we do not quench the Holy Spirit, there will be many people. There will be many people that go with us. You today are a living testimony. Every one of you is here. And right now, I'm missing. I can't see one, but now I can see them." [00:26:49] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Faithful is he who calls you. Who also will what? Will do it. He will do it. You might need to underline here in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 24 for you just joining us online. Who also will do it." [00:28:04] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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