GIBC (25 May 2025).
Last Sunday, I spoke to you about what happened after I had my personal Pentecost and one of the consequences of being filled with the Spirit was a recognition of the presence of sin. It wasn’t that I was unaware of wrong before that, but now, it was being confronted by sin as a contaminating presence.
The interior was more sensitive than before, and what I needed was discipleship. An experience of the Spirit can be just that, a kind of Damascus Road but without discipleship there is no structure of spirituality.
1.1. Sanctification v Legalism: Some think that all we need is a good dosage of regular bible study; or we need to go for church worship regularly.
Yes, we need all those – they are absolutely necessary – and are a part of the normal Christian life but they are not enough. The path of sanctification is an intentional one.
It demands a commitment to the disciplined way of life. Being a child of God is not a licence to do everything because we are forgiven. The straight and narrow is the path of inward growth.
How we comport ourselves reflects Christ in us and this becomes a source of spiritual strength and influence as what we are doing is allowing the Spirit to shape us. These are not legalisms. Legalisms happen when we become like the Pharisees, more interested in the surface rather than the interior.
They debate about whether is it right or wrong to heal on the Sabbath. Now, they debate if is wrong to use the stove to cook or to press the microwave to heat our food on the Sabbath.
1.2. Intentional Discipline of the Interior: Jesus told the Pharisees: “You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred (Mt 23:19).
He goes on to say “For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful but within are full of dead people’s bones (Mt 23:27).
What we are going to talk about today, is the cleansing of the interior that results in a better exterior.
I wish to talk about 3 behaviors: 1. Truth Telling (4:25). 2. Righteous Anger (4:26). 3. Corrupting Talk (4:29) – TAT!
Relate to Being and Doing!
2.1. Lies and Bondage: Very often, people tell lies not because they are inherently dishonest or because they are evil.
Most times, it is because it is convenient to do so. They lie to get out of a tight spot or to make themselves look better or to cover up a mistake. White lies! If I am late and I say it’s because of the traffic rather than admit that I am late because of bad planning.
Unfortunately, this becomes a habit. In John 8, the chapter opens with the woman caught in adultery but from 8:12 onwards, there is a sharp pivot. Let’s trace the dialogue:
**“**Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, ESV)