Dressing the Inner Man: Living a Holy and Gentle Spirit

1. 1Pet.3:1-5 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

2. 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price 5 for after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

3. In which of these categories are you? 1. The Outward Adorner 2. The Inward Adorner NOT JUST WOMEN GUYS! Doesn’t take a “Rocket Scientist” to see.

4. DRESSING THE INNER MAN

5. THE WORLD APPEALS TO THE FLESH • TELEVISION COMMERCIALS • Car – Clothing - Gum - Perfume • Beer – Toothpaste - Vacation • MOVIES – THE HIGHLIGHTS – “RATED - R” “Gotta see it!” • Pr.4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. • 23:7 As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. “What’s in your heart”

6. MAGAZINE COVERS – Get your attn! • Not only with pictures but with Titles: • “Enquiring People Want To Know” • BILLBOARD SIGNS: • Prom dresses, Beer adds, Car Dealers • Chewing gum, vacation spots… • You Name it • ADVERTIZERS KNOW HOW TO GET YOUR ATTN.

7. NOT ALL OUR BATTLES DEAL WITH DENOMINATIONALISM AND FALSE TEACHING • Another battle is keeping ourselves unspotted from the world – Eph.5:27 - That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and withoutblemish.

8. Jas.1:27 - Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. 1Tim.5:22 -Keep thyself pure

9. WHAT POSSIBLE INFLUENCE CAN I HAVE OVER MY FRIENDS IF I LIVE LIKE THE WORLD? • If they see me with an explosive temper • If they hear me using vulgar language • If they know I watch sinful things on TV • If I am filled with envy and jealousy - coveting • If I am a gossip and liar, smoke and drink • If I disobey my parents • If I steal at work/school • If I dress immodestly.

10. ARE YOU THE SALT ? - Mt.5:13 You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt (YOU) have lost his (YOUR) savour, wherewith shall it (THE EARTH) be salted? It (THE SALT - YOU) is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Jn.15:6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

11. ARE YOU THE LIGHT? - Mt.5:14-16 14You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may seeyourgood works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven ARE WE: Demas, Ananias/Sapphira, Judas… ARE WE: Dorcas, Priscilla/Aquilla, Barnabas…

12. 1Pet.2:12 - Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. NKJ Rm.3:23 – All have sinned… • What are others observing in you? “which they observe” – cf. Mt.5:16 Believe me, they are watching!!

13. I form opinions about parents by observation of their children – How their children: 1. Dress – (undress) 2. Interact with others, elderly 3.Worship – Body Language 4. Bible Knowledge 5. Manners – “Yes sir” – “Yes mam”

14. WE MUST KEEP BUSY DOING GOOD • STUDYING – 2 Tim. 2:15 “Giving all diligence…” • TEACHING THE LOST – Acts 4:29 – “with all boldness” • PRAYING – 2Thess. 5:17 “without ceasing” • ATTENDANCE – Heb. 10:25 “Not forsaking…” This is dressing the inner man

15. WE MUST KEEP BUSY DOING GOOD • HELPING OTHERS – Not only pray for, but help – Jas.2:15-16 “If a brother or sister…” • Weak spiritually – Gal. 6:1 “ye which are spiritual restore…” • Weak physically – Jas.1:27 “visit the fatherless and widows” • Help the poor – Acts 9: 36 “full of good works, and alms deeds, which she did” • Help Enemies – Matt. 5:44…

16. HELP MY ENEMIES? NO WAY!! Mt.5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

17. HELP MY ENEMIES? NO WAY!! Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Lk.23:34Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. DO AS I SAY, AND AS I DO

18. HELP MY ENEMIES? – II - Rm.12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18: If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20Therefore if thine enemy hun-ger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his

19. head. 21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

20. “OTHERS” Lord, help me to live from day to day - In such a self-forgetful way - That even when I kneel to pray - My prayer shall be for Others - Help me in all the work I do - To ever be sincere and true, - And know that all I’d do for you - Must needs be done for Others - Let self be crucified and slain - And buried deep: and all in vain - May efforts be to rise again, - Unless to live for Others – Mt.25:35-40

21. THE WAY TO HEAVEN MEANS A CHANGE IN LIFESTYLE AND HABITS MUST SEEK AND SET AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE - What things? • GOD – MT.6:9; Jn.3:16 • JESUS – Acts 1:11; 7:55; Jn.14:6; Rom.5:8 • HOLY SPIRIT – 1JN.5:7 • SAVED – OLD & NEW TESTAMENT – Re.7:9 • GREAT REWARD – MT.5:12 • ETERNAL LIFE – MT.25:46

22. THINGS THAT WON’T BE THERE – • REV.21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away

23. THINGS THAT WON’T BE THERE – • 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

24. COL.3:1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. • MT.6:33 Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

25. CAN’T BE A LOVER OF THE WORLD – 1JN. 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

26. CAN’T BE A LOVER OF THE WORLD CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE JOSH.24:15 YOUR choice today? Popularity? Friends? Wealth? After graduation what will they mean to you? At Judgment what will they mean?

27. CAN’T BE A LOVER OF THE WORLD DEMAS WAS - 2TIM.4:10 – “loved this present world” MOSES WASN’T – HEB.11:25 “choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.”

28. OUR TREASURES CAN’T BE ON EARTH MT.6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also MT.13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

29. ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT EARTHLY TREASURES WILL BE WORTHLE$$ ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT HEAVENLY TREASURES WILLBE PRICELESS

30. THE RICH YOUNG RULER LOVED HIS RICHES MT.19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21: Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22: But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions WHAT DID HE LOVE MOST? ~ 1Tim.6:9-10 HOW ARE YOU DOING? What is it that you can’t give up?

31. DO YOUR RICHES, FRIENDS, ETC,… KEEP YOU FROM STUDYING? KEEP YOU FROM ATTENDING? KEEP YOU FROM PRAYING? KEEP YOU FROM YOUR FAMILY? KEEP YOU FROM HELPING OTHERS? KEEP YOU FROM GIVING AS PROSPERED? KEEP YOU FROM GOSPEL MEETINGS? Gal.6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

32. 1Tim.4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity Your light is shining – Good? Bad? Let it “so shine”

33. Renowned scientist & astronomer, Carl Sagan, “I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But, as much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking.”

35. Preached Knightsville, IN. 11-2-16 Wed. Belleville, IN. 9-9-18 – SM. class