The Same Image
Introduction:
Read
II Corinthians 3:18. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a
mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from
glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” NKJV
“image of our
Lord” We
must reflect that image to the unbelieving world.
Body:
I.
Temple
of God
·
I
Corinthians 3:16-17 “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that
the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God
will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”
NKJV
Temple – Lord’s church Christians make up that temple. Note II
Corinthians 6:16 – 7:1 “And what agreement has the temple of God with
idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will
dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be
My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them And be separate, says the
Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. I will be a
Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord
Almighty.’ Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness
in the fear of God.”
NKJV
·
Destroy
anything that could harm a Christian’s body, either physically or
spiritually. Do not develop bad habits or practices; use no harmful drugs
or alcohol ever. Read Proverbs 23:29-33 “Who has woe? Who has
sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has wounds without cause? Who has
redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine. Those who go In search
of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it
sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites
like a serpent, And stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things,
And your heart will utter perverse things.” NKJV
“Hypocrisy meter is scanning us all the time.”
II.
Don’t
Meddle
·
I
Thessalonians 4:11-12 “that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind
your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
that you may walk properly toward those who are outside and that you may
lack nothing.” NKJV
·
Do not be a
busy body.
II Thessalonians 3:11-12
“For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner,
not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command
and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat
their own bread.” NKJV
If you are hard at work, you won’t have time to meddle in other people’s
business. I Timothy 5:13 “And besides they learn to be idle, wandering
about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and
busybodies, saying things which they ought not.” NKJV
·
Work is
good for Christians. It keeps us out of trouble.
III.
Be
Careful How You Dress
·
Women of
Jerusalem were being seductive, flirtatious, drawing attention to certain
body parts. “If men can be guilty of adultery just by having lustful
thoughts, can women be guilty of prostitution just by promoting those
thoughts? Is a flaunting walk and a seductive outfit a form of
prostitution?” Matthew 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said to
those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that
whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with
her in his heart.”
NKJV
Read Proverbs 7:10 “And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot,
and a crafty heart.”
NKJV
·
They were
excessive in what they wore. We should rather follow I Peter 3:1-6.
“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do
not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their
wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not
let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or
putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart,
with the incorruptible beauty of a gently and quiet spirit, which is very
precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy
women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their
own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you
are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.” NKJV
IV.
A Clean
Mouth
·
Filthiness
– obscenity – deeply offensive to morality or decency, repulsive
·
Coarse –
crude, rough, vulgar irreverent especially in sexual matters
·
Corrupt and
rotten, debased
·
Gutter,
street language
·
Also, a
clean mouth does not take God’s name in vain. Exodus 20:7 “You shall
not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold
him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” NKJV
Psalm 59:12 “For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let
them even be taken in their pride, And for the cursing and lying which they
speak.” NKJV
Invitation:
·
Image of
our Lord
Can you imagine Jesus abusing His body, being lazy and not working so He
could meddle and be a busy body, dressing gaudy and excessively, or having a
filthy mouth.
·
Remember
the words of Proverbs 15:3. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.” NKJV
What image do you reflect?
Bobby Stafford
July 9, 2017
