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The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
Chapter 12Holiness in Spirit
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Are our thoughts secret?
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O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
Psalm 139:1-4New International Version 1984, ©1984
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But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7New International Version 1984, ©1984
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Are our thoughts secret?
No, our thoughts are not secret.1. Our reactions betray us2. God knows us
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Do our thoughts matter?
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But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.
Matthew 5:22New International Version 1984, ©1984
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 5:28New International Version 1984, ©1984
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Not only our body but also our thoughts must be disciplined.
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Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Colossians 2:23New International Version 1984, ©1984
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Sow a thought, reap an act.Sow an act, reap a habit.Sow a habit,
reap a character.
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Holiness begins in our minds and works out to our actions…
What we allow to enter our minds is
critically important.- Jerry Bridges
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Holiness begins in our minds.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
New International Version 1984, ©1984
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Holiness begins in our minds.How does
this actually
work? Is it possible to
do this?
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
New International Version 1984, ©1984
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Holiness begins in our minds.How does
this actually
work? Is it possible to
do this?
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Philippians 4:8
New International Version 1984, ©1984
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Is it good enough to have not committed adultery?
Matthew 5:28New International Version 1984, ©1984
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
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The Prodigal SonWhat was the elder brother’s problem?
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What was Saul’s problem?
Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.
Philippians 4:8New International Version 1984, ©1984
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How would you react?When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”
Genesis 50:15New International Version 1984, ©1984
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Bitterness
Is bitterness a lack of
faith in God?
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BitternessDo not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
Genesis 50:15New International Version 1984, ©1984
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ArroganceThe Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
Luke 18:11New International Version 1984, ©1984
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Holiness in SpiritEnvy, jealousy, bitterness, an unforgiving and retaliatory spirit, and a critical and gossiping spirit defile us and keep us from being holy before God. We must work diligently at rooting out these sinful attitudes from our minds. Often we are not even aware our attitudes are sinful.
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Holiness in SpiritWe cloak these defiling thoughts under the guise of justice and righteous indignation. But we need to pray daily for humility and honesty to see these sinful attitudes for what they really are, and then for grace and discipline to root them out of our minds and replace them with thoughts pleasing to God.
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Holiness in SpiritComplete Holiness in Spirit
(Chapter 12) – Handout 9