The Standard Of Standards (sermon Outline)

The Standard of Standards Jeremiah 9:23-26 The Children of Israel observed some standards very religiously - Circumcision - Feast days - Sabbath (when convenient) They were known for some of their cultural traditions - Songs - Beards - Attire - Speech God didn’t want their standards to be “two left feet” but he did want them to have standards which were evidences of Judgment, Loving Kindness, and righteousness. Our glory ought not be in the physical presence or outward purity (not saying we shouldn’t have them) but of the hidden man of the heart. The Spirit of God acts in correlation with these “limits.” John 16:7-11 Now, lets use some plain reasoning from Scripture for a moment: God will only operate according to his Word. Christ only operated according to God’s Word. The Holy Spirit has, is, and always will operate according to God’s Word God’s Word is his bond. Now, drawing from this simple reasoning, the standard of all standards should be the Word of God. If the Holy Spirit of God is leading us, wouldn’t it stand to reason that He will only lead us according to the Word of God? The fact that we are inhabited by the Holy Spirit of God ought to be reflected in the fact that our conduct, labor, communication, etc be that of the Holy Spirit. Our life, if spirit filled, should demonstrate these areas since HE is in us. John 14:26, 15:24-26, 16:12-14 What kind of Standards then, should we as Spirit filled Christians have? I could rattle off a whole laundry list but we would argue them, no doubt. We could even go to the Bible and point out the “do’s and don’ts” but we won’t. There is a standard for all standards- The Word of God. Now, let’s look at what Christ says the Spirit will do and from that we can gather what our Holy Spirit filled lives are to be: 1. Obedience – John 15:14 2. Testimony – John 15:26-27 3. Glorifying God – 16:13-15 4. Clarity (distinction) 16:18-33 5. Cheer/Triumph – John 16:33 6. Truth – John 14:26, 15:24-26 Now, if these are things the Holy Spirit of God does and will do – our lives should also be demonstrated by these same things. 1. Obedience to what he has ALREADY taught us 2. Testimony of God’s righteousness, lovingkindness, and judgment – Jer 9:23-26 3. Glorifying God – do my standards bring praise and glory to God? 4. Clarity – The world is confusing as it is – do our standards bring distinction to the teachings of Christ? 5. Triumph – I am not enslaved to the world – if spirit filled. He has overcome the World 6. Truth – do my standards support truth or hinder truth Does God require different from us? Rom 12:1-2, Heb 12:1-3, Romans 12, Gal 5:22-23 1. God requires Consecration 2. God requires Commitment 3. God requires Cessation 4. God requires Cleanliness (James 1:19-27) 5. God requires Clarity (I Cor 6:19-20, II Cor 6:14-17) Now, what I do or don’t do does the following • Demonstrates my heart’s condition • Deflects praise to God • Determines my rewards • Delivers me from judgment • Detrimental to my testimony to the lost and • Discourages others from the Faith Now, you can have all the standards you want – but make sure they are Biblical and for the right reasons to be used by the Spirit to reprove the world of sin (loving-kindness) judgment, and righteousness.