#

Title

A sermon about…

1

Gentrify

renewal   

2

Abdicate & Submerse

departure and seeking

3

Lave 

spiritual washing

4

Edulcorate

purification 

5

Mortification

spiritual mortification

6

Asseverate

a better state

7

Unshackled

manifesting yourself from evil and things negative

8

Volition.

living the will of God

9

Proximity

drawing nigh to God

10

Convene

acquaintance 

11

Chase

goodness and pursuit

12

Ameliorate 

how to perfect holiness

13

Advance 

spiritual walking

#

Title

Specific Purpose Statement

1

Gentrify

Manifest spiritual renewal

2

Abdicate & Submerse

Depart from evil
Do good
Seek peace
Pursue peace
or using the title:
Abdicate the negative & submerse yourself into the good.

3

Lave 

Be clean in the presence of God

4

Edulcorate

Purify your souls

5

Mortification

Mortify sin

6

Asseverate

Better your state

7

Unshackled

Unshackle yourself (from sin)

8

Volition.

Live the will of God

9

Proximity

Be in proximity to God

10

Convene

Acquaint yourself with God

11

Chase

Follow that which is good.

12

Ameliorate 

Perfect Holiness

13

Advance 

Walk in the Spirit

1 Peter 1:22

1 Peter 1:22-23

1 Peter 2:1-2

1 Peter 4:2-4

2 Corinthians 7:1

3 John 1:11

Colossians 3:5-9

Ephesians 4:22-23

Ezekiel 18:30-32 

Galatians 5:16

Galatians 5:24-26

Hebrews 10:22-24

Isaiah 1:16-17

James 1:8

James 1:21

James 4:8

Job 22:21-23

Psalm 18:20-24

Psalm 34:14

Romans 8:1

Romans 8:13

Titus 2:14

Scripture
 

Use in Salvation Series

1 Peter 1:22

Proximity

1 Peter 1:22-23

Edulcorate   Unshackled   Ameliorate

1 Peter 2:1-2

Lave 

1 Peter 4:2-4

Volition

2 Corinthians 7:1

Lave   Asseverate   Proximity   Ameliorate

3 John 1:11

Abdicate & Submerse   Chase

Colossians 3:5-9

Gentrify   Asseverate

Ephesians 4:22-23

Gentrify   Lave    Asseverate  

Ezekiel 18:30-32 

Gentrify   Lave    Proximity   Ameliorate

Galatians 5:16

Advance

Galatians 5:24-26

Mortification   Advance

Hebrews 10:22-24

Proximity

Isaiah 1:16-17

Abdicate & Submerse  Lave    Proximity   Chase   Ameliorate

James 1:8

Proximity

James 1:21

Edulcorate   Unshackled

James 4:8

Lave    Edulcorate   Proximity   Ameliorate

Job 22:21-23

Convene

Psalm 18:20-24

Proximity

Psalm 34:14

Abdicate & Submerse Lave 

Romans 8:1

Advance

Romans 8:13

Mortification

Titus 2:14

Abdicate & Submerse  Lave   Ameliorate  Advance

#

Title

A sermon about…

Scriptures

1

Gentrify

renewal   

Colossians 3:5-9
Ephesians 4:22-23
Ezekiel 18:30-32 

 

2

Abdicate & Submerse

departure and seeking

3 John 1:11
Isaiah 1:16-17
Psalm 34:14
Titus 2:14

 

3

Lave 

spiritual washing

1 Peter 2:1-2
2 Corinthians 7:1
Ephesians 4:22-23
Ezekiel 18:30-32 
Isaiah 1:16-17
James 4:8
Psalm 34:14
Titus 2:14

 

4

Edulcorate

purification 

1 Peter 1:22-23
James 1:21
James 4:8

 

5

Mortification

spiritual mortification

Galatians 5:24-26
Romans 8:13

 

6

Asseverate

a better state

2 Corinthians 7:1
Colossians 3:5-9
Ephesians 4:22-23

 

7

Unshackled

manifesting yourself from evil and things negative

1 Peter 1:22-23
James 1:21

 

8

Volition.

living the will of God

1 Peter 4:2-4

 

9

Proximity

drawing nigh to God

1 Peter 1:22
2 Corinthians 7:1
Ezekiel 18:30-32 
Hebrews 10:22-24
Isaiah 1:16-17
James 1:8
James 4:8
Psalm 18:20-24

 

10

Convene

acquaintance 

Job 22:21-23
 

11

Chase

goodness and pursuit

3 John 1:11
Isaiah 1:16-17
 

12

Ameliorate 

how to perfect holiness

1 Peter 1:22-23
2 Corinthians 7:1
Ezekiel 18:30-32 
Isaiah 1:16-17
James 4:8
Titus 2:14
 

13

Advance 

spiritual walking

Galatians 5:16
Galatians 5:24-26
Romans 8:1
Titus 2:14
 

#1 Gentrify

Spiritual renewal.  Be repentant.  Stay in salvation process.
 

Manifest spiritual renewal.  Repentance is what spiritual renewal is all about.  Spiritual renewal is what the salvation process is all about.

--Turn yourself from all your transgressions.

--Cast away the transgressions.

--Make a new heart and new spirit.
 

Ephesians 4:23

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
 

Put off the old man.  The “old man” is what you were before conversion.
 

Let us put these eleven (11) transgressions into a list you can readily use.  Manifest spiritual renewal by casting off:

1] Neglect

2] Complaining

3] Self-doubt

4] Blaming

5] Lack of Self-Control

6] Criticizing Others

7] Bossiness

8] Rejection

9] Manipulation

10] Deception

11] Selfishness

"Spiritual renewal and the transformation of your life, your family, the church, the Work and the very Kingdom of God cannot take place unless there is first renewal and transformation in you."
 

Manifest spiritual renewal.
 

#2 Abdicate & Submerse

A sermon about departure and seeking.  The departure is from evil and sin.  The Seeking is to do good, seeking peace and pursuing peace.  These things we seek are what we submerse ourselves into.
 

Psalm 34:14
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

The key points of this sermon are:

Depart from evil.
Do good.
Seek peace.
Pursue peace.

Depart from evil
Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
 

Psalm 37:27
Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

Do Good:
Galatians 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
 

1 John 3:7
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
 

Seek Peace
Romans 14:19
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
 

Romans 5:1-2
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Pursue Peace
Pursue (Psalm 34:14) is word H7291 and means to run after.
 

If we put evil to flight and persecute it as trash in our mind, we will be freed from it and the result will be peace.
 

“Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, and quietly building new structures.” ~John F. Kennedy
 

Abdicate the negative & Submerse yourself into the good.
 

#3 Lave

Spiritual washing.  Purify yourself.  Be clean in the presence of God
 

Isaiah 1:16-17
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
 

---Cleanse: to remove by or as if by cleaning.
---Put away:  put distance between you and the sin or negative element.
---Wash: remove stains.  Word H7364: To lave [wash by pouring water].
 

We are to be continually spiritually clean in the presence of God.
 

Wash you:
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
 

Put away the evil:
Isaiah 55:6-7
6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
 

Cease to do evil:
Romans 12:9
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
 

Learn to do well:
Romans 13:12
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
 

"Cleaning and organizing is a practice not a project."
 

Continue to be clean in the presence of God
 

#4 Edulcorate [ih-duhl-kuh-reyt]

Purification. Chasten, clean, decontaminate, disinfect, purge, sanctify, wash.
 

The key verses are:

James 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

1 Peter 1:22-23
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
 

--Purified your souls.
--Obeying the truth.
--Love one another.
--Manifest fervency.
 

Definitions:
---Purify: free from foreign, extraneous or objectionable elements, such as the sin or negative element.  Purge.
---Obey: comply to commands and instructions.
---Fervency: intensity; enthusiasm; zeal; gusto.
 

James 1:18
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
 

1] What made the salvation process possible?
2] What is a primary mission of Jesus Christ regarding humans?
3] What does Jesus Christ want to do with humans?
4] What does Jesus Christ and God want to instill in the humans they work with?
 

Turn to the second chapter of Titus.
 

Titus 2:14 [see Lesson]
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
 

#5 Mortification

Spiritual mortification.  Mortify bad deeds and habits.  Mortify temptations and sin.
 

Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
 

God hates evil and He wants us to hate sin and evil.  Notice the commentary for this verse:
 

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil - All evil in general, evil thoughts, evil words, evil actions, evil company, evil worship, and evil doctrines; and by "the fear of the Lord", which shows itself in an hatred of evil, because of the loathsome nature of it, and being contrary to God and his will. ~John Gill
 

Notice another commentary:

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil - As it is impossible to hate evil without loving good; and as hatred to evil will lead a man to abandon the evil way; and love to goodness will lead him to do what is right in the sight of God, under the influence of that Spirit which has given the hatred to evil, and inspired the love of goodness: hence this implies the sum and substance of true religion, which is here termed the fear of the Lord. ~Adam Clarke
 

This is one fantastic commentary as it catches the essence of the verse.  Let us break it down for your meditations:
 

1] It is impossible to hate evil without loving good.
2] Hating evil will lead us to abandon the evil way.
3] Love of goodness [holiness] will lead us to Godly action.
4] All this is done by the power of God in us; the Holy Spirit.
5] The Holy Spirit manifests in us hatred of evil and love of goodness.
6] All this is the sum and substance of true religion (our piety).
7] All this is termed, "the fear of the Lord"
 

Learn to hate sin.  Manifest white-hot hatred for sin and all things negative.  Use this hatred to kill or mortify the sin from your heart, mind, soul and action.
 

What will be the result of doing this?  You will be led to a powerful love of goodness and holiness and this will lead you to Godly actions and all good works.
 

You cannot do this of yourself.  Both the white-hot hatred and the powerful Godly love are manifestations of the Holy Spirit in you or, as we say, Jesus Christ living in and through you by the power of the Holy Spirit.
 

Mortify sin and all evil and negative things.
 

Mortify sin.
 

#6 Asseverate

Getting to a better state.  Continual improvement. 
 

Asseverate [uh-sev-uh-reyt]: 
 

--to declare earnestly or solemnly; affirm positively;
 

This is a sermon about changing to a better state.  In the previous sermon, the subject was mortification.  Its purpose was to encourage us to mortify sin.  This sermon is a logical follow-up to that one.  If we are in a process of mortifying sin, our resulting character is better, we are better and more mature.
 

So, seek a better state for yourself.
 

Better your state.

How many of you have noticed that the word, “Asseverate” is not specifically speaking to you bettering your spiritual state but rather speaks to a promise being made.  In this case, we are speaking of firstfruits making a promise before God to grow in maturity and to stay in the salvation process to the end.

Hebrews 6:1a
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; ~emphasis mine
 

Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
 

Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
 

2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
 

We declare earnestly to God, in the most powerful personal and spiritual terms that:
 

--we are committed to God.
--we affirm our faith to Him.
--we are resolute in going on to perfection.
--we continue in absolute obedience to God.
--we express to God and ourselves that we will maintain the process to the end.
 

Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
 

Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny. ~ Unknown
 

#7 Unshackled

Unshackle yourself (from sin).  Manifesting yourself from evil and things negative
 

James 1:21
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity [soo-per-floo-i-tee] [excessive amounts] of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
 

To unshackle ourselves from evil and all things negative and bad is to immerse ourselves into the Word of God.  We must continue to involve ourselves deeply in that Word.  We must absorb it.  God’s Word must be embedded in our hearts, minds and souls.
 

Unshackle yourself.
 

If you have the text of this sermon, you notice that in the commentary on, “the ingrafted word” I mark some text in bold and blue letters:  that have meekly and humbly received it.  Just wanted to point out that a forward-moving firstfruit realizes that all the goodness in his/her life, to include daily blessings, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, healing and many miracles and interventions are all accomplished and experienced by the power of God or Christ working in and through us. Our seeing this on a minute-by-minute and day-by-day basis results in us being meek and humble.  We stand in awe to what God is doing in our lives and we realize that the meekness and humbleness in our mind and heart is, itself, fruit of the Spirit of God.
 

Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
 

Now listen to this from the fly leaf of the Bible published by the D. L. Moody Institute:
 

The Bible…This book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of life, the doom of sinners, the happiness of believers.  Read it to be wise.  Believe it to be safe.  Practice it to be holy.
 

It gives light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you.
 

It is the traveler’s map, the soldier’s sword, the Christian’s chart.
 

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.  Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully.

It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with it.
 

All of these verses and all of these statements together show the fullness and totality that the Word of God is.
 

Isn’t this true regarding everything about God?
 

He owns everything.
 

He wants to give us everything
 

He demands 100% obedience
 

He demands your life….TOTAL COMMITMENT
 

He wants total commitment to Him and His Word.

“There is little hope for us until we become tough-minded enough to break loose from the shackles of prejudice, half-truths, and down-right ignorance.”

“There is nothing evil save that which perverts the mind and shackles the conscience.”
 

So go now and Unshackle yourself.
 

#8 Volition

Live the will of God
 

Volition
1] the act of willing, choosing or resolving.
2] a choice or decision made by the will.
3] the power of willing – the power of the will.
 

Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
 

The purpose of this sermon is to encourage all of us to live the will of God.
 

Live the will of God.

Philippians 2:12
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
 

All through this sermon, my encouragement to you has been, “Live the will of God.”  To some, this might be stating that the firstfruit uses his or her own power to do this.  However, all these verses show that God is establishing His will in you.  In other words, I live the will of God by totally surrendering to Him so he can manifest His will in my heart, mind and soul. Once established and maintained, I naturally do things by His will.  God says this later in Philippians.
 

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
 

So let the work of God be wrought in you and do the will of Almighty God.
 

Live the will of God 
 

#9 Proximity

Be in proximity to God.
 

James 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
 

Double-down Phrases:
--Draw nigh to God
--Cleanse your hands.
--Purify your hearts.
--Do not allow yourself to be double minded.
 

Draw nigh to God:
Hebrews 10:22-24
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
 

Psalm 73:28  
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
 

Commentary:
Declare all thy works - of providence and grace, by proclaiming the wisdom, power, goodness, and faithfulness of God in them; by giving him the glory of them, and by expressing thankfulness for them, both by words and deeds. ~John Gill
 

You declare the Work of God in your words, deeds, and actions.  You become the living metaphor of God.  The idea is that deep in their minds they do not see you but the God in you.
 

I will leave you with the words of Abraham Lincoln:

My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.

'I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.
 

Be in proximity to God.
 

#10 Convene

Acquaint yourself with God
 

Job 22:21-23
21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.
 

Double-down Phrases:
--Acquaint yourself with God.
--Be at peace.
--Receive the Law and words of God.
--Return or repent.
 

1] Acquaint yourself with God.
2] Be at peace.
3] Receive the Law and words of God.
4] Return or repent.
 

Item 1 begins when God calls us.

Item 2 is a fruit of the Spirit and denotes that God does not want any negative elements between you and Him.

Item 3 is the key element of the process.  This begins with full immersion in the Word of God and then making every word a part of your heart, mind and soul.

Item 4 is the element that keeps this procedure going.  God knows we are human and subject to sin, so we have repentance to keep our spiritual garment clean.  Repentance is abundantly linked to the second item: Peace.  When we repent, we remove guilt, sorrow and other negative elements that would harm the relationship.
 

#11 Chase

Goodness and pursuit.  Follow that which is good.
 

3 John 1:11
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
 

Follow: conform to, comply with, or act in accordance with; obey.  Imitate or copy.  Move forward.  To go after.
 

God is truth
Exodus 34:6
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
 

The Word of God is truth
John 17:17

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
 

Follow that which is good.
 

#12 Ameliorate

How to perfect Holiness.  Perfect Holiness
 

2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
 

Double-down Phrases:
--Cleanse yourself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
--Perfect Holiness.
--Have fear of God.
 

2 Corinthians 7:1 phrases:
1] Let us cleanse ourselves.
2] From all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
3] Perfecting holiness.
4] In the fear of God.
 

1] Let us cleanse ourselves.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
 

2] From all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3] Perfecting holiness.
Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

4] In the fear of God.
Proverbs 16:6
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
 

"God sometimes takes us into troubled waters...Not to drown us, but to cleanse us.”
 

"I am learning to love the sound of my feet walking away from things not meant for me."
 

Perfect Holiness
 

#13 Advance

Spiritual walking.  Walk in the Spirit.
 

Double-down Phrases:
--Crucify the flesh 
--Live in the Spirit
--Walk in the Spirit
--Control desire and eliminate any desire for anything negative and/or against the Word of God.

Galatians 5:16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

“You will know if you are on the right path when God directs your choices.”

“Those who walk with God always reach their destination.”

Maybe the best quote is the words of Paul in our last key verse (Galatians 5:16):

“This I say then, walk in the Spirit.”