Sermon: Pure Occasions
by Chris Cumming

Recently we had a Bible study on 1 Timothy 5:14.  There was a remarkable phrase within this verse that inspired this sermon I have for you today.  Let’s read that verse.

1 Timothy 5:14 [see Lesson] 
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

The phrase that caught both my eye and my imagination is “give none occasion” as in, “give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”  We are to give no occasion or opportunity for a negative act or event to take place.

Interestingly, in this letter of Paul to Timothy, he gives us the way to accomplish this.  Notice three verses elsewhere in the letter; two of which we have discussed in Bible study:

1 Timothy 1:5  [see lesson]
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

1 Timothy 3:9  [see lesson]
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

1 Timothy 5:22 
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

Pure heart.
Pure conscience.
Pure self.

The purpose of my sermon today is to encourage all of us to avoid all negative situations and actions by continually and diligently striving for spiritual purity.

Strive for spiritual purity.

Today we are going to explore both concepts.  First we will explore that phrase, “give none occasion” and some actual biblical occasions in the scripture record.  We will then address the concept of having a pure heart, conscience and self.

In the Bible study on 1 Timothy 5:14, we went to the Jamieson, Fausset, Brown on the phrase, “give none occasion.”  It reads: “literally, “starting-point”: handle of reproach through the loose conduct of nominal Christians.”

You and I would not generally say, “give none occasion” but rather, “give no occasion.”  Give it no starting point.  Whatever the negative action or event is, do not allow the first step.  For the last several years, I have likened our journey as walking down the path of righteousness and should we see some sort of temptation off to the right or left at some one-hundred yards, we are not to take even the first step toward it.  Easily that first step could be while we are still on the righteous path.  That is, that first step is a thought process working on our mind which, if left alone, will conceive a plan of action to leave the path.  We, in purity, are to avoid that first step.  Paul is saying; don’t give that thought or action a starting point.

Let us go now to the John Gill commentary for one of the ultimate negative situations; one we must all avoid and is actually at the center of all possible negative situations.

Give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully - that is, either that Satan, the grand adversary of the saints, might have no opportunity to reproach them, and cast in their teeth their unbecoming walk, or accuse them before the throne; or that any enemy of the Christian religion might have no room nor reason to speak evilly of Christ, his Gospel, truths, and ordinances, on account of the disorderly conversation of any that profess his name; or that the great opposer of Christ, the man of sin, and son of perdition, even antichrist, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, might have no handle from hence to speak reproachfully of marriage, and forbid it, under a pretense of sanctity, as 1 Timothy 4:3. ~John Gill

In simple terms, you are being watched and rather closely I might add.  Satan and his ilk are watching us night and day looking for any opportunity to accuse us.  Any reading of Job shows Satan as the great accuser.  Do you think they only go after the named biblical servants of God?  Turn to Revelation 12.

Revelation 12:10 
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Satan is the accuser of all the brethren and he accuses us before our God day and night.  Do we now see the seriousness of, “give no occasion”?  Personally, I want angels talking to God about me in the positive and not Satan in the negative.  Thank God and praise Almighty God for His Son Jesus Christ interceding on our behalf each time Satan opens his mouth against us.

Remember 1 Peter 5:8…

1 Peter 5:8 
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Now that we have established the great adversary, let’s go now to some other examples of negative occasions.  Turn to 1 Timothy 6:1

1 Timothy 6:1
Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

The, “yoke” being spoken of here is under the yoke of men, in a state of servitude, under the government of masters, and in their service; being either apprentices to them, or bought with their money, or hired by them.

This, therefore applies to virtually everyone in this room.  Whether it be your boss, your homeowner’s association, the police authority who pulls you over or the rude person at the DMV, we want to be on our best behavior that the name of God and our doctrine be not blasphemed.

Now surely sin is a great negative occasion and we do not want to give place to sin.  Notice one individual who sinned and how this was deemed rather negative.

2 Samuel 12:14  ...after David's sins of adultery and murder…Bathsheba and Uriah
Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.   

My referencing the sins of David is not an attack on David.  It is a serious example and lesson for all of us who sin.  This is why we are diligently going after purity.  To the degree you put spirit-powered effort into your diligence toward pureness; the less often this type of negative occasion will manifest itself.  Stop sin at the first step!

When we sin, this is a negative occasion, BUT we repent and that is among the BEST of occasions.  This is why we repent; to destroy certain negative occasions.  David repented.  That fact declares that 2 Samuel 12:14 is a serious example requiring our fervency and zeal.

As firstfruits, we can have positive or negative reports submitted.  I just gave you an example of a negative occasion with David.  Want to hear a good report of a positive occasion; one born out of striving for purity?  Turn to

Daniel 6:4
Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

Now this specific report is not stating that Daniel is somehow better than David.  It is simply one of many possible reports about Daniel that happens to be of a positive occasion he experienced.  Clearly God wanted us to have a prime example of each.  Both are profound and deeply serious.

Notice the wording again of Daniel 6:4.  It says, “forasmuch as he was faithful.”  The faithful firstfruit is striving for purity.

From our many Bible studies where we discuss Paul, we speak of those in and mostly outside the church who were after Paul and in 2 Corinthians 11 we see them coming after him and attempting to disparaging him for his refusal to receive compensation from the Corinthians.  Paul’s way of counteracting their attempts was by persisting in this refusal.  Notice verse twelve:

2 Corinthians 11:12
But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

Notice what is going on here from the commentary:

But what I do - The course of life which I have been pursuing I will continue to pursue. That is, I will continue to preach as I have done without demanding a support. I will labor with my own hands if necessary; I will preach without demanding rigidly what I might be entitled to.

That I may cut off occasion - That I might give them no opportunity of accusing me of desiring to grow rich, and of calumniating me. Paul meant that they should have no plausible pretext even for accusing him; that no man should be able to say that he was preaching merely for the hire.

Which desire occasion - No doubt his enemies eagerly sought opportunities of accusing him, and greatly wished for some plausible reason for charging him with that which would be disgraceful and ruinous to his character. Or it may mean that they desired opportunity from the example of Paul to justify themselves in their course; that they took wages from the church at Corinth largely, and desired to be able to say that they had his example. ~Barnes Notes

Do you see what is going on here?  Paul is going on with purity.  In doing so, he is beating the negative occasion the enemies are bringing.  He is actually exposing them.  Purity; your continual journey toward purity, will beat the negative occasion virtually every time according to the will of God and I am here to tell you that God creates purity in you to pound the negative occasions to dust.

God is the author of our purity and throughout His Word He gives us instructions, that if embraced and invoked, will make us pure.  Let us look at some of these instructions.

Romans 14:13
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

The judgment here is the judgment of condemnation.  Purity would have us refraining from the wrong kind of judging and therefore avoiding the negative event of putting a stumbling block or occasion to fall in our brother’s way.

With purity…no one falls but the enemy.

I am now going to give you an entire biblical chapter of instructions that will keep you from the negative occasions.

Virtually everything I am about to read are instructions in righteousness and purity.  These are instructions that, if carried out, will have you avoiding scores of negative occasions.  Each is a piece of good advice because they are pure.

Titus 2:1-15 [see Lessons]
1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

What instructions did we just read together?

By what power do we strive for purity as we avoid and defeat negative occasions?  When a negative occasion approaches, what should be my reaction?

1 Peter 4:14-15
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

Do you see the boldness here?  No fear, no guilt, no confusion and no wonderment about how to proceed.  We are happy and we move ahead with the power of Almighty God who wants us to win every time.   Notice also:  No suffering.  It’s the murderers, thieves, evildoers and busybodies who suffer.

Question:  Is there a scripture that speaks to our Godly Calling and how we should do nothing that makes for a negative occasion?

Galatians 5:13
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

I looked at the Barnes Notes commentary to see what I could glean from the meaning here:

For, “You have been called unto liberty” which means: You are now free from man-made laws about God’s Law.  You are free from false teachers who abridge and destroy that liberty.  You are made free from the servitude of sin.

For, “Only use not liberty” which means: Do not use your Godly Calling and this newfound freedom to give in to a false occasion.  Guard the doctrines from abuse at all times.  We are free, but accountable to God, His Word and His Law.  We are free from the power of sin, but we are not free to sin.  This was a real problem in the first century church.  Do not allow a doctrine or personal belief to be a justification for any negative occasion or event in your life.

For, “An occasion” which means: Any indulgence to the flesh or any furtherance or help to corrupt passions.

For, “To the flesh” which was often used by Paul in his writings to denote corrupt and gross passions and affections.  So we are talking about the heart and the character of the firstfruit.  Notice two key scriptures; the first speaking to our inherent weakness and the second to why firstfruits conquer that weakness.

Romans 7:18
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Paul is say that there is no negative occasion in them who walk after the Spirit, which is to say them who constantly invoke the power of the Holy Spirit.  Every fruit of the Spirit that is invoked is a good occasion.

For the final phrase of Galatians 5:13 we have, “But by love serve one another” which points to one of the most profound concepts of why we were called; to get focus off the self and use the power of God to serve and lift up one another.  This is the freedom of the gospel.  Every time you lift up others using the power of God, that is a good occasion.

Notice 1 John 2:10…

1 John 2:10 
He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

Notice the commentary on the latter part of the verse, “occasion of stumbling.”  The commentary says, “The word here used, means anything against which one strikes or stumbles; and then a stumbling-block, an impediment, or anything which occasions a fall. Then it is used in a moral or spiritual sense, as denoting that which is the occasion of falling into sin.” ~Barnes Notes

Again, as in Galatians 5:13, we see that invoking the Holy Spirit precludes us from negative occasions and leads us to positive or pure occasions.

Let us finish this sermon today with some scripture admonitions to keep ourselves pure that we can add to the three from 1 Timothy I gave you at the beginning of this sermon.

Let us begin with a prayer by Jesus for you.  A prayer that you be kept from negative occasions.

John 17:14-15
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

What more important thing could I say to you than God is on your side to help you avoid negative occasions.

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.

---Avoid the traps of the world and you avoid bad occasions.
---Transform and constantly renew your mind and you will experience more and more positive occasions.
---Know the will of God and you will make good decisions as He does and thus have positive occasions.

Jesus Christ gave up His life on earth that we might be delivered from negative occasions and live pure lives.

Galatians 1:4
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

The primary way Jesus delivers us from negative occasions is to lead us in purity which IS the will of the Father.

Negative occasions originate on earth.  Purity and positive occasions originate in heaven.

Colossians 3:1-3
1 If 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.

Purity comes from setting our affections on things above.

Verse 2 says, don’t set your affections on things on the earth.  Let us see that as a purposeful command.  Notice what is true if we do not heed the command.

1 John 2:15-17
15 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.

Abiding forever is the most positive occasion I can think of.  How about you?  Experience and invoke positive occasions and you will be doing it forever and ever.  Seeking purity will get you to every good occasion.

1 John 5:4-5
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

You are born of God and your faith [life in the Salvation Process] will see you to Victory.

1 John 5:18
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

The message of this verse is clear:  Keepth yourself in purity.

Those diligently seeking purity have hope of eternal life and that hope is a driving force to get you to purity.

1 John 3:2-3
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

So get out there:  Avoid negative occasions, experience positive occasions and be pure as He is pure.

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