Sermon: Asseverate [uh-sev-uh-reyt]     ...a sermon about a better state     
by Chris Cumming                                                                                                                       printer-friendly     MP3

On the 18^th of January of this year (2020), I presented to you the sermon, “Double-down” which shared with you a hands-on perspective to repentance.  I began that sermon with this statement:

“Back in July and August of 2014, I gave four sermons as part of a Holiness series.  You can see all these sermons at the Las Vegas site.  This sermon is the sixth in that series.  Each is a stand-alone sermon on the same overall subject: Holiness.”

So “Double-down” is part of the Holiness series of four (4) sermons.  From this one sermon, I have put together fourteen (14) sermons in what I call the, “Salvation series.”  You can see these sermon titles and subjects on the Sermons page of the Las Vegas site.  Each sermon has a key verse or two you heard in “Double-down.”  Today is the sixth sermon in this series. 

Note: Any scripture you see with an asterisk (*) is one found in the sermon “Double-down.”

Let us begin.

The name of this sermon is, Asseverate [uh-sev-uh-reyt].  

Let us define this word

This word is related to our first sermon in this series, Gentrify

Asseverate [uh-sev-uh-reyt]:  
--to declare earnestly or solemnly; affirm positively;

This is a sermon about changing to a better state.  Last week, we had a sermon about 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.

As firstfruits, we are constantly declaring to God our commitment, pledge, and obedience to go on to perfection.

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.

Colossians 1:25-29
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

1 Peter 5:10 [see sermon, "Stablishment”]
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Let us look at words related to our title word, “Asseverate.”  Notice they all speak to promise and commitment.

Affirm
--to assert
--to confirm
--to express commitment to

Express
--to show
--to manifest

Insist
--to be emphatic, firm or resolute regarding some demand

Maintain
--to keep  in existence
--to continue
--to retain

Profess
--to lay claim to
--to affirm faith to God
--to make a thing (salvation, in our case) one's profession or business (work).

Putting all these words and definitions together, we can make a statement:

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.

Let us go to a key verse from the “Double-down” sermon.

Ephesians 4:22-23*
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Double-down Phrases:
--Put off the old man.
--Be renewed.

Definition:
---Renew: recover; replenish; make effective for longer period.

Word G365: To renovate, that is, reform: - renew

Reform:
the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc.:

verb (used with object)
to change to a better state, form, etc.; improve by alteration, substitution, abolition, etc.

to cause (a person-yourself) to abandon wrong or evil ways of life or conduct.

to put an end to (abuses, disorders, etc.).

verb (used without object)
to abandon evil conduct or error:

Renew
--to resume
--to restore
--to revive
--to make new again

If you go to the thesaurus on "renew" we find some familiar words:
--reaffirm
--restore
--resume
--gentrify (first sermon in this series)

In our key verse of Ephesians 4:23, the word is “renewed.”  This word, though a different Greek word translated, “renewed” is found 2 other times in the New Testament.  Both answer some primary questions.

How often are we renewed?

2 Corinthians 4:16 
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed (G341) day by day.

How are we renewed?

Colossians 3:10 
And have put on the new man, which is renewed (G341) in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

I want to look at this last one in other versions in hopes of clarity.

New Living Translation
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

Berean Literal Bible
and having put on the new, the one being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one having created him,

World English Bible
and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,

Your character is renewed by knowledge of God and that is done by full immersion in the Word of God.  Remember one of our key salvation process scriptures

2 Corinthians 3:18 [see sermon, “Glory to Glory”]

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

When I gave the sermon, “Glory to Glory” and we had done a full immersion on this verse, I stated this verse in my terms:

“All true Christians with the Holy Spirit see and know Jesus Christ directly and openly.  We see Him reflected in Spirit and through the Word of God.  We see His glory in everything He does and says.

“We are changed to His image as we persevere in the Process of Salvation---overcoming sin, invoking Godly principles and putting on Christ in every aspect of our lives… “from glory to glory” by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

This was the word, “renewed.”  Let us look at the word, “renewing.”  There are two scriptures and they, too, answer questions.

What is one of the primary goals of renewing our minds?
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.
 

By what power are we renewed?

Titus 3:5 [see Lesson] 

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost [Spirit].

You and I get to a better spiritual state by proving what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.  We do this by virtue of Jesus shedding His blood, by washing us and renewing us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

King David once sinned before God and he repented.  What was part of his prayer to God?

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

How else does God renew us?

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Lamentations 5:21 

Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

Notice this on the phrase, "renew our days as of old."

Renew our days as of old - for good, as the Targum adds. The request is, that their good days might be renewed; that they might enjoy the same peace and prosperity, and all good things in their own land, as they had done in days and years past: first they pray for repentance; then restoration. ~John Gill  ~Emphasis mine

Let us now go back to the key verse for this sermon; Ephesians 4:23

Ephesians 4:23*

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.

Notice this from the Biblical Illustrator:

The renewal takes place not simply in the mind, but in the spirit of it.

It is the special seat of renewal. The mind remains as before, both in its intellectual and emotional structure—in its memory and judgment, imagination and perception.

These powers do not in themselves need renewal, and regeneration brings neither new faculties nor susceptibilities. The organism of the mind survives as it was, but the spirit which inhabits and governs it is entirely changed.

The ruling and motive power is renovated. The memory, for example, still exercises its former functions, but on a very different class of subjects; the judgment still discharging its old office, is occupied among a new set of themes and ideas; and love retaining all its ardour, attaches itself to objects quite in contrast with those of its earlier preference, and pursuit.

The change is not in mind psychologically, either in its essence or in its operation, neither is it in mind, as if it were a superficial change of opinion, either on points of doctrine or of practice; but it is “in the spirit of the mind,” in that which gives mind both its bent and its materials of thought.

It is not simply in the spirit, as if it lay there in dim and mystic quietude; but it is “in the spirit of the mind,” in the power which, when changed itself, radically alters the entire sphere and business of the inner mechanism. ~Biblical Illustrator, emphasis mine

The renewal that takes place in us does not change any of the physical or psychological elements.  The renewal is in enlightenment by the power of the Holy Spirit.  When we witness a radical or even minute positive change in our lives and minds, it is accomplished by unction from God via the Holy Spirit.

1 John 2:20 

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things (spiritual).

Much of the renewal we experience comes in the form of spiritual epiphany.  A spiritual epiphany is a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something.

I mentioned this last week, as I gave the sermon, “Mortification.”  I was deeply convicted by what was said in that sermon.  I, personally, was taken miles deep into Ephesians 5:4 which mentions, “foolish talking and jesting.”  So much so, that I am conducting a major study into those subjects and already making me contemplate how I conduct my everyday conversations.  The result of this will be renewal.

Better your state.  Be renewed.

Our key verse in this sermon has been Ephesians 4:22-23 and our discussion has been that of putting off the old man and being renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Let us read these two verses in context.  The context here speaks to the same things.

Let us begin reading with verse 20 of Ephesians 4.

Ephesians 4:20-32*
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Notice this from the F. B. Meyer commentary:

The Lord Jesus is our text-book and our teacher, the schoolhouse in which we are taught, and the object lesson in which all truth is enshrined. But all is in vain unless we definitely and forever put away the old man; that is, our old manners and customs in so far as they are contrary to the Spirit of Christ.

With equal decision we are called upon to seek the daily renewal of our spirit and the outward conformity of our mode of life to the example of Jesus. But it should never be forgotten that the latter will be a dry husk unless it is energized from the true vine. There can be little of Christ without unless He dwells without a rival within. But [God, through] the Holy Spirit will see to this, if only we grieve [it, the Holy Spirit] not [verse 30].

What a transformation immediately ensues! Truth instead of falsehood, gentleness for anger, earnest toil for dishonesty, cleansed instead of filthy speech. If all believers were to live like this, the world would know that the Son of God has come. It is not enough that a man should believe to secure deliverance from the wrath of God; he must daily seek to attain to such resemblance of Jesus as shall make men recall Him to mind. ~F. B. Meyer

Let us finish with another scripture passage from the "Double Down" sermon.  Though not used in the sermon, "Mortification", it begins with the primary admonition of that sermon, "Mortify sin."

Colossians 3:5-9*
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

Double-down Phrases:
--Mortify bad deeds

Colossians 3 continues after verse 9.  Notice how it speaks to our primary admonition today, "Better your state.  Be renewed."

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