Are We Defiling Ourselves
Defile means – to corrupt; to dishonor; to pollute; to pervert
As I have been reading again through the Old Testament, the list of things that would
defile a person are enormous. Israel committed harlotry by defiling themselves with
the idols of the nations; worshipping and bowing down to them. And many in the
church of today are defiling themselves by walking so closely with the world.
Compromising with the things of the world, thinking that the ways of God are old
fashion. Believing that there are many ways to heaven, and are following many
different things.
But lets look at Daniel, Daniel was captured and taken to Babylon and they wanted to
change the way that he thought, but Daniel committed to God not to defile himself with
the kings foods, and Daniel found favor with God (Daniel 1:6-9) “now among these
were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. To whom the
prince of the eunuchs gave names; for he gave to Daniel the name of Belteshazzar;
and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of
Abednego. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the
portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of
the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought
Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs”. Daniel and the three
Hebrew boys requested to be tested for ten days, on eating only vegetables and
water, and after that time, they were found to be fairer and fatter in flesh than all the
children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.
Again we see the three Hebrew boys were told to bow down to the statue which king
Nebuchadnezzar had made when they heard the sound of the music played, but they
refused. They were taught that they should not bow down to any god. And even after
being warned to do it or else, they refused. Now they were thrown into the burning
fiery furnace, but they didn’t get burned, because God honored their commitment to
honor Him only.
Jesus speaking to the scribes and the Pharisees says that it is what comes out of a
man that defiles him (Matthew 15:7-13) “you hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophecy of
you saying. This people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their
lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men. And He called the multitude, and said to them.
Hear, and understand. Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that
which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man. Then came His disciples, and said
to Him, know You that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But
He answered and said, every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted, shall be
rooted up. Like Jesus, we are supposed to speaking only what we hear our Father
speak.
Jesus declares to the disciples what this parable means (Matthew 15:15-20) “then
answered Peter and said to Him, declare to us this parable. And Jesus said, are you
also yet without understanding? Do not you yet understand, that whatsoever enters in
at the mouth goes into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things
which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts,
false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man; but to eat with
unwashed hands defiles not a man”.
James says that our tongue can defile our whole body, like a helm can turn about a
great ship (James 3:5-10) “even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great
things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles. And the tongue is a fire, a world
of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and
sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts,
and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed
of mankind. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly
poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which
are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and
cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be”.
Proverbs 4:20-27 teaches us how we are to walk in life; it says “My son, attend to my
words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them
in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those that find them, and health to all
their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put
away from you a forward mouth; and perverse lips put far from you. Let your eyes
look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you. Ponder the path of your
feet, and let all your ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left;
remove your foot from evil”.
God tells us the things which He hates, and we are to hate them as well Proverbs 8:13
says “the fear (reverence) of the Lord Yahweh is to hate evil, pride, and arrogancy,
and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate”. We are supposed to love what
God loves, and hate what God hates.
Many will say that these are Old Testament, yet the New Testament tells us to put off
our former nature, the old you, who were in times past following the world and devil
(Ephesians 2:2-3) “wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this
world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the
children of disobedience. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past
in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by
nature the children of wrath; even as others”.
We are then told to put on our new nature, the nature of God (Ephesians 4:22-27)
“that you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt
according to the deceitful lusts. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And that
you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true
holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor; for
we are members one of another. Be you angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down
upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil”. The devil can only do what we give
place for him to do.
We have to watch what comes out of our mouth (Ephesians 4:29-32) which says “let
no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth; but that which is good to the
use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers. And grieve not the Holy
Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and
wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all
malice. And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even
as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you”.
Hebrews 12:14-15 tells us that bitterness defiles a person; it says “follow peace with all
men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently less
any man fail of the grace of God, less any root of bitterness springing up trouble you,
and thereby many be defiled”.
The New Testament tells us the things that we should abstain from; after the Gentiles
began to hear the word of God and come to the Lord, the apostles explained that they
didn’t have to keep the law, but listed the things that they should do (Acts 15:19-20,
28-29) “wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the
Gentiles are turned to God. But that we write to them, that they abstain from pollutions
of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For it
seemed good to the s Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than
these necessary things. That you abstain from meat offered to idols, and from blood,
and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if you keep your selves,
you shall do well. Fare you well”. Yet many think that because we are not under the
law, but under grace, that they can live any kind of way. But we see in Romans 8:5-8)
says “for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are
after the spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God,
for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in
the flesh cannot please God”.
The apostle Paul speaking to the Thessalonians reminds them that we do have things
to abstain from (I Thessalonians 4:1-5) “further more then we beseech you, brethren,
and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you have received of us how you ought to
walk and to please God, so you would abound more and more. For you know what
commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your
sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication. That every one of you should
know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor. Not in the lust of
concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God”. I Thessalonians 5:19-22)
also says “quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold
fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil”.
The apostle Peter says in (I Peter 2:11-17) “dearly beloved, I beseech you as
strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. Having
your conversation honest among the Gentiles that, whereas they speak against you as
evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the
day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake;
whether it be to the king, as supreme. Or to governors, as to them that are sent by
him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is
the will of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the
servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear (reverence) God.
Honor the king”.
We have to remember that we are called the temple of God, because God dwells in us
(I Corinthians 3:16-17) “know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the
Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God
destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are”. Paul further in (I
Corinthians 5:1-5) says “it is reported commonly that there is fornication among you,
and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should
have his father’s wife. And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he
that has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily as absent
in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I was present,
concerning him that has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
when you are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus
Christ. To deliver such an one to satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit
may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus”.
Reading Revelation 21:27 should make it clear that we not defile ourselves; it says
“and there shall in no wise enter into it (heaven) any thing that defiles, neither
whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb’s
book of life”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: February 3, 2012
Defile means – to corrupt; to dishonor; to pollute; to pervert
As I have been reading again through the Old Testament, the list of things that would
defile a person are enormous. Israel committed harlotry by defiling themselves with
the idols of the nations; worshipping and bowing down to them. And many in the
church of today are defiling themselves by walking so closely with the world.
Compromising with the things of the world, thinking that the ways of God are old
fashion. Believing that there are many ways to heaven, and are following many
different things.
But lets look at Daniel, Daniel was captured and taken to Babylon and they wanted to
change the way that he thought, but Daniel committed to God not to defile himself with
the kings foods, and Daniel found favor with God (Daniel 1:6-9) “now among these
were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. To whom the
prince of the eunuchs gave names; for he gave to Daniel the name of Belteshazzar;
and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of
Abednego. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the
portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of
the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought
Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs”. Daniel and the three
Hebrew boys requested to be tested for ten days, on eating only vegetables and
water, and after that time, they were found to be fairer and fatter in flesh than all the
children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.
Again we see the three Hebrew boys were told to bow down to the statue which king
Nebuchadnezzar had made when they heard the sound of the music played, but they
refused. They were taught that they should not bow down to any god. And even after
being warned to do it or else, they refused. Now they were thrown into the burning
fiery furnace, but they didn’t get burned, because God honored their commitment to
honor Him only.
Jesus speaking to the scribes and the Pharisees says that it is what comes out of a
man that defiles him (Matthew 15:7-13) “you hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophecy of
you saying. This people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their
lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men. And He called the multitude, and said to them.
Hear, and understand. Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that
which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man. Then came His disciples, and said
to Him, know You that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But
He answered and said, every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted, shall be
rooted up. Like Jesus, we are supposed to speaking only what we hear our Father
speak.
Jesus declares to the disciples what this parable means (Matthew 15:15-20) “then
answered Peter and said to Him, declare to us this parable. And Jesus said, are you
also yet without understanding? Do not you yet understand, that whatsoever enters in
at the mouth goes into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things
which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts,
false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man; but to eat with
unwashed hands defiles not a man”.
James says that our tongue can defile our whole body, like a helm can turn about a
great ship (James 3:5-10) “even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great
things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles. And the tongue is a fire, a world
of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and
sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts,
and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed
of mankind. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly
poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which
are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and
cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be”.
Proverbs 4:20-27 teaches us how we are to walk in life; it says “My son, attend to my
words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them
in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those that find them, and health to all
their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put
away from you a forward mouth; and perverse lips put far from you. Let your eyes
look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you. Ponder the path of your
feet, and let all your ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left;
remove your foot from evil”.
God tells us the things which He hates, and we are to hate them as well Proverbs 8:13
says “the fear (reverence) of the Lord Yahweh is to hate evil, pride, and arrogancy,
and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate”. We are supposed to love what
God loves, and hate what God hates.
Many will say that these are Old Testament, yet the New Testament tells us to put off
our former nature, the old you, who were in times past following the world and devil
(Ephesians 2:2-3) “wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this
world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the
children of disobedience. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past
in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by
nature the children of wrath; even as others”.
We are then told to put on our new nature, the nature of God (Ephesians 4:22-27)
“that you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt
according to the deceitful lusts. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And that
you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true
holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor; for
we are members one of another. Be you angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down
upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil”. The devil can only do what we give
place for him to do.
We have to watch what comes out of our mouth (Ephesians 4:29-32) which says “let
no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth; but that which is good to the
use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers. And grieve not the Holy
Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and
wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all
malice. And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even
as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you”.
Hebrews 12:14-15 tells us that bitterness defiles a person; it says “follow peace with all
men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently less
any man fail of the grace of God, less any root of bitterness springing up trouble you,
and thereby many be defiled”.
The New Testament tells us the things that we should abstain from; after the Gentiles
began to hear the word of God and come to the Lord, the apostles explained that they
didn’t have to keep the law, but listed the things that they should do (Acts 15:19-20,
28-29) “wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the
Gentiles are turned to God. But that we write to them, that they abstain from pollutions
of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For it
seemed good to the s Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than
these necessary things. That you abstain from meat offered to idols, and from blood,
and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if you keep your selves,
you shall do well. Fare you well”. Yet many think that because we are not under the
law, but under grace, that they can live any kind of way. But we see in Romans 8:5-8)
says “for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are
after the spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God,
for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in
the flesh cannot please God”.
The apostle Paul speaking to the Thessalonians reminds them that we do have things
to abstain from (I Thessalonians 4:1-5) “further more then we beseech you, brethren,
and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you have received of us how you ought to
walk and to please God, so you would abound more and more. For you know what
commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your
sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication. That every one of you should
know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor. Not in the lust of
concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God”. I Thessalonians 5:19-22)
also says “quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold
fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil”.
The apostle Peter says in (I Peter 2:11-17) “dearly beloved, I beseech you as
strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. Having
your conversation honest among the Gentiles that, whereas they speak against you as
evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the
day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake;
whether it be to the king, as supreme. Or to governors, as to them that are sent by
him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is
the will of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the
servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear (reverence) God.
Honor the king”.
We have to remember that we are called the temple of God, because God dwells in us
(I Corinthians 3:16-17) “know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the
Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God
destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are”. Paul further in (I
Corinthians 5:1-5) says “it is reported commonly that there is fornication among you,
and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should
have his father’s wife. And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he
that has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily as absent
in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I was present,
concerning him that has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
when you are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus
Christ. To deliver such an one to satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit
may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus”.
Reading Revelation 21:27 should make it clear that we not defile ourselves; it says
“and there shall in no wise enter into it (heaven) any thing that defiles, neither
whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb’s
book of life”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: February 3, 2012
