God bless,
Pastor Curtis
For more info:
WEBSITE: www.churchonthego.ca/christiansingles.html
SOCIAL MEDIA: www.facebook.com/christiansinglesonthego
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Christian Singles On The GO
Assistant Pastor Curtis Alexander
Sun Aug 30 2015 PM SERVICE
"Singleness - Not Just A Relationship Status!"
Singleness- it is NOT JUST A MARITAL STATUS! Singleness is a term referring to the condition of your Heart:
Acts 2:46 GNV
And they continued daily with one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread at home, did eat their meat together with gladness and singleness of heart,
"Singleness" according to the BlueLetterBible .org is: "simplicity, smoothness, singleness" G858. The Greek word is "Afelotes".
"Heart" in BLB is Kardia G2588
I.the heart
A.that organ in the animal body which is the centre of the circulation of the blood, and hence was regarded as the seat of physical life
B.denotes the centre of all physical and spiritual life
i.the vigour and sense of physical life
ii.the centre and seat of spiritual life
a.the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours
b.of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence
c.of the will and character
d.of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions
C.of the middle or central or inmost part of anything, even though inanimate
Is your will, your desire, your mind and your affections and purpose SINGULAR, or DIVIDED?
Ephesians 6:5 GNV
Servants, be obedient unto them that are your masters, according to the flesh, with fear and trembling in singleness of your hearts, as unto Christ,
Singleness in this passage is a different Greek word: "Haplotes" G572
I.singleness, simplicity, sincerity, mental honesty
A.the virtue of one who is free from pretence and hypocrisy
II.not self seeking, openness of heart manifesting itself by generousity
Colossians 3:22
¶ Servants, be obedient unto them that are your masters according to the flesh, in all things, not with eye service as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
---------SUPERHERO SYNDROME-----------
Christians sometimes fall for the following myth, which I call
"Superhero Syndrome". This is the opposite to singleness of heart.
This is the false idea that one can live two lives, one is morally upright and righteous, the other life is "average" and blends in with the world.
One with this syndrome always covers their true identity with a mask of heroism and actually behaves quite differently outside of their
church or Christian circles. They believe they can blend in with the world as long as they aren't in church, or with Christians.
Assistant Pastor Curtis Alexander
Sun Aug 30 2015 PM SERVICE
"Singleness - Not Just A Relationship Status!"
Singleness- it is NOT JUST A MARITAL STATUS! Singleness is a term referring to the condition of your Heart:
Acts 2:46 GNV
And they continued daily with one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread at home, did eat their meat together with gladness and singleness of heart,
"Singleness" according to the BlueLetterBible .org is: "simplicity, smoothness, singleness" G858. The Greek word is "Afelotes".
"Heart" in BLB is Kardia G2588
I.the heart
A.that organ in the animal body which is the centre of the circulation of the blood, and hence was regarded as the seat of physical life
B.denotes the centre of all physical and spiritual life
i.the vigour and sense of physical life
ii.the centre and seat of spiritual life
a.the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours
b.of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence
c.of the will and character
d.of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions
C.of the middle or central or inmost part of anything, even though inanimate
Is your will, your desire, your mind and your affections and purpose SINGULAR, or DIVIDED?
Ephesians 6:5 GNV
Servants, be obedient unto them that are your masters, according to the flesh, with fear and trembling in singleness of your hearts, as unto Christ,
Singleness in this passage is a different Greek word: "Haplotes" G572
I.singleness, simplicity, sincerity, mental honesty
A.the virtue of one who is free from pretence and hypocrisy
II.not self seeking, openness of heart manifesting itself by generousity
Colossians 3:22
¶ Servants, be obedient unto them that are your masters according to the flesh, in all things, not with eye service as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
---------SUPERHERO SYNDROME-----------
This is the false idea that one can live two lives, one is morally upright and righteous, the other life is "average" and blends in with the world.
One with this syndrome always covers their true identity with a mask of heroism and actually behaves quite differently outside of their
church or Christian circles. They believe they can blend in with the world as long as they aren't in church, or with Christians.
THE TRUTH is:
You only have one identity, and it is not based on your marital status or your ability to date or not date. It is based on Christ and His sacrifice for you.
Are we able to live a single-minded life, rather than a double life? Are we willing to submit ourselves to God and practice righteousness, even in private? Are we willing to remove private sin, even if it temporarily creates inconvenience? Are we willing to distance ourselves from calling haters of God our "friends"?
KEY TEXT:
James 1:5-8 ESV
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Paul, a single (unmarried) man and an evangelist and Apostle exemplified this Singleness of Heart. He did not suffer from "SUPERHERO SYNDROME". He was able to say the following when he was being tried before Roman authorities:
-----------------
Acts 25:6-12 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
6 ¶ Now when he had tarried among them no more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day sat in the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
7 And when he was come, the Jews which were come from Jerusalem, stood about him and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, whereof they could make no plain proof,
8 Forasmuch as he answered, that he had neither offended anything against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor against Caesar.
9 Yet Festus willing to get favor of the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews I have done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
11 For if I have done wrong, or committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things, whereof they accuse me, no man, to pleasure them, can deliver me to them: I appeal unto Caesar.
12 Then when Festus had spoken with the Council, he answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
-------------
Three things Paul was upstanding in, to demonstrate his singleness of heart (honesty, lack of pretense), not just with the church, but also in his private life and his life as a citizen:
1) He did not offend in the "law of the Jews" which is really Mosaic Law. Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses. We are in Christ, therefore we are not in violation of the Law any longer.
2) He did not offend against "the temple" (meaning the physical building
in Jerusalem.) Christ made US the temple! In Biblical terms, in Paul's own writings, the temple NOW refers to the Body of Christ (both on earth
and in heaven), and also to the physical body of each believer. What kind of lifestyle are we living with our body? Is it pleasing God?
3) He did not offend against Caesar. For us this refers to government in
general and their various institutions. It refers to being a peaceful,
law-abiding citizen.
---------------
1) Christ fulfilled the Law, we are under grace. But do not abuse such grace.
John 1:17 GNV
For the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:13-15 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
13 Neither give ye your members, as weapons of unrighteousness unto sin: but give yourselves unto God, as they that are alive from the dead, and give your members as weapons of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the Law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the Law, but under grace? God forbid.
-------------
2) We are the temple of the Holy Spirit of God, so we need to act in our bodies as honourable saints and even in private. This is singleness of heart. That is why we must not work hard at putting on a "good show" at Sunday service, but rather, we must be honest with God and ask Him to remove any pretense and hypocrisy and the double mind from our private and civic life.
Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote this: 1 Cor 6:19-20
--------------
3) We behave like good citizens in normal affairs of life. We cannot see this as "secular" because God gave all governments their authority. He gives and takes away, but it is His prerogative.
Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote all of his epistles, including this portion: Romans 13:1-8
These three areas help us to see that Paul lived his WHOLE life with a singular focus on holiness and being joined to Christ. He did not see his life in compartments, such as "secular" or "sacred". To Paul, all he did was sacred, and he saw sedition (words against public order, rebellion), carousing, drunkenness, and rioting as examples of wickedness.
Let us live our lives with SINGLENESS OF HEART!
MORE VERSES TO DO WITH SINGLENESS OF HEART.
---------------
1) Christ fulfilled the Law, we are under grace. But do not abuse such grace.
John 1:17 GNV
For the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:13-15 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
13 Neither give ye your members, as weapons of unrighteousness unto sin: but give yourselves unto God, as they that are alive from the dead, and give your members as weapons of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the Law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the Law, but under grace? God forbid.
-------------
2) We are the temple of the Holy Spirit of God, so we need to act in our bodies as honourable saints and even in private. This is singleness of heart. That is why we must not work hard at putting on a "good show" at Sunday service, but rather, we must be honest with God and ask Him to remove any pretense and hypocrisy and the double mind from our private and civic life.
Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote this: 1 Cor 6:19-20
--------------
3) We behave like good citizens in normal affairs of life. We cannot see this as "secular" because God gave all governments their authority. He gives and takes away, but it is His prerogative.
Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote all of his epistles, including this portion: Romans 13:1-8
These three areas help us to see that Paul lived his WHOLE life with a singular focus on holiness and being joined to Christ. He did not see his life in compartments, such as "secular" or "sacred". To Paul, all he did was sacred, and he saw sedition (words against public order, rebellion), carousing, drunkenness, and rioting as examples of wickedness.
Let us live our lives with SINGLENESS OF HEART!
MORE VERSES TO DO WITH SINGLENESS OF HEART.
Several different English words are used in the Geneva Bible when translating the word "Haplotes" G572. Those words include "simplicity", liberality", "liberal", "bountifulness". And in each case, it is the same Greek word meaning "mental honesty, without pretense, without hypocisy, openness of heart, generosity".
Rom 12:8
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; G572 he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
2Co 1:12
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity G572 and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
2Co 8:2
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. G572
2Co 9:11
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, G572 which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
2Co 9:13
Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal G572 distribution unto them, and unto all men;
2Co 11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity G572 that is in Christ.
Eph 6:5
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness G572 of your heart, as unto Christ;
Col 3:22
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness G572 of heart, fearing God:
Rom 12:8
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; G572 he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
2Co 1:12
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity G572 and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
2Co 8:2
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. G572
2Co 9:11
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, G572 which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
2Co 9:13
Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal G572 distribution unto them, and unto all men;
2Co 11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity G572 that is in Christ.
Eph 6:5
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness G572 of your heart, as unto Christ;
Col 3:22
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness G572 of heart, fearing God:
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