Macedonia Methodist Church
Sunday, May 3, 2026
  • Last week our topic was on the Jesus Joy. We discovered that on the last night before his arrest Jesus prayed for us. John 17:20
    John 17:20 NIV
    “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
    He prayed that we would be filled with his joy, not the joy the world offers.
    As you recall, we see Jesus discuss this passage in John 17:13
    John 17:13 NIV
    “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.
    We discovered that the world’s joy can be fleeting.
    Jesus prayed that we would have the joy that takes us through the crisis of life.
    We discovered that legalism can steal grace from us leaving us without joy.
    We discovered that standing on the joy from our own accomplishments is nothing compared to the joy offered us through his sacrifice.
    We discovered that misplaced goals can put us on a treadmill of doing that robs us of our joy because of our weariness.
    We discovered that Jesus joy comes from obeying his commandments as He did his Father’s.
    So now let us continue to look at this prayer that Jesus prays for us.
    John 17:14 NIV
    I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.
    Have you ever wondered why the world hated Jesus?
    He was a great teacher and healer.
    He was kind and compassionate.
    He fought for downtrodden of society.
    How could anyone hate a man like that?
    He was hated because He was holy.
    The darkness can not stand the light. In fact, light will cause darkness to flee.
    Darkness will become angry and belligerent in the presence of light.
    Darkness hates light.
    The world hates holiness.
    Jesus prayed that we would be hated by the world because of the holiness we reflect.
    Often though we do not reflect the holiness Jesus prayed for us to have.
    Listen to this story:
    A Fellow was sitting at a stop light. The lady in front of him was going through papers on the seat of her car, and when the light changed to green she did not obey its command - a green light is a commandment - NOT a suggestion.
    When the light turned to red, and she had still not moved, He began (with his windows up) screaming and beating on his steering wheel.
    His expressions of distress were interrupted by a policeman, gun drawn, tapping on his window.
    Against his protestations of, "You can’t arrest me for hollering in my car," the officer ordered him into the back seat of his patrol car.
    After about two hours in a holding cell, the arresting officer advised him he was free to go.
    He said, "I knew you couldn’t arrest me for what I was yelling in my own car. You haven’t heard the last of this."
    The officer replied, "I didn’t arrest you for shouting in your car. I was directly behind you at the light.
    I saw you screaming and beating your steering wheel, and I said to myself, "What a jerk. But there is nothing I can do to him for throwing a fit in his own car.
    Then I noticed the ’Cross’ hanging from your rear view mirror, the Jesus is Coming Soon’ bumper sticker, and the Fish symbol, and I thought you must have stolen the car."
    We are called to achieve holiness above that. The Holiness of Jesus.
    In fact in 1 Peter 1:15-16 we have this mandate.
    1 Peter 1:15–16 NIV
    But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 
    So what does it mean to be holy?
    It simply means to be acceptable to God.
    It goes beyond the acceptance of Jesus as your savior. It also means living a life acceptable to him.
    Let’s go back to Philippians and Paul’s message to them. We will learn our first lesson.
    1) Holiness comes from within.
    Look what Paul tells the church in Philippi
    Philippians 2:12–13 NIV
    Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
    In holiness we are in partnership with God.
    We are to show the results of our salvation by obeying God.
    Last week I gave you a list of commandments that Jesus said we should follow in order to experience his joy.
    He spoke of forgiveness, tolerance, love, servant hood, and caring; among other things.
    Showing these features will show the world that hates you what holiness really is about.
    It is not Bible thumping and yelling but rather caring and loving.
    When we do our part then God does his part.
    Our desires become his desires.
    No longer do we desire what the world offers.
    Remember it hates us and will offer no good thing.
    But rather we find ourselves empowered by God to those things which please him.
    We can forgive where forgiveness is not asked for.
    We can tolerate those who hate us.
    We can love unconditionally.
    We desire to serve each other and care for those less fortunate.
    That is how holiness looks.
    1) Holiness comes from within.
    2) Holiness begins in your mind.
    It begins with a mind that set on God and what he wants.
    Paul writes in Philippians 4:8
    Philippians 4:8 NIV
    Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
    Do an exercise for me. Everyone put your hand out.
    Imagine with me that you have a lemon in your hand.
    Feel how cold it is since you just took it out of the refrigerator.
    Feel the two knobs on the ends?
    Ok, now take a knife and cut the lemon in half.
    Careful! Don’t cut yourself.
    Oh, look at the juice run down over the sides.
    Now, put one half down and just hold the other half of the lemon.
    Now, look at the inside of the cut lemon.
    Lean down and smell the lemon.
    Get a good full sense of the lemon fresh scent of the just cut lemon.
    Ok, now squeeze the lemon.
    See the juice ooze up and cover the surface of the cut lemon?
    Now - lick the lemon. That’s right! Lick the lemon.
    Ok, who feels like you have more saliva than you did a minute a go?
    How can that be? It was only pretend!
    The reason is because your body reacts to that which your mind thinks about.
    Have you ever pondered how everything around us began with a thought?
    The world, heavens, oceans, trees, animals, all of creation began with a thought in the mind of God.
    The chairs we sit in, this building, all the equipment and technology we have began as a thought in someone’s mind.
    We are furnishing our minds daily.
    We began a thought process that will lead us into holiness or into darkness.
    Every thought we have are steps toward actions.
    Every sin begins as a thought.
    Every faithful deed begins as a thought.
    We are to keep our holy house in order by thinking on true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable things.
    1) Holiness comes from within.
    2) Holiness begins in your mind.
    3) Holiness requires training.
    Lets look at Paul’s first letter to Timothy 1 Timothy 4:7-8:
    1 Timothy 4:7–8 NIV
    Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
    I am proud to say I go outside and walk four to five times a week.
    I walk for about 2 miles.
    You may not notice it but I do because I feel better.
    I see benefits from exercise when I visit my doctor.
    Now, everyone has opinions on how far or how long I should walk.
    But I know my potential and limits.
    I know when something is uncomfortable I may need to be careful of harming myself.
    And all this physical training may help me live longer but it will not help me live eternally.
    Paul tells Timothy not to waste his time over people’s opinions and regulations.
    Instead he is to train himself to be holy.
    He is to obey God and capture his own thoughts. When Paul told him this, Paul had come through a struggle of his own.
    Look at what he writes to the church in Rome, Romans 7:18-19
    Romans 7:18–19 NIV
    For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
    So he cries out in distress
    “Oh, what a miserable person I am!
    Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?
    Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”
    Just like a physical trainer, we can think of Jesus through the Holy Spirit as being our holiness trainer.
    He is the only one with all the answers.
    Paul says because of him he no longer a shadow boxer.
    Now he lands blows on the enemy because he is holy.
    1) Holiness comes from within.
    2) Holiness begins in your mind.
    3) Holiness requires training.
    4) Holiness demands boldness.
    Speaking of boldness, look at what Paul says to the church in Corinth 2 Cor 10:5
    2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
    We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
    While Jesus was accepting and kind to all sinners, He never participated in their sins.
    He stood up to the Pharisees because they were an obstacle to knowing God.
    He taught people the error of their rebellious thoughts and changed their thought process.
    We can do that by living holy lives that reflects the principals of Jesus.
    People are not impressed with our vast knowledge.
    They want to see us be real.
    What you see from me is what you get.
    I have tried to open, honest, and transparent with you.
    My heart breaks for this church.
    My heart breaks for what seems to be a lack of fire in most of your lives.
    You have passion, but often that passion is misplaced.
    I want you to have a bold witness and testimony for the lord.
    But before we can teach others to obey Christ we must be obeying Christ.
    This means we stand out from the crowd. That takes boldness.
    When is the last time you had a conversation about the Lord with your friends? Coworkers? Family? The neighbors sitting around you today?
    Before we can capture their rebellious thoughts, we must capture ours.
    That is known as having the mind of Christ. That takes boldness.
    Before we can remove obstacles between others and God, we must remove obstacles between ourselves and God.
    That means not following the crowd. That takes boldness.
    I’m asking you to be bold. I’m asking you when the time comes to take that step, even if you are the only one who takes a stand.
    1) Holiness comes from within.
    2) Holiness begins in your mind.
    3) Holiness requires training.
    4) Holiness demands boldness.
    5) Holiness takes all.
    I know we’ve been reading from Paul all service, but one last time lets look at Romans 12:1-2
    Romans 12:1–2 NIV
    Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
    Some want to serve God with their body. They will volunteer when needed.
    They will sacrifice their personal wants for others. They will do all they can physically do for God, but they will not give him their thoughts.
    They perform well in public but in the secret places of their minds there are thoughts that they will not surrender to him.
    Some want to serve God with their thoughts. They will memorize his word.
    They will meditate on his word.
    They will build philosophies and doctrines, but they will not give him their bodies for service.
    When asked, they abound with excuses. They live a holy life hidden far away from a world needing light.
    Holiness requires our all, both physically and mentally.
    Holiness requires our thoughts and actions.
    Holiness will lead us into understanding God’s will.
    Holiness will lead us into true worship.
    Jesus prayed we would be holy. That holiness would lead to animosity between us and the world.
    Are you living a holy life?
    I use to think if someone accused me of having a “holier that thou” attitude, it was a bad thing.
    But having holiness in a kind and caring manner does make you holier than the world.
    So how do we have Joy? How do we live a holy life?
    Love God more than anything else.
    Love all people as you love yourself.
    Follow the Ten Commandments.
    Treat others as you want to be treated.
    Forgive everybody of all offenses against you.
    End disputes quickly and in orderly ways. Turn the other cheek.
    Do not oppose other believers who are not in your group.
    Be like the good Samaritan.
    Love other people with the love of Jesus. Serve each other.
    Be merciful to each other.
    Go, teach, and baptize all people.
    Let people see your good works.
    Go the extra mile for others. Love your enemies.
    Give to the poor to please God and not others.
    Do not judge other people.
    Feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked.
    Love little children, do not despise them. Do not swear oaths.
    Do not take titles meant for God upon yourself.
    You must be born again.
    Abide in Jesus and let him abide in you.
    Get rid of anything that would cause you to sin.
    Pray private, simple prayers, without trying to be impressive.
    Pray at home often and out loud.
    Model your prayer after the Lord’s Prayer.
    When you fast, do it secretly.
    Store up your treasures in heaven.
    Do not worry about material needs.
    Do not worry about the future.
    Trust God to take care of you.
    Have total faith in God.
    Ask God for whatever you want.
    Beware of false prophets and exercise power over demons.
    Handle holy things properly.
    Have communion. You don’t have to wait until we all do it together.
    Most importantly, be prepared for His return.
    **PRAY**

      • John 17:20ESV

      • John 17:13ESV

      • John 17:14ESV

      • 1 Peter 1:15–16ESV

      • Philippians 2:12–13ESV

      • Philippians 4:8ESV

      • 1 Timothy 4:7–8ESV

      • Romans 7:18–19ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 10:5ESV

      • Romans 12:1–2ESV

Macedonia Methodist Church
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