Biblical Worldview Foundations

Perfecting Holiness Part 4 of 5 - Sins of The Spirit

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Biblical Worldview

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2012-11-28

Synopsis: In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver continues his series on perfecting holiness by focusing on the command in 2 Corinthians 7:1 to cleanse ourselves from 'all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.' He explains that while many Christians focus on external sins of the flesh, God also requires internal purity—cleansing from sins of the spirit such as bitterness, wrath, anger, pride, unforgiveness, and an uncontrolled tongue. These sins originate in the heart and defile a person just as much as fleshly sins. Weaver emphasizes that our spirit dictates our actions, and we must learn to rule our spirit through the Holy Spirit's enabling. He concludes with practical applications, urging believers to pray for a clean heart and to walk in the Spirit to mortify sinful deeds.

[John Weaver] 2nd Corinthians chapter 7 and we're on part 4 of this short series on perfecting holiness. So if you will look please at verse 1 we will read it and begin a slight review and then pick up where we left off. Notice if you would 2nd Corinthians 7 verse 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. I trust that you will remember that when the Apostle said, having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, he's referring back to the promises that are revealed in 2 Corinthians chapter 6 verses 16 through 18. The first promise, of course, is that God would be our God and we would be His people. And the second promise is that God would be our Father and we would be His sons and His daughters. Now, I was really pointing out in the first two messages the implication of God as our Father, and I pointed out that if He is our Father indeed, then He is the one that has begotten us.

[John Weaver] For James 1.18 says,"...of His own will begotten us with the word of truth." Further, we've seen that if God is our Father, it also implies that He is our provider, He is our protector, and He is our portion. So He's the one then who sustains us, who defends us, who protects us, who gives us victory in time and in history as well as in eternity.

[John Weaver] And it's important for you and I to remember what eternal life is because our Lord Himself said in John 17 verse 3, and this is life eternal that they may know Thee, the only true and living God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. So eternal life is not just simply living forever. Eternal life is that personal, intimate relationship that we are enabled to have with God our Father through the merits and through the work of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] So I hope you see the connection then between these promises and an encouragement to holiness. For our God said, Be ye holy as I am holy. as well so we looked at the let's see we looked at the declaration of the promises first and then we looked began looking at the description of the purging because if you look in verse 1 he said having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and remember I told you last week that the flesh here refers to our sinful inclinations our sinful propensities and the word filthiness here demonstrates and denotes anything that is defiling, that is unclean, that needs to be purged from our lives. And of course we talked about the filthiness of the flesh in Galatians chapter 5 tells us the works of the flesh and how that we are to consistently avoid the works of the flesh. And of course, in Galatians 5 and verse 16, the apostle Paul said, walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

[John Weaver] And then in Romans 13 and verse 14, we were commanded to put you on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lust thereof. So, he's telling us then, this is to be purged from our lives. Notice if you would, And here's where we're going to pick up today because there is something else that must be purged. He says, having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness and the fear of God. So under the purging described, we're not only dealing now with the filthiness of the flesh, which we have dealt with, but there's going to be a connection which you shall see. But now there's the filthiness of the Spirit. So God commands us then to cleanse ourselves from not only the filthiness of the flesh but of the Spirit as well.

[John Weaver] Now we must understand that the gracious operations of the Holy Spirit were never designed as a substitute for our discharge of duty. It is true we have the responsibility to cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and of the but we must rely totally and completely upon the Holy Spirit. And yet, our relying upon the Holy Spirit does not diminish our obligations or our duty at all. It is our responsibility, but it is His ability. Now, look if you would please in the fact that He said, let us cleanse ourselves from all filth into the flesh and spirit.

[John Weaver] I have preached for 46 years. I began saying this after the first year or two of preaching from personal observations and I'm still saying it. There is nothing meaner or nastier in this entire world than a Christian that is not right with God.

[John Weaver] Now you just stop and think about that. We may boast that we're not guilty of murder, drunkenness, thievery, adultery, fornication, and a thousand other filthy fleshly acts. However, as long as we possess a mean, vindictive, bitter, resentful, and hateful spirit, we're nowhere close to biblical holiness. And there are so many people in this world today who will make all kind of efforts to make sure the outside is just right, that it's clean.

[John Weaver] But on the inside, they are a seething mass of sin and rebellion. It's kind of like the story I heard years ago about the mother who had the little girl in the car. And the little girl kept standing up. This was before the seatbelts. And the mother kept telling her to sit down. And the little girl would sit down and spring right back up. The mother said, I said, sit down. And the little girl just remained standing. Finally, she said, I said, sit down. And the mother reached over and grabbed the little girl and sat her in the seat. The little girl folded her arms and looked at her mother and said, I may be sitting down on the outside, but I'm standing up on the inside.

[John Weaver] Well, that's exactly the way a lot of people are. They have the outside clean, but on the inside, they're still in rebellion. I want you to look in your Bibles, hold 2 Corinthians 6, but go in your Bibles to Matthew 23, because our Lord tells us about people like this, and He especially nails the Pharisees. So if you look in Matthew chapter 23, and look in verse 27 first. Matthew 23 and verse 27, our Lord says it like this, Woe unto you, scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites, for you are likened to whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness." So our Lord then likened the Pharisees to a beautiful whited tombstone. Clean, beautiful, but on the inside absolutely full of corruption and filth. if you would turn in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 11. And notice verse 39.

[John Weaver] He uses the same illustration but just a little differently. Luke chapter 11 and verse 39. And here our Lord says this. Luke 11 verse 39. And the Lord said unto him, Now to you Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. So very obviously, here were these Pharisees that were outwardly moral but inwardly totally corrupt. They believed, the Pharisees believed, that just simply because they refrained from certain physical acts that they would fulfill the law and be pure.

[John Weaver] Now let me emphasize something. It is true that we must be externally clean, outwardly clean and pure. But it is also equally true that we must be internally clean and pure. Let me say it like this. It does you no good to be externally clean and pure unless you are internally clean and pure. For instance, if you would go back in your Bibles to Matthew 5 and look at verse 20, and look if you would what our Lord said concerning the Pharisees.

[John Weaver] By the way, let me just stop before I read this passage. and reminds you of something. Do you realize the average church would be absolutely happy, absolutely delighted to have a church full of Pharisees? Why? They were always on time. They were never late. They would always pray. They would always tithe. They would always make a show of all of these things. In other words, they would be the perfect church member. You would never have to get on to them for anything.

[John Weaver] And yet look what our Lord said in Matthew 5 in verse 20. He said it very plainly to his disciples. He said, Verily I say unto thee, watch now verse 20, For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Our Lord said, you've got to have something more than external purity. You've got to have something more than externals.

[John Weaver] So the truth of the matter is this. The Pharisees did have a righteousness. But it was a righteousness of their own making. It was not the righteousness of God. And our Lord said very plainly, we have to have something more than that. We must be clean without and within, but listen carefully, our external purity must proceed from an internal purity. So our Lord then tells us, we have to cleanse ourselves, not only from the filthiness of the flesh, but of the Spirit. And if we deny this simple truth, Listen carefully. We're no better than the Pharisees. In fact, that's what we will become, Pharisees.

[John Weaver] We'll have the attitude, I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't chew, I don't go with the girls that do. Well, fine. But why is it you don't do those things? Is it because of an internal holiness that makes you pure externally? Or are you just claiming an external holiness? I want you to look in your Bibles to Psalm 32. Psalm 32, and look at verse 2 at what David says. Psalm 32 and verse 2. David here is talking about the blessed man. In fact, verse 1, he says it like this, Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. And now verse 2, he tells another aspect of the blessed man. He said, Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

[John Weaver] Now the word guile refers to deceitfulness, hypocrisy, treachery, slothfulness, or anything that is untrue and false. But notice where he says it is. Blessed is the man in whose spirit there is No guile. It's not in his body. It's in his spirit. In 1 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 12, Paul wrote to Timothy and he said this, Let no man despise thou youth, but be thou an example of believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and purity.

[John Weaver] So everything is referring to internal. Now, let me show you another passage. I do want you to turn to 1 Peter chapter 3 and look at verse 4. 1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 4. Because here is that which God declares is holiness in women. 1 Timothy chapter 2 is an excellent passage as well. But I want you to see what he says. here in 1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 4. Look at this. In fact, let's begin reading there with verse 1, just so you can see it in the context. 1 Peter 3 verse 1, Likewise you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, that if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation or the conduct of the wives. While they, that is the husbands, behold your chaste, conversation or pure conduct coupled with fear. Now watch. Who's adorning?

[John Weaver] Let it not be that outward adorning of the plaiting of the hair, or wearing of gold, or putting on of apparel. Watch verse 4. But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. Now, there are a lot of people who will take verse 3 out of context and they will say that women should not plait their hair and women should not wear gold. Well, if you're going to be consistent in saying that, that verse 3 says, let it not be the putting on of apparel. So, does that mean women should go around naked? Of course not. But what our Lord is saying is this, you're not dependent upon your hair for your beauty, your gold or your apparel for your beauty. Your beauty comes from an inward meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God a great price.

[John Weaver] Now, you've got to ask a question. Why is there so many, or why are there so many verses in the Bible that refer to the Spirit. Why is there so much emphasis upon the Spirit? Let me answer that. It is because ultimately it is our Spirit that dictates our actions. For instance, don't answer this out loud, but have you ever physically struck out at someone? Have you ever physically hit someone or tried to hit someone? If you did, it's because you were angry First, your spirit dictated your actions. Have you ever said something you wish you'd never said? It's because your spirit dictated. First, you were angry, you were upset, and you said it. Your spirit, are you listening? Your spirit was out of control. You were not controlling your spirit. Your spirit was controlling you. There is a spirit in man. And the word of God tells us we should be controlling our spirits rather than allowing our spirits or our passions to control us.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to look at two verses in Proverbs. The first one is Proverbs chapter 16. Proverbs 16. And look if you would please at verse 32. Proverbs 16 verse 32. Then we'll go to Proverbs 25. Proverbs 16, look at verse 32 at what the scripture says. God says, He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty. And he that taketh, and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh the city. Interesting, God said he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty. And then he says, he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. So the man then who has control over his own spirit according to God is greater than the greatest warrior. He's greater than the greatest fighter. Because he can indeed control himself. If you will look in Proverbs chapter 25 and verse 28. Proverbs 25 and verse 28. He says it like this. Proverbs 25 verse 28. He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls.

[John Weaver] He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. If we're not in control of our spirit, we're not in control. A city that is broken down without walls is very easily assaulted. It is very easily entered into and looted. Now listen very carefully. If you are able to control your spirit, I cannot make you angry. I cannot upset you. I cannot make you jealous. I cannot make you envious. I cannot make you bitter. If you control your spirit, I cannot manipulate you or intimidate you. We often say something like this, that person just makes me so angry. No, the person is not making you angry. You're losing control of your own spirit is what is making you angry.

[John Weaver] I saw a movie many, many, many years ago and I remember very little about the movie. And when I call the title, you will know it's very, very old. The name of the movie was Cool Hand Luke, Paul Newman. He was in prison. I don't even remember why he was in prison. I have no earthly idea. But he'd always try to escape. He'd always try to do things that would upset the warden and the people in charge.

[John Weaver] And they would beat him. They would torture him. They would do all kinds of inhumane things to him. And he always had, even while they were doing it, that sly smile. Which would infuriate them. And when they finished tormenting him and torturing him, He would still have that smile. Nothing upset him. And that's what infuriated those people who were torturing him. It's often been said, if you really want to infuriate your enemies, just smile and be sweet and be kind, because they can't literally stand it.

[John Weaver] So very obviously, it does not matter how obnoxious someone is, it does not matter how contentious they are, If you can control your spirit, they cannot upset you, and they cannot manipulate you, and they cannot make you angry. God said, he that controleth his spirit is better than he that taketh a city.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look in Matthew 15 because our ward illustrates what I'm trying to show you. Our Lord tells us that we're to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Why should we pay attention to our spirits? Well, look in Matthew chapter 15 and let's begin reading there with verse 16. Our Lord is talking to His disciples and He says this. Matthew 15 and verse 16, And Jesus said, Are you also yet without understanding? Do not you yet understand that whatsoever entereth into the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? Now watch. 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, and murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, But eat with unwashing hands, defileth not a man. Now, I want you to note what our Lord is saying. And here is the very first thing that He says proceeds from the heart or from the mind or from the spirit.

[John Weaver] Watch. He said the very first thing that proceeds are evil thoughts. Evil thoughts. Evil thoughts. And you can actually Describe everything else that follows as evil thoughts. Whether it's murders, adultery, fornication, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. In other words, if I'm just thinking about stealing from Ed, that's an evil thought. If I'm just thinking about committing adultery or fornication, that's an evil thought. If I'm just thinking about lying about Clay, that's an evil thought.

[John Weaver] Every one of these things that we ascribe to the flesh, which Galatians 5 says these things are of the flesh, they proceed from our hearts. Now, sins of the Spirit are those sins that come from our heart and from our mind. Oftentimes, they are our secret sins.

[John Weaver] Now, let me explain that. In one sense of the word, they're secret because no one knows them and no one suspects them. No one knows what we're entertaining in our minds. No one knows what we're really longing after in our hearts. No, they're secret in that sense of the word. And usually the only way that we, the outsiders, get to know what is really in your mind is when it comes forth in actions. when it manifests itself. And it will eventually demonstrate and manifest itself.

[John Weaver] For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Eventually you're going to do that. But they're secret in another way as well. Because sometimes we may have secret sins and we don't even know we have them. They can be secret to us. Who can ascertain The first rising of pride. None of us. I want to show you two passages. I want you to turn to Jeremiah 17 and verse 9. And then we're going to turn to Psalm 19. Jeremiah 17 and Psalm 19. You're going to ask me, well how can I have a secret sin and I don't even know it. How can there be sin in my mind, sin in my heart, sin in my life, and I don't even realize it's there? Well, I'll show you. Look at Jeremiah 17 verse 9. Look what the Bible says. Jeremiah 17 verse 9. The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it? You don't know your heart. You don't know everything in your heart.

[John Weaver] Let me tell you, there have been times in my life that I genuinely thought that I was doing something for God's honor and God's glory. And God opened my eyes and I found out that God was not in it at all. I was doing it for myself. That was a secret sin until God showed it to me. So He said, the heart's deceitful above all things. and desperately wicked, who can know it?

[John Weaver] So look in Psalm 19 and verse 12, and here is what David prayed, and certainly we should pray this prayer as well. Look in Psalm 19 and verse 12, David asked this question. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Notice, cleanse thou me from secret faults or from secret sins. There have been many individuals Many Christians who believed that they had honestly dealt with the sin of the Spirit, and they honestly thought they had it taken care of, and it was under wraps, and all of a sudden, in a moment of tension, or pressure, or stress, it came out. Our hearts are deceitful.

[John Weaver] And above all things, they're desperately wicked. So we need to learn to pray with David. Cleanse us. from secret faults or from secret sins.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Ephesians chapter 4. Ephesians chapter 4 and before I read this passage, if I were to ask you this question, do you think the sin of adultery would grieve the heart of God? Yeah. What about the sin of murder? Would that grieve Him? Yeah. What about theft? Would that grieve Him? Of course. Idolatry? Yes. But you see, all of these are works of the flesh. We understand that. But I want to show you the sins of the Spirit grieve God just as much. Look in Ephesians 4, beginning there with verse 30. Ephesians chapter 4, verse 30. The Bible says,"...and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed in the day of your redemption.

[John Weaver] Now watch, let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Notice if you would, after he says, grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, then he lists some things that would grieve the Holy Spirit of God. And he tells you, since they will grieve the Holy Spirit, you need to put them out of your life. Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor. Do you know what clamor is? Clamor, I'll tell you the illustration and then you'll understand. When I was a boy, my cousins would come over and we would have, since we lived on the farm, we'd have corn cob wars. We'd fling corn cobs at each other. You don't throw them, you fling them, okay?

[John Weaver] But we would always cheat because we had a two-story barn and my cousin and I would be up in the upper story, Ned, the big strong cousin, was down below. And we would always soak corn cobs overnight in water. You ever been hit with a wet corn cob? It's like getting hit with a brick bat. Well, Ned was so big and so strong, you know, the two of us would stand him. Well, my cousin and I were in the loft of the barn. And for a minute, no corn cobs had been being thrown. And my cousin looked at me and says, where is he? I said, I don't know. I don't hear him.

[John Weaver] And there was a knothole, I'm telling you, that knothole was no bigger than that. I said, look through that knothole and see if you can see him. So my cousin got on his knees and looked down through that knothole. And the Lord is my witness. Ned was right under that knothole with a wet corncob and when he saw my cousin kneel down and look, he threw that corncob and that thing came up in first, right through the middle of that knothole, hit my cousin in the middle of the eye, knocked him out cold as a cucumber.

[John Weaver] He went flat on the floor. I jumped out of the second story Wenda and I went to saying, you've killed him, you've killed him, you've killed him. And I went hollering to my dad that my cousin was dead. Well, that was clamor. That was useless noise because he wasn't dead, he's just knocked out. Okay, we got him revived momentarily. But that's what clamor is. Clamor is just useless noise. That's like Henry saying something like this, well, I don't know have the answer to the problem, but I'm going to put my two cents worth anyhow. That's clamor. I have been in so many meetings where people say things that are totally, absolutely unrelated to what's going on.

[John Weaver] I could conduct the average business meeting that lasts eight hours. I could conclude it in an hour if you just cut out the clamor. That's what clamor is. It's useless noise. Look what God says. He says that bitterness, that wrath, that anger, that useless noise, that evil speaking is to be put away from you. Now you know what evil speaking is. I hope you do. Let me put it like this. Suppose Clay came up and said, you know, I really like Robert. And I look at Clay and I say, You wouldn't say that if you knew what I knew. Have I said anything bad about Robert? Did I? No. I didn't say anything bad about him. But I implied that I knew something bad about him. You see what? That's evil speaking. That's when you're cutting someone down or implying that there's something wrong with someone when it's not true. So God says all that evil speakings be put away. And look what else He says. It's to be put away from you with all malice.

[John Weaver] There's to be no malice in your heart. Then He says you need to be kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

[John Weaver] Now, let me point something out. God says bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, all these things are sins of the Spirit. How many people are bitter? I've known bitter people. I've known Christians that are so absolutely bitter, it is unbelievable. One of the tendencies, one of the failings of husbands is to be bitter against their wives. We would not strike our wives. We would not curse our wives. But we'll get bitter against them. And God says in Colossians 3 and verse 19, Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter against them. I want you to understand something. Not only can husbands be bitter against wives, wives can be bitter against husbands. In fact, we can be bitter against anyone. Let me show you something about bitterness. I want you to look in the book of Hebrews. chapter 12 and verse 15. Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 15. Watch carefully. Watch carefully.

[John Weaver] You've heard the old expression that a rotten apple will spoil the bushel or the batch or whatever you have, or peck, whatever you have your apples in. That one rotten apple stay in there and pretty soon all the other apples are spoiled as well. Watch what God says about bitterness. Hebrews 12 and verse 15. Looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. One root of bitterness that troubles you according to the scripture, will defile many. So, if one gets bitter, the next thing you know, that bitterness will spread. It will defile a multitude of people. So, bitterness is a sin of the Spirit. What about an unforgiving spirit? I've heard so many people say, well, I'll never forgive him or I'll never forgive her. Why did we have such an unforgiving spirit? And the answer is because we have a bitter, vindictive heart, which is a sin of the Spirit. Someone says, but you don't understand. The sin that that person committed against me is so great, I could never forgive that person.

[John Weaver] Well, was the sin against you any greater than your sin against Christ? And yet He forgave you. I want you to turn to Matthew 18. And I want you to see this in light of what I've just said. Look in Matthew 18. And I want to begin reading at verse 21. And we'll read down through verse 35. And I'm going to tell you the point of this entire lesson. This is a lesson on bitterness and on unforgiveness. Watch Matthew 18, verse 21. Then came Peter to him and said, Lord, how off shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him, till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee until seven times, but until seventy times seven, four hundred and ninety times, which basically is unlimited.

[John Weaver] He says, therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he begun to reckon, one was brought unto him who owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, His Lord commanded him to be sold and his wife and children and all that he had in payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me and I will pay thee all. Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion and loosed him and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him a hundred pence, an insignificant amount, and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And the fellow-servant fell down at his feet and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I'll pay thee all. And he would not. And he went and cast him into the prison, till he should pay the debt.

[John Weaver] So when his fellow-servant saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then their lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that thou debt, because thou desirest me. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on my fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his Lord was wrath, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if you from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.

[John Weaver] Here is the simple point. If we have been the recipients of mercy, we should show mercy. If we have been the recipients of forgiveness, we should learn to forgive. If we have been forgiven, we should have a thankful, tender spirit. And so that we can forgive others as well. Let me point out that not only bitterness and unforgiveness or sins of the spirit, but also pride and haughtiness are sins of the Spirit. Most of you can quote Proverbs 16 and verse 18, where the Bible said, pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

[John Weaver] You know, one of the sad things is this. If we were truthful, we would have to wrestle with pride every day. For there is pride in everything that we do. There is a difference between taking pride in your work and doing everything for God's honor and God's glory, and being proud of your work. Most of us want to think that we're self-sufficient, that we can take care of ourselves, and that everyone should agree with us. It is pride that causes us to stumble and fall, especially when we become very arrogant and puffed up and haughty. And if that's true, do you understand that's probably one of the reasons we're always in trouble. Do you realize that the Bible says that God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. And the word resist literally means that God fights against the proud.

[John Weaver] Now, let me point something out. Do you realize that pride is at the bottom of a hardened spirit and a stiff neck? Look in your Bibles to the book of Daniel chapter 5. You'll find out what is said concerning Nebuchadnezzar. Look in Daniel chapter 5 and verse 20.

[John Weaver] Daniel 5 and verse 20. Watch carefully. Daniel 5, verse 20. Speaking of Nebuchadnezzar. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. But when his heart was lifted up, that's true, that's pride, That's arrogancy. Watch."...and his mind hardened in pride." Have you ever noticed that there are some people that are so hard, so stiff-necked when it comes to the Word of God? They will not listen. They do not want to listen. They will not repent. refuse to entertain the fact that Jesus Christ is God and that He is Lord, and demands their repentance and faith? Why is it they are so hardened, they are so adamant? The answer is, because of pride.

[John Weaver] You strip away all of their excuses, you strip away all of their reasonings, and at the root of everything, you will find pride. Listen carefully. Pride is a root sin. Bitterness is a root sin. It is the root from which the tree grows and produces all kinds of sinful fruits. Let me point something else out that is a sin of the spirit and that is unfaithfulness. We certainly see how unfaithfulness can be the sin of a spirit when we are talking about an unfaithful husband or an unfaithful wife. But have you ever stopped to think that we do not see that same unfaithfulness in relationship to our Lord and His work? Have you ever noticed in most churches, in most churches, The pastors have to plead, beg, exhort, beseech, and coerce professing Christians to be faithful to the Lord and the Lord's work. Why?

[John Weaver] What's the matter with us? How is it we cannot be faithful and steadfast with the Lord? Listen, I know when Sunday morning comes around, I think even my dog knows when Sunday morning comes around. Because she's up ready to ride in the car. You know? I know where I'm supposed to be on Sunday. I know what I'm supposed to do on Sunday. And you should know the same thing.

[John Weaver] But let me show you how unfaithfulness is a sin of the Spirit. Turn in your Bibles to Psalm 78. Psalm 78. I'm going to show you how unfaithfulness is a sin of the Spirit. Psalm 78. Psalm 78. And look, if you would please, at verse 8. God is speaking and He's telling these people not to be as their fathers. In fact, He says in verse 8, And might not be as their fathers a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God. Now watch the next verse.

[John Weaver] The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back. in the day of battle. But notice, if you would, one of the reasons they turned back was their spirit was not steadfast with God. Israel did not maintain a firm trust in God. They yielded to every impulse and every passion, even when it tended to draw them wholly and totally and completely away from God, even they were so easily led into idolatry. And please listen, I know that in Galatians 5 and verse 20, that idolatry is listed as a work of the flesh.

[John Weaver] We saw it last week. But idolatry first starts in the mind. It starts in the spirit. When the spirit is not steadfast with God, you are going to wander. You're going to entertain thoughts that you should never entertain. And the Bible says they were not steadfast with God in their spirit. Let me tell you. The one area in which Old Testament Israel was consistent in, was their inconsistency with God. They were consistently inconsistent.

[John Weaver] And unhappily, that's where a lot of Christians are today. They're consistently inconsistent. So the question then comes back, If we have to cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and spirit, wow, how do we avoid sins of the spirit? Well, look in your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 5. Galatians chapter 5 and let's begin reading there in verse 22. Galatians 5 and verse 22. Galatians 5 verse 22.

[John Weaver] We're told that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. Watch. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lust. If we live in the Spirit, Let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Now God says if we do not want to have the sins of the Spirit in our spirit, we should learn to walk in the Holy Spirit. Lord willing, I'm going to bring a short series in the not too distant future on what it means to walk in the Spirit. But right here, God says this is the answer. I want you to turn to one other passage.

[John Weaver] Go back to Romans chapter 8. And I will mention this because I'll develop this more fully when I get to that other series. But look at Romans chapter 8. And He says this beginning there with verse 10. Romans 8 verse 10. Look at this passage. Romans 8 verse 10, And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.

[John Weaver] Therefore, brethren, watch now, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live after the flesh, For if you live after the flesh, you shall die. But if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

[John Weaver] Now let me point something out. If we are walking in the Spirit, if we are being led by the Spirit, it is the Holy Spirit of God who will lead us to mortify, that is to make dead, the deeds of the flesh and of the spirit, He will lead us into obedience to the Word of God. So, here's how this works. Ed makes me angry. Ed makes me angry.

[John Weaver] And I'm just about ready to cuss him out and tell him off. And I think, God said to cleanse myself from filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit. Lord, I just had anger and that anger is wrong and it's wicked and I'm not going to cuss out Ed. I'm not going to fuss at Ed. I refuse to do that. I will talk to him and we can resolve the problem together. You see what I'm saying? If you think for a minute, here's what God says, here's what I want. You have to cancel out what you want and go with what God says. Here's what I'd like to do. Here's what God says. I have to cancel out what I'd like to do and be obedient to what God says.

[John Weaver] Walking in the Spirit, if we're walking in the Spirit, He's leading us, He's guiding us into obedience. If you are living an unholy life, an ungodly life, I have no doubt in my mind that there is not a spirit leading you, but it is not the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit will always lead us into obedience.

[John Weaver] Now, let me point one other thing out. I want you to turn to Proverbs chapter 15, and then we're going to the book of James. Just trying to show you very quickly one other sin of the Spirit. We never think of this as being a sin of the Spirit, and yet it really truly is. Look at the book of Proverbs 15 and look at verse 4. Proverbs 15 and verse 4. In fact, we probably ought to read verse 1 in light of this, Look at verse 1, Proverbs 15 verse 1.

[John Weaver] A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. Watch verse 4. God says a wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. What? Perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. Here's what He's saying. A sharp, sarcastic, biting, hateful tongue is a sin of the Spirit. Isn't that amazing? A sharp, biting, sarcastic, hateful tongue is a sin of the Spirit.

[John Weaver] Now, turn over in your Bibles to the book of James chapter 1, and look at verse 26 first. James chapter 1, verse 26. Hebrews, James, and James 1 in verse 26. Look at this. God says in James 1 in verse 26, If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Isn't that amazing? You have to control your spirit in order to control your tongue. Look in James 3, beginning there with verse 5. James 3, verse 5. He says, Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. So is the tongue among our members, that it defiled the whole body, and set on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire out of hell.

[John Weaver] For every kind of beast, and of birds, and of serpents, and things in the sea, is tamed, and have been tamed. Watch! But the tongue can no man tame. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Wow. I heard one preacher say one time, the tongue is like an automatic sewing machine set on fire out of hell. You ever notice how fast those sewing machines can go? One preacher, he's now dead, but he did this.

[John Weaver] There was a lady in the church who was known for her gossiping. And he preached that night very powerfully and he included gossip. And after the service was over, song was being sung and the woman came up to him and said, Pastor, I want to lay my tongue on the altar. He said, bless God. He said, there's 40 feet of it here. Put what you can on it and throw the rest in the corner.

[John Weaver] Well, that's exactly what the scripture is saying. The tongue is an unruly evil.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn to three passages, then I'm going to give you some applications. I want you to go to 1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 10. We're talking about the tongue and we're talking about the fact it is indeed a sin of the Spirit. So look in 1 Peter. 1 Peter. Notice if you would, chapter 3. And verse 10, here's what God says, 1 Peter 3, verse 10. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that speak no guile. Now God said if you want to love life, if you want to see good days, refrain your tongue from evil. And you make sure that your lips speak no guile. Two other passages. The next one is in Proverbs 13 and verse 3. Proverbs 13 and verse 3.

[John Weaver] I have quoted these verses so many times. Not only to myself but to others. But look in Proverbs 13 and verse 3. Here is a verse you should memorize. At least write it in the flyleaf of your Bible. Proverbs 13, verse 3. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life, but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life. Look in your Bibles to Proverbs 21. and verse 23. This is one of my favorite verses. Proverbs 21, verse 23. Scripture says, Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. You want to avoid trouble, God says keep your mouth and keep your tongue. Now I want you to think about this with me.

[John Weaver] God said that we're to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit. If we cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh, we must know what the filthiness of the flesh is. If we cleanse ourselves from filthiness of the spirit, we must know what a filthy spirit is. Which leads me to this first application. We must learn to pray with David in Psalm 51 and verse 10 when he said, Create within me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Create within me a clean heart, O God. Why should we pray that? Because we have secret sins and secret faults some we don't even know about. You remember the passage in 1 Corinthians 6 and verse 20 when he says, For you're bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." It's not just your body that belongs to Him, it's your spirit. And you're to glorify Him in the body and the spirit. And one of the ways we must do that is by cleansing ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit.

[John Weaver] One last passage, I do have one more. I want you to look at 1 Thessalonians 5 and verse 23. I will try to tie everything together for you next week, but look if you would at 1 Thessalonians 5 and verse 23.

[John Weaver] Now you will understand why I'm dealing with the filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit. He said, God said, 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 23, And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly. That's W-H-O-L-L-Y. Totally. Completely. And the very God of peace sanctify you totally, completely. I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Faithfully is he who calleth you who also will do it. So Paul prayed. that God would sanctify us totally and completely. And that should be our prayer as well, that God would sanctify us and enable us to cleanse ourselves from filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Let's pray. Father, we do ask you in the name of Jesus Christ for your grace and for your mercy And pray, Father, that You would enable us to indeed cleanse ourselves from filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Enable us to be holy on the inside as well as the outside. Give us grace, Lord, that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear, recognizing the fact that our body and our spirits are Yours. Help us, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Perfecting Holiness Part 4 of 5 - Sins of The Spirit

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	bbjeuKotdKM
Subject	Biblical Worldview
Course	Biblical Worldview Foundations
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-11-28
Dictation Name
Book	Book 066: Biblical Worldview Foundations — Chapter 4
Source Timed Segments	73

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review of the Promises

Weaver reviews the promises from 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 that God is our Father, implying He is our begetter, provider, protector, and portion, and that eternal life is knowing God through Christ.

2 Corinthians chapter 7, and we're on part 4 of this short series on perfecting holiness. So if you will look please at verse 1, we will read it and begin a slight review and then pick up where we left off. Notice, if you would, 2 Corinthians 7:1:

Scripture Reading — 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."

I trust that you will remember that when the Apostle said,

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 7:1

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved,"

he's referring back to the promises that are revealed in 2 Corinthians chapter 6, verses 16 through 18. The first promise, of course, is that God would be our God and we would be His people. And the second promise is that God would be our Father and we would be His sons and His daughters. Now, I was really pointing out in the first two messages the implication of God as our Father, and I pointed out that if He is our Father indeed, then He is the one that has begotten us.

For James 1:18 says, "...of His own will begotten us with the word of truth." Further, we've seen that if God is our Father, it also implies that He is our provider, He is our protector, and He is our portion. So He's the one then who sustains us, who defends us, who protects us, who gives us victory in time and in history as well as in eternity. And it's important for you and I to remember what eternal life is because our Lord Himself said in John 17:3, "And this is life eternal, that they may know Thee, the only true and living God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." So eternal life is not just simply living forever. Eternal life is that personal, intimate relationship that we are enabled to have with God our Father through the merits and through the work of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Command to Cleanse from Filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit

The sermon transitions to the second part of 2 Corinthians 7:1, emphasizing that believers must cleanse themselves from both fleshly and spiritual filthiness, relying on the Holy Spirit while fulfilling their duty.

So I hope you see the connection then between these promises and an encouragement to holiness. For our God said, "Be ye holy as I am holy." As well, so we looked at the—let's see—we looked at the declaration of the promises first, and then we began looking at the description of the purging, because if you look in verse 1, he said, "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh." And remember I told you last week that the flesh here refers to our sinful inclinations, our sinful propensities, and the word filthiness here demonstrates and denotes anything that is defiling, that is unclean, that needs to be purged from our lives. And of course we talked about the filthiness of the flesh in Galatians chapter 5, which tells us the works of the flesh and how that we are to consistently avoid the works of the flesh. And of course, in Galatians 5:16, the apostle Paul said, "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

And then in Romans 13:14, we were commanded to "put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." So, he's telling us then, this is to be purged from our lives. Notice if you would—and here's where we're going to pick up today—because there is something else that must be purged. He says, "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." So under the purging described, we're not only dealing now with the filthiness of the flesh, which we have dealt with, but there's going to be a connection which you shall see. But now there's the filthiness of the spirit. So God commands us then to cleanse ourselves from not only the filthiness of the flesh but of the spirit as well.

Now we must understand that the gracious operations of the Holy Spirit were never designed as a substitute for our discharge of duty. It is true we have the responsibility to cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, but we must rely totally and completely upon the Holy Spirit. And yet, our relying upon the Holy Spirit does not diminish our obligations or our duty at all. It is our responsibility, but it is His ability. Now, look if you would please at the fact that He said, "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit."

External vs. Internal Purity: The Example of the Pharisees

Weaver contrasts external morality with internal corruption, using Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees as whited sepulchres and clean cups with filthy insides, stressing that true righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees.

I have preached for 46 years. I began saying this after the first year or two of preaching from personal observations, and I'm still saying it. There is nothing meaner or nastier in this entire world than a Christian that is not right with God. Now you just stop and think about that. We may boast that we're not guilty of murder, drunkenness, thievery, adultery, fornication, and a thousand other filthy fleshly acts. However, as long as we possess a mean, vindictive, bitter, resentful, and hateful spirit, we're nowhere close to biblical holiness. And there are so many people in this world today who will make all kind of efforts to make sure the outside is just right, that it's clean.

But on the inside, they are a seething mass of sin and rebellion. It's kind of like the story I heard years ago about the mother who had the little girl in the car. And the little girl kept standing up. This was before the seat belts. And the mother kept telling her to sit down. And the little girl would sit down and spring right back up. The mother said, "I said, sit down." And the little girl just remained standing. Finally, she said, "I said, sit down." And the mother reached over and grabbed the little girl and sat her in the seat. The little girl folded her arms and looked at her mother and said, "I may be sitting down on the outside, but I'm standing up on the inside."

Well, that's exactly the way a lot of people are. They have the outside clean, but on the inside, they're still in rebellion. I want you to look in your Bibles—hold 2 Corinthians 6, but go in your Bibles to Matthew 23, because our Lord tells us about people like this, and He especially nails the Pharisees. So if you look in Matthew chapter 23, and look in verse 27 first. Matthew 23:27, our Lord says it like this:

Scripture Reading — Matthew 23:27

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness."

So our Lord then likened the Pharisees to a beautiful whited tombstone. Clean, beautiful, but on the inside absolutely full of corruption and filth. If you would turn in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 11, and notice verse 39.

He uses the same illustration but just a little differently. Luke chapter 11 and verse 39. And here our Lord says this: Luke 11:39,

Scripture Reading — Luke 11:39

"And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness."

So very obviously, here were these Pharisees that were outwardly moral but inwardly totally corrupt. They believed, the Pharisees believed, that just simply because they refrained from certain physical acts that they would fulfill the law and be pure.

Now let me emphasize something. It is true that we must be externally clean, outwardly clean and pure. But it is also equally true that we must be internally clean and pure. Let me say it like this. It does you no good to be externally clean and pure unless you are internally clean and pure. For instance, if you would go back in your Bibles to Matthew 5 and look at verse 20, and look if you would what our Lord said concerning the Pharisees. By the way, let me just stop before I read this passage and remind you of something. Do you realize the average church would be absolutely happy, absolutely delighted to have a church full of Pharisees? Why? They were always on time. They were never late. They would always pray. They would always tithe. They would always make a show of all of these things. In other words, they would be the perfect church member. You would never have to get on to them for anything.

And yet look what our Lord said in Matthew 5:20. He said it very plainly to his disciples. He said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:20

"Verily I say unto you,"

watch now verse 20,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:20

"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Our Lord said, you've got to have something more than external purity. You've got to have something more than externals.

So the truth of the matter is this. The Pharisees did have a righteousness. But it was a righteousness of their own making. It was not the righteousness of God. And our Lord said very plainly, we have to have something more than that. We must be clean without and within, but listen carefully, our external purity must proceed from an internal purity. So our Lord then tells us, we have to cleanse ourselves, not only from the filthiness of the flesh, but of the spirit. And if we deny this simple truth, listen carefully, we're no better than the Pharisees. In fact, that's what we will become, Pharisees.

The Spirit Dictates Actions

The speaker explains that our spirit controls our actions; anger, harsh words, and physical outbursts stem from an uncontrolled spirit. Proverbs teaches that ruling one's spirit is greater than military conquest.

Now, you've got to ask a question. Why is there so many, or why are there so many verses in the Bible that refer to the spirit? Why is there so much emphasis upon the spirit? Let me answer that. It is because ultimately it is our spirit that dictates our actions. For instance, don't answer this out loud, but have you ever physically struck out at someone? Have you ever physically hit someone or tried to hit someone? If you did, it's because you were angry first. Your spirit dictated your actions. Have you ever said something you wish you'd never said? It's because your spirit dictated. First, you were angry, you were upset, and you said it. Your spirit, are you listening? Your spirit was out of control. You were not controlling your spirit. Your spirit was controlling you. There is a spirit in man. And the word of God tells us we should be controlling our spirits rather than allowing our spirits or our passions to control us.

Now I want you to look at two verses in Proverbs. The first one is Proverbs chapter 16. Proverbs 16. And look if you would please at verse 32. Proverbs 16:32. Then we'll go to Proverbs 25. Proverbs 16, look at verse 32 at what the scripture says. God says,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 16:32

"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."

Interesting, God said he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty. And then he says,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 16:32

"he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."

So the man then who has control over his own spirit according to God is greater than the greatest warrior. He's greater than the greatest fighter. Because he can indeed control himself. If you will look in Proverbs chapter 25 and verse 28. Proverbs 25:28. He says it like this: "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls."

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. If we're not in control of our spirit, we're not in control. A city that is broken down without walls is very easily assaulted. It is very easily entered into and looted. Now listen very carefully. If you are able to control your spirit, I cannot make you angry. I cannot upset you. I cannot make you jealous. I cannot make you envious. I cannot make you bitter. If you control your spirit, I cannot manipulate you or intimidate you. We often say something like this, "That person just makes me so angry." No, the person is not making you angry. You're losing control of your own spirit is what is making you angry.

I saw a movie many, many, many years ago and I remember very little about the movie. And when I call the title, you will know it's very, very old. The name of the movie was Cool Hand Luke, Paul Newman. He was in prison. I don't even remember why he was in prison. I have no earthly idea. But he'd always try to escape. He'd always try to do things that would upset the warden and the people in charge.

And they would beat him. They would torture him. They would do all kinds of inhumane things to him. And he always had, even while they were doing it, that sly smile. Which would infuriate them. And when they finished tormenting him and torturing him, he would still have that smile. Nothing upset him. And that's what infuriated those people who were torturing him. It's often been said, if you really want to infuriate your enemies, just smile and be sweet and be kind, because they can't literally stand it.

So very obviously, it does not matter how obnoxious someone is, it does not matter how contentious they are. If you can control your spirit, they cannot upset you, and they cannot manipulate you, and they cannot make you angry. God said, "He that ruleth his spirit is better than he that taketh a city."

Sins of the Spirit Originate in the Heart

Using Matthew 15, Weaver shows that evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, etc., proceed from the heart. Sins of the spirit are often secret—hidden from others and sometimes even from ourselves, as Jeremiah 17:9 and Psalm 19:12 indicate.

Watch. He said the very first thing that proceeds are evil thoughts. Evil thoughts. And you can actually describe everything else that follows as evil thoughts. Whether it's murders, adultery, fornication, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. In other words, if I'm just thinking about stealing from Ed, that's an evil thought. If I'm just thinking about committing adultery or fornication, that's an evil thought. If I'm just thinking about lying about Clay, that's an evil thought.

Every one of these things that we ascribe to the flesh, which Galatians 5 says these things are of the flesh, they proceed from our hearts. Now, sins of the spirit are those sins that come from our heart and from our mind. Oftentimes, they are our secret sins. Now, let me explain that. In one sense of the word, they're secret because no one knows them and no one suspects them. No one knows what we're entertaining in our minds. No one knows what we're really longing after in our hearts. No, they're secret in that sense of the word. And usually the only way that we, the outsiders, get to know what is really in your mind is when it comes forth in actions. When it manifests itself. And it will eventually demonstrate and manifest itself.

For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Eventually you're going to do that. But they're secret in another way as well. Because sometimes we may have secret sins and we don't even know we have them. They can be secret to us. Who can ascertain the first rising of pride? None of us. I want to show you two passages. I want you to turn to Jeremiah 17:9. And then we're going to turn to Psalm 19. Jeremiah 17 and Psalm 19. You're going to ask me, well how can I have a secret sin and I don't even know it? How can there be sin in my mind, sin in my heart, sin in my life, and I don't even realize it's there? Well, I'll show you. Look at Jeremiah 17:9. Look what the Bible says. Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" You don't know your heart. You don't know everything in your heart.

Let me tell you, there have been times in my life that I genuinely thought that I was doing something for God's honor and God's glory. And God opened my eyes and I found out that God was not in it at all. I was doing it for myself. That was a secret sin until God showed it to me. So He said, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

So look in Psalm 19:12, and here is what David prayed, and certainly we should pray this prayer as well. Look in Psalm 19:12, David asked this question:

Scripture Reading — Psalm 19:12

"Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults."

Notice,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 19:12

"cleanse thou me from secret faults"

or from secret sins. There have been many individuals, many Christians who believed that they had honestly dealt with the sin of the spirit, and they honestly thought they had it taken care of, and it was under wraps, and all of a sudden, in a moment of tension, or pressure, or stress, it came out. Our hearts are deceitful. And above all things, they're desperately wicked. So we need to learn to pray with David, "Cleanse us from secret faults" or from secret sins.

Specific Sins of the Spirit: Bitterness, Wrath, Anger, Clamour, Evil Speaking

Ephesians 4:30-32 lists sins that grieve the Holy Spirit: bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, and malice. Weaver defines clamour as useless noise and evil speaking as subtle slander, urging believers to put these away.

Now watch, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Notice if you would, after he says, "grieve not the holy Spirit of God," then he lists some things that would grieve the Holy Spirit of God. And he tells you, since they will grieve the Holy Spirit, you need to put them out of your life. Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour. Do you know what clamour is? Clamour, I'll tell you the illustration and then you'll understand. When I was a boy, my cousins would come over and we would have, since we lived on the farm, we'd have corn cob wars. We'd fling corn cobs at each other. You don't throw them, you fling them, okay?

But we would always cheat because we had a two-story barn and my cousin and I would be up in the upper story, Ned, the big strong cousin, was down below. And we would always soak corn cobs overnight in water. You ever been hit with a wet corn cob? It's like getting hit with a brick bat. Well, Ned was so big and so strong, you know, the two of us would stand him. Well, my cousin and I were in the loft of the barn. And for a minute, no corn cobs had been being thrown. And my cousin looked at me and says, "Where is he?" I said, "I don't know. I don't hear him."

And there was a knothole, I'm telling you, that knothole was no bigger than that. I said, "Look through that knothole and see if you can see him." So my cousin got on his knees and looked down through that knothole. And the Lord is my witness. Ned was right under that knothole with a wet corncob and when he saw my cousin kneel down and look, he threw that corncob and that thing came up in first, right through the middle of that knothole, hit my cousin in the middle of the eye, knocked him out cold as a cucumber. He went flat on the floor. I jumped out of the second story window and I went to saying, "You've killed him, you've killed him, you've killed him." And I went hollering to my dad that my cousin was dead. Well, that was clamour. That was useless noise because he wasn't dead, he's just knocked out. Okay, we got him revived momentarily. But that's what clamour is. Clamour is just useless noise. That's like Henry saying something like this, "Well, I don't know have the answer to the problem, but I'm going to put my two cents worth anyhow." That's clamour. I have been in so many meetings where people say things that are totally, absolutely unrelated to what's going on.

I could conduct the average business meeting that lasts eight hours. I could conclude it in an hour if you just cut out the clamour. That's what clamour is. It's useless noise. Look what God says. He says that bitterness, that wrath, that anger, that useless noise, that evil speaking is to be put away from you. Now you know what evil speaking is. I hope you do. Let me put it like this. Suppose Clay came up and said, "You know, I really like Robert." And I look at Clay and I say, "You wouldn't say that if you knew what I knew." Have I said anything bad about Robert? Did I? No. I didn't say anything bad about him. But I implied that I knew something bad about him. You see what? That's evil speaking. That's when you're cutting someone down or implying that there's something wrong with someone when it's not true. So God says all that evil speaking be put away. And look what else He says. It's to be put away from you with all malice.

There's to be no malice in your heart. Then He says you need to be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Bitterness and Unforgiveness as Root Sins

Bitterness is a root sin that defiles many (Hebrews 12:15). The parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18) illustrates that those who have received mercy must forgive others, or face God's judgment.

Now, let me point something out. God says bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, all these things are sins of the spirit. How many people are bitter? I've known bitter people. I've known Christians that are so absolutely bitter, it is unbelievable. One of the tendencies, one of the failings of husbands is to be bitter against their wives. We would not strike our wives. We would not curse our wives. But we'll get bitter against them. And God says in Colossians 3:19,

Scripture Reading — Colossians 3:19

"Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them."

I want you to understand something. Not only can husbands be bitter against wives, wives can be bitter against husbands. In fact, we can be bitter against anyone. Let me show you something about bitterness. I want you to look in the book of Hebrews, chapter 12 and verse 15. Hebrews 12:15. Watch carefully. Watch carefully.

You've heard the old expression that a rotten apple will spoil the bushel or the batch or whatever you have, or peck, whatever you have your apples in. That one rotten apple stay in there and pretty soon all the other apples are spoiled as well. Watch what God says about bitterness. Hebrews 12:15, "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." One root of bitterness that troubles you according to the scripture, will defile many. So, if one gets bitter, the next thing you know, that bitterness will spread. It will defile a multitude of people. So, bitterness is a sin of the spirit. What about an unforgiving spirit? I've heard so many people say, "Well, I'll never forgive him" or "I'll never forgive her." Why do we have such an unforgiving spirit? And the answer is because we have a bitter, vindictive heart, which is a sin of the spirit. Someone says, "But you don't understand. The sin that that person committed against me is so great, I could never forgive that person."

Well, was the sin against you any greater than your sin against Christ? And yet He forgave you. I want you to turn to Matthew 18. And I want you to see this in light of what I've just said. Look in Matthew 18. And I want to begin reading at verse 21. And we'll read down through verse 35. And I'm going to tell you the point of this entire lesson. This is a lesson on bitterness and on unforgiveness. Watch Matthew 18:21, "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." Four hundred and ninety times, which basically is unlimited.

He says, "Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt."

So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. Here is the simple point. If we have been the recipients of mercy, we should show mercy. If we have been the recipients of forgiveness, we should learn to forgive. If we have been forgiven, we should have a thankful, tender spirit. And so that we can forgive others as well. Let me point out that not only bitterness and unforgiveness are sins of the spirit, but also pride and haughtiness are sins of the spirit. Most of you can quote Proverbs 16:18, where the Bible said, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

Pride, Unfaithfulness, and the Tongue as Sins of the Spirit

Pride hardens the heart (Daniel 5:20) and leads to a fall. Unfaithfulness stems from a spirit not steadfast with God (Psalm 78:8). A sharp, sarcastic tongue is a breach in the spirit (Proverbs 15:4), and James warns that an unbridled tongue makes religion vain.

You know, one of the sad things is this. If we were truthful, we would have to wrestle with pride every day. For there is pride in everything that we do. There is a difference between taking pride in your work and doing everything for God's honor and God's glory, and being proud of your work. Most of us want to think that we're self-sufficient, that we can take care of ourselves, and that everyone should agree with us. It is pride that causes us to stumble and fall, especially when we become very arrogant and puffed up and haughty. And if that's true, do you understand that's probably one of the reasons we're always in trouble. Do you realize that the Bible says that God resisteth the proud, but He giveth grace unto the humble. And the word resisteth literally means that God fights against the proud.

Now, let me point something out. Do you realize that pride is at the bottom of a hardened spirit and a stiff neck? Look in your Bibles to the book of Daniel chapter 5. You'll find out what is said concerning Nebuchadnezzar. Look in Daniel chapter 5 and verse 20.

Daniel 5:20. Watch carefully. Daniel 5:20, speaking of Nebuchadnezzar: "But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him." But when his heart was lifted up, that's true, that's pride, that's arrogancy. Watch. "...and his mind hardened in pride." Have you ever noticed that there are some people that are so hard, so stiff-necked when it comes to the Word of God? They will not listen. They do not want to listen. They will not repent. They refuse to entertain the fact that Jesus Christ is God and that He is Lord, and demands their repentance and faith? Why is it they are so hardened, they are so adamant? The answer is, because of pride.

You strip away all of their excuses, you strip away all of their reasonings, and at the root of everything, you will find pride. Listen carefully. Pride is a root sin. Bitterness is a root sin. It is the root from which the tree grows and produces all kinds of sinful fruits. Let me point something else out that is a sin of the spirit and that is unfaithfulness. We certainly see how unfaithfulness can be the sin of a spirit when we are talking about an unfaithful husband or an unfaithful wife. But have you ever stopped to think that we do not see that same unfaithfulness in relationship to our Lord and His work? Have you ever noticed in most churches, in most churches, the pastors have to plead, beg, exhort, beseech, and coerce professing Christians to be faithful to the Lord and the Lord's work. Why?

What's the matter with us? How is it we cannot be faithful and steadfast with the Lord? Listen, I know when Sunday morning comes around, I think even my dog knows when Sunday morning comes around. Because she's up ready to ride in the car. You know? I know where I'm supposed to be on Sunday. I know what I'm supposed to do on Sunday. And you should know the same thing.

But let me show you how unfaithfulness is a sin of the spirit. Turn in your Bibles to Psalm 78. Psalm 78. I'm going to show you how unfaithfulness is a sin of the spirit. Psalm 78. And look, if you would please, at verse 8. God is speaking and He's telling these people not to be as their fathers. In fact, He says in verse 8, "And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God." Now watch the next verse.

"The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle." But notice, if you would, one of the reasons they turned back was their spirit was not stedfast with God. Israel did not maintain a firm trust in God. They yielded to every impulse and every passion, even when it tended to draw them wholly and totally and completely away from God, even they were so easily led into idolatry. And please listen, I know that in Galatians 5:20, that idolatry is listed as a work of the flesh. We saw it last week. But idolatry first starts in the mind. It starts in the spirit. When the spirit is not stedfast with God, you are going to wander. You're going to entertain thoughts that you should never entertain. And the Bible says they were not stedfast with God in their spirit. Let me tell you. The one area in which Old Testament Israel was consistent in, was their inconsistency with God. They were consistently inconsistent.

And unhappily, that's where a lot of Christians are today. They're consistently inconsistent. So the question then comes back, if we have to cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and spirit, wow, how do we avoid sins of the spirit? Well, look in your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 5. Galatians chapter 5 and let's begin reading there in verse 22. Galatians 5:22. We're told that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Watch. "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another." Now God says if we do not want to have the sins of the spirit in our spirit, we should learn to walk in the Holy Spirit. Lord willing, I'm going to bring a short series in the not too distant future on what it means to walk in the Spirit. But right here, God says this is the answer. I want you to turn to one other passage.

Go back to Romans chapter 8. And I will mention this because I'll develop this more fully when I get to that other series. But look at Romans chapter 8. And He says this beginning there with verse 10. Romans 8:10, "And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."

Therefore, brethren, watch now, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Now let me point something out. If we are walking in the Spirit, if we are being led by the Spirit, it is the Holy Spirit of God who will lead us to mortify, that is to make dead, the deeds of the flesh and of the spirit, He will lead us into obedience to the Word of God. So, here's how this works. Ed makes me angry. Ed makes me angry.

And I'm just about ready to cuss him out and tell him off. And I think, God said to cleanse myself from filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit. Lord, I just had anger and that anger is wrong and it's wicked and I'm not going to cuss out Ed. I'm not going to fuss at Ed. I refuse to do that. I will talk to him and we can resolve the problem together. You see what I'm saying? If you think for a minute, here's what God says, here's what I want. You have to cancel out what you want and go with what God says. Here's what I'd like to do. Here's what God says. I have to cancel out what I'd like to do and be obedient to what God says.

Walking in the Spirit, if we're walking in the Spirit, He's leading us, He's guiding us into obedience. If you are living an unholy life, an ungodly life, I have no doubt in my mind that there is not a spirit leading you, but it is not the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit will always lead us into obedience. Now, let me point one other thing out. I want you to turn to Proverbs chapter 15, and then we're going to the book of James. Just trying to show you very quickly one other sin of the spirit. We never think of this as being a sin of the spirit, and yet it really truly is. Look at the book of Proverbs 15 and look at verse 4. Proverbs 15:4. In fact, we probably ought to read verse 1 in light of this. Look at verse 1, Proverbs 15:1.

"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." Watch verse 4. God says, "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit." What? Perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. Here's what He's saying. A sharp, sarcastic, biting, hateful tongue is a sin of the spirit. Isn't that amazing? A sharp, biting, sarcastic, hateful tongue is a sin of the spirit.

Now, turn over in your Bibles to the book of James chapter 1, and look at verse 26 first. James chapter 1, verse 26. Hebrews, James, and James 1:26. Look at this. God says in James 1:26, "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Isn't that amazing? You have to control your spirit in order to control your tongue. Look in James 3, beginning there with verse 5. James 3:5, He says, "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth 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 hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." Wow. I heard one preacher say one time, the tongue is like an automatic sewing machine set on fire out of hell. You ever notice how fast those sewing machines can go? One preacher, he's now dead, but he did this.

There was a lady in the church who was known for her gossiping. And he preached that night very powerfully and he included gossip. And after the service was over, song was being sung and the woman came up to him and said, "Pastor, I want to lay my tongue on the altar." He said, "Bless God." He said, "There's 40 feet of it here. Put what you can on it and throw the rest in the corner." Well, that's exactly what the scripture is saying. The tongue is an unruly evil.

The Remedy: Walk in the Spirit and Pray for a Clean Heart

To avoid sins of the spirit, believers must walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26), mortify sinful deeds through the Spirit (Romans 8:10-14), and pray for a clean heart and right spirit (Psalm 51:10).

Conclusion and Prayer for Total Sanctification

Weaver closes by referencing 1 Thessalonians 5:23, praying that God would sanctify believers wholly—spirit, soul, and body—and enable them to cleanse themselves from all filthiness, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

One last passage, I do have one more. I want you to look at 1 Thessalonians 5:23. I will try to tie everything together for you next week, but look if you would at 1 Thessalonians 5:23. Now you will understand why I'm dealing with the filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit. He said, God said, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly." That's W-H-O-L-L-Y. Totally. Completely. "And the very God of peace sanctify you totally, completely. I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." So Paul prayed that God would sanctify us totally and completely. And that should be our prayer as well, that God would sanctify us and enable us to cleanse ourselves from filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Let's pray. Father, we do ask you in the name of Jesus Christ for your grace and for your mercy. And pray, Father, that You would enable us to indeed cleanse ourselves from filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Enable us to be holy on the inside as well as the outside. Give us grace, Lord, that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear, recognizing the fact that our body and our spirits are Yours. Help us, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Internal vs. External Holiness

Summary: True holiness requires cleansing not only from outward sins of the flesh but also from inward sins of the spirit, such as bitterness, pride, and anger.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'It does you no good to be externally clean and pure unless you are internally clean and pure.' He uses Matthew 23:27 and Luke 11:39 to show the Pharisees' hypocrisy.

The Deceitfulness of the Heart

Summary: The human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, hiding secret sins even from oneself, necessitating prayer for God to reveal and cleanse hidden faults.

Evidence: Weaver cites Jeremiah 17:9 and Psalm 19:12, noting that we may have secret sins we are unaware of until God reveals them.

The Spirit Dictates Actions

Summary: Our spirit controls our behavior; an uncontrolled spirit leads to sinful actions, while ruling one's spirit is a mark of strength.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'Your spirit dictated your actions,' and quotes Proverbs 16:32 and 25:28 about ruling the spirit.

Sins of the Spirit Grieve the Holy Spirit

Summary: Sins like bitterness, wrath, anger, and evil speaking grieve the Holy Spirit just as much as fleshly sins, and must be put away.

Evidence: Ephesians 4:30-32 is cited, listing these sins and commanding believers to replace them with kindness and forgiveness.

The Necessity of Forgiveness

Summary: An unforgiving spirit is a sin of the spirit; believers must forgive others as God has forgiven them, lest they face judgment.

Evidence: The parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21-35 is expounded, emphasizing that recipients of mercy must show mercy.

Walking in the Spirit as the Remedy

Summary: The only way to overcome sins of the spirit is to walk in the Spirit, who leads believers to mortify sinful deeds and obey God's Word.

Evidence: Weaver references Galatians 5:22-26 and Romans 8:10-14, stating, 'If we are walking in the Spirit, He's leading us, He's guiding us into obedience.'

Key Arguments

External morality without internal purity is Pharisaical and insufficient for the kingdom of heaven.

Summary: Jesus taught that righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, who were outwardly clean but inwardly corrupt.

Evidence: Weaver reads Matthew 5:20 and Matthew 23:27, stating, 'Our Lord said, you've got to have something more than external purity.'

Sins of the spirit are often secret and can be hidden even from the sinner.

Summary: The heart is deceitful, and we may not recognize our own pride, bitterness, or other spiritual sins until God reveals them.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'There have been times in my life that I genuinely thought that I was doing something for God's honor... and I found out that God was not in it at all.' He cites Jeremiah 17:9 and Psalm 19:12.

Bitterness is a root sin that defiles many and must be eradicated.

Summary: Hebrews 12:15 warns that a root of bitterness can spring up and defile many, making it a dangerous sin of the spirit.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'One root of bitterness that troubles you according to the scripture, will defile many.'

An uncontrolled tongue is a sin of the spirit and makes one's religion vain.

Summary: James teaches that if a person cannot bridle their tongue, their religion is worthless; the tongue is a fire set on fire of hell.

Evidence: Weaver reads James 1:26 and James 3:5-8, emphasizing that a sharp, sarcastic tongue is a breach in the spirit (Proverbs 15:4).

Pride is at the root of a hardened spirit and resistance to God.

Summary: Pride leads to a hardened mind and stiff neck, causing people to reject God's Word; God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Evidence: Weaver cites Daniel 5:20 about Nebuchadnezzar and states, 'You strip away all of their excuses... at the root of everything, you will find pride.'

Walking in the Spirit is the biblical method for mortifying sins of the flesh and spirit.

Summary: Believers must cancel their own desires and obey God's Word by the Spirit's leading, which results in putting to death sinful deeds.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'If we are walking in the Spirit, if we are being led by the Spirit, it is the Holy Spirit of God who will lead us to mortify... the deeds of the flesh and of the spirit.'

Scripture References

2 Corinthians 7:1

Context: The foundational text for the series, commanding believers to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Corinthians 6:16-18

Context: The promises referred to in 2 Corinthians 7:1, including God being our God and Father.

James 1:18

Context: Cited to show that God has begotten us by the word of truth, implying His fatherhood.

John 17:3

Context: Defines eternal life as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ, emphasizing relationship over mere existence.

Galatians 5:16

Context: Quoted to show that walking in the Spirit prevents fulfilling the lust of the flesh.

Romans 13:14

Context: Commands believers to put on Christ and make no provision for the flesh.

Matthew 23:27

Context: Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees as whited sepulchres, outwardly beautiful but inwardly full of dead men's bones.

Luke 11:39

Context: Jesus' illustration of the Pharisees cleaning the outside of the cup while the inside is full of ravening and wickedness.

Matthew 5:20

Context: Jesus states that unless one's righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, they will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Psalm 32:2

Context: Describes the blessed man as one in whose spirit there is no guile (deceit).

1 Timothy 4:12

Context: Paul exhorts Timothy to be an example in spirit, among other virtues.

1 Peter 3:1-4

Context: Teaches that a woman's adorning should be the hidden man of the heart, a meek and quiet spirit, which is of great price to God.

Proverbs 16:32

Context: He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Proverbs 25:28

Context: He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down and without walls.

Matthew 15:16-20

Context: Jesus teaches that what proceeds from the heart—evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, etc.—defiles a man.

Jeremiah 17:9

Context: The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?

Psalm 19:12

Context: David prays, 'Cleanse thou me from secret faults,' acknowledging hidden sins.

Ephesians 4:30-32

Context: Commands believers not to grieve the Holy Spirit and to put away bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, and malice, replacing them with kindness and forgiveness.

Colossians 3:19

Context: Husbands are commanded to love their wives and not be bitter against them.

Hebrews 12:15

Context: Warns against a root of bitterness springing up and defiling many.

Historical References

Pharisees

Context: Used as an example of external righteousness without internal purity; Jesus rebuked them as whited sepulchres and clean cups with filthy insides.

Nebuchadnezzar

Context: Cited from Daniel 5:20 as an example of pride leading to a hardened mind and deposition from his throne.

Cool Hand Luke (movie)

Context: Weaver references the character Luke's unflappable spirit as an illustration of controlling one's spirit in the face of torment.

Important Quotes

There is nothing meaner or nastier in this entire world than a Christian that is not right with God.

Significance: Highlights the danger of professing Christianity without genuine internal holiness, setting the tone for the sermon's emphasis on sins of the spirit.

I may be sitting down on the outside, but I'm standing up on the inside.

Significance: Illustrates the hypocrisy of external compliance with internal rebellion, mirroring the Pharisees' condition.

It does you no good to be externally clean and pure unless you are internally clean and pure.

Significance: Summarizes the core message that true holiness must be inward as well as outward.

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Significance: Quoting Proverbs 16:32 to emphasize the supreme value of self-control over one's spirit.

If you are able to control your spirit, I cannot make you angry. I cannot upset you. I cannot make you jealous. I cannot make you envious. I cannot make you bitter.

Significance: Practical application of ruling one's spirit, showing that external provocations only have power if we lose internal control.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Significance: Quoting Jeremiah 17:9 to underscore the hidden nature of sins of the spirit and the need for divine revelation.

One root of bitterness that troubles you according to the scripture, will defile many.

Significance: Warns of the contagious and destructive nature of bitterness as a sin of the spirit.

If we have been the recipients of mercy, we should show mercy. If we have been the recipients of forgiveness, we should learn to forgive.

Significance: The moral of the unforgiving servant parable, applying the necessity of forgiveness as a mark of a cleansed spirit.

Discussion Questions

What are some examples of 'sins of the spirit' that you have observed in your own life or in the church, and how do they differ from 'sins of the flesh'?

Context: Weaver distinguishes between external sins and internal sins like bitterness, pride, and an uncontrolled tongue.

Why did Jesus say our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, and how can we cultivate a righteousness that is internal and not merely external?

Context: Based on Matthew 5:20 and the rebuke of the Pharisees' hypocrisy.

In what ways can our spirit dictate our actions, and how can we practically 'rule our spirit' according to Proverbs 16:32?

Context: Weaver explains that anger, harsh words, and physical outbursts stem from an uncontrolled spirit.

How can we identify 'secret faults' or hidden sins in our hearts, and what role does prayer play in this process (Psalm 19:12)?

Context: The heart is deceitful; we may not know our own sins until God reveals them.

What does it mean to 'grieve the Holy Spirit' through sins like bitterness, wrath, and evil speaking, and how can we replace these with kindness and forgiveness?

Context: Ephesians 4:30-32 lists sins that grieve the Spirit and commands believers to put them away.

Why is unforgiveness considered a sin of the spirit, and how does the parable of the unforgiving servant challenge our attitudes toward those who wrong us?

Context: Matthew 18:21-35 teaches that forgiven people must forgive.

How does pride manifest as a sin of the spirit, and what are some practical ways to cultivate humility instead?

Context: Pride hardens the heart and leads to a fall; God resists the proud.

What does it mean to 'walk in the Spirit' as a remedy for sins of the spirit, and how can we practice this daily?

Context: Galatians 5 and Romans 8 teach that the Spirit leads us to mortify sinful deeds.

Applications

Pray for a Clean Heart and Right Spirit

Summary: Believers should regularly pray Psalm 51:10, asking God to create a clean heart and renew a right spirit within them, acknowledging hidden sins.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'We must learn to pray with David in Psalm 51:10... because we have secret sins and secret faults some we don't even know about.'

Rule Your Spirit Through the Holy Spirit

Summary: Instead of allowing anger, bitterness, or pride to control you, actively rely on the Holy Spirit to mortify sinful impulses and obey God's Word.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'If we are walking in the Spirit, He's leading us, He's guiding us into obedience... I have to cancel out what I'd like to do and be obedient to what God says.'

Guard Your Tongue

Summary: Recognize that a sharp, sarcastic, or gossiping tongue is a sin of the spirit; practice refraining from evil speech to keep your soul from troubles.

Evidence: Weaver cites Proverbs 21:23 and James 1:26, urging believers to bridle their tongues as a mark of true religion.

Forgive Others as God Has Forgiven You

Summary: Let go of bitterness and unforgiveness, remembering the immense debt God has forgiven you through Christ, and extend that same mercy to others.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'If we have been the recipients of mercy, we should show mercy. If we have been the recipients of forgiveness, we should learn to forgive.'

Examine Your Heart for Pride

Summary: Pride is a root sin that hardens the spirit; regularly examine your motives and attitudes, asking God to reveal and remove pride.

Evidence: Weaver warns, 'You strip away all of their excuses... at the root of everything, you will find pride,' and cites Daniel 5:20.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T20:04:48Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T12:44:38Z

Clean Transcript

Perfecting Holiness Part 4 of 5 - Sins of The Spirit

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

2 Corinthians chapter 7, and we're on part 4 of this short series on perfecting holiness. So if you will look please at verse 1, we will read it and begin a slight review and then pick up where we left off. Notice, if you would, 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." I trust that you will remember that when the Apostle said, "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved," he's referring back to the promises that are revealed in 2 Corinthians chapter 6, verses 16 through 18. The first promise, of course, is that God would be our God and we would be His people. And the second promise is that God would be our Father and we would be His sons and His daughters. Now, I was really pointing out in the first two messages the implication of God as our Father, and I pointed out that if He is our Father indeed, then He is the one that has begotten us.
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For James 1:18 says, "...of His own will begotten us with the word of truth." Further, we've seen that if God is our Father, it also implies that He is our provider, He is our protector, and He is our portion. So He's the one then who sustains us, who defends us, who protects us, who gives us victory in time and in history as well as in eternity.
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And it's important for you and I to remember what eternal life is because our Lord Himself said in John 17:3, "And this is life eternal, that they may know Thee, the only true and living God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." So eternal life is not just simply living forever. Eternal life is that personal, intimate relationship that we are enabled to have with God our Father through the merits and through the work of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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So I hope you see the connection then between these promises and an encouragement to holiness. For our God said, "Be ye holy as I am holy." As well, so we looked at the—let's see—we looked at the declaration of the promises first, and then we began looking at the description of the purging, because if you look in verse 1, he said, "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh." And remember I told you last week that the flesh here refers to our sinful inclinations, our sinful propensities, and the word filthiness here demonstrates and denotes anything that is defiling, that is unclean, that needs to be purged from our lives. And of course we talked about the filthiness of the flesh in Galatians chapter 5, which tells us the works of the flesh and how that we are to consistently avoid the works of the flesh. And of course, in Galatians 5:16, the apostle Paul said, "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."
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And then in Romans 13:14, we were commanded to "put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." So, he's telling us then, this is to be purged from our lives. Notice if you would—and here's where we're going to pick up today—because there is something else that must be purged. He says, "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." So under the purging described, we're not only dealing now with the filthiness of the flesh, which we have dealt with, but there's going to be a connection which you shall see. But now there's the filthiness of the spirit. So God commands us then to cleanse ourselves from not only the filthiness of the flesh but of the spirit as well.
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Now we must understand that the gracious operations of the Holy Spirit were never designed as a substitute for our discharge of duty. It is true we have the responsibility to cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, but we must rely totally and completely upon the Holy Spirit. And yet, our relying upon the Holy Spirit does not diminish our obligations or our duty at all. It is our responsibility, but it is His ability. Now, look if you would please at the fact that He said, "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit."
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I have preached for 46 years. I began saying this after the first year or two of preaching from personal observations, and I'm still saying it. There is nothing meaner or nastier in this entire world than a Christian that is not right with God.
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Now you just stop and think about that. We may boast that we're not guilty of murder, drunkenness, thievery, adultery, fornication, and a thousand other filthy fleshly acts. However, as long as we possess a mean, vindictive, bitter, resentful, and hateful spirit, we're nowhere close to biblical holiness. And there are so many people in this world today who will make all kind of efforts to make sure the outside is just right, that it's clean.
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But on the inside, they are a seething mass of sin and rebellion. It's kind of like the story I heard years ago about the mother who had the little girl in the car. And the little girl kept standing up. This was before the seat belts. And the mother kept telling her to sit down. And the little girl would sit down and spring right back up. The mother said, "I said, sit down." And the little girl just remained standing. Finally, she said, "I said, sit down." And the mother reached over and grabbed the little girl and sat her in the seat. The little girl folded her arms and looked at her mother and said, "I may be sitting down on the outside, but I'm standing up on the inside."
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Well, that's exactly the way a lot of people are. They have the outside clean, but on the inside, they're still in rebellion. I want you to look in your Bibles—hold 2 Corinthians 6, but go in your Bibles to Matthew 23, because our Lord tells us about people like this, and He especially nails the Pharisees. So if you look in Matthew chapter 23, and look in verse 27 first. Matthew 23:27, our Lord says it like this: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." So our Lord then likened the Pharisees to a beautiful whited tombstone. Clean, beautiful, but on the inside absolutely full of corruption and filth. If you would turn in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 11, and notice verse 39.
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He uses the same illustration but just a little differently. Luke chapter 11 and verse 39. And here our Lord says this: Luke 11:39, "And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness." So very obviously, here were these Pharisees that were outwardly moral but inwardly totally corrupt. They believed, the Pharisees believed, that just simply because they refrained from certain physical acts that they would fulfill the law and be pure.
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Now let me emphasize something. It is true that we must be externally clean, outwardly clean and pure. But it is also equally true that we must be internally clean and pure. Let me say it like this. It does you no good to be externally clean and pure unless you are internally clean and pure. For instance, if you would go back in your Bibles to Matthew 5 and look at verse 20, and look if you would what our Lord said concerning the Pharisees.
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By the way, let me just stop before I read this passage and remind you of something. Do you realize the average church would be absolutely happy, absolutely delighted to have a church full of Pharisees? Why? They were always on time. They were never late. They would always pray. They would always tithe. They would always make a show of all of these things. In other words, they would be the perfect church member. You would never have to get on to them for anything.
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And yet look what our Lord said in Matthew 5:20. He said it very plainly to his disciples. He said, "Verily I say unto you," watch now verse 20, "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." Our Lord said, you've got to have something more than external purity. You've got to have something more than externals.
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So the truth of the matter is this. The Pharisees did have a righteousness. But it was a righteousness of their own making. It was not the righteousness of God. And our Lord said very plainly, we have to have something more than that. We must be clean without and within, but listen carefully, our external purity must proceed from an internal purity. So our Lord then tells us, we have to cleanse ourselves, not only from the filthiness of the flesh, but of the spirit. And if we deny this simple truth, listen carefully, we're no better than the Pharisees. In fact, that's what we will become, Pharisees.
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We'll have the attitude, "I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't chew, I don't go with the girls that do." Well, fine. But why is it you don't do those things? Is it because of an internal holiness that makes you pure externally? Or are you just claiming an external holiness? I want you to look in your Bibles to Psalm 32. Psalm 32, and look at verse 2 at what David says. Psalm 32:2. David here is talking about the blessed man. In fact, verse 1, he says it like this: "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." And now verse 2, he tells another aspect of the blessed man. He said, "Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."
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Now the word guile refers to deceitfulness, hypocrisy, treachery, slothfulness, or anything that is untrue and false. But notice where he says it is. "Blessed is the man in whose spirit there is no guile." It's not in his body. It's in his spirit. In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul wrote to Timothy and he said this: "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
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So everything is referring to internal. Now, let me show you another passage. I do want you to turn to 1 Peter chapter 3 and look at verse 4. 1 Peter 3:4. Because here is that which God declares is holiness in women. 1 Timothy chapter 2 is an excellent passage as well. But I want you to see what he says here in 1 Peter 3:4. Look at this. In fact, let's begin reading there with verse 1, just so you can see it in the context. 1 Peter 3:1, "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear." Now watch. "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."
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Now, there are a lot of people who will take verse 3 out of context and they will say that women should not plait their hair and women should not wear gold. Well, if you're going to be consistent in saying that, that verse 3 says, "let it not be the putting on of apparel." So, does that mean women should go around naked? Of course not. But what our Lord is saying is this: you're not dependent upon your hair for your beauty, your gold or your apparel for your beauty. Your beauty comes from an inward meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
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Now, you've got to ask a question. Why is there so many, or why are there so many verses in the Bible that refer to the spirit? Why is there so much emphasis upon the spirit? Let me answer that. It is because ultimately it is our spirit that dictates our actions. For instance, don't answer this out loud, but have you ever physically struck out at someone? Have you ever physically hit someone or tried to hit someone? If you did, it's because you were angry first. Your spirit dictated your actions. Have you ever said something you wish you'd never said? It's because your spirit dictated. First, you were angry, you were upset, and you said it. Your spirit, are you listening? Your spirit was out of control. You were not controlling your spirit. Your spirit was controlling you. There is a spirit in man. And the word of God tells us we should be controlling our spirits rather than allowing our spirits or our passions to control us.
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Now I want you to look at two verses in Proverbs. The first one is Proverbs chapter 16. Proverbs 16. And look if you would please at verse 32. Proverbs 16:32. Then we'll go to Proverbs 25. Proverbs 16, look at verse 32 at what the scripture says. God says, "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." Interesting, God said he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty. And then he says, "he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." So the man then who has control over his own spirit according to God is greater than the greatest warrior. He's greater than the greatest fighter. Because he can indeed control himself. If you will look in Proverbs chapter 25 and verse 28. Proverbs 25:28. He says it like this: "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls."
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He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. If we're not in control of our spirit, we're not in control. A city that is broken down without walls is very easily assaulted. It is very easily entered into and looted. Now listen very carefully. If you are able to control your spirit, I cannot make you angry. I cannot upset you. I cannot make you jealous. I cannot make you envious. I cannot make you bitter. If you control your spirit, I cannot manipulate you or intimidate you. We often say something like this, "That person just makes me so angry." No, the person is not making you angry. You're losing control of your own spirit is what is making you angry.
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I saw a movie many, many, many years ago and I remember very little about the movie. And when I call the title, you will know it's very, very old. The name of the movie was Cool Hand Luke, Paul Newman. He was in prison. I don't even remember why he was in prison. I have no earthly idea. But he'd always try to escape. He'd always try to do things that would upset the warden and the people in charge.
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And they would beat him. They would torture him. They would do all kinds of inhumane things to him. And he always had, even while they were doing it, that sly smile. Which would infuriate them. And when they finished tormenting him and torturing him, he would still have that smile. Nothing upset him. And that's what infuriated those people who were torturing him. It's often been said, if you really want to infuriate your enemies, just smile and be sweet and be kind, because they can't literally stand it.
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So very obviously, it does not matter how obnoxious someone is, it does not matter how contentious they are. If you can control your spirit, they cannot upset you, and they cannot manipulate you, and they cannot make you angry. God said, "He that ruleth his spirit is better than he that taketh a city."
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Now, I want you to look in Matthew 15 because our Lord illustrates what I'm trying to show you. Our Lord tells us that we're to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Why should we pay attention to our spirits? Well, look in Matthew chapter 15 and let's begin reading there with verse 16. Our Lord is talking to His disciples and He says this. Matthew 15:16, "And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth 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 unwashen hands defileth not a man." Now, I want you to note what our Lord is saying. And here is the very first thing that He says proceeds from the heart or from the mind or from the spirit.
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Watch. He said the very first thing that proceeds are evil thoughts. Evil thoughts. And you can actually describe everything else that follows as evil thoughts. Whether it's murders, adultery, fornication, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. In other words, if I'm just thinking about stealing from Ed, that's an evil thought. If I'm just thinking about committing adultery or fornication, that's an evil thought. If I'm just thinking about lying about Clay, that's an evil thought.
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Every one of these things that we ascribe to the flesh, which Galatians 5 says these things are of the flesh, they proceed from our hearts. Now, sins of the spirit are those sins that come from our heart and from our mind. Oftentimes, they are our secret sins.
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Now, let me explain that. In one sense of the word, they're secret because no one knows them and no one suspects them. No one knows what we're entertaining in our minds. No one knows what we're really longing after in our hearts. No, they're secret in that sense of the word. And usually the only way that we, the outsiders, get to know what is really in your mind is when it comes forth in actions. When it manifests itself. And it will eventually demonstrate and manifest itself.
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For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Eventually you're going to do that. But they're secret in another way as well. Because sometimes we may have secret sins and we don't even know we have them. They can be secret to us. Who can ascertain the first rising of pride? None of us. I want to show you two passages. I want you to turn to Jeremiah 17:9. And then we're going to turn to Psalm 19. Jeremiah 17 and Psalm 19. You're going to ask me, well how can I have a secret sin and I don't even know it? How can there be sin in my mind, sin in my heart, sin in my life, and I don't even realize it's there? Well, I'll show you. Look at Jeremiah 17:9. Look what the Bible says. Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" You don't know your heart. You don't know everything in your heart.
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Let me tell you, there have been times in my life that I genuinely thought that I was doing something for God's honor and God's glory. And God opened my eyes and I found out that God was not in it at all. I was doing it for myself. That was a secret sin until God showed it to me. So He said, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
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So look in Psalm 19:12, and here is what David prayed, and certainly we should pray this prayer as well. Look in Psalm 19:12, David asked this question: "Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults." Notice, "cleanse thou me from secret faults" or from secret sins. There have been many individuals, many Christians who believed that they had honestly dealt with the sin of the spirit, and they honestly thought they had it taken care of, and it was under wraps, and all of a sudden, in a moment of tension, or pressure, or stress, it came out. Our hearts are deceitful.
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And above all things, they're desperately wicked. So we need to learn to pray with David, "Cleanse us from secret faults" or from secret sins.
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Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Ephesians chapter 4. Ephesians chapter 4, and before I read this passage, if I were to ask you this question, do you think the sin of adultery would grieve the heart of God? Yeah. What about the sin of murder? Would that grieve Him? Yeah. What about theft? Would that grieve Him? Of course. Idolatry? Yes. But you see, all of these are works of the flesh. We understand that. But I want to show you the sins of the spirit grieve God just as much. Look in Ephesians 4, beginning there with verse 30. Ephesians 4:30, the Bible says, "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
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Now watch, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Notice if you would, after he says, "grieve not the holy Spirit of God," then he lists some things that would grieve the Holy Spirit of God. And he tells you, since they will grieve the Holy Spirit, you need to put them out of your life. Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour. Do you know what clamour is? Clamour, I'll tell you the illustration and then you'll understand. When I was a boy, my cousins would come over and we would have, since we lived on the farm, we'd have corn cob wars. We'd fling corn cobs at each other. You don't throw them, you fling them, okay?
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But we would always cheat because we had a two-story barn and my cousin and I would be up in the upper story, Ned, the big strong cousin, was down below. And we would always soak corn cobs overnight in water. You ever been hit with a wet corn cob? It's like getting hit with a brick bat. Well, Ned was so big and so strong, you know, the two of us would stand him. Well, my cousin and I were in the loft of the barn. And for a minute, no corn cobs had been being thrown. And my cousin looked at me and says, "Where is he?" I said, "I don't know. I don't hear him."
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And there was a knothole, I'm telling you, that knothole was no bigger than that. I said, "Look through that knothole and see if you can see him." So my cousin got on his knees and looked down through that knothole. And the Lord is my witness. Ned was right under that knothole with a wet corncob and when he saw my cousin kneel down and look, he threw that corncob and that thing came up in first, right through the middle of that knothole, hit my cousin in the middle of the eye, knocked him out cold as a cucumber.
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He went flat on the floor. I jumped out of the second story window and I went to saying, "You've killed him, you've killed him, you've killed him." And I went hollering to my dad that my cousin was dead. Well, that was clamour. That was useless noise because he wasn't dead, he's just knocked out. Okay, we got him revived momentarily. But that's what clamour is. Clamour is just useless noise. That's like Henry saying something like this, "Well, I don't know have the answer to the problem, but I'm going to put my two cents worth anyhow." That's clamour. I have been in so many meetings where people say things that are totally, absolutely unrelated to what's going on.
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I could conduct the average business meeting that lasts eight hours. I could conclude it in an hour if you just cut out the clamour. That's what clamour is. It's useless noise. Look what God says. He says that bitterness, that wrath, that anger, that useless noise, that evil speaking is to be put away from you. Now you know what evil speaking is. I hope you do. Let me put it like this. Suppose Clay came up and said, "You know, I really like Robert." And I look at Clay and I say, "You wouldn't say that if you knew what I knew." Have I said anything bad about Robert? Did I? No. I didn't say anything bad about him. But I implied that I knew something bad about him. You see what? That's evil speaking. That's when you're cutting someone down or implying that there's something wrong with someone when it's not true. So God says all that evil speaking be put away. And look what else He says. It's to be put away from you with all malice.
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There's to be no malice in your heart. Then He says you need to be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
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Now, let me point something out. God says bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, all these things are sins of the spirit. How many people are bitter? I've known bitter people. I've known Christians that are so absolutely bitter, it is unbelievable. One of the tendencies, one of the failings of husbands is to be bitter against their wives. We would not strike our wives. We would not curse our wives. But we'll get bitter against them. And God says in Colossians 3:19, "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." I want you to understand something. Not only can husbands be bitter against wives, wives can be bitter against husbands. In fact, we can be bitter against anyone. Let me show you something about bitterness. I want you to look in the book of Hebrews, chapter 12 and verse 15. Hebrews 12:15. Watch carefully. Watch carefully.
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You've heard the old expression that a rotten apple will spoil the bushel or the batch or whatever you have, or peck, whatever you have your apples in. That one rotten apple stay in there and pretty soon all the other apples are spoiled as well. Watch what God says about bitterness. Hebrews 12:15, "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." One root of bitterness that troubles you according to the scripture, will defile many. So, if one gets bitter, the next thing you know, that bitterness will spread. It will defile a multitude of people. So, bitterness is a sin of the spirit. What about an unforgiving spirit? I've heard so many people say, "Well, I'll never forgive him" or "I'll never forgive her." Why do we have such an unforgiving spirit? And the answer is because we have a bitter, vindictive heart, which is a sin of the spirit. Someone says, "But you don't understand. The sin that that person committed against me is so great, I could never forgive that person."
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Well, was the sin against you any greater than your sin against Christ? And yet He forgave you. I want you to turn to Matthew 18. And I want you to see this in light of what I've just said. Look in Matthew 18. And I want to begin reading at verse 21. And we'll read down through verse 35. And I'm going to tell you the point of this entire lesson. This is a lesson on bitterness and on unforgiveness. Watch Matthew 18:21, "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." Four hundred and ninety times, which basically is unlimited.
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He says, "Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt."
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So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
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Here is the simple point. If we have been the recipients of mercy, we should show mercy. If we have been the recipients of forgiveness, we should learn to forgive. If we have been forgiven, we should have a thankful, tender spirit. And so that we can forgive others as well. Let me point out that not only bitterness and unforgiveness are sins of the spirit, but also pride and haughtiness are sins of the spirit. Most of you can quote Proverbs 16:18, where the Bible said, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
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You know, one of the sad things is this. If we were truthful, we would have to wrestle with pride every day. For there is pride in everything that we do. There is a difference between taking pride in your work and doing everything for God's honor and God's glory, and being proud of your work. Most of us want to think that we're self-sufficient, that we can take care of ourselves, and that everyone should agree with us. It is pride that causes us to stumble and fall, especially when we become very arrogant and puffed up and haughty. And if that's true, do you understand that's probably one of the reasons we're always in trouble. Do you realize that the Bible says that God resisteth the proud, but He giveth grace unto the humble. And the word resisteth literally means that God fights against the proud.
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Now, let me point something out. Do you realize that pride is at the bottom of a hardened spirit and a stiff neck? Look in your Bibles to the book of Daniel chapter 5. You'll find out what is said concerning Nebuchadnezzar. Look in Daniel chapter 5 and verse 20.
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Daniel 5:20. Watch carefully. Daniel 5:20, speaking of Nebuchadnezzar: "But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him." But when his heart was lifted up, that's true, that's pride, that's arrogancy. Watch. "...and his mind hardened in pride." Have you ever noticed that there are some people that are so hard, so stiff-necked when it comes to the Word of God? They will not listen. They do not want to listen. They will not repent. They refuse to entertain the fact that Jesus Christ is God and that He is Lord, and demands their repentance and faith? Why is it they are so hardened, they are so adamant? The answer is, because of pride.
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You strip away all of their excuses, you strip away all of their reasonings, and at the root of everything, you will find pride. Listen carefully. Pride is a root sin. Bitterness is a root sin. It is the root from which the tree grows and produces all kinds of sinful fruits. Let me point something else out that is a sin of the spirit and that is unfaithfulness. We certainly see how unfaithfulness can be the sin of a spirit when we are talking about an unfaithful husband or an unfaithful wife. But have you ever stopped to think that we do not see that same unfaithfulness in relationship to our Lord and His work? Have you ever noticed in most churches, in most churches, the pastors have to plead, beg, exhort, beseech, and coerce professing Christians to be faithful to the Lord and the Lord's work. Why?
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What's the matter with us? How is it we cannot be faithful and steadfast with the Lord? Listen, I know when Sunday morning comes around, I think even my dog knows when Sunday morning comes around. Because she's up ready to ride in the car. You know? I know where I'm supposed to be on Sunday. I know what I'm supposed to do on Sunday. And you should know the same thing.
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But let me show you how unfaithfulness is a sin of the spirit. Turn in your Bibles to Psalm 78. Psalm 78. I'm going to show you how unfaithfulness is a sin of the spirit. Psalm 78. And look, if you would please, at verse 8. God is speaking and He's telling these people not to be as their fathers. In fact, He says in verse 8, "And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God." Now watch the next verse.
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"The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle." But notice, if you would, one of the reasons they turned back was their spirit was not stedfast with God. Israel did not maintain a firm trust in God. They yielded to every impulse and every passion, even when it tended to draw them wholly and totally and completely away from God, even they were so easily led into idolatry. And please listen, I know that in Galatians 5:20, that idolatry is listed as a work of the flesh.
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We saw it last week. But idolatry first starts in the mind. It starts in the spirit. When the spirit is not stedfast with God, you are going to wander. You're going to entertain thoughts that you should never entertain. And the Bible says they were not stedfast with God in their spirit. Let me tell you. The one area in which Old Testament Israel was consistent in, was their inconsistency with God. They were consistently inconsistent.
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And unhappily, that's where a lot of Christians are today. They're consistently inconsistent. So the question then comes back, if we have to cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and spirit, wow, how do we avoid sins of the spirit? Well, look in your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 5. Galatians chapter 5 and let's begin reading there in verse 22. Galatians 5:22.
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We're told that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Watch. "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another." Now God says if we do not want to have the sins of the spirit in our spirit, we should learn to walk in the Holy Spirit. Lord willing, I'm going to bring a short series in the not too distant future on what it means to walk in the Spirit. But right here, God says this is the answer. I want you to turn to one other passage.
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Go back to Romans chapter 8. And I will mention this because I'll develop this more fully when I get to that other series. But look at Romans chapter 8. And He says this beginning there with verse 10. Romans 8:10, "And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."
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Therefore, brethren, watch now, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
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Now let me point something out. If we are walking in the Spirit, if we are being led by the Spirit, it is the Holy Spirit of God who will lead us to mortify, that is to make dead, the deeds of the flesh and of the spirit, He will lead us into obedience to the Word of God. So, here's how this works. Ed makes me angry. Ed makes me angry.
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And I'm just about ready to cuss him out and tell him off. And I think, God said to cleanse myself from filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit. Lord, I just had anger and that anger is wrong and it's wicked and I'm not going to cuss out Ed. I'm not going to fuss at Ed. I refuse to do that. I will talk to him and we can resolve the problem together. You see what I'm saying? If you think for a minute, here's what God says, here's what I want. You have to cancel out what you want and go with what God says. Here's what I'd like to do. Here's what God says. I have to cancel out what I'd like to do and be obedient to what God says.
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Walking in the Spirit, if we're walking in the Spirit, He's leading us, He's guiding us into obedience. If you are living an unholy life, an ungodly life, I have no doubt in my mind that there is not a spirit leading you, but it is not the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit will always lead us into obedience.
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Now, let me point one other thing out. I want you to turn to Proverbs chapter 15, and then we're going to the book of James. Just trying to show you very quickly one other sin of the spirit. We never think of this as being a sin of the spirit, and yet it really truly is. Look at the book of Proverbs 15 and look at verse 4. Proverbs 15:4. In fact, we probably ought to read verse 1 in light of this. Look at verse 1, Proverbs 15:1.
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"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." Watch verse 4. God says, "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit." What? Perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. Here's what He's saying. A sharp, sarcastic, biting, hateful tongue is a sin of the spirit. Isn't that amazing? A sharp, biting, sarcastic, hateful tongue is a sin of the spirit.
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Now, turn over in your Bibles to the book of James chapter 1, and look at verse 26 first. James chapter 1, verse 26. Hebrews, James, and James 1:26. Look at this. God says in James 1:26, "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Isn't that amazing? You have to control your spirit in order to control your tongue. Look in James 3, beginning there with verse 5. James 3:5, He says, "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell."
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"For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." Wow. I heard one preacher say one time, the tongue is like an automatic sewing machine set on fire out of hell. You ever notice how fast those sewing machines can go? One preacher, he's now dead, but he did this.
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There was a lady in the church who was known for her gossiping. And he preached that night very powerfully and he included gossip. And after the service was over, song was being sung and the woman came up to him and said, "Pastor, I want to lay my tongue on the altar." He said, "Bless God." He said, "There's 40 feet of it here. Put what you can on it and throw the rest in the corner."
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Well, that's exactly what the scripture is saying. The tongue is an unruly evil.
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Now, I want you to turn to three passages, then I'm going to give you some applications. I want you to go to 1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 10. We're talking about the tongue and we're talking about the fact it is indeed a sin of the spirit. So look in 1 Peter. 1 Peter. Notice if you would, chapter 3. And verse 10, here's what God says, 1 Peter 3:10, "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile." Now God said if you want to love life, if you want to see good days, refrain your tongue from evil. And you make sure that your lips speak no guile. Two other passages. The next one is in Proverbs 13:3. Proverbs 13:3.
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I have quoted these verses so many times. Not only to myself but to others. But look in Proverbs 13:3. Here is a verse you should memorize. At least write it in the flyleaf of your Bible. Proverbs 13:3, "He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction." He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life. Look in your Bibles to Proverbs 21:23. This is one of my favorite verses. Proverbs 21:23, Scripture says, "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles." You want to avoid trouble, God says keep your mouth and keep your tongue. Now I want you to think about this with me.
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God said that we're to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit. If we cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh, we must know what the filthiness of the flesh is. If we cleanse ourselves from filthiness of the spirit, we must know what a filthy spirit is. Which leads me to this first application. We must learn to pray with David in Psalm 51:10 when he said, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Create within me a clean heart, O God. Why should we pray that? Because we have secret sins and secret faults some we don't even know about. You remember the passage in 1 Corinthians 6:20 when he says, "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." It's not just your body that belongs to Him, it's your spirit. And you're to glorify Him in the body and the spirit. And one of the ways we must do that is by cleansing ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit.
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One last passage, I do have one more. I want you to look at 1 Thessalonians 5:23. I will try to tie everything together for you next week, but look if you would at 1 Thessalonians 5:23.
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Now you will understand why I'm dealing with the filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit. He said, God said, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly." That's W-H-O-L-L-Y. Totally. Completely. "And the very God of peace sanctify you totally, completely. I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
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"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." So Paul prayed that God would sanctify us totally and completely. And that should be our prayer as well, that God would sanctify us and enable us to cleanse ourselves from filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Let's pray. Father, we do ask you in the name of Jesus Christ for your grace and for your mercy. And pray, Father, that You would enable us to indeed cleanse ourselves from filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Enable us to be holy on the inside as well as the outside. Give us grace, Lord, that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear, recognizing the fact that our body and our spirits are Yours. Help us, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T20:04:48Z

Perfecting Holiness Part 4 of 5 - Sins of The Spirit

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver continues his series on perfecting holiness by focusing on the command in 2 Corinthians 7:1 to cleanse ourselves from 'all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.' He explains that while many Christians focus on external sins of the flesh, God also requires internal purity—cleansing from sins of the spirit such as bitterness, wrath, anger, pride, unforgiveness, and an uncontrolled tongue. These sins originate in the heart and defile a person just as much as fleshly sins. Weaver emphasizes that our spirit dictates our actions, and we must learn to rule our spirit through the Holy Spirit's enabling. He concludes with practical applications, urging believers to pray for a clean heart and to walk in the Spirit to mortify sinful deeds.

Introduction and Review of the Promises

Weaver reviews the promises from 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 that God is our Father, implying He is our begetter, provider, protector, and portion, and that eternal life is knowing God through Christ.

Scripture Reading — 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."

I trust that you will remember that when the Apostle said,

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 7:1

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved,"

The Command to Cleanse from Filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit

External vs. Internal Purity: The Example of the Pharisees

Scripture Reading — Matthew 23:27

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness."

He uses the same illustration but just a little differently. Luke chapter 11 and verse 39. And here our Lord says this: Luke 11:39,

Scripture Reading — Luke 11:39

"And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness."

And yet look what our Lord said in Matthew 5:20. He said it very plainly to his disciples. He said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:20

"Verily I say unto you,"

watch now verse 20,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:20

"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Our Lord said, you've got to have something more than external purity. You've got to have something more than externals.

The Spirit Dictates Actions

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 16:32

"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."

Interesting, God said he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty. And then he says,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 16:32

"he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."

Sins of the Spirit Originate in the Heart

So look in Psalm 19:12, and here is what David prayed, and certainly we should pray this prayer as well. Look in Psalm 19:12, David asked this question:

Scripture Reading — Psalm 19:12

"Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults."

Notice,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 19:12

"cleanse thou me from secret faults"

Specific Sins of the Spirit: Bitterness, Wrath, Anger, Clamour, Evil Speaking

There's to be no malice in your heart. Then He says you need to be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Bitterness and Unforgiveness as Root Sins

Scripture Reading — Colossians 3:19

"Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them."

Pride, Unfaithfulness, and the Tongue as Sins of the Spirit

The Remedy: Walk in the Spirit and Pray for a Clean Heart

Conclusion and Prayer for Total Sanctification

Perfecting Holiness Part 4 of 5 - Sins of The Spirit

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	bbjeuKotdKM
Subject	Biblical Worldview
Course	Biblical Worldview Foundations
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-11-28
Dictation Name
Book	Book 066: Biblical Worldview Foundations — Chapter 4
Source Timed Segments	73

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review of the Promises: Weaver reviews the promises from 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 that God is our Father, implying He is our begetter, provider, protector, and portion, and that eternal life is knowing God through Christ.
The Command to Cleanse from Filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit: The sermon transitions to the second part of 2 Corinthians 7:1, emphasizing that believers must cleanse themselves from both fleshly and spiritual filthiness, relying on the Holy Spirit while fulfilling their duty.
External vs. Internal Purity: The Example of the Pharisees: Weaver contrasts external morality with internal corruption, using Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees as whited sepulchres and clean cups with filthy insides, stressing that true righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees.
The Spirit Dictates Actions: The speaker explains that our spirit controls our actions; anger, harsh words, and physical outbursts stem from an uncontrolled spirit. Proverbs teaches that ruling one's spirit is greater than military conquest.
Sins of the Spirit Originate in the Heart: Using Matthew 15, Weaver shows that evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, etc., proceed from the heart. Sins of the spirit are often secret—hidden from others and sometimes even from ourselves, as Jeremiah 17:9 and Psalm 19:12 indicate.
Specific Sins of the Spirit: Bitterness, Wrath, Anger, Clamour, Evil Speaking: Ephesians 4:30-32 lists sins that grieve the Holy Spirit: bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, and malice. Weaver defines clamour as useless noise and evil speaking as subtle slander, urging believers to put these away.
Bitterness and Unforgiveness as Root Sins: Bitterness is a root sin that defiles many (Hebrews 12:15). The parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18) illustrates that those who have received mercy must forgive others, or face God's judgment.
Pride, Unfaithfulness, and the Tongue as Sins of the Spirit: Pride hardens the heart (Daniel 5:20) and leads to a fall. Unfaithfulness stems from a spirit not steadfast with God (Psalm 78:8). A sharp, sarcastic tongue is a breach in the spirit (Proverbs 15:4), and James warns that an unbridled tongue makes religion vain.
The Remedy: Walk in the Spirit and Pray for a Clean Heart: To avoid sins of the spirit, believers must walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26), mortify sinful deeds through the Spirit (Romans 8:10-14), and pray for a clean heart and right spirit (Psalm 51:10).
Conclusion and Prayer for Total Sanctification: Weaver closes by referencing 1 Thessalonians 5:23, praying that God would sanctify believers wholly—spirit, soul, and body—and enable them to cleanse themselves from all filthiness, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

External morality without internal purity is Pharisaical and insufficient for the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus taught that righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, who were outwardly clean but inwardly corrupt.

Weaver reads Matthew 5:20 and Matthew 23:27, stating, 'Our Lord said, you've got to have something more than external purity.'

Sins of the spirit are often secret and can be hidden even from the sinner.

The heart is deceitful, and we may not recognize our own pride, bitterness, or other spiritual sins until God reveals them.

Weaver says, 'There have been times in my life that I genuinely thought that I was doing something for God's honor... and I found out that God was not in it at all.' He cites Jeremiah 17:9 and Psalm 19:12.

Bitterness is a root sin that defiles many and must be eradicated.

Hebrews 12:15 warns that a root of bitterness can spring up and defile many, making it a dangerous sin of the spirit.

Weaver explains, 'One root of bitterness that troubles you according to the scripture, will defile many.'

An uncontrolled tongue is a sin of the spirit and makes one's religion vain.

James teaches that if a person cannot bridle their tongue, their religion is worthless; the tongue is a fire set on fire of hell.

Weaver reads James 1:26 and James 3:5-8, emphasizing that a sharp, sarcastic tongue is a breach in the spirit (Proverbs 15:4).

Pride is at the root of a hardened spirit and resistance to God.

Pride leads to a hardened mind and stiff neck, causing people to reject God's Word; God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Weaver cites Daniel 5:20 about Nebuchadnezzar and states, 'You strip away all of their excuses... at the root of everything, you will find pride.'

Walking in the Spirit is the biblical method for mortifying sins of the flesh and spirit.

Believers must cancel their own desires and obey God's Word by the Spirit's leading, which results in putting to death sinful deeds.

Weaver says, 'If we are walking in the Spirit, if we are being led by the Spirit, it is the Holy Spirit of God who will lead us to mortify... the deeds of the flesh and of the spirit.'

Scripture References

2 Corinthians 7:1: The foundational text for the series, commanding believers to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 6:16-18: The promises referred to in 2 Corinthians 7:1, including God being our God and Father.
James 1:18: Cited to show that God has begotten us by the word of truth, implying His fatherhood.
John 17:3: Defines eternal life as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ, emphasizing relationship over mere existence.
Galatians 5:16: Quoted to show that walking in the Spirit prevents fulfilling the lust of the flesh.
Romans 13:14: Commands believers to put on Christ and make no provision for the flesh.
Matthew 23:27: Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees as whited sepulchres, outwardly beautiful but inwardly full of dead men's bones.
Luke 11:39: Jesus' illustration of the Pharisees cleaning the outside of the cup while the inside is full of ravening and wickedness.
Matthew 5:20: Jesus states that unless one's righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, they will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Psalm 32:2: Describes the blessed man as one in whose spirit there is no guile (deceit).
1 Timothy 4:12: Paul exhorts Timothy to be an example in spirit, among other virtues.
1 Peter 3:1-4: Teaches that a woman's adorning should be the hidden man of the heart, a meek and quiet spirit, which is of great price to God.
Proverbs 16:32: He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Proverbs 25:28: He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down and without walls.
Matthew 15:16-20: Jesus teaches that what proceeds from the heart—evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, etc.—defiles a man.
Jeremiah 17:9: The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?
Psalm 19:12: David prays, 'Cleanse thou me from secret faults,' acknowledging hidden sins.
Ephesians 4:30-32: Commands believers not to grieve the Holy Spirit and to put away bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, and malice, replacing them with kindness and forgiveness.
Colossians 3:19: Husbands are commanded to love their wives and not be bitter against them.
Hebrews 12:15: Warns against a root of bitterness springing up and defiling many.

Historical References

Pharisees: Used as an example of external righteousness without internal purity; Jesus rebuked them as whited sepulchres and clean cups with filthy insides.
Nebuchadnezzar: Cited from Daniel 5:20 as an example of pride leading to a hardened mind and deposition from his throne.
Cool Hand Luke (movie): Weaver references the character Luke's unflappable spirit as an illustration of controlling one's spirit in the face of torment.

Important Quotes

There is nothing meaner or nastier in this entire world than a Christian that is not right with God.

Highlights the danger of professing Christianity without genuine internal holiness, setting the tone for the sermon's emphasis on sins of the spirit.

I may be sitting down on the outside, but I'm standing up on the inside.

Illustrates the hypocrisy of external compliance with internal rebellion, mirroring the Pharisees' condition.

It does you no good to be externally clean and pure unless you are internally clean and pure.

Summarizes the core message that true holiness must be inward as well as outward.

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Quoting Proverbs 16:32 to emphasize the supreme value of self-control over one's spirit.

If you are able to control your spirit, I cannot make you angry. I cannot upset you. I cannot make you jealous. I cannot make you envious. I cannot make you bitter.

Practical application of ruling one's spirit, showing that external provocations only have power if we lose internal control.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Quoting Jeremiah 17:9 to underscore the hidden nature of sins of the spirit and the need for divine revelation.

One root of bitterness that troubles you according to the scripture, will defile many.

Warns of the contagious and destructive nature of bitterness as a sin of the spirit.

If we have been the recipients of mercy, we should show mercy. If we have been the recipients of forgiveness, we should learn to forgive.

The moral of the unforgiving servant parable, applying the necessity of forgiveness as a mark of a cleansed spirit.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

What are some examples of 'sins of the spirit' that you have observed in your own life or in the church, and how do they differ from 'sins of the flesh'?

[Context]

Weaver distinguishes between external sins and internal sins like bitterness, pride, and an uncontrolled tongue.

[Question]

Why did Jesus say our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, and how can we cultivate a righteousness that is internal and not merely external?

[Context]

Based on Matthew 5:20 and the rebuke of the Pharisees' hypocrisy.

[Question]

In what ways can our spirit dictate our actions, and how can we practically 'rule our spirit' according to Proverbs 16:32?

[Context]

Weaver explains that anger, harsh words, and physical outbursts stem from an uncontrolled spirit.

[Question]

How can we identify 'secret faults' or hidden sins in our hearts, and what role does prayer play in this process (Psalm 19:12)?

[Context]

The heart is deceitful; we may not know our own sins until God reveals them.

[Question]

What does it mean to 'grieve the Holy Spirit' through sins like bitterness, wrath, and evil speaking, and how can we replace these with kindness and forgiveness?

[Context]

Ephesians 4:30-32 lists sins that grieve the Spirit and commands believers to put them away.

[Question]

Why is unforgiveness considered a sin of the spirit, and how does the parable of the unforgiving servant challenge our attitudes toward those who wrong us?

[Context]

Matthew 18:21-35 teaches that forgiven people must forgive.

[Question]

How does pride manifest as a sin of the spirit, and what are some practical ways to cultivate humility instead?

[Context]

Pride hardens the heart and leads to a fall; God resists the proud.

[Question]

What does it mean to 'walk in the Spirit' as a remedy for sins of the spirit, and how can we practice this daily?

[Context]

Galatians 5 and Romans 8 teach that the Spirit leads us to mortify sinful deeds.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T12:44:38Z