The Purified Church by Apostle Joshua Selman: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

The Purified Church

God is coming to us as a refiner's fire, to commend us, to challenge us, and to build us.

Three important pieces of information

1. Jesus is coming back, and He is coming soon. You are not a complete Christian if you only believe He came and died, but not that He is coming again. Revelation 1:7, Revelation 22:12, Revelation 22:20, Acts 1:10-11
2. He is coming for a kind of church, a bride without spot or wrinkle. Ephesians 5:26-27
3. It is the assignment of the fivefold ministry to build and mature the body to be efficient as we await His coming. Ephesians 4:11-16

How God purifies His church: commendation and correction

God matures His bride by a healthy blend of commendation and correction. Ministry that is all commendation produces weak, flattered believers. Ministry that is all judgment produces discouraged, bitter people. Philippians 1:3-6, Hebrews 12:5-11, Revelation 2 (Ephesus and Smyrna), Ephesians 5:1, 1 Peter 2:21

Worthy of commendation (the church in Nigeria and Africa)

• Revival and trailblazing across the nations.
• Sacrifice, especially in giving and long hours of service.
• Compassion.
• Doctrine. Ignorance in spiritual matters here is a product of laziness, not lack of teaching.
• Standing for truth and righteousness in the face of hardship and death.
• Kingdom influence: universities, hospitals, global honor.
• Tremendous display of spiritual power and the gifts of the Spirit.

Seven sins the church must be purified from

This is not from self-righteousness. We are all products of His mercy.

1. Sexual immorality and related perversions

   1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, Acts 15:28-29
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   Apostle Joshua Selman

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   The desire for intimacy is not demonic. God put it there, to be expressed within marriage. Lust capitalizes on that provision and perverts it. No one outgrows this temptation. The spirit amplifies the desire when you are single and can take it away in marriage. Related expressions: pornography, masturbation, drunkenness, drugs.

   Five steps to be free:

   • Admit it with humility and brokenness, crying to the God of your salvation. Psalm 51
   • Set aside time for a retreat: pray, fast, study scripture, be broken before God.
   • Seek help from mature believers where it persists.
   • Create rules and boundaries in and around your life.
   • Connect to a larger family of believers.

   There is a strong relationship between the spirit of immorality and the spirit of untimely death.

2. Lust for money and material things

   Philippians 3:17-19, Mark 8:36, 1 Timothy 6:6-10

   Materialism is not having materials, it is the influence of materials on your relationships. Money seeks allegiance. When crusades, conferences, and sermons all become about money, something is wrong. God wants to prosper you, but not by obsession and attachment.

   Cure: be properly mentored on the Kingdom's pathway to wealth. The first law of wealth is not tithing or giving, it is absolute surrender: dead to self, alive to God.

3. Witchcraft and extra-biblical practices

   Deuteronomy 18:9-14, Ezekiel 13:1-11, Acts 16:16-18, Acts 8:9-23

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   There are three kinds of vessels: the pure breed, the innocent who were corrupted by wrong mentorship or ignorance, and those who were never of God. Do not brand everyone who works miracles as demonic. In the kingdom, the pathway to the result matters, not just the result.

   Cure: renounce the hidden works of dishonesty 2 Corinthians 4:1-2, and fear God Hebrews 12:28. When you fear God you love His people too much to deceive them.

4. Pride, vain glory, and self-centeredness

   James 4:6, Luke 18:9-14, Romans 12:1-6

   When God resists you, no anointing can help you. Pride was the first sin, older than immorality. It downplays the contribution of others and wants you to stand out. When it becomes all about one man, the body suffers.

   Cure: the disposition of John the Baptist. He must increase, I must decrease. John 3:22-30

5. The sin of the tongue

   Psalm 34:12-13, Proverbs 6:16-19

   Lying, gossip, backbiting, and sowing seeds of discord. The worst is sowing discord among brethren, wrecking homes and churches.

   Cure: set a guard over your mouth Psalm 141:3-4; let no corrupt communication proceed, only what edifies Ephesians 4:29.

6. Competition and unhealthy comparison

   2 Corinthians 10:12-18

   This produces cult-like cabals. Community and healthy networks are biblical, but stay within the measure and jurisdiction God has given you. Never believe you are the only one God is using. Elijah made that mistake. God has a robust army, including unknown people in villages, women of fire, and intercessors.

7. Imbalance

   Acts 20:27-28, Acts 18:24-26

   Failure to embrace and communicate the whole counsel of God. We are made kings and priests. The church has emphasized priesthood (prayer, consecration) but neglected the kingly dimension, so believers pray in tongues yet remain victims socially and financially. Apollos knew only the baptism of John. The balanced bride is the Lamb's wife, whose length, breadth, and height are equal. Revelation 21:9-16

A word of hope

For those who have been victims: we have an advocate. 1 John 2:1-2, Isaiah 55:6-7.

For those God has kept: do not be judgmental; take heed lest you fall. 1 Corinthians 10:11-12, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.