Latest Sermon

Impurity can begin quietly in the heart. What may seem like a small desire can grow and eventually affect our thoughts, actions, and even our faith. The story of Gehazi in 2 Kings 5:20–27 gives us a clear picture of how this can happen. Gehazi was serving alongside Elisha and had witnessed how God healed Naaman of his leprosy, however he allowed greed and covetousness to take root in his heart. Although his impurity was not visible on the outside, it was already present within him. This reminds us that outward holiness does not necessarily mean inward purity, because God looks at what is happening in our hearts.

Many people in this world want to become stars. They may become famous through music, sports, entertainment, or other achievements, and people may look up to them because of what they have accomplished. Yet this kind of stardom is temporary. God, however, has called us to become eternal stars who will shine forever. Daniel 12:3 says that those who are wise and those who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.

There is such a thing as impure faith. It is not the absence of belief in God, but faith in which human thoughts, fleshly understanding, and our own ideas have been mixed with divine truth. When we begin to interpret God according to our own philosophical thinking or understanding of Scripture, we can add our own ideas to what God has already accomplished and place confidence in our own efforts. These impurities are serious because they can hinder a person from being saved, weaken the faith of those who are already saved, and prevent believers from becoming effective witnesses. The Gospel of Water and Spirit brings us back to the foundation of true faith—that the issue of sin has been completely resolved through Jesus’ baptism, death, and resurrection.