Holiness!
Heb 12:9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 14Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. (Heb 12:9-14)
Our flesh is being blinded by satan through sin, having no understanding of what it means to follow the Holy One of Israel.
2 cor 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
We're desensitised by the media – news, TV & internet!
Now even churches have sought after entertainment, recreation and social activities to keep people in their congregations rather than preaching against sin, confronting a brother or sister who has fallen into error or calling his people to a life of separation and holiness.
So many Christians are empty and confused. Since they cannot find answers to their problems inside, they are going outside the local church. Radio and television ministries are bombarded with letters and calls from families and individuals who don’t have solutions to their spiritual needs and problems.
How do we measure the effectiveness of an activity/ ministry?
We go on measuring the effectiveness of our businesses, careers and ministries in terms of bigger budgets, more influential friends and larger buildings. We are seeking to gratify the lusts of our flesh and of the mind as lost sinners do, comparing ourselves with ourselves.
Hence, most of us practice our faith in superficial & selfish manner. We are impressed with size and quantity, but God is immensely more concerned about the quality. God is looking for a few who will walk in purity and holiness. (1 Sam 16:7) Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Mt 5:8) We are impressed with size and quantity, but God is immensely more concerned about the quality.
Its like offerings of animals that were sick, lame and blind. There is often little self-denial or sacrifice involved in what we are bringing before Him. 7"You offer defiled food on My altar. But say, In what way have we defiled You?' By saying, The table of the LORD is contemptible.' 8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?" Says the LORD of hosts. (Mal 1:7-8)
Are we willing to be unknown, choosing instead to spend time waiting upon the Living God—walking before Him with a blameless heart. "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, 1:17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. (Isa 1:16)
Christian churches have forsaken holiness and separation from sin and the world and substituted it with mega-churches!
The question is - “Will I surrender to the spirit of our age, or resist and join the company of over-comers?” “No man can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24).
What is holiness?
Separation: set-apart
- Israel → purification while going through the wilderness
- we, the spiritual Israel → now we also go through it, until we reach Canaan!
Need for Holiness?
- God cant be with us when we're in sin (enemies of God!)
- Commandment (1 Pet 1:15-16)
- No on will see the Lord (Heb 12:14)
- Being perfected to receive the crown on life (Rev 2:10 "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.)
Deu 8:1-7 to humble & to test 1 "Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers. 2And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. 4Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. 5You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you. 6Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. 7For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; 8a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;
Fellowship with His son – 8Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:8-14)
Jesus perfected through sufferings! 9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. 10For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, (Heb 2:9-11)
17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, (2 cor 4:17)
Jesus overcame the world (Jn 16:33) things that are impossible with men are possible with God (Mk )
Revelation 22:11–12 → he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still."
Difference between holiness through obedience & legalism?!
Jesus taught holiness in obedience and purity. Being holy is being good not 'being nice'!
- honest, approachable & not easily offended
But legalism is obeying the teachings of men as the Pharisees did, adding human rules and standards of behavior onto what God has given. Obedience to the Word comes out of a true commitment and genuine love for the Lord.
6He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 7And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' 8For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men; the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." 9He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition." (Mk 7:6-9)
Pharisees were more concerned about the law than the lives of people & true relationship with the Lord!
How to over come the trap of legalism?
- Keep in mind that we're flesh → put no confidence in flesh!
- must stop comparing our lives with others.
- not to be satisfied with fulfilling externals that may be prescribed by your denomination, fellowship, organization or any other traditions of men
- spend time with the Lord Himself and learn to know Him personally in your spirit
How do we become 'Holy'?
Nothing that we do make us holy or set-apart – Jesus has already done it on the cross, but what we do makes us unholy! To remain in the state of holiness we must begin with a deliberate choice—an act of the will. The seed we sow will come up and produce the fruit of holiness as the end result.
Steps to Holiness:
- Putting the flesh on the cross – on a daily basis (present bodies a living sacrifice, Holy & acceptable Rom 12:1)
- Confess and repent from know sins (lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us Heb 12:1)
- Waiting on the Lord to complete His task (looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith… Heb 12:2)
- Being filled with the Holy Spirit (receive power from above by which sealed for redemption! Act 1:8, Eph 4:30)
- Living with the Lord (an awareness that the Spirit dwells in us! 1 Cor 3:16, 6:19)
- A life of prayer! Pro 18: 10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.
Meditation:
- Which areas do I need holiness/ separation?
- Is there any elements of legalism in me?
- What changes can I make to pursue a life of holiness?
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