THE CALL TO HOLINESS

Is it possible to be holy in the culture we all live in?

• Yes. Let’s not let the culture dictate our lives; instead, let God and His Word guide us.
• Holy means to be separate.
• People of God are fully dedicated to the Lord, their lives, their church, and their families.
• Leviticus 20:26 You must be holy because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own.
• God wants His people to be holy and avoid anything or anyone that would spoil their relationship with Him.
• Holiness comes from a loving relationship.
• Being obedient to God out of love isn’t a burden but a blessing.
• God reminds us to be holy inwardly through the Holy Spirit and then calls us to show this holiness outwardly through our actions.

• Matthew 5:27-28 You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
• We need the Holy Spirit to develop holiness in us and through us as we live in surrender.
• God is committed to completing the work of holiness within us.
• HOLINESS IS ALWAYS A HEART MATTER.
• Philippians 2:5-11 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
• Ephesians 5:1-2 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
• 1 Peter 1:15-16 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
• Isaiah 6:1-5 It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. 2 Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” 4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
• God already loves us, but because we love Him, we try to be holy, driven by our love for Him.

1. The tension and struggle with our flesh is constant.

• Romans 12.1,2
• Galatians 5:16-17 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

2. Holiness is not developed quickly. There are no shortcuts.

“There is a great market for religious experience in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of virtue, little inclination to sign up for a long apprenticeship in what earlier generations of Christians called holiness.” Chuck Swindoll

• 1 Timothy 4:7 ”…Train yourself to be godly.”

3. It can be challenging to measure.

Helpful Indicators To Make Holiness A Way Of Life – By: T.W. Hunt

1. My conscience responds quickly to the Holy Spirit.
2. I am becoming more conscious of God throughout the day.
3. The joy and peace of Christ are replacing fleshly joys.
4. I accept the circumstances of my life as being a tool of God.
5. I always consult the Lord before I make a decision.
6. I am growing in humility before God and with others.
7. I am developing a stronger desire not to sin.
8. I am growing in my thirst for God and His will.
9. I read my Bible and pray with greater frequency.

4. We often compare ourselves to others.

• Just be yourself. Be comfortable with who you are.
• Holiness Does This:
  1. It keeps our attention attached to the character of God.
  2. It develops patterns of integrity and convictions in our lives.

“Wrong is still wrong even if everyone is doing it. Right is still right even if no one is doing it.”

• Look for principles that guide you in the right direction. When you find the right path, surround yourself with others moving in a wise and godly direction.

1. Through daily decisions that compound in spiritual interest over time.
2. Through godly relationships. (Daniel’s Men)
3. Through various experiences, God uses to shape us.
4. Through the daily gaze at Jesus.

• Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I understand that the penalty for my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I cannot fix my situation on my own. I believe You are calling me to have faith. I am being drawn to the truth of the gospel. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sins and believe in You as the only One who can establish an eternal relationship with the living God. I want to be Your child and to live as Your child. In Your name, Amen.

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