Naomi779
07-07-2007, 06:45 PM
I can’t remember the last time I heard a strong message preached on the subject of holiness. Many people look at holiness as an outdated “back then” message that really isn’t relevant for today. With the changes in our culture, holiness has become a very unpopular subject not only outside the church but inside as well. The standard of holiness requires holy living and not many people are willing to give up their unholy acts.
There once was a fine line between the church and the world. But that line has slowly been erased. We, as Christians have embraced worldly ways. We are watching the same things on t.v., listening to the same secular music, laughing at the same crude jokes and dressing in immodest ways. We are blending in with the world. We have incorporated the world’s immoral culture into our Christian lifestyle so that it has become “Comfortable Christianity.” We can have our cake and eat it too! We are going to church on Sundays, but the rest of the week there is no evidence that we are even Christians.
Because of the state of the church, our spiritual leaders do not want to step on anyone’s toes or ruffle any feathers with this hard core message; and that’s exactly what this topic will do. Holiness is a subject that is touched on briefly from the pulpit, but is all too quickly changed to another subject. The message of holiness will cause you to examine your own life and look deeper, past the surface of “comfortable Christianity”, and really look at what is inside your heart. Holiness is similar to taking a flashlight and shinning it in a dark and dingy cave. When the flashlight is absent, the flaws are hidden; but once the light has entered, the flaws are revealed. Holiness works in the same way, it brings light.
Let’s dive deeper to discover where holiness originated and why it is so relevant for the church today. Exodus 15:11 Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you-majestic in holiness… All through the Old Testament we can read about the holiness of God. What does it mean when the Bible talks about God being Holy? It means that God is “morally” pure. There is not a hint of sin in him. The thought of being immoral, doesn’t even enter his mind. That’s hard for us to fathom because we get bombarded with unwanted thoughts on a daily bases. Thoughts of hatred, pride, envy, selfishness and greed are just to name a few. Because of God’s trait of holiness, thoughts like these never even rise up in him.
This brings us to our roll in holiness. Does holiness really have a part in our lives? You may be thinking: I’m not God, therefore it is impossible to be holy! Paul said about God in 2 Timothy 1:9 Who has saved us and called us to a holy life. And then again in 1 Peter 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.
You may be thinking, well “God is God” and a righteous God at that; but I’m human and I can’t help but sin. I know what you mean and I’ve often wondered, how do we obtain holiness in an unholy world? Through my own journey, so far, this is what I’ve discovered. Holiness isn’t a ritual. It’s not something that is gained by looking a certain way or performing “churchy” religious acts like repeating a scripted prayer, singing a church song, dressing in long skirts and wearing collared shirts or even taking communion.
Holiness, in simple terms, is living a life that is pleasing to God. As Christians, we belong to God. We are his children. Therefore, God only wants the best for his children. Just as we want our own children to grow up to be obedient and prosperous, God desires to see us obedient to his word and prospering spiritually. Until one day, we will live with him in his kingdom.
Our hearts and thoughts are like water to God. They are transparent. We can hide things from the outside world, but God knows what’s inside whether it is pure or not. Outward acts don’t impress God, he looks at the heart of the person. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
What God is asking us to do is obey his word. Live in a way that is pleasing to Him and holiness, pureness will be sure to follow. The more time we spend in the word of God and praying, the more we will be like him. We can’t help but become like Jesus, the more we spend time with him.
Naomi
There once was a fine line between the church and the world. But that line has slowly been erased. We, as Christians have embraced worldly ways. We are watching the same things on t.v., listening to the same secular music, laughing at the same crude jokes and dressing in immodest ways. We are blending in with the world. We have incorporated the world’s immoral culture into our Christian lifestyle so that it has become “Comfortable Christianity.” We can have our cake and eat it too! We are going to church on Sundays, but the rest of the week there is no evidence that we are even Christians.
Because of the state of the church, our spiritual leaders do not want to step on anyone’s toes or ruffle any feathers with this hard core message; and that’s exactly what this topic will do. Holiness is a subject that is touched on briefly from the pulpit, but is all too quickly changed to another subject. The message of holiness will cause you to examine your own life and look deeper, past the surface of “comfortable Christianity”, and really look at what is inside your heart. Holiness is similar to taking a flashlight and shinning it in a dark and dingy cave. When the flashlight is absent, the flaws are hidden; but once the light has entered, the flaws are revealed. Holiness works in the same way, it brings light.
Let’s dive deeper to discover where holiness originated and why it is so relevant for the church today. Exodus 15:11 Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you-majestic in holiness… All through the Old Testament we can read about the holiness of God. What does it mean when the Bible talks about God being Holy? It means that God is “morally” pure. There is not a hint of sin in him. The thought of being immoral, doesn’t even enter his mind. That’s hard for us to fathom because we get bombarded with unwanted thoughts on a daily bases. Thoughts of hatred, pride, envy, selfishness and greed are just to name a few. Because of God’s trait of holiness, thoughts like these never even rise up in him.
This brings us to our roll in holiness. Does holiness really have a part in our lives? You may be thinking: I’m not God, therefore it is impossible to be holy! Paul said about God in 2 Timothy 1:9 Who has saved us and called us to a holy life. And then again in 1 Peter 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.
You may be thinking, well “God is God” and a righteous God at that; but I’m human and I can’t help but sin. I know what you mean and I’ve often wondered, how do we obtain holiness in an unholy world? Through my own journey, so far, this is what I’ve discovered. Holiness isn’t a ritual. It’s not something that is gained by looking a certain way or performing “churchy” religious acts like repeating a scripted prayer, singing a church song, dressing in long skirts and wearing collared shirts or even taking communion.
Holiness, in simple terms, is living a life that is pleasing to God. As Christians, we belong to God. We are his children. Therefore, God only wants the best for his children. Just as we want our own children to grow up to be obedient and prosperous, God desires to see us obedient to his word and prospering spiritually. Until one day, we will live with him in his kingdom.
Our hearts and thoughts are like water to God. They are transparent. We can hide things from the outside world, but God knows what’s inside whether it is pure or not. Outward acts don’t impress God, he looks at the heart of the person. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
What God is asking us to do is obey his word. Live in a way that is pleasing to Him and holiness, pureness will be sure to follow. The more time we spend in the word of God and praying, the more we will be like him. We can’t help but become like Jesus, the more we spend time with him.
Naomi