Called to HOLINESS #4
By Pastor George Lehman
Revelation 3:2-3(Amp) – 2Rouse yourselves and keep awake and strengthen and invigorate what remains and is on the point of dying; for I have not found a thing that you have done [any work of yours] meeting the requirements of My God or perfect in His sight. 3So call to mind the lessons you received and heard; continually lay them to heart and obey them, and repent. In case you will not rouse yourselves and keep awake and watch, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know or suspect at what hour I will come.
Those who look to Him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame. – Psalm 34:5 (King David)
RADIANT LIKE THIS:
Years ago, when 20th Century Fox advertised in the New York papers to fill a vacancy in its sales force, one applicant replied:
“I am at present selling furniture at the address below. You may judge my ability as a salesman if you will stop in to see me at anytime, pretending that you are interested in buying furniture. When you come in, you can identify me by my red hair. And I will have no way of identifying you. Such salesmanship as I exhibit during your visit, therefore, will be no more than my usual workday approach and not a special effort to impress a prospective employer.”
From among more than 1500 applicants, this guy got the job.
ARE YOU READY? We have been called to a life of Holiness everyday because you never know who is watching you.
And know this God is watching all the time!!
Ephesians 1:4 (NIV) – “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV) – “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
And still after 3 sermons on “Called to holiness”, God continues to challenge our relationship with Him.
It’s so clear that these scriptures tell us what God has saved and called us too!! – they are not optional. “Holiness” is not for an elite few.
It is possible for you to walk purely before the Lord.
Luke 12:32 – Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your FATHER’S good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
For each generation a “little flock” receives the Kingdom – and are set apart.
They go on to fulfill the purpose by God for their generation.
Question to us:
What about you, child of God – how would you sum up your lifestyle for adding value to this generation – letting His Kingdom come?
Everyone who is purifying themselves, even as He is pure, is part of that “little flock”.
1 John 3:3 (Amp) – And everyone who has this hope (resting) on him, cleanses (purifies) himself, just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless).
No bible believing Christian doubts the importance of Holiness.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV) – Since we have these promises dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that Contaminates* body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
*Contaminate = pollute, infect [Afrikaans = besoedel, besmet)
Like sewage in clear drinking water.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 – 23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
God’s desire is for us to be wholly Holy.
The Bible commands us to be Holy (not suggests).
Leviticus 19:2 (Amp) – “Say to all the assembly of the Israelites; [Bikers church] you shall be Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy”
1 John 4:17 – As He is, so are we in this world
1 Peter 2:9(CEV) – But you are God’s chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation; God has brought you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things He has done.
Story of the young boy who had to stay in class and finish his math test. So, he just filled in any answers – obviously it was all wrong. He had to do it at home. When his dad asked him why he got it all wrong – he said, “nobody is perfect”.
Like the bumper stickers even say “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven” – OR “we’re just human” (we all make mistakes, we all fail).
Taking it, a bit further super spiritual people quote
1 John 1:8 – If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth.
This sums up so many times why people reject their “Calling to Holiness.” They make excuses to fail and sin.
Is Holiness really that important, maybe it’s only for a select few.
Matthew 24:4 (Amp) – Be careful that no one misleads you (deceiving you and leading you into error).
Five times in the next 22 verses in Mt 24: Jesus repeated His warning.
Can I just say this:
It’s not the absence of sin that produces Holiness.
Many non-Christians live clean, upright lives – which you can’t fault. Holiness comes from the presence of God in our lives. “Christ in us is our Holiness”.
The truth is – as close as our relationship is with Him, to that same degree we reflect His Holiness.
Jesus said: Matthew 5:16 – Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works.
This light is non-other than the out-raying glory and purity of God. People see God in us.
If good works glorify God, then bad works bring Him dishonor.
When we’re not walking in “Holiness”, sin rules our lives and our credibility to witness is LOST.
The world is sick and tired of hearing one thing and seeing another.
How do I know when to witness:
1 Peter 3:15(Amp) – “Called to Holiness”
– But in your hearts set Christ apart as Holy (and acknowledge Him as Lord) (when I get this part right then part B follows) Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you.
Sadly, so many Christians publicly sin in the workplace where most of us spend 8-18 hours a day. They lose their temper, do bad work, they’re often late or heard complaining about the boss or their job. They have bad attitudes, yet they still witness.
Titus 1:16A (Amp) – They profess to know God (to recognize, perceived and be acquainted with Him) but they deny and disown and renounce Him, by what they do.
This to sums up this series “Called to Holiness” – the real evidence [bewys] of Holiness is increasing in “Christ likeness” in which the image of God is increasingly visible in a believer’s life.
Here’s the challenge – what are you going to do about living your “Calling to Holiness?
CLOSE:
1 Peter 1:15 (Amp) – But as the One who called you is Holy, you yourselves must also be Holy in all your conduct and manner of living.
Luke 1:74-75(Amp) – 74To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our foes, might serve Him fearlessly 75in holiness (divine consecration) and righteousness [in accordance with the everlasting principles of right] within His presence all the days of our lives.
Your lifestyle MUST clearly be HOLY!
