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Pursue Holiness |
Dear Brethren,
Why is it that today the subject of
holiness has become passé? Who, if anyone, is even concerned about
the subject of holiness? What is holiness? How important is it?
Well, surprisingly, it is one of the Keys to the Kingdom of God.
That means that unless someone is actively pursuing holiness
in their life, they will not be in the Kingdom of God – it is that
important a matter. The apostle Paul said, "Pursue
holiness and peace with all men, without which no man shall
see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14) What is so important about
holiness? The answer lies in the fact that we have been called at
this particular time to represent God and His way on this earth.
In fact, God refers to us as His holy
ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). We have not been called at this
time in order to receive salvation in the better resurrection before
everyone else (Hebrews 11:35). No! We are called saints – meaning
'holy ones' – as God is holy. "As He who has called you is
holy, so be you holy in all manner
of conduct. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am
holy." (1 Peter 1:15-16) “Neither shall ye
profane my holy name; but I will be
hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the
Lord who hallows you.” (Leviticus 22:32) It is God
who makes us holy!
Hallowed is an antiquated word, and its meaning is lost on many
people who repeat it often. Hallow is simply old English for
“holy.” The trouble is that most people also don’t know what
holy means. Yes, they know it is a common
religious word – but few people stop to think about what it means.
Holy means “set apart.” God is the Holiest. God is set apart in a
class all His own – by far, the very highest – His name is set above
every other name. When we say, "Hallowed be thy name," it
means that even God's name is holy – and everything about Him is
holy and to be held in the greatest respect. "Holy and reverend
is His name.” (Psalms 111:9)
God’s name i.e., God’s authority, His
power, His majesty – is in a class high above every other being. In
Isaiah 55:9, God tells us that His ways and thoughts are completely
different from those of man. Do we understand the supreme
sovereignty of the Father? Please realize that God exists in a
spiritual realm far higher than our mundane existence. Clearly, it
will only be in the resurrection that we will be able to fully
experience and understand His eternal glory. But for now, it is
incumbent upon us to live our lives in accordance with His goodness,
righteousness, magnificent loving kindness, and awesome mercy –
those qualities and characteristics that reflect His holiness.
Here is the hard part – we have to
pursue holiness now – at this time – when nobody
else is pursuing holiness. We have to be willing to stand alone and
not fall into the same ruts this world follows after. As God's
people, we are to come out and be separate – that is another way of
saying, pursue holiness (2 Corinthians 6:17). And,
that is a good instruction because this present evil world is not
going to last much longer. "The day of the Lord will come as a
thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a
great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the
earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of
persons ought ye to be in all holy conduct and Godliness."
(2 Peter 3:10-11)
Just because the great majority of the
population goes along with the current trends – that does not make
them right in God's eyes, or meet with His approval. That is simply
the blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:14, Luke 6:39). We need to
be able to discern holiness from popularity. Jesus
said, "If ye were of the world, the world would love its
own: but because you are not of the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."
(John 5:19) For example, cohabiting – living together in a sexual
relationship, unmarried – has become acceptable to society to the
point that if you mention it – you are the one who has the problem!
It is the same with homosexuality and lesbianism – if you agree with
God's holiness, you will find yourself on the outside. Jesus said
it would happen, "The world hates you" – and calls
you a homophobe – one who hates or fears homosexuals. We
are not even allowed to have the opinion that the nuclear family – with a
father, mother, and children – is good. Even the most conservative
leaders will say, "I have no problem with their alternate lifestyle," being
careful not to violate the politically correct standpoint.
If God has a problem with it – then it is a sin. It is a
common practice today for men to say that the Bible does not say
anything against homosexuality or Lesbianism – that is not true.
"If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a
woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely
be put to death." (Leviticus 20:13)
"Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts
of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between
themselves... Next we see that God in the Bible firmly declares
Lesbianism to be wrong!
"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even
their women did change the natural use [of their bodies]
into that which is against nature." [It is not natural]
"And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use [God’s
intended use] of the woman, burned in their lust one [man]
toward another [man]; men with men working that which
is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their
error which was meet. [Not only AIDS and other STD's – Sexually
Transmitted Diseases – but perverted attitudes and seared
consciences.
"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,
God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are
not convenient." (Romans 1:24-28)
Our United States Government has become
evil when the government allows a select group of people to dictate
a Godless permissive agenda in our schools. This has led to the
demoralization of our young people. When children do not have
guidelines to go by, they become corrupt – they are like the people
before the great flood (Genesis 6). Our young people who have
become indoctrinated and desensitized are not disturbed by the
perverseness and immorality that is so pervasive in the world today
– because society accepts, approves, and even promotes it. In fact,
those who have usurped the once moral way of life in the U.S. are
now the product of a generation of permissive, indulgent, Godless
teachers – they are now leading our nation to depravity and ruin.
Brethren, God has placed us in the Body
of Christ where it pleases Him (1 Corinthians 12:18). Paul's advice
to pursue holiness is appropriate today, "O man
of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness,
Godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." (1
Timothy 6:11)
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| Sermon: |
"Pursue Holiness" |
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