The Blessings Of Visible Holiness

 

INTRO: Last week I talked about The Dangers of Our Unseen Sins. Today I would like to kind of mirror last week’s message. In that I want to use The Blessings of Visible Holiness as our subject. Holiness is a hard subject. While we know we need it, it is hard to describe everything we need to do. Let us look at this.

 

Definition: The state or quality of being holy; sanctity.

 

Ephesians 4:17-32 KJV 17This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20But ye have not so learned Christ;
21If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27Neither give place to the devil.
28Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

 

1 Timothy 6:1-8 KJV 1Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
2And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
3If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

 

God wants holiness in our lives

1 Peter 1:16 KJV Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

 

He expects it

He demands it

He helps us live it

He models it

 

We can live without hypocrisy

 

Leviticus 11:45 KJV For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

 

This is not about being better than others are

This is not about living a good enough life to “make it”

This is not about pretending to love the Lord

This is not about looking like we love the Lord

This is about living godly in public (where we are visible)

This is about living godly in private (where we are visible to Him)

This is about seeking closeness to the Lord

This is about having a heart that loves the Lord

This is about wanting to do that is right with your life

This is about doing what is right with your life

This is about loving the Lord and letting it show to others

 

We can live a better life

 

Luke 1:74-75 KJV 74That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

 

Less worry (could we go with No Worry?)

Less disease

Less turmoil and contention

Less deceit

Less doubt

Less


 

We can become a proper teacher (because we have the proper teacher – the Lord)

 

2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 

We show:

Honor

Love

Respect

Humbleness

Dislike for sin

Lack of participation in sin

Cleanness (in Him)

Confidence in Him

Salvation

 

We can help set the stage for future generations

 

2 Peter 3:11 KJV Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

 

 

It is not just about us

It is about Him

It is about them

 

They can see holiness works

Good life

Happy life

Close life

Loving life, etc.

We can be careful how we walk (shouldn’t we be?) they see us

We can practice what we preach – now that is good!

 

 

We can walk with obedient footsteps

 

Hebrews 12:14 KJV 14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Our petition

Our prayer

Our purpose

Our plan

Our practice

Our protection (not for our souls (a means of salvation) -but our way of life in front of others)

Our pattern (for others to see)

 

 

 

Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 050309am