Embracing Holiness: A Journey of Transformation and Worship
Summary
Holiness is often misunderstood as a set of restrictive rules, but it is, in fact, a beautiful adornment of the work God has done in our lives. Holiness is not about legalistic requirements or external appearances; it is about an internal transformation that reflects our gratitude for God's grace and mercy. As we delve into the scriptures, such as 1 Chronicles 16:29 and Psalms 96:9, we see that holiness is about worshiping God in spirit and truth, acknowledging His greatness, and living a life that honors Him.
Holiness involves a separation from worldly values and a commitment to living as a new creation in Christ. This separation is not about isolating ourselves but about distinguishing ourselves as God's peculiar people, a royal priesthood. It is about allowing the internal work of God to manifest outwardly in our actions and lifestyle. True holiness begins with a heart surrendered to God, leading to a life that naturally aligns with His will.
Sanctification is a process that follows salvation, where we learn to walk uprightly before God. It is not about adhering to a checklist of do's and don'ts but about a genuine desire to live for God out of love and gratitude. This process involves studying God's Word, praying, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in developing personal and church standards that reflect our commitment to God.
Holiness is not legalism. Legalism focuses on outward appearances while neglecting the heart. True holiness is about an inward transformation that results in outward expressions of faith. It is about living a life that is pleasing to God, not to earn salvation, but as a response to the salvation we have received through Jesus Christ.
As we explore practical aspects of holiness, such as how we dress and conduct ourselves, it is essential to approach these teachings with humility and a willingness to learn. If a teaching does not initially resonate with us, we should take it to God in prayer, seeking His guidance and understanding. By doing so, we open ourselves to the possibility of growth and deeper intimacy with God.
Key Takeaways:
1. Holiness as an Adornment: Holiness is a beautiful reflection of God's work in our lives, not a set of restrictive rules. It is about worshiping God in spirit and truth, acknowledging His greatness, and living a life that honors Him. [01:33]
2. Separation and New Creation: Holiness involves separating from worldly values and living as a new creation in Christ. This separation is about distinguishing ourselves as God's peculiar people, allowing the internal work of God to manifest outwardly. [03:30]
3. Sanctification Process: Sanctification is a journey of learning to walk uprightly before God, driven by love and gratitude rather than legalistic requirements. It involves studying God's Word, praying, and developing personal and church standards that reflect our commitment to God. [08:22]
4. Holiness vs. Legalism: True holiness is about an inward transformation that results in outward expressions of faith, not about adhering to a checklist of do's and don'ts. It is about living a life pleasing to God as a response to the salvation we have received. [13:26]
5. Approaching Teachings with Humility: When teachings on holiness do not initially resonate, we should take them to God in prayer, seeking His guidance and understanding. This openness allows for growth and deeper intimacy with God. [27:14]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:31] - Introduction to Holiness
- [01:33] - The Beauty of Holiness
- [03:30] - Worship and Obedience
- [08:22] - Sanctification Process
- [12:07] - Holiness vs. Legalism
- [13:26] - True Holiness Explained
- [19:50] - Importance of Studying God's Word
- [23:35] - Holiness Standards for Men and Women
- [26:11] - Responding to Conviction
- [27:14] - Prayer and Humility
- [32:21] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Beauty of Holiness
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Chronicles 16:29 - "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."
2. Psalms 96:9 - "O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth."
3. Matthew 16:24-27 - "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me..."
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Observation Questions:
1. According to 1 Chronicles 16:29, what are the actions we are encouraged to take in our worship of God? How does this relate to the concept of holiness as an adornment? [01:33]
2. In Psalms 96:9, what does it mean to worship the Lord in the "beauty of holiness"? How is this different from a legalistic approach to worship? [03:30]
3. How does Matthew 16:24-27 describe the process of following Jesus, and what does this imply about the nature of holiness and self-denial? [08:22]
4. What distinction does the sermon make between holiness and legalism, and how does this relate to the Pharisees' behavior as described in the sermon? [13:26]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of holiness as an "adornment" challenge common misconceptions about holiness being restrictive or burdensome? [01:33]
2. What does it mean to be a "new creation" in Christ, and how does this transformation manifest in a believer's life according to the sermon? [03:30]
3. How does the process of sanctification differ from salvation, and why is it important for believers to understand this distinction? [08:22]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that true holiness is a response to God's grace rather than a means to earn salvation? [13:26]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current understanding of holiness. How has this sermon challenged or affirmed your views? What steps can you take to align your life more closely with the concept of holiness as an adornment? [01:33]
2. Consider the areas in your life where you might be conforming to worldly values. What practical changes can you make to live as a "new creation" in Christ? [03:30]
3. How can you incorporate the process of sanctification into your daily routine? What specific practices, such as prayer or Bible study, can help you grow in holiness? [08:22]
4. Think about a time when you may have confused legalism with true holiness. How can you ensure that your expressions of faith are genuine and not merely outward appearances? [13:26]
5. When faced with teachings on holiness that don't initially resonate with you, how can you approach these teachings with humility and openness to God's guidance? [27:14]
6. Identify one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to deeper holiness. What specific actions can you take this week to respond to that call?
7. How can you support others in your community who are on their journey of sanctification? What role can you play in encouraging and uplifting them in their walk with God?
Devotional
Day 1: Holiness as a Reflection of God's Work
Holiness is not a set of restrictive rules but a beautiful reflection of the transformative work God has done in our lives. It is about worshiping God in spirit and truth, acknowledging His greatness, and living a life that honors Him. This internal transformation is a response to God's grace and mercy, and it manifests outwardly in our actions and lifestyle. Holiness involves a heart surrendered to God, leading to a life that naturally aligns with His will. It is not about legalistic requirements or external appearances but about an internal change that reflects our gratitude for God's grace. [01:33]
"Give to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness." (1 Chronicles 16:29, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you reflect God's transformative work in your daily actions and interactions with others today?
Day 2: Separation as a New Creation
Holiness involves separating from worldly values and living as a new creation in Christ. This separation is not about isolating ourselves but about distinguishing ourselves as God's peculiar people, a royal priesthood. It is about allowing the internal work of God to manifest outwardly in our actions and lifestyle. As we embrace our identity in Christ, we are called to live differently, not conforming to the patterns of this world but being transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation is a testament to the new life we have in Christ, setting us apart as His people. [03:30]
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)
Reflection: What is one worldly value or habit you feel called to separate from, and how can you begin to do so today?
Day 3: The Journey of Sanctification
Sanctification is a process that follows salvation, where we learn to walk uprightly before God. It is not about adhering to a checklist of do's and don'ts but about a genuine desire to live for God out of love and gratitude. This process involves studying God's Word, praying, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in developing personal and church standards that reflect our commitment to God. As we grow in our faith, we become more aligned with God's will, and our lives become a testament to His transformative power. [08:22]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally incorporate prayer and Bible study into your daily routine to aid in your sanctification journey?
Day 4: True Holiness vs. Legalism
True holiness is about an inward transformation that results in outward expressions of faith, not about adhering to a checklist of do's and don'ts. It is about living a life pleasing to God as a response to the salvation we have received through Jesus Christ. Legalism focuses on outward appearances while neglecting the heart, but true holiness begins with a heart surrendered to God. As we live out our faith, we do so not to earn salvation but as a response to the grace we have received, allowing our lives to be a reflection of God's love and mercy. [13:26]
"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you shift your focus from outward appearances to inward transformation in your spiritual journey today?
Day 5: Approaching Teachings with Humility
When teachings on holiness do not initially resonate, we should take them to God in prayer, seeking His guidance and understanding. This openness allows for growth and deeper intimacy with God. As we explore practical aspects of holiness, such as how we dress and conduct ourselves, it is essential to approach these teachings with humility and a willingness to learn. By doing so, we open ourselves to the possibility of growth and a deeper relationship with God, allowing His Spirit to guide us in all aspects of our lives. [27:14]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: Is there a teaching or aspect of holiness that you struggle with? How can you bring this to God in prayer and seek His guidance today?
Quotes
1. "Holiness becomes something that is beautiful, it's something that we want to attain to, it's something that we want to have. It's like an adornment. And so, one of the things we take a look at is that many times people look at holiness as something that's a doctrine to, restrict people from what they want to do, and going where they want to go, and that's not the really, the teaching of holiness. It's, God calls it, in 1 Chronicles 16 and 29, the beauty of holiness." ([00:02:29] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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2. "We are to give God glory, submit to God the eternal you and one of the parts of this adornment of holiness is separation we are separated from the world in the sense of uh may God making a distinction to where we're now we are holy we are the ecclesia we are the peculiar people the royal priesthood we are different why because if any man being Christ he is a new creature an old thing that passed away both all things are become new and so we have this separation and I know that we're going to talk about holiness and we're going to talk about holiness and I know this is hard for a lot of times the people begin to really serve God but when we give ourselves to God and we enter into a relationship with God the work he's doing on the inside it begins to show on the outside." ([00:05:15] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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3. "Holiness is not requirements. Holiness is that I'm now a servant of God, and I want to bow down to him, and in gratitude, I want to live my life according to his word. And so before we begin to talk about holiness as external, we have to talk about holiness internal. You must be born again. And so Luke 9 and 62 says, And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Now, we give ourselves unto God. This is going to be a work we have to do. It's called sanctification." ([00:07:09] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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4. "When we talk about holiness and living for God and separation from the world and wanting to do right, and those that reject that really aren't sure of the appreciation for the salvation that God's done in their life. When you really look at all he's done for you and say, God, I appreciate your dying on the cross. I appreciate you going to hell for me. I appreciate your forgiveness. I appreciate your forgiveness of all the sin that I've done. I appreciate being there for me and picking me up, God, and planting me on solid ground. God, I'm thankful for that. And so we want to do right." ([00:09:32] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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5. "Holiness is not legalism. Holiness is just, I love Jesus, and I want to live for him. Legalism, according to the Pharisees, were to exude spirituality while they camouflaged their desire for sin on the inside. The Pharisees were not trying to live for God. The Pharisees were not trying to go closer to God, but they definitely wanted people to acknowledge their spirituality and lift them up, if you will, in religiosity." ([00:12:16] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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6. "We are not saved by the works that we do, we're saved by his grace and so when we talk about being separated and loving God nobody's going to come and take you out of the club nobody's going to come and snatch you out of the bar room if you're in a in an activity uh where it is really glorifying the devil and sin nobody's going to come in there the angels are going to come and snatch you out of there because you have choice you can choose to be in that if you want to however when you give yourself to God and you realize all that God did for you how he died on the cross and the pain that he went through using he did not die in vain I am going to live for God and so you choose not to go into the club you choose to go away from the place of the sin why because you love God." ([00:15:37] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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7. "There is this thing called sanctification we are learning to live for God every single day and as we learn to live for God we have to study the word of God now there's going to be different ways that you can learn holiness standards number one is biblical standards and so as we go through the word of God and we're seeing different than the God's teaching then we begin to understand what God's calling us to do that sometimes we're going to have a church standards this is the way uh the church leadership is telling us that we encourage us to live a certain way and because we are under a certain ministry uh we live that way." ([00:17:12] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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8. "The more you fall in love with God the more you begin to search out a matter one of the things they hear from a lot of times people that are young in God that have been around in church for a long time now just because you've been around in church for 10 years 20 years 30 years doesn't mean that you're mature in Christ it just means you've been around for a long time but one of the that i hear from people that have been around for a while but are still growing into that maturity that God wants them to get to is that uh I've never seen that I've never done that and and I look at just because you've never done it before this way search out the scriptures and find out for yourself." ([00:21:10] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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9. "When I preach holiness, when I tell people about God, they are quick to say, no, that's not how I want to live. I don't see it that way. But they've never searched the scriptures. Hopefully that makes sense. A lot of times people really are not looking as much as they need to. Now, the word of God says it was 2 Timothy 2 and 15, study to show yourself approved. The word of the need is not to be shamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. We're told to study. You can't expect your pastor to do a 20 -minute sermon on Sunday morning, or 20 minutes, 30 minutes, whatever we may do, and really give you everything that you need for all week long." ([00:22:53] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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10. "Pray and then humble ourselves before God and then we trust and the one that God is sending us to for Romans 10 14 says how then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how should they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher God's going to send you a teacher God's going to give you somebody to teach the word of God and as God gives you that person then you have to learn to work with them and trust them that takes a long while because I know everybody walks through those doors I may be reverend talker but I may not be their pastor and then over a period of time as God began to deal with their heart about things." ([00:29:24] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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