Embracing Holiness: Navigating Life's River with God
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound significance of holiness in our lives as followers of Christ. We began by expressing gratitude to God for His unwavering presence and the opportunity to worship together. Our journey into the Word led us to 1 Peter, where we delved into the call to holiness, emphasizing that holiness truly matters when God matters to us. This call to holiness is not just a religious obligation but a reflection of our deep relationship with God, who has ransomed us through the precious blood of Christ.
We discussed the metaphor of life as a river, where the cultural currents can lead us away from God's path. The world offers a stream that often leads to spiritual death, but God invites us into His river, a life-giving stream that leads to holiness and eternal life. This invitation is not just for us to be part of a church community but to actively engage in pulling others from the dangerous currents of the world into the safety of God's river.
Holiness, we learned, is not merely about external appearances or religious rituals. It is about being set apart, living a life that is distinct from the world, and aligning our conduct with God's standards. This pursuit of holiness begins in our minds, where we prepare for action, remain sober-minded, and set our hope fully on the grace of Jesus Christ. Our conduct, too, must reflect this holiness, as we resist conforming to our former ways and embrace a life that honors God in all aspects.
The fuel for our pursuit of holiness is not found in our own strength but in the knowledge of what God has done for us. We are reminded that God paid an immeasurable price for our redemption, not with perishable things but with the blood of Christ. This understanding compels us to live lives that reflect the holiness of God, recognizing that our faith and hope are in Him alone.
As we respond to this call, we are encouraged to examine our lives, prioritize the gathering of the saints, and pursue holiness with intentionality. Let us be a community that values holiness because we value God, and let our lives be a testament to His transformative power.
Key Takeaways:
1. The River of Life and Culture's Current: Life is like a river, and the cultural currents can lead us away from God's path. We must be vigilant, ensuring we are in God's life-giving stream, not the world's destructive one. This requires intentional engagement with our faith community and a commitment to pulling others into God's river. [35:30]
2. Holiness Begins in the Mind: Our pursuit of holiness starts with preparing our minds for action, being sober-minded, and setting our hope on the grace of Jesus. Winning the morning by starting with God's Word is crucial for a day of pursuing holiness. [46:41]
3. Holiness in Conduct: We are called to be holy in all our conduct, resisting conformity to our former ways. This requires a conscious evaluation of how we spend our time and ensuring our actions align with God's standards. [58:01]
4. The Role of Godly Friends: Godly friendships are vital for maintaining a sober mind and pursuing holiness. These relationships provide accountability and support, helping us stay grounded in our faith and conduct. [52:33]
5. The Fuel for Holiness: Our pursuit of holiness is fueled by the knowledge of God's sacrifice for us. We are ransomed by the blood of Christ, and this understanding compels us to live lives that reflect His holiness, placing our faith and hope in God alone. [01:10:00]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [32:46] - Opening Prayer
- [33:33] - Introduction and Gratitude
- [35:30] - The River of Life
- [38:37] - The Importance of Holiness
- [40:10] - Holiness and God's Significance
- [41:26] - The Cost of Holiness
- [44:11] - Pursuing Holiness in Our Minds
- [46:41] - Winning the Morning
- [49:45] - Waking Up to the Word
- [52:33] - The Role of Godly Friends
- [56:05] - Setting Our Hope on Grace
- [58:01] - Holiness in Conduct
- [01:10:00] - The Fuel for Holiness
- [01:16:21] - Invitation to Faith and Holiness
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Significance of Holiness
Bible Reading:
- 1 Peter 1:13-21
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Observation Questions:
1. What metaphor did the pastor use to describe life and its cultural influences, and how does it relate to our spiritual journey? [35:30]
2. According to the sermon, what are the three key areas where we should pursue holiness? [44:11]
3. How does the pastor describe the role of godly friends in maintaining a sober mind? [52:33]
4. What does the pastor say is the ultimate fuel for our pursuit of holiness? [01:10:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the metaphor of life as a river help us understand the challenges of living a holy life in today's culture? [35:30]
2. How does the pastor suggest we can "win the morning" to prepare our minds for holiness throughout the day? [46:41]
3. What does it mean to be "sober-minded," and why is it important in the pursuit of holiness? [52:33]
4. How does understanding the price God paid for our redemption influence our motivation to live a holy life? [01:10:00]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily routine. How can you incorporate "winning the morning" by starting your day with God's Word? What changes might you need to make? [46:41]
2. Identify a cultural "current" in your life that might be pulling you away from God's path. What steps can you take to resist this influence and stay in God's life-giving stream? [35:30]
3. Consider your friendships. Do you have godly friends who help you stay sober-minded? If not, how can you seek out such relationships within your faith community? [52:33]
4. Evaluate your weekly schedule. Are there activities or habits that conform you to your "former ignorance"? How can you reframe your time to be transformed into the image of Jesus? [01:01:04]
5. Think about a specific area of your conduct that may not align with God's standards. What practical steps can you take to pursue holiness in that area? [58:01]
6. Reflect on the knowledge that you were ransomed by the precious blood of Christ. How does this understanding compel you to live differently? [01:10:00]
7. How can you prioritize the gathering of the saints in your life, and why is this important for your spiritual growth and pursuit of holiness? [35:30]
Devotional
Day 1: Navigating Life's River with God
Life is often compared to a river, with cultural currents that can easily lead us away from God's path. These currents represent the influences and distractions of the world that can pull us toward spiritual death. However, God offers us an invitation to enter His life-giving stream, which leads to holiness and eternal life. This requires us to be vigilant and intentional in our faith journey, ensuring that we are not swept away by the world's destructive currents. It is not enough to simply be part of a church community; we must actively engage in pulling others from the dangerous currents of the world into the safety of God's river. This involves being a beacon of hope and guidance for those around us, helping them find their way to the life-giving stream of God's love and grace. [35:30]
Ezekiel 47:9 (ESV): "And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes."
Reflection: Consider the cultural currents in your life that may be pulling you away from God's path. How can you actively engage in guiding others toward God's life-giving stream today?
Day 2: Preparing the Mind for Holiness
The pursuit of holiness begins in the mind, where we prepare for action by being sober-minded and setting our hope fully on the grace of Jesus Christ. This mental preparation is crucial for living a life that is distinct from the world and aligned with God's standards. Winning the morning by starting with God's Word is a powerful way to set the tone for a day of pursuing holiness. By immersing ourselves in Scripture and prayer, we equip our minds to resist the temptations and distractions that come our way. This intentional focus on God's grace and truth helps us to remain steadfast in our commitment to holiness, allowing us to live in a way that honors God in all aspects of our lives. [46:41]
1 Peter 1:13 (ESV): "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take each morning to prepare your mind for a day of pursuing holiness? How can you incorporate God's Word into your daily routine?
Day 3: Holiness in Every Action
Holiness is not just about external appearances or religious rituals; it is about being set apart and living a life that reflects God's standards in all our conduct. This requires a conscious evaluation of how we spend our time and ensuring that our actions align with God's will. We are called to resist conforming to our former ways and embrace a life that honors God in every aspect. This means being intentional about our choices, relationships, and activities, seeking to glorify God in all that we do. By living a life of holiness, we become a testament to God's transformative power and a light to those around us. [58:01]
1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV): "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
Reflection: Reflect on your daily actions and choices. Are there areas where you need to align your conduct more closely with God's standards? What changes can you make today to live a life of holiness?
Day 4: The Importance of Godly Friendships
Godly friendships play a vital role in maintaining a sober mind and pursuing holiness. These relationships provide accountability, support, and encouragement, helping us stay grounded in our faith and conduct. Surrounding ourselves with friends who share our commitment to holiness can strengthen our resolve and inspire us to live according to God's standards. These friendships are a source of wisdom and guidance, offering us the opportunity to grow together in our spiritual journey. By investing in godly friendships, we create a community that values holiness and supports one another in our pursuit of a life that honors God. [52:33]
Proverbs 27:17 (ESV): "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."
Reflection: Who are the godly friends in your life that support your pursuit of holiness? How can you invest in these relationships to strengthen your faith and accountability?
Day 5: Living in the Light of God's Sacrifice
Our pursuit of holiness is fueled by the knowledge of God's immeasurable sacrifice for us. We are reminded that God ransomed us not with perishable things but with the precious blood of Christ. This understanding compels us to live lives that reflect His holiness, placing our faith and hope in God alone. Recognizing the depth of God's love and sacrifice for us should inspire us to live in a way that honors Him, embracing a life of holiness and devotion. By keeping our focus on God's sacrifice, we are motivated to pursue holiness with intentionality and gratitude, allowing His transformative power to shape our lives. [01:10:00]
1 Peter 1:18-19 (ESV): "Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."
Reflection: How does the knowledge of God's sacrifice for you influence your daily life and pursuit of holiness? What steps can you take to live in a way that reflects His holiness and love?
Quotes
And so God's just allowed a multi -generational family to grow up in this city. And here's what I'm concerned about, burdened by, encouraged by. Um, I'm seeing pictures of the church, um, like a river, uh, and people are in the river and they're going downstream because that's what happens when you're in a river. You go the direction of the current and, and church is supposed to be God's river, uh, where you and I are in the body of Christ. We're worshiping together on Sundays. We're, we're worshiping together in house church. We're breaking bread together day. And studying God's word. And what are we doing in that? We are saying, I'm going to go in God's river. [00:35:30]
And I'm mindful of two things that I'm just burdened to, to share with you this morning. Uh, and this isn't like a, I really need you here on Sundays or you really need to be in house church, but guys, I'm just becoming a lot more convinced that the culture's stream is getting stronger and more dangerous. Uh, and what do I mean by that? Oh, you just like scared of the world. Yeah. Yeah, I am that, that media, that social media, that, uh, entertainment, that the content that our culture is putting out and the rate that it is putting it out is deeply concerning to me that you and I can be rocked to sleep on a river that is leading to a waterfall that ends in death. [00:36:19]
And, and so I share this for two reasons. One, I do want to plead. If you are not a part of a house church, now I just think you're, you're flirting with danger. Uh, you need to be anchored in the stream of God, which is the life of his church. Uh, two, would we be on the lookout to pull some people off a river headed to a waterfall and pull them in with us? Uh, man, I think about people in my life who have done that. I think about some of y 'all who have seen your friends. There was a young lady in the first service said, Chris, my whole friend group came. I've been praying for them that they would come and get to know Jesus. And they all came today. Like I'm praying for more people that would go, man, you got to get out of that river and you got to get into God's river. Um, because the current is taking you somewhere. Social media is taking you somewhere. News is taking you somewhere. There is a stream that our culture is running in and it always leads to death. [00:37:21]
Now, part of why I say that is because this morning we're talking about holiness and we're talking about the gathering of the saints. And we're talking about the gathering of the saints. And holiness is something that you're not really going to talk about in a different stream. The culture is not going to talk about holiness, uh, living a life that is very different than what our world looks like. You might, if you have some side of religious background, you might think of holiness. Are those, those Christians that like wear blue jeans down to their ankles? Like, is that what holiness is about? Maybe that's just confusing to you, but, uh, if you know what I mean and no, they just take holiness seriously. Holiness. [00:38:37]
And I'll tell you, holiness has fallen on hard times. We don't talk about it a lot in the church house. We talk a lot about, man, I got grace. I'm a, I'm a Jesus kind of Christian. I'm forgiving of my sins. I can do whatever I want. I've been forgiven. And there's a world in which that is true, that grace has covered us for those who have placed their faith in Jesus. But grace and holiness were always meant to go together. [00:39:14]
Here's a big idea for today is holiness really matters when God really matters. And so you can essentially look at our lives and go, hey, like how much does God matter to you based on how eagerly and passionately you pursue holiness? What do I mean by holiness? Holiness is this set apartness, this otherness, this very different than the norm. [00:40:10]
Therefore, preparing your minds for action and being sober -minded, set your hope fully on the grace that'll be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. We're going to see kind of three different parts of our pursuit of holiness. The first is pursuing holiness in our minds. If you're a note taker, pursuing holiness in our minds. Secondly, pursuing holiness in our conduct, in our very actions and lives. So pursuing holiness in our minds, pursuing holiness in our conduct. And then lastly, the fuel for our pursuit of holiness, the fuel for our pursuit of holiness. Verse 13 says, therefore, in light of all the incredible salvation of God through Jesus that's been talked about in verses 1 through 12, preparing your minds for action. [00:44:11]
It's a leader quote that's hung with me for a really long time. If you're going to win your day, you got to win your morning. And I'm just convinced if you and I are going to take pursuing holiness seriously, we've got to figure out how to be prepared in the morning. Now, I say this, and I do. I care a lot about you. I joked with the 915 service. I said, no, y 'all are going to say yes and amen. It's our 11 o 'clock family that's going to be saying that. Now, don't be talking to me about those early mornings, all right? [00:46:41]
And if you and I are going to take the pursuit of holiness seriously, I think we've got to be people who learn how to win our mornings. Now, I'm not saying... I know my dad was going to say amen to that. I'm like, this is the OG morning man over here. Like, you think you wake up early. You're hanging out with Colin. You don't even know. He's waking up when some of y 'all go into bed. And I'm not... Here's what I'm not saying. I'm not saying you got to wake up early so that God will love you. That's not what I'm saying. I'm not even saying you have to wake up early, although I think there is some worry. What I am saying is whatever way you wake up, you've got to have a plan for how that's going to prepare you for a day of pursuing holiness. [00:48:22]
Nothing has helped me be sober minded like godly friends. And it's honestly part of why as a church, we lead through teams. Our house churches are led by teams. Our finances are led by teams. Our churches is led by teams. I don't lead in a vacuum. Why? Because I know outside of godly relationships, my brain will go off to the races. It'll do all sorts of crazy things. And so I would just ask you, like, do you have godly friends that help you live sober mindedly? [00:52:33]
Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways in inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. Like that of a lamb without blemish or spot, he was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you. You who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him, glory so that your faith and hope are in God. [01:10:00]
What is the fuel for our pursuit of holiness? It's not found in ourselves. It's not found in our ability to dress up. It's not found in our ability to dress ourselves up, to take off the dirt. It is found in the price that the Father paid for a wedding. Namely, Jesus Christ, the Lord. Who paid for the wedding, not with things like silver and gold that are here today and gone tomorrow, but paid for the wedding with his own blood. The spotless lamb of God. What is the fuel that the church finds for a pursuit of holiness? It's not work harder. It's know what God paid for you. [01:11:29]
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