Genuine faith is not about outward appearances or actions but is deeply rooted in a love for God and obedience to His Word. It is not about achieving perfection but about the direction of one's heart towards God. Holiness involves being set apart and distinct from the world, influencing it rather than being influenced by it. This means living a life that reflects God's character and making conscious decisions to align one's actions, thoughts, and desires with His will. [01:26]
"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. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." (1 Peter 1:13-15, ESV)
Reflection: In what specific ways can you demonstrate your love for God through obedience today, even in small actions or decisions?
Day 2: The Conscious Decision for Holiness
Holiness requires a conscious decision to live differently, allowing the light of the gospel to shine through one's life. It involves a battle against the flesh and a pursuit of God that is greater than the pull of sin. This means actively choosing to resist worldly patterns and instead embracing a lifestyle of worship, prayer, and continual filling of the Holy Spirit. By doing so, Christians can remain unswayed by the world, much like a ship that stays afloat by keeping the water outside. [02:22]
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." (1 John 2:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you feel the pull of the world? How can you consciously choose holiness in that area today?
Day 3: The Transformative Power of Holiness
The power of holiness lies in its ability to transform lives and bring about revival. Through holiness, believers experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit, boldness in their faith, and a deep sense of peace and purpose. Holiness is not about being weird or isolated but about being distinct and set apart for God's purposes. It is about living a life that is pleasing to God, where actions, thoughts, and desires align with His will, leading to personal and communal renewal. [12:41]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:17-18, ESV)
Reflection: How has your pursuit of holiness transformed your life or the lives of those around you? What steps can you take to further this transformation?
Day 4: Holiness Beyond Legalism
Holiness is not about legalism or merely following rules but about a heart transformed by the love of God. It involves living a life that reflects the beauty of brokenness, where God can rebuild and use individuals mightily. This transformation is not about adhering to a set of regulations but about allowing God's love to change one's heart and actions, leading to a life that is truly set apart for His purposes. [27:49]
"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. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Galatians 5:13-14, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you been tempted to equate holiness with rule-following? How can you shift your focus to a heart transformed by love?
Day 5: Obedience as the Path to Holiness
Obedience to God's Word leads to holiness. It involves setting one's life apart for God, focusing on Him in all aspects of life, and seeking a continual filling of the Holy Spirit. This obedience is not about perfection but about a sincere desire to align one's life with God's will, allowing His Spirit to guide and empower every decision and action. [21:00]
"And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected." (1 John 2:3-5, ESV)
Reflection: What is one commandment or teaching of Jesus that you find challenging to obey? How can you take a step towards obedience in that area today?
Sermon Summary
Holiness is a call to be set apart, to live a life distinct from the world, and to reflect the character of God. Genuine faith is evidenced not merely by outward actions like attending church or owning a Bible, but by a deep love for God and obedience to His Word. Holiness is not about perfection but about the direction of the heart. It is about being in the world but not of it, much like a ship in the water that remains unsunk as long as the water stays outside. Christians are called to influence the world, not be influenced by it. This requires a conscious decision to live differently, to let the light of the gospel shine through our lives, and to avoid conforming to worldly patterns.
Holiness is not popular, and it often comes with challenges. It requires a battle against the flesh, a constant pull towards sin, and a push towards God. The pursuit of God must be greater than the pull of sin. This involves a lifestyle of worship, prayer, and a continual filling of the Holy Spirit. Holiness is not about legalism or following rules but about a heart transformed by the love of God. It is about living a life that reflects the beauty of brokenness, where God can rebuild and use us mightily.
The power of holiness lies in its ability to transform lives and bring about revival. It is through holiness that we experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit, boldness in our faith, and a deep sense of peace and purpose. Holiness is not about being weird or isolated but about being distinct and set apart for God's purposes. It is about living a life that is pleasing to God, where our actions, thoughts, and desires align with His will.
Key Takeaways
1. Genuine faith is evidenced by a love for God and obedience to His Word. It is not about perfection but the direction of the heart. Holiness is about being set apart and distinct from the world, influencing it rather than being influenced by it. [01:26]
2. Holiness requires a conscious decision to live differently, to let the light of the gospel shine through our lives. It involves a battle against the flesh and a pursuit of God that is greater than the pull of sin. [02:22]
3. The power of holiness lies in its ability to transform lives and bring about revival. It is through holiness that we experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit, boldness in our faith, and a deep sense of peace and purpose. [12:41]
4. Holiness is not about legalism or following rules but about a heart transformed by the love of God. It is about living a life that reflects the beauty of brokenness, where God can rebuild and use us mightily. [27:49]
5. Obedience to God's Word leads to holiness. It involves setting our lives apart for God, focusing on Him in all aspects of life, and seeking a continual filling of the Holy Spirit. [21:00]
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Holiness and Genuine Faith
Bible Reading:
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Romans 12:1-2
Isaiah 52:1-2
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Observation Questions:
What does 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 say about being "unequally yoked" and how does it relate to the concept of holiness? [10:09]
According to Romans 12:1-2, what is the process of transformation that Paul describes, and how does it relate to holiness? [04:30]
In Isaiah 52:1-2, what call to action is given to the people, and how does it connect to the theme of awakening and holiness? [18:29]
How does the analogy of a ship in water illustrate the concept of being in the world but not of it? [02:34]
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Interpretation Questions:
How does the call to "come out from among them and be separate" in 2 Corinthians 6:17 apply to modern-day Christians in their daily lives? [12:00]
What does it mean to be transformed by the renewing of your mind according to Romans 12:2, and how can this transformation impact a believer's pursuit of holiness? [04:30]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between holiness and the power of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life? [04:09]
What are the challenges and benefits of living a life set apart for God, as discussed in the sermon? [13:28]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on your current friendships and relationships. Are there any that might be influencing you away from holiness? How can you address this in a way that honors God? [10:09]
Consider your daily habits and routines. What specific changes can you make to ensure you are not conforming to the patterns of this world? [04:30]
The sermon mentioned the importance of a lifestyle of worship and prayer. What steps can you take to incorporate more intentional worship and prayer into your daily life? [15:33]
Think about a recent situation where you felt the pull of sin. How can you strengthen your pursuit of God to be greater than the pull of sin in similar situations? [15:21]
The sermon highlighted the beauty of brokenness. How can you embrace brokenness in your life as a way for God to rebuild and use you? [27:49]
How can you actively seek a continual filling of the Holy Spirit in your life, and what difference do you think it would make? [29:18]
Reflect on the areas of your life where you might be quenching or grieving the Spirit. What practical steps can you take to align your actions, thoughts, and desires with God's will? [04:20]
Sermon Clips
One of the greatest evidences of saving faith is a love for God and His word and obedience to it. So all these people saying well I'm a Christian but they don't obey God's word or they do things that not according to God's word you have to really wonder where are their hearts at. [00:01:44]
Holiness is separation come out from among them and be separate so the question is are you are you affecting the world or is the world infecting you that's the difference Christians are supposed to be holy and set apart for God and and through the power of the Holy Spirit make a difference. [00:02:17]
Holiness my call to you tonight is not to be weird or legalistic or follow rules but out of the abundance of the heart a love for God and His word you want to be holy and set apart so what you watch looks different amen what you view on YouTube what you do on Facebook on TikTok on Instagram how you live your life looks different. [00:03:23]
The more holy I become and consecrated I become, and wanting more of God, the more the power of the Holy Spirit I feel, and the more I look like the world and want to embrace the mindset of the world and go the direction of the world I begin to quench and grieve the Spirit. [00:04:09]
Doing certain things and obeying God does not save us. We do these things because we've been saved it's a big difference so the Bible also says that a person is holy when they repent of their sin and they believe in Jesus the Holy Spirit comes in and changes their heart and changes their life. [00:05:47]
The problem with holiness is it's not popular so kids that's why often they turn away from God they're not going to like you on Facebook on TikTok on Twitter on Instagram there's they're it's not popular have you ever tried to be holy and set apart for God are you popular with your friends that are not. [00:13:28]
The pull to God must be greater than the pull of sin guys here's how you get away from sin you don't just try harder and just sit there and grin and bear it my my my pursuit toward God has to be greater than the pull of sin away from from God so that's why you're getting on worship. [00:15:19]
Obedience to the word leads to holiness anytime you obey God's word that will lead to holiness holiness coming out from among them be separate when I obey God's word Psalm 91 for example says that there are blessings to those who abide and who seek and who consecrate themselves to the Lord. [00:21:00]
The beauty of brokenness being broken before God I don't know who said it but the saying is that God has to break you greatly before He can use you mightily many of the people you listen to on the radio or some of your some of my favorite preachers or different things if you knew the back story of how much brokenness took place. [00:27:49]
I believe that boldness is contagious I got a very encouraging text just yesterday Jack Hibbs texted me and said I encouraged him and I told him you encouraged me it's people like him and Macarthur John Macarthur and these people who stand up that give us that boldness and I'm just here to maybe give you some of that boldness. [00:33:42]
If you've never repented and allowed Jesus Christ to save you and set you free now many of you have been playing church you go to church with your parents you kind of own a Bible you go to a Christian school you're here tonight aren't I I live in America I must be a Christian no actually none of those things make a person a Christian. [00:34:49]
The one thing and one thing alone you don't add anything to Jesus plus Sabbath worship Jesus plus don't do these things Jesus plus doing not there's no plus when He was on the cross and He said to telesty it is finished the the sin dead of God almighty when the wrath of God was poured on that cross. [00:35:13]