Being Holy Series

BEING HOLY

By Chuck Hendrix

1 Peter 1:13, Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1PE 1:17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

FIVE WAYS TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE

1) LIVE A PREPARED LIFESTYLE --

Peter says, v. 13 prepare your mind for action…

The mind is where many of life’s spiritual battles take place.

Col 3:2 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

2) LIVE LEVEL HEADED – Peter says, “Be self-controlled”. The word here for self-control means clear minded. Level headed.

3) LIVE FOR THE FUTURE – “set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed”

If you are only half heartedly committed to Christ you will have problems being holy. If we can’t truly put our full hope into Christ’s coming we might fall away and therefore forfeit our holiness.

PERDICTIONS-- Business Week, 1958: " With over 50 foreign cars already on sale here, the Japanese auto industry isn’t likely to carve out a big slice of the U.S. market."

Aren’t we glad God’s word will stand more true than this predictions.

The word Holy here means… Expect, it is an attitude of confidently looking forward to what is good and beneficial.

Listen to what the Hebrew writes says,

HEB 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4) LIVE A CHANGED LIFE – “do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance”

TV SHOWS…MAYBE REAL LIFE…”Oh, you haven’t changed a bit…”

If we are to be truly holy we are going to have to be different than we use to be.

“To be what we ought to be, we must do what we ought to”

“RO 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Here are some quotes to make you think…

It is well for people to change their minds occasionally in order to keep them clean.

-Luther Burbank

The foolish and the dead alone never change their opinions.

-James R. Lowell

When you’re through changing, you’re through.

-Bruce Barton

5) LIVE AS STRANGERS TO THIS WORLD--“live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear”

We should not be like others in this world. We are to be different than those of this world