B.A.S.I.C part 3
Pursuing holiness
Introduction-
2 Peter 3:8-18 Read from Bible and pray
This morning we look at part 3 of the Basic series. Becoming a servant in Christ.
The first week we looked at the deity of Christ. You can never serve God until you know who God is. Know what He has done for you.
Last week we looked at what Being Born again means. That there is has to be a transformation of your spirit. You desire to serve God with all your heart, mind, soul and body.
When you return back to the basics of anything you do, it is fresh to some. They have never heard it before, they have an opportunity to respond accordingly. To others, it is a reminder. They knew it, but have maybe gotten away from it.
So I don’t care where you are at this morning, there is something God wants to show you or remind you of this morning.
This morning we are looking at pursuing holiness.
If you have been a Nazarene for awhile, you know that holiness is a character that we are constantly striving for.
In fact, we sing a song- Called unto Holiness. The chorus goes “Holiness is our watch-word and song. Holiness unto the Lord as were marching along. Sing it, shout it, loud and long...holiness unto the Lord now and forever”
At the top of your sermon note sheet you see an attempt at a time line. It goes from non-Christian to saint.
Each and every one of us is somewhere on that line. Each one of us without thinking knows exactly where we fit in on that time line.
Non-Christian:
No desire to serve God- maybe you’re here because you have to be here. Maybe you’re here for other reasons not related to God. Maybe you’re here , but you are open to the things of God, but you have not heard enough to make a decision.
Curious:
maybe your curious. The things of God intrigue you but not enough to make a commitment. You might be the one that says may be later. Your curious, but you are a unbeliever.
Baby-Christian:
you came to Christ recently and you want to learn more about Christ. You committed your life to Christ a long time ago, but for whatever reason, you are still a baby in Christ.
Not growing Christian:
you get fed on Sunday by the pastor, but you make no other effort to learn of the things of God. Your good old days are behind you because God isn’t exciting anymore to you.
Growing/Mature Christian:
You cannot get enough of the things of God. You desire more to know Christ and your relationship with the Lord is growing steadily.
Saint:
A lot of you think you are saints, only your husband or wife and the Lord know for sure. At the end of the journey, the saints of God(those that know Christ and have a active relationship with Him) not perfect ones will be united with their savior and their Lord.
This morning each of us has been mentioned. Each one of us knows where we are at this morning.
For most, what ever level you are at, if your growing and your relationship is getting stronger, the Lord is pleased with you this morning.
Every person who has gone to the next level, weather sports, business, or ministry has to be determined to get there. It is the same with our spiritual journey with God.
You began your journey
You saw your need (Romans 7:18-20)
You trusted God to give you a new start (Born Again) 2 Cor. 5:17
You confessed your sin 1 John 1:9
Asked Jesus to rule your life Rev 3:20
You believe He forgave you Romans 10:9-10
You promised to live for Him Gal. 2:20
You set out on this journey to do whatever it takes to be what He wants you to be (Phil 3:11-12)
Everything I just said about the journey is scriptural.
The question is are you pursuing holiness? Are you desiring to please God or yourself?
Peter reminds us (v1) that he is writing to them as a reminder to stimulate us to wholesome thinking. Wholesome thinking for a believer is to think things that are pleasing and productive to the Lord.
He tells us time is not a factor to God. 1000 years are as one day to God. He destroyed a evil world with water and there is a coming a 2nd coming of our Lord and savior and our thoughts should look forward to a new heavens and a new earth.
This is not a message of end times, will have to do that another time.
But (v14) “So dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with Him (Jesus)
(v17)- “Be on guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.”
BUT GROW in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Keep Going by Growing:
your spiritual growth comes from strength and direction from God. You are asking God to supply what is needed to be more like Him.
Stall you’ll fall:
you don’t go to the gas station, and you will run out of gas. You don’t check the engine, it will run rough and will not be smooth.
You cannot coast to the end. God desires us to finish strong.
So many Christians are pushing wrecked vehicles when God intends for us to hit the throttle.
Holiness is separation and purity. Only God is holy in Himself. All other holiness is derived from a relationship with Him.
Holiness is the nature and character of God.
To pursue holiness is to be separated from things that are not like God’s nature. It is a active relationship with God that we are constantly striving to be more the image of Christ in our lives.
To pursue something is to be go after, be determined , to desire, to desire more than something else.
Peter is writing his last letter and his last words to the church and fellow believers.
He is saying if you are going to pursue holiness it is about growing more in the image of Christ.
You may not be a saint on that graph yet, but prayerfully you are heading in the right direction.
You never “arrive:” you must constantly be growing.
Growing takes effort.
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith” 2 Peter 1:5-9
Peter went from the pebble(Simon) to Peter the Rock by the power of Jesus Christ in his life.
2 Timothy 2:15:
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workmen that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
James 1:22
“Be ye doers of the word, and not only hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
That’s effort- make an effort. Pursue(Go after) holiness. Being more Christlike- not falling backwards, but moving forward.
Commit to growth- ask God for something that only He could do for you.
Lastly
Apostle Paul addresses holiness. Ephesians 5:1-10 Read from Bible
Wherever you are on the chart, be growing. Not stalling. Constantly moving forward.
If the Apostle Paul was here, what would he call even a hint of sexual immorality?
What we watch? What we do? What we say? What we read? The company we keep?
He would say guard your mind
Cloth yourself with Jesus Christ. Remind yourself of the consequences of not pursuing a life of holiness.
Sexual temptation is where we are held least accountable(because of the society we live in) but where we can fall the fastest.
Illustration:
Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a wonderful service with many people coming forward. The counselors were talking with these people. As I was sitting there I looked up the middle aisle, and there in about the third row was a man who looked about fifty, disheveled, filthy. He looked up at me rather sheepishly, as if saying, “Could I talk to you?” We have homeless people coming in all the time, asking for money or whatever. So as I sat there, I said to myself, though I am ashamed of it, “What a way to end a Sunday. I’ve had such a good time, preaching and ministering, and here’s a fellow probably wanting some money for more wine.” He walked up. When he got within about five feet of me, I smelled a horrible smell like I’d never smelled in my life. It was so awful that when he got close, I would inhale by looking away, and then I’d talk to him, and then look away to inhale, because I couldn’t inhale facing him. I asked him, “What’s your name?” “David.” “How long have you been on the street?” “Six years.” “How old are you?” “Thirty-two.” He looked fifty- hair matted; front teeth missing; wino; eyes slightly glazed. “Where did you sleep last night, David?” “Abandoned truck.” I keep in my back pocket a money clip that also holds some credit cards. I fumbled to pick one out thinking; I’ll give him some money. I won’t even get a volunteer. They are all busy talking with others. Usually we don’t give money to people. We take them to get something to eat. I took the money out. David pushed his finger in front of me. He said, “I don’t want your money. I want this Jesus, the One you were talking about, because I’m not going to make it. I’m going to die on the street.” I completely forgot about David, and I started to weep for myself. I was going to give a couple of dollars to someone God had sent to me. See how easy it is? I could make the excuse I was tired. There is no excuse. I was not seeing him the way God sees him. I was not feeling what God feels. But oh, did that change David just stood there. He didn’t know what was happening. I pleaded with God, “God, forgive me Forgive me Please forgive me. I am so sorry to represent You this way. I’m so sorry. Here I am with my message and my points, and You send somebody and I am not ready for it. Oh, God ” Something came over me. Suddenly I started to weep deeper, and David began to weep. He fell against my chest as I was sitting there. He fell against my white shirt and tie, and I put my arms around him, and there we wept on each other. The smell of His person became a beautiful aroma. Here is what I thought the Lord made real to me: If you don’t love this smell, I can’t use you, because this is why I called you where you are. This is what you are about. You are about this smell. Christ changed David’s life. He started memorizing portions of Scripture that were incredible. We got him a place to live. We hired him in the church to do maintenance, and we got his teeth fixed. He was a handsome man when he came out of the hospital. They detoxed him in 6 days. He spent that Thanksgiving at my house. He also spent Christmas at my house. When we were exchanging presents, he pulled out a little thing and he said, “This is for you.” It was a little white hanky. It was the only thing he could afford. A year later David got up and talked about his conversion to Christ. The minute he took the mic and began to speak, I said, “The man is a preacher.” This past Easter we ordained David. He is an associate minister of a church over in New Jersey. And I was so close to saying, “Here, take this; I’m a busy preacher.” We can get so full of ourselves.
God is so much looking for people who are going to get serious about the things of God. He is looking not for religious people, but people who want to please God and serve Him with their whole heart
Where on that chart are you? Are you growing?
I long for God to do something extra-ordinary in my life, how about you? Today can be that day.
Altar Call:
