Last week our topic was on the Jesus Joy. We discovered that on the last night before his arrest Jesus prayed for us. John 17:20
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.”
He prayed that we would be filled with his joy, not the joy the world offers. John 17:13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.”
We discovered that the world’s joy can be fleeting. Jesus prayed that we would have the joy that takes us through the crisis of life. We discovered that legalism can steal grace from us leaving us without joy. We discovered that standing on the joy from our own accomplishments is nothing compared to the joy offered us through his sacrifice. We discovered that misplaced goals can put us on a treadmill of doing that robs us of our joy because of our weariness. We discovered that Jesus joy comes from obeying his commandments as He did his Father’s.
So now let us continue to look at this prayer that Jesus prays for us. John 17:14 “I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.”
Have you ever wondered why the world hated Jesus? He was a great teacher and healer. He was kind and compassionate. How could anyone hate a man like that? He was hated because He was holy. The darkness can not stand the light. In fact, light will cause darkness to flee. Darkness will become angry and belligerent in the presence of light. Darkness hates light. The world hates holiness. Jesus prayed that we would be hated by the world because of the holiness we reflect.
Often though we do not reflect the holiness Jesus prayed for us to have. A Fellow was sitting at a stop light. The lady in front of him was going through papers on the seat of her car, and when the light changed to green she did not obey its command - a green light is a commandment - NOT a suggestion. When the light turned to red, and she had still not moved, He began (with his windows up) screaming and beating on his steering wheel. His expressions of distress were interrupted by a policeman, gun drawn, tapping on his window. Against his protestations of, "You can’t arrest me for hollering in my car," the officer ordered him into the back seat of his patrol car. After about two hours in a holding cell, the arresting officer advised him he was free to go. He said, "I knew you couldn’t arrest me for what I was yelling in my own car. You haven’t heard the last of this." The officer replied, "I didn’t arrest you for shouting in your car. I was directly behind you at the light. I saw you screaming and beating your steering wheel, and I said to myself, "What a jerk. But there is nothing I can do to him for throwing a fit in his own car. Then I noticed the ’Cross’ hanging from your rear view mirror, the Jesus is Coming Soon’ bumper sticker, and the Fish symbol, and I thought you must have stolen the car." We are called to achieve holiness above that. The Holiness of Jesus. In fact in 1 Peter 1:15-16 we have this mandate. “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
So what does it mean to be holy? It simply means to be acceptable to God. It goes beyond the acceptance of Jesus as your savior. It also means living a life acceptable to him. Let’s go back to Philippians and Paul’s message to them. We will learn our first lesson.
1) Holiness comes from within.
Philippians 2:12-13 “Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
In holiness we are in partnership with God. We are to show the results of our salvation by obeying God. Last week I gave you a list of commandments that Jesus said we should follow in order to experience his joy. He spoke of forgiveness, tolerance, love, servant hood, caring, among other things. Showing these features will show the world that hates you what holiness really is about. It is not Bible thumping and yelling but rather caring and loving.
When we do our part then God does his part. Our desires become his desires. No longer do we desire what the world offers. Remember it hates us and will offer no good thing. But rather we find ourselves empowered by God to those things which please him. We can forgive where forgiveness is not asked for. We can tolerate those who hate us. We can love unconditionally. We desire to serve each other and care for those less fortunate. That is how holiness looks.
2) Holiness begins in your mind
Philippians 4:8 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Everyone put your hand out. Imagine with me that you have a lemon in your hand. Feel how cold it is since you just took it out of the refrigerator. Feel the two knobs on the ends? Ok, now take a knife and cut the lemon in half. Careful! Don’t cut yourself. Oh, look at the juice run down over the sides. Now, put one half down and just hold the other half of the lemon. Now, look at the inside of the cut lemon. Lean down and smell the lemon. Get a good full sense of the lemon fresh scent of the just cut lemon. Ok, now squeeze the lemon. See the juice ooze up and cover the surface of the cut lemon? Now - lick the lemon. That’s right! Lick the lemon. Ok, who feels like you have more saliva than you did a minute a go? How can that be? It was only pretend! The reason is because your body reacts to that which your mind thinks about.
Have you ever pondered how everything around us began with a thought? The world, heavens, oceans, trees, animals, all of creation began with a thought in the mind of God. The chairs we sit in, this building, all the equipment and technology we have began as a thought in someone’s mind.
We are furnishing our minds daily. We began a thought process that will lead us into holiness or into darkness. Every thought we have are steps toward actions. Every sin begins as a thought. Every faithful deed begins as a thought. We are to keep our holy house in order by thinking on true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable things.
3) Holiness requires training.
1 Timothy 4:7-8 “Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. ‘Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.’”
I am proud to say I go to the gym four to five times a week. I work out for one and one half hours. You may not notice it but I do because I feel better. I see benefits from exercise when I visit my doctor. Now, everyone has opinions on how I should work out, how much weight, how many reps, how long on the treadmill or bike. But I know my potential and limits. I know when something is uncomfortable I may need to be careful of harming myself. And all this physical training may help me live longer but it will help me live eternally.
Paul tells Timothy not to waste his time over people’s opinions and regulations. Instead he is to train himself to be holy. He is to obey God and capture his own thoughts. When Paul told him this Paul had come through a struggle of his own.
Romans 7:18-19 “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” So he cries out in distress
“Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:24-25)
Just like a physical trainer, we can think of Jesus through the Holy Spirit as being our holiness trainer. He is the only one with all the answers. Paul says because of him he no longer a shadow boxer. Now he lands blows on the enemy because he is holy.
4) Holiness demands boldness
2 Corinthians 10:5 “We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.”
While Jesus was accepting and kind to all sinners, He never participated in their sins. He stood up to the Pharisees because they were an obstacle to knowing God. He taught people the error of their rebellious thoughts and changed their thought process.
We can do that by living holy lives that reflects the principals of Jesus. People are not impressed with our vast knowledge and $50 dollar that describes our relationship with God. They want to see us be real. Before we can teach others to obey Christ we must be obeying Christ. This means we stand out from the crowd. That takes boldness.
Before we can capture their rebellious thoughts, we must capture ours. That is known as having the mind of Christ. That takes boldness.
Before we can remove obstacles between others and God, we must remove obstacles between ourselves and God. That means not following the crowd. That takes boldness.
5) Holiness takes all
Romans 12:1-2 “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Some want to serve God with their body. They will volunteer when needed. They will sacrifice their personal wants for others. They will do all they can physically do for God, but they will not give him their thoughts. They perform well in public but in the secret places of their minds there are thoughts that they not surrender to him.
Some want to serve God with their thoughts. They will memorize his word. They will meditate on his word. They will build philosophies and doctrines, but they will not give him their bodies for service. When asked, they abound with excuses. They live holy life hidden far away from a world needing light.
Holiness requires our all, both physically and mentally. Holiness requires our thoughts and actions. Holiness will lead us into understanding God’s will. Holiness will lead us into true worship.
Jesus prayed we would be holy. That holiness would lead to animosity between us and the world. Are you living a holy life? I use to think if someone accused me of having a “holier that thou” attitude, it was a bad thing. But having holiness in a kind and caring manner does make you holier that the world.
