For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are three Scripture readings prior to the Message. The appointed Scriptures for this day are: 1 Samuel 1:4-20; Hebrews 10:10-25, and Mark 13:1-8
When Satan,..... tempted the woman in the garden, it was not with great theological points of doctrine..... Rather it was an appeal ....to her desires. (Genesis 3:6)
Doesn't that fruit look good? ...... Surely a loving God ...wouldn't keep something this good... from you.
You must have misunderstood .....his instructions.
Beloved.....Satan used that strategy then .....and he uses it today.
Satan knows that Sin is pleasing to our senses.... to our desires.... and it is very foolish.... for us to pretend .....otherwise.
The Lord commands us..... to be Holy .....and the truth is, .....we have made doctrines .......around .....being Holy.
We abstain from things ....that are pleasing to our senses ......to seemingly gain a level ....of holiness.
Yet .....we have seen .....even the quote.... "Great Christians" ....give way to temptation.... and sin.
And we may wonder...... will anyone.... make it?
There is ....some truth .....in keeping ourselves apart ......abstaining from the things ....our senses desire.
For it is true ....some things ....are displeasing... to God.
Yet how do we attain holiness?
The Scripture speak to Holiness... and sanctification.
Both The Old and the new Testament speak to Holiness.
Hear God's Word from the book of Isaiah: BIBLE "And a main road ....will go through that once deserted land..... It will be named..... the Highway of Holiness..... Evil hearted people ....will never travel on it..... It will be only for those.... who walk in God's ways;..... fools ....will never.... walk there." END Isaiah 35:8
The Hebrew word translated Holy is.... Qodesh (Ko-dish) it means a sacred place or object ....set apart .....consecrated ....and dedicated...... to God
The Altar of Incense ....was Holy ....because it was set apart .....for a very specific purpose.
The moment a priest used it..... for any other purpose, .....even to warm his hands .....it was defiled .....and made unholy.
Holy....., set apart for a purpose.
In your cupboards ......you may have some fine China .....and fine crystal glassware.
You do not use it every day, .....but on special occasions .....you bring it out.
It is set apart .....for a special use, .... to use it for any other purpose ....would negate its.... "special status".
So to be Holy before the Lord .....is to be set apart ....to Him.
In the Church .....we have often viewed Holiness as a defensive act..... that is.... to not do something
But in reality.... it is an offensive act .... We are ......to do something.
I am not Holy.... because I do not sin,... that's called purity, .....and purity is about cleansing ..... purging and refining our lives ......allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us ......into the image of Christ Jesus.
Holiness is something ....different then purity.
It is about ....being set apart .....for a purpose.
God the Father ....is worshiped in heaven and earth, not for his ability to remain sinless.... for that is part of his very being.
He is worshiped .....because ....He is Holy.
Yahweh means .....self existent one.
Self existence....set apart.....Holy
Beloved....We worship...a Holy God.
Jesus came to earth ....and walked in... sinlessness.
Jesus as part of the Tri-unity of God.... is Holy, ..... set apart before the foundation of the world .....to be the sacrificial lamb ....that takes away the sins..... of the world.
He was Holy .....before the foundation of the world ..... set apart...... for a purpose.
Hear God's word..... BIBLE 14 For by a single offering .....(Jesus) has perfected for all time.... those who are sanctified. 15 . ......I will put my laws in their hearts,.... and I will write them on their minds.....,"17 ........ "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds...... no more." END Hebrews 10:14-15, 17
Jesus made you and I Holy ......on the day we were Saved........ Set apart for a purpose.
The key to us walking in purity ....is for us to see.......to know in our spirit..... that we are Holy...... .....Set apart for a purpose.
And called .....to yield to the Holy Spirit.......to be transformed .....into the image of Jesus.
From the beginning .....the enemy has tried to steal our vision ....of who we are.... in Christ.
And in doing so ......we become ineffective,...... always striving to become Pure.
Hear me on this..... If you have accepted Christ as Savior and Lord ...You are set apart ....You are Holy.
Have you heard Satan words as he whispers in your ear..... "You need to be more Holy...You are not Holy enough"!
Beloved ..... You cannot become .....more Holy.
You are a new creation in Christ Jesus......In Christ you became Holy.....set a part for a purpose.
Now....You and I can make some adjustments..... in purity, .....but you cannot be ....any more Holy ......than Jesus ......has already made you.
BIBLE "....we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. END Hebrews 10:10
We have been sanctified ...set apart...made Holy by Jesus....once for all.
And from that day on....the followers of Christ....You and I...are being changed from Glory to Glory... transformed ......into the image of Christ!
The Holy Spirit within me..... is transforming me.
Holiness...... is being set apart.
Holiness..... is not a growing list .....of things I cannot do.
It is about being released..... into the whole purpose of God.
This lump of clay....is now Holy in the eyes of God....released ....to be molded into the image of Christ.
We transform..... as we actively pursue the plan .....set out for us.
The best defense against sin .....is a pursuit of God's purpose..... for our life.
I need to reiterate.... that it is a pursuit of God, ...... not a pursuit of works.
We are spiritually alive ....And can only grow ....if we are connected to Jesus, ..... If we are connected .....to the true vine.
As long as we are connected to Jesus ....the power of the Holy Spirit.... can run in us......and through us .....keeping us spiritually alive... transforming us ......into the image of Christ. .
If we abide in the Vine...if we abide in Jesus ......then the same DNA ....that flows through the Vine ...through Jesus.....will flow .....through us.
The better....we are connected ..... the more .....we are transformed.
And this spiritual transformation .....comes from connectedness, .....Not from ......effort.
It comes from the DNA of the Vine... That flows through us.
The command .....is not to produce fruit,..... The command is...... to abide.
When we are abiding in Christ ....the fruit will produce..... naturally.
We do not have to ....work at it.......We do not have to ....agonize over it.
When we abide in Christ ....we will stay..... at the center ....of God's will.
When we abide in Christ, ....He opens our spiritual eyes ....and we know..... his will more clearly.
"Apart from Me,...... (Slow) you can do nothing!"
We must grasp.... this truth.
Beloved....We cannot conform ....to his image ..... ....We cannot produce His likeness .... Unless we .....abide in Jesus.
Beloved...we are set apart....we are Holy......We are not perfect
That is why Paul shared these words with the believers gathered at Philippi:
BIBLE 13 .......But one thing I do: ......forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,.... 14 I press on .....toward the goal ....for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus...... 15 Let those of us who are mature ....think this way, ....and if in anything ...you think otherwise, ...God will reveal that also to you. 16 ......Only let us hold true ....to what ....we have attained. END Philippians 3:13-16
Beloved..... press on!
You have been set apart.....You are Holy.....Press On.
Abide in Christ..... let the DNA of our Lord .....flow through your very being.
You have been set apart...you are a Holy nation.
Hear God's word to the Church.....
BIBLE "I appeal to you therefore, (Beloved),......by the mercies of God, .....to present your bodies ....as a living sacrifice, ....holy and acceptable to God, ....which is your spiritual worship.2 .......Do not be conformed to this world,......but be transformed .....by the renewal of your mind, .....that by testing .....you may discern what is the will of God, ....what is good ....and acceptable..... and perfect." END Romans 12:1-2
Beloved you are Holy.......set apart by God .....and acceptable to God.
Now!..... do not be conformed to this world ......but be transformed.....be conformed ....to the image of Christ.
Abide in vine.......abide in Jesus.
And if you do ....you will renew your mind... you will be transformed.
Beloved... You are Holy....Set apart for a Purpose.
Now abide in Christ....Allow the DNA of God .....to flow through you....that you may be transformed.....that you may discern His will....that you may grow.... in purity!
Amen & Amen!
This Message is based on a Sermon by Ian Johnson titled " Set apart to fall in love" and I commend it to you.
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