Holiness In the Mist of Darkness
Opening: There a big diffence between light and darkiness. Have you ever heard of "cave blackness" and the "noon day sun." Cave of the winds has a tur and when you go down deep in the caves and they turn off the lights you can see your hand in font of the your face. If you go out side at high neen and lookk directly into the sun you can actually hurt them. So just like there’s a deffernce between "cave blackness" and the "noon day sun;" there a difference between holiness and sin.
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."
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.
Point One: The Reason For Bing Holy:
Exegesis: Since we are being obedient children by accepting the truth of the Gospel and now are born agian, Peter says we are not to live in the patterns of the old life for that is not connecting with the nature of God. God is holy so should we! Wanting to quite drugs and still hanging out with drug dealers? We must be holy just as God is holy.
Illustration: More of the same is going to get you more of the same. Doing the same thing again expecting different results is close to insanity.
A baby: A baby is born with the characteristic natures of both parents. Well, if we are born of God so we shuold be reflecting the nature of God in our lives. If we are not we need to reevaluate were our relationship with God.
Application: What is it in our life that we are still keeping from God, what is it that we need to actively remove from your life. Whis is it in our old life that we are still trying to hang on too. If your right eye causes you to sin cut it out and throw it into the fire.
Point Two: How To be Holy
Exegesis: God is our judge not man and it is God who we fear. Abraham prayed for cities not to be destroyed and came to the conclusion that God will do that right. "Will not the judge of all the earth do what is right?" The perishable things of this world did not bring about salvation. By realizing that God knows all things including our thoughts, attitude and motivations of our hearts should bring us to a healthy fear of God. The fear of the Lord in the beginning of wisdom and knowledge!
Illustration: The Chair & Throne Use a chair and represent that as a throne. Find some things that represent cuultural things we place before God.
Ball: Sports
Book: Intellect
Gold: Material possissions
Trophy: Fame
Degrees Cerificates: Presage
Illustration: Circus Snake Act
Application: What is on our throne, is it The Lord Jesus Christ or is it some perishable thing that you have placed before God. What is it in our lives that we need to remove as perishable things before God? Intellect, money, sports, marriage, druggs? What’s the snake that you are allowing to rap itself around you.
Point Three: The Results of Being Holy
Exegesis: Christ was choosen to be the means by which we are saved not the perishable things we have. This was set in stone even before the creation of the world! It is through Christ that we believe in God. It’s only by the power of Chist that we be live in God. This is our dependence of Christ and nothing else.
Illustration: Looking through a pair of glasses to see clearly. When we are live a Holy life we can see everything more clearly.
Application: Are you believing in something else? Are you trying to depend on something else like something perishable? Are you still walking around in cave darkness or are you being a candle that lights the way for others?
