Ye Shall Be Holy Unto God

What exactly does it mean to be HOLY? I think I can better answer that question if I know what being Holy is not.

For instance, if you shout all over the church while tripping over your tongue, That is not Holy.

If you withhold your tithe to starve the pastor out, That is not Holy.

If you prefer american idol or sporting events above time spent in God’s house, That is not Holy.

If you justify your own sin by pointing out the sins of others, That is not Holy.

If you have the pastor for dinner on Sunday and he is the main course, That is not Holy.

By now you get the picture. So let us look at out text.

(Leviticus 20:26)"And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine."

The called of God are noted by the fact they are:

(1) Separated from the world "God has severed you from other people" The word severed means to be "distinguished" from or to "differ" from.

(A) The length of your shirt sleeve, the way you wear your hair (if you have any), wearing makeup or jewelry, being poor or being rich, none of these things define holiness or separation from the world.

(B) Someone said, "we have been called to stand out not blend in"

(C) I don’t believe separation from the world will draw attention to ourselves, but will only draw attention to God.

(2) Separated from Sin. "Ye shall be holy unto Me."

(A) Notice our Holiness is directed toward God. We represent the most High God. Therefore, we must be above reproach, we must be people of integrity. We must also live lives of purity.

(B) Several years ago a class was on a school trip visiting a coal mine. As they prepared to enter the mine the man conducting the tour noticed a little girl in a snow white dress. He said, "Honey, I have an apron to cover your dress if you want it". The little girl replied, "No that’s alright, there is no dirt on my dress." To the girls response the man said, "Your beautiful white dress will not look the same when you come out of the mine as when you went in."

(C) Like the little girl, we must guard our lives. Avoid the very appearance of evil. Anything that will tarnish or stain our testimony must be avoided.

(3) Consecrated to the Lord "Holy unto Me"

(A) I believe reverance to God and His house are missing in many lives.

(B) About the only difference between many churches and movie theatres is the lack of popcorn and coke.

(C) We were raised, that while in God’s house you were not to be moving around up and down, passing notes or going to the bathroom several times throughout the service. We were told that God was watching us, and if God didn’t see us misbehaving then we could rest assured mom would.

(D) Holiness is not a look or an attitude. We had a lady in church onetime who would shake your hand at church but didn’t know you when she saw you at the supermarket. She had one of those pious looks in church. But outside the church she looked at people as if they had tracked dog stuff on her carpet.

(4) We are Owned of the Lord "That ye should be Mine."

(A) We are bought with a price. We are no longer our own.

(B) When I think of all God has done to save and redeem my soul, I realize,I owe a great debt to my God.

(C) Christ initiated the search for me!

(Romans 5:6) "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." (5-8)"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

(D) A thousand life times I could never repay the debt I owe to God. But God doesn’t ask for a thousand lifetimes, He only askes for this one. Won’t you give God your one life?