CHAPTER 1
Holiness
Holy – consecrated or devoted to the service of God.
For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. Leviticus 11: 44-45
Holiness is the standard of living for God. In order to be successful at being holy you must devote your life and daily living to pleasing God. God is your model of holiness. As holy men and women you have to desire to please God wholeheartedly. Jesus was completely holy; therefore during each season of singleness you can identify with God’s word and how it aides you into a victorious life. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. II Corinthians 7:1 Every one will give an account of the life they live. As a single man or woman you have to make a choice. Will you allow the enemy to dangle you around like a puppet; as if he had power over you or will you allow God to receive the glory out of your season of singleness?
The pursuit of happiness lies in holiness. God does not force holiness upon you. Holiness is obtained through ongoing persistence to please God. The Israelites were given a choice. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods: For the Lord our God, He it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed.
And the Lord drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the Lord; for He is our God. Joshua 24:15-18 And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. Jeremiah 21:8 Holiness is about making a choice. When Elijah was on Mount Carmel, He called for the Israelites to make a decision: And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long shalt ye be between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. I King 18:21 Jesus comes with the truth about salvation and the eternal gains while in comparison, satan disguises the way to hell with bells and whistles. Isn’t that typical of satan?
Satan never comes boldly with the truth. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12 Holiness is required. There is a difference between holy standards and ungodly standards. Sin separates you from God. A little sin can be seen by God. In the sight of God a little sin is too much sin. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I Corinthians 5: 6-8
Leaven is defined as an agent such as yeast that causes batter or dough to rise. I can recall a minister giving a sermon regarding a little leaven. The minister relayed that there was a woman who made a batch of cookies. Within the ingredients she places a teaspoon of cow dung in the mixture. The minister stated no matter how little dung she places in the mixture it destroyed the entire batch. Just like sin, too little sin is too much in the sight of God. God cannot tolerate sin. Whether it is one sin or multiple sins, you have transgressed against the law of the Lord and it displeases Him. When the lights are out or when you are behind closed doors do you display holiness? Your glorifying is not good. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 You will either abide by God’s law or disobey it.
There is no such thing as fulfilling parts of God’s law. God’s law is the law. If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:21 The choice is yours. You have to position yourself to be in agreement with God regarding all things, not some things. While serving God you must have a yes disposition. Yes to your will. Yes to your way. Yes I will go. Yes I will obey. You will never be in a position to blame God for the choices you make. God established in the beginning freewill. He has never forced anyone to serve Him. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13-14
Jesus declares the way. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.