1 Timothy 3:15, "...that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."
“(35) Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. (36) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (37) For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (38) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (39) But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2) For by it the elders obtained a good report.”
There is a repayment of the faith invested in the things of God.
Patience is faith waiting in the hallway of the hospital to hear the good report that the promised child has been born.
A great amount of faith is tested in the waiting room of life. A promise is given and now we watch and pray, but that is sometimes a mistake.
You see, while we wait for the promise to come, we are also preparing our home and ourselves for the due date.
This is why Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Target, and Amazon sell so much baby items.
People are not just waiting around twiddling their thumbs:
• They are painting the nursery room either blue or pink – male or female
• They are shopping for rockers, baby beds, basinets, diaper bags, bottles, car seats, etc.
• They are deciding if they should breast feed the promise, or feed it a bottle
• They are worrying about cost and hoping two nickels can somehow make 50 cents.
• But, most importantly, they are preparing for the day when the promise arrives.
It time to make a plan for arrival time.
Faith’s Report is that everyone who lives by faith will receive a good report.
Good Report = “to be a witness, that is, testify (literally or figuratively): – charge, give [evidence], bear record, have (obtain, of) good (honest) report, be well reported of, testify, give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness.”
The just who live by faith overcome the accuser by:
Revelation 12:10-11, “(10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
There is much power in faith. In fact, faith is involved in our justification:
Romans 5:1-2, “(1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Peace with God starts with faith in God.
Jeff Arnold said, “Faith is focus on God, fear is focus on your problems.”
Faith’s Report is the the obtaining of a good report through trust in God’s promise that propels an action on our part…an active faith. If observed from that point-of-view, trust can be seen as a step beyond faith.
Hebrews 11:39-12:2, “(39) And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (40) God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (12:1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
(23) For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
(24) And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
(25) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
(26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
“…this do in remembrance of me”
What is “this”? Communion
Communion is Partnership, Joint Participation, Distribution, Fellowship.[1] It is “an embodiment and proof of fellowship.”[2]
“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
2 Corinthians 6:14, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas” (2 Corinthians 13:14).
Luke 22:14-20, “And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. (15) And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: (16) For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. (17) And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: (18) For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. (19) And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (20) Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
Notice:
v. 15, “With desire I have desired” = I have been looking forward to this.
v. 19, Jesus declared, “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst….I am that bread of life.”[3]
v. 20, The Old Testament began with shed blood, the New Testament began with shed blood.
“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:22).
Blood shed for remission – forgiveness
Matthew 26:26-30, “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. (27) And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; (28) For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (29) But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. (30) And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.”
Life is in the Blood = His Life was shed for many to forgive sins.
v. 29, Future event
v. 30, One reason I like hymns? Jesus and His Disciples sang them.
Psalm 113-118 were the hymns/psalms which they sang/chanted in observance of Passover.
Psalms 117:1-2, “(1) O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. (2) For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
Albert Barne’s Notes on the Bible (Matt. 26.26-30)
Jesus took bread – That is, the unleavened bread which they used at the celebration of the Passover, made into thin cakes, easily broken and distributed.
1 Corinthians 10:17, “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
Humility = unleavened bread (no sin, and not puffed up)
And blessed it – Or sought a blessing on it; or “gave thanks” to God for it. The word rendered “blessed” not unfrequently means “to give thanks.” Compare Luke 9:16 and John 6:11. It is also to be remarked that some manuscripts have the word rendered “gave thanks,” instead of the one translated “blessed.” It appears from the writings of Philo and the Rabbis that the Jews were never accustomed to eat without giving thanks to God and seeking his blessing. This was especially the case in both the bread and the wine used at the Passover.
Jesus, the Messiah – Anointed One – blessed, or anointed, the bread.
Are you thankful? The first step to thankfulness is thoughtfulness.
And brake it – This “breaking” of the bread represented the sufferings of Jesus about to take place – his body “broken” or wounded for sin. Hence, Paul 1 Cor. 11:24 adds, “This is my body which is broken for you;” that is, which is about to be broken for you by death, or wounded, pierced, bruised, to make atonement for your sins.
His body was broken, suffered, wounded, bruised, broken, beaten, battered for our sins.
And gave it to the disciples – You are the beneficiary of a loving and giving God. There is no greed in Him.
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
This Gospel is for anyone who is willing – “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).
This is my body – This represents my body. This broken bread shows the manner in which my body will be broken; or this will serve to recall my dying sufferings to your remembrance.
For this is my blood – This “represents” my blood, as the bread does my body.
Luke and Paul vary the expression, adding what Matthew and Mark have omitted. “This cup is the new testament in my blood.”
Which is shed for many for the remission of sins – In order that sins may be remitted, or forgiven. That is, this is the appointed way by which God will pardon transgressions. That blood alone effectively pardons sin:
Because it is “the life” of Jesus, the “blood” being used by the sacred writers as representing “life itself,” or as containing the elements of life, Gen. 9:4; Lev. 17:14. It was forbidden, therefore, to eat blood, because it contained the life, or was the life, of the animal. When, therefore, Jesus says that his blood was shed for many, it is the same as saying that His life was given for many. See the notes at Rom. 3:25.
His life was given for sinners, or he died in the place of sinners as their substitute. By his death on the cross, the death or punishment due to them in hell may be removed and their souls be saved. He endured so much suffering, bore so much agony, that God was pleased to accept it in the place of the eternal torments of all the redeemed.
2 Cor. 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Jesus was not just a substitutionary sin offering for you and I, and He certainly did not become a sinful person on the cross.
But, He became the Sin-Bearer for all of humanity: you, and I, and all that have lived, are living, and shall ever live.
“He has made Him to be sin for us!”
Love kept Jesus on the path to Calvary, love us individually, love for the world entirely, and love for His Bride completely (Revelation 1:4-8):
(4) John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
(5) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
(6) And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
(7) Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
(8) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Matthew 26:29, “But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
There is a wedding day coming – The Marriage Supper of the Lamb – when Jesus will sit down with His Bride and drink the fruit of the vine again.
2 Corinthians 11:2, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
Isaiah 54:5, “For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.”
The Lord Jesus Christ is Your Creator and your Redeemer, and one day we – The Bride – will be called to a marriage and supper, Revelation 19:6-9:
(6) And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (7) Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (8) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (9) And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
This is why we obey the Lord’s ordinance of communion: every time we partake of communion we do so as a token of faith in His Death, Burial, Resurrection, Ascension, and in His Return for His Bride.
Romans 12:5, “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
1 Corinthians 10:16-18, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (17) For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (18) Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar.”
We join in a partnership with one another each time we receive communion.
It is a fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ, and fellowship with all participants of the Lord’s Supper.
“…we being many are one bread…” = Publicly we are show that we are one with the Bread of Life and with every believer that has ever lived.
The ordinance of communion reveals to us, and others, that we are part of the society called “The Body of Christ.”
It is the proof of our fellowship.
So, every time we participate in the fellowship of communion we partner in the Holy Spirit with Jesus, the twelve, and all those ever after.
When you take communion you are not just sharing that moment with those physically present now, but you are also participating with all those who have gone on before and all those who choose to partner in communion in the future…until the Lord comes for His Bride, the Church, the Body of Christ.
1 Corinthinas 11:23-32
(23) For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: (24) And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (25) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
In Remembrance of Me
(26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
Past – Present – Future
Throughout all ages since that first communion until now and into tomorrow…
(27) Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
Unworthily, not unworthy, means “irreverently,” or “in an unworthy manner.[4]
(28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. (30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (31) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (32) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Ephesians 2:4-7, “(4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
Heavenly Places…
Hebrews 12:1-2, “(1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
1 Corinthians 11:26, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”
A word or two regarding: “…not discerning the Lord’s body.”
1 Corinthians 11:28-32, “(28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. (30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (31) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (32) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Paul’s Two Fears:
False doctrine deceiving the church – 2 Corinthians 11:3, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, “…because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
Division in the Church – 2 Corinthians 12:20-21,”For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.”
John 13:34-35, “(34) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (35) By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Both are signs of a lack of love:
No love for truth.
No love for others
Both bring uncleanness to the Body and pervert it from within.
“…heap teachers having itchy ears…” – Echo chamber
Balaam said that Israel would destroy herself from within
Paul’s two fears for the church were not external enemies, but internal issues.
1 Peter 1:22-23, “(22) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”
Psalms 15:1-5
(1) LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
(2) He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
(3) He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
(4) In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
(5) He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
The “hill of the Lord,” “His holy place,” “thy tabernacle,” and “thy holy hill,” all refer to the hill of Zion, or Mount Zion, which is where the Temple was built in Jerusalem.
It is a type and shadow of the Church. The Church is that body of Christ established in Acts 2, and the building Jesus built on top of the great mountain. So, we can also read the passage this way:
“Who shall ascend into the Church of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy Church? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”
I want to draw your attention to that phrase: “nor sworn deceitfully,” and the flowing phrase found in Psalm 15, “speaketh truth in his heart.”
I am teaching tonight on this topic: The Voice of Holiness
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
(14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion [fellowship, partnership] hath light with darkness?
(15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
(16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
(17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
(18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
(7:1) 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.
Perfecting holiness is a lifelong process. There are no shortcuts.
Holiness is a continued work of sanctification, as the Holy Spirit of God perpetually prepares you for a holy purpose:
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:15-16).
Holiness is an essential element of spiritual maturity and is measurable by our actions, thoughts, and speech in relation to what we know.
You are responsible for what you know, and that includes the principles related to holiness, which is why the satan want to keep you blind in order to keep you spiritually immature.
Spiritual maturity is measurable by your behavior and the habits that you develop according to your understanding of God’s Word and His principles.
Habits and conduct develop character. The spiritual character of Christ will not be formed in you if your conduct and habits are not developed in relationship to what is holy.
What you do reveals your true character.
For this reason, how you talk, your speech, is also an indicator of your spiritual maturity and holiness.
James 3:1-12
(1) My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
(2) For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
(3) Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
(4) Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
(5) Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
(6) And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
(7) For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
(8) But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
(9) Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
(10) Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
(11) Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
(12) Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
The Voice of Holiness
I remind you, “Holiness” means “a sacred place…dedicated thing…hallowed…holiness…holy…saint…sanctuary.”[1]
According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary, in the New Testament, there are two words for holy and holiness and each is important to having a full understanding of the perpetual work of holiness working in your life as the Holy Spirit of God prepares you for a holy purpose”
Hagiasmos – “Holiness, which in most cases is rendered sanctification. It means separation to God.”[2]
Hagiosune – “Denotes the manifestation of the quality of holiness in personal conduct. This, along with His resurrection from the dead, is what marked Jesus as the Son of God. He was without sin.”[3]
Hear that again: Holiness is “the manifestation of the quality of holiness in personal conduct.”
This includes your voice. The conduct of your tongue.
This is why the late Bill Sciscoe defined holiness as “the amount of the character of Jesus Christ displayed in you, and we’re all at different levels” of spiritual maturity.
Pastor Fairburn reminded me today that in Judaism there is an entire area of teaching regarding the sin of speaking evil, which is known as Lashon Harah.[4]
Part of this teaching says that you need to be careful about passing judgment on other because inevitably you be tempted in the same thing that you verbally judged and spoke of someone else doing.
One Jewish teacher, Rabbi Mendel Kessin, says that “lashon harah (speaking evil) brings prosecution by Satan and shortens one’s life.”
If this is true, then is not only wise to guard your tongue when tempted to speak, or judge someone else, but it may be healthy for you to just be quiet.
“(5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:5-6).
Proverbs 8:12, KJV, “I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.” ESV, “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.”
Know when to speak and when not to speak.
The Voice of Holiness refuses to align itself with the devil by joining his prosecuting team as a fellow accuser of the brethren.
Revelation 12:10, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”
Join the Advocate’s side: “(1) My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (John 2:1-2).
“God casts a vote for you, the devil casts against you, but you cast the deciding ballot.”[6]
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth” (Romans 8:33).
Learn to be still…
Psalms 4:4, “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.”
“…be still…” = “to be silent, be still, wait, be dumb, grow dumb”[7]
Try this: “Stop Talking!”
Study to be quiet…
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12, “(9) But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. (10) And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; (11) And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; (12) That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.”
To labour and strive[8]to keep still, to refrain from meddlesomeness or speech, hold peace.[9]
It is not easy, but practicing The Voice of Holiness is well worth the effort when you see how it pleases the Lord and brings His peace into the situation.
Romans 14:10-13
(10) But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (11) For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (12) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (13) Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
Matthew 7:1-2, “(1) Judge not, that ye be not judged. (2) For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
Luke 6:37-38, “(37) Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: (38) Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
1 Corinthians 11:31-32, “(31) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (32) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”
Matthew 12:34-37, “(34) O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (35) A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. (36) But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
Make sure that your speech today doesn’t judge you on the day of judgment.
1 Peter 3:8-12, “(8) Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: (9) Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. (10) For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: (11) Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. (12) For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
Colossians 4:2-6, “(2) Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (3) Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: (4) That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. (5) Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. (6) Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Living the principle of The Voice of Holiness will prepare for you an open door of utterance to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Consider this…
2 Peter 2:9-10
(9) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (10) But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. The word rendered “dignities” here, (δόξας doxas,) means properly honor, glory, splendor; then that which is fitted to inspire respect; that which is dignified or exalted. It is applied here to men of exalted rank; and the meaning is, that they did not regard rank, or station, or office – thus violating the plainest rules of propriety and of religion
Isaiah 6:1-8, “(1) In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. (2) Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. (3) And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (4) And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. (5) Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. (6) Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: (7) And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. (8) Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”
Deuteronomy 17:12-13 “(12) And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. (13) And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.”
Exodus 21:14, “But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.”
Isaiah 57:15, “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.“
(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.
I have noticed over the years that some topics seem to raise the hackles on the saints, and at the bare mention of certain key words barriers are put in place.
When a preacher begins to address money, submission, or culturally acceptable, but biblically repudiated sins, mental and spiritual walls are raised and the man of God begins to wage a war to penetrate the barrier that separates the Good Word of God from the minds and hearts of the people.
Holiness is such a word. Hebrew: qadosh = a sacred place…dedicated thing…hallowed…holiness…holy…saint…sanctuary.[1]
You see, God intends to have a holy people, and I would be a poor preacher indeed if I preached only the palatable, only the delectable delights, the banana splits, if you will, of the Word of God.
If I simply stand aside and watch the people of God try to walk in holiness by trial and error, it would be a sin for me to hide from them the whole counsel of God.
Especially, when the Word of God is full of holiness teaching.
Especially, when by ignoring that teaching I fail to let you see Jesus in His totality.
Because God is HOLY, and He has commanded us to be HOLY.
1 Peter 1:15-16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [behavior]; (16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
He is sacred, pure, morally blameless
Even unclean spirits recognize Him as holy:
Mark 1:23-26, “(23) And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, (24) Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. (25) And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. (26) And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.”
And no wonder, sometimes the devils have greater understanding than we do:
James 2:19-20, “(19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”
It is interesting the role of faith in the life of the believer: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
To have faith for anything that the Bible teaches, including the life of holiness, there must be instruction given from the Word of God.
When you receive that instruction and begin to purposely walk in the way of holiness, you will find the perfect path to God.
Is. 35:8, “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.”
“The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it” (Isaiah 40:3-5).
Jesus simply said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
Paul identified “The Way” as an identifying name of the early church: “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: (Acts 24:14).
What Way? The way of holiness that Jesus both prepared, exampled, taught and for us.
I’m talking to you about Holiness, and I’m talking about Jesus. He is Holy, He is the Way.
In Acts 4:27, 30 Peter prayed to the Father and referred to the Christ as “thy holy child Jesus.”
Living a clean life relieves the mind, is less stressful on the body, and helps you to maintain a peaceful spirit.
The world needs people who are holy and happy, not more religious people, but more holy people.[2]
Truly holy people are happy people – “We’re a happy people, yes we are…”
Holiness occurs when your faith and obedience to Jesus Christ, allows the power of the Holy Ghost to change you:
Ephesians 4:22-24, “(22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
That change is evidenced when you allow God’s grace to teach you how to walk in holiness in this present world:
Titus 2:11-14, “(11) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
Peculiar = a people selected by God from the other nations for his own possession.[3]
Holiness identifies you definitively as peculiar: Holy, Sacred, Separate, Apart.
So, Paul continued in his letter to the Ephesian Church (Ephesians 4:23-32):
(23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
(24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
(25) Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
(26) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
(27) Neither give place to the devil.
(28) Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
(29) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
(30) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
(31) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour [noise, disorder…brawl[4]], and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
(32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
That is THE WAY OF HOLINESS
I remember a time in my life that preceded great change, and the Lord dropped this passage in my spirit:
“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” (Leviticus 20:26).
“Holiness is a general term used to indicate sanctity or separation from all that is sinful, impure, or morally imperfect.”
“It is moral wholeness.”
“The term is used with reference to persons, places, and things.”
Holiness and separation are inseparable when walking The Way.
We are separated from the practices of sinful people and the ungodliness of this present world,
and we separated unto the Lord Jesus Christ, who is “the way, the truth and the life.”
So, in closing…
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
(14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
(15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
(16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
(17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
(18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Text: 1 Timothy 3:16, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
Matthew 1:18-25
(18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
(19) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
(20) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
(21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
(22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
(23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
(24) Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
(25) And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
They struck Christ, they lied on Him, they mocked Him, Judas Iscariot betrayed Him, Peter denied knowing Him, but Jesus didn’t react with anything but love.
What was in Jesus manifested itself.
God was manifest in the flesh.
God was in Christ and Christ is in you.
What you are full of will become visible when you’re bumped.
An old Indian proverb says, “Whatever you are overflowing with spill out when you’re bumped.”
You say, “That’s not me,” but if it came out of you the Word of God says it is in you:
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45).
The Purpose of God in Christ is Reconciliation:
2 Corinthians 5:16-21, “(16) Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. (17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Reconciliation = “exchange (figuratively adjustment), that is, restoration to (the divine) favor: – atonement, reconciliation (-ing).”[1] Also, “to restore to friendship or harmony.”[2]
First, I am reconciled to Him then I become His ambassador working to bring harmony into other people’s lives.
To be in Christ = water baptism
Christ in you = Holy Ghost infilling
Romans 8:1-11
(1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
(3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
(4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
(6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
(7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
(8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
(9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
(10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
(11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
2 Peter 1:5-11
(5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
(6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
(7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
(8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(9) But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
(10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
(11) For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
It is the Mighty God in Christ, In you and then in others.
The Pillar and Ground of Truth 