In Pursuit of Holiness

I am on a continual search for keys to walk in holiness. As worshipers we need to seek God's presence above all thins, and when we see Him, we learn that the Lord's character is inseparable from absolute purity and holiness. Here are a few thoughts on holiness for today:

G. Campbell Morgan: Holiness is not freedom from temptation, but power to overcome temptation.

Leonard Ravenhill: The greatest miracle that God can do today is to take an unholy man out of an unholy world, and make that man holy and put him back into that unholy world and keep him holy in it.

Spurgeon: I believe the holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness, which remains in him.

In holiness God is more clearly seen than in anything else, save in the person of Christ Jesus the Lord, of whose life such holiness is but a repetition.

Jerry Bridges in his book The Pursuit of Holiness makes the following observations:

"Our first problem is that our attitude towards sin is more self-centered than God-centered. We are more concerned about our own "Victory" over sin than we are about the fact that our sin grieves the heart of God.

10 lies we tells ourselves about sin

Sin is no big deal

A little sin won’t hurt

Taking radical action against sin isn’t necessary

God won’t mind a little compromise

It’s my body I can do what I want with it

I can control my desires

I won’t experience any consequences for my sin

God is keeping something good from me

The pleasure sin promises is better and more real than God’s pleasure

Fulfilling myself through sin will satisfy me

From Joshua Harris’ book. Not Even A Hint:

Five qualities that change your heart:

Conviction – the recognition that worldly and selfish motives have robbed our homes and our souls of our spiritual destiny

Repentance – the determination to change direction and to pursue the life of the kingdom

Humility – the willingness to seek out new paradigms and new patterns for life priorities

Perseverance – the commitment to press toward freedom in the face of disappointments and failures

Passion – the desire for intimacy with God that fuels our pursuit of His presence as the central focus of our lives

From Jerome Dailey’s book, Soul Space

How to Live a Holy Life

Embrace the call to holiness – personal purity and dedication to Christ are not an option for the Believer 1Thess 4:7

Develop a Christ-like character – Holiness is not just avoiding public sin. Holiness is as much about what you do as what you don’t do 1Pet 1:15

Allow God to transform you through His Word – Scripture reveals the mind of Christ Rom 12:2

Nurture a receptive heart – listen and yield to the Holy Spirit Heb 3:7-8

Choose your friends carefully – Those we spend time with will influence us 1Cor 15:33

Be patient – holiness is a process and not an appointment – Godliness is born of the little daily decisions to deny selfishness and follow Christ Lu 9:23