. ???????? HIS STORY, HIS GLORY! ????????

I'm just BLESSED to tell it!


THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS 

◄1 Peter 1:14-16; HEBREWS 12:12-17►


CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH BROADCAST

Come, be my guest at Immanuel Outreach Church Ministries!

Pastor Joe N. White Jr., and Lady Donna White

400 Rose Lane, N. L. R., AR 72117

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Evg. Subrina White (501-612-0271)



INTRODUCTION


Think of this analogy: My husband and I are of African descent. . There’s one problem, our newborn has blue eyes and very light complexion, we hear his first cries as to say, “Hi Mom, Hi Dad!” I am still in my birth position, while everyone, I mean everyone in the delivery room stares in shock at me including my African husband! LET'S GET TO WORK! 


Well, as God is holy, so His children must be holy - 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:7. How can one "pursue holiness"? True holiness (sanctification) comes through: the blood of Jesus, through the remission of one’s sin when one is baptized in the name of Jesus and filled with the Holy Ghost. 1 John 1:7, Matthew 26:28; Acts 2:38.  You need the Holy Spirit - 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Titus 3:5 The Word of God sanctifies us. His Truth sanctifies us - John 17:17,19 


God's Grace is HERE TO HELP ANYONE!  (Hebrews 4:14-16). We can serve Him in a manner well-pleasing to Him.  


God’s holiness is manifested in His works. "The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works" (Ps. 145:17). Nothing but that which is excellent can proceed from Him. Holiness is the rule of all His actions. Man was made "upright" (Ecclesiastes 7:29), in the image and likeness of his Creator. The angels that fell were created holy, for we are told that they "kept not their first habitation" (Jude 6). Of Satan it is written, "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee" (Ezekiel 28:15).


The sinner is only forgiven THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS! (Hebrews. 9:22). 


The unregenerate soul do not really believe in the holiness of God. This is why they can curse in one breath and talk of God’s Goodness in another breath. Their conception of His character is altogether one-sided. They fondly hope that His mercy and grace will override everything sinful they do without no plans of letting go of sin. 


Indulgent man leniently winks at the "indiscretions" of his youth and old age. Yet, the Word says, "Thou hatest all workers of iniquity "(Ps. 5:5). And again, "God is angry with the wicked every day" (Ps. 7:11). 


"God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all about Him" (Ps. 89:7).


Because God is Holy we should desire to be conformed to Him. His command is, "Be ye holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16). We are not bidden to be omnipotent or omniscient as God is, but we are to be holy, and that "in all manner of conversation" (1 Peter 1:15).


The beauty of holiness is one who denies self for Christ’s sake.  The natural man is totally incapable of discerning this excellence of beauty which has a great price in the sight of God. God must remove the scales from the eyes of their hearts before they can perceive that holiness is beautiful.


Folks are accustomed to saying, “Beauty is but skin deep.” Not so the beauty of holiness: it is rooted in the inner man, and sheds its purifying influence over the entire being. “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain” (Prov. 31:30). Holiness never disappoints. 


The fairest human countenance quickly withers: “all her beauty is departed” (Lamentation 1:6). Even when it is preserved to the end of a short life, “their beauty shall consume in the grave” (Psa. 49:14). How fervently, then, should we pray, “Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us” (Psa. 90:17). 


The beauty of holiness is glorifying to God, it differs radically from human beauty. To glorifying our Maker is the bound duty of man, and nothing honors Him so much as our walking in separation from the sin and practices of the world.  How many women have used their personal attractions to entice men rather than magnify God? How many well-proportioned and handsome men have employed their gifts for self-glorification rather than the praise of God? 


“O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” This is the only kind of beauty that the Lord cares for in our devotions. 


Architecture and expensive apparel God does not delight in. It is the loveliness of inward purity and outward sanctity that pleases our Savior.


Have you obeyed Jesus in responding to His Gospel? (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38) Are you obeying Jesus by living "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance? 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 Peter 1:14-16


You have been listening to CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH BROADCAST this has been your host Evg. Subrina White