د خدای ماشومان مقدس ژوند کوي

Today I want to challenge your thinking on the topic of “holy living” and what this means for us.  Let us look at our Bibles together to learn what God expects from His children.  What we will find is God does expect us to live holy lives, and the Bible supports this:

1 Peter 1:14-16

“14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

To be holy is to be set apart for sacred use and separate from evil.  That is God’s plan and purpose for His children.”

Holiness in Church Attendance

Attending church regularly with others that love God is a special time.  We should protect and value our time for worship together by making it a priority in our lives.  Worshiping together is a time to get our values straight; it’s a time to show God that He is the priority in our life, and it is a time to set an example for all those around us.  Worship with God’s people is also an opportunity to learn and grow by receiving spiritual nourishment from the preaching and testimonies of others.  We gather strength and encouragement from each other, which is an essential piece of living holy.  If we forsake our church attendance, which is where we learn from God’s word together, we will not survive spiritually.

Regular church attendance was Christ’s habit; therefore, it should be ours too.  So, we are either forming Christ’s habit of regular church attendance or forming a habit of being absent.

Luke 4:16-17

“16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,”

The following verse in Hebrews is why we come to church.

Heb. 10:24-25 

“4 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

When we are in school, attendance plays an important part in our grades.  If we are not there, we can not benefit from the instruction and learn from the subject matter.  If we have a job and do not show up, we will not get paid a day’s labor.  Our church attendance is just as important as these other responsibilities.  Let me ask you a question.  Is God pleased with your attendance?

Before we continue, let’s look at 1Thessalonians, Chapter 4, verse 7:

1 Thessalonians 4:7

“7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”

God is clear, in His word, that he has called us to live holy.  Keep this scripture in mind as we continue our study.

Holiness in All We Read

The Bible teaches us that we should avoid anything tainted with evil.  Is holiness found in the book, article, or blog we read?  There are many novels/articles we should not read and blogs we should not follow.  Some books are written about unholy subjects and justify wicked living.  Are the books and magazines we choose to read leading us to pure and holy meditation, or do they cause us to think about impure and unholy things?  Sometimes, you can see by looking at the book’s cover that someone who loves Jesus should probably not read it.  Be aware any literature with pornography is unholy, and as children of God, we should never read these things.  When in doubt, we can ask ourselves, “Would Jesus read “this?” and then choose to do the same as we answer.

1 Thessalonians 5:22

“22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

Throw out anything that is tainted with evil.  Remember, God did not call us to uncleanness but holiness.

Holiness in All We Watch

What about the things we look at or what we watch?

Psalms 101:3-4

“3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”

4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.”

Remember, God calls us to holiness.  When we are careful about what we look at or watch, we will keep our minds and thoughts pure.  If we watch or look at unholy things, our thoughts will also become unholy.  If we hide what we are watching or looking at, we need to be honest with ourselves and ask, “why am I hiding this?”  If we feel we need to hide what we are looking at, we should get rid of it immediately.  God’s children obey His commands when they are alone and with others.

Philippians 2: 12-13

“12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Holiness in All We Hear

What about the music we enjoy?  Is it holy or unholy?  Much of today’s music has sinful and ungodly messages.  For example, here in the United States, rap music is extremely popular with our young people.  I recall a time when I was next to a car at an intersection that had very loud music coming from it.  The lyrics were unholy, littered with curse words and messages that suggested hurting others.  No matter the musical genre, God’s children should not listen to music that contains suggestive and explicit lyrics promoting violence, promiscuous living, or any unholiness.  If we fill our minds with unholy messages, we will also become unholy.  What about conversations we participate in with those around us?  Are we quick to listen to stories about people that are none of our business and possibly untrue?  Someone who listens to gossip about others is just as guilty as the one that carried the story.  We should walk away from conversations that are unholy.  Whether it’s gossip about someone else, dirty jokes, or music with unclean lyrics, God’s children are careful about what they hear because He has called us to holiness; what we listen to matters to God.

Proverbs 19:27

“27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.”

Keeping Our Bodies Holy

If you are young and unmarried, God indeed put powerful desires in us for physical love and companionship.  The desire to have love and companionship is not wicked but pursuing these desires outside the holy bonds of marriage is.  Our job is to hold back the passion for physical love until marriage.  Your bodies are to be kept for the day you are married and then given as a gift to that special one you chose to commit to for life.  We should also be modest in our actions and how we dress.  Do you remember the study of Joseph and what he did when Potiphar’s wife tempted him?  Joseph ran for his life!  We need to do the same when temptation presents itself.  Joseph is a perfect example of what to do when tempted by sexual pressures before marriage.  “Run from it!  A young man and a young woman should not be alone together, or the risk of temptation taking over is possible.  We should not become so familiar with each other that a fire of passion starts and one loses control.  Remember that your boyfriend or girlfriend is not your spouse.  The Bible teaches us that sex before marriage is against God’s plan for us.

2Tim. 2:22

“22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

 

1 Cor. 6:18-20

“18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

۱۹ څه؟ تاسو نه پوهيږئ چې ستاسو بدن د روح القدس کور دی چې په تاسو کې دی، کوم چې تاسو د خدای څخه لرئ، او تاسو خپل نه یاست؟

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s”

Holiness in The Way We Present Ourselves

Let’s visit the thought of being modest in the way we dress a little further.  God calls His children to live holy, which means how we dress and present ourselves to others should also be holy.  So, God expects His children to be modest in their dress and presentation to others.  Our clothes should be modest and appropriately fitting, not too tight, revealing, or showy.  Our lives should be about showing God, not showing off our bodies or our wealth.  We should look at ourselves through God’s eyes and ask if He approves of our presentation of ourselves.  Are we presenting ourselves modestly so God can be seen, or are we showing off something of ourselves?  We should not deliberately present ourselves in a way that shows we have more than others.  God’s people are modest in spirit as well as dress.  The principle of modest dress and presentation is just as applicable to men as it is to women.

1 Tim. 2:9

“9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;”

Holiness in Our Habits

What about holiness in our habits?  Here in the United States, we have a problem with marijuana and other substance addictions.  I talked with many people in their thirties or older that say they started smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol, or smoking cigarettes when they were very young.  Now they are addicted and want to quit, but the addiction makes it difficult for them.  If one is addicted to a substance that abuses their body, they must get busy before God and gain victory over the addiction.  God is not weak.  God can break the power of addiction in individuals, I have seen it happen, but it is not easy for a person with the addiction to come to God.  It does not make any sense to continue to abuse our bodies with drugs or other substances.  Jesus bought us with the price of His blood, and our bodies are the temple of God.

Please see the scriptures below as a sample of what the Bible teaches us about holiness in our habits.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“9 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

 

Ephesians 5:18

“18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”

 

Proverbs 31:4-7

“4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.”

 

Proverbs 23:29-30

“29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.”

 

Luke 21:34

“34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”

 

Romans 13:13

“13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.”

 

Galations 5:19-20

“19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,”

 

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

“9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

 

Titus 2:3

“3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;”

Holiness in Our Friendships

Jesus was a friend of sinners, and we should be too; however, Jesus never let those friendships pull Him into their wickedness.  If we can’t be the influencer instead of the influenced in our friendships, we need to end the relationship.  Again, God’s call for us is to holiness and not uncleanness.

1 Thessalonians. 4:7

“7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”

Holiness in Our Homes

Like many young people, I also grew up with siblings.  Every once in a while, my brothers or sister would get on my nerves.  So, I understand and know what it’s like to have bothersome siblings.  Our siblings can test our patience.  So, if someone were to ask your family what you are like at home, what would they say about you?  “He gets mad and hits me all the time,” or “She yells at me and calls me names?” Sometimes people are one way in front of others, and they are different at home, but this should not be the case with God’s children.  We should be holy with those we live with and are closest to us and those that we see from time to time.

Psalms 101:2 

“2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.”

Always live by the “golden rule.”  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Holy living is not compatible in a home filled with temper tantrums, anger, arguments, hurtful, disrespectful, or nagging words.

Lastly, I would like to share with you what we do here in California to help us learn the word of God.  With each lesson, we assign a memory verse or scripture to memorize.  The memory verse helps us retain the information we heard from the lesson but most importantly, it helps us remember the principle, which will stay with us.  Throughout this lesson, we already mentioned the verse in different ways.  Memorize this verse and allow God to write it upon your heart.  It is not long, but it is powerful in that it reminds us who we belong to and what God expects from those who call themselves His children.

1 Thessalonians. 4:7

“7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”

RHT