God's Will #7: Walking In Holiness

H o l i n e s s

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 

(3) It is God's will that you should be sanctified; that you should avoid sexual immorality;(4)that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, (5) not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; (6) and that in this matter no one should wrong, or take advantage of, a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. (7) For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. (8) Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you His Holy Spirit.

Up Front God Tells Us What HIS Will Is:

Many people, who are trying to seek how to live according to the will of God, really struggle to figure it out.  As I see it, they are making it harder than it needs to be. For time and time again, as we are discovering, and as we will discover, God simply lays it right out there: This passage is no different. "This is God's will that you should be sanctified."  It doesn't get any clearer than this.  Nine simple words tell it like it is.  God wants you, and God wants me, HE wants us, and HE wants we, to be sanctified. He wants us to be holy. He wants us to set apart our lives in order that we might live according to HIS purposes. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to do so if we yield are lives to the Lord. And we know the "fruit" that comes from Holy Spirit empowered living: It's Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self control. (Galatians 5: 22-23)

The Reminder

Telling us to be sanctified , or to walk in holiness, is a reminder that our journey in Christ Jesus involves a continual growth in individual and personal holiness. Holiness, or sanctification, need not be a burden, but rather a joyful journey toward being formed into the image of Christ; for example, "God works in all things for the good of those love God who are called according to HIS purpose; for those whom HE for knew HE for ordained to be formed into the image of Christ that HE might be the first born of many brothers and sisters." (Romans 8:28-29) Yep, Christ Followers experience, through God's grace, and by the power of the Holy Spirit,  our growth, and our movement to becoming like Christ. It's God's will. It's God's way.

Strong Words From Paul Regarding Behavior

Now something unholy was going on in the church; therefore, the Apostle prophetically provides some very strong words for those who have intentionally behaved unholy.  Paul wants to be sure HE is heard regarding what is going on in the church. Todays church needs to hear this  especially since God provides everything needed for living a godly life. (2 Peter 1:3)

• God expects we actively pursue purity and avoid sexual immorality. Verse 3
• It is essential we control our bodies in a holy and honorable way. Verse 4
• This control isn't just about adherence to rules, but it is about embodying, and embracing God's powerful grace that produces a life that honors God in every aspect of our lives.
• God gives a warning against sin and taking advantage of others. Living a holy life means respecting others, loving them as Christ loves us, and not using them for selfish reasons. Paul stresses that Gods' call for us is a call to purity to live in a way that reflects HIS character being formed in us. After all, our bodies are the Temples of the Holy Spirit. Our bodies belong to God.  He purchased us (Verses 6-7) You may not want to hear this part, but verse 6 declares that God will punish believers who commit the sins mentioned in these passages.  Sexual immorality is clearly one of them.

What if I Reject God's Call To Holiness.

Being empowered to walk in holiness is a beautiful grace filled thing: Experiencing the fruit of the Spirit is amazing.  Discovering God's holy gifts being expressed through us is really special. Shining as the light of the world, being the city on the hill, and having God's savor placed in us, so that we can "shake a little salt," as the salt of the earth is a joy; however, rejecting God's call to be  pure in how we live, and this includes sexual purity, is also a vital part of being sanctified according to the will of God.  In Paul's day, and even today, people in the church had/have abandoned the importance of demonstrating the self control the Holy Spirit provides. This is especially true regarding sexual purity. People simply have rejected this, and they have explained away the Holy Scriptures.

Needless to say, they have rejected Gods' will. And according to the Apostle Paul, anyone who rejects this instruction regarding sanctification, does not reject a human being, but that person rejects the very God who provides HIS Holy Spirit. Verse 8.

Dear Father,

Thank you for revealing YOUR will to Us.

Thank YOU for giving us everything we need to follow YOUR will for holy living.

Help us to embrace the sanctification YOU provide.

Help us demonstrate holy living.

Please, keep us from behaving like pagans who don't even know YOU.

Help us to hold on tight to YOUR grace to be self controlled.

Help us to abide in YOU as YOU abide in us.

Help us to bear much fruit that will remain.

We know the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Let us live our lives in a way that glorifies YOU
as we seek to live according to the will of God.

Empower us to walk in scriptural holiness.

We resolve today to live in a holy and honorable way.

In Jesus Name.

AMEN

SoJourner