Nazahuh??? "We Are Holiness People"

At times when I have instructed my kids to do their chores, their reaction would lead me to think that they thought that I was just kidding. I have had to say things like, “yeah I am serious we have to do it now”. At other times they would get started right away but only to accomplish very little. It was then that I would have to say, “hold on a second we are not done yet there is still more to do."

Sometimes we are like this when it comes to God speaking to us about His call to holiness. We read the passages and understand them well, but our reaction to them leads me to believe that some think that God is just kidding. Still others of us may get off to a quick start only to be in need of God to tell us that we are not finished yet. As we continue with our series Naza-huh???, we turn our attention to the second core value of the church of the Nazarene, “We are holiness people.” The major point that i would like to make here is that God is serious about holiness.

Because this is a series in the core values of the Church of the Nazarene, here is a key statement from the Nazarene manual:

"God, who is holy, calls us to a life of holiness. We believe that the Holy Spirit seeks to do in us a second work of grace, called by various terms including 'entire sanctification' and 'baptism with the Holy Spirit'-cleansing us from all sin, renewing us in the image of God, empowering us to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves, and producing in us the character of Christ. Holiness in the life of believers is most clearly understood as Christlikeness."

With this thought in mind take a look at the following key points of this message.

1. The foundational statement for holiness is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5


2. The basis for God’s command for holiness is that He is Holy. Lev. 11:44


3. Jesus Summarizes Holiness in Mark 12:28-31.

4. Passages that explain what the Holy Spirit is working in us are Ephesians
4:21-24/2 Corinthians 3:17-18

With an understanding of the above, I would challenge you to live out holiness in the ways that Jesus taught in Matthew 5-7. Take some time now and prayerfully read these words of Jesus. Perhaps He will speak to your heart and call you to deeper holiness or remind you of some things that have slipped your mind.

To finish this up I would like to suggest that we stop giving up, watering down, or placing emphasis on the wrong things. These three issues have caused much misunderstanding and bad examples of what God is really calling us to. Believe that through God's Spirit He can will bring freedom to your life.

Go to the next post to view the video of this message.

Blessings be yours,

Pastor Paul