Good Morning,
Before salvation we were slaves to sin, we did whatever our lusts dictated. Now we must become 'sons who serve', servants to righteousness and holy living. Romans 6:18-23; "And having been set free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in thought, purpose, and action). Conform means jointly formed; similar to (God); fashioned like unto (God); adapt, to bring into harmony or agreement, to comply and agree with (God's way and will). We must yield to the Word of God in order to do His will, for His ways are superior to ours. Is.55:8-9; "For My thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways, higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." Holiness is the divine exchange, changing our thoughts and ways, for Father God's thoughts and ways. It is accomplished by a daily renewal of our minds and yielding to the process of the Word working in us. "John 14:26 — "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby) which is Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things…" Holy Spirit has come, among other things, to teach us the ways and thoughts of the Father. Teach means to instruct, help one to learn, show, guide us, to cause us to know how to do (action or attitude) of holiness. It is explained in this verse, "And so dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God (all of your members and faculties) because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person (a holy one) by changing the way you think. THEN YOU WILL LEARN TO KNOW GOD'S WILL FOR YOU, which is good and pleasing and perfect. The only way to know God's way and will is to change the way we think, by renewing our mind and Holy Spirit will use this to give us new customs and behaviors. The process of holiness is done by choosing to obey God's Word over the old nature and feelings.
I'd like to read a verse that tells us that holiness is not infectious. It is not something we catch like a 'cold.' We have to yield and do the Word of God in order to change our character. "Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask now the priests to decide this question of law: If one carries in the skirt of his garment flesh that is holy [because it has been offered in sacrifice to God], and with his skirt or the flaps of his garment he touches bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any kind of food, does what he touches become holy [dedicated to God's service exclusively]? And the priests answered, No! [Holiness is not infectious.] Then said Haggai, If one who is [ceremonially] unclean because he has come in contact with a dead body should touch any of these articles of food, shall it be [ceremonially] unclean? And the priests answered, It shall be unclean. [Unholiness is infectious.] (Haggai 2:11-13) We can not be holy by hanging around other holy people, yet unholiness is something that can be caught by staying around unholiness. What we listen to, where we spend the majority of our time can have an effect upon us, but we must yield to God and His Word. We must build up an immune system to unholiness (because we spent our un-saved life in an unholy environment) by meditating and marinating in the Presence of God and His Word. Let us use our faith to become like our Father, holy in our behavior and our conduct. "As obedient children, do not conform yourselves to the evil desires [that governed you] in your former ignorance [when you did not know the requirements of the Gospel]. But as the One Who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living. For it is written, You shall be holy, for I Am holy.
Romans 12:1,2
Love,
Pastor D.
Daughters of Z 