Pursuing Holiness

Today I began going to a women's bible study at my church. We are studying a book by J. C. called The Pursuit of Holiness. It was such a blessing to me, to be surrounded by other women who love the Lord. We talked about how as Christians we have been delivered from the power of sin and are no longer slaves to it (Romans 6:1-12). It was refreshing to think about the implications of that, and convicting as well because although we have been freed from the power of sin, we still dwell in this body of flesh. This body of flesh in which, Paul tells us, dwells no good thing (Romans 7:18-25; Gal 5:16-17). So it's so easy to slip into this mediocre moralistic life in which outwardly we seem to be doing plenty good works and trying to be good, but inwardly we've become complacent and no longer actively pursue holiness. We justify our sin, succumb to temptation and try to excuse it. We talked about how our desires play such an important part in us succumbing to sin and temptation.(Tit 3:3, James 1:14-15, Eph 4:20-21)

So it gave me a lot to think about. In psalm 139:23-24 David asks the Lord to search his heart, but how many times do we search our heart, or ask God to search our hearts? maybe we don't because we know what we will find in there. But that is why remembering that we have been freed from the power of sin and Satan becomes so important, so crucial. Because it reminds us that we can say NO to sin, it reminds us that we should be daily seeking to honor and glorify God, it reminds us that God's mercies are NEW every morning, it reminds us that we are not alone in this battle, that we have the Holy Spirit indwelling in us who empowers us with the gospel, it reminds us that we have an advocate in Christ Jesus. It reminds us that we are to pursue holiness actively and that our desire should be to glorify God in all that we do. God has commanded us to be holy as He is holy.

So knowing this should lead us to repentance and trust in the work that Christ accomplished at the cross of Calvary and joy for how God has loved us(Romans 5:8).

Grace Gems: Your Goliath Lust

Last saturday on youth group Mrs. Elba talked about Holiness, and talked about specifically how we should be Holy as the Lord is Holy when it comes to relationships and even singleness. I'm glad the group was divided into men and women because we were able to freely ask questions about sexual immorality, lust and what is appropriate to watch when in front of the television. I was also very glad we touched the subject of lust in tv series and movies women in general usually like, I took the opportunity to speak of some of the things I wrote in my post on Twilight.

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you." 1 Thesalonians 4:3-7

Your Goliath lust

Thomas Watson
("Christ All in All")

"Be strong in the Lord, and in the power
of His might." Ephesians 6:10

When you are to resist a temptation, or to
mortify a corruption--do not go out in your
own strength, but in the strength of Christ.

Some go out to duty in the strength of their
abilities; and go out against sin in the strength
of their resolutions--and they both come home
foiled. Alas! What are our resolutions, but like
the green cords which bound Samson! A sinful
heart will soon break these!

Do as David when he was to go up against Goliath.
He said, "I come to you in the name of the Lord!"
So say to your Goliath lust, "I come to you in the
name of Christ!" Then we conquer, when the Lion
of the tribe of Judah marches before us!