Holiness Can Be Achieved
Holiness can be achieved in our lives. Many times the Bible tells us to “be holy”
(Leviticus 19:2, and I Peter 1:16). I Thessalonians 4:7 the Bible says “for God has
not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness”. You can only be holy if you believe
you can (Proverbs 23:7) says “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he”. God never
tells us to do anything, that is impossible to do.
Many people say that as long as we are in these bodies, we cannot live a holy life,
but let us look to the Bible before we make a decision on this matter.
Enoch walked with God (Genesis 5:21-24) says “and Enoch lived sixty and five
years, and fathered Methuselah. And Enoch walked with God after he fathered
Methuselah three hundred years, and fathered sons and daughters. And all the
days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years. And Enoch walked with God;
and he was not; for God took him”. Enoch walked with God for three hundred year
and he walked so closely that God took him with Him (Hebrews 11:5) says “by faith
Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because
God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he
pleased God”.
Joseph had a dream from God and told it to his brothers, but they were jealous and
wanted to kill him, however they decided to see him as a slave to the Ishmeelitess
who sold him to Potiphar in Egypt (Genesis 39:1-4) “and Joseph was brought down
to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captian of the guard, an Egyptian
brought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down there. And
the Lord Yahweh was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the
house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him,
and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found
grace in his sight, and he served him and he made him overseer over his house, and
all that he had he put into his hand”.
But the Egyptian wife tried to get him to sleep with her and he refused and said to
his master’s wife, there is none greater in this house than I; neither has he kept back
any thing from me but you, because you are his wife; how then can I do this great
wickedness, and sin against God? (Genesis 39:9) as she continued to approach
him, he ran out of the house without his garment which she grabbed; yet she
accused him of attempting to rape her, and Joseph ended up in prison, but God was
with him and he was made the head over the prison.
Daniel demonstrated moral integrity, Daniel had a deep communication with God
(Daniel 1:8-16) says “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself
with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he
requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God
had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. And
the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who has appointed
your meat and your drink; for why should he see your faces worse liking than the
children which are of your sort? Then shall you make me endanger my head to the
king”(verses 8-10), Daniel asked to prove them for ten days, and let them eat
vegetables and drink water; and after that time their countenances appeared fairer
and better than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. Thus he
took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink, and gave
them vegetables.
Through out the book of Daniel, you see Daniel’s walk with God. In chapter 6 Daniel
was set over the presidents (verse 3-5) “then this Daniel was preferred above the
presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king thought
to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and princes sought to find
occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion
nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in
him. Then said these men, we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except
we find it against him concerning the law of his God”. So they conspired the king to
make a decree that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god, or man for thirty day,
save of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. The king made the
decree and signed it. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went
into his house, and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem; he
kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed, and gave thanks before his
God, as he did aforetime. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and
making supplication before his God (verses 8-11). He didn’t compromise. They told
the king, and even though the king didn’t want to, he had to have Daniel cast into the
lions den. But when the king returned the next morning, he called for Daniel to see if
his God had protected him. Daniel was taken out of the den and those who accused
him were cast in with their families.
The king made a decree; that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and
fear before the God of Daniel for He is the living God, and steadfast forever, and His
kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be even to the
end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and in
earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel
prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian (verses 26-
28). I Samuel 2:30 tells us that “those who honor Me, I will honor”.
All three of these examples were from the Old Testament, and they didn’t have the
Holy Spirit living within them. God told Ezekiel in Ezekiel 36:25-27 says “then I will
sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your filthiness and
from all your idols will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit
will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will
give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in
My statues, and you shall keep My judgments, and do them”. And this was fulfilled
by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
God has predestined us to conform into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29-30).
And He has made a way for us to grow up into Christ likeness (Ephesians 4:11-15)
“He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists and some
pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of
the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of
the fullness of Christ. That we hereafter be no more children, tossed to and fro, and
carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, may
grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ”. Remember that we
have been made a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17-21).
You don’t try to be holy to achieve your own righteousness, God have made you
righteousness by the blood of Jesus. Your goal to walk in holiness is to have a
closer walk with God. The Bible says “how can two walk together less they agree”
(Amos 3:3). Pursue God and don’t compromise your integrity.
The closer you walk with God, the purer your life will be. You can’t do it with one foot
in the world. If you strive for less then perfection, you will reach it every time, but if
you strive for perfection, what can you achieve?
We are told to “put off the old man and put on the new man” (Ephesians 4:22-32)
meaning we have a responsibility. Jesus said “let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”
(Matthew 5:16). Just like you saw in Joseph’s and Daniel’s life, they were lifted up
and their God was praised because of their lifestyle; and the same is possible for us.
Jesus said “all things are possible to them that believe” (Mark 9:23).
The choice is ours; just like Moses told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 30:19-20 says
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life
and death; blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, that both you and your seed
may live. That you may love the Lord Yahweh your God, and that you may obey His
voice, and that you may cling to Him for He is your life, and the length of your days,
that you may dwell in the land which the Lord Yahweh swear to your fathers, to
Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob to give them”. The same applies to us, remember
Galatians chapter 3 “if we be Christ’s then are we Abraham’s seed and heirs
according to the promise”.
Romans 6:16 says “know you not that to whom you yield yourselves servants to
obey; his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of
obedience to righteousness”.
Psalms 119:9-11 gives us the keys, it says “wherewithal shall a young man cleanse
his ways? By taking heed thereto according to Your word. With my whole heart
have I sought You. O let me not wander from Your commandments. Your word have
I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You”.
John writes to commend the elders “for I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came
and testified of the truth that is in you, even as you walk in the truth” (III John 3). Our
walk with God does matter. Galatians 5:16 says “this I say then, walk in the Spirit
and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: March 6, 2009
Holiness can be achieved in our lives. Many times the Bible tells us to “be holy”
(Leviticus 19:2, and I Peter 1:16). I Thessalonians 4:7 the Bible says “for God has
not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness”. You can only be holy if you believe
you can (Proverbs 23:7) says “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he”. God never
tells us to do anything, that is impossible to do.
Many people say that as long as we are in these bodies, we cannot live a holy life,
but let us look to the Bible before we make a decision on this matter.
Enoch walked with God (Genesis 5:21-24) says “and Enoch lived sixty and five
years, and fathered Methuselah. And Enoch walked with God after he fathered
Methuselah three hundred years, and fathered sons and daughters. And all the
days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years. And Enoch walked with God;
and he was not; for God took him”. Enoch walked with God for three hundred year
and he walked so closely that God took him with Him (Hebrews 11:5) says “by faith
Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because
God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he
pleased God”.
Joseph had a dream from God and told it to his brothers, but they were jealous and
wanted to kill him, however they decided to see him as a slave to the Ishmeelitess
who sold him to Potiphar in Egypt (Genesis 39:1-4) “and Joseph was brought down
to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captian of the guard, an Egyptian
brought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down there. And
the Lord Yahweh was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the
house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him,
and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found
grace in his sight, and he served him and he made him overseer over his house, and
all that he had he put into his hand”.
But the Egyptian wife tried to get him to sleep with her and he refused and said to
his master’s wife, there is none greater in this house than I; neither has he kept back
any thing from me but you, because you are his wife; how then can I do this great
wickedness, and sin against God? (Genesis 39:9) as she continued to approach
him, he ran out of the house without his garment which she grabbed; yet she
accused him of attempting to rape her, and Joseph ended up in prison, but God was
with him and he was made the head over the prison.
Daniel demonstrated moral integrity, Daniel had a deep communication with God
(Daniel 1:8-16) says “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself
with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he
requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God
had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. And
the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who has appointed
your meat and your drink; for why should he see your faces worse liking than the
children which are of your sort? Then shall you make me endanger my head to the
king”(verses 8-10), Daniel asked to prove them for ten days, and let them eat
vegetables and drink water; and after that time their countenances appeared fairer
and better than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. Thus he
took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink, and gave
them vegetables.
Through out the book of Daniel, you see Daniel’s walk with God. In chapter 6 Daniel
was set over the presidents (verse 3-5) “then this Daniel was preferred above the
presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king thought
to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and princes sought to find
occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion
nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in
him. Then said these men, we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except
we find it against him concerning the law of his God”. So they conspired the king to
make a decree that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god, or man for thirty day,
save of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. The king made the
decree and signed it. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went
into his house, and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem; he
kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed, and gave thanks before his
God, as he did aforetime. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and
making supplication before his God (verses 8-11). He didn’t compromise. They told
the king, and even though the king didn’t want to, he had to have Daniel cast into the
lions den. But when the king returned the next morning, he called for Daniel to see if
his God had protected him. Daniel was taken out of the den and those who accused
him were cast in with their families.
The king made a decree; that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and
fear before the God of Daniel for He is the living God, and steadfast forever, and His
kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be even to the
end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and in
earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel
prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian (verses 26-
28). I Samuel 2:30 tells us that “those who honor Me, I will honor”.
All three of these examples were from the Old Testament, and they didn’t have the
Holy Spirit living within them. God told Ezekiel in Ezekiel 36:25-27 says “then I will
sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your filthiness and
from all your idols will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit
will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will
give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in
My statues, and you shall keep My judgments, and do them”. And this was fulfilled
by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
God has predestined us to conform into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29-30).
And He has made a way for us to grow up into Christ likeness (Ephesians 4:11-15)
“He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists and some
pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of
the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of
the fullness of Christ. That we hereafter be no more children, tossed to and fro, and
carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, may
grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ”. Remember that we
have been made a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17-21).
You don’t try to be holy to achieve your own righteousness, God have made you
righteousness by the blood of Jesus. Your goal to walk in holiness is to have a
closer walk with God. The Bible says “how can two walk together less they agree”
(Amos 3:3). Pursue God and don’t compromise your integrity.
The closer you walk with God, the purer your life will be. You can’t do it with one foot
in the world. If you strive for less then perfection, you will reach it every time, but if
you strive for perfection, what can you achieve?
We are told to “put off the old man and put on the new man” (Ephesians 4:22-32)
meaning we have a responsibility. Jesus said “let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”
(Matthew 5:16). Just like you saw in Joseph’s and Daniel’s life, they were lifted up
and their God was praised because of their lifestyle; and the same is possible for us.
Jesus said “all things are possible to them that believe” (Mark 9:23).
The choice is ours; just like Moses told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 30:19-20 says
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life
and death; blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, that both you and your seed
may live. That you may love the Lord Yahweh your God, and that you may obey His
voice, and that you may cling to Him for He is your life, and the length of your days,
that you may dwell in the land which the Lord Yahweh swear to your fathers, to
Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob to give them”. The same applies to us, remember
Galatians chapter 3 “if we be Christ’s then are we Abraham’s seed and heirs
according to the promise”.
Romans 6:16 says “know you not that to whom you yield yourselves servants to
obey; his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of
obedience to righteousness”.
Psalms 119:9-11 gives us the keys, it says “wherewithal shall a young man cleanse
his ways? By taking heed thereto according to Your word. With my whole heart
have I sought You. O let me not wander from Your commandments. Your word have
I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You”.
John writes to commend the elders “for I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came
and testified of the truth that is in you, even as you walk in the truth” (III John 3). Our
walk with God does matter. Galatians 5:16 says “this I say then, walk in the Spirit
and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: March 6, 2009
