RIGHTEOUSNESS – 6

RAISING A STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – (D)

Isaiah 59:19 – So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will LIFT UP A STANDARD AGAINST HIM.

• Special note: Raising a standard against the enemy is part of the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit! The working of the Spirit of Holiness is one of the ways that the unholy spirit of the devil is resisted, pushed back, and overcome.

2 Corinthians 7:1 – Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

• Special note: Having a healthy FEAR OF GOD helps promote HOLINESS.

A HOLY CHURCH

What is the description of the kind of a church that Jesus is coming back for? It is A HOLY CHURCH (Ephesians 5:27, see below)

A STANDARD OF HOLINESS

I Peter 1:13-16 – Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ¹⁵ but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (See also Leviticus 11:44-45.)

WE ARE ADMONISHED NOT TO BE WORLDLY

Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

• Special note: Our moral values and convictions, integrity, and that which helps to guide the decisions that we make needs to align with God’s perfect will! His will is for us to be HOLY, and to live a HOLY LIFE that is separated from the world – not being conformed to it! It is not just a list of religious rules and dogmas, but allowing the Holy Spirit to shape our lives to become more like Jesus.

2 Corinthians 6:17 – “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”

I John 2:15-17 – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

• Special note: Some Christians have lost the fear of God. They justify doing what is right in their own eyes, and not the Lord’s. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:2; 16:25). The world’s standards are not to become the lifestyle of true believers. The way of the world brings confusion, corruption, and compromise. The Lord is raising up His STANDARD OF HOLINESS.

DON’T CONTINUE in SIN

Romans 6:1-2 – Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? ² Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 

I John 1:5-7 – …God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

WHAT IS HOLINESS?

• Special note: These days the Lord is calling His people to a Biblical STANDARD OF HOLINESS. Moral values have been corrupted and HOLINESS is mocked by many. Some think that HOLINESS refers to many man-made creeds, dogmas, and traditions that are not Biblical.

HOLINESS DEFINED

Being HOLY is being godly – being like God, for God is HOLY! Being HOLY is to be pure! It is living a lifestyle that is separated from the world, and worldly ways! It is being separated, and set apart to God’s will and purposes, positionally and experientially through Christ.

It is alignment with God’s holiness, purity, and Divine nature). His name is Holy. That’s who He is!

JUDGMENT UPON UNHOLINESS

Ezekiel 22:8,26,31 – You have despised My holy things… Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean… Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.

Ezekiel 44:23 – …they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

2 Timothy 3:2 – (Sign of the last days) For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy… from such people turn away! … their folly will be manifest to all…

I Timothy 1:9-10 – …the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, ¹⁰ for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is ^[c]contrary to sound doctrine, 

BIBLICAL REFERENCES TO HOLINESS

the way of holiness

Isaiah 35:8 — A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.

BLESSING OF HOLINESS

Jeremiah 31:23 – Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “They shall again use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I bring back their captivity: ‘The Lord bless you, O home (habitation) of justice (RIGHTEOUSNESS), and mountain of holiness!’

• Special Note: “Mountain” is often symbolic of a kingdom in Scripture. Gods kingdom is one of righteousness and holiness.

GOD’S KINGDOM IS A HOLY KINGDOM

Romans 14:17 – The kingdom of God is… righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit …

WE HAVE HOPE THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Romans 15:13 – Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

GOD’S NAME IS HOLY – HE IS HOLY

Psalm 99:3 – Let them praise Your great and awesome name— He (it) is holy.

Isaiah 47:4; 54:5 – Our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is His name, the Holy One of Israel… For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.

Psalm 103:1 – Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Psalm 145:21 – …all flesh shall bless His holy name forever and ever.

I Samuel 2:2 – “No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God.

Revelation 15:4 – Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.”

Luke 1:49 – He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.

I Peter 1:15,16; Leviticus 11:45…He says, “Be holy, for I am holy” –

Matt 6:9 – In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. (also Luke 11:2)

Psalm 22:3 – You are holy, enthroned (You who dwell, You that inhabit) in the praises of Israel.

Psalm 99:5 – Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool— He is holy.

Revelation 3:7; 4;8; 6:10; 22:11 -…‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”… The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”… And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”… He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”

Isaiah 6:3 – ...“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”

THE LORD’S TEMPLE IS HOLY

Psalm 11:4 – The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven;

WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

I Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19 – Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Ephesians 2:21 –  …in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

Ephesians 4:30 – …do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

the church is to be holy and without blemish

Ephesians 5:27 – …that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Colossians 1:21-22 – …you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled ²² in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.

I Peter 2:5,9 – you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ… you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…

BECAUSE GOD IS HOLY HE CANNOT AND WILL NOT LIE

Psalm 89:35 – Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David…

Titus 1:2 – in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began…

Hebrews 6:18 – …by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

Building up ourselves on our HOLY FAITH

Jude 1:20-21 – But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

DANIEL

Daniel didn’t compromise. He didn’t defile himself (Daniel 1:8). He helped raise a standard of holiness, and separation from the world and worldly ways. He was willing to take a stand for RIGHTEOUSNESS and HOLINESS even when it was unpopular. He didn’t live according to convenience but conviction. His integrity wasn’t swayed by the fear of missing out in things of the world, but by the wholesome fear of God.

A CALL TO HOLINESS

I Thessalonians 4:7 –  For God did not call us to uncleanness, but unto holiness.

Galatians 5:16,25 – I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh... If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

• Special note: We need the help of the HOLY SPIRIT! It is not something we can accomplish on our own. Praise God for our helper, the HOLY SPIRIT who helps us in our weaknesses to be overcomers!

HOLINESS brings us closer to God’s presence. It enlists His favor, His provision, His protection, His power…

HOLINESS is not a suggestion – it is the calling of every true believer in Jesus Christ! We must be HOLY in our daily lives and lifestyle; decisions; behavior; words; thoughts; actions; and attitudes.

Hebrews 12:14 – Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord...