Day 16

EXCELL IN HOLINESS!

  • “HOLINESS” MUST REFLECT THE NATURE OF THE LORD

GOD’S WORD: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. . .

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. . .

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:6, 8, 48, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What does it mean to “hunger and thirst for righteousness”?
  2. What does it mean to be “pure in heart” and how does this impact our approach to holiness?
  3. What is the connection between having an appetite for righteousness, a pure heart and our pursuing the kind of “holiness” which reflects the Lord’s nature and pleases him?

GOD’S WORD: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. How might my view of God’s mercy shape my understanding and how to reflect his “holiness” in my life?
  2. What are different ways I might best present my body as a “holy sacrifice” to the Lord?
  3. Where must “spiritual transformation” begin in order to produce a genuinely holy life?
  4. How does a “renewed (transformed) mind” help me test and approve the ways to pursue a life of holiness?

GOD’S WORD: Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life. . .

(Philippians 2:15-16, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What does it mean to live in a manner that is described as “blameless, pure and without fault”?
  2. How does the spiritual challenge to be “blameless, pure and without fault” relate to my personal life right now as I pursue holiness?

GOD’S WORD: Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:1-5, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What are the “five sinful characteristics” I recognize I must get rid because they are radically opposed to a life of holiness?
  2. Is spiritual holiness for true Christ-followers a “finished product or a life-long pursuit”?
  • “WHOLENESS” REJECTS COMPARTMENTALIZED LIVES

GOD’S WORD: Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.(Matthew 5:19-20, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What does Jesus say about anyone who “picks and chooses” the commandments of the Lord he will obey consistently?
  2. What might be some examples of “compartmentalized lives” which would make me look like a religious hypocrite?
  3. In what ways must true righteousness and holiness “surpass that of the Pharisees and Jewish rabbis of Jesus’ day”?
  • “INTEGRITY” IS ROOTED IN THE LORD’S NATURE AND VALUED BY GOOD PEOPLE

GOD’S WORD: Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 16:19-20, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.How does integrity relate to the uncompromised pursuit of “justice”?

2.Who are some biblical examples of men and women who “could not be bought off” in their pursuit of following the Lord’s will in every part of their lives?

3.Who are some people I know personally who still “refuse to be bought off” in their pursuit of following the Lord’s will in every part of their lives?

GOD’S WORD: I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl. For what is man’s lot from God above, his heritage from the Almighty on high? Is it not ruin for the wicked, disaster for those who do wrong? Does he not see my ways and count my every step? If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit--let God weigh me in honest scales and he will know that I am blameless--if my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has been led by my eyes, or if my hands have been defiled, then may others eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted. (Job 31:1-8, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What was an important “covenant” Job made with the Lord regarding his eyes and what does this mean?
  2. How closely did Job feel that the Lord “watched” his way of life and how did he describe that watchfulness of the Lord?
  3. What does the challenge Job made to the Lord about “weighing his life” say about the level of integrity Job tried to pursue in all his ways?

GOD’S WORD: LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?

He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on HIs tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord , who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. (Psalm 15:1-5, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What did David mean by tying together these qualities: “blameless, righteousness and truth” in his approach to the Lord?
  2. How does David further discuss “integrity in terms of how I am to relate” to all kinds of people?

GOD’S WORD: We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:2, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What might be examples of “secret and shameful” ways which would inevitably tarnish my spiritual integrity?
  2. How does the way I handle of the “word of God” relate to my integrity before the Lord?
  3. What might it mean to “to commend myself to every man’s conscience in the sight of God”?
  • WE ARE TO BE DEVOTED IN “FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS”

GOD’S WORD: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. How does Jesus “invite people” to come to him?
  2. What all might it have meant for the first followers of Jesus to come to him and “learn from him”?
  3. What does the “gentle and humble” spirit of Jesus teach his followers about the Lord’s will?
  4. Why is it so important to not only learn Jesus’ commandments but also “observe Jesus’ example”?
  5. Why is one “example” more powerful than a thousand words of “instruction”?
  • WE LIVE OUT THE WILL OF JESUS BY “DEPENDING UIPON THE POWER OF GOD”

GOD’S WORD: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What does it mean for Jesus to “transform” us and when does that begin?
  2. What does it mean to “test and approve” God’s will?

GOD’S WORD: Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory,are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory,which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1What does it mean that the Lord, the Holy Spirit, “gives freedom” to Christ-followers?

2What is meant by my reflecting the Lord’s glory with an “unveiled face”?

3Into what or whose image am I being “transformed”?

  1. What or who is the source and power of the believer’s spiritual “transformation”?

GOD’S WORD: For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What “two things” does the Lord promise to do for me when he works powerfully in my life?
  2. Why are both of these promises so essential to spiritual “transformation”?
  • WE TRY TO LIVE IN THE WILL OF JESUS “DEPENDING UPON THE POWER OF GOD”

GOD’S WORD: So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.(Galatians 5:16, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. Do the “desires of my sinful nature” go away immediately after I make my decision to follow Jesus or do they die over time?
  2. What wonderful promise can I claim when I let the Holy Spirit really “take control of my life”?

GOD’S WORD: For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.

And by him we cry, “Abba,Father.”

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:13-17, NIV)

REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What can the Holy Spirit do for my “sinful nature”?
  2. What is the defining condition of my really being a “son of God”?
  1. How does my knowing I am God’s son “remove my fears”?
  2. How and why is spiritual confidence, through the Holy Spirit, essential to my spiritual “transformation”?
  3. Why is my depending upon the power to the power of the Holy Spirit to “transform my life” the most essential component of my commitment and devotion to Jesus as Savior and Lord?