Holiness In Worldly Activities
The world has it's view, but how does the Lord look at holiness in light of what we do and allow in our lives concerning things of the world
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Proverbs 3:7
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1Corinthians 2:16
• These two scripture verses lay a good foundation for us to build good understanding when it comes to life in general including how we view worldly activities.
• All born again believers must not have wisdom based upon their own views or biases.
• We are called to fear God, reverence Him, His will, opinions, truth, above our own.
• By these truths, we are to make a course that leads from evil or error.
• We are to have the mind of Christ, and if Christ is in us of a truth, that should not be such a hard thing to do.
Something that needs to be considered by every sincere believer:
The church of the living God can not, must not look to the world for anything that is considered to be righteous, moral or holy. The world can not have what is not theirs to have. If God is the source of true righteousness, morality and holiness how can anyone attain it apart from Him? They can not!
We need God! His mind, heart, direction!
Whatever the world might have that is righteous, moral or holy must have been influenced in one way or another by the source. God gives everyone a conscience. Some level of truth. Whether they wish to admit or deny the fact.
But even mankind’s conscience though God given, without an active God applied grace, could not be truly righteous, moral or holy as God would have it (and that is what this walk is all about). We can see that when the Scriptures speak of those who are “given up” those who are called “reprobates”.
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
1 John 5:19
Note the revelation of biblical separation…
• ...we are of God
• …the whole world lieth in wickedness
What is the real element of separation? God! We have Him in our lives, the world does not!
This is how God sees it, a hard core fact that may be difficult to receive but truth nonetheless and we must receive it as God reveals it or our walk will be hindered buy what we see and hear in those who no not God.
One can attempt to argue with it, but will ultimately fail in their position. Who can argue with God and win?
….let God be true, but every man a liar…. Romans 3:4
…. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Corinthians 15:33
• How interesting, what the Word of God is saying is “if we think we can hang around and have fellowship with the world and the ungodly and not be affected adversely then we are being deceived”.
• Some serious food for thought.
So what does the Bible say about Worldly Activities?
Webster’s Dictionary defines “activity” as the quality or state of being active; vigorous or energetic action; liveliness natural or normal function.
Now this can have little meaning without seeing it through God’s eyes.
So how does God see it?
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning (a sojourning, dwelling in a strange land, dwelling in a strange land, life of a man here on earth) here in fear (dread, terror, reverence for one husband): Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible (perishing) things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (useless, purposeless, fruitless lifestyle) received by tradition from your fathers; (handed down from one’s father’s or ancestors) 1 Peter 1:17
Why can so many so called Christians not see this today? Is God thier Father? Is God our Father? If so, we ought to be moving within the traditions of those who bare the same Father, the same family. You will become like those you spend time with, it may take time, but it will take place. (Another spiritual law)
Be not deceived (seduced, wonder from the way of truth): evil communications (companionship, social intercourse, commune) corrupt (defiles, destroys) good manners (morals, character). Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34
With these things in mind let’s take a closer look at “Holiness in Worldly Activities”.
I Thessalonians 5:22 tell us to… Abstain from all appearance of evil.
The Bible defines the word “abstain” as to hold one’s self off, refrain.
• Now we must first come to the understanding that every level of holiness, righteousness, conforming to moral character and to the will and principles of God is completely voluntary. God does not force us, He leads and convicts us (He is looking for relationship that is agreed upon, not dictatorship where there is no choice) we choose how we will respond.
o 2 Corinthians 6:17 a well known Scripture text gives us insight into this when it declares “…come out from among them and be ye separate…”
o Both the call to come out (go forth, depart) and be ye separate (to mark off from others by boundaries) are voluntary responses to God’s command.
o We choose to….
1. hear
2. submit
3. obey
4. follow
5. ….what God requires
o To be frankly honest God would have it no other way. This is true holiness that pleases the Lord.
Before we get to the point that we think the word holiness is overemphasized consider this:
Holiness / be holy is used 468 times in the Old Testament
Holy is used 229 times in the New Testament
Holiness (Strongs #38) is used 10 times
Holiness (Strongs #40) is used 1 time
Holiness (Strongs #42) is used 3 times
Holiness (Strongs #2412) is used 1 time
A grand total of aprx. 712 times and that is not counting any other words that are connected with the word.
So holiness is a major topic in the Bible and a major issue with the Lord!
What kind of love relationship would it be if we are forced into it and it was not an issue of the heart?
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Isaiah 29:13 (Matthew 15:8)
o …taught by the precept of men… instead of the precepts of God, given by His prophets revealed to us through His word.
o They worship me not in such way and manner as I have commanded and prescribed, but according to their own and other men’s inventions, preferring the devices and traditions of their false prophets before my institutions. For this was a common error among the Jews, as we learn from Jeremiah 7:31 and Hosea 5:11 and many other scriptures; and thus our blessed Saviour expounds this very place in Matthew 15:8 (Matthew Poole’s Commentary)
o God has always used submitted human agents to bring forth His Word of truth both spoken and written.
Back to the text “appearance of evil” to help us see a bit clearer we could use wording from Galatians 5:21, which speaks about the works of the flesh, to get a better understanding for after quite a long list the writer adds… “and such like”… which is defined as “similar, resembling, corresponding to a thing”.
We can also look at 1Timothy 1:9-10 which again list things that that pertain to breaking God’s law.
The writer adds “and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.”
o To break it down a bit, the word contrary is defined as to “set over against, opposite to, oppose to”.
o The word sound is defined as “whole, wholesome, free from any mixture of error.
So we can safely conclude that when it comes to worldly activities, if what we do or allow is similar or resembling anything that is not in line with God’s word and if it is set against, opposite or opposed to what is wholesome or mixed with error and we should “abstain” from it.
This is very hard and foreign to many in Christianity today, not because sincere believers do not want to walk in the order of God’s truth, but rather because truth has been seriously altered by precepts of men who themselves have been mislead or simply do not know God in Spirit and truth.
When people alter biblical precepts and truth, it should make you wonder why they do it.
Several reasons come to mind:
1. Lack of understanding truth
2. Refusal to acknowledge truth
3. Direct rebellion against truth
• Those who truly desire to please God in these last days find themselves trying to recover that which has been lost through years of compromise and rejection of biblical truth and holiness.
But the Lord Himself has given us hope:
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. Jeremiah 29:13-14
o One must pay close attention to note what the Lord reveals “I will turn away your captivity…I will gather you from all the nations…” not that God has driven us per say, but we have been lead away from truth and brought into places of spiritual captivity.
o There is another way that people are lead into captivity, disobedience.
o Either way, the Lord is always willing to recover His people from where they have strayed or have been taken captive.
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. Titus 3:3
• One thing we can learn from this verse is that God expects change on every level of life.
• He not only expects it, He works it in us if we are willing to yield.
• The fact that the verse reads “were sometimes…” reveals that what we were should no longer be what we are now.
• One of these characteristics deals with worldly activities namely, “serving divers lusts and pleasures”.
• So what is the bible saying? Simple! There was a time that we were giving ourselves to various desires, cravings, longings, for what is forbidden according to the Word of God.
But it is not only lusts that we need to consider, but pleasures are included here.
• Pleasures are defined as “desire for pleasure”. Now we are faced with how do we reconcile “pleasures” with what we are trying to teach concerning “worldly activities”?
Taking a look at a man of God who had it all within his reach yet chose God above it all will give us a clearer understanding of what the Scriptures teach.
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence (reward) of the reward. Hebrews 11:24-26
2 Timothy 3:7 gives warning of a time (which I believe governs much of our Christianity today) when men and women alike will be “lovers of pleasure more then lovers of God”.
This makes things a bit clearer, pleasure is what we choose above God that does not line up with His word. And the Scripture tells us in whom and what we are to find pleasure in. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalm 37:4
Lets look at some results of a Pleasure-seeking Life:
Poverty
o He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. Proverbs 21:17
False Security {#Isa 47:8,9}
o Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures (delight oneself), that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments (association, company, shared society). Isaiah 47:8-9
Spiritual Barrenness
o And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. Luke 8:14)
Presumption
o And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? Luke 12:18-19
Spiritual Death
o But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. 1 Timothy 5:6
o Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:4-5
o Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. James 5:5
Desire for Continual Celebrations
o And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 2 Peter 2:13
Psalm 1 speaks great promise to those who desire to live a God seeking holy life
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight (pleasure, longing, that in which one takes pleasure)is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalm 1
Results of a God seekig life:
You will be blessed
You shall be planted by rivers of water
You shall bring forth fruit in its season
Your leaf will not wither
You shall prosper
Your way is known of the Lord
In conclusion the Bible declares this:
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-16
• “Love not” is spoken in comparison to what we should love.
• “Love not” the world, love God!
• “Love not” the things of this world, love God!
• Why? The Lord makes it clear, if you love the world, God’s love is not in you as it ought to be. Another point that can be argued but not successfully.