Seeking Him Week Six Holiness A Heart Like His

Seeking Him Week Six—Holiness: A Heart Like His

7/6/2021

Welcome to our Summer 2021 Book Club-Style Bible Study! We are using the book Seeking Him by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Tim Grissom.

How would you like to seek personal revival with us this summer and change your life forever! I have done this study twice now, and let me tell you, it is life changing!

Join us for 12 weeks this summer on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 est beginning June 1 through August 17. If you can't come then, come when you can.

Whether you are a brand new lover of Jesus Christ, or you’ve been a Christian for years, this insightful study will impact your life in a transformative way. Seeking Him will reward you with a deeper walk with God and set your life on a path to be used greatly by our Savior.

Holiness: A Heart Like His

"Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14

God’s call for us to be revived is His call for us to be holy.

A truly repentant heart turns from sin and surrenders to the will of the Father, and it is the Father’s will that His children live holy lives—set apart from sin and set apart for God.

Wholly His.

The word “holy” comes from a word meaning “to separate” or “to cut off.” Hebrews 7:26 describes Jesus as “…holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.”

God is calling us to holiness, but more specifically commanding us to be holy.

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as e wWho called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” I Peter 1:14-16

There are two levels of Holiness.

Positional Holiness—This takes place at the moment of our salvation when we are brought near to God by faith in the blood of Jesus shed for us on the cross. God gives us Christ’s righteousness, and He now sees us through His Son as holy.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession…” (I Peter 2:9a)
Personal Holiness—This holiness is developed in the life of a Christian who is surrendered to the Holy Spirit’s work. It is part of our sanctification. It is the fruit that comes out of positional holiness.

Personal holiness is the holiness that God tells us to “strive for” in Hebrews 12:14. But how do we “strive” for holiness? It sounds like a whole lot of work doesn’t it?

Just as our salvation came by grace through faith, our growth in personal holiness will also come by grace through faith.

“Striving” for holiness is that deliberate act of daily seeking His face in His Word and in prayer.

Desiring to see the face of God and to know the heart of God.
Desiring to love what He loves and to hate what He hates.

Seeking—yes, even striving—to live out God’s will for us on this earth. It involves a constant rejection of what God calls sin and embracing what God says is good.

We are His church. His bride. It is only fitting that we should be striving for holiness.

“…Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25b-27

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.” I Thessalonians 5:23-24

"God’s call for us to be revived is His call for us to be holy." I love that quote! Just that one line has been so thought-provoking for me this week. It holds so much truth, and so much responsibility as well. How will we respond? How will you seek Him this week?

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14 Comments

Michele Morin link

7/6/2021 09:26:50 am

I appreciate this reminder that my spiritual formation is a joint project with God.

Patsy Burnette link

7/7/2021 11:11:00 am

It's a great reminder for me as well today, Michele! So much of the time I find myself in the mindset of "doing it on my own"—and we all know how IMPOSSIBLE that is!!!

Theresa Boedeker link

7/6/2021 01:14:41 pm

Like so many spiritual things, it requires a striving for and doing our whole life, doesn't it. Personal holiness is not a one week endeavor, which is how I approached growing as a Christian when a teen.

7/7/2021 11:13:36 am

Progressive sanctification, Theresa—it begins at salvation and takes a lifetime of striving to be more like Christ and less like me.

Joanne Viola link

7/6/2021 02:44:31 pm

I am so grateful this is a lifelong journey and God never gives up on me!

7/7/2021 11:15:35 am

YES, Joanne! He is the eternal pursuer! He leaves the 99 in search of the 1. He calls His children home, again and again. So grateful!!!

Susan M Shipe link

7/6/2021 08:12:08 pm

I'm so glad He never leaves me to my own devices!!!

7/7/2021 11:16:24 am

For sure, Susan! Me as well. That would be a disastrous event!

Lisa notes link

7/7/2021 08:30:06 am

I always like being reminded of the original definition of holy; it's not how we typically use it. Being called apart is a special thing and not to be taken lightly.

7/7/2021 11:17:51 am

"Being called apart is a special thing and not to be taken lightly." <— I love that, Lisa. Not to be taken lightly, for sure!

Lauren Renee Sparks link

7/7/2021 01:23:20 pm

Striving for holiness. Striving to be more like Him. Good word.

1/10/2024 09:48:53 am

Indeed, the pursuit of holiness and the aspiration to reflect the character of Christ are noble endeavors, Lauren. It's a journey that involves continuous growth, learning, and drawing closer to Him. May your striving be filled with grace, and may you experience the transformative power of becoming more like Him.

Mandy Farmer link

7/8/2021 01:40:41 pm

Very good explanation of holiness and sanctification. Pinned and scheduled on my FB

1/10/2024 09:52:41 am

I'm encouraged to read that you found the explanation of holiness and sanctification helpful, Mandy!! Thank you for sharing it on your Facebook. May the post inspire meaningful discussions and reflections.

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