Heritage Month 2015 - Holiness

Holiness

January 4, 2015

“Our heritage and ideals, our code and

standards – the things we live by and teach our

children – are preserved or diminished by how

freely we exchange ideas and feelings”

- Walt Disney

Definition:

• The traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc., that are part

of the history of a group or nation;

• Something transmitted by or acquired from a

predecessor.

Synonyms:

• tradition;

• legacy;

• birthright;

• Inheritance.

12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble

knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be

dislocated, but rather be healed.14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will

see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any

root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become

defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one

morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing,

he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought

it diligently with tears.

Hebrews 12:1-21 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:3-11

The race requires…

Perseverance and Persistence (v. 3)

A Price to be Paid (v. 4)

Preparation in the Present (v. 11)

But results in…

Personal Profit (v.10)

Partaking in Holiness (v. 10)

Producing Peace (v. 11)

Hebrews 12:12 – 17

Holiness requires us to consider our…

1 Posture (vv. 12-13)

2 Pursuit (v. 14)

3 Perception (v. 15)

a. Position (v. 15)

b. Produce (v. 15)

4 Promises (vv. 16-17)

Verses 12-13: “strengthen (orthos) your hands and knees…so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed”

Poor form results in ultimate failure.

Most people begin well…Winners finish well.

Weariness and discouragement change our attitude, focus, language, thoughts, and actions.

The difference between finishing and failing is the ability (and willingness) to posture oneself for health and healing (v. 13).

Verse 14: “Pursue peace with all people, and

holiness, without which no one will see the Lord”

The race is characterized by:

Harmony with People (2nd Commandment)

Harmony with God (1st Commandment)

The race is not a matter of temporal competition

but rather eternal communion.

Verse 15: “looking carefully lest anyone fall

short of the grace of God; lest any root of

bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this

many become defiled”

Position: We must be careful not to lag behind and

thereby never finish our journey.

Produce: We must be careful to examine what is

growing in our lives.

The decisions we make today dictate our

destination tomorrow.

Lessons from Esau: Our Pattern by Contrast

Never forfeit your future for fleeting fulfillment.

When you make deals with the deceiver, he will take

more than you bargained for.

Your birthright and blessing are eternally valuable,

don’t wait until its too late to run to the Father.

Holiness

January 4, 2015