Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me Reflecting Jesus

Heb 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Only holiness of heart and life will enable us to be comfortable in His presence. (B.W.Downing).



The CotN differs from nearly every other Christian church.

Holiness is the main doctrine, not only of this church, but this doctrine belongs to everyone who becomes a child of God; every born again Christian.


This blessing does not belong to the CotN. We are the ones who must spread the full Gospel which includes the doctrine of holiness, and not just the Born-again teaching.
“If I be lifted up”.

We as human beings, are created by God for one very special purpose: to worship Him in the beauty of His holiness:

Ps 96:9 Worship the LORD in the splendour of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.


To be effective evangelists, we need to be reflecting His beauty within our souls.

Entire sanctification is enacted the moment we consecrate ourselves which is of vital importance as holiness is a major component of our salvation.

We need to emphasise the importance of the actual experience and ensure that God’s people (every person who claims Christianity), understands and desires the experience. (Matt 1:21).
1. Make every effort.

Heb 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.


This sounds like something we must do!

Obedience leads to righteousness.

a. Study … the Scriptures.

b. Be obedient to whatever God says to you, personally through His Word (the Bible).

c. Be in harmony with the pastoral ministry through God’s chosen leaders.


Pastoral ministry:

Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.


Your leaders also need your prayers. They are normal human beings who have been given a special calling by God.


Heb 13: 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.


Eph 6:19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.


Heb13:16,17 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Live in peace with all men

To fulfil this command will require a constant infilling of the Holy Spirit and a refill of the Fruit Of The Spirit.

And to be holy

Heb 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.


Sanctification is the Biblical term that brings about this promise of God.

Holiness is simply the purification of the polluted human soul.

This experience belongs only to the born-again believer. It is an instantaneous experience that progresses in Christ-like development.


Being holy is the work of the Holy Spirit

2Thess 2:13,14 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Importance of holiness

Heb 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

There are at least two ways of understanding what is meant here.

If you are not yet entirely sanctified, the Lord is still standing outside your heart (soul) waiting for your invitation (Rev3:20). Bear in mind the context of this text which is referring to the Church; to born-again believers. . .

a. no one will see the Lord in you . You are reflecting yourself

b. it could also mean that without holiness (the indwelling Holy Spirit) no person can enter God’s presence.

c. Matt 5:8 The pure in heart are those of us in whom the Holy Spirit has cleansed our hearts for Him to dwell within, which makes us holy.

conclusion

We are preparing ourselves to GO and make disciples as Jesus commissioned us.

Being led by the Spirit of God, we need to make sure that we are entirely sanctified; that we are anointed for the purpose of evangelising our part of the world; of bringing people into the kingdom of God; of doing the work that God expects from those in whom His Holy Spirit is active.


Holiness is not private nor for mutual admiration, but for a display of Christ-likeness in fragile human nature (cracked pots).



To live a holy life is too difficult to live alone; we need each other!



Restoration of Christ-likeness in human nature is God’s highest objective.





ITS NO LONGER I THAT LIVETH

BUT CHRIST THAT LIVETH IN ME (x2)

HE LIVES! HE LIVES!

JESUS IS ALIVE IN ME

ITS NO LONGER I THAT LIVETH

BUT CHRIST THAT LIVETH IN ME






SONG 526

LET THE BEAUTY OF JESUS BE SEEN IN ME

ALL HIS LOVE AND COMPASSION AND PURITY

OH, THOU SPIRIT DEVINE;

ALL MY NATURE REFINE

TILL THE BEAUTY OF JESUS IS SEEN IN ME.





HYMN 208

I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS.