Responding to Our Knowledge of God - Holiness

Introduction:

1. We’re starting a new series today in our Worship Service: Reaching New Heights in Our Knowledge of God!

- as we study this subject in the worship service, we want to further APPLY the subject to our lives as an ABF, so we’ve entitle our ABF study: Responding to Our Knowledge of God

2. I’d like to begin with a question:

Input: Why do we need a study on knowing God? [various answers]

• Daniel 11:32 "…but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.”

- demonstrated in the live of the 3 Hebrew guys who would NOT bow to the idol (Daniel 3)

- by Daniel – put in the lion’s den for praying to someone other than King Darius (Daniel 6)

- it was their view of God that led them to make the decision they each made!

- Paul wrote in Phil. 3:10-14

• Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death

‘know’ = knowledge based on personal experience (because of the interaction/relationship)

Point: No wonder Paul was able to do what he did in his life (along with the 3 Hebrew guys, Daniel, David, Nehemiah, the Disciples, etc.) . . . their knowledge of God (Who He is and what He is able to do) motivated their godly life!

- that’s the way it should be with us!

- the plan is to take each of the attributes about God that we study and FURTHER apply them to our lives, families, work, and life situations!

* Basically, we’re wanting to accomplish two things:

1) to glorify God by our obedience to His Word

2) heed the admonition of ‘knowledge alone can make a person proud’ – so we want to put that knowledge into ACTION!

• 1 Corinthians 8:1 . . . Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies!

- the first part of our study includes:

I. Reaching New Heights in Our Knowledge of God: His HOLINESS!

- that is (or was – depending on your ABF) the subject of our study in the worship service

* Holiness = completely separate from sin

- in other word, God does not even have the ability to sin or to make a mistake because He is absolutely perfect, holy, there are no flaws in His thinking or actions!

• Psalm 99:5 Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His footstool; Holy is He.

- probably one of the more well-know verses on this subject is:

• 1 Peter 1:16 because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

- now, * One of our goals in this study is to learn more about God . . . and His HOLINESS so we can be more OBEDIENT to His Word and bring glory to Him by:

1) exercising our faith in a God Who is HOLY

2) proclaiming this truth to others so they can know Who God is

3) modeling this attribute in our lives (to the degree we can – e.g. we can’t be omnipresent – but we can act like God is everywhere and He never leaves us nor forsakes us!)

- each week, we’re going to be asking a set of questions for you to consider in the context of the specific aspect of God that is being presented in the Worship Service!

II. Responding to Our Knowledge of God

• What other passages communicate this attribute of God? [various answers]
• Psalm 99:9 Exalt the LORD our God And worship at His holy hill, For holy is the LORD our God.
• Isaiah 6:3 And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory."
• Exodus 15:11 Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness?
• Isaiah 40:12-17 [READ!!!]
• What impact should this attribute have in the following areas:
• Temptation to sin:

- cause you to THINK before you make a choice

- cause you to RUN from a situation

- think a/b the consequences of a sinful choice (implication on the testimony of God to the people around you, impact on a church ministry, family, relationships, etc.

• Facing Trials (suffering, illness, disappointments)

- God never makes a mistake

- this is the price we pay for sinning in Gen. 3 – God warned us!

- even is I don’t understand, I can rest in the fact that God is perfect

• Conflicts with people:

- God is perfect – not people!

- the main focus is to do the right thing and pleasing God because He is holy

• Prayer Life:

- we come boldly to the throne of grace, but confessing our sin to a holy God

- to be reverent and realize the greatness of God

- don’t react when God doesn’t answer your request YOUR WAY!

• In what ways does our church emphasize/model this quality? [various answers]

- Teaching on the subject – holiness and progressive sanctification (God setting us apart on a daily basis . . . helping us to be holy as He is holy)

- Church discipline process

- Expectations of leaders/leadership standards

• In what ways do we as a church need to GROW in the way we emphasize/model this attribute? [various answers]

- to continue to understand and teach on this subject more often

- for our ladies to be care in the way they dress (modesty and thoughtfulness)

• How can you emphasize this attribute to your family (spouse, children) and friends?

- teaching them how to handle temptation (e.g. watching TV, DVDs, etc.)

- bring them up in the discipline of the Lord (part of the reason for discipline/correction is to teach the holiness of God!)

- bring them up in the teaching of the Lord (explain to them how God is holy – He never makes a mistake; He doesn’t have the ability to sin)

- model this attribute in your own life: ADMIT when you wrong, ask forgiveness, change!

• How can we help each other grow in this quality?

- Be willing to communicate when someone is sinning

- Ask questions about how each other is doing

- Pray for one another (could do that RIGHT NOW!!!)

• What keeps you from modeling this attribute or causes you to doubt God in this area?

- pride // laziness (i.e. you don’t want to grow, take the easy way)

- lace of submission (if God is holy and right, that makes us wrong, and we have to change)

• How did OT Israel fail to grasp this aspect of knowing God?

Example: They were griping and complaining

• Numbers 11:1 Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
• How did the NT church fail to grasp this aspect of the knowing God?

Example: Corinthian church dealing with sexual issues

• 1 Cor. 6:12-20
• KEY QUESTION: What impact should this attribute have on the following?
• Outreach: people are sinners and need a Savior because God is holy and will judge them
• Praise/Worship: to be reverent and respectful for Who we are worshipping!
• Discipleship/Growth: keep growing to be like Christ (He is HOLY!)
• Serving (use of gifts/abilities): I need to do what I do with excellence, be the example
• One another ministry (Building Meaningful Relationships): God made us relational beings and we need to be careful how we treat each other, and protect each other – friends are concerned a/b each other’s holiness!

Conclusion:

Q: Are you seeking to be more holy because God is holy?

Q: In what ways does your knowledge of God truly impact your actions/choices/thoughts?

Remember this:

“The very sight of sin affects God with abhorrence (Habakkuk 1:13). In the dark hour (many years ago) when God the Father blotted out the view of Christ on the cross, Jesus cried, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Psalm 22:1). In verse 3 (of Psalm 22) we learn the reason why Jesus was forsaken of the Father. The response to Jesus' question is that God is holy and cannot tolerate sin; in verse 3 of Psalm 22, Jesus says, "But You are holy." At Calvary, we are permitted to view God's abhorrence of sin, and perceive something of the holiness of God.” – John Piper

• Psalm 99:5, "Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool, for He is holy."

ABF Series

Responding to Our Knowledge of God

Introduction:

Reaching New Heights in Our Knowledge of God!

Input: Why do we need a study on knowing God?

* Basically, we’re wanting to accomplish two things:

1) to _____________ God by our obedience to His Word

2) heed the admonition of ‘knowledge alone can make a person proud’ – so we want to put that knowledge into ___________!

I. Reaching New Heights in Our Knowledge of God: His HOLINESS!

* Holiness = completely _____________ from _____

* One of our goals in this study is to learn more about God . . . and His _______________ so we can be more _______________ to His Word and bring glory to Him by:

1) _____________ our faith in a God Who is HOLY

2) _____________ this truth to others so they can know Who God is

3) _______________ this attribute in our lives

II. Responding to Our Knowledge of God

• What other passages communicate this attribute of God? [various answers]

• What impact should this attribute have in the following areas:
• Temptation to sin:

• Facing Trials (suffering, illness, disappointments)

• Conflicts with people:

• Prayer Life:

• In what ways does our church emphasize/model this quality?
• In what ways do we as a church need to GROW in the way we emphasize/model this attribute?
• How can you emphasize this attribute to your family (spouse, children) and friends?
• How can we help each other grow in this quality?
• What keeps you from modeling this attribute or causes you to doubt God in this area?
• How did OT Israel fail to grasp this aspect of knowing God?
• How did the NT church fail to grasp this aspect of the knowing God?
• KEY QUESTION: What impact should this attribute have on the following?
• Outreach:
• Praise/Worship:
• Discipleship/Growth:
• Serving (use of gifts/abilities):
• One another ministry (Building Meaningful Relationships):

Conclusion:

Q: Are you seeking to be more holy because God is holy?

Q: In what ways does your knowledge of God truly impact your actions/choices/thoughts?

“The very sight of sin affects God with abhorrence (Habakkuk 1:13). In the dark hour (many years ago) when God the Father blotted out the view of Christ on the cross, Jesus cried, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Psalm 22:1). In verse 3 (of Psalm 22) we learn the reason why Jesus was forsaken of the Father. The response to Jesus' question is that God is holy and cannot tolerate sin; in verse 3 of Psalm 22, Jesus says, "But You are holy." At Calvary, we are permitted to view God's abhorrence of sin, and perceive something of the holiness of God.” – John Piper

• _________________ "Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool, for He is holy."