“Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 John 1:16)

 SANCTIFY YOURSELF!

“Be holy, because I am holy.”     (1 John 1:16)

My dearly beloved,

God's utmost desire is that the gospel of the kingdom should be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations. The gospel will kindle every soul to know that Jesus Christ is the only God. In Luke 12:49, Jesus says,

"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled"

In the Old Testament, prophet Elijah spoke about this fire. It is when the people of Israel sinned and aroused God's anger (1 Kings 16:2). So they faced a severe famine in their land (1 Kings 18:2). By the leading of God, Elijah said to the people, "...you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”

The people called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. Hours later, they again shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, but there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention. Elijah's turn came. At the time of sacrifice, he stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” The fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”(1 Kings 18:37,38 &39). Elijah did not boast by his prayer but humbly pleaded the Lord. The Lord heard his prayers and the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling. People who saw the miracles testified that He is the true God!

Even you may be experiencing famine in all the areas of your life. Just examine your life and keep yourself holy before God. In order to receive God's miracles in our life, we need to consecrate ourselves before God. We read the same in Joshua 3:5, “ Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” God says, “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 John 1:16).This is the day of transformation in your life. Desire holiness and then you will see God pouring down heavy showers of blessings upon you and filling your life with eternal joy. Remember, when people see the holiness in you, they will come to know the God in you.

We serve a holy God. He tells us in Lev 11:44 that he is holy.
Lev 11:44 I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground.
Lev 11:45 I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.
In a couple of sentences he gives us the motive for being holy. Because He is. The call to be something is not about us it’s about Him. We exist for Him, for His glory, for His purposes.
R. C. Sproul makes this insightful statement about his divine attribute from Isaiah 6:
“The Bible says that God is holy, holy, holy. Not that He is merely holy, or even holy, holy. He is holy, holy, holy. The Bible never says that God is love, love, love, or mercy, mercy, mercy, or wrath, wrath, wrath, or justice, justice, justice. It does say that He is holy, holy, holy, the whole earth is full of His glory.”

(1) TO BE HOLY IS TO BE DISTINCT, SEPARATE, IN A CLASS BY ONESELF. AS SPROUL PUTS IT:
The primary meaning of holy is ‘separate.’ It comes from an ancient word that meant, ‘to cut,’ or ‘to separate.’ Perhaps even more accurate would be the phrase ‘a cut above something.’ When we find a garment or another piece of merchandise that is outstanding, that has a superior excellence, we use the expression that it is ‘a cut above the rest.
This means that the one who is holy is uniquely holy, with no rivals or competition.
“When the Bible calls God holy it means primarily that God is transcendentally separate. He is so far above and beyond us that He would be totally foreign to us except that he made himself relatable to us. To be holy is to be ‘other,’ to be different in a special way.
The Scriptures put it this way:
11 “Who is like Thee among the gods, O LORD? Who is like Thee, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11). 2 “There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides Thee, Nor is there any rock like our God (1 Samuel 2:2).
8 There is no one like Thee among the gods, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Thine. 9 All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; And they shall glorify Thy name. 10 For Thou art great and doest wondrous deeds; Thou alone art God (Psalms 86:8-10; see also Psalm 99:1-3; Isaiah 40:25; 57:15).
Everything about him is holy. We see in the scriptures many references to things that God made holy: There’s the Holy Temple, holy mountain, holy ground (the place where Moses was standing), Gods holy dwelling, the holy place, the Holy of holies, we are a holy nation and a holy priesthood, the holy city of Jerusalem. Consider the following points.
Pt 1: HIS NAME IS HOLY.
(Lev 22:32 NIV) Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.
Lev 19:12 "’Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
Lev 24:11 The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name with a curse; so they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri the Danite.) Lev 24:12 They put him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them. Lev 24:13 Then the LORD said to Moses: Lev 24:14 "Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him.


Prayer:

Gracious Heavenly Father,

You are holy and Almighty. I desire to be holy just as You are holy. Remember my family and me. Sanctify our family. Deliver us from all temptations that Satan brings. Help me to lead a life that is pleasing in Your sight. Teach me to be humble always. In Jesus' mighty name, I pray.

Amen.