Do you have a Secret Identity?: Hidden habits or holy habits We live in a world that is full of people who have no direction. We live in a world where many believe that they simply don’t fit in. We live in a world were many people are searching for a sense of belonging to someone or something. We live in a time when many Christians are experiencing an identity crisis. Many don’t know who they are in Christ. Because they have lost their spiritual identity, they don’t know who or what they are called to be. The consequence is believers struggling everyday with the concept of being in the world but not of the world. It’s like our real identity has become our secret identity. Just like Clark Kent and Superman, your real identity is so secret that it never appears in public at the same time you do! Faith Service Worship Vision There may be times when you find it difficult to reconcile God’s truth to your own opinion or worldview, God’s truth is eternal, it does not change, our understanding of the truth does change as we allow God to work in our hearts and minds. These sessions are not about opinion, they are about learning truth, the truth contained in the Bible, together we are going to focus on how we apply God’s truth, black & white in a grey world. To set godly priorities, grow in Christian character and live according to God’s standards so that we are a living witness to others.
Words of Truth & Life:
Session 6 Bible Study 26 October 2010
Why do many Christians find it so hard to reveal who they really are? It’s no secret of what the world really thinks about those who live for Christ in the 21st Century. It’s no secret that most of the world thinks that we are nothing more than second-class citizens. Many think we’re nothing more than freaks, fanatics or frauds. Some see Christians as nothing more than extremists, trying to get some attention. Because so many have been hurt, rejected, and made fun of by the church, they refuse to hear anything that we have to say. Others believe that we are bibletoting, tongue-speaking renegades, who only want to put on a spectacle for others to see. They believe that the church is nothing more than a social club, where we gather from week to week to compare clothes, hairstyles, and trends; or that the church is nothing more than a place for those who are in everybody else’s business to gather to share notes and swap stories. They feel that the only difference between them and us is that they’re meeting in the clubs, and bars, but we’re meeting in the church!
Before you came to church for the first time, what did you anticipate it would be like? Was it what you expected? Many in the world think that we’re just putting on a show, pretending to be something that we’re not, and sadly many who ‘do church’ are doing just that and it has a detrimental effect on the entire body of Christ., when Christians compromise God’s commands and think “The world says I should...”
Is our witness ineffective because so many have the wrong understanding of what a Christian is? Or is our witness ineffective because we’re too busy trying to be Who The World Thinks We Are?
Get descriptive If you were to describe yourself in one word , what would that word be? It’s not who the world thinks we are, or who we believe we are, but what the Bible says we are that is important: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9) To overcome a Spiritual Identity Crisis, don’t worry about who the world thinks you are, don’t worry about who you believe you are, stand on and rest in the promises of God. Chosen people: Selected, Elected, Preferred Royal priesthood: Regal, Majestic Holy nation: God’s holy nation Belonging to God: God’s very own possession.
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Habits, hidden or holy
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11)
There is a book by Stephen Covey called The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, the book has been a best seller for years and has sold over 12 million copies.
And they share it whenever possible. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Col 3:16)
The purpose of the book was to give the reader the tools they needed to enjoy powerful and effective living. Covey’s book is full of advice on leadership, life management and relationships, all centred around an “inside-out” concept that old behaviour is learned, it is not instinctive. Old habits can be discarded and replaced by new and effective habits. Remind you of another book?
The study and application of the Scriptures is a habit with Highly Holy People
Habit 2 - Supplication
The book deals with the habits of Initiative, Creativity, Productivity, Interdependence, Empathy, Valuing Differences & Consistency. According to Covey, If you exhibit these seven habits in your daily life, you could correctly describe yourself in the one word, “Effective”
Highly Holy People daily seek God in prayer. If our lives are to be defined as “Holy” why must we be a people of prayer? 1 Thess. 5:16 –“pray continually”
How does God want us to be able to define ourselves?
Because Prayer is our half of a lifelong conversation with God! Prayer is how we develop a relationship with the creator of the universe. Knowing there is power in prayer is a necessity for everyday living.
I think the word Christlike sums it up. Christ was “HOLY”, separate, different.
Would you describe yourself as “Holy”?
A life of prayer leads to a life of holiness.
As Christians we are called to live a holy life.
Prayer is a Habit with Highly Holy People
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16)
Habit #3 - Saviour
BE HOLY. Why? Because God is Holy
Highly Holy People are devoted to following Christ no matter what
How can you know if your ‘Holy’ or not?”
If our lives are to be defined as “Holy” Why must we be a people of who follow Jesus?
Is the fact that God gave the command to be Holy an indication that He has made it possible?
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. (2 Tim 2:8-9a)
Seven holy habits These will serve as a measuring stick to help you determine the areas in your life that are in need of strengthening
Highly Holy People realise that being a Christian is not always easy, but they do it anyway because of their devotion to Christ and because they recognise it as an association with Jesus’ suffering they endure because they know what christ went through and they are willing to do the same. Because they devoted to following Him no matter what.
Habit 1 - Scripture Highly Holy People understand Scripture as the guide for their daily lives If our lives are to be defined as “Holy” Why must we be a people who read the Bible ?
More than just enduring hardship, Highly Holy people are devoted to Christ because they understand that in Him alone is an eternal reward.
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2)
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
Highly Holy People Love God’s word
Devotion to Christ comes from a desire to identify with Him and then live with Him eternally.
They can’t get enough of it. They base their lives on it. It is a part of them. They know that it has the power to protect them from all kinds of junk in life.
Unconditional devotion to Jesus Christ is a Habit with Highly Holy People
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Habit #4 - Spirit
Habit #6 - Sanctification
Highly Holy People live each day guided by the Holy Spirit
Highly Holy People are obedient in separating themselves from the spirit of the world
If our lives are to be defined as “Holy” Why must we be a people who “to live by the Spirit”?
If our lives are to be defined as “Holy” how can we ensure our focus is on the things of God rather than the things of the world?
So I say, live by the Spirit… 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Gal 5:16,25) 16
If we want to effective believers how can we work toward presenting our bodies as living sacrifices that are acceptable and pleasing to God?
It means that our lives contain evidence that the Holy Spirit is active in our lives - namely the Fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. A life defined by these traits is a life defined by the presence of the Holy Spirit
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honourable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. (1 Thess 4:3-7) 3
Highly Holy people follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit even when it is contrary to their own plans, like Paul in Acts 16 - 6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Part of living a sanctified life requires us to be people who understand and strive for personal purity. Sadly, sexual impurity is rampant, even amongst Christians. The Bible is clear that we should not live a life of sexual impurity. Young or old, single or married, male or female, sexual purity is a requirement if we are to be holy people
The results of this such a willingness to follow is that the world will be changed
A holy life has been sanctified, set apart, for God’s service. It is a life that puts self to death and seeks to be pure and acceptable to God
Following the leading of the Holy Spirit is a Habit with Highly Holy People
Habit #5 -Saints
We live in an age of godlessness, where men and women are more concerned with the immediate than with the eternal. The spirit of this world is an impure spirit of selfishness and it is the antithesis of holiness.
Highly Holy People are accountable to God’s house and His people
Separation from the spirit of the world is a Habit with Highly Holy People
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25)
Habit #7 - Service
When you go to church is your focus on what you can get out of it or on what you can put into it?
Highly Holy People seek to serve the body and use their gifts out of thanks to God
Standing in a garage does not make you become a car and going to church does not make a person a Christian. However, Holy people understand the benefit of being with God’s people
If our lives are to be defined as “Holy” why should we seek to serve others? And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through 8
Paul says that the church is like a body. All of us are members of it. How can the body benefit from an arm that sleeps in? Be there for everything you can. Find a place to get involved. Find your place of ministry and be faithful to it. Find a friend you can share with, pray with, study the word with. . Faithfulness to God’s house is a Habit with Highly Holy People
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What would you like to change & what do you NEED to change? In all of those areas you identified, what would you like to be different?
us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. (2 Cor. 9:8-13)
Be specific about what you want Ask yourself these four questions: 1. What do I want to be?
Every one of us has been gifted in one way or another, some are pastors, some teachers, some evangelists, some are hospitable, some are giving, some are helpful, the list goes on.
2. What do I want to do?
The point is that Highly Holy People do what they can to determine the spiritual gifts with which they have been gifted and then seek to put those gifts to use within the Body of Christ.
Then ask God to help you identify the barriers and be patient and persistent in prayer.
3. What do I want to have? 4. Why do I want it?
From the Inside Out (Joel Houston)
Why? So that, “men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ” Without that obedience your confession is hollow. As a child of God, you need to seek out a place of effective service. God did not give us spiritual gifts so that we could enjoy having them but so that we could enjoy using them
A thousand times I’ve failed Still your mercy remains And If I stumble again I’m caught in your grace Everlasting, Your light will shine When all else fails Neverending, your glory goes Beyond all fame In my heart and my soul I give You control Consume me from the inside out Lord Let justice and praise Become my embrace To love You from the inside out Everlasting, Your light will shine When all else fails Neverending, Your glory goes Beyond all fame And the cry of my heart Is to bring You praise From the inside out Lord my soul cries out Your will above all else My purpose remains The art of losing myself In bringing You praise Everlasting, Your light will shine When all else fails Neverending, your glory goes Beyond all fame
In every church there are those that serve and those that expect to be served, what category are you in and what category does God expect you to be in? Service to the Body of Christ is a Habit with Highly Holy People.
More than a disguise! Part of living a life of holiness is developing habits in our lives that are holy, don’t try to do these things in your own strength, ask Christ to help you make holiness a reality for your life. Pray that by the empowering of the Holy Spirit you will be live a life that brings glory to God. Ask God to change you from the inside-out: Ezra Taft Benson said “The Lord works from the inside-out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take the people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people and then they take themselves out of the slums… The world would shape human behaviour, but Christ can change human behaviour.”
For personal reflection If God did not intend for us to be holy people why would He command us to be Holy?
You’ve got to know where you are before you can know where you are going Where are you now? Where are you spiritually, financially, emotionally, relationally, physically, and occupationally? 4