PhD - Personal Holiness Development

here's my notes i took in the men's breakfast bible study this morning. dino rizzo spoke part 1 on "personal holiness development."

Personal holiness development – not three words we use every day in conversation. “what did you do this morning?” “oh, some personal holiness development…” “ooh, did it hurt?”

We don’t always think of this topic as something “for me.” it’s good for someone else, but we don’t normally match it our own lives. we gave up on it a long time ago. It was there for a season in the past one time, but it’s just too out there.

That’s because we look at it as so much an external matter. But it is an internal matter that while it will affect the external, it is a matter of focus on the internal.

So over the next 10 weeks…. “I’m gonna force myself to be holy…. I’ll look in the mirror every morning and tell myself BE HOLY.” it CAN'T work that way.

I’m telling you it is the same grace that saved you and called you that will develop you in holiness.

I Peter 1
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

So we see that it is not just an old school bible word – “holiness” is relevant today. It is internal. And it is real. Jesus didn’t have to walk into a room and announce that he was holy. It was his words and his actions, but those came from him being full of grace and truth. It was on the inside.

It all boils down to seeing Jesus and imitating him. that’s the dino “simple” definition of holiness.

Holiness is a matter of obeying God – not a list of rules or traditions, but obeying God.

Story of group in Canada – like Amish, but they do electricity and all. they are known for being “holy,” but someone told us that when they do get to go into town, they are known for getting slap drunk, etc. I thought “what is it for then?” why bother living like that – and then not have it be a total life picture? Seeing Jesus and imitating Jesus in your total life. It’s ALL the time that counts. It’s not like, okay now I’m doing a Christian thing – these are my Christian friends, oh, wait- my wife is watching.

HOLINESS: Totally devoted and dedicated to God, set aside, set apart for a special use. The “use” is where God chooses to put you. It’s not about working at the church. holiness in your home, at the office, at the plant, on the field… it is using you for special use wherever God has you.

Also means walking free from the world’s pull. You can’t become holy on your own. And you can’t become holy to elevate yourself.

Those who compare their “holy status” with others – be careful. That’s not what it is about. It’s not a badge. Those who pursue holiness often get this aura around them that made them look down on others who weren’t like them.

Holiness is devotion and dedication to do all God has intended for you… and the more you have of that, the more humility and the more honest appraisal of yourself you’ll do. you’ll realize that you are a desperate sinner and God’s grace is the ONLY way you’ve gotten where you are.

Holiness means to be led by the Spirit.

PHD and me – it can happen.

We want to understand the “beauty of holiness” – there’s a term from the bible we need to discover the meaning of.

It’s not about me getting more of Him… it’s about Him waiting on me to yield more of my life to Him. in the way I live, speak, do what I do everyday – I must yield more of my life to Him.

I can’t and won’t try to give you a list of 5 steps to holiness and then your wife will start calling you “your holiness.” But I can help us see that we must surrender more.

“Lord, help us to learn to be yielded, surrendered and dedicated to You.”

this is gonna be a great series....