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08 Spiritual Spring Cleaning:
How can I answer God’s challenge to live a holy life?
Scripture Lesson for the Day: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Romans 12:1-2
Cornerstone Text: “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, NLT).
To answer God’s challenge to live a holy life you must…
- Posses the desire to live a holy life.
“So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy. I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him” (Romans 12:1a, NCV).
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled”
(Matthew 5:6, NIV).
Are you satisfied with spiritual mediocrity and the status quo in your life?
- Settle the “who is the boss in my life issue!”
Consecration: Offer myself totally to God to use as he sees fit.
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him”
(Romans 12:1, The Message).
"May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the light, love and joy of God’s presence; and not a moment without the entire surrender of myself as a vessel for Him to fill full of His Spirit and His love” (Andrew Murray).
- Believe that God can and will help you!
“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, NLT).
KEY UNDERSTANDING: God wants to heal my spiritual infection.
“And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command” (Ezekiel 36:26-27, NLT).
“Therefore, urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship”
(Romans 12:1, NIV).
“So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I, the LORD, am your God. Keep all my laws and obey them, for I am the LORD, who makes you holy” (Leviticus 20:7-8, NLT).
“Create in me a clean heart. O God. Renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10, NLT).
Closing Challenge: You can answer the challenge to live a holy life with God’s help! But will you let him help you to be holy as you journey through life?
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