Set Apart 3 - A Condition for Holiness

Week Three: A Condition for Holiness

• Main Scripture: Mark 7:20-23; 2 Timothy 2:20-22; 2 Corinthians 7:1

• Bottom Line: Holiness requires obedience.

Capture: Grab their attention with an illustration.

• Illustration: Does anyone struggle to keep up with cleaning? There are certain things around our house that are easy to clean and others that go overlooked. Have you ever thought about cleaning behind your fridge or under your stove? Newsflash: it’s disgusting.

• Everyone wants to clean what’s visible to others, but the things that aren’t seen up front, we often don’t think to clean. Our heart is the same way. We often try to polish our exterior — our actions and our behaviors, but don’t allow the Lord to clean out the hidden places in our hearts.

Connect: Connect them to God’s word.

• Tension Question: Is your heart clean? Do you prioritize holiness in the deepest places where no one else sees? We are called to a life of holiness — including in the secret place of our hearts.

• Scripture: Mark 7:20-23

Mark 7:20–23 KJV 1900

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

— Evils that come from our hearts often make their way into the external. The junk that people see in us comes from a heart that needs holiness!

Consider: What does this mean for us today?

• Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:20-22

2 Timothy 2:20–22 KJV 1900

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

— A life of holiness will dictate the quality of a person’s spiritual life.

• When the fires of life test us, God uses it as a refining fire to create gold and silver. Wood and clay vessels, ones that have not been purified, burn up in the fire. (Cross reference 1 Corinthians 3:12-15.)

1 Corinthians 3:12–15 KJV 1900

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

• This passage is a poignant image of the need for a holy lifestyle. God desires us to be pure vessels that are useful for His kingdom.

• There is an important condition to holiness that is unavoidable: obedience. If we don’t obey God by cleaning ourselves out through Jesus and fleeing the lusts of the flesh, we will never be pure and useful for God’s house.

• There is only one path forward for anyone desiring a life of holiness — we must submit to God in obedience and cleanse ourselves of unrighteousness.

• Bottom Line: Holiness requires obedience.

Collide: How do we apply this in our lives?

• Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1 — Context: previously, throughout 2 Corinthians, Paul writes about the future promise of resurrection and our new life with Christ.

2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV 1900

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

• Since we have this promise, we have a calling to purify ourselves from anything that contaminates us in the physical or spiritual sense.

• Scripture says that when we purify ourselves, we perfect holiness in our lives. What things exist in your life that are contaminating purity and holiness in your heart?

• As we read earlier, whatever is in your heart will flow out of your life. If your heart is pure and Spirit-led, you’ll produce good fruit. If your heart is sick and contaminated, it will produce rotten fruit.

• Make a decision today to clean the places that are hard to reach and often hidden. No matter what it costs, clean out the things that contaminate you!

• Application: Clean out what contaminates you.

Call: How do we respond to the message?

• Altar moment: Whatever it is that you are carrying tonight, refuse to leave until you lay down what you need to on the altar and walk forward in obedience to God.

• Small Group Questions:

1. Why is it tempting to overlook the hidden parts of our lives that need cleaned?

2. Is your heart clean or contaminated? What led you to your answer?

3. What does obedience look like to you right now?

4. How can you clean out what’s contaminating you this week?