Called to Holiness

1 Peter 1:13-25

The Pursuit of Holiness in a Profane World

Bible Passage: 1 Peter 1:13-25

Good morning, Church. If you have your Bibles and I trust that you do, go ahead and grab’em, and make your way to 1 Peter 1.

What an amazing Easter Weekend we had here at Cedar Bay. I truly believe God was glorified in all the things. Whether it was the candlelight Good Friday Service, the community Easter Egg hunt- we packed that park and fellowship hall out- and Easter Sunday, we made much of Jesus and that the tomb is empty and since the tomb is empty we have a living hope- like we saw last Sunday in the opening of Peter’s letter.

Not a dead hope- that's the kind of hope you put into the things of this world- the kind of thing that cannot give you true everlasting joy.

Some of the things, we get in this world can make us happy, right.

If you are a jaguar fan, you might be happy they drafted Travis Hunter. But then again some people may not be so happy.

If you are a Florida Gator Fan, you were happy a few weeks ago when the basketball team won that third national championship.

But the joy in them winning probably doesn’t have the same feeling it did the night they won. Because happy is fleeting.

Happy is waking up with no alarm clock and then its gone when you walk in the living room and step on a few legos.

Happy is singing to a new born baby until the baby spits up everywhere.

Happy is is mist- it’s vapor- Here one second gone the next.

If you have ever been to Disney World - you know exactly what I’m talking about.

If you are a Disney adult, you may not - you’re a different breed of human and cannot relate to this.

But what happens on the trip to Disney world? You get there, you take the picture as you are driving up. Everyone is excited.

Everyone is happy. Happy, Happy, Happy.

Get in the park after walking a mile. take your picture in front of the Castle. Happy Happy Happy.

Mine ride now has a 75 minute wait so does Winnie the pooh- haunted mansion, and pirates of the Caribbean, so you ride its a small world- 10 minute wait because its the worst ride in the park. 10 minutes of the same 30 second song.

Happy happy. Get over to Space Mountain - its shut down because some kid yacked on it- so you ride the carousel of progress- after you wake up from that- you spend $500 to eat lunch. Now it’s mid-day-everyone has a sunburn and smells like they have been sweating in the sun since 8am. All of a sudden happy happy happy- looks tired tired tired.

Spent 5 thousand bucks to get in- the children are already fussing- and you’ve walked more miles in the park than you do in an average week.

Happy happy happy. but at least the pictures on Social Media will look good, right?

But not a person in the park at 3pm actually looks happy.

But, we will be back 6 months later. Plus Universal is about to open a new theme park.

But here’s the thing, Christian. God has not us to find happy in our circumstances. Joy does not come from our circumstances.

When we come to Jesus as our Lord and Savior- that's where our joy comes from.

Thats our everlasting joy.

Problem is- for some of us- we have forgotten the joy of the Lord.

We were overcome with joy- when we first surrendered our life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we celebrated like the Gators won a national championship- but now we are quite some time away from the event- somewhere along the way it just became another part of life.

Yeah, I go to church, yeah, I love Jesus, yeah I used to be a dead in my trespasses and sin but God....

This is one thing I cannot get over- I cannot get over the good news of the gospel. God came down from His throne for me.

Christ lived the perfect life for me. Christ died for me. So when we sing- I want Heaven to know- I am forever thankful for that. I want God to know, I love Him with all- all my heart soul mind and strength.

The problem is some us look like we chewing on a sour pickle when we are singing.

Well, I didn’t like the worship songs today. So? They ain’t about you.

They are about God and he is in to it.

I didn’t have time last week to talk about it last week. but Peter in talking about the living hope of Jesus- the gospel says which angels long to look.

Even the angels—these sinless, spotless beings who’ve never tasted rebellion or needed redemption—they long to catch a glimpse of what we so often take for granted. They’ve never fallen, never felt shame, never needed a Savior... and yet they lean in with wide-eyed wonder at the beauty of the cross. They are captivated by grace.

Now think about that for a second—if beings who’ve never sinned are that mesmerized by the gospel, then how insane is it that we, who need that grace like air in our lungs, can grow bored with it? That we can scroll past it, snooze through it, or live like it’s just some side note?

And it gets even crazier—angels are brilliant.

Like, next-level, mind-blowingly intelligent. Their minds aren’t dulled by sin or distraction. And yet, with all their intellect, they still want to know more about the gospel. They still peer into the mystery of it all with awe and hunger.

So if you're out here thinking you’ve got this Jesus thing figured out… if you think you’ve already learned enough or studied enough or prayed enough… then let me say this in love: you’re a fool. A tragic, prideful fool.

If angels—these majestic, heavenly scholars—are still studying grace, then maybe we should open our Bibles and our hearts a little more often.

The gospel is not a subject you graduate from.

It's an ocean you drown in. So let’s be students. Let’s be seekers. Let’s be in awe, over and over again, by the glory of Jesus.

And when we are in awe and wonder of what Christ did- our lives will look different- maybe not overnight- but in that process we talked about last week called sanctification- where we live our lives looking more and more life Christ.

And that process looks different for every Christian- because the way in which I sin, is different in the way you sin. Just like walking in the Lord- will look different for you and for me.

But we are all called to holiness. To be different, to be set apart- for the glory of God.

Thats what Peter is encouraging his readers to do in the set of verses we are diving into today.

What I want us to do now- is we are going to read 1 Peter 1:13–25

1 Peter 1:13–25 ESV

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

That is the Word of the Lord: Let’s Pray.

That little word “therefore” at the start of verse 13? Don’t skip past it. Anytime you see the word therefore- you should ask yourself what is the therefore there for.

That little Therefore is carrying a lot of weight. Peter’s saying, “In light of everything I just said—because of the mercy, the grace, the new birth, the living hope, the inheritance that can’t rot, rust, or be ripped away—now live like this.”

Every command that follows flows out of the gospel truth he’s already laid down in verses 1–12.

Obedience doesn’t come first. Grace does. Always. Get that order wrong, and you end up in a ditch called legalism, trying to earn what Jesus already gave you.

And that’s not how it works-

Ephesians 2:8–9 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

And because of the grace God has bestowed on us- we live lives that reveal we are grace-filled people.

With our mindset for Holiness

Which is our first truth we see in these set of scriptures.

let’s talk grammar for a second.

I know, I know... some of y’all just had flashbacks to high school English which some of ya’ll had 5 or 6 times but Hang with me.

A participle is a form of a verb that acts like an adjective. It’s a describing word that’s built off an action word.

So if I say “the burning bush,” that word burning—that’s a participle. It’s telling you what kind of bush we’re talking about.

Now in the Bible, especially in the original Greek, participles don’t just describe stuff—they do stuff. They can carry the same weight as a command, depending on how they’re used.

In 1 Peter 1:13, Peter says, “preparing your minds for action” and “being sober-minded.” Those are participles.

But don’t let the grammar fool you. He’s not just describing a holy person—he’s telling you to be one.

These aren’t suggestions for spiritual extra credit. They’re marching orders.

Because they’re tied to the main command: “Set your hope fully on the grace that is to come.”

So it’s like Peter’s saying, “As you’re locking your hope on Jesus, get your head in the game. Stay sharp. Stay clear. Be ready.”

In other words—grace leads the way, but you still gotta lace up your boots.

Remember a few weeks ago as we walked through the Book of Joshua- you’ll remember that in the Battle of Jericho- God lead the way, right? But the Israelites still had to walk around the city, day after day, they still had to shout and blow the horns, but it was God who caused the walls to come tumbling down.

We have to prepare our minds to action.

In the King James Version- it’s gird up the loins of your mind.

Back then, they wore these long robes, right? And if you needed to run or fight, you couldn’t just let that thing flap around.

You had to reach down, grab it up, and tuck it into your belt—get ready to move.

It’s like rolling up your sleeves before a brawl.

It’s a signal: things are about to get messy. You’re not here to look pretty—you’re here to throw down.

Blair thinks its hilarious but I will not wear flip-flops. Nothing says I’m ready to throw down and defend myself like a dude wearing flip-flops.

Its simple way to be prepared when it all goes side-ways.

Its the same phrasing you see in the putting on the armour of God.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth.

Ephesians 6:14 “14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,”

That belt of truth- Which Jesus is Truth- is the key to the armour of God. Without girding up your loins, every other piece of armor falls off.

Showing up dressed for the wrong occasion can cost you big time. Imagine this: your buddy calls you up, says, "Hey man, come help me with a project," and you roll in thinking it's a dinner party.

You’re rocking loafers and your sunday best, but what you needed was steel-toe boots and jeans. You look sharp, but you’re useless.

Now crank that up about ten notches—what if you show up to a battlefield dressed for a beach day? The enemy’s got armor, weapons, battle plans... and you? You’re out there in board shorts and flip-flops, holding a pool noodle. You’re not just underdressed, brother—you’re in serious danger.

So, when Peter says prepare for action- he means put on the whole armor of God- be watchful.

He is saying take every thought captive. Get your mind out of the gutter. Tighten up.

Because let’s be honest—these are loose days. Real loose. Not just even in the world; or the culture, But even in the church- Doctrine is treated like it's optional.

Most people don’t believe in Jesus of the Bible- they Bible in the Jesus they made up in their own head.

He never judges, he thinks your perfect in every way.

Conviction’s gone soft.

Convict what? My Jesus thinks I’m perfect in every way.

You don’t have to do anything- You can live and act just like everyone else because Jesus gave you His get out of hell free card,

And let’s not kid ourselves—some folks who claim the name of Jesus are living in ways their great-grandparents in the faith would’ve wept over.

For a lot of people, Christianity is just hanging off of them. It doesn’t fit. It’s not tied down. It’s like a jacket two sizes too big—it’s slipping off and nobody seems to notice and they don’t seem to care.

So when temptation hits or culture pushes, they fall apart. Because there’s no spiritual muscle. No grit. If they have any at all.

And if you don’t have any spiritual muscle- you should be asking yourself why?

It’s because you don’t work it out.

Philippians 2:12–14 “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,”

And to understand who God is- you actually have to spend time with Him- time in His word- time in the body of Christ.

If you want to get in good physical shape- you go to the gym- you lift weights- you run- you eat right- some people get a trainer.

If you want to be preparing your mind for action and to work out your salvation- that tells me it matters what we watch, it matters.

Junk in- junk out.

The lamp of the body is the eye according to the Book of Matthew.

We can’t expect to have a mind towards holiness if we are watching things that aren’t moving in that direction.

The easiest way I have wrestled with this- its pretty simple- if you wouldn’t watch it with your grandmother sitting next to you- don’t watch it.

Thats a general rule for some of yall- yall might be able to watch the Wolf of Wallstreet with mema- that movie has the most occurences of a single 4 letter word according to a quick google search. and for others of us it might be too much to watch Harry Potter.

Just another good general rule- if you wouldn’t blare the music in the church parking lot- its probably not the thing you should be listening to.

or if you

But you have to workout your own salvation for yourself.

The best way for me to have my mind set for holiness is- in a quiet place- phone out of reach- or i’m like that dog off of the movie UP- and that little ting goes off- Squirrel! and now i’m looking at the phone for the next 40 minutes. Then i’m right back to square one.

Also, a Bible reading plan is key for me. It typically does not go as well for me when I just open up the Bible and start reading. I need a plan and I need time.

I like being in my office- with the door closed and no distractions.

But I also need accountability. I need some dudes- some men- that hold me accountable and I hold them accountable and there is that time of intentionally diving deep into God’s Word.

I meet with a buddy every week- every two weeks or so. We are walking through a book together- we talk about life- celebebrations- disappoints- struggles- all the things.

But its not what I need- I need men who are involved and active in church- who are really wanting to grow in wisdom and knowledge of the Lord then to go out and live in a way that reflects that.

Part of being a part of the church- being a member of the church is that other people know you and have relaitonship with you.

And I am just going to be honest- because I believe church is a good place ot be honest- Mega Churches, to me, seems built for those who want the church experience without the church commitment.

They go there go there to consume church, not contribute to it- they can go in-n-out and not be bothered. Its all about me and mine and what more can I get out of it.

You can check mark the box and let people know you went to church that day.

But there’s no depth to it.

Its the consumerism mindset that has infected the church- well this church has the best music, we should go there- this church has the best preaching, we should go there- which if you are at Cedar Bay that’s why your here- this church has the best children’s ministry, we should try that place.

And the thing is people, families, who do that- aren’t setting down any roots and so when the storms of life hit- and they will hit- they aren’t going to have any type of support system because your just another butt in the seat.

In my humble, yet accurate opinion, if you don’t have access to your pastor, your\ aren’t in a church. That’s a country club with the gospel thrown in.

Just my opinion- I know a really old man- he’s got a few wise sayings- one of them being- with that and 2 bucks- you can go and buy yourself a cup of coffee.

That’s been one of the hardest transitions I made since stepping into the role of Head Pastor is not having that accountibilitly from others in the church.

And because I am sermon prepping for 3 sermons a week right now- speaking of which, if ya’lI know somebody looking Bivocational Student Pastor job send them my way, I’m tired- and I am researching and writing for my Doctorate- I do have a wife I really enjoy spending time with- and a son that I really enjoy watching play his sports- there have been times where my time with the Lord has not been what it should have been.

And I have degrees in this- and I still stumble at setting my mind on Holiness because the pace in which life is right now is a lot. And that can be true for a lot of us- but we have to make sure we carve out time so we are mindfully prepared.

But Peter doesn’’t just tell us to be prepared- he also tells us to be sober minded.

Listen, church — you can’t just walk around like it’s sunshine and daisies out here.

You are living smack dab in the middle of a warzone.

You’ve got a real enemy. 1 Peter 5:8 says you’ve got an adversary — not a made-up villain, not a metaphor — a real enemy named Satan, and he’s roaming around like a roaring lion, just waiting to pounce and tear your life apart.

If you knew a lion was loose in your neighborhood, you wouldn't be skipping down the sidewalk with your AirPods in, would you?

You'd be alert, locked in, looking around every corner. Anybody ever seen the Animal Planet Documentaries?

Those lions are very strategic on which animal they attack and when. They find the weakest, they find the one not paying attention, the one that wandered off- then they attack that one- the one away from the herd.

That’s why its so important to be in part of a herd- a church. So, people are locked in around you and know you and know what you’re going through so they can be praying for you so they can be checking up on you.

The alternative to living alert?

You live like you’re in some Disney movie — whistling through life like you’re one of the 7 dwarves, totally unaware you're standing on a battlefield.

And then when tragedy strikes, when temptation creeps in, you’re caught flat-footed and crushed.

You have to understand- we are in a battle for the souls of men and women and the name of Jesus Christ in this world! Some of us need to wake up! You need a sober, wide-eyed, fight-ready faith in the promises of God.

Otherwise, you’re gonna get steamrolled — either overwhelmed by the weight of this world, or you’re gonna drift right into sin because you got bored and spiritually lazy (2 Peter 2:9, 2 Corinthians 5:20).

I'm telling you, church — now’s not the time to nap. Now’s the time to wake up, we have an enemy always on the prowl and the souls of men and women are at stake .

So set out mind to holiness.

#2-

2. Motivations for Holy Living

1 Peter 1:17-21

What Holiness Is: Alright, lean in, church — if you want to understand holiness, here’s the key word you gotta you have to understand: separated.

The Bible uses two main words for "holy" — in Hebrew it’s kadosh, and in Greek it’s hagios. Both mean the same thing: cut away from, set apart, completely different.

When God says He’s holy, He’s not saying, "Hey, I'm just a better version of you." No, no, no. He’s saying, "I am altogether different. I’m in a category all by Myself." Exodus 15:11 — "Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, majestic in holiness?"

By the way, if your mama named you Michael, you’ve been walking around with that declaration your whole life — Mikha'el in Hebrew: None holy like the Lord.

God’s holiness means He’s different. Separated. One of a kind.

And here’s the deal — every time Israel got into trouble, every time they tripped and fell flat on their face spiritually, it’s because they forgot this.

They started thinking about God like He was just a slightly upgraded version of themselves — a bigger, stronger, older brother. and my older brother is great - strong guy, loves his family, loves the Lord, and do anything for ya but God’s not like him.

God is not like us- God is not like any of us. He is holy. He is other. He is utterly, completely unique.

And when we lose sight of that — when we start treating God casually, flippantly, like He’s just our buddy- Jesus is my homeboy- or our genie in a bottle — that’s when we drift.

Listen to me — God is not just a slightly smarter, slightly stronger, slightly nicer version of you. No, He is totally different. He is wholly other.

You see this in the book of Job. Job’s got all these questions for God — and God shows up in a windstorm and doens’t answer a single question Job asked but basically says, "when you create your own universe, then we can have a little chat. Until then, you might wanna sit this one out."

Isaiah 55:8-9 — God says, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, and My ways are not your ways. As high as the heavens are above the earth, that’s how much bigger My ways are than yours."

Translation: you couldn’t even begin to wrap your little finite brain around the infinite mind of God.

So don't flatter yourself thinking that if God just explained it right, you’d fully get it. We’re not peers to a holy God. You’re not gonna sit across from God at Starbucks, sip your caramel macchiato, and debate Him like you’re equals.

And Paul — Paul doesn't pull any punches either. Paul in Romans 9:20 asks the hardest apologetic question ever asked, “If God knew that people were going to rebel against God, why did He make them in the first place?” Paul’s answer: “Who are you to reply against God!”

You know what he’s saying? He’s saying the point isn’t that there’s no answer — the point is that there comes a moment when your mouth has to shut and your knees have to hit the floor.

There’s a time for questions, but there’s also a time for worship. There’s a time to wonder, but there’s also a time to surrender.

Now hear me — I am not saying you need to check your brain at the door and just believe stuff blindly. Christianity isn’t about turning off your mind; it’s about realizing who you’re talking to.

If this is God speaking — the uncreated One — then you better recognize the weight of that. Everything else in the universe had a beginning. Everything else had a cause. You, me, the mountains, the stars, the galaxies — all of it came from something.

But not God. Nothing caused God. He just is.

He’s the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He’s the Great I AM — the self-existent, eternal, sovereign King over everything. He’s not just a bigger version of you; He’s completely outside of you. He is transcendent.

And when you stand in front of that kind of glory, that kind of holiness, you don’t argue... you worship.

You don’t bring your little clipboard of questions and demands... you bow.

There’s a certain kind of reverence, a certain kind of awe, that the presence of God demands from us. Not because we’re mindless robots, but because we realize who He is — and we are not Him.

And that Holy God went to the cross for us and in response that that type of love should motivate us to holy living.

Which has to do with the other meaning from holy.

Holiness also means separated from anything impure.

The Jewish people had all these laws and regulations, not because God was trying to be a cosmic killjoy, but because you cannot stroll into the presence of absolute purity with dirt all over you.

God is not just kinda good, or mostly good — He is total, perfect, blinding purity. No stain, no shadow, no flaw.

Now here’s the thing — when we Americans hear "holiness," a lot of us check out.

You think holiness sounds sterile and boring — like some bright, white, sterile hospital light. Cold. Colorless. Lifeless.

But you gotta flip that thinking upside down, because holiness is not the absence of life — it’s the fullness of life! Holiness is the perfection of everything your soul was made for — perfect goodness, perfect beauty, perfect justice, perfect love.

We’re all drawn to this, aren’t we? Perfect justice. Perfect beauty. Perfect love.

Nobody wants a government that's mostly fair but a little bit corrupt. No bride stands at the altar thinking, "Well, I know he’s lazy, selfish, and lies a little... but I’ll marry him anyway!" No way.

If you are married and you find out your spouse has been 98% faithful- you’re not going to congratulate them on a job well done.

We are wired — deep in our bones — to crave perfection in justice, goodness, and love.

And listen — God is all of those things. Which means impurity, injustice, evil — they are absolutely repulsive to Him.

Habakkuk 1:13 says, "Your eyes are too pure to look on evil."

That doesn’t mean God can’t see evil — it means He can’t behold it without a reaction. He doesn’t look at sin and shrug. He looks at it with a holy, burning, righteous fury.

It’s like when you see something absolutely heinous — like torture, or injustice, or cruelty.

You can’t watch that and feel neutral. You’re outraged. Your gut twists. How much more for a God whose very essence is perfect holiness?

You see it in Uzzah — you remember the story? The Ark of the Covenant starts to tip, and Uzzah reaches out his hand to steady it — and boom, he drops dead on the spot. Why? Because you don't casually touch the holiness of God.

Uzzah’s mistake was thinking that his hand was cleaner than the dirt. But the dirt had never rebelled against God. The dirt never committed treason against its Creator.

Our hands — my hands, your hands — are filthy compared to the very ground we walk on.

God’s holiness demands awe. It demands reverence. It demands worship. You don’t clean up holiness — holiness cleans you.

Peter doesn’t just say, “Hey, isn’t God holy? That’s cool, right?” No — he says God's holiness demands a response from us. 1 Peter 1:15: "But just as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct."

Translation? The life you live ought to reflect the God you say you love.

And let’s get real specific — it starts in your devotion to Him. Your commitment to God isn’t supposed to just edge out your other commitments — it’s supposed to be in a whole different category altogether.

Sometimes we talk like God just wants to be at the top of our list. but that’s not it at all.

Imagine if I went home and told my wife, "Baby, of all the girls in my life, you’re #1." Sounds sweet for half a second... until you realize, "Wait a minute — what other girls you talking about??" I mean, what if I said, "I’m a little bit in love with some other women too, but don’t worry, honey — you’re my favorite!" Yeah, that night’s ending with me sleeping on the porch... or worse.

She doesn’t want to be number one on a list — she wants to be the only one on the list. Because real love isn’t about ranking your loves — it’s about exclusive devotion.

Same with God. You think, “God’s at the top of my priorities.” Cool — what’s second? Work? Family? Money? Hobbies?

Listen — God doesn’t belong on a priority list next to other created things. He created everything on your list. He spoke the universe into existence and then climbed up on a cross to die for your sins.

He’s not your life coach.

He’s not your homeboy.

He’s not your co-pilot.

He built the plane, He owns the plane, He made the sky, and He wrote the laws of physics that plane is trying to overcome.

He’s not riding shotgun in your life — He owns the whole thing.

Holiness means your devotion to Him is a category all by itself. No rivals. No comparisons. No competition.

He’s not your #1 — He’s your only One.

Another way our lives ought to reflect the holiness of God? In our adoration of Him.

How we worship shouldn’t even be in the same stratosphere as anything else. Worship is not just another thing we do — it’s the response of a heart that’s been wrecked by grace.

Now listen — I know people love to say, "You ought to worship like you cheer at a football game!"

And hey, I get it. I appreciate the heart behind it.

But can we just be honest? That doesn't even come close.

Because celebrating a touchdown and standing before the holy, infinite, all-powerful God of the universe — those two things aren’t even on the same planet.

Worshiping God oughta make a touchdown celebration look like a quiet book club meeting.

Now, let me love you like your pastor for a second: Sometimes it’s downright disturbing watching the way some of us worship. And I gotta ask — do we even know what the Bible says about how to worship?

Psalm 47:1 says“Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!” Psalm 35:27 says “Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of his servant!”” 1 Timothy 2:8 “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;”

Did you catch that? Not advice. Not a suggestion. Not “optional based on your mood.” Commands.

Let’s have a quick flashback to English class — what kind of sentence is that? Imperative.

And listen — I’ve searched the whole Bible — not once does it say, “Stand politely, and look a little bored while the angels in heaven are throwing a party around the throne.” Nope. Not once.

Now I know what some of you are thinking: "But that’s just not my personality."

Friend, listen to me — Psalm 47 doesn’t say, "Clap your hands, all you extroverts." It says, "All peoples."

No loopholes for introverts. No escape clauses for the shy.

And come on, man — I've seen you when your team scores. You are capable of getting fired up. You are capable of throwing your hands up. You are capable of shouting yourself hoarse. You just have to love Jesus more than you love your team.

And then there’s the other excuse: "But I don’t feel like it..."

Newsflash: You don't worship based on how you feel — you worship based on how much He's worthy. And guess what? He’s always worthy. Your feelings are fickle — His glory is forever.

And here’s a little secret that’ll change your life: Sometimes your heart will follow your hands. Sometimes when you raise your hands even when you don’t feel like it, your soul wakes up. Sometimes when you shout even when you’re tired, your spirit remembers why you were made.

You don’t worship to feel good. You worship because He is good. And when you start moving in obedience, your feelings often catch up with your faith.

Peter’s command here is clear: Be holy. The life you live should reflect the God you love.

But the real question is — how? How can broken, rebellious, sinful people like you and me ever live holy lives?

So here’s the key question you’ve gotta ask: What — or who — is holy in these verses?

Look at it: Who is the One without blemish or spot? Jesus.

It’s His blood that was spilled to ransom us.

1 Corinthians 6:20 “for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

You see, if my unholiness stood before the blazing holiness of God, I would be consumed in a second. But Jesus — Jesus stood in my place. Jesus took my sin, my shame, my unholiness onto Himself, and He looked into the face of a holy God — and He died the death I deserve.

This is the gospel: Jesus in my place.

God’s holiness, gifted to us at the price of His own Son’s blood.

You aren’t holy because you cleaned yourself up. You’re holy because Jesus traded His righteousness for your rebellion. You’re holy because He who knew no sin became sin so that we could become the righteousness of God.

So here’s the invitation this morning:

Some of you need to step into that grace for the very first time — to lay down your sin, to trust in the finished work of Jesus.

Some of you, believers, need to consecrate yourself afresh — to say, "God, You’re not just a priority on my list — You ARE the list. You’re not part of my life — You are my life."

Some of you need to wake up your worship — to respond to the holiness of God with the joyful noise He deserves.

And in just a moment, we’re gonna sing. Not because it’s tradition. Not because it’s the end of the service.

But because the Lamb is worthy.

Because holiness demands a response.

So I’m asking you — when we stand — don't hold back. Clap your hands. Raise your hands. Lift your voice. Shout for joy. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you people!

Because holy is He who sits on the throne — and holy is the Lamb who was slain!