Sixth Encounter: The Cove of Holiness
Hiding Out with Jesus in the Cove of Holiness
- The Meaning of Holiness
- The Model of Holiness
Foundational Scripture
And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (NLT)
Timeless Insights
“Prayer—secret, fervent, believing prayer—lies at the root of all personal godliness.”
—William Carey
The Meaning of Holiness: Six Definitions
Scripture:
Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace.
Psalm 37:37 (NKJV)
“Blameless” (KJV: “Perfect”) is derived from the Hebrew word Tam.
Definition One: _______________
“Complete” defined: “Having all that is necessary to be ____________; fully ____________.”
Scripture:
For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
Colossians 2:9-10 (NLT)
Definition Two: ___________
“Pious” defined: “Marked by or showing reverence and ________________ to God.”
Scripture:
At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
Luke 2:25-26 (NLT)
Definition Three: _____________
“Gentle” defined: “Free from ________________ or sternness; _____________.”
Scripture:
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV)
Definition Four: ___________________
“Undefiled” defined: “Marked by ____________; uncontaminated in any manner.”
Scripture:
…and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
1 Peter 1:4 (NLT)
Definition Five: _______________
“Upright” defined: “Marked by strong moral
_________________; honorable.”
“Rectitude” defined: “Moral integrity.”
Scripture:
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…
Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)
Definition Six: ___________
“Plain” defined: “Characterized by _________________; free of ____________________.”
Scripture:
But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for—God has had it with the proud, But takes delight in just plain people. So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs.
1 Peter 5:5-6 (MSG)
The Model of Holiness: Five Distinctives
Scripture:
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)
Timeless Insights
“Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.”
—John Bunyan
Distinctive One: Holy living is ______________ Jesus.
Scripture:
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
John 14:23 (NIV)
Distinctive Two: Holy living is ________________ Jesus.
Scripture:
So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)
Distinctive Three: Holy living is ____________ Jesus.
Scripture:
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Philippians 2:4-7 (NIV)
Distinctive Four: Holy living is ______________ Jesus.
Scripture:
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…
Colossians 1:9-10 (NIV)
Distinctive Five: Holy living is ________________ Jesus.
Scripture:
For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.
Philippians 1:20 (NLT)
Timeless Insights
“He who has learned to pray has learned the greatest secret of a holy and happy life.”
—William Law
Afterthoughts...Ponder and Pray
Ponder Points:
Discuss (or ponder) why you think Jesus is our supreme example of holy living. How do you think Christians can be more plain in their lifestyles so as to be more like Jesus?
Personal Afterthoughts
Prayer Points:
Using one or more of the six definitions of holiness (i.e. complete, pious, gentle, undefiled, upright and plain), construct a prayer asking God to help you be more like Jesus in your Christian walk.
