Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Holy Ground - Part 1

Exodus 3:4-6 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush (burning with fire, yet not consumed) and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.
As we enter this season of celebrating the visitation of God incarnate in the birth of the Savior of the world Jesus Christ, (literally “God with skin on”), may we truly make every efforts to convey the “reason for the season” to this lost & dying world that is walking in darkness of sin & unbelief. “Our “Colony” Friday evening small group Bible study is continuing in our study on “Holiness” and this last week we looked at God choosing Israel to be a holy nation, sanctified and separated from the other nations. But what does it mean to be holy? What was, and is, the standard of holiness? What makes holy ground?

Exodus 19:5-6 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ Leviticus 20:26 And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine. Deuteronomy 7:6 “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.” Deuteronomy 28:9 “The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.” Psalm 147:19 He (God) declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His ordinances to Israel.

To be consecrated is to be set apart as sacred; dedicated & devoted to God. That which is sacred is that which is extremely dear to God and worthy of deep respect and reverence; holy. To sanctify is to set apart as holy. Set apart from the darkness of sin and sanctified apart for God and His purposes. Sanctity is holiness, sacredness & saintliness of character. The standard, the bounds set for His people, are His sacred word, commandments, statues and ordinances. The root word of the Hebrew word holiness means “to separate”. The idea is that of separation between what is unclean and what is pure, between what is common and what is sanctified. God is separate from all that is evil and defiled. I’ve heard it said that evil is the absence of good, as darkness is simply the absence of light. His holy character is the standard for moral perfection. Therefore holiness for us is simply conforming to the character of God. Holiness is a vital attribute of God. This same quality is to be a characteristic of His people. Holiness is the standard not only for the Israelites, but for all who claim Him as their God.

Isaiah 6:3 And one cried to another and said: “ Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” Revelation 4:8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “ Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
God is Holy. What makes “holy ground”? Next time.
In Christ, Brian

2 comments:

child of God said...

Good word Brian. We are sanctified and made holy through Jesus. :)

I am interested in reading what you have to say about "holy ground".

Blessings,
<><

Brian Ray Todd said...

I know that there is a lot of Christianize out there. Words that the Christian church use that both fishermen and scholars of the first century used and wrote for us to understand the meanings for the spiritual growth and a balanced joy-filled godly life. It is our duty, here in the twenty-first century to seek, study, learn and know these wonderful Bible terms and apply them into our lives for the glory of God. I'm happy that you are blessed by the posts. Praise be to God!