“God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.” (1 Thess. 4:7 NLT)

Holy: “A characteristic unique to God's nature which becomes the goal for human moral character. The idea of “holy” is important for an understanding of God, of worship, and of the people of God in the Bible. Holy has four distinct meanings. First is “to be set apart.” This applies to places where God is present, like the Temple and the tabernacle, and to things and persons related to those holy places or to God Himself. Next, it means to be “perfect, transcendent, or spiritually pure, evoking adoration and reverence.” This applies primarily to God, but secondarily to saints or godly people. Next, it means something or someone who evokes “veneration or awe, being frightening beyond belief.” This is clearly the application to God and is the primary meaning of “holy.” It is continued in the last definition, “filled with superhuman and potential fatal power.” This speaks of God, but also of places or things or persons which have been set apart by God's presence. A saint is a holy person. To be sanctified is to be made holy.” – Holman Bible Dictionary

Be holy in all you do

“But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” (1 Peter 1:15)

Holiness pleases God 

“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable…” (1 Thess. 4:1-4 NIV)

Therefore…

“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (2 Cor. 7:1 NIV)

Quote:

“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.” - A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col.1:13-14)

“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” (Acts 26:18 KJV)

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil

“The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” (1John 3:8)

God has given you authority over the devil

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19-20)

Therefore…

“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” (Heb. 2:14)

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7 NIV)

Quote:

“Outside of Christ, I am only a sinner, but in Christ, I am saved. Outside of Christ, I am empty; in Christ, I am full. Outside of Christ, I am weak; in Christ, I am strong. Outside of Christ, I cannot; in Christ, I am more than able. Outside of Christ, I have been defeated; in Christ, I am already victorious. How meaningful are the words, "in Christ." - Watchman Nee

“…and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” (Gen. 22:18)

“But following exactly the way that the Lord, your God, commanded you that you may live and prosper, and may have long life in the land which you are to possess.” (Deut. 5:33)

Jesus’s is our example of what it means to be obedient

“For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (Rom. 5:19)

Be as obedient children 

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.” (1 Pet. 1:14)

Therefore…

“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:21)

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.” (1 Pet. 1:22)

Quote:

“There will be no peace in any soul until it is willing to obey the voice of God.” - D.L. Moody

“Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.” (Jer. 23:23-24 ESV)

His presence is with you 

“And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exo. 33:14 ESV)

“Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20 ESV)

He fills heaven and earth

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7 ESV)

There is fullness of joy in His presence 

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11 ESV)

Therefore…

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19 ESV)

“But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” (Psalm 73:28 ESV)

Quote:

“We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito.” – C.S. Lewis

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!.” (Deut. 30:19 CEV)

Choose God instead of the fleeting pleasures of sin

“Choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” (Heb. 11:25 ESV)

Therefore…

“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods.” (Josh. 24:14-16 NLT)

“I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me.” (Psalm 119:30)

“Let Your hand be ready to help me, For I have chosen Your precepts.” (Psalm 119:173)

Quote:

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” – Corrie Ten Boom

“You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.” (Lev. 19:11 ESV)

Lie defined: A false statement deliberately presented as being true; a falsehood. Something meant to deceive or mistakenly accepted as true. To present false information with the intention of deceiving.

Question: When is it acceptable to tell a lie?

Correct Answer: Never!

I I know, I know! You may say, “It’s okay to tell a ‘white lie’ to spare someone’s feelings.” But, there is no such thing as a white lie. A lie is always a lie and aways wrong to resort to. There is always a way to be truthful without being unkind, mean or rude. Ask God for wisdom in every situation. Unfortunately, lying has become common and acceptable, even encouraged, these days. We tell our children that Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy are real. By doing this we are telling (and teaching) our children that we believe it’s acceptable to tell lies sometimes. Then, when we tell them about Jesus, they are skeptical. Because of this, we told our children these things were only pretend. None of them felt cheated because we were truthful with them. They always knew that Christmas was about Jesus and presents came from loved ones. By the way, they are all adults now and raise their children the sane way. 

What the Bible teaches about telling lies 

• God hates lying: “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” (Prov. 6:16-19 ESV

• Lying is of the devil: “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”(John 8:44 ESV)

• Liars will perish: “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.” (Prov. 19:9 ESV) “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:8 ESV) 

Therefore…

“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Col. 3:9-10 ESV)

“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” (Eph. 4:25 ESV)

Quote:

“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth.” - William Faulkner

“Flee from every evil matter.” (1 Thess. 5:22 AB)

Flee: “To run with rapidity, as from danger; to attempt to escape; to hasten from danger or expected evil.” – Bible Dictionary

Flee from youthful lusts

“Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” (2 Tim. 2:22)

Flee from immorality

“Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.”  (1 Cor. 6:18)

Flee from idolatry 

 “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (2 Cor. 10:14 NASB)

Therefore…

“But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11 NASB).

Quote:

“People must have righteous principals in the first, and then they will not fail to perform virtuous actions.” - Martin Luther

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland…" (Isa. 43:18–19 NIV)

God plans to give you a hope and a future

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer. 29:11 NIV)

God will carry the work He began in you to completion

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6 NIV)

Therefore…

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:13 ESV)

“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” (Prov. 18:20-21 NIV)

Quote:

“Faith...involves trusting in the future promises of God and waiting for their fulfillment.” - R. C. Sproul

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 ESV)

Transformed from one degree of glory to another

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor. 3:18 ESV)

By the renewal of your mind

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2 ESV)

Therefore…

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 ESV)

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20 ESV)

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6 ESV)

Quote:

“Renewing the mind is a little like refinishing furniture. It is a two-stage process. It involves taking off the old and replacing it with the new. The old is the lies you have learned to tell or were taught by those around you; it is the attitudes and ideas that have become a part of your thinking but do not reflect reality. The new is the truth. To renew your mind is to involve yourself in the process of allowing God to bring to the surface the lies you have mistakenly accepted and replace them with truth. To the degree that you do this, your behavior will be transformed.” -Charles Stanley