Principle Three
MORALITY AND VIRTUE
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy. Because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:15 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Hebrews12:14
The next Bible principle to engage in is Morality, Virtue, and Holiness. Hebrews 12:14 states that without Holiness no man shall see the Lord. If that is true in redemption, then it is also true in when we discuss God manifesting His glory amidst the Church.
We understand that most church services will have a diverse mixture of people. Some are passionate lovers of Christ. Some are lukewarm, and some are unbelievers. That will always be the case, no matter what.
However, it is different with the leadership of the church. Those Pastors and worship leaders who lead, and stand before the congregation, should have an acute sense of their own spiritual condition, holiness, and virtue, OR lack thereof. Essentially, if you are not living a clean, moral life, you shouldn’t be leading worship.
Leaders can’t be in bed with the devil on Saturday night and then expect Jesus to manifest His glorious presence on Sunday morning. It doesn’t work that way.
We should live Godly lives, full of the Spirit all week, and then come into His presence to lead singing and worship with purity in our hearts and lives. God is holy, and He demands holiness. Yes, that’s right, He requires holiness from His people, and especially the leadership.
Because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16
We ought to Worship in Holiness
I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 1 Timothy 2:8
To worship with the whole heart implies a total surrender of our willingness to conform to the Spirit and the Word of God. All aspects of jubilant, exciting, exuberant praise and glorification of God require it.
Your whole Spirit, Soul, Body, emotion, finances, personal, and family life. Everything! All-in, All-the-time.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2
The concept of worship without total commitment, loyalty, and holiness is abhorrent to God. He wants true worshipers with hearts full of love and devotion. Not half-hearted, not half-baked. Do you remember the lukewarm, Laodicean church? They were awfully close to being spewed (vomited) from His mouth? (Rev. 3.16).
If Jesus paid the ultimate price for our salvation, shouldn’t we be willing to pay a price as well?
The above verses relating to physical and spiritual devotion are only a few examples of God’s desire for the whole man to be involved in serving Him; in worshiping Him with total devotion.
I am not talking about works to get saved or earning our salvation. I am talking about love, faithfulness, and obedience once He saves us, that’s all. Devotion. Surrender. Faithfulness and Loyalty. Service to a loving, faithful, covenant-keeping Savior.
Going back to the idea of bowing our knee to proclaim Jesus is Lord, have you ever actually got on your knees, looked to Jesus, and gave Him your solemn oath of allegiance? To Vow your undying love, devotion, surrender, and above all, LOYALTY? Try it. Do it. It has an astounding blessing attached to it. Bowing your knee and vowing your loyalty.
The world worships at the altar of Hollywood, Madison Avenue, Wall Street, Academia, Politics, ESPN/Sports and, (you fill in the blank.) False gods, to be sure.
But we will spend eternity with Jesus Christ of Nazareth. When judged at the seat of Christ, you will not have an attorney present to represent you. You will stand on your own, and you will look into His face, and His eyes, and into His Eternity. Then where will you be?
Everyone needs some form of entertainment and distraction, so don’t think I’m saying we can’t have fun. I love fun. I do fun. The subject here is loyalty and devotion to worship God with the whole heart: Spirit, Soul, and Body. Devoted, surrendered. Got it? Get it! Don’t forget it.
As we see the day of the Lord approaching, (and it truly is), shouldn’t we make sure our priorities align with the Word of God? That our foundation is concrete and not thin ice?
Shouldn’t we be sober, vigilant, and alert? Holiness, therefore, is of the heart, the spirit expressing the character and love of God that can only come from a born-again believer.