THE SEVEN PROPENSITIES OF HOLY PEOPLE
1 Peter 1:15-16
Presentation
• There was a book composed in 1989 that had smash hit stamped on it before it went into production.
• Within its pages were devices to help individuals revel in compelling and viable living.
• Throughout the book you might discover standards on initiative, life administration and connections.
• It fixated on the idea of the “inside-out” rule.
• This rule says all conduct is acquired, it is not instinctual.
• Old propensities could be disposed of and displaced by new and powerful propensities.
• That book, composed by Stephen R. Covey, is “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.“
• The propensities he described are:
Initiative
Creativity
Productivity
Interdependence
Empathy
Valuing Differences
Consistency
• Let me make an inquiry – If you were to depict yourself in one word, what might that word be?
• According to Covey, If you show these seven propensities in your everyday life, you could rightly portray yourself in the one statement, "Effective"
• How does scripture desire us to characterize ourselves?
• I'd dare to say that few if any in this spot characterized themselves as "Holy."
• As Christians we are called to carry on with a Holy life.
• Every believer is to seek after Holiness.
• Every Christian is to seek after virtue.
• Every Christian is to strive to stay far from sin.
• Holiness is not a choice. God lets us know:
1 Peter 1:15-16
15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
• As we develop a closer relationship with Christ we are to end up more mindful of His Holiness.
• But in the meantime – the closer we get to Christ the more we are mindful of o...
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... important that the Child of God search out a position of service.
• God did not provide Spiritual Gifts for us so we could revel in having them but rather, so we could delight in utilizing them
• Service to the Body of Christ is a Habit with Holy People.
Conclusion:
• If God did not mean for us to be Holy individuals He would not have instructed us to be so.
• The truth that He gave the order is sign that He has made it possible.
• In carrying on with a life of holiness we must create propensities in our lives that are sacred.
• Only Christ living in our lives can make holiness an actuality in our life.
• He works from the inside-out
• The Lord works from the inside-out.
• Religion works from the outside in.
• Religion seeks to take people out of sin.
• Christ takes the sin out of people
• Religion shapes human behavior, but Christ changes human behavior.
While the Holy Spirit enables us to be holy, this is also our action as well (p.77). Bridges offers personal experience from a time when he thought that God viewed him striving to be holy as “of the flesh” (p. 79). He then learns that this is not that case and while holiness is not obtainable by a human alone, it does require us to work for it. Holiness is not reached when we receive the Holy Spirit. Bridges describes holiness as an attitude towards life. We must have self-discipline as Christians. The book urges readers to read and memorize scripture as a way to be a self-disciplined Christian. When we memorize the word of God, it is stored in our hearts and minds and the Spirit may use that in times of need so that we may apply that scripture to the matter at hand. The Holy Spirit has been given to all of us. It is working in and through us and in empowering believer to be more like Christ. However, we are still called to be obedient, and to answer this call. We can choose to suppress it. Or we can choose to listen to the calling of the Spirit and live for
1. Thou shalt have not other God except thyself; after all, it’s thy self-esteem that
Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.”
1 Peter 1:13-16 says " Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy". Just like in the Old Testament, objects, places, and people can be made holy by the works of Jesus Christ (New Testament). The only way a believer can be holy in the New Testament is by accepting his gift of eternal life! No man on this planet (past, present, or future) can achieve holiness on their own. This is the result of sin, man continuance disobedience to a holy and righteous God. The only thing that can fix this rebellion is accepting the justification works of Christ, and than allow His sanctification produce holiness in the believers
Ephesians 1:4 says, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love” It is God’s plan and will that we be sanctified. One that can enter heaven follows the will of the father and pleases god by keeping his word. It is required as evidence of the children of God. It means to let go of the unrighteous acts to do gods will by keeping commandments. If you truly know Jesus, you will walk the way he
Sometimes, we faith followers make jokes about shame in our religions. Shame in the church is a common experience for many church members. Though, not every church has this sort of approach in discipleship and behavioral training. Shame has long been a pronounced interest to me. Most church leaders want the church to be a place of hope and inspiration, but some of us have experienced a tremendous amount of shame, also. Growing up within a very conservative John Wesley style holiness church taught me some life-giving valuable faith lessons. We were taught incredible lessons of living one?s life in a way that reflects one?s values and belief system and being empowered to express such values to others. Great lessons in humility and giving all glory to God abound. The church taught a person is best when honoring a holy lifestyle as best able on Earth, including prayer,
"And, behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And He said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but One, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto Him, which? Jesus said, THOU SHALT DO NO MURDER, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." ~ Lord Jesus Christ Quote, Matthew 19:16-19, King James Version Bible
" Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is written by Stephen R. Covey is a book that was written for self-motivation. In this book Covey describes how to become a more effective and motivated individual throughout your life. He gives specific pointers and details that lead you to this effectiveness throughout the whole book. The basic goal in the book is to demonstrate how these specific seven habits can benefit your life greatly and make your life for meaningful and effective. Covey explains that if you are willing to make the changes that are necessary you will become a more effective individual. He describes that there are seven habits that make this all possible.
God and the Bible’s teachings are used as a framework to find meaning in life and purpose of human presence. Purpose resides in every human’s potential to strive for peace, seek equality, nurture relationships and the environment to achieve harmony with the earth (Valk, 2012). “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior and my hope is in you all day long” (Ps 25:5). The Holy Spirit, known as God’s active force and His power in action (Lk 1:35), is used as a guide by Christians to ascertain and determine what is right. “We choose to act based on good thinking, scripture and prayer, and the Holy Spirit helps us discern the right alternatives” (Shelly & Miller, 2006, p. 89). In seeing others as the image of God, choosing what is right from wrong is influenced by beliefs cultural background and respect for one another. In this religious culture, the tendency to do wrong is seen as sinfulness. However, it is the admission of sin that leads Christians to Jesus Christ to find and experience God’s forgiveness (Shelly & Miller, 2006). The recognition of sin and eventual redemption strengthens the relationship with God which directs a life of service to humanity (Shelly & Miller,
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” was written by Sean Covey. The main purpose of this book is to inspire teenagers to improve their choices now in order to become well-rounded adults. Like his Father Stephen R. Covey, who wrote “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, Sean’s work is essentially similar to his father’s work, but unlike his father, Sean wrote this book specifically for teens to inform them on how to live a more effective lifestyle. As part of my course “Personal Development & Leadership” that I’m currently taking this semester, I was given the task to read the book in question with aim of to understand the motive of the book and eventually find ways to improve certain aspects of my live in a positive manner. As I was
Covey, S. R. (2003), The 7 habits of highly effective people personal workbook. New York, NY. Fireside.
This doctrine helps me realize that I am not the only one going through this process. It helps me realize how much love God has for us. He loves us enough to create us and desire for us to become holy. This doctrine also helps me realize that I am not the only one who is going to fail while going through this continuous process. The fact that I know I am going through a process that will make me more and more like my heavenly Father who is perfect is truly inspiring. Even though we as finite creatures cannot go through this process on our own will it is reassuring to know that there is someone who is able to help us
For example, almost all the Christians who work at their workplace have to face spiritual worldliness. It is common to socialize with other coworkers. However, when they meet each other outside of their workplace, they tend to go to a bar or somewhere they can drink alcohol. Christians might be tempted to drink alcohol, because they have strong desires of flesh. However, if they set apart from the worldliness, they may banish their desires of the flesh and follow the Word of God. Furthermore, holiness helps Christians to warn or flee from disobedient Christians (2. Thess. 3:6, 14-15; 1 Cor. 5:9-13). In other words, holiness helps the Christian to see himself, whether he is obeying God or not, and helps him to distinguish whether his bretheren obeys the Word of God or not.
The Bible calls Christians to be holy, from the beginning of time all the way to the very end of time, “Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined” (Titus 1:8 The New International Version Bible). The term holy can only be achieved through the work of the Holy Spirit that guides Christians and through the Holy Spirit they are given the fruits of the spirit. In this study of Holy verses Good, it will be looked at from the point of view of false fruits, the importance of spiritual practices and discipline and how they are important, it will be shown how Christians despite being in a fallen world are made holy and how through the relationship of the Holy Spirit Christians are