Holiness

Three grandmothers were sitting together for lunch one day. Two of them complained endlessly about how ungrateful their grandchildren were – so much that they despaired of the impending Christmas Holiday. After some time it became apparent that the third lady was not speaking but only smiling.

Last week during the Sunday School hour, most of us had an opportunity to hear a very impassioned and very biblical message on the Centrality of the home from Voddie Baucham. In many ways it was a direct application of what we have been learning already regarding the centrality of the home in determining the eligibility of both Elders and Deacons. Note for just a moment that I did not just say deaconesses - there is a reason for that exclusion.

Do yourself a favor and open either your own Bible or a pew Bible (page ###) to 1 Timothy 3:10-12. This portion comes in a specific context concerning the proper selection of both deacons and deaconesses. For the sake of Context, I would like to read together with you the first 13 verses of the chapter. {Read 1 Timothy 3:1-13}

If we continue to take our text in the order it is written the resolution of verse 10 will come before the end in verse 12. The resolution is recorded in the tenth verse and it is simply this: Test the deacons and then let them serve if they past the test. But then Paul quickly follows with two more statements which serve to emphasize two key issues.

The first issue in verse 11 we already investigated and came to the conclusion that Paul must be describing a blanket description of the requirements for women servants in the church whom I will call deaconesses. These are not merely general women in the congregation nor are they specifically the wives of the deacons. Deaconesses must be dignified, not malicious gossips, they must be temperate and faithful in all things. These four broad statements help to identify a woman who is fit to serve the church.

I asked you to observe that I did not mention the deaconesses when I said that the home is central in determining the eligibility of both elders and deacons to serve in the church. That is because the second major issue which Paul brings to us after the resolution is that of the Deacon's home life. In this context with the eleventh verse concerning deaconesses immediately preceding it we need to specifically focus in on the men who fulfill the post of servant ministry. In order for any man to be qualified to be a servant of the church of the Living God in an official capacity his home life must be exemplary.

That is why those who may fill the official servanthood roles of deacon or deaconess must be tested.

Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus is a letter about being holy even if you live in a society that is not. God's passage for is taken from the sixth chapter. And now hear the word of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:10-11)

There are twenty seven specific commands in this letter. Each command has been based upon the lesson of holiness from the first two chapters. The letter begins with a reminder that God has selected us before hand so that we would be holy and blameless by living within the magnificent grace of God.

Everyone who has accepted Jesus as their savior is dwelling in grace and has received complete forgiveness for every sin - and you have been redeemed. This means that holiness has been given to you in Christ.

Since God has given you the holiness of Christ, what kind of people should you be? If God has made you holy than you also must become holy in your daily life. Throughout the Ephesian letter lesson after lesson is given to instruct us in holiness. One of the final commands given to us that we might act out the holiness that God has given us is the command to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

There are struggles and trials on every side. Some are inside of us and others are outside. From struggling against sin to striving to obey God. Each of us have been and will continue to be tested and tried.

If everyone will be tested and tried – where will you get the strength to endure them? But where will this strength come from? How do we “get” strong in the Lord in order to BE strong in the LORD?

Most of the time we try to be strong in our own flesh. Since most of you have endured many obstacles in life you might be tempted to be strong in your own strength. It goes by many names; everything from self-sufficiency to stubbornness to arrogant pride. But it's really the same thing: Being strong in your own strength.

But our own strength fails us. We are inadequate for the task of holiness. Every one of us can testify to failing in our prayer life even though we tried. We can all sympathize with the Alcoholic who really tries to stop drinking but his insatiable thirst drives them back for just one small drink (which cascades into another death spiral.) Every one of us has had the experience of “trying to be good” but failing miserably. We need the strength of God.

So how do we get strong in God's power?