7 HABITS OF HOLY PEOPLE

In 1989, a book hit the shelves that was destined to become a best seller. It was gear toward giving people the tools they needed to enjoy powerful and effective living. The book is saturated with advice on leadership, life management and relationships, all centered around the “inside-out” concept that old behavior is learned, it is not instinctive. Old habits can be discarded and replaced by new and effective habits.



That book, written by Stephen R. Covey, is The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. The habits he outlined are

Initiative

Creativity

Productivity

Interdependence

Empathy

Valuing Differences

Consistency



Let me ask you a question – If you were to describe yourself in one word, what would that word be? According to Covey, If you exhibit these seven habits in your daily life, you could rightly describe yourself in the one word, “Effective” How does scripture want us to be able to define ourselves? I think Christ like sums it up pretty well. And if nothing else Christ was “HOLY”, that is separate, different, other than…I’d venture a guess that few if any in this place defined themselves as “Holy” But as Christians we are called to live a holy life. Look at 1 Peter 1:15-16 “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” BE HOLY. Why? Because God is Holy. But the question then becomes, “How can I know if I’m ‘Holy’ or not?” Just as Stephen Covey outlined the seven habits of highly effective people, tonight I want to outline for you.



THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY HOLY PEOPLE



These will serve as a measuring stick to help you determine the areas in your life that are in need of strengthening.



Habit #1 - Highly Holy People understand Scripture as the guide for their daily lives. Psalm 1:1-2 – “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Highly Holy People Love God’s word They can’t get enough of it. They base their lives on it. It is a part of them. They know that it has the power to protect them from all kinds of junk in life. Psalm 119:11 – I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

And they share it whenever possible. Col 3:16 - 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 study and application of the Scriptures is a habit with Highly Holy People.



Habit #2 - Highly Holy People daily seek God in prayer. (Supplication) 1 Thess. 5:16 – “… pray continually” (Imperative) If our lives are to be defined as “Holy” we must be a people of prayer. Why? Because Prayer is our half of a lifelong conversation with God? It is how we develop a relationship with the creator of the universe. By a show of hands, how many here tonight have at one point or another in the course of your life, had grandparents? I’d imagine all of us. My Grandparents were holy people in the area of prayer I can still remember hearing grandma and grandpa Young practically screaming their prayers. They wept before God on behalf of my family and me. They understood the power of prayer and its necessity for everyday living. Parents and Grandparents, Let your Children hear you pray. Expose them to the discipline of prayer. They understood that Prayer is the well of life for the Christian. This church wants you to have that opportunity. Youth Singles Men Women all have set times of prayer. Because it is understood that a life of prayer leads to a life of holiness Prayer is a Habit with Highly Holy People.



Habit #3 - Highly Holy People are devoted to following Christ no matter what (Savior) 2 Tim 2:8-9a – Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. Highly Holy People realize that being a Christian is not always a cakewalk, but they do it anyway because of their devotion to Christ And because they recognize it as an association with Jesus’ suffering. They endure because they know what Christ went through and they are willing to do the same. Because they devoted to following him no matter what. But more than just enduring hardship, Highly Holy people are devoted to Christ because they understand that in him alone is an eternal reward. John 14:6 - Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Devotion to Christ springs from a desire to identify with him and then live with him eternally. Unconditional devotion to Jesus Christ is a Habit with Highly Holy People.



Habit #4 - Highly Holy People live each day guided by the Holy Spirit (Spirit) Gal 5:16,25 - 16 So I say, live by the Spirit…25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. To live by the Spirit means that our lives evidence that which defines the person of the Holy Spirit namely the Fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. A life defined by these traits is a life defined by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Further, Highly Holy people follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit even when it is contrary to their own plans. Like Paul in Acts 16 - 6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. The results of this such a willingness to follow is that the world will be changed. Following the leading of the Holy Spirit is a Habit with Highly Holy People.



Habit #5 - Highly Holy People are accountable to God’s house and His people (Saints) Hebrews 10:25 - Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another. I’ve heard it said that being in church no more makes one a Christian than being in McDonalds makes one a hamburger. That’s quite true. However, Holy people understand the benefit of being with God’s people. Paul says that the church is like a body. All of us are members of it. And how can the body benefit from an arm that sleeps in. If church is not a habit but an occasional thing, then make it a habit. Parents, if you want your kids hanging around the right kind of people, make sure they are in church. By doing so, you cultivate holiness in their lives as well as your own. Be there for everything you can. Find a place to get involved. Find your place of ministry and be faithful to it. My CMT are faithful to the singles ministry. They are accountable to me and each other and are in our services whenever possible. Besides being present be accountable to someone. Find a friend you can share with and be accountable to, pray, and study the word, and use the right kind of language and laugh at the right kind of jokes, etc. Faithfulness to God’s house is a Habit with Highly Holy People.



Habit #6 - Highly Holy People are obedient in separating themselves from the spirit of the world (Sanctification) 1 Thess 4:3 - It is God’s will that you should be sanctified. A life of personal purity is absolutely required of Holy people.

Sexual impurity is rampant, even in the church. If we are to be effective ministers of the Gospel we must crucify our flesh and work toward presenting our bodies as living sacrifices that are acceptable and pleasing to God. You cannot do that and live a life of sexual impurity. Young or old, single or married, male or female. Sexual purity is a must if we are to be defined as holy people. A holy life has been sanctified, set apart, for God’s service. It is a life that puts self to death and seeks to be pure and acceptable to God. We live in an age of godlessness, where men and women are more concerned with the immediate than with the eternal. The spirit of this world is an impure spirit of selfishness. And it is the antithesis of holiness. Separation from the spirit of the world is a Habit with Highly Holy People.



Habit #7 - Highly Holy People seek to serve the body out of thanks to God (Service) Uses Gifts to serve the Body.

2 Cor. 9:8-13 - 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. Every one of us has been gifted in one way or another. Some are pastors, some teachers, some evangelists. Some are hospitable, some are giving, and some are helpful. This list could go on. The point is that Highly Holy People do what they can to determine the spiritual gifts with which they have been gifted and then seek to put those gifts to use within the Body of Christ. Why? So that, “men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ.” Without that obedience your confession is hollow. It is incumbent upon the Child of God to seek out a place of service. God did not give us spiritual gifts so that we could enjoy having them but so that we could enjoy using them. Service to the Body of Christ is a Habit with Highly Holy People.



Conclusion If God did not intend for us to be holy people he would not have commanded us to be so. The fact that he gave the command is indication that he has made it possible. Part of living a life of holiness is developing habits in our lives that are holy. However, if you try to do these things on your own, you are doomed to fail. Only Christ living in our lives can make holiness a reality for sinful humanity. Because he works from the inside-out. Ezra Taft Benson said,

“The Lord works from the inside-out. The world works from the outside int. the world would take the people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people and then they take themselves out of the slums…The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human behavior.”