Holiness Matters

Micah J. Sturm

It was the early 1990s. 

My driver’s education teacher didn’t go to church.

I was one worried student. 

Why would a man ride in a car with unlicensed teenage drivers everyday unprepared to meet God?

When I asked my teacher to come to church with me, he said, “I’m not going to church!  Too many hypocrites!”

I didn’t know what to say!

One day I asked him again—ready for his usual response—“I’m not going to church! Too many hypocrites!”

But this time I used a line I heard a preacher say once—“I’d rather go to church with a few hypocrites than to go to hell with all of them.”

My teacher smiled and was quiet that day.  

I pray he never used that excuse again and went to church somewhere.

What’s your excuse?

Micah J. Sturm

“If” is a big word for only two letters. 

“What if?” weighs down the heart with countless scenarios of disaster lurking in the shadows.  

But what if we saw the word IF as a door of opportunity to see the work of God?

One definition says the word IF “presents an uncertain possibility with a condition, requirement, or stipulation.”

I circle the word IF every time I see it in Scripture.  

Today, the Master’s words to Martha in John 11:40 leap off the page and into my soul, 

“Did I not tell you that IF you believed you would see the glory of God?”

God desires cooperation from us.  

He always does His part. 

Any uncertainty is always on our end. 

What if we really believed IF could be the way God presents possibilities?

Micah J. Sturm

There are only two kinds of Christians:

carnal ones and spiritual ones.

Andrew Murray wrote, “The Master’s Indwelling,”in 1895. He begins with an exposition of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians and examines the characteristics of the “carnal Christian.”

It is a question worth asking still today—

“Am I a carnal Christian?”

If so, I need to be sanctified—made holy by yielding to His Holy Spirit.

Murray notes the four times the word “carnal” is used in the letter as a diagnostic tool:

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto CARNAL , even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet CARNAL: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not CARNAL, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not CARNAL?”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

MARKS OF A CARNAL CHRISTIAN:

(1) Protracted INFANCY

• always keeping others occupied with serving them
• needs to be cared for constantly 
• always wants to be helped
• cannot contribute…only consumes

(2) Continual Sin and Failure

• has a temper
• involved in strife
• holds bitterness and envy
• fuels divisions
• unloving attitudes and behaviors 
• worldliness 
• seeks attention and applause

(3) Confuses Grace and Gifts

• “I do so much for Jesus”…performance based
• equates spiritual with talent and time

(4) Cannot Receive Truth

• offended by spiritual truth
• oppose those in spiritual authority 

This is a tremendous need in the Church today!

What a privilege to share the good news that Christ has provided the remedy for being “carnal!”

Believer, seek His fullness…yield everything to Jesus and He will sanctify! Praise the Lord!

Micah J. Sturm

“Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Many have messed with the Master’s Meal, His Messengers, and His Meeting Place to their own demise.

Ritual robs us of the reality by making the sacred routine.

Hypocrisy is a hog—a glory-hog.

All suffering is not a result of sin; but, all sin will bring suffering.

(1) Holy Communion is not a snack—it is sacred time in His Presence.

Our weakness, illness, and death may be the result of hypocrisy—claiming a relationship with God that we really do not know (1 Corinthians 11:28-30).

(2) Church is more than a place—it is a people. 

How we treat believers matters to the Master.

Mistreatment of one of His children merits a millstone necklace and a one-way ticket to the bottom of the sea (Matthew 18:3-6).

(3) God protects preachers. 

We are foolish to oppose messengers of the Lord. 

Family, friends, neighbors, enemies, and strangers will do well to listen when one called to preach speaks, “This is what the Lord says!”

Remember, God still has bears—2 Kings 2:23-24.

How we handle the holy matters!

Micah J. Sturm

“Discipleship” is an important word in Christian living. It’s an absolute necessity. Jesus requires and enables it.

Yet, discipleship is not salvation. 

Jesus builds new lives…a new “home”…and discipleship is “keeping house.”

Allow me to illustrate:

Let’s imagine you’re newly married.

This new union that included a journey which led to a decisive moment of “I DO” has created a new life with the one you love. (This is being saved—new life in Christ—united with Him!)

Next, you’ve just moved into a brand new house—new construction—the builder has everything spotless and clean. 

Not everything from your old life will be moved into this dwelling—your spouse has a say in what is permitted in this new life together. 

Things will be rearranged and love will be in charge. (This is the experience of entire sanctification as we “lay down our rights to ourselves” and Christ sets up His throne in our hearts!)

These miraculous moments are gifts that must be nurtured.

The means of grace are like keeping our house clean and performing necessary repairs. 

The daily life of maintaining and improving these gifts is crucial to enjoying these life-changing blessings.  

It requires help from those who have more experience and share the journey with you.

(This is discipleship—learners learning to learn as we follow the Master—doing life together!)

Let’s point people to the One who loves them, builds new lives, and then invite them to Spiritual Home Economics—to join us on the journey “keeping house” with Jesus!

Micah J. Sturm

(1) It’s our job to watch others and critique them—measuring them by our walk with Jesus…THINK AGAIN! (Mark 9:38-41)

“John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him…For the one who is not against us is for us.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭38‬-‭40‬ ‭ESV‬‬

(2) Don’t look at me! It’s not my fault that others are not following Jesus…THINK AGAIN! (Mark 9:42)

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭42‬ ESV‬‬

(3) Everybody sins everyday…even Christians…so don’t worry—you’re still headed for Heaven…THINK AGAIN! (Mark 9:43-48)

“And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭43‬, ‭45‬, ‭47‬-‭48‬ ‭ESV‬‬

(4) Holiness isn’t really necessary…THINK AGAIN! (Mark 9:49)

“For everyone will be salted with fire.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭49‬ ‭ESV‬‬

(5) I’m fine…everything is fine…Jesus knows this is just how I am…He’s good with it—THINK AGAIN!

(Mark 9:50)

“Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭50‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Saltless potatoes taste bad and so do saltless Christians.

Micah J. Sturm

Sin—

• disease of humanity’s heart caused by rebellion of first parents, centered on self, resulting in death

Sins—

• symptoms of humanity’s heart disease displayed as disobedience to God
• ruled by senses—feelings, destructive 

Saved/Justification—

• sins forgiven by God through faith in Christ,
• preceded by confession and repentance (turning away from) sins,
• resulting in new life by the Spirit of Jesus.

Sanctified/ Entire Sanctification/ Holiness—

• cleansing of the diseased heart and its tendency to rebel against God
• the realignment of life’s center from self to God;
• the enabling power of Christ’s Spirit to daily live in complete love for God and humanity
• Preceded by entire consecration (emptying of selfishness and surrendering completely to Christ)
• resulting in a deepening journey of grace.

Micah J. Sturm

A colleague and friend stood with me recently and shared interesting moments from ministry experiences. I told him that a chapter in my forthcoming memoirs was to be entitled, “You Won’t Believe This!” and would recount some of the craziness I’ve seen and heard as a pastor. We laughed together and swapped a few stories.

Ministry is sometimes like the old “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” series—you know, the stuff “which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that people might question the claims.”

I think we should start a “Clergy’s Believe It or Not!” Let me get it going here:

BELIEVE IT OR NOT…

(1) Pastors are human. We have families too.

(2) Everything is not urgent…reserving a date on the church calendar can be done after 4:45AM or before 10PM.

(3) Pastors often have “inside information.” More is going on than may be obvious…never assume to know all the details behind a decision.

(4) The only perfect shepherd, preacher, and leader was Christ—so be patient with pastors who cannot possibly meet all these needs for everyone at all times.

(5) Your pastor may not need to be fixed…he may need to be followed.

(6) Pastors under the age of 40 are gifts to the church to be invested in and encouraged.

(7) Pastors over the age of 40 are gifts to the church to be respected and encouraged.

(8) Pastors need more prayer.

(9) Pastors are not “hired”—they are “called.” There’s a huge difference.

(10) Your pastor really wants you to live for Christ and make it to Heaven.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

Micah J. Sturm

Our homes are beautifully decorated with all the signs of Christmas. Wreaths, garland, and lights are everywhere!

The centerpiece of the home is the tree.

Lights gleam and glow from each branch, the ribbon shimmers in the gentle light, and around it we gather with those we love to exchange gifts. We hang special ornaments on our tree every year—sentimental reminders and markers of significant events. There’s the first ornament we got after we were married, Baby’s First Christmas ornament, and even the ornament that looks like our pet!

The centerpiece of the cosmos is Jesus Christ. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5).

Around Him we gather and rejoice.

We echo Peter’s testimony—“the God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him” (Acts 5:30-32).

Our hearts bear the marks of his grace—rescued from our sins, hearts made pure and filled with perfect love, and the daily growth in Christlikeness—“like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season” (Psalm 1:3).

The Spirit of Christmas is the fulfillment of God’s promise that holiness should be housed in humanity!

We are made free because Christ hung on a tree. His power over sin and death ensures our victory.

Now, “we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days” (Luke 1:74-75) and “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

The question, then, must be—what’s on your tree?

Micah J. Sturm

Jesus is a difference-maker.

He changed my life!

With such gracious transformation, came a deep desire to make a difference for Christ.

A call from Him to preach as a teenager only intensified that desire in me.

For 30 years I have seen people respond to the Lord at altars in prayer, in my office during counseling sessions, in hospital waiting rooms, living rooms, restaurants, or over the phone in the middle of the night.

If the Church ceases to make a difference in the world, then are we really His?

I want to be a difference-maker!

Leave a mark for the Lord wherever you go:

“…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV).

By the way, if you simply live in deep love with Jesus, you’ll be making a difference even when you’re not aware of it…I guarantee!

Holiness is love in action and it’s a difference maker!