Holiness Matters

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!

Micah J. Sturm

“The name was adopted from Latin adventus “coming; arrival”, translating Greek parousia.

Thus, the season of Advent in the Christian calendar anticipates the “coming of Christ” from three different perspectives:

the physical nativity in Bethlehem, the reception of Christ in the heart of the believer, and the eschatological Second Coming.”

From my perspective, the Christian calendar simply affirms the truth that Christ sanctifies.

It’s the reality that holiness is telling time, rearranging our lives by His life, and keeping every one of His promises.

Here’s the good news, “The King is coming!”

Gratitude is holy.

Those first to criticize are usually the last to contribute.

Hubris must be paid it’s homage.
Arrogance needs attention.

Humility makes no demands and requires no applause.

Holiness is simple.
It is a heart emptied of sin and self that is constantly filled with Christ.

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭30‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Lord, please cleanse me of me and make me more like You. Create in me a life of holy thanks.”

Micah J. Sturm

In a recent reading of Ephesians 5, I saw a list of things I’m extremely grateful for:

(1) The “overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God!” (5:1-2)

(2) The transforming grace of Jesus who delivers from sin! (5:3-10)

(3) The Light is never extinguished by the darkness (5:11-14)

(4) The journey of God-moments that make up my life (5:15-17)

(5) The fullness of the Holy Spirit and living under divine influence (5:18)

(6) The Song in my heart (5:19)

(7) Everything (5:20)

(8) My bride whom I love (5:22)

(9) The Church without which I’d be lost (5:27)

(10) My little girl, who is a beautiful gift from God indeed (6:1-4)

Thank You, Jesus!

Micah J. Sturm

Peter preferred his perspective on the situation over Christ’s perspective.

He received a strong correction from Jesus—“Get behind me, Satan!”

Whenever we become DISTRACTED from God’s Word and His will, we hinder His work.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”(Matthew 16:24 NET)

Matthew 16:24 – Τότε ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ· εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι

It appears that Jesus approves of alliteration:

ἀπαρνησάσθω—“to deny; DISOWN; renounce”

ἀράτω—“to take up; remove; DESTROY”

ἀκολουθείτω—“to follow, accompany, imitate/ DUPLICATE; to be a DISCIPLE”

“Lord, help me to never protect my perspective at the cost of practicing Your plan!”

Micah J. Sturm

Unity is a beautiful thing. Chaos can get ugly.

Apparently, the apostle Paul was not in favor of the level of friction that was present in the Corinthian congregation.

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

(1) Unity is being completely devoted to the same purpose in harmony.

Self-centeredness is the fuel of discord.

(2) Unity is a heart issue…only the Enthroned Christ can conquer chaos.

Perfect love stifles strife.

(3) Unity is a gift to be received, not a project to complete.

(Paul uses the PASSIVE voice in 1 Corinthians 1:10…”be united”).

We cannot manufacture unity—we must seek it from the Author of Peace.

(4) Unity must be received and maintained moment-by-moment through a miracle of divine grace.

Holiness is the fuel of real unity.

In His prayer for us, Jesus says unity is lovingly evangelistic:

“I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

John 17:23 ESV

Division is Satan’s delight.

The death of divided loves and loyalties that rule our hearts will unleash the unity of the Spirit that heals the broken, revives the Church, and offers peace over chaos.

“God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace. This is the rule for all the meetings of God’s people.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭33‬ ‭ERV‬‬

Chaos and unity both begin in the heart—that’s why holiness matters.

Micah J. Sturm

The people of God are exiles.

Homesickness is like carrying the weight of the world. Psalm 137 is the song of the day.

Political agendas and powerful agents create tremendous turmoil for any whose allegiance belongs to the Living God.

Those who “resolve that [we will] not defile [ourselves] with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drinks” (Daniel 1:8) are distinct among a culture of compromise.

Fiery furnaces and lion’s dens are real possibilities.

God uses Daniel and his friends during their exile.

God enables Daniel to make a difference in a hostile environment. Yet, Daniel does not fully understand everything that’s being done in and through him, so he says, “what shall be the outcome of these things?” (Daniel 12:8).

Daniel’s day feels familiar.

We’re far from home and under the weight of the world.

Powerful agents with personal and political agendas seek to eliminate any whose hearts fully belong to Christ.

The answer Daniel received echoes into our moment too—“You keep going till the end” (Daniel 12:13).

I hear encouraging words in Daniel 12 for us today:

“Keep TRUSTING in troubled times” (12:1)

“Keep LEARNING the things of God that makes one wise” (12:3)

“Keep LEADING OTHERS to the Lord” (12:3)

“Keep STEADY even when others sway” (12:4)

“Keep BELIEVING when we don’t understand” (12:8)

Exile doesn’t last forever!

God will bring us home!

Friend, don’t give up…let’s just KEEP GOING!