Holiness Matters

Micah J. Sturm

Dear Christian,

I rejoice that you have been born from above by the grace of the Lord Jesus!

This new life is a divine trail of transformation.

Everything is different now…well, almost everything.

There’s something you need to know.

We were all born sick—hearts poisoned by sin—declaring our independence from God and His way. So, we left Him out of our lives and went our own direction—doing and being whatever we desired.

See, God loves us so much that He’s been chasing us from the beginning so that He might rescue us and heal our hearts.

The very moment you heard Him talking to you was His love gripping your heart.

Sin ruined you, but He rescued you!

Turning away from all the rebellion and trusting in Jesus, He erased all the sins you had ever committed and made you a brand new person!

But you’re still behaving too much like YOU.

The Bible describes the symptoms:

“It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom.”

Galatians 5:19-21 MSG

The new you in Christ and the old you are trying to occupy the same heart—and it won’t last long.

One of you has to die…one of you will die.

The Lord lets us decide which one will rule our hearts, but it cannot be both.

Please do not stop short of the possibilities that are yours in Jesus!

“God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires. God’s Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:22-25 CEV

Christian, you brought Jesus your sins and He forgave you—making you brand new!

Now, bring Him YOU so He can heal your heart—ruling there without competition!

This is what the Bible calls HOLINESS—entirely His, pure hearts, filled with His Spirit, perfect (complete) love, sanctified, and only One in charge!

I am praying for you to experience this depth of God’s miraculous grace in your own heart and life! It’s available to you because He loves you!

Don’t turn back! Keep going!

His servant,

Pastor

Golden Calves Among God’s People

Micah J. Sturm

The people of God had been surrounded by images and practices of the gods of Egypt for hundreds of years. One of the Egyptian deities was in the form a bull named Apis and they believed it possessed the powers of nature and prosperity. Everyone in the land was influenced by the bull.

“Apis…represented the core cultural values and understanding of all Egyptians…eternity itself and the harmonious balance of the universe” (Ancient History Encyclopedia).

It’s easy to be overcome by the bull surrounding us and not realize that we’ve been shaped more by bull than by the one true God.

Six weeks after leaving Egypt they arrive at Horeb. God had rescued them from bondage in a miracle of His grace. He provided victory over their enemies, gave them bread from heaven and water from a rock.

Now they stand at the foot of Mount Horeb (Sinai) where the powerful presence of God descended to set them apart by His very Word.

It is here at Horeb that we find God’s people are still full of bull—the Egypt they’d left behind still lingered within them.

(1) They refused to wait on God (Exodus 32:1)

(2) They returned to practices from which they were delivered (Exodus 32:1)

(3) They looked for someone who could be manipulated to promote their agenda and demands (Exodus 32:1)

(4) They spared no expense in order to get what they wanted (Exodus 32: 2-4)

(5) They slapped God’s name on their sin and celebrated it as progress (Exodus 32:5)

(6) They lost the favor of God—He was ready to destroy them (Deuteronomy 9:19).

(7) They were “unrestrained” and “out of control” with self-sanctioned behaviors that went unaddressed by the religious leaders (Exodus 32:6)

The bull was in their hearts before it came out of the fire.

A life given to bull always leads to death—3,000 men died when God purged the bull from His people (Exodus 32:28).

It is still the will of God to cleanse our stubborn and bullheaded hearts that are bent on having our own way!

Let Him slaughter our bull and fill our hearts with His Spirit.

What golden calf have we set up in place of the Lord? The bull has got to go!

Holiness kills the bull!

The Cambridge Dictionary defines the informal use of the word “bull” as, “complete nonsense.”

Vocabulary.com says “bull” is, “make believe with the intent to deceive.”

Many people are still under the influence of bull—the complete nonsense of idolatry, hypocrisy, and deceit. We are bullheaded, stubborn, and bent on having our own way.

This is the essence of carnal, unspiritual, and bullish hearts.

I pray that holiness people will once again respond to God’s clarion call—“Who is on the Lord’s side?” and live beyond the bull!

“Called from the world and it’s idols to flee,

Called from the bondage of sin to be free!”

Micah J. Sturm

“Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.””

Exodus 33:13-17 ESV

DISTINCT

“So separated as not to be confounded with any other thing; clear; not confused.”

(Webster’s Dictionary)

“Recognizably not the same; clearly different; unmistakable; definite”

(Standard College Dictionary)

God indeed is everywhere, but the reality is that few people know the personal presence of the Lord. Those who are keenly aware of His presence will be clearly different from the culture in which they reside.

An encounter with the living God gives one a distinct perspective.

The answer to everything is Jesus. Every individual and situation is viewed through the truth of Christ.

Beliefs and opinions are shaped by His presence.

Culture must not be permitted to corrupt the distinct practices of those who walk with God.

Holiness of heart and life is the mandate of grace. It’s only when believers are different that a difference will be made.

Distinct possibilities abound when the Lord is magnified in those who know Him.

Pessimism perishes in the power of God’s presence.

“And he said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.”

Exodus 34:10 ESV

Let us walk so closely to Christ that we, too, are clearly different—consumed by the law of love.

Micah J. Sturm

identity

noun

iden· ti· ty ī-ˈden-tə-tē 

: the distinguishing character or personality of an individual : sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing : ONENESS

I heard my teacher, Dr William Greathouse, quote these words many times to our class as a reminder of who we are, as ministers and members of the Church of the Nazarene:

“In order that we may preserve our God-given heritage, the faith once delivered to the saints, especially the doctrine and experience of entire sanctification as a second work of grace, and also that we may cooperate effectually with other branches of the Church of Jesus Christ in advancing God’s kingdom…”

(Manual, Church of the Nazarene).

Spiritual dementia is devastating.

The CDC says, “Dementia is…a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities.”

We are called to holiness. It’s who we are.

For this we were birthed—to bear witness to the Christ who graciously transforms.

To forget or abandon that which makes the Church distinct will dissolve unity.

May our Master’s prayer recorded in John 17 be more real now than ever.

Micah J. Sturm

Wesleyan scholar Dr Mildred Bangs Wynkoop wrote, “A life of sin follows the loss of faith in God because unbelief kills love…and love and obedience are what holiness is”

(Wynkoop, Foundations of Wesleyan-Arminian Theology, 67).

If ‘unbelief kills love,’ then I conclude that LOVE KILLS SIN!

Paul preached it this way,

“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24, ESV).

So, true love takes it all to the cross.

We know what happens after the cross—life!

The fruit of the Spirit is singular—LOVE.

Sourness dies so LOVE can sing joyfully!

Drama dies so LOVE can rest peacefully!

Restlessness dies so LOVE can endure patiently!

Rudeness dies so LOVE can share kindly!

Hatefulness dies so LOVE can give goodness!

Inconsistency dies so LOVE can create faithfulness!

Harshness dies so LOVE handles gently!

Self-centeredness dies so LOVE is in control!

“…because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5, ESV)!

May each believer find the reality that perfect love provides the death to sin and makes holiness the theme of our lives.

Micah J. Sturm

Importance is very subjective.

What matters to one person may be insignificant to another.

The Free Dictionary says,

im·por·tant  (ĭm-pôr′tnt)

adj.

1. Strongly affecting the course of events or the nature of things; significant: an important message that must get through; close friends who are important to me.

2. Having influence; prominent:

3. Having or suggesting a consciousness of high position or authority; authoritative:

What really matters?

How we respond to Jesus Christ is the most important issue we will ever face.

Responding to Christ does not end when He forgives our sins and we are saved.

Instead, a sincere releasing of our lives is the next response to His reign in our hearts—entire sanctification.

Out of a surrendered and pure heart comes the continual response of submission to whatever He says to us—He graciously gives us holy hearts in order to enable holy lives.

I believe that holiness matters.

The Holy Bible is literally the “Book on Holiness!”

The Church of the Nazarene, in particular, and Christianity, in general, needs a renewal of the powerful and transforming grace of God.

Why? Because holiness matters.

It matters to me, it mattered to our spiritual ancestors, it matters for those around us, and it matters to God.

This blog is birthed from the heart of one for whom the truth of biblical holiness has made all the difference.

The goal is to invite others to experience and explore the riches of God’s grace by way of scripture and personal testimony—this is my story.

I am more convinced now than ever—holiness matters!

Micah J. Sturm

The followers of the risen Christ had been in a ten day prayer meeting. Luke records the event in Acts 2 as it happened on the Day of Pentecost.

I am persuaded that this is the pattern for every believer in living out the biblical call to holiness/ entire sanctification. In fact, it’s actually a miracle of grace—so we all can receive straight A’s!

I. ARRIVAL (2:1)

Jesus told the believers to “wait” and they did. The arrival of the Promise will come to open hearts!

II. ALL TOGETHER (2:1)

The believers were on the same page/ in unity/ oneness with each other.

Divisions disappeared in the desire to be all His!

III. ACT OF GOD (2:2-11)

“suddenly” = in a moment

“from heaven” = not manufactured or manipulated by us, but a work of God

IV. AUTHORITY (2:14)

Peter comes in the authority of the Spirit preaching the Scriptures—holy boldness!

V. ADORATION (2:22)

Everything in holy living is about Jesus!

VI. ACTIVITY (2:32)

“we are ALL witnesses” = everybody serves in some way to advance the gospel

VII. APPEAL (2:40)

Holiness is evangelistic! A concern for those who have not yet believed overwhelms us!

VIII. ATMOSPHERE (2:43)

The atmosphere of holiness is “awe” and worship!

IX. ADDITIONS (2:47)

Daily adding to their number…holiness may actually be the key to it all!

X. ATTITUDE (2:42)

“They DEVOTED themselves…”

May God grant us a personal Pentecost…that cleanses the heart and enables us to live this kind of life!

“Faithful is he who calls you and he will do it!”

(1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Micah J. Sturm

Consumerism is dangerous in the Church.

It allows us to discard practices, preaching, and people that no longer serve us personally.

It confuses wants with needs.

It demands instant gratification.

Excess is the barometer—the more you have, the better.

We become carnal customers.

Holiness is dangerous in the world.

It embraces purity and practices that serve Christ and our neighbors.

It brings clarity to priorities.

It humbly yields all to the will of God.

Simplicity is the barometer—“He must increase and I must decrease.”

We become real Christians.

Micah J. Sturm

Overwhelmed by what they were going through, and were yet to endure, the followers of Jesus were hiding—huddled in uncertainty.

Acts 2 records an overwhelming moment, the promise of God arrives.

When believers are all together in unity, the Holy Spirit is powerfully present.

A personal encounter with the fire of God cleanses, enables, and stirs a response.

An entirely sanctified heart and church will amaze and attract the world by the difference in their voice.

Holiness addresses the confusion, complaints, and condition of the human heart by the clarity, comfort, and cleansing provided by the very Spirit of Jesus.

Hate is overwhelmed by Love,

Sorrow is overwhelmed by Joy,

Chaos is overwhelmed by Peace,

Disgust is overwhelmed by Patience,

Rudeness is overwhelmed by Kindness,

Evil is overwhelmed by Goodness,

Inconsistency is overwhelmed by Faithfulness,

Meanness is overwhelmed by Gentleness, and

Excess is overwhelmed by Self-Control.

Lord, I want to be overwhelmed with the Spirit of Jesus…not by the spirit of the world.

Micah J. Sturm

(11) Accountability is an act of love—“we’re holiness people” is a good explanation for our character and conduct. ‘Helps to holy living’ ought to be embraced.

(12) Modesty is not a bad word—it’s a reflection of the heart.

(13) The Holy Spirit requires less organization and more obedience from us—less talk, more action.

(14) Powerful biblical preaching is a gift to never be taken for granted.

(15) It is impossible to separate humility from holiness.

(16) Just because we CAN doesn’t mean we SHOULD.

(17) Tears on the altar is a beautiful sight.

(18) The fruit of the Spirit must be tended…water, Son, fertilizer, and even some pruning.

(19) “There will always be something, but there will always be God!”

(20) Enthusiasm is contagious.

(21) It is not a sin to be human.

(22) There is variety within unity—differences don’t necessitate division.

(23) Peace is when what I know and what I am line up.

(24) It’s easier to please God than most people.

(25) Simplicity is sweet!