Encountering His Virtue | Overflow Church Grand Prairie, Tx | Notes
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Encountering His Virtue

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Revelation 4:6-11 (NLT) In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 7 The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” 9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, 11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

The central characteristic of God- Holiness.

What is holy/ holiness?
Holy: “Opposite of that which is which is common or profane.”
HOLY: OTHER THAN, OR UNCOMMON, DIFFERENT.

HE IS WHOLY HOLY
Moses sang it this way….
Exodus 15:11 (NIV) "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you-- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?
When we try to make him like us him we distort our view of his holiness.”

Jesus is Holy
John 6:69 (NLT) “We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

What does Jesus say about virtues?

Mark 12:28-34 (NLT) 28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. 30 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” 32 The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. 33 And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.” 34 Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.


Social goodness

According to Jesus, we are morally bankrupt before God if we ignore the first command.
“You can keep the second command without keeping the first but you cannot keep the first without keeping the second.”

Wholistic Holiness: Heart, soul, mind, & strength.
The biblical standard of Virtue is holiness.
1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV) 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.”

Jesus opposed self-righteousness in any form:
Self righteousness is any righteousness that can be claimed without Gods grace.

Luke 5:32 (NLT) I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.
Embracing Holiness
1. Yield to God’s righteousness
David understood holiness this way…
Psalm 24:3-4 (NIV)
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart…
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
“Jesus came and got his hands dirty to get our hearts clean.”

2. Commit to Sanctification
Holiness is not a eviction, it’s an invitation.”
Hebrews 10:14 (NIV) By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Who are being sanctified)
Sanctification- Progressively growing in a life that is set apart for God.
“Holiness is not something that people do, but something that God does in them.”