Personal Holiness in Times of Temptation
By: Dr. Bruce Wilkinson
Your Personal Holiness
You were nervous, that’s for sure - who wouldn’t be? In just a couple of moments you were going to walk through
that door and have one of the most important interviews of your life - for the job you’ve always dreamed of. Clutched
in one hand was your most updated resume (just finished late last night) and in the other hand, a few samples of
your best work.
The interview seamed to be going well until the Vice President asked you to list three or four words that best
described who you were as a person - outside of work. What a curve ball - what would you say about yourself? Then
he showed you a couple of hand-written pages and smiled, saying he had just finished calling a number of your family
members and best friends and had asked them the same question.
Now think for a moment, what would your closest friends have said about you on a personal basis - and in only three
or four words? Would any of them have described you by the word “holy?” Would you have even thought of that word?
Holy seems like a foreign word - more for ministers, monks, missionaries, and martyrs. Just two days ago I asked
a group of men that same question, and one said, he’s never dreamt he could ever be a “holy” man.
But that’s precisely what this whole series is all about. In fact, without any embarrassment or hesitation, I want
you to know up front, that’s the only reason for this course: Your Personal Holiness. Not when you are in heaven,
or when you are 90, but when you are right in the prime of your life - like you are right at this moment.
What the Bible Teache
Now this idea certainly isn’t mine. Instead, the Bible reveals that it is a direct command from the Lord written
with your name on it.
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation; Because
it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:15-16
Just twenty-six words, Profound truth that truly transforms. Look a little further and you’ll notice a number
of key issues: First, it is the will of God that you are holy. Not just your minister or “that other guy,” but
you. Second, it is the will of God that you are holy in all your conduct. Not just Sunday holiness but Friday-night
holiness. Third, it is the will of God that you are holy because God Himself is holy and He wants you to be exactly
like Him. Like father, like son.
The Bible clearly instructs us in this passage as well as many throughout the Bible that we are to be holy. First
be holy then act holy. Before a man could ever seek to be holy, however, he must first know what the Bible means
by the word "holy."
Literally, the root of the word "holy" means "to separate." For instance, if you were to cut
a steak into two pieces and grill one part and save the other for another day, you would have made it "holy"
in a general sense.
The big idea of "holiness" includes the broad concept of separation. When something is separated, it
is separated from something as well as separated to something else. Take that steak again. When you cut it, you
separated the pieces from the whole, and then separated it to the refrigerator.
It's up to you
God wants you to be a holy man. At the very root, then, of what lies behind His wish for you must include that
you become a "separated" individual.
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separated, saith the Lord, and touch not
the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters,
saith the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:17-18
So, my friend, the Lord is calling you to come out and be separate - and then to remain separate from that which
is "unclean" and enjoy the wonderful Fatherhood of the Lord God Almighty in a depth you may never have
experienced before.
Now let me ask you a rather sobering question: Have you ever made a decision to pursue personal holiness? No matter
how unholy you may have been, or how unholy you may be right at this present moment, you can lake today a day of
new beginnings. A new start. A putting off the old and putting on the new. Perhaps the best way to launch such
a new beginning with the Lord is to pray and tell Him of your honest desire to become a holy man and then ask Him
to enable you by His grace and His Holy Spirit.
Daily Bible readings:
Read each day for the next week.
Morning
1 Peter 1:13-19 "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace
that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves
according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without
respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch
as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received
by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb
without blemish and without spot:"
Morning Prayer
Dear Faithful Father,
Good morning Lord! Your presence has guarded me all through the night. Your Glory radiates in the heavens and Your
Love is shed abroad in my heart. How I praise You for working in my heart and for strengthening me as I seek for
personal holiness.
I thank You for Your unending Faithfulness to me. It amazes me that You are so active in every part of my life
including my temptations! Thank you for putting Divine Limits on my temptations so that none are too strong for
me. Thank You for also making "the" way of escape for each temptation so I don't have to be trapped by
temptations. Thank You for making sure that I can "bear" every temptation without sinning. My heart sings
to You - How wonderful are all your ways to me.
Afternoon
Romans 11:33-12:2 "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable
are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been
his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through
him, and to him, are all things: to whom be the glory for ever. Amen. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Afternoon Prayer
My Pure and Holy God,
You are never tempted! You will never tempt anyone - including me. Instead of tempting me to evil and harm, you
give me every good and perfect gift!
Lord, I confess that at times I have felt that my worse temptations were all Your fault. I have secretly blamed
You. How sobering to realize that my temptations ultimately were from the lusts of my own heart. If I didn't
lust, then I wouldn't be enticed to sin in that area. Lord, I fully accept my responsibility and no longer seek
to blame anyone or anything else.
Oh Holy Father, cleanse my lustful heart! Purify my thoughts and actions. I confess my sins and humble myself before
Your glorious holiness.
Evening
1 Peter 2:9-12 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people;
that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which
in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained
mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the
soul: Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they
may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."
Evening Prayer
Dear Jesus my High Priest,
You are my personal High Priest, Oh Jesus the Son of Glory! You left heaven to die for me and now you actively
intercede in heaven for me!
You understand all of my temptations because You were tempted in all points like me, yet You did not sin. Forgive
me for thinking You did not or could not understand my trials with temptations. Forgive me from running from You
when I needed Your help the most - right in the middle of temptations to sin! Therefore, I pledge I will come quickly
and boldly the next time I face temptations.
Lord, why do I rely on my own strength in temptations? Why do I not flee to Your face because you "aid those
who are tempted.: Oh Lord, I have sinned because of my weakness, but in my next temptation, I will seek Your aid.
Thank you for your death for me and now your life in me! Amen.
