The Second Stage of Holiness
By: Dr. Bruce Wilkinson
Introduction
Go back in your memory banks for a moment to the last wedding ceremony that you attended. Remember those solemn
vows you heard? Didn't you have the distinct impression that this man and this woman were pledging to be devoted
to each other for the rest of their lives, whether "for sickness or health, for richer for poorer, until death
do us part?" They made a major decision in their lives to dedicate themselves to each other for the rest of
their lives.
As long as the marriage covenant was honored and not destroyed by divorce or dissolved by death, than that powerful
commitment of devotion and love would remain in effect. Though that couple may celebrate their vows each year on
their anniversary, their decision only occurred once. The decision was made once, the celebration multiple times.
What the bible teaches:
The second type of holiness is the flip side of the first. In the first, God voluntarily gave His love and set
us aside to receive His loyal devotion. In this second type of Holiness, we voluntarily respond to the Lord's love
for us and then devote ourselves to him above all others.
Since the root meaning of holiness is "to be set apart" or "to consecrate" or "to dedicate
to," you can easily se that if a man decided to give himself whole-heartedly to the Lord and live for Him,
then he would indeed be fulfilling the true meaning of holiness.
This is the second key of personal holiness. And it's a big one. In fact, I'm convinced that without breaking through
in this area, a man will never become a true man of holiness. Why? He won't have the heart to really pursue personal
holiness. He'll feel that what the Bible teaches is just to hard for him. He'll feel that he should live his life
differently, but his heart just won't be in it enough. The price tag will be too high. The Apostle Paul was an
incredible man of holiness and he knew the power of this kind of Life Commitment and so he exhorts others to join
him in Romans 12:1
"I beseech you therefor, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service."
What an incredible verse! The Apostle Paul literally is begging you to present (devote, give yourself to) yourself
to God as a sacrifice. You see, this step is an optional step. The people Paul was writing to were already Christians,
but they had not yet taken this further step. They believed in Christ as their personal Savior, but they had not
responded by "presenting" their lives back to him as a "living sacrifice."
In the Old Testament, the only value of the sacrifice was if it died. The person brought a living lamb to the altar
and then sacrificed it by killing it. If the lamb didn't die, it wouldn't be valuable to the sacrificer. In the
New Testament, there isn't any lamb except Jesus Christ and He already died and nothing else can ever be sacrificed
again. As you can imagine, Paul shocked the men in Rome with his exhortation to be a living sacrifice.
It's Up to You
When you sacrificed a lamb, it fully died. Nothing of its life was left. In the process of dying it offered its
full value. Likewise, my friend, you can step up to the altar that stands in the heavenlies right now and place
another lamb on the altar- yourself. But, unlike an actual lamb which was only valuable when it died, you are a
living lamb whose value to the Maker lies in your living and not your dying.
But, why does the Bible beseech us to present ourselves a living sacrifice? Only because if we don't, we don't
live our lives "separated" to God but rather "separated" from God through selfishness. But
when you offer yourself willingly and voluntarily to God, you separate yourself from this world, from even your
own desires, and separate yourself to the Lord. That's perhaps why Paul said in Romans 12:1
"...that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy..."
Did you see that word "holy?" When you devote yourself to God, God views that act as "holy"
as it is a separation to Him within the desires and intentions of your heart. When Jesus was just a few days old,
his parents did something very similar.
"...according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they (Mary and Joseph) they brought him to Jerusalem,
to present him (the exact word in Romans 12- present yourselves) to the Lord; (AS it is written in the law of the
Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)" Luke 2:22b-23
Did you see the combination? They presented Jesus because the Lord had already designated the first born male of
each Jewish family as separated to him (holy). But did you notice what the parents of Jesus did? They knew how
God felt about the issue and therefore responded by presenting or devoting or consecrating Jesus back to the Lord.
That's it! You see, not only can you present yourself fully to the Lord, but you can also present
your children back to the Lord. Ultimately, however, they must later choose for themselves whether they will continue
that presentation or break it by rebellion and selfishness.
Think back over your life for a moment. Has there ever come a time in your life when you responded to the Lord
by giving away your life totally to him? To die to yourself while you are still living - so you can really live
for Him? If not, then tomorrow is your day of destiny. Until then, start asking - no - start begging the Lord to
prepare you to walk up to His Altar and take this strategic next step in becoming a man after God's own heart.
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.
