A Call to Shine: Living a Life of Holiness

Speaker: Minister Nance Scripture Focus: Leviticus 19:1-2; Daniel 2:20-22

The foundation of the message is drawn from the book of Leviticus, which picks up where Exodus left off—God's people delivered from bondage and on their way to the promised land.

The Foundation of Holiness

Minister Nance opened the message by reading from Leviticus 19:1-2:

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy. The NLG version says, 'You must be holy,' for I the Lord your God am holy." [32:24]

This commandment forms the core of Leviticus, often referred to as The Holiness Code [34:56]. These laws were not casual rules or designed to trip up the people, but were specifically given to help them:

• Understand the Holiness of God's Nature: They were designed to help Israel understand the nature and character of the one true living God. [35:15]

• Reflect His Love and Mercy: The laws were to reflect God's love and mercy in the midst of a people who knew Him not. [35:45]

The Purpose of the Call: To Shine

Just as the Lord delivered Israel out of the bondage of Egypt (a place representing sin), He brings believers out of darkness into His marvelous light with a distinct purpose: "A call to shine." [33:30]

"He brought us out with a purpose. And that purpose was to shine among all of the nations that are surrounding us." [36:24]

As God’s own special people, our role is to let our light shine, not so that they glorify us, but that they may "glorify our Father which is in heaven." [38:28]

Holiness is a Way of Living

Minister Nance stressed that holiness is not merely an outward display or something confined to the sanctuary:

• It’s Not Just External: "Holiness is not just about this long dress... not just about me dancing and shouting and running and jumping... not just about me serving on the choir." [37:20]

• It’s Daily Conduct: Holiness "does not begin when we enter the doors on Sunday morning. But it goes beyond these doors on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday." [38:06]

• It Governs Interactions: Holiness "defines the way that we interact with one another." A believer cannot be saved, speaking in tongues, and unable to speak to their neighbor—something is wrong with that. [38:52]

• Unclean Things Include Our Words: The call to "touch no unclean thing" [39:32] extends beyond obvious sins like smoking or drinking. "Unclean things is my words can be unclean if they don't edify, if they're not glorifying, if they're not lifted up the name of Jesus. Hallelujah. That is unclean." [39:53]

The Deception of the Enemy

One of the devil’s biggest lies is that you must perfect yourself before you can come to Christ:

"The enemy had me deceived many years... Telling me a lot telling me that if I got saved you going to have to stop this, you going to have to stop smoking, you going to have to stop drinking... The devil is a liar. It's not that I didn't have to give it up... but what the devil don't tell you is that when you surrender to God, he will take the very desire." [46:43]

If we could have gotten ourselves together, Jesus would not have had to go to the cross. "My God. His message to Paul is, 'My grace is sufficient for you.'... It's not a license for sin. Be ye holy. God has called us to it." [53:53]

How to Let Your Light Shine

As "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9), we allow our lights to shine by casting off the works of darkness:

Commandment (Ephesians 5:1-18)	Description
Be Imitators of God [01:04:14]	Walk in love as Christ loved us, offering Himself as a sacrifice.
Cast Off Works of Darkness [01:03:41]	Do not let fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking, or coarse jesting be named among you. [01:04:38]
Walk as Children of Light [01:05:56]	The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; rather, expose them.
Walk Circumspectly [01:07:13]	"Not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, for the days are evil."

Minister Nance concluded by urging listeners to acknowledge that holiness is an inward work of the Holy Spirit that manifests on the outside [01:10:02]. While we may miss the mark, sin is not a practice for the people of God. When convicted, we are to cry out for mercy, confess, and ask the Lord to "wash me again, I need you to cleanse me." [01:11:17]

"We serve a holy God. We serve a just God. We serve a righteous God. We serve a merciful God. We serve a gracious God. Hallelujah. But our God is also a holy God. He's also a consuming fire." [01:08:09]

Video URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eNlUayCEVQ