Ronald K. Powell, Ph. D., Th. D.

Pastor and Founder of

Crosswinds International

3.  The Results:

Philippians 4:8-9 (KJV) ⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Isaiah 26:3 (KJV) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

2 Peter 1:2-10 (KJV) ² Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, ³ According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: ⁴ Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. ⁵ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; ⁶ And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; ⁷ And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. ⁸ For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. ¹⁰ Wherefore the rather, brethren,give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Closing:

Hebrews 12:14 (KJV) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Hebrews 3:7-14 (KJV) ⁷ Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice, ⁸ Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: ⁹ When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. ¹⁰ Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. ¹¹ So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) ¹² Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. ¹³ But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ¹⁴ For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Summing it all up /Our Call to Action

• The writer of Hebrews tells that hardships are God's discipline for our good, "that we may share in his holiness" (Hebrews 12:10), and calls us "to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).
• To draw close to God, we must hate iniquity and love righteousness. We must forsake sin and seek to resist temptations.
• The Command/ Be ye Holy

Our Prayer

Dear Lord, we know all too well about the struggle with sin. I pray for my brothers and sisters -- and for me -- that you will help us to make a commitment to personal holiness in our living and thinking and speaking. Help us to leave behind the corrupting desires of this world around us and fill our hearts with your desires instead. Lord, we rely upon your strength. Help us, we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.