pursuit of holiness – our primary calling text: 1peter 1 13 therefore, prepare your minds for...

Eng. Tunzo T Mnzava [email protected] @TunzoMnzava

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PURSUIT OF HOLINESS – OUR PRIMARY CALLING

Text: 1Peter 113Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be sober and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus

Christ--14as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to

your former lusts as in your ignorance,15but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in

all of your behaviour;16because it is written, "You shall be holy; for I am holy."

17If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man's work, pass the time of your living as

foreigners here in reverent fear – World English Bible


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MIND MANAGEMENT

“13Get your minds ready for good use. Keep awake. Set hope now and forever on the loving-favour to be given you when Jesus Christ comes again.”(NLT).

This is mind preparation for action. • Get your minds ready for action, for good use – GET

PREPARED• Be sober, keep awake – BE ALERT• Set your hope now and forever on the loving-

favour to be given you when Jesus Christ comes again – BE DETERMINED


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MIND MANAGEMENT

These are faces of mind management:

1)Preparedness2)Alertness

3) Determination!


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THE MIND IS OURS TO MANAGE

This is what God says concerning mind or the hearts – HE WILL DO A COMPETE REPLACEMENT!

26"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh - Ezek. 36


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THE MIND IS OURS TO MANAGE-1A heart of stone is UNMANAGEABLE. A heart of flesh is MANAGEABLE.We can allow or prohibit whatever comes in us through that mind. In Romans12:1-2 the Bible says: 1Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God


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THE MIND IS OURS TO MANAGE-2

How do I get my mind ready for good work?

1) By giving myself – my body to God - as living and holy sacrifice/gift.

2) Deciding not to act like the sinful people of the world act.

3) Allow God to change my life – and not the pattern of the world change my life

4) Accept a new mind from God 5) Always be sensitive of God’s prompting – “Keep awake”6) Set my mind on the hope that God has better things

reserved for us when Jesus comes.


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LIFESTYLE MANAGEMENT

14as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance (WEB) – 1Peter 1

A Christian who desires to please the master must have rules in life. OBEDIENCE is a key word here. We obey rules and regulations that are set for us to follow in life.God has called us in life of obedience!God has called us in the life of hating sin!


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OBEDIENCEPeter declares in the Acts 5 that there are

decisions that one must make in obeying! OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN:

“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men” Acts 5:29.


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In Hebrew 5:7-9 we learn about Christ, learning obedience. 7Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up

prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him

The Bible says clearly that because of Jesus’ obedience, “he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”


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Peter says that even the Holy Spirit is given to the obedient believers:

“And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him” Ac 5:32.

If Jesus had to go that way in learning obedience, how much do we need the same in order to make us obedient and recipients of

• Holy Spirit?• Eternal salvation?


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HATING SINObeying God goes hand-in-hand with hating sin.11Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to

God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12Therefore don't let sin reign in your mortal body, that you

should obey it in its lusts.13Neither present your members to sin as instruments of

unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

14For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.

Romans 6:12-14 (WEB)


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We are DAILY living a life of choices – every day: To choose

God and his commands - or –

what our body desires

The body with its fallen nature will only drive us to sin. That is why Paul says clearly:

“12So do not let sin have power over your body here on earth. You must not obey the body and let it do what it wants to do.” Romans 6 (NLT)


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I must make a decision here on earth: To allowMY desires to drive me into what it likes, i.e. sin –

or - God to lead me into His will, i.e. righteousness.

Each one of us must decide ourselves. It is our individual business to decide. We need the Holy Spirit to help us to, yet each

one of us must make a decision


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How can I achieve that decision?

“Think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But now you have new life because of Jesus Christ our Lord. You are living this new life for God” - Romans 6 (NLT)

Resurrection is only after death!!Unfortunately, we MUST COUNT ourselves dead

to sin TO REALLY BE DEAD to sin!


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I- COUNT YOURSELF DEAD TO SIN

Power that kills the old man in us is at the Cross of Jesus, and is secured by an individual as he/she daily count him/herself dead to sin. It is called: CARRYING ONES CROSS DAILY!

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me - Lu 9:23 (WEB).


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BE CRUCIFIED WITH CHRISTIn Galatians 2:20 Paul says:

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (KJV).

He is not saying “we are crucified...”. He says, “I am crucified...”Each one of us must make a decision of dying with Christ.


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II- NEVER GIVE SATAN A CHANCE“13Do not give any part of your body for sinful use” (Rom 6).

I must take away my members from the grip of sin.

I must not allow any member of my body to be used in sinful way.

I must not allow the devil to use any part of me.


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II- NEVER GIVE SATAN A CHANCESAY “NO” TO SIN

Titus2:11-14 we read:11For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (KJV)


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III- GIVE YOURSELF TO GOD

“Instead, give yourself to God as a living person who has been raised from the dead. Give every part of your body to God to do what is right.” (Rom 6)

We must daily live a life of offering – giving ourselves to God as the living people after death!


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IT IS TRUE YOU MAY BE A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN, SAVED, BORN OF THE SPIRIT

5Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:5-6)


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Mighty things are already done for and to you

13You were dead through your trespasses and the un-circumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross; 15having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it - Col 2

THESE ARE GREAT THINGS INDEED


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Mighty Questions after one is born again:

1) What about my heart? 2) What about my soul, the seat of my

desires, passions, loves, hatred etc?3) Have I also given my love to God – my

heart?


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Mighty Questions after one is born again:

1) What about my heart? 2) What about my soul, the seat of my desires,

passions, loves, hatred etc?3) Have I also given my love to God – my heart?9"The heart is deceitful above all things, And

desperately wicked; who can know it? Jer.17


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GOD’S MIGHTY PLAN FOR YOU AND ME

HE IS GOING TO EFFECT A COMPETE REPLACEMENT!26"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them - Ezek. 36

We EACH need a divine surgery of our hearts and each get a transplant of a new heart, the heart of flesh.


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The spirit is born againThe heart is replaced! What about the body members?

The physical body is a burden to us in discipleship.


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The Bible says:22For we know that the whole creation groans and labours with birth pangs together until now.23Not only that, but we also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body - Romans 8.


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In Romans 7 he says clearly:14For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin.15For I don't know what I am doing. For I don't practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do.16But if what I don't desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good.17So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.18For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good.


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III- GIVE YOURSELF TO GOD19For the good which I desire, I don't do; but the evil which I don't desire, that I practice.20But if what I don't desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.21I find then the law, that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present.22For I delight in God's law after the inward man,23but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.24What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?


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Decide now! Break the power of sin in you!“Instead, give yourself to God as a living person who has been raised from the dead. Give every part of your body to God to do what is right.” (Rom. 6).

“For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.” - Rom 6:14..


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HOLINESS

This new birth of the spirit, the replacement of the heart, and the daily offering to God of our body members is what Peter calls HOLINESS:

15but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behaviour;

16because it is written, "You shall be holy; for I am holy." – 1Peter 1


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HOLINESSEaston’s Bible dictionary defines it this way: Holiness in the highest sense belongs to God (Isa 6:3; Re 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Ro 6:19,22; Eph 1:4; Tit 1:8; 1Pe 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1Co 1:30; 2Co 7:1; Eph 4:23,24).


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HOLINESSHoliness has two faces

Consecration for God’s service and

Personal Holiness

Peter is saying that the former holiness must trigger the later – Personal holiness.

Each one of us must learn that after we are consecrated, we must achieve for ourselves the personal holiness.


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HOLINESSTo the Christian, a born again fellow, the mind management and the life style management are naturally leading to the Personal holy living.15but just as he who called you is holy, you

yourselves also be holy in all of your behaviour;16because it is written, "You shall be holy; for I am

holy."17If you call on him as Father, who without respect

of persons judges according to each man's work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear – 1Pet.1 (WEB).


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HOLINESSWriter of Hebrews 12:14 is saying very clearly:

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord

Immediately he equates the pursuit of peace and holiness with living sinless life (Heb 12):

15looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

16lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birth-right


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HOLINESSWe should always remember that • GOD WE SERVE IS HOLY! • WE CANNOT SEE GOD WITHOUT BOTH TYPES

OF HOLINESS • OUR SERVICE WONT BE VALUABLE TO US

BEFORE GOD IF WE DONT PURSUE HOLINESS!Peter says very clearly: “15but just as he who called you is holy, you

yourselves also be holy in all of your behaviour” 1Pet 1:15


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HOLINESS

We serve a Holy GodWe must be holy if we want to ever “see” Him – • See Him touching areas of our lives• See Him touching our families• See Him using us in His service• See Him giving us habitation in heavenSee him...

NO HOLINESS, NO SEEING GOD!


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HOLINESS

In Isaiah 57 we read: “15For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

NO HOLINESS, NO LIVING WITH GOD!


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HOLINESS

Jeremiah, after the teaching on the heart conditions, the danger of curses and blessings of depending on the LORD, he prayed:

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise – Jer.17

The heart prayer is: God, please change me, and I will be changed!

We need God to intervene in our situation for sure we cannot change ourselves.

GOD, PLEASE CHANGE ME!!


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PURSUIT OF HOLINESS – OUR PRIMARY CALLING

1Peter 113Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be sober and set your

hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ--

14as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance,

15but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behaviour;

16because it is written, "You shall be holy; for I am holy."17If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons

judges according to each man's work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear – World English Bible


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SONG: RAGGED CROSS

OLD RUGGED CROSSStanza 1 of 4

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,The emblem of suff’ring and shame;And I love that old cross where the dearest and bestFor a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,Till my trophies at last I lay down;I will cling to the old rugged cross,And exchange it some day for a crown.


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SONG: RAGGED CROSS


Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,Has a wondrous attraction for me;For the dear Lamb of God left His glory aboveTo bear it to dark Calvary



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SONG: RAGGED CROSS


In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,A wondrous beauty I see,For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,To pardon and sanctify me



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SONG: RAGGED CROSS


To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;Its shame and reproach gladly bear;Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,Where His glory forever I’ll share.


pursuit of holiness – our primary calling text: 1peter 1 13 therefore, prepare your minds for...

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