<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> Untitled Document • Take Time To Be Holy
• There are many points in the song of this title that we should consider carefully.

• Introduction
• Many times we are faced with the challenge to be holy.
• 1 Peter 1:15-16
• A quotation from Leviticus 11:44; 19:2; 20:7
• It is a call to bring ourselves into a relationship with God.
• God is holy, and the only way to have such relationship is to make ourselves holy.
• We learn the only way to do this is to do what God commands us to do.
• Using the words of the song, let us notice:

• Take Time To Be Holy
• This implies that holiness does not come by fate, but by us taking the time to do so.
• Time is mentioned in the scriptures often.
• We humans are limited by time.
• We are to make the best use of our time here on earth (Ephesians 5:16).

• Speak Oft With Thy Lord
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing”
• An attitude expressing the constant communication and dependency of God.
• Our faith is strengthened when we pray to God.
• Our trust becomes stronger.
• That gives us hope of everlasting life.

• Abide In Him Always
• Many verses tells us we need to abide in Jesus and God will abide in us.
• 2 John 9 “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.
• John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing”.
• 1 John 2:6 “the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked”.
• 1 John 3:24 “And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit who He has given us”.

• And Feed On His Word
• A spiritual feast is there for us as we take in the word of God.
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work”.
• 2 Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day”.

• Make Friends Of God’s Children
• All who obey Him have the right to be called His children.
• Our relationship is to be one of love, care, concern, and encouragement.
• We are sons by our common faith,
• So to keep others in the faith, we must encourage them to be faithful.
• Why not make friends with the greatest people on earth?

• Help Those Who Are Weak
• Not everyone has a rock solid faith.
• Romans 15:1-7 talks about supporting and even lifting up the weak in the faith.
• Hopefully, those who are weak realize that the strong in faith are trying to help them.
• And there is always someone who has a weaker faith than you that you can help.

• Forgetting In Nothing
• So many ways to go on this phrase.
• Never forget God and what He has done for you.
• Many Psalms speak of declaring the great things God has done.
• Never forget the Bible is God’s word.
• Never forget that our soul is eternal.
• Etc, etc.

• His Blessings To Seek
• We know where His blessings are.
• IN CHRIST Ephesians 1:3
• We are to seek God. Isaiah 55:6
• As we continue in our Christian growth, we learn that there are many blessings.
• In fact we cannot count them all.

• The World Rushes On
• Yes, the world is rushing headlong into perdition.
• Not paying attention to God or even holding a standard of morality.
• Is there a chance of stopping it? Not likely.
• But we can do things that others will see and choose to serve the Lord. Matthew 5:16

• Spend Much Time In Secret
• Not just your praying time with God.
• Sometimes we just need to clear our minds and focus upon what is really important.
• It is kinda hard these days to have quiet “me” time with all this social media and technology.
• But it is within our power to turn the phone and computer off and get into a quiet place to reflect upon God and our relationship with Him.

• With Jesus Alone
• Somewhat of an oxymoron to say spend time in secret, but with someone.
• What better entity to spend time with other than our Lord and Savior?
• This is accomplished through meditation and prayer.

• Abiding In Jesus
• Abide—to live, dwell, stay, inhabit
• Jesus always at the forefront of our thoughts and worship.
• Colossians 1:18 “..,.that in all things, He might come to have the preeminence”
• 2 John 9
• If not abiding in Jesus, then who?
• Spiritually speaking the only alternative is Satan.

• Thy Friends In Thy Conduct His Likeness Shall See
• Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
• Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me”.
• So many of our songs encourage us to share the love and the message of Christ with the world and those around us.
• Our behavior is to be excellent 1 Peter 2:12 “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles…”

• Like Him Thou Shalt Be
• He is our perfect example
• 1 Peter 2:21 “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps”.
• 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.
• Our songs suggest that we want to be like Him.
• “O to be like thee”
• “I want to be like Jesus”

• Be Calm In Thy Soul
• The fact that God is watching over us should give us comfort.
• We have the peace that surpasses all understanding and will guard our hearts and minds with Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
• We know that God is in charge and all will be well for His children (Romans 8:28).

• Each Thought And Each Motive Beneath His Control
• The love of Christ controls us
(2 Corinthians 5:14).
• We do not practice sin because we know sin separates us from God and Christ (Isaiah 59:2).
• His great love for us motivates us to love and do good deeds for others.

• Thus Led By His Spirit
• The Holy Spirit is given to us as a seal of the promise (Ephesians 1:13-14).
• Jesus said the Holy Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth (John 16:13), and He would bring to their remembrance everything Jesus had taught them (John 15:26-27).
• So when we read the Bible, and follow it, we are led by His Spirit.

• To Fountains Of Love
• Our love needs to be overflowing as we often see in some fountains.
• God is called the fountain of living waters.
• Jeremiah 2:13 “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water”.
• Jeremiah 17:13 “O Lord, the hope of Israel, All who forsake Thee will be put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be written down, because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the Lord”.
• Proverbs 14:27 “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death”.

• Thou Soon Shall Be Fitted For Service Above
• Ephesians 4:12-16
• We are being prepared for service to the LORD.
• We all have a duty, and we must encourage each other to do that duty to God.

• Conclusion
• The words of this song are very meaningful.
• That is why we sing such a song.
• Let us sing with the understanding, and apply these good spiritual thoughts to ourselves.
• Have you taken the time to be Holy?

Take Time To Be Holy
words by W.D.Longstaff and music by George C. Stebbins

By Carey Scott

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