WORSHIP GOD IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS

by Dr. Othello O. Caturan

Text: Psalm 29:1-11

“ [1] Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.[2] Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.[3] The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.[4] The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.[5] The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.[6] He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.[7] The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.[8] The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.[9] The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.[10] The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.[11] The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.”

INTRODUCTION

What is worship? Why do we worship? How do we worship God? These are questions that need to be answered because this is fundamental and basic in the Christian life. To fail to address these questions means failure in our very service to our God.

True worshippers of God are those who know truly who God is. David knows who God is: a. He is the God of Glory vv. 1,9 b. He is the God of Strength v1 c. He is the God of Majesty v4 d. He is the God of Power in Creation vv 3-9 e. He is the God the King v10 f. He is the God who is Sovereign v10 g. He is the God of His people v.11
To worship is to give ourselves wholly the worth of the object of our worship. The Lord Jesus Christ is the object of our worship because He is our holiness or sanctification. Without Him in our life we can not be worshiping God in spirit and in truth. He is our holiness and sanctification: 1 Cor. 1: 30-“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”
To worship God is to give God the beauty of living holy unto God: Him being the thrice Holy One. Isaiah 6:3- “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of glory.” If our lives are not holy or set apart and separated unto God then it is not true but a presumptuous and vain worship.

DISCUSSION

ON TO WORSHIP GOD IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS

To know that life of holiness is a beauty in the eyes of the Lord.

The beauty of holiness is something that is pleasing, attractive and good; one that gives joy and awe to the beholder. To God holiness is glorious, and a thing of beauty to behold. Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 6:3 A holy life is a striking beauty in God’s evaluation and judgment. It catches God’s attention and notice because He is pleased and satisfied with it. This holiness of life attracts God and will always be blessed by it.

Why holiness is beauty? On the transfiguration as noted in Mark 9:1-4 and Revelation1:13-17

a. There is purity in holiness-clean and pristine in sight and feelings. This is a picture of holy life that is unblemished by the world and its lusts. Of course, there is that constant and avoidable struggle to perfection in this side of earthly life because of the reality of the sinfulness of the flesh. But the will to be pure and unspotted by the world is there in the heart and longing of the sinner saved by grace as prompted and controlled by the indwelling Holy Spirit. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:3

b. There is radiance in holiness- shining light, walking in the light not in darkness. The true believer will have the longing and desire to walk in the light even as the Lord is Light. Darkness is not anymore the engulfing and enslaving pleasure because the pursuit of holiness is now the focus and will is to do His will and not self. He walks in the light for he is now positioned as child of the light. He does not take pleasure in living darkness but desist and being convicted of any form of works of darkness. Romans 5:8-15-

c. There is the brightness of the light in holiness that shines and glows in whiteness and purity of the living Christ as described in Revelation 1: 12-16- – “[12] And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;[13] And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.[14] His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;[15] And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.[16] And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.”

How do we worship God in the beauty of holiness?

a. Let us live a pure life and pure motives in our worship unto the Lord b. Let us live as shining lights wherein Christ is seen in Christ-likeness c. Let us radiate faith , hope and love in the Christian life. d. Let us manifest the beauty of our genuine salvation in holiness. e. Let us remove all filthiness in the flesh with fear in the Lord. f . Let us live a sanctified life holy- without blemish. g. Let us adorn our lives with gentleness and meekness in Spirit. h. Let us be zealous to preach and bring glad tidings of peace, and separated unto the gospel of God.

Worship is rendering or giving our lives to the glory of God .

a. Our life should be surrendered, yielded to God: he will behold our worship as a thing of beauty because of our being holy unto the Lord. God is worshipped in the beauty of holiness. Psalm 96:9 True holiness comes out of Christ living in us as our holiness in life and acknowledging Christ is the source of ones’ holiness. 1 Corinthians 1:30-31- “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption :that , according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. .

b. It was J.C. Ryle who said: “True holiness is much more than tears and sighs…A holy violence, a conflict, a warfare, a fight, a soldier’s life, a wrestling are spoken of as a characteristic of the true Christian.” c. Paul’s testimony helps us to understand his aligning with truth of the gospel in this manner of holy life surrendered unto God. Acts 20:17-27; 1 Timothy 1:18-19; 1 Timothy 4:9-10; 2Timothy 4:6-8; Ephesians 6:12-18

A holy life is a thing of beauty in the eyes of the Lord.

*A holy life gives glory to God. It is characterized as a life that is separated and pure dedicated to the proclamation of the gospel.

*A holy life is strong life with strength that is zealous and rich in good works done for Christ.

A holy life is a life that is full of joy radiating with brightness of faith , hope and love in the Lord.
A holy life is a life that is clean and pure without blemish in the service of the Lord.

*A holy life is a separated life: that is from the world, from self-love, and the tricks of the Devil.

A holy life is beholding the Lord by the power of the spirit-filled and controlled life.

*A holy life is a beautiful life because it is with reverential fear unto the Lord.

The beauty of the Lord is not only that He is holy but also that His voice is full of majesty and power.

a. Divine voice- Gen 3:8 striking voice

b. Divine voice 1 Kings 19: 12 still small voice

c. Divine voice-Ezekiel 43:2 full of majesty

d. Voice of Christ: *it is mighty- Revelation 1:15 as the sound of many waters *it is endearing and pleasing invitation Revelation 3:20 * it is arresting sinners Acts 9:4-6 * it is a source of joy to his friends John 3:29 * it is a pleasant and wonderful voice- John 10:4 , 27-29 * It is a voice of truth- love and authority John 18:37

The beauty of the Lord is kingly and sovereign in nature. Thus to worship God in the beauty of holiness our voices be powerful and beautiful by using it to the holy proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. V 10

a. 2 Corinthians 4:13- we believe and therefore speak

Isaiah 8:20- if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no truth in them

c. We are to speak for the King as ambassadors- 2 Corinthians 5:20 as though God beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God

We should live beautifully in the world as “royal priesthood” holy unto the Lord as holy vessels fit for the master’s use.

a. Be ye holy as ye are holy in all aspects of life out of obedience as God’s children and not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. 1 Peter 1:14-17

b. The holy lives will shine in the luster of honesty and genuine fruit of good works the outcome of holiness unto the LORD. 1 Peter 2:9-15- – “[9] But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:[10] 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.[11] Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;[12] 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.[13] Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;[14] Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.[15] For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:”

c. To live in the glowing beauty of holiness not catering to the lusts of the flesh but to the will of the heavenly Father. 1 Peter 4:1-5- – “[1] Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;[2] That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.[3] For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:[4] Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:[5] Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.”

Results of worshipping God in the beauty of holiness v11

“[11] The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.”

There is strength in holiness that brings stability and maturity in the life of faith. There is the strength to fight and overcome the lusts of the flesh by holiness as a result of the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit controlling and ruling one’s life. There is that inner strength of the power that is exceedingly powerful to overcome the pleasures of this world and its temptations. There is that overpowering strength to yield to life righteousness because of Christ unto holiness. Romans 6: 12-19

There is peace that ensues in holy living because God gives peace and is at peace with us sinners who are now holy in Christ. To be holy is to practice not to yield to fleshly things of this world and to detest carnality and yielding to demands of the flesh. ”For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:5-6

CONCLUSION

Let us worship God in the beauty of His holiness and in our lives as holy unto the Lord.
Let us radiate the beauty of the Lord by working out our salvation with fear and rejoicing with trembling.
Let us shine as beautiful and radiant lights holding forth the word of life.
When our life is holiness unto the Lord our lives will be full of strength and peace coming from the Lord. Psalm 29:11

WORSHIP GOD IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS

by Dr. Othello O. Caturan

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