Proverbs 9:10
The fear of The LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
This foundation, this beginning, is only the start of a deeper walk with God. We cannot merely stand on the seashore and hope the water will come to us, but we must enter in and strive to go deeper into the holy things of God.
Any relationship must have a beginning and continuity in it in order that it may withstand the storms of life and endure through joys and sorrows, hard times and good times. Especially our relationship with our God. Which will be tested time and again, that our faith in our God may stand stronger through and after every test, every trial.
Knowledge of the holy, of what is holy, what the holy things are, is understanding that these things are holy and why they are called holy. We know that God is holy and that being holy, sin has no place at God's table. Therefore whatever is righteous is holy because unrighteousness is unholiness. Whatever is unrighteous is left howling at the closed door to God's kingdom. [Revelation 21:27a; Revelation 22:15; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10; Matthew 5:21, 22; Exodus 20:3-5].
Knowledge with understanding of the definition of holiness is applied wisdom. This wisdom is applied to our hearts via The Holy Spirit, and we, in turn, apply it to our lives in loving obedience to our God.
WHAT IS HOLY
God Is Holy. Exodus 15:11; Leviticus 11:44; Psalm 99:9; Isaiah 6:3
The things of God are holy:
Priestly garments - Exodus 28:2
Christ our Garment- Romans 13:14
The temple of God is holy - Psalm 11:4; Habakkuk 2:20
The dwellingplace of God is holy - Psalm 28:2; Leviticus 26:11-12; 2 Corinthians 6:16
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE HOLY
Set apart for God's use. Whether a person or an object.
Acts 26:16-18 (Paul's testimony to King Agrippa) Set apart from where he was (persecutor of believers) to go to a new place (becomes a believer and travels ancient Europe and ancient Middle East preaching the gospel).
Malachi 4:5; Isaiah 40:3; Luke 1:5-25 John the Baptist's ministry foretold
In the middle of Exodus 25 through Exodus 40, wherein God details the building of the place where He will come and visit Israel (His tabernacle), sits Exodus 35:2 which informs the Israelites that the seventh day is "holy unto The Lord". This seventh day is set apart for to honor God. Every seventh day is The Lord's day.
The color GOLD represents the holiness of God. This gold is in every facet of the building of the nomadic tabernacle of God. Holiness adorns God's temple in heaven and is mirrored in His tabernacle in Exodus.
Even in the hearts of the people whom God has called to be His people who were not His people before but are now. A people who once lived in darkness and far off from God's dwellingplace and His Light are now His places of habitation. For we worship a God we have seen and heard and known and are loved by.
HOW HOLINESS IS OBTAINED
Holiness, a set-apartness, a setting aside for God and by God, is being consecrated for The Lord's purpose. God ordains who and what is to be used for Him. All born-again believers, whose sins have been washed clean by the blood of God's Holy Lamb, are set apart unto God.
Ephesians 4:11-13
Some are set aside for evangelism. Some are set aside for pastors. Some are set aside for teachers. Some are set aside for apostles. Some are set aside for prophets. They are not set aside to gain wealth and fame in this life. These offices are not separate offices, they are to be found in every person whom God has called to salvation AND empowered with His Holy Spirit [Acts 1:8; Galatians 1:1].
We are set apart by God to: Evangelize (go into all the world); Apostolize (from The Topical Lexicon: a person personally sent with full authority to represent the sender): An ambassador of the gospel [2 Corinthians 5:20]; Pastor (spiritual caretaker) [Matthew 9:36-38; John 15:16]. Teach (instruct competently with reverence) [Luke 6:40; 2 Timothy 1:13, 14]. Prophecy (reveals the mind/message of God to the hearers) [2 Peter 1:21].
This knowledge of the holy can only be understood by the person who has the fear of The Lord evident in their lives. This knowledge of the holy is only the beginning of wisdom. There is so much more The Spirit of God wants to show us, to reveal to us.
We must be faithful pursuers of God, endeavoring to see God more clearly, without a veil or cloudy mirror blocking our view. We must look for God where He can be found. And we absolutely must be and remain faithful to Him once we have found Him. We look to Him with awe and reverence rooted in our deep and profound grace with which He has bestowed Himself upon us. This is the fear of The Lord in the born-again believer's life.
And how does this fear of The Lord propel us? We lead people to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our love for Him impels us to tell everyone about our Jesus, that they, too, may have the opportunity to give their hearts to Him and live to make Him happy.
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise.
Daniel 12:3
Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.
HOLINESS IS WHAT I LONG FOR - Micah Stampley
