When people ask, “What’s your background?” My reply is, “Pagan!” I grew up as a non-Christian in Southern California with a sin-infested lifestyle devoid of God. But one Friday night, while I was stoned on LSD, Jesus Christ encountered me through a high school buddy who shared the gospel with me. The Spirit pierced my darkness and propelled me onto a journey of conversion. It began with my first prayer, “Jesus if you’re real, I want to believe.”
Salvation and holiness
There’s a two-fold divine process called conversion. When you repent and believe the gospel, God through Jesus Christ decisively frees you from the penalty of sin – salvation. And God through the Holy Spirit progressively sanctifies you from the power of sin – holiness.
The goal of salvation isn’t heaven but holiness! “Even as he chose us in him [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him (Eph. 1:4). Before God created the universe, he saved you and me to be holy!
What’s holiness? It means that which is “set apart” – separate, transcendent. Holiness radiates God’s magnificent perfections – his glory. The flying angels shout, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isa. 6:3). God calls us to be holy as he is holy (1 Pet. 1:14-16). He sets us apart from common paper cup to sacred porcelain use.
To be holy is to be separated from sin and saturated with God’s presence. When you consider holiness, purity normally comes to mind. But first, connect holiness with proximity to God’s presence. Ever explored holiness in your life, home, workplace, and church? There’s widespread vision for revival today. But all revivals started with prayer and pursuing holiness.
Prayer and pursuing holiness
Let this verse fuel your destiny, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). Like a hound chasing after a hare, this means to continually strive for and chase after peace and holiness simultaneously. I’m astounded by how many Christians live untransformed lives. If we lack holiness, we blind ourselves to God. Holiness is elegant, Christlike character.
Methodist John Wesley preached, “Neglect of prayer is a grand hindrance to holiness.” Prayer is communication and communion with God. A vital way to cultivate God’s holiness in your life is to daily seek and surrender to him. Toxic sins remain ingrained in your soul until God yanks them out by the roots. You can cooperate through Scripture-fed and Spirit-led prayer that connects you with God from a consecrated heart.
The Prayer of Approach
Holiness begins in your heart – the command center of your motivations, will, passions, and conscience. Early every morning and throughout my day, I monitor my heart to keep it soft and responsive to the Scripture and the Spirit. I practice the prayer of approach – to God’s holy presence as a priest would do – according to James 4:8, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
The Prayer of Examen
Holiness flows from confession and repentance – a lost practice in many churches. Confession occurs when you agree with God about your specific sins. Repentance streams from confession where you then choose to make a U-turn and walk toward God. Pietist leader Philip Jacob Spener wrote, “The sum of Christianity is repentance, faith, and a new obedience.”
Before bed, I’ll practice the prayer of examen – inviting the Spirit to examine my heart and mind with his convicting searchlight – according to Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!” This is like flushing dirty pipes so clean water may flow.
The Prayer of Sanctification
As a young adult, my reckless immorality defiled me. God’s sanctifying Spirit now continuously cleanses me. I can no longer live as I once did as I’m no longer the person I once was. I dodge saucy websites and dive into purity. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honour” (1 Thess. 4:3–4).
I regularly offer the prayer of sanctification, “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify me completely and may my whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of my Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23).
In February 2023 Asbury University experienced a colossal outpouring of the Spirit through prayer and pursuing God’s presence. Over the stage in its Hughes Auditorium are these words which signify the dramatic results, “Holiness Unto the Lord.”
To explore how to seek, experience, and host God’s presence, see my new book, Pursuing God’s Presence.
See also Roger’s article from last month:
Leave a Reply