Our calling is a holy calling (2 Tim. 1)

… 2nd Epistle, Timothy Chapter 1, and we'll read from verse 7. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner. But be thou the partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us. I'll turn over a few pages to the Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 3. Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 3. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly quorum, consider the apostle and high priest of our professional confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to him, appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. Now in Peter's first Epistle. Chapter 2. Wherefore, laying aside all malice and all guile, hypocrisies and envies, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that she may grow thereby. And if so, you have tasted that the Lord is gracious, to whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed in need of men, but chosen of God, and precious. He also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, and holy priesthood, and holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Verse 7. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious, but unto them which he be disobedient, a stone which the builders disallow, the same is made the head of the corner. That's all I wish to read just now. The three points I want to draw out from those three scriptures are these. In Timothy we are reminded our calling is a holy calling. In Hebrews chapter 3 we are reminded we are holy brethren. And in Peter we are reminded we are holy priests, a holy priesthood. Could I suggest that the holy calling is linked up with purpose? We read it's according to his purpose. So we are going to link up the holy calling with his purpose, the purpose of God. I would suggest that the holy brethren in Hebrews would give us the thought of relationship, relationship with God. Go tell my father you remember, I said to my father and your father, relationship with God, as holy brethren. In Peter I think it carries the thought that we are holy priests, we are part worshipers, we are holy priests. We offer up spiritual sacrifices which I think would carry the thought of worship to God. Now I want you to keep those three thoughts before your mind. Now I'm going to ask you to do something I don't usually do. Keep your seats and I want to sing two verses of an hymn before I read a few scriptures in the Old Testament. Last verse. Last verse. I don't usually do this, but I feel led by the Spirit of God to do it tonight. I want to read a few scriptures in the Old Testament, bringing before us the holiness of God. We've been reminded that our calling is a holy calling. We're also designated as holy brethren. And we're also holy priests. You know dear friend, I believe we've lost the sense of the holiness of God. You see, we're living in a day, the last days, and if you carefully go down the list in Timothy chapter 2, you'll notice all the things that mark us, mark the world I should say, in this day and generation because we're in the last days, one of the marks is unholy, unholy. Now you don't need me to tell you that. We're in this world, thank God we're not off it. But we know how unholy it is. I'm God. And this exercise has swept across my heart as I've read and meditated in the power of the Spirit on this subject. And I can feel it cutting me through and through. And I hope it'll affect you just the same that the Lord Jesus might be magnified and God glorified and that we might realize we're holy priests and the Father is seeking worshipers to worship Him in spirit and in truth. You'll notice all the hymns we've sung is spoken about holiness. Did you notice the last verse in that here? Did you notice that here? Now we'll start with the book of Exodus chapter 3. This is the first time holiness is mentioned. It's in connection with Moses. Chapter 3 and verse 1. Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back side of the desert and came to the mountain of Gori to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in the frame of fire out of the midst of the bush. And he looked, and behold, the bush burnt with fire and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight. Why? The bush is not burnt. When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him. God called unto him. The eyes call this out to you, hasn't he? This is one of the callings, isn't it? It's a holy calling with us. God called unto him out of the midst of the bush and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, hear a mark. And he said, draw not nigh hither, put off thy shoes from off thy feet. For the place where thou standest is holy ground. Moreover, he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. Now, I want you to notice this verse, verse six. Now, there are four mentions here, four different people mentioned. Abraham, there's Isaac, there's Jacob, and there's Moses. Now, could I suggest to you, dear friend of tonight, that Abraham would suggest to us the glory of God. The God of glory appeared to him. He staggered not at the promises of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. Now, we're going to link up Abraham with the glory of God. Isaac, man of death and resurrection. The power of God. Jacob, I would suggest the mercy of God. You know, what kind of life he had. A checkered life. God in his mercy, the top of him. The mercy of God. But when we come to Moses, I would suggest we have the holiness of God. Because in the writings of Moses, holy and holiness is more spoken of than any other of the books. And I tell you this, Moses never forgot. This incident on the mountain of God. And he never forgot the holiness of God. And I feel sometimes we are losing sight of the holiness of God. Now, we'll pass on to another scripture. The book of Leviticus. No, I'm sorry, it's Exodus 28 first. Exodus 28. Exodus 28, and we'll just read a verse here and there. Now, in this chapter, we have God. Where God puts the names of the children of Israel. Three places where he puts the names of the children of Israel. On his shoulders, on his heart, and on his forehead. But before we read those three verses, I would just like to read verse four. And these are the garments which they shall make. A breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a broided coat, a mitre, a girdle. And they shall make holy garments. You understand? Holy garments for Aaron, thy brother, and his sons. That they might minister unto thee in the priest's office. Now, verse 12, we have the first mention of where he put the names of the children of Israel. Verse 12. Thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for the stones are of memorial unto the children of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a memorial. I suggest that's the strength of God, isn't it? Strength, shoulders, his strength. Now, in verse 29. And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel at the breastplate of judgment upon his heart. When he goeth in unto the holy place for a memorial before the Lord continually. I suggest that's a fiction. The heart is a fiction. Lastly, in verse 38, we have the forehead. We'll read from verse 34 just to get the connection. A golden bell and a pomegranate, golden bell and a pomegranate upon the head of the robe round about. And it shall be upon Aaron to minister and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the Lord. And when he cometh out, that he die not. And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold and brave upon it like the engraving of a signet. Holiness to the Lord. Holiness to the Lord. Verse 38. And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts. And it shall be always upon his forehead that they may be accepted before the Lord. So there we have the names of the children of Israel on his shoulders. Strength and power on his heart. Affection, holy affection and on his forehead. Holiness to the Lord. But I want you to notice this little touch. It says that they may be accepted before the Lord. The last clause in verse 38. Well you know in Ephesians 1 we are not only reminded that we are accepted but it says we are chosen in God before the foundation of the world. Chosen. And we are accepted in the Beloved. You know I think that's a lovely term that is made. I think it's only time we have this lovely endearing term, quotation found in the scripture. That we are accepted in the Beloved. In God's Beloved Son. But you'll notice. I'm not going to ask you to turn to Ephesians but you'll notice. The first thing that we are told after we have been reminded of that is that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. You see we have the position of holiness but we have the practical holiness. And it's amazing that when we are told about these things of our position before God. When the practical side comes in holiness is mentioned first. Holy and without blame before him in love. Now we'll just fast forward. Leviticus chapter 11. Leviticus chapter 11. Verse 44. Verse 45. In the book of Leviticus we have holiness. The key word in Leviticus is holiness. And it's mentioned over 80 times. You can see why we are linking up holiness with Moses. The book of Moses. 80 times. And if you carefully check up. You'll see that the blood. Blood is mentioned over 80 times. I think this links up beautifully with Hebrews 10. Having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holiness by the blood of Jesus. The new and living way has been opened up for us through the veil. That is to say his flesh let us draw near. Without shedding of blood. There's no remission of sins. And it's the blood that gives us our standing. The work of Christ is so complete. And his wonderful death on the cross. Where he offered himself without spot to God. No wonder the apostle says how much more shall the blood of Christ. Who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God. Offers your consciences from dead wax that we might worship the living and the true God. When we come to the 23rd chapter in this book. It speaks about the holy convocation. You know it's the feast. I don't want you to turn to it. It's the feast. But I think I checked up about 10 times this word in the 23rd chapter of Leviticus is mentioned. Holy convocation. And this is the reason why I'm pressing this dear brethren. Because I feel we have lost sense. Lost the sense of holiness. In the kingdom of heaven. God has spoken upon us. Holy. Holy. And we call to that holy cross. And we worship it. Holy. The next scripture that I want to teach you about is. The second time of course. Chapter 25. The second time of course. Chapter 25. I wasn't going to read this scripture. But seeing that there are so many young people here tonight. I think there's a lovely touch in this. Because in the. It's about Josiah. You remember in chapter 34. We are told that. He was 8 years of age. When he began to reign. And. And in verse 3 he was. 60 years of age. When he began to seek after God. God of David his father. Began to purge. Judea and Jerusalem. From the high places and the groves and so on. And it was because he. Came in touch with the book. I think the books mentioned. About 9 times. The book of the law. And how we treasure our book. But the point I want to make is. In chapter 35. In verse 3. In verse 3. He speaks about. The holy priest. Verse 3 again. When he speaks about the ark. He speaks about it as the. Holy ark. You see the effect he had. On the reading of the book. The holy ark. And then he spoke in verse 5. About the holy place. The holy place. In verse 13. He speaks about the. Holy offerings. So that we can well understand. How the effect of the book of the law. Had an effect upon this. Young man Josiah. How he went on. And he spoke about the holy priest. The holy ark. The holy place. And the holy offerings. Now we move on to the Psalms. Psalm 93. Psalm 93. Psalm 93. The last clause in verse 5. Holiness. Becometh thine house. O Lord. Forever. Holiness. Becometh thine house. O Lord. Forever. Psalm 96. Verse 6. Honor. Majesty. Are before him. Strength. And beauty. Are in his sanctuary. Verse 6. Give unto the Lord. Glory. Due to his name. Bring an offering. And come into his courts. O worship the Lord. O worship the Lord. In the beauty. Of holiness. I think this verse is mentioned. About three times that I know of. It's mentioned in. Psalm 29. Psalm 96. And in first chronicles. David mentioned it too. To worship the Lord. In the beauty. Of holiness. You know David speaks about holiness. And holy. About 50 times in the Psalms. He speaks about the holy house. House of God. Holiness. Becometh the house of the Lord. Forever. When he mentions his name. He says. In Psalm 111. He says. Holy. And reverent. Is his name. You see the dignity. That David had. When he spoke about the Lord's name. Holy. And reverent. Is. His. Name. Another little touch. That I enjoyed was. In Psalm 47. It says. God. Sitteth. Upon the throne. Of his holiness. And he goes on to say. Shout unto God. With a voice. With the voice. Of triumph. Why the Lord has. Triumphed gloriously. The horse and the rider. He is cast into the sea. And he's brought us in triumph. Through that wonderful death. And resurrection. The Lord Jesus. And here we are tonight. Reading those. Touches from David. The man who was. Who was spoken of. A man after his own heart. The man it says. About David it says. He served his. His day. And generation. By the will of God. And he fell asleep. And you know dear brethren. You and I. Are called. With an holy calling. To serve our day. And generation. By the will of God. And if the Lord doesn't come. We'll fall asleep. As our sister has done this week. And we'll go home to be with Christ. Which is. Far better. Now the last scripture in the Old Testament. Is a lovely little touch again. In Isaiah 6. I'm just running them through. Just to give you an idea. Of the exercise that one has had. For this meeting tonight. Isaiah chapter 6. In the year that came. Isaiah died. And I saw the Lord. Sitting. Upon a throne. High. And lifted up. And his strength filled. The temple. And above it. Stood the seraphims. Each one had six wings. And with twain he covered his face. And with twain he covered his feet. And with twain he did fly. On one cried unto another and said. Holy. Holy. Holy. Here we have the three fold exclamation. Asking the holiness of God. Holy. Holy. Holy. Next time this occurs I think is in Revelation. Chapter 4 I believe. Holy. Holy. Holy. You know divine persons are designated. Such aren't they. Well we have the. Holy God. We have the father spoken of as. Holy. Father. I like that touch you know. I was looking through the hymn book you know. How seldom this is in a hymn book. Holy Father. But I noticed brother Norman Anderson. In his wedding hymn. He starts away with this. Holy Father. Holy Father. Holy Father. You think of divine persons speaking to one another. When it comes to the Lord Jesus. He's the holy child Jesus. Or as Mr. Daniel Greets it. The Holy Son Jesus. The Holy One of God. Comes to the Holy Spirit. He's the Holy Spirit. And here we have this. Exclamation three times. Holy. Holy. Holy. He's the Lord of hosts. And the whole earth is full. Of his glory. And the posts of the door boom. At the voice of him that cried. And the house was filled with smoke. And then said I. Woe is me for I am a man. For I am undone. And I am a man of unclean lips. For mine eyes have seen. The king. The Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims. Unto me. Having a live coal in his hand. Which he had taken with the tongs. From off the altar. And he laid it upon my mouth. And said no. This. Has touched thy lips. And my iniquity is taken away. And thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying. Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? Then said I. Hear my. Hear me. I suggest that the seraphim. Seraphims. Mentioned here only. Carries with it the holy. Claims of God. The holy claims of God. While the sherry of him. Speaks of the righteous. Claims of God. And both are met you know. In the work. At Calvary's cross. The work the death. And resurrection. Of the Lord Jesus. I was thinking about the effect. That holiness had upon this man. You read through Isaiah. He speaks about him. About Jehovah being the high and lofty one. One who inhabits eternity. The holy one. He says woe is me. For I am a man of unclean lips. And what an unclean world we live in. Unholy. Ungodly. Men and women unclean lips. But oh. What a joy it is. To be brought into the Christian circle. To realize that we've been chosen in God. Chosen in Christ. Before the foundation of the world. And here we can. See as we come to Timothy. It's a calling. A holy calling. What an effect it made on Isaiah. Didn't it? What an effect it should have made on us. And I thought about this. Lovely verse again in Timothy. I'm linking it up with the purpose of God. And you know. I'm sure every one of us are thankful. That there's no breakdown. In the eternal purpose of God. If I had to break down with this. I would say. There's plenty of breakdown with God. Plenty of breakdown with us. But you see. The holy calling is linked up with purpose. It's according to his own purpose. And this took place before the foundation of the world. I think Paul enjoyed salvation didn't he? Ah he says. He saved us he says. Saved us. And called us he says. With a holy calling. And his works. Wasn't according to Isaiah's works either. He was a man of unclean lips. But according to his own purpose. That was given in grace. Before the foundation of the world. And has now been made manifest. By the appearing of our Lord Jesus. Who was in our death. And brought life and incorruptibility to life. Through the gospel. Oh I think this is a wonderful verse. You know when we come to the Lord Jesus. Coming into this world. You know what the angel said to Mary? That holy thing. That shall be born of thee. And shall be called. The Son of God. And there he held his dignity. From his incarnation. Right to that day. When he offered himself without spot. To God. The holy one of God. And he was called. The holy one of God. Oh we've been looking at Isaiah. Men who are unclean lips. Mouths to be touched. But you know every word. Every deed. That the Lord Jesus Christ did in school. Every word. Every deed. Went up to his God and Father. As a sweet smelling savor. He was the perfect servant. Christ Jesus our Lord. I think we have this expression. Seven times in this epistle. Epistle to Timothy. Christ Jesus. The born of the glory. The anointed one. And we're waiting for him coming. What a day. Of rejoicing. That will be. Well we go on to. Hebrews. Chapter three. It's nice to see that this epistle. Starts with God doesn't it. God speaking in the person. Of the Lord Jesus. The one in whom. He's appointed here of all things. The one who made the world. You know. The one who was the brightness. Of his glory. The one who was the express image. Of his person. When he made percussion for sins. It says he sat down. At the right hand. Of the majesty of man. Why would a man in the glory. In the gospels. We saw his pathway. And his work. On Calvary's cross. But you know his work's not finished. It's going on yet you know. He's a great high priest. He's the one who ever lived. To make intercession for us. He's the one who carries us on. Day in and day out. What a wonderful provision. God has made for us. In the person of the Lord Jesus. God in his mercy. Has prepared you and I. As vessels of mercy. Don't forget you know. We're vessels of mercy. Being prepared for the glory. Chapter 9 of Romans. He's picked us up from the dump here. He's set us amongst princes. And he's feeding us now. For the place we're going to occupy. In the world to come. And here. He designates us. As holy brethren. So if we are. Speaking about the holy coin. Being linked up with purpose. I think this is a lovely. Touch of relationship isn't it. Brethren. Go tell my brethren. My sheep. My friend. My brethren. But here. He designates us as. Holy brethren. Holy brethren. I tell you this exercise. Has affected my heart this week. I say it again. I think we've lost. Sense. Of the dignity. God has placed upon us. As holy. Brethren. I'll take those off the. Heaven we're calling. Yes we're living. In a difficult world. And holiness. And sin. To shine. That's what Mark's all about tonight you know. And holiness. And you know the foolish. When we take this. When we take this stand. This is where God has placed us isn't it. We are not taking this claim. God has set it in his word. And he's designated us. As holy brethren. You know. In this epistle. Hebrews. It speaks about the Lord's moral glories. He was holy. He was harmless. He was undefiled. He was separate from sinners. What a glorious person the Lord Jesus was. Ah he was holy. Holy God. And he was harmless. I couldn't point a finger to him. He was undefiled. He could say the prince of this world cometh by nothing in thee. But how often prince of this world cometh by nothing in thee. But how often prince of this world cometh and finds something in you and me. He was unique. And he was separate from sinners. And the epistle goes on to tell us. God has made him higher than the heavens. What a joy and privilege we have. In the power of the spirit to look up through an open heaven. And see Jesus. Who was made a little lower than the angels. For the sufferings of death. He's now crowned with glory. And with honor. No place too high for him is found. No place too high in heaven. Oh we've got to make everything of Christ haven't we. We've got to spend eternity with him. And what a day of rejoicing that will be. Holy bread he says. For takers of the heaven accord. He speaks about Moses being faithful. But you know the Lord Jesus was a true and faithful witness. The holy and the true in revelation he's spoken of. As the holy one and true. What a glorious person he is. To fill and fill our hearts. And the Holy Spirit will engage us with these things tonight. Outside and holiness on every side. Amen. Inside. Widening us into the holy place doesn't he. We can draw near the Lord of mornings. Priests. Holy priests. To worship on the doorstep. And to reach out to the Father. To the Holy Father. Oh just to read the 17th of John. Suppose we read it every day. It would charm our hearts to hear divine persons. Speaking to one another. Holy Father. Holy Father. Righteous Father. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says. He makes much of this doesn't he. So we can well link up with the Holy Brother. With the relationship. This wonderful relationship. That God has brought us into. As you know. Relationship can never be broken. This is a wonderful thing. Communion can. Oh yes very easily. Communion can. Communion can. Can be restored of course. Because he's not only our high priest. He's our advocate. If we send with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous. And he can be brought in again. But relationship. Can never be broken. We're his. And we're his not only for time. But for eternity. Oh tell my brethren. And we're designated as holy brethren. Lastly. In connection with the priesthood. Chapter 2. This is the house of God. Spiritual house of course. Spiritual house of God. And here he speaks about it as. Holy priest. Offering up spiritual. Sacrifices. To God. What a privilege we have. As holy priests. Brings us into real worship doesn't it. You know we sang that wonderful hymn didn't we. We adore it. Yes. We worship. And we adore the Lord Jesus. But you know we've. We've come to know the Father. In a remarkable way haven't we. And it's the Father. That seeks worshipers. To worship him. In spirit. And in truth. And it's amazing isn't it. How the Holy Spirit just. Draws us to this. Draws our attention to this. And isn't it lovely. To know the Father. I wonder how much we know this Father. How much we do we speak about the Father. Very seldom speak about him as Holy Father. But he is Holy Father. Lord Jesus could reverently. And affectionately. Speak of the Father. He's Holy Father. Holy Father. And I'm sure when the Lord Jesus was here. How often he spoke to us. And spoke to his own about the Father. He says the Father himself. Love with you. Spoke about the Father's heart. Spoke about the Father's house. You remember he says. Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father's house. I meant my church. If it were not so. I would have told you. I'm going away to prepare a place for you. And if I go away. I'm coming again. And you know we're just waiting. For the soon return. Of our Lord Jesus. I was thinking today. As we looked in that open grave. As we bear the image of the earth. Thank God we're going to bear the image. Of the heavenly. We're going to be conformed. To the image of God's dear son. What a triumph. What a victory. Thank God we're on the victory side. You know. The world thinks we're on the losing side. You know. We might be losing in numbers. But he would have us on the victory side. You can well understand the apostle saying. Thanks be unto God. Which giveth us the victory. Through our Lord. Jesus Christ. So these are the thoughts that has been. Filling one's heart during the week. I just quote them again. We'll link up the holy calling with purpose. With the eternal purpose of God. Link up holy brethren with relationship. Which can never. Never be broken. And the priesthood. As holy priests. We can enter in. Having therefore. Brethren boldness. To enter into the holiest. By the blood of Jesus. The new and living way. Has been opened up for us. Through the veil. That is to say. His flesh. Let us draw near. …