Week Six Day Four The Joy of holiness

Question 13.  Write one or two words that come to your mind when you hear the following words:

Candy-chocolate and Sweet

Sunset-Beautiful and Red

Bride-New Beginning and White Gown

Now write a dew words that come your mind when you hear the word holiness:

Pure

Perfect

Godly

Jesus-like

Joy

Gladness

In the words of Jonathan Edwards-"Holiness is a most beautiful and lovely thing.  We drink in strange notions of holiness from our childhood, as if we were a melancholy, morose, sour and unpleasant thing; but there is nothing in it but what is sweet and ravishingly lovely."

Question 14

Psalm 4:2 

How land, O you sons of men,

Will you turn my glory to shame?

How long will you love worthlessness

And seek falsehood?     Selah

What characteristics of ungodly people do you see in this passage?

People mocking believers.

People who appear to be worshiping God outwardly but not so in their hearts.

People who only follow rituals for appearance.

People who make sacrifices for the wrong reasons.

Question 15.  Psalm 4:3-5

3.  But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself who is godly;

The Lord will hear when I call to Him.

4.  Be angry, and do not sin.

Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still.     Selah

5.  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,

And put your trust in the Lord.

What are some characteristics of godly people are found in these verses?

It is totally the opposite of the previous answers..

They glorify God.

They are set apart by God from the ungodly.

They worship both outwardly and in their hearts.

They do not sin.

They do not mock.

They offer sacrifices for the right reasons.

They call upon God for help.

They trust God completely.

Question 16.  Psalm 4:7

You have put gladness in my heart,

More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.

According to David's experience, what is the result of loving holiness and rejecting sin?

Joy in the Lord

Having a close relationship with God

Being Spirit-Filled

Being Faithful

Believing God

Question 17.  Psalm 32:1-2

1.  Blessed is he who transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2.  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity.

And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

When we sin, we do so because we think it will bring us some sort of pleasure.  What did David discover about the way to experience true blessing?

Knowing that true blessing and happiness comes from God.  David had sinned because he though it would bring him happiness.  However, when he realized that he had sinned, he turned to God and confessed.  Knowing that God forgave him brought him true happiness.

Question 18.  

Hebrews 1:9  You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;  

Therefore God, your God, has anointed You

With the oil of gladness more than your companions.

Also read Psalm 4.  What do you learn from this about the true pathway to gladness and joy?

If you chose to be holy, you will feel gladness and joyfulness.  If you want to be happy, you need to be holy.

You also have to sacrifice things that give you temporary happiness and focus on God's word to give you permanent happiness.

In the words of Thomas Brooks-"Man's holiness is now his greatest happiness, and in heaven, man's greatest happiness will be his perfect holiness."