Chapter Three How to Live in an Un Holy World

three- How to overcome in the Un Holy moments around us

“The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And Jesus said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”

Luke 10:17-18

The Ukraine Russia war is going on as I write this book. Reports of death, rape, abuse, and more make up the headlines each day. The Unholy moments are everywhere. On October 7th, 2023, the terrorist group Hamas killed 1200 jews in Israel, doing unspeakable things I can’t mention here.

What is an Unholy moment? It is any moment where God is not seen as being present. How can that be, you say. Isn’t God omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent? Yes, He is all that and more. This chapter is not about God’s complete rule and control over everything He has created, including Satan. This chapter is about understanding the presence of evil and how it invades our lives, and how God uses holy moments to threaten and destroy the works of the enemy.

For example, the other day I was driving in traffic, listening to worship music, lost in a holy moment, when out of nowhere a car cut me off and almost caused a wreck. The driver gave me a hand signal that invoked my old nature, and in an instance, I left the holy moment and engaged in modest road rage. Just like that, I moved from surrender to Jesus into surrender to my base emotions of anger, shame, justice, and control. Unholy moments invite themselves into our world all the time. They may come through other people as they unload their broken lives on us at work, home, family gatherings, on the road or at the mall. Unholy moments may creep in through the questionable media we expose ourselves to. They may come quietly in the night as we relive past hurtful moments where we yearn for justice or vengeance. In whatever manner they come, unholy moments are available to us just like holy moments. We need to understand how God operates in the realm of holiness and how we participate in our holiness journey here on earth.

On the worldwide stage, a moment becomes unholy when the enemy (Satan) brings loss, pain, division, etc. into a person’s, life, a city, nation, or culture. It is any moment in the world where God is not invited to be present, and evil is worshipped. (Remember, God is in control even in this situation). This is the condition of our present fallen world where fallen people do fallen things. Remember that Satan’s plan is to take the image of God (you and me) and corrupt it in any way possible. It is Satan’s plan to use broken people to corrupt God’s creation. Hurting people always hurt the people around them. Look at the evil done to the animals and the beautiful creation God has formed for man to enjoy. The enemy takes the earth and everything beautiful in it and tries to make it ugly, defective, diseased, broken, and corrupt. The holy moment movement I want to see is where God’s people walk in God’s power to bring God’s presence into every moment they can. We can’t impact anything beyond what God has placed into our own personal sphere of influence. He has given some people a large sphere, like Franklin Graham and Samaritans purse. To others, He has given a smaller sphere, maybe just their home, workplace, and neighborhood. Both spheres are precious to Jesus, both are just as important to Him in His eternal plan of redemption and renewal.

How can holiness overcome unholiness?

 God’s word has many verses on holiness, being holy, separating from un-holy people, and the punishments the un-holy people will suffer. Holiness is a big deal to God, and it should be a big deal to us. Here is just a small sample of the various thoughts on holiness from God.

-       Matthew 5: 43-48- Jesus says “Be perfect as I am perfect”

-       Psalm 15- Only the holy will see God.

-       2 Corinthians 6:14-18- Don’t be yoked to unholy people.

-       Exodus 12:16- Call for a holy assembly set apart.

-       Deuteronomy 7:5-9- You are a holy, separate people to the Lord.

-       1 Peter 1:14-16- Be holy in all your conduct.

God is holy and cannot dwell amongst sinfulness. He hates sin and everything associated with sin. He hates sin because He sees the pain it causes his beloved creation. God’s wrath is kindled into a holy fire when ungodly men rise up against His righteous holiness. This perfect, holy being demands perfection. He created man and woman to be perfect, without blemish, eternally and relationally bound to Him and His presence. Everything was perfect until it wasn’t. Adam and his earthly partner Eve chose independence and equality with God over obedience and eternal connection to their creator.  The result was immediate expulsion from God’s presence, a separation causing pain, trauma and desperation. God, knowing all things and desiring connection with His beloved creation more than anything, began the journey of redemption that would lead to His son dying on a cross to pay for the imperfections of the human race. This made it possible for God to embrace His creation again and still remain holy. Our unholiness was exchanged on the cross for the holiness of Jesus. The moment we surrendered to Jesus, He entered our life through the Holy Spirit and raised our dead spirit to life. He pronounced us holy in God’s presence, and that became our new identity. Satan has lost us to eternity, and now all he can do is try to make us forget the miracle that happened at our moment of redemption. 1 Peter 2:4-5 identifies you as a part of a spiritual house, a holy (set apart) priesthood. Then again in verse 9 we are called a chosen race, a holy (set apart) priesthood a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. This is your new identity, your new position in Christ, this is how God now sees you. You are holy before God because Jesus in you makes you holy. You remain holy before God for eternity because of Jesus’ ongoing presence in you. Mike drop. Boom. Philippians 2:12-13 confirms who makes it possible for us to partner with God.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

None of our moments of disobedience can remove us from God’s presence. We may suffer the pain of spiritual stagnation and feel the relational connection with Jesus is stressed, but He never, never leaves us or forsakes us. Discipline and consequences for our sinful actions will come, but Jesus’ spirit in us will never leave. This is the love that leads to repentance and fullness of life again. You are now holy because Jesus in you is holy. 

“But that is not how I see myself today,” you may say. “Today I was unholy. I lusted, got angry, felt envy and jealousy, relived old hurts, and nursed my bitter memories.” You aren’t alone. In fact, Paul wrote to the Corinthians about this very issue. In his first letter, Paul writes.

“No temptation has overtaken you that hasn’t overtaken others. God is faithful, and will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation will give you a way out so that you will be able to endure it”

We have a positional relationship with God through Jesus that never changes, it is our position in Christ that makes us holy before God.

Every time we interact with God, we are accepted because of what Jesus has done and is doing right now.

Hebrews 4:14-16 brings this truth into the light.

Since then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We are called to draw near to the throne of grace! There we are promised mercy and grace. We will not recieve condemnation or accusations, that comes from the enemy. Reject condemnation and embrace conviction so you can keep maturing in your walk and be the holy moment God has prepared for you to be.

We also have a conditional relationship with God that fluctuates with our knowledge, obedience, surrender, and total commitment to God in Jesus.

This conditional relationship is what we all need to work on and grow in. Each time we choose to surrender our will to His, we grow in our intimacy with and relationship to Jesus. Each time we choose independence and the desire to live life on our terms we choose to miss the power and presence of Jesus in our life. The great news is that restoration is just one holy moment away! 1 john 1:9 promises us,

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we confess our sins- This is our part. This is where we recognize when we chose our will over Jesus. This is where we name the sin and feel remorse for committing it. This is called conviction. Conviction leads to confession, where we agree with Jesus that this is sin. We don’t try to explain it or justify it, we just confess it as sin. Satan wants us to feel condemnation at this point. Condemnation brings death, regret, shame, hopelessness. These are none of the emotions God wants us to feel. Reject condemnation and embrace conviction, which leads to confession. See Romans 8:1-3 here.  Be sure to name the sin you are confessing. Saying sorry isn’t enough. You may confess your anger towards your boss, or your lustful thought towards somebody at the gym. Naming the sin makes it real, draws it into the cleansing light of forgiveness, and makes it less attractive.

He is faithful- Don’t miss this. Jesus is faithful, he never hesitates here. Jesus is always ALWAYS going to respond to us here.

To forgive us- Jesus is willing, able, and desiring to forgive us. It doesn’t matter how many times you ask today; He is always going to forgive. This is not the salvation generating forgiveness that made you holy in God’s sight, this is a relationship restoring forgiveness we all need to experience daily. Your sin will not put you into a state of unforgiveness until you confess it, that is wrong theology. We sin when we choose independence from God. We step away relationally from Jesus to do things we know He doesn’t want us to do. This forgiveness restores the intimate relationship we yearn for and the one that brings us joy and peace. 

And cleanse us from all unrighteousness- Yes, cleanse. Not only are we forgiven and released from the weight and guilt of our sin, but we are also cleaned up and restored in our intimate relationship with Jesus again. Walk in the cleansing presence of forgiveness! This is where the relationship with God is restored and strengthened. 

This restoration is instantaneous, without hesitation, and completed by our restored relationship with Jesus. I am fully forgiven, fully restored, and fully at peace with Jesus!

No need to perform a religious ritual or repeat a religious phrase over and over. No need to give money to pay for your sins or commit to serve somewhere as penance. Jesus forgives and restores you instantly. After that, it is your responsibility  to learn from the moment and walk in surrender, humility and obedience again.

My challenge here is that I tend to want to punish myself for my sin. I fall for the accuser’s lie that I am now dirty, unholy, and unacceptable to Jesus. I start to relate to Jesus at a distance, not sure if I will be accepted again for the same sin I commit over and over. I hide from God in the same way Adam and Eve did. My response to the lie of condemnation is to read 1John 1:9 again and claim this as my truth. This makes me come running back to Jesus for forgiveness, restoration and peace.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The next time you are accused by the enemy, told you are not worthy of Jesus’ love and forgiveness, read this verse out loud so the spiritual world around is shaken by the truth. You are always qualified for the holy moments Jesus has for you based on His work on the cross for you. It Is God’s presence achieving God’s purpose for God’s glory and your benefit!

When your holiness shines on someone’s unholiness

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 puts it this way.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.

Peter puts it this way in his letter 1 Peter 4:3-4.

For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you.

If you commit to live a holy life you may be maligned, scorned, mocked, or worse. If you admit to being ignorant about the latest 50 shades of gray novel, you will be laughed at behind your back. If you refuse to indulge in somebody’s lustful or bitter conversation at work, you will be branded a prude. Refuse to go places you know will be a temptation and you will be on the outsider list, never to be included again. Challenging a person on their moral behavior will land you in the cancel seat, or worse. People are serious about their sin, they are committed to it, they believe in it, and they like it. Having you around ‘acting all holy’ is a reminder to them that their choices do not meet the high standards of God. They may try to drag you down to their level so they will feel a little less convicted. If they don’t succeed, they will try to explain, defend and minimize their sin to you in order to get, if not your approval, at least your silence. If that doesn’t work, they may become belligerent and try to remove you from their circle of influence. This could be a problem if they are your boss or have some kind of control over your position at work.

Paul describes our situation here well in 2 Corinthians 6:14-16.

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God.”

To be yoked means to be connected to at the neck. It means to be on the same path, to be going the same direction, to be one in purpose and plan. Paul didn’t say that we needed to separate from all unholy people. That is impossible unless you retire to a monastery, where it has been my personal experience that you will also find unholy people there who resist God. No, Paul is saying that we need to separate our daily life from the culture that corrupts, and the people who worship that culture. We should not feel comfortable in that sinful culture, and if we do feel comfortable, we have a problem. A believer is called to pursue Jesus in all areas of life in order to show that difference to the world. The result will bring glory to God and opportunities to invite seekers into the holy moments God is doing through us.

Jesus came to His creation to free them from the self-destructive behavior they are enslaved to. Satan works to entice the image bearer (God’s created beings) to destroy the image in any way possible. Every person is made in God’s image. The enemy works to have people deny their God made image and malign it in ever increasingly destructive ways. Once a person is freed from this eternally destructive life, they shine like a light to those they once lived in darkness with. Some will be drawn to the light and life you offer. Others will be blinded, exposed, and threatened by the light you offer. The holy moments God offers to you and those around you will delight some people and offend others. How will you shine under that kind potential resistance? We will pay a smaller price here in America than our brothers and sisters in the Islamic states or communist states, but the cost will still be steep for us wherever we are.

In summary, unholy moments are always around just as the holy moments are. Your response to both will affect how you grow and how you glow! Make the commitment to take inventory of your life and remove whatever you can that leads to temptation and sin. Hebrews 12:1-2 gives us the picture of taking off a dirty shirt which represents our sinful choices.  Ask God for His presence and power to endure the sinful culture you work in or live in. Choose to shine for Jesus where you can, even though it may lead to tension. Let Jesus be the offense, not your behavior or words. The time is coming where your faithfulness to Jesus will create angst and anxiety in those who are committed to sin and sinful behavior. Stand strong, and know your reward is great. 1 Peter 5:6-11 gives us this great assurance-

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen!”

And one more thing from Romans 12:14-16

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Wow, what powerful truth. Evil tends to flex its muscles, threaten your life, and try to scare you into submission. Paul tells the Roman believers who were surrounded by Roman culture and evil people to overcome the evil with doing good, seeing good, being good, living good, and inviting the good God into the evil Roman culture. It does look like evil has a hold of things right now but look closer and you’ll see good everywhere. Unholy moments run from the holiness you bring into the room. Unholy people tremble when they sense the God of the universe is in the house. Unholy entities in the spiritual realm shriek and flee the space when the Holy Spirit comes walking in with you. You are a holy priesthood, daughters and sons of the God of all creation. God is forever overcoming evil with good where He is invited. Yes, the evil in Ukraine and Israel is still happening, but the stories about Muslims getting saved in Gaza, and the revivals happening in once dead churches in Europe are happening as well. Never forget that God has already won, You and I are blessed to be along for the ride. Ask Jesus right now to manifest His holy moment through you to an evil world and watch what happens!