Holy Relationships.

Our relationships are HOLY!

Hi friends,

This is my sermon that I gave at Hope Community Church, Childers, on 12 April 2026. It was given as part of their series on the Kingdom of God.

It is part of a Word that I felt the Lord impress upon my spirit over the past couple of months.

I am so grateful for my relationships. I am grateful for the truth about my relationships, too. Truth comes from the Lord on these matters. Not our feelings or emotions. For we can be deceived on these matters of the heart.

It is my prayer that this word blesses you.

Love Rebecca Holland-Lane.

Let us pray:  

Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight.  

Lord, I ask that you meet every person who is under the sound of my voice in a real and vibrant way today. 

I pray that they recharge and renew their steps with you today.  

That they will know how loved they are by You, Lord.  As you came and lived amongst humans, and died and were resurrected, to show that your intent is and was to have a relationship with the world.  For all that believe and call upon your name, they are made in relationship with you, Lord. 

I pray that they receive the revelation that in relationship with You, they are called to be holy.  For you are holy. 

Lately, the Lord has been speaking the word ‘Holy” and “Holiness” to me.  It has caused me to ponder and meditate on the meaning of the word and why we need to understand it.

(Read 1 Peter 1:16 NKJV states because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.”)

(Read Leviticus 19:1-2 NKJV).

When was the last time you felt holy in your normal 9-to-5?

The concept of "holy" in the context of the Kingdom of God generally refers to things that are "set apart" for a divine purpose or reflecting the character of the Creator. In this framework, relationships are often seen as the primary vehicle through which the Kingdom is expressed.

In many theological traditions, relationships are considered holy because they are intended to mirror the communal nature of the Divine. Rather than being merely social contracts, they are viewed as:

Covenantal, not Transactional: Holy relationships are built on commitment and grace rather than a "quid pro quo" exchange.

Transformative: They serve as a "refiner’s fire," helping individuals grow in character, patience, and selfless love.

Sacrificial: They prioritize the well-being of the other, mirroring the concept of agape (unconditional love).

As most of you are aware, Troy and I are the coordinators of the local Global Care operations here. It is called Global Care Childers. In case you did not know, Global Care is the social justice arm of our church's movement, INC. INC stands for the International Network of Churches. We at Global Care Childers are open two days per week. Tuesday and Friday from 9-1.  We have a great team of volunteers who work throughout the week to make the opening hours run like a well-oiled machine, as well as volunteers who are there during our opening hours.

Global Care Childers is a not-for-profit charity that sells good-value groceries to the public. That means anyone and everyone can come. We offer free tea and coffee to these people, and a friendly smile and conversation at the ready can be found here. The motto of Global Care is ‘Mates Helping Mates’.

The work we do at Global Care Childers is holy.  Holy, you say?  What do you mean, holy?  

Most people think holiness smells like incense; I’m here to tell you it can smell like a fresh-made coffee and a chat at Global Care on a Tuesday or Friday morning.

The bible says that we are called to be a holy nation! 

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV states who we are. 

(Read 1 Peter 2:9 NKJV).

Holiness is not just about personal purity; it’s about the covenant. Just as Troy and I work in a unified partnership, God calls us into a Family relationship with Him and each other. We are stewards of these connections. 

At Global Care, we aren't just 'distributing goods'; we are building a covenant of care with our neighbours. We are saying, 'You are seen, you are known, and you belong.

Are you asking yourselves that is fine for you, Bec and Troy?  You give to Global Care Childers, but I am busy and cannot be involved.  Well, I need to encourage you that all can be involved in Global Care Childers. 

There are many ways that you can support the Kingdom of God’s work and be a mate helping mates.  

For instance, we have a large quantity of FareShare Meals in our freezers.  You are welcome to see us and distribute them to people you know need a mates helping hand.  These meals are really quite yummy too!  At Global Care Childers, we see the face of our community. We see the need in our community.  Their need for Jesus Christ.  

Are you willing to share some love with a neighbour and say I was thinking this might bless you this week?  

The gospel is shared best when we give into our relationships.  Giving is loving.  Giving is tangible love.  Jesus shared the gospel with people over a meal often.  

Our community are supposed to look at us and see something different in us. About us. Taking the time to say ‘hello’ to your neighbour is often a point of difference.  Jesus was REAL with people.  He met them where they were.  

Please let me encourage you today to accept His love and choose to share it with your neighbour.  

Choose HIM!  For HE loves YOU!!

In the Kingdom of God, holiness includes how we steward the bodies God gave us. 

When we provide whole foods at Global Care, we are honouring the 'Image of God' in every person. We are helping them steward their health so they can fulfill their own God-given purpose.

We are God’s chosen, set apart, and holy people.

Hosea 2:23 NKJV states, 

(Read Hosea 2:23 NKJV).

Mercy, as we can see, plays a part in our understanding of what holy means.

In Leviticus 19:9-10 NKJV, it shows us what that looks like.  

(Read Leviticus 19:9-10 NKJV).

The famous command "You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy" serves as the preamble to laws about leaving gleanings for the poor, showing justice to the neighbour, and not standing idly by when a life is at stake. 

In this context, holiness is defined by:

Imitation: If God is holy and God is merciful, then a holy people must practice mercy to reflect His nature.

Social Justice: Holiness isn't just ritual purity; it is the practical application of kindness and equity within a community.  We practice love.  His love.  In our own community. 

Can you see how this relates to our church's ministry at Global Care Childers?

Have you thought of who could be blessed by some FareShare meals yet?

Who has the Holy Spirit placed on your heart to demonstrate His love to?

Concerning the Kingdom of God, holiness relates directly to the character of the King (Jesus), the nature of the realm, and the identity and conduct of its citizens. 

Holiness in this context is not merely moral behaviour, but is primarily about being "set apart" or consecrated to God's purpose, reflecting His nature in a world that is "common" or profane. 

Here is how holiness relates to the Kingdom of God based on biblical principles:

1. It Defines the Nature of the Kingdom 

Ruled by a Holy God: The Kingdom is inherently holy because it is ruled by a holy God seated on a "holy throne".

Absolute Purity: The Kingdom cannot coexist with sin or impurity, as it is a place where "nothing unclean will ever enter".

Separation from the "World": Holiness represents a distinction from the "ordinary" or "profane" way of doing things, creating a contrast between the Kingdom and the world. 

2. It is the Identity of Kingdom Citizens 

"Holy Nation": Citizens of the Kingdom are called to be a "royal priesthood, a holy nation". This identity is a gift of God, but is expected to be lived out.

Called to Imitate God: The mandate "Be holy, for I am holy" means citizens are to reflect God's moral purity, justice, and mercy in their own lives and LOVE!!!  This is seen through our relationships.

Internal Transformation: Holiness begins with a heart that has been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, not just outward conformity to rules.

3. It is a Requirement for Participation 

Necessary for God's Presence: The scripture states that without holiness, "no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).

The Path to Fellowship: Holiness is the pathway to living in God's presence, requiring a "cleansing... by the washing with water through the word" to be "holy and blameless". 

4. It relates to Obedience and Mission 

"Holiness to the Lord": True holiness involves total surrender—offering one's body as a "living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God".

Alternative Lifestyle: It means living out the values of the Kingdom (e.g., mercy over judgment, humility over pride), which acts as a light, a preservative (salt), or yeast in the world. 

5. It is Perfected in Jesus Christ 

Positionally Sanctified: Believers are made holy through their union with Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, regardless of their current, imperfect state. Their relationship with God.

Progressive Sanctification: While they are "saints," they are also in a process of becoming more like Christ, working toward maturity and full devotion to the entire will of God. 

Luke 10:7-9 in the NKJV states, Let’s look it up if you have your bible there.

(Read Luke 10:7-9 NKJV).

Now, let us look up John 4:39 NKJV.

(Read John 4:39 NKJV).

In Matthew 13:33, NKJV shows us how to do it.  

Here it states the words of Jesus.

(Read Matthew 13:33 NKJV).

Who is the person in your life that needs a little bit of Kingdom yeast today?

Bill Dalgetty, in 2023, wrote:  The Parable of the Yeast seems to confirm the need to mix it up with the world in our relationships.  “The kingdom of heaven [God] is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.” (Matthew 13:33) The yeast, which is the good news, needs to mix with the flour, which is the world, so that the dough, God’s kingdom, can rise. 

Our holiness isn't a badge we wear to look better than others; it’s the "yeast" that makes the whole community "rise." When we show mercy at and through Global Care Childers, we are "leavening" Childers with the Kingdom of God.

Many scholars argue that the "Kingdom of God" is not a physical location but a way of relating to one another. If the Kingdom is "among you" or "within you," then the space between people becomes sacred ground. 

What can we say then? 

In this sense, a relationship becomes holy when it ceases to be about self-interest and begins to point toward a higher moral or spiritual reality.

Matthew 18:20 reminds us of what Jesus said, 

(Read Matthew 18:20 NKJV).

This principle suggests that the Divine presence is specifically linked to the quality and intent of human connection, elevating a standard relationship into something consecrated or holy.

So I ask you, in your week, who do you know or who is the Holy Spirit bringing to your mind that you can honour, reconcile, and/or serve? 

To summarise, holiness in the Kingdom of God is the active, Spirit-empowered separation of a person from sin and connected to God, resulting in a lifestyle that reflects the character of King Jesus.

Closing Prayer:

Lord, we thank you that You are a God of relationship. You didn’t stay distant; You 'mixed in' with us like leaven.

I pray for every person here today—that they would see their relationships as holy ground. Whether it’s in their marriages, their families, or over a cup of coffee at Global Care, may they steward those connections with the same mercy You have shown us.

Help us to be Your ambassadors to the lonely in Childers. Let our holiness be known by our love. Send us out now to be the yeast that makes this community rise. In Jesus' name, Amen."