HOLINESS
1 Peter 1: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;. 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Why does God call us to be Holy? Because it is possible. Pastors make fun of prosperity teachers, and everyone else that they have been taught to talk bad about, but the words of these BADpastors are right out of the Bible.
James 4:2: "Ye have not, because ye ask not”.
Have you asked God to be Holy? If you believe He died and was resurrected for your sins, have asked Jesus into your heart (with your mouth), repented of your sins, and confessed Him to others, your are Holy. You are saved and justified. ‘Just as if you’ve never sinned’ a Jon Courson quote. You are Holy because you asked God with fath to save you.
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
So, I know I am saved. I am now Holy, set apart, going to heaven. Washed by the blood at Calvary. All my sins are gone, forgiven. But I still am waiting for that obviously visible holiness in my life. My pastors, the godly circle of accountability in my life, are all visibly Holy men. There are many, but the four that come to mind rightaway (because I hear from them the most) are Pastor Howard Davies, CCMerrit Island, Pastor Ken Babington 1rst Baptist of Cocoa Beach and Pastor Allen Rigg CCSantaMonica (SOLA), Pastor Dallas Sandoval CCTopenish. Even keel, everyone of them! God lovers. So holy in their walks with God through life. I want that, they have it, all the pastors in my life that counsel me have it. I want it!! I don’t’. I love facebook. To the pure all things are pure. This popped up three times in three days, God is trying to tell me something.
“It may be said without qualification that every man is as holy and as full of the Spirit as he wants to be. He may not be as full as he wishes he were, but he is most certainly as full as he wants to be.” A.W. Tozer
So, my walk isn’t perfect, it is often corrupt. I hate it when bad words, bad thoughts, anger or frustration raise their ugly heads in me. Unfortunately it happens continually. The more Spirit Filled I want to be, the harder it is. Holiness in my opinion is the fruit of the spirit mentioned in Galatians 5. Problem is, it’s always a struggle. But wanting to struggle, knowing it is important, is a sign of holiness
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Actually, walking in the spirit (holiness), is a good way to show to God that you love Him, and to show Him to others through your obedience. It’s an evidence of salvation. You know someone is saved if they are walking in the Spirit, Galatian`s type fruit, not as in how big their ministry is nor how famous they are.
Matthew 7:16-17 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
We are made Holy when we truly accept the Lord. We will never be more Holy than being washed by the blood of the Lamb. That exact moment we believe we are holy and filled wih the Holy Spirit. We still, at least i am, are wanting to be more Holy, (the correct word i think would be Spirit Filled). That desire is in itself a sign of Holiness. It’s a process, so don’t give up! You are in the process of being conformed into the image of Christ. Don’t give up on yourself, or on others. Every kid, drunk or normal person I meet I see as a person who will possibly be converted to the image of Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Love
Dean and Winnie
Pray for us. Donations are way down, Lots of spiritual and physical oppression and we will need a vehicle soon. pray for Winnie as I am travelling. This type of spiritual warfare really works you over, especially in a place where you’re not very welcome as an American.
Love in Christ
Dean
My Email; [email protected]
My USA # 1 (386) 383-8903
Donations and prayers are greatly needed and appreciated.