ABIDING IN TRUE HOLINESS

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV) (1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

"We live in a generation that tends to isolate good counsel, placing it on the shelf for easy access, but failing to take it down and use it when we need it the most"- Pastor Sergio Scataglini

To my fellow readers. This blog is about walking and abiding in true holiness as believers and witnesses of Jesus Christ. As consecrated sons and daughters, pursuing passionately towards God's Kingdom, will, and plan for our life specifically. We must also know the difference between true holiness and foolishness and live in concern of Jesus' reputation through our lives.

Acts 1:8 (KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Notice that in Acts 1:8 Jesus calls us to be witnesses of Him only after the filling of the Holy Ghost. The same Spirit (God) John 4:24 KJV, that was manifested in the flesh (Jesus) I Timothy 3:16 KJV, is made manifest in us after; repentance, water baptism, and only by the baptism of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26, Acts 2:1-4). (See teaching blog, Spiritual Baptism). We are to be 'Christ-like', thus true Christians.

When we are concerned with the reputation of Christ, by the leading and conviction of the Holy Ghost, we are then abiding in holiness, which is righteousness. If we walk in the reassurance or the God given identity as His son or daughter, then we are to walk and live our life under the subjection of His representation. In other words, a son and daughter of Christ is to represent the Father, which is God, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says in I Corinthians 10:31(paraphrased), that what ever we do, on a daily basis, do it unto the glory of God. The glory of God represents God and His holiness, so therefore what ever we do should represent God, in which we need to walk in holiness. To glorify God, so that others will see and bear witness to the glory and holiness of God in and through our lives. Our desire first and fore most in seeking His Kingdom and Righteousness (Matthew 6:33), is how we can best; represent, serve, and show forth The Kingdom of God. When our hearts have that daily desire, we do our Father proud. Remember, my fellow reader, we work along side Jesus as His co-laborer in representing and showing forth The Kingdom, God's Holiness. When we allow the Holy Spirit to show forth and represent God's holiness, it will influence others to be connected back to the Father.

Hebrews 7:28 (KJV) For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

The message that rightfully fits into abiding in Holiness is consecration in a faithful relationship with Jesus Christ. A religious motive of holiness is a 'holier than thou' motive. Religion may be devoted by a certain oath (mostly instituted by man), yet still having infirmity, but Jesus calls us to go deeper than that. However, when we consecrate and subject ourselves daily to The Kingdom, The Word, and the leading and conviction of the Holy Ghost, by denying our flesh daily and picking up our cross to and following Jesus in obedience (Mark 8:34), true Holiness is then able to be made manifest in the sight of God and others by our fruits we put forth. The fruitfulness of our actions, even unaware, will have the stamp mark of God's Holiness. In other words what others are seeing by the fruits and character we display, is a transformed life. Transformed into more of the character and holiness of Jesus (II Corinthians 3:18).

II Corinthians 3:18 (KJV) 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.

To abide and walk in true holiness, we must not be foolish. The type of foolishness is in meaning of disobedience toward The Lord or any inconvenient behavior of that really isn’t ‘Christ-like’. Our behavior, in the sense of how we conduct ourselves as believers, can jeopardize our example of Christ’s character of holiness within us. We are to live thankful lives as true worshippers, servants, ambassadors, as children of God! There is away to have fun, but yet keeping it pure before the Lord and others. We don't seek to pollute our testimony of Christ, but to uplift our testimony of Christ for others to see. However, is it not fun and desiring enough to be in the presence of God and (in our best way possible) to bring forth the presence of God to anyone and everyone we come in contact with?

Ephesians 5:4 (KJV) Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

Proverbs 19:3 (KJV) The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

God blessed Saul to be King over Israel, however his start was humble and seemed to be holy, he didn't continue to abide in the walk of true holiness. Saul allowed the influence of men to be greater that the influence of God. Saul was foolish because he disobeyed God, when he was told to wait until Samuel's arrival before delivering a burnt sacrifice unto the Lord. (I Samuel 13:1-14).

I Samuel 15:22 (KJV) And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Isaiah 35:8 (KJV) And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

I mentioned earlier before that we as believers must be concerned of God's reputation through our lives. Joshua, one out of many, is a perfect example. After witnessing the mighty God given victory over Jericho, Joshua and the nation of Israel were going to go to battle against Ai. Joshua and the men non hesitantly believed that the battle, like the previous victory in Jericho, would be won by the hand of the Lord. To their surprise, they lost the battle. One of the men named Achan from the army of Israel, took some treasures from Jericho and hid them in his tent, after the fact that The Lord instructed Israel to take nothing from their adversaries.

Joshua 7:1 (KJV) But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.

The children of Israel are the children of God, as we are who believe and obey the Lord. Achan's sin of theft was noted as a trespass, according to scripture, of all the children as a whole! The children of Israel misrepresented God, their heavenly Father, by disobedience. For us today, to walk in holiness, we must obey God, by the dealings and leading of the Holy Spirit and The Word.

Joshua, being the appointed leader by God over the children of God, fell on his face (postrated) before the Lord, after the defeat over Israel from Ai. Joshua 7:6-9 (KJV). In Joshua 7:9, Joshua asks the Lord, "For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?" Joshua was more concerned, as a God ordained leader over His children, for the very name of The Lord. Joshua wasn't concerned or worried about his own name or high status among the nation of Israel, but he was deeply concerned for the reputation and status of The God of the nation, God of the world. Joshua didn't do anything himself that was deceptive or disobedient, yet as a leader of the nation in which God placed him as, he had to best represent God as best as he possible could by being consecrated and willing to walk in holiness. To think and put God first, others second, and yourself last. That is the motive of walking in true holiness.

A religious way of holiness is putting one's self first, other's second, and God last. But relationally God becomes first and we put ourselves last. As sons and daughters of Christ, we are to be servants. To first serve God, then others. If we choose to serve ourselves in a vain sense and still call ourselves Christian, as followers of Christ, then we are perverting the holiness of God. We then misrepresent Jesus. We ruin His reputation to the sight of others, and then God will have to raise up another who will obey and walk in His will. However, thank God that once we repent He forgives and grants us grace to walk in holiness.

Joshua 7:11-12 (KJV) (11) Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. (12) Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

Joshua non-hesitantly arose early in the morning (because God was first in his life) and sought out through all the tribes of Israel who the person was who transgressed and sinned against the Lord. Achan repented to Joshua, and Joshua’s appointed men brought forth all the stolen things that were hid in Achan's tent and displayed it before the Lord and gotten rid of it all, including Achan and all that belonged to him. Joshua 7:16-26 (KJV).

God is a jealous God. He doesn't want any idols hid with in our hearts that keep us from walking and representing His holiness. In Luke 18:18-24, Jesus speaks to a rich young ruler. The ruler was noted as being very wealthy and abided by all the commandments God issued through out the Old Covenant. The ruler asked Jesus, honorably calling Jesus Good Master, how to inherit eternal life. Religiously the rich young ruler walked and abided in holiness, but Jesus saw that relationally he didn't because he lacked one thing. Again, man may and most likely approve of one to abide in a 'religious holiness', but Jesus demands for us to abide in relational holiness, if we are to call ourselves His disciple.

Luke 18:22-23 (KJV) (22) Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. (23) And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

Jesus saw the idol of riches and wealth in the rich young ruler's heart. As believers who are called to walk in holiness, we can not afford and are not permitted to have any idols in our life. Idols may very, it could be vanity, stolen goods (like Achan), materialism, wealth, money, food, a certain relationship, and the list can go on. God is a jealous God and He wants to brand us all with His holiness. He wants to put His children on display for all to see Him, to see Jesus Christ. God will share His glory with no man. We are witnesses of Him.

To my fellow reader, this is the type of holiness that God wants to bring into our lives and our families. Holiness is not only good morality; but good godly. It is having a good testimony and presenting a good image before the lost so that they will come to Christ. If God required holiness is not invading every aspect of our lives, then we are not holy! Some may think that they are "almost" holy. But 98% holiness is not enough. Especially due to how God wants to restore through a generation willing and desiring to be used by Him. We all need to embrace the holiness of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God with out sin. We need to bring holiness to our checking account, finances, marriage, our relationships, to the movies we watch and to every aspect of our lives. The secret of holiness is followership- being ready to follow the commands of Jesus Christ. We called to do no more, but just listen to God and obey His commands.

I encourage you my fellow reader, Jesus encourages you, to seek after Him and desire to be more like Him. Pray for a baptism of desire for His holiness to invade your life. Like salvation, holiness is something we must up-keep, must cultivate in our lives. Remain a posture of consecration and submission to the Kingdom lifestyle. God wants to restore through you, the lives of others back to The heavenly Father. If there is anything in your life, any own personal idols that may hinder you from walking in the holiness of Christ, I suggest to you to get rid of it immediately. God has such a dynamic plan and purpose for your life. Confess whatever hinders you from His holiness in you, unto the Lord, repent and give it unto the Lord. In exchange, receive the desire of transformation into Christ's character, His holiness to invade your life. We must all need a refreshing continual baptism of His Holy Spirit. People may question or mock the conviction the Holy Spirit may initiate in you, but remember my fellow reader, you are in pursuit to be more like Jesus, not like anyone else. We are to obey The Lord our God, not the opinion or compromise of man. Be encouraged and continue to run the race, with no hindrance in your heart after the ultimate goal, which is The Kingdom of God and His righteousness. To gain the holiness of Christ in our lives is to be a better witness of His testimony.

Isaiah 43:10 (KJV) Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

God Bless