PURSUIT OF HOLINESS
The first thing you must understand is that, God has called us to holiness. The call of God to every believer is a call unto holiness. And this call is only meant for those who are believers. While the call unto salvation is meant for the sinners, because it is not possible for a sinner to live a holy life. He must first be called a believer before the grace to live a holy life can be bestowed into his life.
As a believer in Christ, you must understand that you have a duty, I have a duty and assignment which is to live a holy and righteous life. God expects every believer in this end time to pursue holiness. Once you remove holiness from your life; once you lack holiness in your character, behaviour, lifestyle – dressing, manner of speech, you can’t enter heaven.
You must understand that the God that has called us unto holiness is a holy God and if we are going to see Him at last, if we are going to enter the kingdom of God, we are expected to be holy. Not just to be Holy in our dressing or language, but it is also expected in our character, relationships with others.
God has called every one of us as believers unto holiness. If there is any service that will please God; if there is any worship that will glorify God; if there is any worship that will gladden the heart of the Lord, it is a holy service, sacrifice and duty. God has called every Christian to a holy life.
To be Holy means to be blameless. When the Lord shall come, He is coming for a blameless church. A church without spot, without blame, that is pure and holy, that is clean and has been purged by the blood of Jesus.
1 Peter 1:14-16 (KJV)
“As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
This tells us that God has only one kind of Christian; God has only one kind of believer; God has only one kind of children and they are obedient children. They are those that are genuine children of God. Those who are obedient to God. They obey the warning of God. They obey the commandments of God. They follow the direction of God. They imitate Christ. They have the life of Christ. They are a living example. They are living epistles in their community.
Before you joined the Church of God and became a child of God – born again, you were known to be abusive; adulterous; fornicator; and living against the will of God. You lived according to the desire of the flesh. You lived to please the flesh. You lived to entertain self. You fashioned yourself according to your lust. You presented yourself in a way that goes against the will of God and in a way that opposed the word of God.
But now that you are born again, it is a taboo to go back to what you have left. It is because you are now identified as obedient children. And a faithful child of God will be obedient to God’s word. Holiness signifies separation to God. It is separation from the world unto God. And if we claim that we are living a holy life and in holiness, but we still conduct ourselves; live our lives like the people of the world, where is the holiness?
If Christ is not seen in our lives, where is the holiness?
Verse 15 is presenting the picture of God – christ that died for us on the cross of calvary. The Bible says that He was faultless even though our transgressions were put upon Him. But one thing we can say is that He lived a holy life. And because our Redeemer and Saviour – the God that called us is holy, we must be holy as He commanded.
We’re living in the days that people believe that holiness is only limited to dressing. As a matter of fact, holiness dressing is now becoming a fashion trend in holiness churches and ministries. It is now becoming a competition. We can now go to the house of God without any desire to have an encounter with God. Only to show how beautiful you are naturally.
And this is why most services and programs in the church are like cemetery because they provoke ans grieve the Spirit of God.
The Bible says, “In all manner of conversation.” If it is only dressing that will take us to the kingdom of God, without being free from the power of sin, Christ would not have died.
“Is that to change your wardrobe? Is it not to go to the market and buy a long cloth?”
This is my point: it is not limited to dressing as supposedly thought. The Bible says, “in all manners.”
And when the Bible says that, it is pointing to every area – use of the tongue, eyes, your relationships, home and marriage, business, character, conduct, and every area of your life.
To live a holy life is to live a life in conformity to the precepts of the word of God that is contrary to the character of the world. And this is why when Jesus Christ was on earth they persecuted Him and He said,
John 17:14 (KJV)
“I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”
That is to say, “They hated me because I went against the culture and the standard of the world. If you are my followers and you do what I ask you to do and obey my command, you will be hated by the world.”
But when you join the world, living your life contrary to the will of God; living your life in conformity to the world, you will be loved, cherished and entertained by the world.
Mark 8:36 (KJV)
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
When the world provides for you, entertains you, honor you, glorify you and give you everything you will ever desire, but lose the kingdom of God.
The Bible says;
Matthew 16:26 (KJV)
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
God has called us to live a life in conformity to the precepts of the Bible; contrary to the sinful ways of the world.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 (KJV)
“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”
This passage says, “This is the will of God,” not ‘pastor’s doctrine,’ not ‘our church doctrine’. But, “This is the will of God.” Not ‘Deeper Life doctrine’ or ‘Watchman doctrine’. It is not that God is calling a particular church and leaving others, No. God has called EVERYONE unto holiness. And it’s very sad that when a man chose to live a life that glorifies God, they acquaint him with a particular church or denomination.
Especially when you are asked to pay bribe and you refused, the first question they will ask you is, “Are you a member of Deeper Life?” And if you say, “No,” they will say, “Ahh ah, we know it’s Deeper Life that used to behave like this.” Can you see that?
They asked you if you will drink alcohol and you refused. Then they said, “Ahhh, we know you. Are you a member of Deeper Life?” If you say, “Yes,” they will say, “Ahh, we are very sorry.” As if it is only that church God has called to holiness.
But when we look at this portion of scripture, the Bible says, “For this is the will of God.” And whatever is the will of God is for everybody. It is a general command. Regardless of how popular, crowded in number and how big a church may be, if they don’t put the word of God to practice, they are on the broad way that leads to destruction.
Regardless of the miracles, it will not take you to heaven. Deliverance will not take you to heaven. What will take you to heaven is holiness. And once you remove holiness from a church, what you will see is worldliness- conformity to the identity of Satan. When holiness is missing in a church, they will only be crowd who are candidates of hell in that building.
Once you say that you don’t want holiness, you are saying that you don’t want God. Once you say that holiness is only for Deeper Life and not meant for you as a person, you are simply saying that you don’t want God. And the day is coming when all will stand to give an account of their life.
I wish most orthodox churches can go back and read their history. They were known to be revivalist in their time. Some centuries ago, the Baptist church was known to be a revival church. Even the Methodist and Anglican church were known to be revivalist. And there were great men that God raised in their midst who were used mightily by God to decree holiness. And if the founders of these churches – including the Salvation Army, Foursquare, Redeemed, should look at what is happening now, they will cry because those that took over destroyed the holiness. And it seems as if the church doesn’t know about holiness. The Lord will revive the church.
He has called us from the world unto Himself. If you find yourself in a gathering where practices are being done against the scriptures and you are comfortable there, you have a problem with your spiritual life. They are doing what is contrary to the will of God and you are laughing, joking, clapping and supporting evil. If you die, I wonder where you will go.
Break away those gigantic cathedrals because it’s not about the building but about the life of the people that building. If you like, build 1million seater auditorium or more. But what matters most to God is not the size of the building or the beauty of the building. Of course, God expects us to build a good place for Him. The house of God must be built holy. It must look okay. But what matters most to God is the lifestyle of the people inside the building. Everyone in that building are called vessels.
What is a vessel? It is an instrument that is capable of carrying or possessing something. And the Bible says,
1 Corinthians 6:19 (KJV)
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
But, you can’t carry the Holy Ghost in an immoral life. The Holy Ghost cannot dwell in an unclean vessel. You vessel is expected to be separated from the world.
The Bible says,
1 Thessalonians 4:4 (KJV)
“That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;”
Sanctification: The uprooting of the root of sin.
It is my prayer that the Lord will revive the church.
Christ is weeping because of the state of the church.
Pls always understand that when I say the church of God, I’m not talking of building but I’m talking about you and me and everyone that claim to be Christians. So don’t ever set your eyes in those buildings. You and I are the church of God and other Christian in the world.
The church of God has stopped pursuing holiness and are now pursuing worldliness. There is nothing bad in working. The Bible says;
2 Thessalonians 3:10 (KJV)
“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV)
“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
But when money becomes the centre of your life, there is a problem.
The Bible says in;
1 Thessalonians 4:5 (KJV)
“Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:”
Can you see that? Your life should not be like the people in the world. No!
1 Thessalonians 4:6 (KJV)
“That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.”
That is talking about faithfulness. If you say you are holy and you are not faithful; you claim to be holy and you are always seeking for vengeance; you say you are holy and you have unforgiveness inside of you, it is what the people of the world do. And you are not expected to live the same life. You are expected to be different.
1 Thessalonians 4:7 (KJV)
“For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”
Can you see that? He has not called us unto uncleanness. Uncleanness no definition. It is simply he that is not clean. An endeavor called unclean means things that irritates and provokes God.
Holiness is supposed to be the basic, fundamental and essential element of the Christian life. But the question is this: why is it that a lot of Christian’s are often defeated by sin and in their struggle with sin?
There are three basic problems that causes this.
- Our attitude towards sin is more self centred and self oriented than God centre.
That is, we fear the consequences but there is no fear of grieving God. And when there is no grieve in your heart when you sin against God but only the consequences that is chasing you away. That is, you have an interest in commuting that sin but the reason you don’t do it is because of the consequences of doing that sin. Do you understand what I mean?
The love of that sin is in your heart. You love it because of the pleasure it will give you. So, there is no fear of grieving God and one day, when you’re more seduced by that sin you will forget the consequences until you have fallen. Once this is your attitude towards sin, you can’t live a holy life.
2. We have misunderstood living by faith.
That is, we assume that no effort is required to live a holy life. We fail to face the fact that we have a personal responsibility for our walk in holiness. And the weak and dead church of our days are staying, “Christ had lived the holy life for us. We just have to be thanking Him.”
I saw a post on the internet that almost made me cry. They say, “Why are you struggling? Just have faith that Christ has died for you and has lived the Holy life for you. Just worship Him and sing. And be filled with the Holy Ghost.”
How can you be filled with the Holy Ghost when you don’t live a holy life? A lot are speaking in tongues while their life is in the gall of iniquity. And because of that misunderstanding, that no effort is required to live a holy life, they fail to face the fact that there is a personal responsibility that they have to face the walk of holiness. The Bible says;
2 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV)
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”
If you are smoking, christ will not come from heaven and remove the cigarette your pocket. No! You are the one to remove that. Christ will not come to your room to pack away those bottles of alcohol. No! You have a personal responsibility. When you are being cursed, christ will not come from heaven to close your mouth. You have a responsibility. You must know that there is a war between you and the devil. And the devil is looking for an opportunity to make sure that you are down. You can overcome through the strength of Christ. But Christ will not tell the devil Himself, “Get thee behind me,” but you are the one to tell the devil, “Devil the Lord rebuke you. Get thee behind me.”
That’s why we have angels. Put them into duty and assignment. If you ref6to put them in assignment, they may not do anything. We have a responsibility. And because we fail to face that fact is the reason many keep rising and falling and doing things against the will of God, hoping to be free one day. You can’t be free until you understand the fact that you have a personal responsibility for your walk of holiness.
3. We do not take sin seriously.
Sin is an offence to God. And I mean all sins. But we are prone to mentally categorize sins. For e.g, big sin, small sin etc. As if those that are called small sin have a particular place in hell meant for them. They think at times that ‘small sin’ will not take them to hell. Until we begin to call ‘sin’ sin and not categorizing them, that is when we can overcome sin.
Understand that all sin is sin. And the wages of sin is dead because God’s love forbids it.
Romans 6:23 (KJV)
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Another thing you must understand is that: holiness is not an option.
Hebrews 12:14 (KJV)
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”
It’s not optional. It’s not only meant for ‘Deeper Life’. It’s also meant for ‘CAC’ and others. We call some church ‘called unto holiness’ and others ‘not called unto holiness’. No, it’s not like that. And if your church is not sharing the undiluted Word of God that will help your walk in holiness, that is not a church of God.
So, it’s not an option but it is a standard. It is necessary. It is essential. This is because without it, regardless of your prophecy; visions; profession; title, you shall not see the Lord.
You may prophesy, do deliverance, see visions, even predict the future, sings like an angel, preach like Paul the apostle but without holiness no man shall see the Lord. It is not an option. It is required if you will enter the kingdom of God.
Holiness is required for our intimate fellowship with God. The Bible says;
Psalms 15:1-5 (KJV)
“LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.”
A clean hand means a lifestyle that glorifiesGod. It is talking about your outward life – manner of speech, dressing, relationship with others etc.
The pure heart is talking about purifty, forgiveness, living in peace with others, no grudges, no lust, no unclean meditation etc.
Holiness is required for our fellowship with God. If you want the presence and the Spirit of God,it is important to live a holy life. Even though prayer is a vital part of fellowship with God, yet God will not listen to our prayers if we cherish sin in our heart. When we are knowingly committing sin, it negatively impacts our relationship with God. Just like when you disobey your parents, they will not be happy with you.
- Holiness is required for our own wellbeing.
If you live a holy life, you will escape eternal damnation. If you live a worldly and sinful life, you will go to hell. And this is why when you go against the will of God, He will discipline you. And the purpose of His discipline is to call your attention back to holiness. He reminds you of that great call – call unto holiness. This is because God is serious about holiness in the life of His children. And this is why discipline is essential to achieve holiness.
When you go against the will of God, He will rebuke you. The Bible says;
Revelation 3:19 (KJV)
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
God will discipline you when you go against His will to simply remind you, “I am Holy. And if you are going to walk with me, you also must be Holy.”
- Holiness is necessary for effective service to God.
Holiness and usefulness are linked together. If you will be useful to God, you must live a holy life. It is the Holy Spirit that empowers us for service. He is called ‘HOLY Spirit’ not ‘Dirty Spirit’ or ‘Unclean Spirit.’ When we indulge in sinful practices, we grieve Him. This is why the Bible says,
Ephesians 4:30 (KJV)
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
When you grieve Him, He can leave you.
- Holiness ultimately assure us of our salvation.
Show me a man that says he has visited Calvary, then I will show you a man that is a new creature – in conversation; conduct; dressing and every aspect of his life.
Any change you claim must be evident by the fruits. The evidence that you are truly born again is the fruit of holiness. That is your identification. You cannot identify yourself with the character if the world and claim that you have met Christ. No! That’s not true. That’s a lie.
So, holiness assures us that we have been truly born again and have had genuine encounter with the Lord. But if you claim you are born again with no holiness in your life, I wonder the God that you met. When I met Jesus, He did not leave me the same way He met me.
When Paul the apostle had an encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus, Jesus didn’t leave him the way He met him. When Peter was called by Jesus, He didn’t leave him the way He met him. No! He changed him. Show me a man that is genuinely saved and I will show you a man that have the fruit of holiness in his life.
Holiness is required. It is commanded. It is a standard. And without it, no man shall see the Lord.
PURSUIT OF HOLINESS {Part 2}
In the last study, God opened our eyes and revealed to us that the church of God is in a very bad shape. And that the church of God needs revival. And that the Lord is inviting the c6to go back to their first love. This is because if we want our services to be accepted and worship to be accepted; it must be holy. But a lot of worship and service that are rendered in this last day church, most of them are polluted and cannot be acc6by God. This us because God expects our services and worship to be holy.
1 Peter 1:16 (KJV)
“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
The first thing you see here is that, “Because it is written.”
What is it that had been written?
What us it that we must understand?
The standard is written. The doctrine and principles is written.
“Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
As we consider this place, we understand that God is inviting His children to holiness. This is because the only service that will glorify God is a holy service. And how can we able to live such a holy life if we fail to understand what was written?
As a matter of fact, there are some things I would never know if the Bible have not told me. Which means that if I am far from the Bible, I will depart from what was written and the purpose why it was written was for me to see and pattern it so that each time I behold it, I will know where I am faulty and where I need to put my life in order so that my life can be acceptable before God.
Under this pursuit of holiness, we have two key points to discuss today.
- THE HOLINESS OF GOD.
- KINGDOM AGAINST KINGDOM.
THE HOLINESS OF GOD
The holiness of God as we have discovered the last time that God has called every Christian a holy life because He is holy and requires that we be holy.
As a Christian we sometimes practice what is called ‘Cultural holiness’.
What do I mean by ‘Cultural holiness’? That is, doing what you see your sister or brother doing that you think is right. It is patterning yourself the character and behaviour or other Christians. This is called, cultural holiness. But God has not called us to be like other Christians. But He has called us to be like Himself. This is because holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God.
Unless there is conformity, your holiness is in vain. How can you be bold to say that you are living a holy life when you lack conformity to the character of God? There are people that are looking at me. They want to be like me. Sometimes, some will boldly tell me, “I wish to be like you.” A brother once told me, “My prayer is to be like you.”
And I laughed in my heart. Why? God has not called them to be like me but had called then to be like Himself. And unless we set this as a model, we will fall into a lot of errors. Even though Paul the apostle said in;
1 Corinthians 11:1 (KJV)
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
Yet, we must understand that we must set Christ as our example. If I go into error, those that have abandoned their Bible and set me as a model will follow me to error. Christ must be the model. He must be the person you are looking up to. This is because holiness is conformity to the character of God.
Who is God?
Which service does He expect of us?
Where does He live?
What can we say about Him?
What can we say about the people working with Him?
What was the lifestyle and qualifications of those living in His kingdom?
Unless we understand the holiness of God we will be like multitudes if Christian who are on their way to church and at the same time in the Broadway that leads to destruction. There are millions of Christians all over the world that thinks if they due, the angels will come to take them home. And they don’t understand that unless there is holiness – conformity to the character of God, they won’t be able to get there.
Many thought they were holy and on their way to heaven. And the reason they have false thoughts is because of their tithes and offerings; attendance in church etc. The reason they think they are going there is because their pastor told then they are going there. They have no personal conviction. A conviction that will make them resist the devil; resist temptations; strive to enter in at the strait gate, they lack it. They are ignorant of the holiness of God because their pastors did not teach them to be holy. It is because the sermons flowing from the altar are polluted jargons that can’t even convict an animal, talkless if a sinner.
Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God. In the book of Revelation it says that the angels are singing, “Holy holy holy to the Lord God almighty.” That reveals that picture of God that He is holy. They did not just say ‘holy’ but ‘holy holy holy.” It means that God the Father is holy; God the Son is holy and God the Holy Ghost is holy.
A lot of people speaking in tongues are not living a holy life. A lot who claim that God is their heavenly Father are not obedient to God. And they say they are lining their life for God. A lot said that they have given their life to christ but they don’t want to embrace His holiness.
“Holy holy holy.” It reveals who God is. And because God is Holy, any song we sing must be a holy song. If you don’t like a particular food, it would be wrong for me to offer you such food since I know that you don’t like it and know that you will vomit it if you eat it. It will be wickedness if I should give you such a food because you don’t like it and your body does not want it.
Likewise God, whatever song that will be given to Him must be a holy song. It must not be polluted song. It must not be defiled sing. The songs the angels are singing ate Holy. If they shout, it’s a holy shout.
There are lots of things in this last day church. When they say, “Let’s make a joyful noise unto the Lord,” a lot of people will say the same thing they say in clubs. And they will even raise up their chairs. The house if God has now become assembly of thugs and criminals. Children of the kingdom are now very scarce. Those that really need to take heaven by force are missing. A lot of Christians are now bowing to Satan.
A lot are now cutting their cross to please the world because they have forgotten that God is holy. Holiness is an essential part of God’s character.
Once you say no to holiness, you are saying no to God.
Once you say no to holiness, you’re saying no to the kingdom of God and saying yes to hell fire.
Holiness is one of God’s primary attributes. As He has wisdom, which the world was created with; as He is great in omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence, yet, He cannot act contrary to His character. Whatever God says, it is holy.
And God’s holiness does not only include the perfect freedom from all evil but also includes, His perfect conformity to His own divine character. What does that mean? It means He always acts consistently with His characters. His actions are always perfect. His actions are always just and holy. And once we don’t want to be conformed to His character, there is danger.
This is why the Lord is saying to us today: unless holiness is embraced personally, there is no heaven.
I explained to us previously that when I talk about the church, don’t fix your eyes on the building. You are the church.
We need to work on ourselves.
I’ve let a lot of stories of people that slept at night and did not wake up again even though they were not sick. At times when I want to sleep at night, I ask myself, “What if I sleep tonight and wake up in eternity? Will I be able to face the holy God?”
There is a hymn we normally sing. I really love that hymn. It says; ‘Must I go and empty handed?’
🎶“Must I go, and empty-handed,”
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?
“Must I go, and empty-handed?”
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him:
Must I empty-handed go?”🎶
I thought if it because I didn’t know whether I will die or not. I may not wake up. Will I be able to boldly face the holy God? Will I appear before Him and say, “Your faithful servant has come”?
Of course, if I die in sin, none of you will think that I have gone to hell. Some of you will even dream of seeing me in heaven because if your imagination. That’s the truth.
With the life you are living, will you be bold to face the holy God? Will you be bold?
When we talk about the holiness of God, it means He DOES NOT JOKE WITH HOLINESS For this purpose the Bible says in;
Acts 10:34 (KJV)
“…. Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:”
Regardless of testimonies, miracles, healings, signs and wonders, yet, God is not a respecter of anybody
When I say The holiness of God, it means THE IMPARTIALITY OF GOD He is not partial.
A lot of you claim to have been in Christ for five years, yet you can’t boast of a single soul that you have converted and they are now in Christ. Can you be bold to face the holy God? There are souls that God has destined you to win. If you are not useful, the very day you gave your life to Christ, you would have died probably sleep and not wake up again. But because God wants to do something with your life; to search souls from hell. But can you boast that you can face this holy God and say, “Father, I have sins your work faithfully. I have win souls to your kingdom. “
When I say the holiness of God, it means, GOD HATRED OF SIN. Because God is holy, He can never overlook any sin that we commit.
I have said it before and people are still saying it. But when I sit down and think of it, the Lord gave me revelation and it removed that statement from my mouth.
What is the statement? “that man did what is wrong and God looked the other way.” It is a very big lie. And people normally make use of David as illustration. They say, “He did that and God looked the other way. Saul did that and God forgot him.” We say that because we lack wisdom and understanding of the scriptures. There are sins that God’s servants committed in the Bible and they suffered dearly for it.
Let’s use Moses as an example. If when Moses struck the rock and God did not say anything, do you know that we would not count it even though he disobeyed God?
Even though he disobeyed God, did you know that the disobedience still produced the expected result?
He was commanded to speak to the rock but because the people provoked him, he struck it. If he had spoken water will come out, but he struck it and water still came out.
Humanly speaking we would have said, “Maybe God does not count it.” But because of that singular act God says he would not enter the promised land? And do you know that because of that when he died, Satan wrestled for his body. The Bible says;
Jude 1:9 (KJV)
“Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”
Thank God for the book of Jude, if not so we would not know that such a thing happened. This is why heaven will be full of surprises. There will be a lot of people we expect to see in heaven but will not see them there. A lot are dreaming, “I saw him in heaven. I saw her in heaven.” When we get there we will know. Glory be to God for the dream.
Do you know why Satan wrestled this body?
“You did something that hindered you from entering the promised land, how can you enter the kingdom of God?”
But Moses had pleaded for forgiveness, if not so, Satan would have taken him to hell. That is, with all his works, labours, dividing the Red Sea, troubling the land of Egypt and the great wonders he did, how sad would it have been that he did not enter heaven? Thank God that he confessed. Do you understand?
That is the power of the holiness of God. If disobedience could have hindered Moses,
Maybe you don’t understand who Moses was. He was very privileged. A man that communicated with God. When he came from the mount, his face shone. He was privileged to see the back of God. Yet, when he went against the holiness of God, God says he will not get to the promised land. God even took him to the top of the mountain to show him the land and its description but he did not enter it.
Numbers 20:12 (KJV)
“And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”
I pray that we will not disappoint God. He is not a respecter of anybody. Sometimes on the internet I will see some group of sleeping Christians arguing, “She’s in heaven.” “She’s in hell.” And I say that they are not serious. Somebody that has died has died. You don’t even know if you will die tomorrow. Instead of you to work on your life you are arguing. It’s not a course for argument. You are the one to work on yourself, “Will I end well?”
A lot of people think they have reached an extent that Satan cannot even come near them and tempt them. No matter how anointed a person may be, to fall is very easy.
What I’m I trying to tell you?
A lot of things takes place in the spirit that we do not know. God hates sin. Many go against God and still try to justify their actions before God
Go and ask Moses, then you will understand that God does not joke with His holiness.
Look at the life of King Saul. God was really annoyed with him because of what he did. He sinned against the holiness of God.
And don’t ever think that because David committed adultery; Solomon married many wives and other sins others committed, you want to do the same thing. There are some things that are not recorded in the scripture. God did not actually look away. The mistakes of the servants of God in the scriptures went through lots of experiences as a result of their sin against God. Some are not written while wine are written.
Unless, the Holy Spirit gives you the interpretation and revelation of the scriptures, it is not enough for you to understand what really happened. You will then understand that a lot of God’s servants in the scripture that sinned against God suffered secretly and silently even though it seems as if God looked away because God knows how to deal with His servant.
We should never think that you will live contrary to God’s character because we think God have favourites and will look away. God hates sin. This is why each time we are living in sin, God is not happy with us. And this is why we must cultivate this attitude towards sin: that sin is displeasing to God. God doesn’t want us to live in sin. When we sin, we sin against God.
If we do not develop a holy hatred towards sin, the deceitfulness of our hearts will allow us to play with temptation by entertaining the thoughts that we can always sin and confess later, asking for forgiveness. “Let me do it. After doing it, I will confess. God is merciful.”
The Lord will help us in Jesus name.
Another thing you must understand is the holiness of Christ. The Bible says,
1 Peter 1:19 (KJV)
“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
He was a perfect substitute for our sins. And the reason why He was chosen as a sacrifice for our sin was because there was no gall nor iniquity in Him. This is why He was the perfect substitute. Therefore, we are expected to always appreciate His holiness. It is very important.
If Christ is holy, and I claim to be His disciple, I myself must live a holy and righteous life.
When Jesus was on earth, He lived a perfect life. He said in the Bible;
John 14:30 (KJV)
“Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”
That is, “The prince of this world examined and weighed me but I was not found wanting. There was no fault in me.”
We need to set our eyes in the holiness of Christ. If He could live a holy life in this dangerous and polluted world, it means holiness is attainable.
We learn from the life of Christ the perfect conformity to the will of the Father. We always see in His actions that He lived His life to please the heavenly Father. In His motive and attitude, He lived to please the Father. In fact, He said in;
John 4:34 (KJV)
“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”
The meat of Christ; the desire of christ; the aim and pursuit of Christ was to please the heavenly Father and to do His will. This is why holiness is more than just action. Our motive and attitude must be holy as well. Our words must be holy.
Another thing we must understand is that the holy life of Christ is set as an example for us so that we can behold it. That is, there is something called, ‘WWJD’. What does that mean? It means, What Would Jesus Do?
You are abused. If it was Christ, what do you think He would do?
They falsely accused you. If it was Jesus Christ, what do you think He would do?
You are tempted to tell a lie, what would you do? What do you think Jesus will do in such a situation?
That is, as followers of Christ we must be willing to follow the example of Christ in our activities; goals; plans; thoughts; actions; etc. We must cultivate the habit of saying, “What would Jesus do?”
KINGDOM AGAINST KINGDOM
The fact I want to tell you is that the moment you embrace holiness, you have entered into combat with Satan.
What does that mean?
The kingdom of Satan wants you to do their will. Likewise, the kingdom of God wants you to do their will. God wants you to please Him. Satan also wants you to please him. So it is a battle of a kingdom against kingdom.
And this is why sometimes, temptation will come in a very forceful way. The holiness you have embraced will be mocked by people, “Holy Mary,” “Joseph.” They’ll call you names. It is the kingdom that wants you back. It is because you have left that kingdom when you embraced Jesus into your life and they want you back.
Just like we encouraging a vackslifee to come back to Christ. Satan also use different means. He will raise up people against you in a great and terrible way. People will stand against you. They will oppose, torment, mistreat you and deny you of your rights. You will suffer loneliness. Why? The kingdom of Satan wants you back.
Holiness is a battle. It is a battle of holiness against unrighteousness.
It is a battle of the light against the darkness.
John 1:5 (KJV)
“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
It is only if the light refuses to bow. A lot of Christians lights are dead.
I pray that any dead light here shall receive live.
Sometimes, there may be some feelings and thoughts to do what is not right. And it will come in a powerful way. It seems as if you are hearing a voice saying, “Do it! Do it!” And it’s coming in a powerful way. Another voice is telling you, “Why will you do it? You have waved bye to Satan. It will be a shame to go back. Don’t do it.” And you will feel that there is a battle.
The Bible says,
Romans 6:16 (KJV)
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
And that’s why we need the grace of God. You can’t live a holy life without God’s grace. You should never misinterpret holiness. There are marriages of many holiness believers that has collapsed as a result of misinterpretation of holiness.
I see a generation of Christian rising up and heaven is lamenting. They are adding holiness. That is, they are building their own standard of holiness, setting up a standard of holiness that cannot be traced to the scripture. And they are putting themselves in bondage. This is why most of them do not have a home. They would have chased away the husband, “Okay. You don’t want me to live a holy life?” And they will pack out. They lack the mentality of how to make a home sweet.
You say you are going to heaven and you are keeping malice with your husband because he is not born again. He can’t even touch you because you say the devil is inside him.
Many Christians will miss heaven. God has given us a standard. It is foolish for us to be setting up another standard of holiness that cannot be traced to the scriptures.
You have home. You are a wife and you told your husband that you are going for twenty one days marathon fasting. And you have warned your husband, “You can’t touch me within these twenty one days.” You don’t know that when you have failed in marriage, you have failed in all areas. If you don’t have a home, you don’t have a ministry. Which heaven are you even going? When everyday you will fight your husband and still shouting holiness at the same time.
It will be good if Christians will pray for God to reveal certain things to them. God has given us the standard. He didn’t ask you to set up your own standard. He has set it up already. Why are you adding your own? Why are you setting your own up? Don’t you know that you are indirectly going against God?
Some say that if women weave their natural hair they are going to hell. Why are you setting up your own standard?
The Bible says:
James 1:5 (KJV)
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
If you don’t understand the scripture, why can’t you go and pray? The scripture cannot be interpreted carnally. You can’t come up with a kind of standard because you had one dream.
Do you think that God is always responsible every dream we have?
Three things are responsible for our dreams;
- Satan. He can inspire dreams.
- God speaks through dreams.
- Multitudes of thoughts and imaginations.
The moment you think it may be right, it may be wrong. You will have dreams and will think God has spoken to you.
A lot of marriages are suffering because of the misinterpretation of holiness. The Lord will help us in Jesus name.
But this is my point: there is a spiritual warfare – a battle that is going on. And sometimes they manifest physically. Something wants you to do what is wrong; another thing wants you to do what is right. And they are coming in a very powerful way.
The Bible says;
James 4:7 (KJV)
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
I have told you several times that if you tell him, “Get thee behind me,” one thousand times, he will still come back. The day that Satan will say, “I have lost him,” is the day you enter heaven.
Call the Holy Ghost fire, it will come down and burn him but, he will still come back.
The song of fire we are singing is good but I want to tell you that if it burns the devil, it does not burn him to ashes. It will burn him and he will run away and come back later to tempt you.
If you say, “You that demon that is tempting me now I command you to receive fire. I burn you! I burn you!” Of course, spiritually the fire will come down. That is why you will notice that you are relieved. But do you know that sometimes after like 1 or 2mins, it will come back to tempt you again.
Life is a continuous battle. I mean spiritual battle. I’m not talking about problems. You keep on resisting till you die. But when you die and the Angels welcome you, then you can sing.
🎶The battle is over
The Savior has conquered
I will sing Hallelujah🎶
You can’t sing that one in earth o. We are just rehearsing it here in Jesus name. But each time we sing that song, it always provokes the devil. Satan will always say, “Which battle has ended? Let’s wait and see.”
I pray that every power looking for our downfall shall die in the name of Jesus.
The only time we can sing that song is only in heaven. I pray that we will not miss it.
