HOLINESS THE KEY TO ETERNAL LIFE
This is the most difficult blog I have written to date not because the subject matter is difficult but because it has touched a very sensitive area in my life. I have come to realize as Pastor E. A. Adeboye states that this is the "MASTER KEY" of all master keys. In fact I would like to thank this Pastor for letting me realize where I have missed it for most of my Christian journey. I noticed that in everyone of his sermon there has been this emphasis on holinessI will never forget the day that I was listening to one of his sermons and as usual when dealing with a topic he would go through the subject matter - introduction, definition, biblical and experiential examples; then he would come to the qualification section of his sermon. "For whom will this work..." and it was as if my eyes just popped open example Jesus and the disciples in the supper at Emmaus St. Luke 24 verses 12 - 35 in
verse 31 - And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and he vanished out of their sight.I heard clearly in my Spirit this is where you missed it. Immediately I went on the floor and just started repenting for my carelessness and naivety and thanking God for grace and mercy. I have not stopped being appreciative. This experience has bred a deeper appreciation for the finished work of Calvary. I said Daddy now I understand, when I got it right and made a vow to God all hell broke loose in my life.
I call Pastor Adeboye the "Holiness Guru" from my research, I am finding out that there are not many persons that preach on this topic. He never preaches without emphasizing the importance of holiness. He states "God is a holy God. He never leaves the pulpit without giving an altar call for salvation. This might sound elementary but I am finding out that most churches in North America hardly practises this anymore.
One of the reason why I found it difficult to write this blog was because I realize that I am making myself vulnerable but, I am saying what is my feeling, if I can help to prevent one more person from making the mistakes that I did.
DEFINITION OF HOLINESS
Lets look at a definition of holiness. Simply put it means to be separate, to be set aside for the purposes of God. I Peter 1 verse 15 - 16.
verse 15 - But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
verse 16 - Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
REACTIONS TO HOLINESS
Let us look at the manifestation of this holiness in the lives of a number of individuals.Moses in the Wilderness
When Moses saw the bush burning in the wilderness and was not being consumed, when he drew close, the first thing the Lord told him was that he should remove his shoe, because the ground he was standing on was holy. Exodus 3 verse 5.verse 5 - And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.Had the ground changed? No, it was still dirt but God had turned up. The change was the fact that the manifest presence of God had turn up for Moses at the backside of a desert. Glory! hallelujah! I feel like having church here.
Isaiah in the Temple
The classic response when one is confronted by one's inadequacy in the presence of God is found in Isaiah 6 verses 1 - 8. In verse I it states that it was in the year that King Uzziah died that he saw the Lord. Reminds one of the story of Abram in Genesis 13 verse 14. It was after Abram's nephew Lot had separated from Abram that God could give him a glimpse into the future. Leaves us to wonder what are the things and people in our lives that are keeping us from fulfilling the will of God for our lives and clogging up our vision.When this great King died although he died a leper because he too became too puffed up and dared to break the ordinances of God by usurping the role of the priests. A sin for which God struck him with leprosy. II Chronicles 26 verses 16 - 21.
verse 21 - And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the Lord: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.The Seraphims cried
verse 3 - Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: The whole Earth is full of His glory.When God shows up you know there is a reaction. Isaiah's was
verse 5 - Woe is me! for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of hosts.This sense of brokenness and unworthiness also happened in Job 42 verses 5 - 6.
verse 5 - I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee.
verse 6 - Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.God is gracious and always willing to meet us at our point of need. However, He is a holy God hence His response to Isaiah's cry. The process of separation is painful hot coal on the lips, my God. Continuing in Isaiah 6
verse 6 - Then flew one of the Seraphims unto me, having a live coal on his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.
verse 7 - And he land it upon my mouth, and said, lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
verse 8 - Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, here am I, send me.The response to an encounter with God just highlights how frail we are and leads to brokenness and just a complete yielding of oneself in total.
GOD OF JUSTICE
God is a God of mercy but He is also a just God. Deuteronomy 32 verses 1 - 4 statesverse 3 - Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
verse 4 - He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
In Leviticus 10 verses 1 - 3 when Nadab and Abihu the sons of Aaron offered up strange fire before the Lord and he killed them, there was nothing Aaron or Moses could do because the Lord had laid down the Levitical Laws that govern the operations of the priesthood.
verse 3 - Then Moses said unto Aaron, this is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.
Let us now look at the story of Uzzah, one could think what a cruel God. Uzzah's motives were pure, he did not want the Ark of God to fall. However, God had given clear instructions on how the Ark of God was to be transported. God does not need to be propped up by man. King David good man that he was, did things his way not God's way. Reminds us of the present dispensation that we are in. Most people doing things the way they think it should be done without consulting the one that knows the end from the beginning.
verse 3 - Then Moses said unto Aaron, this is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.
Let us now look at the story of Uzzah, one could think what a cruel God. Uzzah's motives were pure, he did not want the Ark of God to fall. However, God had given clear instructions on how the Ark of God was to be transported. God does not need to be propped up by man. King David good man that he was, did things his way not God's way. Reminds us of the present dispensation that we are in. Most people doing things the way they think it should be done without consulting the one that knows the end from the beginning.
The story of Uzzah is found in II Samuel 6 verses 1 - 11
verse 6 - And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the Ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
verse 7 - And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the Ark of God.
verse 8 - And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez-Uzzah to this day.
CONCLUSION
In St. Matthew 12 verse 36 the Bible statesBut I say unto you, that every idle word that man shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.There is no cheap grace. A holy God is both just and merciful. God paid an extremely high price for the salvation of man. He gave his only begotten son. St. John 3 verse 16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."Holiness unto God Hebrews 12 verse 14 states
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"Jesus speaking St. Matthew 5 verse 8:
" Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."So if you have been living holy, continue to be holy, you are not strange you are special.
If you have back sliden return home.
If you want to enter the kingdom of God do not delay just come as you are into this glorious kingdom, righteousness, peace and joy. St. Matthew 6 verse 33
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."We really don't want on the judgment day when everyone is giving account and Paul, Peter, John and the other Apostles are saying we were boiled in oil, we were hung upside down, we were stoned, we were flogged, we were imprisoned and were kicked out of the synagogues (churches); all we can say is they gossiped about us in church so we changed fellowship. Jesus would just ask did you read St. Matthew 5 verse 11-12 REJOICE!. When they are giving account we want to say moi aussi (me also).
For additional material you can look at
Pastor E.A. Adeboye - The Master Key IGOC 2013 -YouTube
Dr. Mensa Otabil - The Cross - YouTube
Dr. R. C. Sproul Jr. - The Importance of Holiness YouTube or buy the book.
So until the next blog à bientôt. For the next blog we are looking at The Laws of Prosperity there seem to be two extremes out there. Persons that are going after the tithe to the exception of everything else and persons who say the tithe is not for today. I am excited my spirit has been ignited.
