LIVE A HOLY LIFE

I believe the holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness that remains in him. -Spurgeon

1 Peter 1:13-16, Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 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.

Living a holy life involves much more than just attending church. A Christian must bring into captivity their thoughts; keeping their mind focused on the Lord Jesus. They will keep themselves from their former sinful ways; protecting their heart from the fiery darts Satan hurls at them day by day. A Christian’s speech will be above reproach and Christ honoring. Why would a Christian do this? It’s in the name, “Christian.” It means to be Christ like or “Little Christ”. There are no substitutes. We must live a holy life because Christ Himself was holy.

LIVE HOLY

Those are no friends of Christ and his disciples, who make that to be unlawful which God has not made to be so. -Henry

Galatians 5:1, Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Many today want to get right on the edge of sin. They want to change the meaning of what sin is and “reclassify” it. Why, because they don’t want to live a holy life.

Friend, God has not changed and neither has what He calls sin. Sin is sin. There are no small sins and there aren’t any big sins. Sin… is just sin. Scripture tells us if you break the law in one point, you have broken it in all points. Telling a lie is the same as murder in God’s eyes.

Paul knew the danger of sin. He knew the dangers of riding the fence. Paul knew to live for Christ was to die to self. Under the inspiration of God, Paul preached to live a holy life.

Are you living on the edge of sin? Have you pitched your tent toward Sodom; desiring the things of this world? RUN from those things, friend, before it’s too late! Live a holy life that is pleasing to the Lord!

ACCESSIBILITY IS A NECESSITY

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Ephesians 2:18

             Going in and out of the facilities I work in you must have one of four things; permission, an ID card, a key, or an access card. I have gotten to some of the facilities and the individual I am there to see isn’t on so I cannot get permission to go to the equipment I need to do maintenance on. I have gotten to the administration buildings where you check in at only to realize I left my ID card back in my truck. Every once and a while I’ll pick up the wrong keys getting to the facility and praying someone will be there to let me in to the areas I need to be at. Then, on occasion, the access card I have decides it doesn’t want to work so I cannot get into the building at all. Accessibility is a necessity to get my job done! Accessibility is important!

             Accessibility is a necessity in our walk with Jesus as well! Without access to the source of our strength we will become weak and will be overtaken by Satan. Here are three things you can do to become and remain strong in the Lord.

            One: To have any access to the Father you must be saved. You must repent of your sins, trusting in Jesus as your Saviour. “Ye must be born again.”

            Two: You must be without sin to have access to the Father. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2

            Three: You must speak to Him. “…ye have not, because ye ask not.”

There was a time when we could not come before God because of our sin but now we can because of the precious shed blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ. The only thing that keeps the access line open is a saved, clean life. Do you have that today?

BE A HOLY WITNESS!

            Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:11-12

I have heard it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission. I have often wondered where in the Bible does a Christian that has that mentality find that verse. I don’t find it at all. What I do find is scripture like, “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. “ or “Be ye holy for I am holy.”

            Child of God, quit playing with fire! Just be the man and or woman of God He wants you to be! Be honest! Be faithful! Be committed! Be prepared! Be responsible! Be kind! Be true!

HE’S HERE! HE’S HERE!

All my theology is reduced to this narrow compass-Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. –Alexander

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14

I rejoice with other Christians around the globe this morning with the celebration of the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. As we remember His birth let us not forget His return. He came as the humble Lamb of God but will return as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. The Blessed hope of His return has brought joy to Christians down through the ages! Rejoice in His birth today but don’t forget He’s coming back! I am longing to say, “He’s here! He’s here!  

Will You Stand?

God is searching for men who are unique, thoroughly saved, and filled to running over with His spirit. God and the world need men who will stand in the gap.... --Frank Carlson

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Ezekiel 22:30

As time flies on by, more and more men are slipping away from church and into a life of sin! Satan has attacked us at the very foundation of our Belief. The Word of God has been attacked and is being taken out of every day life. We hear it no more in our schools. We see it no more in our courtrooms. We aren't allowed to share it on some streets anymore. How did this happen? How did a once truly Christian Nation ALLOW Satan to have a foot hold in America? Because men wouldn't stand in the gap! Men have become sissys! Men have become cowards!

It's time for men to stand up and take control of their lives back. It's time to get real about the battle before us! It is time for us to stand in the gap for our Lord and Saviour!

God has instituted the man to be the leader of the house. So men, LEAD! Single women and single parent women, take the lead in your house until God gives you a real man that will lead you in the paths of righteousness. Don't settle for Satan's Wimps! Strive for God's Warriors!