Day: May 23, 2011

How Holy Is Your Sanctuary? (p. 2)

On May 23, 2011

We are saved by grace alone. No great amount of sin in your life will keep you from attaining holiness in Jesus Christ. Furthermore, no great amount of “good deeds” in your life will grant you holiness. It is only acquired by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Through faith, His righteousness becomes our righteousness, His holiness – our holiness. We will battle temptation every day. Our flesh, the world, and the devil are our constant adversaries. They fight for control of our choices in an attempt to wrestle us away from devotion to our Lord. Yet, through God’s grace He provides deliverance through faith. After we have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, He has prepared good deeds in advance for us to complete. It is our pursuit for holiness.

Even though we are aware of our imperfection, our unrighteousness, our ungodliness, God sees us as His saints, His priests, His children through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. “And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.” (1 Peter 2:5 NLT) Our pursuit of holiness will continue to increase our understanding of freedom through Jesus Christ.

Constant prayer is practiced by every saint in the pursuit of holiness. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV) This is God’s will for us! Another way to look at this might be to say , that if we are not joyful, if we don’t stay in continuous prayer, if we don’t give God thanks in all circumstances — we are not in our Father’s will. Complaining is not holiness. Holiness requires the sinner to identify his/her unworthiness and their captivity to sin, the world, their flesh, and Satan.
Holiness requires an outpouring of one’s heart in gratitude to the Father of Lights for all good and perfect things.

In the pursuit of holiness we recognize our constant critical need for freedom, deliverance and salvation through our Savior, Jesus Christ. In our pursuit of holiness we will grow in our amazement at the mystery of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ. Holiness helps us understand the futility of words to describe God’s greatness and His limitless worth to us; and, our need to be still to know Him. Holiness requires us to be “daily cross-bearers” following Jesus in complete obedience. In our pursuit of holiness we will always remain in awesome fear of His power and majesty.

The more I write and think about holiness, the more I understand how much I don’t know about it. It is a mystery to me that Christ would impart His righteousness to me, the chief of all sinners. Because He was the Lamb of God, because of He was despised and rejected, because He was tortured and crucified, I can live my life in joy without sinful remorse. I can live in freedom from the sin that once ensnared me. I can live without fear from Satan that even now prowls about looking to devour me. I can live in hope of the unimaginable life that is coming with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

How Holy Is Your Sanctuary? (Part 1)

By Marshall Mabry

On May 23, 2011

In Praise and Worship

Holiness has many meanings. Sanctity, purity, Godliness, undefiled, separate from sin(ners). To be holy — one must be “set apart.” How can Christ’s church be set apart (Holy) when it insists upon using the world’s way to reach the lost? No Man or Church brings the lost to Christ!

“They will have their own ruler again, and he will come from their own people. I will invite him to approach me,” says the LORD, “for who would dare to come unless invited?” (Jeremiah 30:21 NLT)

The lost can only be drawn to Christ by His Holy Spirit. Jesus said “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (John 12:32 NIV) Jesus said, “All men!”

An important scripture to agree with in aspiring holiness is:
“So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship.” Romans 12:1 (New Century Translation)

Is your body a sanctuary for the Holy Spirit? Does Jesus’ word’s, “My Father’s house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a den a thieves (Matt 21:13)” bring conviction to your heart. Tattoos, body piercing and gluttony are not optional! “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:28 NIV) Is not the whole world “dead in its transgressions?” Does not the person desiring a tattoo and/or piercing want to bring outward attention to themselves, thereby partnering with the world, the dead? Where is humility in this deed? How do they believe they are set apart? “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4) These are questions for people claiming to be Christians, but their actions do not agree with scripture. They will use scripture and “grace” in their defense, but I fear these words from Christ, “Away from me… I knew you not!” Jesus is understood to be Savior by many who claim Christianity, but is He Lord of your life? Do not let your deeds or actions become stumbling blocks to your Christian witness. Jesus said, “Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:20 NIV)

Remember always, Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. (Ezekiel 16:49 NLT)