How important is holy living?

[CWJ]

Suzanne, you are talking my language.

So many in the church world cling to worldliness.  But then there are different levels of fruit.  I think the low level is the one that doesn't study much scripture.  I think it also one of the characteristics of the last days.  

Peace, Carl

[zaccinyak]

I guess in my heart I want to be 100% Holy and sin-free, and that just isn't possible in the flesh or on the Earth.

[Lanakila]

Zac some rewards are saved for heaven (remember crowns). Also, your own personal walk with God has nothing to do with others and how they walk. I understand what you are saying though because we are in the ministry too. People (in the church) believe that because ministers don't have a secular job they don't work. They often seem to judge that and it makes the minister feel a little guilty sometimes for receiving an income from those who work secular jobs, and expecting them to help in the church. This is a problem in the church, that we have faced also. I don't really have a solution to it, but can empathise with what you are describing.  

[tsth]

Dear zak,

I have had many occasions when I have felt Him close.  I have taught and preached under His annointing. I will continue to serve Him, but after all this time I find myself asking the question...  What good has come from the life we have lived?  

Please understand...  I will continue to serve God, that isn't the question...  the Question I guess is...  What is the benefit of putting your all into God's service, when the reward is the same for the people that have come to church for years, but never help out in the ministry.

Just because someone is "in" the church, does not guarantee, their eternal state.  So to compare yourself with someone's work within the church, is not realistic.  Also, we must be led in what the Lord gives us to do, not by what someone else does, because our gifts are different.   If you are walking in what the Lord has given you to do, that is what is right and good.  

I too understand the frustration of being in the ministry and not having many workers for the harvest, but just remember, sometimes others ministries are not within the "walls of the church".    My husband works very much within the church, whereas I do not so much right now, due to homeschool, and another ministry that the Lord has led me in, in the public schools.  So I am not seen at work as much within the church.

But I do want to tell you, when I read your above post, it reminded me of a conversation in the Bible, in the Book of Job.

3 that you ask, 'What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?' 4 I will answer you and your friends with you. 5 Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you. 6 If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? 7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him; or what does he receive from your hand? 8 Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man.

Just remember, our wickedness and our righteousness concerns others, like ourselves.  zak, just be mindful that you are persevering, and setting an example by continuing on in what the Lord calls you to.  If it is quiet now, maybe the Lord is letting you rest in preparation for what is ahead.  Maybe He has something in mind for you in the future, but He's waiting for you to "rest" in Him?  I don't know, I can only speak what I know personally, and I know that anytime I have felt weak and discouraged, it was because I needed to call out to my Father, for encouragement and help. I am sorry, I don't even know you, but I do know your hurt, I think,  and I do know these things will not remain, but we must persevere, and keep in closeness with our Lord, especially in times of doubt and discouragement.  Peace to you.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Guest EPHRIAM777]

I have been very disappointed in myself and in my fellow christians.

[zaccinyak]

EPHRIAM777

Just a question.  Doesn't that type of logic make us do nothing christians?  What about the verses in the Bible that talk about going out into the harvest and the master returning to receive increase from his "talents".  

As a Pentecostal christian, I believe very much that inner salvation will generate an outer manifestation (You will know a tree by it's fruit etc).  I have been taught for years that "easy believism" is on par with being infidel because basically people that adhere to "easy believism" live lives that are just as sinful as regular old, unsanctified sinners.

I am not saying that you are suggesting that I just feel justified living in sin or being a nonparticipating attendee of church, but that is what comes to my mind when someone says...  "You just need to believe and trust God to be your sufficiency".

The difference is...  I am not only looking for God to IMPUTE RIGHTEOUSNES AND HOLINESS to me...  I want Him to IMPART RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS to me.  I don't just want it credited to some mystical account in the sky...  I want to have in my day to day experiencial (sp) back pocket to draw from.

Do people that adhere to (what I would call) "easy believism" actually receive the Holiness I am thirsting for, and if so...  Why is it that I don't see any fruit in it.  AND---  Do people that adhere to Old Time Pentecostal (some might call it legalism) "holiness standards" receive real experiencial (sp) Holiness...  or are some of them just really good at faking the outer fruit?

zaccinyak  

[CWJ]

Zacc.....I would like to say....turn your eyes upon JESUS...look full in His wonderful face...and the things of earth will grow strangely dim....in the light of His glory and grace......

Right now I think you might be looking in the wrong direction.  At the wrong things, trying too hard...when He has finished it for you with His LOVE :inlove:

Fall into Him....He has the strength you are looking for right now

[Guest GloryaRose]

While I agree that holy living is important...and we should always be trying to grow closer to God and be more like Jesus...

 I believe that we must never become so arrogant as to think that we have arrived at perfection...or that we ever will arrive at perfection in this life. Even Paul says he has not attained...but that he must continually press towards the mark...the calling...the prize.

 We will not attain perfection...in this life.

 We need to live for the Lord as best as we can...but to truly be transformed by anything more than just our own will power...to truly be transformed by the Spirit of God... we

must never think that we are capable of perfection on our own...

[zaccinyak]

:thumb:

Gloria:

Well said.

Zaccinyak