HOLINESS (Positional holiness is not a substitute for practical holiness)

[LightShinesInTheDarkness]

Before you raise your hands to praise the Lord, make sure your hands are holy.

 

I want you to picture something:

A sanctuary, full of people, with their hands in the air, praising Jesus.

Some of them spent the whole week watching pornography.

Some of them are lusting after the women or men in the congregation in their hearts, or even committing physical adultery with them in secret.

Some of them are covetous.

Some of them are overweight due to incontinence.

Some of them are self-indulgent, and haven't read more than a few pages of the Bible all week, as they've been pursuing fun and entertainment, and making plans for more of the same.

The wives aren't obeying their husbands; the children aren't obeying their parents; and the men aren't obeying Christ. 

Some of them are harboring grudges, or are slanderers or gossips.

Some of the men have long hair; and the women are wearing outfits that show off their bodies, and jewelry, and have made-up faces and fancy hairstyles, or short cut hair.

And they're all chanting and shouting, "Praise the Lord! Thank You, Jesus!", including the women, who are supposed to be silent, by command of the very Lord they're praising.

But Jesus is not at all pleased with their praise; it's disgusting and insulting to Him. It's no pleasing fragrance to God, but rebellion and iniquity!

 

Put those hands down until they're clean. THEN raise them and praise the Lord. Otherwise, you're dishonoring Him.

 

I desire then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess Godliness---with good works. (1 Timothy 2:8-10)

 

"Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

For rebellion is as the sin of divination,

and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry." (1 Samuel 15:22,23)

 

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of Godliness, but denying its power. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

(Are you among them?)

"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord , and He will exalt you.

(James 4:6-10)

 

 

[LightShinesInTheDarkness]

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?

Do not be deceived:

Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

(1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

 

"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation."

(Matthew 12:43-45)

 

For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

What the true proverb says has happened to them: "The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire." (2 Peter 2:20-22)

 

[LightShinesInTheDarkness]

He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing. (Proverbs 29:1)

 

Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity. (Proverbs 28:14)

 

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)

 

Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue. (Proverbs 28:23)

 

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. (Proverbs 27:6)

[frienduff thaylorde]

Praise the Lord peoples .      Let us obey the Spirit and we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

Onward in the Lord peoples , and praise be to the LORD .   Let us heed the Spirit , let us feast on sound pure holy doctrine .    

[LightShinesInTheDarkness]

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

...Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?"

I said to him, "Sir, you know."

And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out (or 'which came out' KJV) of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:9,10,13,14 ESV)

 

A few important things to note about this passage (and may the Lord make them clear): 

These people are coming out (or came out) of the great tribulation by martyrdom, not rapture. Jesus is in heaven at this time, and the events that occur at His return (the defeat of the antichrist, the resurrection of the dead and the destruction of the heavens and the earth by fire) are not taking place, but the tribulation is. He is only coming back once, not twice, and the Bible tells us what is going to happen when He comes and when His return will take place.

These people had robes (they were saved), and their robes were dirty (they were sinning), and they washed them in the blood of the Lamb by repenting. (These are not unsaved people who repented and were born again, but born-again people who were sinning and repented.)  And because they repented, God gave them the grace to lay their lives down for Jesus and to be martyred; therefore they are coming out (or 'came out') of the tribulation.

There's no need for a person who has not soiled his robe to wash it. (See the Lord's message to the church in Sardis for example.) And the only people who have robes to wash are Christians, whose robe is Jesus Christ.

Christians whose robes are soiled, and who choose to wash them by repenting of their rebellion (that rebellion of the saints which precedes the revealing of the antichrist, which Paul mentions in 2 Thessalonians 2, and which is currently taking place), will be conquerors during the tribulation. But those who do not, will be overcome.

 

Again, it is the Christians who have washed their soiled robes who will come out of the tribulation. 

What is going to happen to the ones who refuse to wash their soiled robes?

 

Also it (the antichrist) was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. (Revelation 13:7)

As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them... (Daniel 7:21)

It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them....And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression... (Daniel 8:10,12)

 

This is the judgment of God that is about to begin at His household (1 Peter 4:17): He is going to deliver His rebellious saints who refuse to repent of their rebellion against Him into the hand of the antichrist to be overcome, because they refuse to repent.

 

(Being martyred is not being overcome, but conquering. Taking the mark of the beast and worshiping his image is being conquered.)

 

So then, people of God with soiled robes, heed the admonition of the Lord, before these things begin to come to pass:

 

Blessed are those who wash their robes (or 'that do His commandments'), so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. (Revelation 22:14)

 

Again, one must first have a robe in order to wash it; and if it needs to be washed, that means it is dirty. (See the Lord's message to the church in Sardis.) Christians, this admonition is for you.

 

What do think is going to happen to Christians who do not wash their soiled robes or do His commandments? 

 

Follow holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Unholy Christians will be cut off from the city of the Lord.

 

 

 

[frienduff thaylorde]

1 hour ago, LightShinesInTheDarkness said:

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

...Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?"

I said to him, "Sir, you know."

And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out (or 'which came out' KJV) of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:9,10,13,14 ESV)

 

A few important things to note about this passage (and may the Lord make them clear): 

These people are coming out (or came out) of the great tribulation by martyrdom, not rapture. Jesus is in heaven at this time, and the events that occur at His return (the defeat of the antichrist, the resurrection of the dead and the destruction of the heavens and the earth by fire) are not taking place, but the tribulation is. He is only coming back once, not twice, and the Bible tells us what is going to happen when He comes and when His return will take place.

These people had robes (they were saved), and their robes were dirty (they were sinning), and they washed them in the blood of the Lamb by repenting. (These are not unsaved people who repented and were born again, but born-again people who were sinning and repented.)  And because they repented, God gave them the grace to lay their lives down for Jesus and to be martyred; therefore they are coming out (or 'came out') of the tribulation.

There's no need for a person who has not soiled his robe to wash it. (See the Lord's message to the church in Sardis for example.) And the only people who have robes to wash are Christians, whose robe is Jesus Christ.

Christians whose robes are soiled, and who choose to wash them by repenting of their rebellion (that rebellion of the saints which precedes the revealing of the antichrist, which Paul mentions in 2 Thessalonians 2, and which is currently taking place), will be conquerors during the tribulation. But those who do not, will be overcome.

 

Again, it is the Christians who have washed their soiled robes who will come out of the tribulation. 

What is going to happen to the ones who refuse to wash their soiled robes?

 

Also it (the antichrist) was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. (Revelation 13:7)

As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them... (Daniel 7:21)

It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them....And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression... (Daniel 8:10,12)

 

This is the judgment of God that is about to begin at His household (1 Peter 4:17): He is going to deliver His rebellious saints who refuse to repent of their rebellion against Him into the hand of the antichrist to be overcome, because they refuse to repent.

 

(Being martyred is not being overcome, but conquering. Taking the mark of the beast and worshiping his image is being conquered.)

 

So then, people of God with soiled robes, heed the admonition of the Lord, before these things begin to come to pass:

 

Blessed are those who wash their robes (or 'that do His commandments'), so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. (Revelation 22:14)

 

Again, one must first have a robe in order to wash it; and if it needs to be washed, that means it is dirty. (See the Lord's message to the church in Sardis.) Christians, this admonition is for you.

 

What do think is going to happen to Christians who do not wash their soiled robes or do His commandments? 

 

Follow holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Unholy Christians will be cut off from the city of the Lord.

 

 

 

And looking diligently lest any man FAIL of the Grace of GOD.     onward soliders of the Lord .    onward the exhortations are so needed.    Let us praise

the Lord with much thanksgiving .    Onward in the Lord . 

[LightShinesInTheDarkness]

"...The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him."

(2 Chronicles 16:9)

 

Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. (Ephesians 6:24)

[LightShinesInTheDarkness]

I posted this already in this forum, but thought I would post it again here for the potential benefit of anyone who may not have read it, as it is relevant to this topic. May the Lord use it to bless you. 

(P.S. I love you all; God is witness. If you only knew. I do not post things to scare people, and I am not a pessimist. But I won't lie or flatter people either (does the Holy Spirit do these things?); and what benefit is it to you for me to tell you anything other than the truth, even if it is unpleasant or frightening? There is nothing to fear except refusing to obey the Lord. If you love Him, and are faithful to Him, all things will work together for your good, and nothing will be able to separate you from His love. That should be great encouragement to you. But it will not be great encouragement to the person whose heart is set on himself and his own way, who wants God's promises and blessings without having to abide by His conditions for receiving and keeping them. And that is something I will never offer anyone, because God does not offer it to anyone. If that is what you want, you won't get it from me; but there are plenty of people who will tell you such things. And they are deceived, and/or liars. I want you to reap God's blessings and not His judgment, and I want you to keep your inheritance and not lose it. The people who are tickling your ears are worthless to you. God still expects and desires a holy people and a pure bride; and He will have one, one way or the other---whether by those saints whose robes are soiled washing them, or by those who refuse to wash their robes being cleaned out of His temple and His land. Make sure that you are on the Lord's side---the winning side---and not the side of the rebels and the fools.)

 

20 SIMPLE BUT GOOD HEART-SEARCHING, SELF-EVALUATING QUESTIONS FOR CHRISTIANS

(No need to answer these on the thread; just think on them and answer them honestly for yourself before the Lord.)

 

1. Are you "successful" according to God's values and objectives?

 

2. When was the last time you told Jesus that you loved Him? (And meant it?)

 

3. What is your heavenly "savings account" balance?

 

4. Does God choose your wardrobe?

 

5. Does God choose your music?

 

6. Does God approve of what (and how) you eat and drink?

 

7. Do you judge other "wisdom" and knowledge by God's Word, or vice versa?

 

8. Is your chief aim and highest goal in life to please God?

 

9. Would you rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord? (Honestly.)

 

10. Do you LOVE your enemies?

 

11. Would you welcome a needy brother or sister into your home to stay?

 

12. Do you compromise God's word to do "God's work"?

 

13. Do you care more about the approval of people than about the approval of God?

 

14. Is Jesus your most prized possession?

 

15. Which of the seven churches in the Revelation would your church be?

 

16. Do you preach the whole counsel of God? Or just the parts people want to hear?

 

17. Do you practice what you preach?

 

18. Do you love God His way---according to what He says love for Him is---or according to your own notion of what love for Him is?

 

19. Are you making the best use of your Master's time?

 

20. If you had to give an account to the Lord TODAY, would you have any regrets?

 

[Heleadethme]

On 3/21/2018 at 12:56 PM, Yowm said:

Sure, but if they are His, God has His ways of dealing with His obstinate ones...

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
(Heb 12:5-12)
 

 

Think a minute brother.......what is your point with this.......that righteousness and obedience should not be preached/taught/obeyed then?  Since God has it all in hand, nobody needs to do or say anything?....just everyone fold our hands and go home?   Haven't you noticed that His very word chastises us - rebukes, reproves, corrects, instructs, encourages - according as we have need.

[LightShinesInTheDarkness]

You, Christian, ARE Christianity. You, and me and everyone in whom the Spirit of Jesus lives. Now look at the state of it, and ask yourself whether you're a part of the problem, or a part of the solution, or simply indifferent to the problem.

How does the Lord feel about the state of Christianity right now, and how do you feel about it? If He is grieved and indignant, should you be happy or indifferent?

If you really love your brothers and sisters in Christ, and not yourself, hide not your face from disgrace and spitting and tell them what their pastors and other Christians aren't telling them, for their potential good, instead of keeping silent in order to have their approval and protect yourself from discomfort or rejection: 

Point them back to the teachings of the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints---ALL of the teachings--- and don't just smile and nod as they defy them.

Jesus certainly isn't smiling and nodding about it. Is there anything commendable about 2 Timothy 3:1-5? Do you see abundant holiness when you look at Christianity? Do you see New Testament Christianity around you? Does it look like what you read when you study the instructions and examples of the word, or are they like two strangers with the same name? 

(And before you tell yourself that things aren't really that bad, and that it's not such a big deal, remember the Lord's message to the church in Ephesus. Is your standard of what is acceptable God's standard? It benefits you to find out and to make sure that His standard is yours. Read that NT again.)

Be holy yourself, and exhort and warn your brothers and sisters to do likewise, for their good, just as the Bible itself does and tells us to do, and pray for them.