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Holiness is for Now In the modern age, morals alone cannot accurately gauge what it means to be holy, nor is the law of the land an accurate tool to judge what sin is. Although sin is the transgressing of the law, sin is more accurately defined as the opposite of holiness. God hates the sin, but He loves the people, so by His goodness He sends His Holy Word to lead us to repentance. Our acts of properly responding to God’s goodness are all that can make us holy. Psa 51:2-3 (KJV) “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (3) For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin [is] ever before me.” An example of the word of God bringing a man to repentance was noted when Nathan the prophet brought the word of the Lord to King David, concerning his behavior with Bathsheba, and the murder of her husband. Although King David repented there were still lasting consequences that resulted because of the sinful acts that he had committed. The Lord does not wish that His people always have to learn by the road of hard knocks, but rather that we would come to Him and allow Him to change us daily so that we may walk in the beauty of holiness. Jer 17:9-10 (KJV) “The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it? (10) I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.” Many people say, “Just follow your heart, it won’t let you down”. That is one of the great lies from the abyss. We cannot follow our hearts and expect to walk in holiness. Rather, we need to follow Jesus Christ by the leading of His Holy Spirit. That can only happen when we face the fact that we are not automatically holy. Every day brings new opportunities to find the holiness of the Lord for every part of our lives. If that were not so, then we would not need a Savior. 1Ch 16:29 (KJV) “Give unto the LORD the glory [due] unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” God knows that the true beauty is not only found in the eye of the beholder, but is beheld by all when His saints offer their lives unto Him by doing that which is pleasing in His sight. Doing so lifts the Lord up. It sounds the standards of God in the earth and causes others to come unto Him. Rom 8:4-8 (KJV) “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Let’s not be deceived by our own hearts, nor cause others to be deceived by our folly. Let us rather live unto the Lord as those who believe and demonstrate that holiness is for now. -Kurt Thurston September Newsletter 2005 | Reconciliation of Fire | Distractions | Pastor's Journal September 2004 Holiness is for Now | Arise-Become-Build and Shine part 3 of 3 |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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