Pursuing Holiness- Part 41

June 17th, 2024

Jesus and the angels will supernaturally intervene on behalf of those walking in Holiness!

Our enemies will either be removed or converted as we walk in Holiness.  All hindrances to The Gospel will be dealt with in the appropriate manner.

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 9:

3 As Saul journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a brilliant light shone around him from Heaven.

This brilliant light was greater than the noonday sun.  Saul closed his eyes.

4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

Paul did not recognize The Voice of The One intervening:

5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Saul (who is Paul) experienced the Holiness of Jesus Christ directly and supernaturally.  Jesus will intervene in our lives as necessary to promote our individual callings.

7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.

8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Saul’s entourage knew something had happened yet they had no clue what to do except lead him to the city as a blind man.

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

Ananias not only heard Jesus, but he also responded by affirming “Here I am, Lord!”  This is critical to us as we walk in Holiness.  We will be called to carry out the commands of THE LORD as true servants, no matter how it looks in the natural world.  Servants of THE LORD will not delay in their response to THE LORD!

11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.

Saul responded to his encounter with THE LORD by praying day and night.  He could do nothing but pray and repent.  How did FATHER respond to his prayers?  By giving him a vision in preparation for the arrival of Ananias.

12 And in a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints (Your Holy ones) in Jerusalem.

14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

Ananias needed clarification and assurance of what THE LORD was commanding.  You and I can relate!

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My Name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My Name’s sake.”

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.“

18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

Consider this.  In less than 96 hours, Jesus supernaturally intervened in Saul’s life, and he was transformed into Paul who wrote 2/3 of the New Testament.  Is there anything too difficult for THE LORD to do in our lives as we serve HIM and walk in Holiness?

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Pursuing Holiness- Part 40

June 16th, 2024

Our past will not determine our ability to walk in Holiness!

Without question, the greatest enemy of The Way was Saul of Tarsus.

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 9:

1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Saul was determined to eradicate all Christians from Israel.  He was on a mission but that was about to change!

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a brilliant light shone around him from Heaven.

This brilliant light was greater than the noonday sun.  Saul closed his eyes.

4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

When someone is addressed by the repetition of their name, this is an intensely personal and intimate call.  Some will attempt to use this means of addressing someone even though they are not an intimate friend.

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 7:

21  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the Will of My Father in Heaven.

22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’

23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!‘ 

One cannot walk in Holiness and at the same time practice lawlessness.

Jesus also spoke in Luke chapter 6:

46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?

47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:

48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.

49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

You can talk the talk but if you don’t walk the walk, you will suffer great loss.

Back in Acts chapter 9:

5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

This term “Lord” spoken here, is the salutation of supremacy.

6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.

8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

This passage in Acts chapter 9 is a clear indication that our past does not determine our future… thankfully!  Be of good cheer, Our Heavenly Father will use whoever responds to HIS Call and HE will make the necessary changes for our calling to be fruitful.

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The love of money is the root of all evil!

June 15th, 2024

It has been independently reported that Ukraine has lost roughly 500,000 men in the conflict with Russia.

A friend of mine states that his parents( one Ukrainian and the other Russian) who live in eastern Ukraine see Russia’s move is to liberate them from one of the most corrupt governments in the world.

The U.S. has funded over $175 Billion for Ukraine. Some of this money pays for Ukrainian pensions. Some money has been siphoned off by corrupted politicians.

How does Our Heavenly Father view all this?

As always, it’s about the love of money!

1 Timothy 6:3-10 NKJV
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, [4] he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, [5] useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the Truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. [6] Now godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. [8] And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. [9] But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. [10] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Now the West is seizing Russian assets to use against them. Putin is responding:

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/putin-g7-seized-assets-plan-despite-all-trickery-theft-still-theft

Things are getting dicey! As for me, I will continue focusing on Holiness! As I have said before, “Don’t be scared, instead, be prepared.” FATHER placed us here at this time… HE knows what HE is doing!

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Pursuing Holiness- Part 39

June 15th, 2024

As we walk in Holiness, we will be directed to those who are ready to receive The Word, supernaturally if necessary!

Philip’s ministry had a great impact on the city of Samaria.  People were healed and demons were cast out.  They saw the miracles he did.  This resulted in

an uncontainable joy filling the city!

This is the template of how one walking in Holiness can impact an entire city.

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 8:

26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.

When we are walking in true Holiness, angels are dispatched to us to give us instructions from Above.  There is no question of the next steps we are to take.  Philip responded to the angel’s instructions:

27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,

28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.

29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”

30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 The place in the Scripture (Isaiah 53) which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His Mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.”

34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?”

In order to minister at this level of Holiness, we must know Scripture and be able to preach and teach it to those who have little or no understanding.

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”

37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

Faith came by hearing The Word of GOD and brought forth salvation to the Eunuch.

38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

This eunuch was a very influential man who oversaw the treasury of the dynasty of Ethiopian queens.  The impact of this encounter would be great among the Ethiopians.

After the encounter, Philip was harpazo’d to Azotus.  Walking in Holiness removes the restrictions of the natural laws.  You will become accustomed to operating in the supernatural so that the Kingdom of GOD will be established at an ever-increasing rate.

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Is escalation inevitable?

June 14th, 2024

Those who walk in Holiness will be prepared!

Pepe Escobar, a Brazilian Journalist calls it: The summer of living dangerously!

I suggest you listen closely to this interview:

As I continue to proclaim: The solution is Spiritual in nature.

Don’t be caught unaware!  A false flag event could occur at any time, anywhere.  It would be used to convince the population to support the current narrative. Only The Holy Spirit can guide us into all Truth!

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Pursuing Holiness- Part 38

June 14th, 2024

As we walk in Holiness, we should expect to identify and cast out demons, and in response, some will challenge the source of our power!

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Luke chapter 11:

14  And Jesus was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.

15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

Jesus responded to their challenge.

16  Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from Heaven.

17 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.

18 If satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by beelzebub.

19 And if I cast out demons by beelzebub, by whom do your sons (exorcists) cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.

20 But if I cast out demons with the Finger of God, surely the Kingdom of God has come upon you.

21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. 22 But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.

23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

As we mature in Holiness, we should expect to do the same acts as Jesus did.  Philip is a perfect example of walking in Holiness.  He was not Philip the apostle, but Philip who was selected along with Stephen to serve the people.

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 6:

3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and Wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;

4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,

6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

After the persecution of Stephen, the church scattered but the apostles remained in Jerusalem.  Philip was one of those who left Jerusalem and went to Samaria:

In Acts chapter 8:

4  Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word.

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.

6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

Both Stephen and Philip operated in the same power and authority as Jesus.  Neither were of the original disciples.  We should not underestimate the ability of The Holy Spirit to operate in us in the same power and authority as these two men.  It is vital for us to embrace the ministry of The Holy Spirit Who resides in us and awaits the change and maturity in our mindset.  We are to be fully led by The Holy Spirit rather than our mind.

We should not be timid when power and authority are manifested in our individual walks.  Yes, we can expect challenges from those who are submitted to the adversary.  We are not to be moved by their false accusations.

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Pursuing Holiness- Part 37

June 13th, 2024

As we walk in Holiness, people will be given the opportunity to accept or reject Jesus Christ and none will be able to proclaim ignorance when Jesus returns!

It is recorded by THE SPIRIT in Isaiah chapter 2:

2  Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.

3 Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.

We are in the latter days now.  This is different than that terrible Day of THE LORD.

And in Isaiah 13:

9 Behold, the Day of THE LORD comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it.

10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon will not cause its light to shine. 11 “I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

12 I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, A man more than the golden wedge of Ophir.

13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, And the earth will move out of her place, In the wrath of the LORD of hosts And in the day of His fierce anger.

Has the Day of THE LORD come yet?  No.  It will occur at the end of the 3 ½ year time of tribulation spoken of in the Book of Revelation.  Sin will be eradicated from the earth and all unrighteousness will be judged by Truth as was Sodom and Gomorrah.  Justice will prevail!

Jesus spoke of this Judgment in Matthew 25:

31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the Holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the Throne of His glory.

32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

33 And He will set the sheep on His Right Hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then the King will say to those on His Right Hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Jesus describes the righteous acts of the saints:

35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;

36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?

38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?

39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ [40] And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

He then describes the wickedness of the unrighteous:

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;

43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

Yes, they will claim ignorance in their attempt to negotiate.

44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into Eternal Life.“

As we walk in Holiness, our fruit will be a testimony to Truth and righteousness and those who observe our walk will be without excuse.  Those who compromise will have no defensible position at the time of judgment.  It is our choice whether we walk in Holiness or pursue the temporary things of the world.  Each of us is accountable for such a decision.  We cannot assign blame to anyone else.

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Pursuing Holiness- Part 36

June 12th, 2024

A true overcomer will walk in Holiness and will be uncompromising in all areas!

If you are an aspiring overcomer, you will be tested for your reliability to The Word of THE LORD, count on it!

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 12:

12  So be made strong even in your weakness by lifting up your tired hands in prayer and worship. And strengthen your weak knees,

13 for as you keep walking forward on God’s paths all your stumbling ways will be divinely healed!

14 In every relationship be swift to choose peace over competition, and run swiftly toward Holiness, for those who are not Holy will not see the Lord.

Do not give up even in your weakness and weariness. 

15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.

17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

Esau is the example of one who gave up and gave in to his weakness.  He forfeited his birthright and could not get it back.

18 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest,

19 and the sound of a trumpet and the Voice of Words, so that those who heard it begged that the Word should not be spoken to them anymore.

20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.”

21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)

Moses was exposed to total Holiness and experienced the Fear of THE LORD.

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the City of the Living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,

23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in Heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

There are two separate groups: the general assembly and church of the firstborn.  Who are those among the firstborn?  The ones who have not given up their birthright.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Haggai chapter 2:

20  And again the Word of the LORD came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying,

21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: ‘I will shake heaven and earth.

22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariots And those who ride in them; The horses and their riders shall come down, Every one by the sword of his brother.

23 ‘In that day,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the LORD, ‘and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

The signet ring is not a secret possession. It’s the outward sign of the authority of its owner. Through the presence of His Kingdom, God seals His work and testimony upon the world. God is the Owner.

Those who walk in True Holiness will in effect wear the unique Signet Ring of THE LORD with HIS power and authority.  They will be among the church of the firstborn who will rule and reign with Christ on earth.  They have been sealed!

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Pursuing Holiness- Part 35

June 11th, 2024

When we are walking in Holiness, we will not be reluctant to confront sin!

Holiness will confront relativism.  Relativism is the doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute.  Holiness will not endorse the attitude of “It’s none of my business that this person sins.”  Society now looks the other way when a woman has an abortion, or when someone practices or supports LGBTQ.  Society has allowed immoral acts to be supported rather than stand up to what is absolute in the Sight of GOD.

In the study of Genetics, XX is the female chromosome and XY in the male chromosome.  You cannot alter this Truth no matter how you try.

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 8:

9  But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”

11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.

People were taken in by Simon the sorcerer and assumed he had power from GOD.

12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

Philip preached The Word with miracles and signs following, a sign of true Holiness.  The people were baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ but were yet to be baptized in The Holy Spirit… two separate baptisms.

14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus.

17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

It is important to understand the difference between these two baptisms.  Money won’t buy the baptism of The Holy Spirit as Simon found out.

18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,

19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!

21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.

22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

25 So when they had testified and preached the Word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the Gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Peter had no issue in confronting Simon’s wickedness and was not moved by Simon’s money.  We are not to look the other way when sin confronts us, neither are we to passively endorse sin by our silence.  Jesus confronted sin head on, and we should be no different.  Truth is absolute!

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Pursuing Holiness- Part 34

June 10th, 2024

Walking in Holiness is possible even if you were formally an enemy of Christ and His true church!

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit what Stephen endured by the hands of the political powers in Acts chapter 7:

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord;

58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Saul was complicit in the stoning of Stephen, the first martyr of the New Testament. Tradition tells us that Saul was born the same year that Jesus was born.  He was born in Asia Minor and studied under Gamaliel (Acts 5) who was the leading theologian of the day.  Saul of Tarsus studied for seven years and became an expert in the Old Testament as well as the Rabbinic interpretations of the Old Testament.

In chapter 8:

1  Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

One would think that such an enemy of Christ would be destined for hellfire.  What was the result of Saul’s persecution of the early church?  The Gospel was spread about:

4  Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word.

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.

6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

The plan of the adversary backfired.  Instead of snuffing out the church through persecution, the Word spread, and the church grew throughout the regions.

Saul was fully committed to eliminating the early church.

Luke continued in Chapter 9:

1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from Heaven.

4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a Voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

What happened when Saul confronted Holiness?  He fell to the ground and was overtaken with fear and trembling.

6] So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.

8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

When being confronted with one walking in Holiness, even the staunchest enemy can be converted to Christ.  We must keep this in mind as we pursue Holiness.  The best way to deal with an enemy is to convert him or her to Christ.

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