Do not forbid speaking in tongues!

Speaking in tongues, another Biblical topic that is the subject of controversy both in and outside the Christian Church! Although, in my humble opinion, if you are truly a born-again believer, nothing in the Bible should be controversial if you just believe in faith – faith in Christ Jesus! If you believe in Jesus then you have to believe the Bible, the entire Bible – Jesus is the Bible, and the Bible is Jesus! I’ll never get tired of quoting these three verses below.

John 1:1 & 14 (NIV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son (Jesus), who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Right, my dear readers, now that we have the right spiritual perspective in place, let’s carry on talking about the importance of born-again Christians speaking in tongues!

The Greek word used for tongues in the New Testament is 'glossa' (Strong’s 1100), pronounced gloce-sah and means the tongue (one speaks in), a language, of flowing speech inspired by God.

What did Jesus say about speaking in tongues?

After his resurrection Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples and gave them what we call ‘the great commission’. He told them to go into all the world and preach the gospel. And as part of the great commission, he said this about those who believe:

Mark 16:17 (NIV)

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

In Luke’s gospel Jesus tells the disciples, just before He ascends into heaven, to go to Jerusalem and wait for power from on high.

Luke 24:49 (NIV)

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

And in Acts 2 Luke tells us exactly what the power from on high is – the Holy Spirit!

Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

The Lord used this outpouring of the Holy Spirit to demonstrate the arrival of the new covenant in Christ Jesus and ushered in the New Testament Church!

What’s more God chose Pentecost to do this as Jerusalem was filled with Jews from many other different nations who spoke different languages. These Jews had come to Jerusalem specifically to celebrate Pentecost and when the Holy Spirit came upon the 120 believers in the upper room, it caused such a commotion that many of the visiting Jews flocked to the scene to see what was going on. 

A powerful witness by God of just who He is and how He can powerfully affect the lives of those who believe in His Son, Jesus! A miraculous sign indeed as the 120 spoke in languages that the witnesses could understand and not only that, they were also languages that the 120 could not speak before!

This sign was repeated in Acts 10:46, 19:6 – furnishing ample proof (three attestations) that the Lord had incorporated all believers into Christ's (supernatural) body 1 Corinthians 12:13.

Acts 10:44-46 (NIV)

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Acts 19:6 NIV)

When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

1 Corinthians 12:13 (NIV)

For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

So, here we see the evidence that speaking in tongues is a gift of the Spirit and it played a very significant role in the lives of the early Church believers and it was a physical evidence of a believer being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Speaking in tongues has been much maligned over the centuries and mainly from within the Church itself.

But if you consider yourself to be a truly born-again and Spirit filled Christian then you should be speaking in tongues!

Let my explain to you from scripture why I say this.

Repeating what I said right at the top of this article in my picture, “Speaking in tongues is a gift of the Spirit!”

1 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV)

to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

The gifts of the Spirit are given to us by God, and they are distributed to us as born-again believers by the Holy Spirit and should be used to build up and edify each other and to bring glory to Jesus – the only one who is worthy of all glory, honour and praise! Amen!

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV)

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

1 Corinthians 12:11 (NIV)

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Now, why does God want His Church to receive and use the gifts of the Spirit?

The answer is not complicated in fact it is very simple! They are given to us so that we can be enabled and empowered by the Holy Spirit to build up and edify each other so that the Church as a whole can be built up in the unity of the Spirit to bring glory to Jesus. The things of the Spirit are pure and untainted by our flesh. It is God through the gifts of the Spirit that empowers us to build each other up, it cannot be done in the flesh.

1 Corinthians 12:7 (AMP)

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit [the spiritual illumination and the enabling of the Holy Spirit] for the common good.

The Apostle Paul encourages us to follow the way of love and eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit!

1 Corinthians 14:1 (NIV)

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

On a personal note, I want any gift that God wants to give me, and I desire to use them to glorify Jesus and to help build up my brothers and sisters in Christ so that we can all reach spiritual maturity as a unified Church.

Let’s now have a look at speaking in tongues in particular. What is the benefit of speaking in tongues to the individual and to the body of Christ as a whole?

Benefit One – we follow the way of love.

The Apostle Paul tells us that when we desire the spiritual gifts, we are following the way of God’s love. This principal applies to each of the Gifts of the Spirit including speaking in tongues. So, we can safely say that speaking in tongues is synonymous with the agapé love of God!

1 Corinthians 14:1 (NIV)

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

Benefit Two – we edify ourselves (when there is no interpretation).

When we quietly pray in tongues to ourselves, we are speaking to God as His child, we are communicating one-on-one with our Heavenly Father on a very personal level! Our spirit communicates directly with God. This is a way of strengthening our own spirit and the stronger our spirit man is the easier it is to overcome our flesh, the soulish area of our being. The stronger the spirit is within us the easier it will be for us to bring our flesh, our souls under submission to the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:2 & 4 (NIV)

2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.

4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

Benefit 3 – we edify ourselves and the Church – when there is an interpretation.

If in a meeting of the saints (a Church service say) and under the unction of the Holy Spirit, we pray out loud in a tongue for all to hear we should pray for the interpretation of that tongue so that the entire Church congregation can be edified.

1 Corinthians 14:13-17 (NIV)

13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.

I find the above passage of scripture crucial in understanding the power of speaking in tongues. If we are not just praying quietly to ourselves in tongues and the Holy Spirit urges us to speak out loud when in the midst of the congregation then we can pray for the interpretation as well.

And what is more interesting too is the fact that singing in the spirit and singing out the interpretation is all part and parcel of speaking in tongues and singing out a prayer is what the Psalmist does. It is important for others to understand what you are saying out loud to the congregation in the spirit as well so that they can be edified too and even more importantly they can say the “Amen” in agreement.

Matthew 18:19-20 (NIV)

19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 14 goes on to tell us that he probably speaks in tongues to edify himself more that anybody, but when he is with the Church gathering, he would rather speak intelligible words so the congregation can be built up.

1 Corinthians 14:18-19 (NIV)

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

So, from this I understand that when an interpretation of a tongue is given in the congregation it performs the same function as a prophecy, it builds up and edifies the congregation because the unknown tongue has been interpreted in the power of the Holy Spirit – another gift of the Spirit, ‘the interpretation of tongues!’

Speaking in different kinds of tongues.

At this point I think it is important for us to know that there are two different kinds of speaking in tongues that are mentioned in the Bible by the Apostle Paul.

1 Corinthians 13:1a (NIV)

If I speak in the tongues (languages) of men or of angels, but do not have love,

1. The tongues of men, and

2. The tongues of angels.

The tongues of men.
This refers to a language that is already known on earth and spoken by men. When the gift of speaking in tongues is used in this way the tongue or language is spoken by a believer, under the power of the Holy Spirit, who has had no previous ability to speak this language.

This gift of speaking in tongues of men was evidenced in a powerful way on the day of Pentecost. God knows how to draw men to Himself!

Acts 2:4-8 (NIV)

4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?

Right after this happened the Apostle Peter stood up and delivered a powerful gospel message in the power of the Holy Spirit which culminated in 3000 people being saved!

Acts 2:40-41 (NIV)

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

The tongues of angels.
This a language spoken by angels – a purely spiritual language. This is a language that is available to all believers as bestowed by the Holy Spirit. It is a spirit language all of your own (each person’s spirit language is different to another’s although some sound similar) that connects you directly to God through the Holy Spirit and is the language we use when we are praying in the Spirit and do not know what to pray. 

Praying in the tongues of angels is for one’s personal edification, it edifies and strengthens your soul. You come into perfect harmony with God’s will. A place where every Christian needs to be at all times!

Romans 8:26 (NLT)

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

1 Corinthians 14:4 (NLT)

A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.

Ephesians 6:18

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.

How should speaking in tongues operate when we come together in a Church service?

The Apostle Paul explains this quite simply.

1 Corinthians 14:26-28

26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

So here we have it, our corporate worship should be done in an orderly fashion. This is where each congregation needs good strong Church leadership that ensures that orderly worship is maintained throughout the service in accordance with scripture. 

Nothing should be humanly forced during the service but only utterance in the power of the Holy Spirit. Everything should be done so that the church may be built up and Jesus glorified!

And above all else, especially when the gifts of the Spirit are manifest, we must do everything in genuine love for Jesus and our brothers and sisters in Christ!

1 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV)

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

1 Corinthians 16:14 (AMP)

Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God’s love for us].

Now in closing this article my dear readers, let me leave you with theses most emphatic words from brother Paul.

1 Corinthians 14:39-40 (NIV)

39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father
In the name of Jesus, I pray you would help me to follow the way of love and eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit so that I can help build up not only my own spiritual strength but my brothers and sisters in Christ as well. Use me Lord, I pray, I desire to be your good and faithful servant. Amen!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

The Book of Jude: The Warnings of History to the Ungodly!

 

Brief background to the writer

The book of Jude, along with Philemon and 2 and 3 John, is one of the shortest books in the Bible, but although it is short it packs a mighty spiritual punch, especially for today’s believers!

The author is Judas, better known as Jude, to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus, is one of the early Church leaders in Jerusalem and like James is a younger brother to our Lord Jesus.

The book is addressed specifically to the Jews who have converted from Judaism to Christianity – born-again believers - and now follow Jesus Christ.

For the purposes of this article, I have used the Amplified version of the Bible. This I did out of personal not theological preference.

Opening greeting to the letter’s addressees:

1 Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, [writes this letter],

To those who are the called (God’s chosen ones, the elect), dearly loved by God the Father, and kept [secure and set apart] for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you [filling your heart with the spiritual well-being and serenity experienced by those who walk closely with God].

In his opening salutation, Jude refers to himself as a ‘bond servant of Jesus Christ’ or some versions translate this as ‘a slave of Jesus Christ.’ By doing this Jude is letting the Church know that although he is a brother of Jesus, he recognises the fact that Jesus is the Messiah and is thus his Lord and Saviour and he is subject to the Lord’s authority as the Son of God!

His address also lets the Church know that we are God’s chosen ones, His elect and as such we are dearly loved by Him.

Another important thing he does in his opening address is pronounce the blessings and the love of God over those that read the letter and hear it, including the Church today, you and me. This is something we all need to do over each other when we come together for whatever reason as God’s children – bless each other in the name of Jesus. We must build each other up in our most Holy faith whenever we get together!

Fight for the faith – verses 3-4.

3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I was compelled to write to you [urgently] appealing that you fight strenuously for [the defense of] the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints [the faith that is the sum of Christian belief that was given verbally to believers]. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed [just as if they were sneaking in by a side door]. They are ungodly persons whose condemnation was predicted long ago, for they distort the grace of our God into decadence and immoral freedom [viewing it as an opportunity to do whatever they want], and deny and disown our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

In the above two verses Jude says in verse 3 that his original intention in writing the letter was to write about their common salvation but changed his mind when he was urgently ‘compelled’ (I believe this was at the compulsion of the Holy Spirit) to write to them instead about strenuously fighting or contending for their faith as individuals and corporately as Christ’s Church.

He goes on in verse 4 to say that this change of focus is because certain, ungodly people had sneaked in amongst them to distort the grace of God and to preach a gospel other than the one taught by Jesus himself.

These ungodly people were leading the Church into decadence and immoral freedom – they were being told that because they had freedom in Christ and forgiveness of their sins, they could still carry on a sinful lifestyle. This is a lie that is still alive and being taught by many false prophets and teachers today! These people and their teachings deny Christ and lead many people astray and away from the faith and their salvation and into eternal death in hell!

Unbelievers will receive eternal punishment in Hell – verses 5-7.

5 Now I want to remind you, although you are fully informed once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe [who refused to trust and obey and rely on Him]. 6 And angels who did not keep their own designated place of power, but abandoned their proper dwelling place, [these] He has kept in eternal chains under [the thick gloom of utter] darkness for the judgment of the great day, 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the adjacent cities, since they in the same way as these angels indulged in gross immoral freedom and unnatural vice and sensual perversity. They are exhibited [in plain sight] as an example in undergoing the punishment of everlasting fire.

In the above three verses, Jude speaks very straight and truthfully, using Old Testament examples (both human and angelic), to those that continue in unbelief and disobedience and refuse to fully trust and rely on Jesus in their daily lives. These people will end up in Hell and will condemned on the day of judgement to punishment and everlasting fire!

Mocking the things of God – verses 8-9.

8 Nevertheless in the same way, these dreamers [who are dreaming that God will not punish them] also defile the body, and reject [legitimate] authority, and revile and mock angelic majesties. 9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil (Satan), and arguing about the body of Moses, did not dare bring an abusive condemnation against him, but [simply] said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

When I look at verses 8 and 9 above it becomes quite clear to me that when we deny our faith by following the wrong teachings and doctrines of man, in other words anything that distorts the true gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and when we continue to willfully sin after accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we are not truly saved, and we become mockers of God!

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (AMP)

And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming to you the testimony of God [concerning salvation through Christ], I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom [no lofty words of eloquence or of philosophy as a Greek orator might do]; 2 for I made the decision to know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection].

Galatians 6:7-8 (NIV)

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

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10 But these men sneer at anything which they do not understand; and whatever they do know by [mere] instinct, like unreasoning and irrational beasts—by these things they are destroyed. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone the [defiant] way of Cain, and for profit they have run headlong into the error of Balaam and perished in the rebellion of [mutinous] Korah.

In verses 10 and 11 above Jude uses three characters from the Old Testament to explain the sinful way that these false teachers and prophets lead people away from the faith.

Jude likens these people to these Old Testament characters:

Cain – who became a man of anger and a murderer out of jealousy and envy of another – his flesh and blood brother Abel.

Balaam – who was a false prophet and operated out of a spirit of greed – a love of money and worldly things.

Korah – who was a man of rebellion against Godly teaching and God’s anointed leaders. He also operated in a spirit of selfishness and jealousy, he wanted prestige and position.

In today’s Church these types of people are easily identified. They distort the gospel to gain riches, they desire prestige and recognition by humans, they lord it over the congregation and they become friends with the world presenting worldly entertainment to grow not only their congregations but their bank balances as well. They ignore Biblical truth and discipline and their congregations become an offence and a stench in God’s nostrils, they become His enemy.

Make no mistake God will judge them harshly, especially those who have authority over others as teachers, and crush their evil works! He regards anyone who follows this path as an adulterer!

James 3:1 (AMP)

Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving in an official teaching capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we [who are teachers] will be judged by a higher standard [because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly].

James 4:4 (NLT)

You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

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12 These men are hidden reefs [elements of great danger to others] in your love feasts when they feast together with you without fear, looking after [only] themselves; [they are like] clouds without water, swept along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted and lifeless; 13 wild waves of the sea, flinging up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of deep darkness has been reserved forever.

Jude continues with his condemnation of such people in verses 12 and 13 by saying that they are as dangerous to the Church as a hidden reef is to a ship, they are a hidden danger. They mingle in the Church unnoticed quietly sowing evil seeds among the congregation and are self-serving in all they do. They bear no good fruit and corrupt the fruit of others; they are incapable of nurturing anything decent. These people are marked for an eternity of darkness and separation from God.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 4 that we need to become mature Christians in our faith and not remain as immature children so that the Church will become unified in faith!

Ephesians 4:13-14 (NLT)

13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

Paul also tells us to act in obedience to God and work out our salvation (contend for our faith) with fear and trembling!

Philippians 2:12-13

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

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God’s judgement was foretold from of old – verses 14-16.

14 It was about these people that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, when he said, “Look, the Lord came with myriads of His holy ones 15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly deeds they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh and cruel things ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” 16 These people are [habitual] murmurers, griping and complaining, following after their own desires [controlled by passion]; they speak arrogantly, [pretending admiration and] flattering people to gain an advantage.

In verses 14-15 above, Jude goes on to tell us that the judgement of these people was prophesied about by Enoch from times of old before the flood. This prophecy does not come from the Bible but from the Book of Enoch in the Apocrypha but is backed up by a number of Biblical scriptures in the New Testament – warnings of false prophets and teachers. This is the only reference to the Apocrypha in the Bible and has historical value only, it is not canonical scripture and should not be treated as such.

In verse 16 above Jude tells us exactly how we can recognise these people!

They are: Murmurers, gripers, complainers, selfish, arrogant, flatterers (pretending admiration) to gain and advantage for themselves, for example: to gain position, appear to be spiritual.

2 Timothy 4:1-4 (NIV)

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

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Keep Yourselves in the Love of God – verses 17-23.

17 But as for you, beloved, remember the [prophetic] words spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They used to say to you, “In the last days there will be scoffers, following after their own ungodly passions.” 19 These are the ones who are [agitators] causing divisions—worldly-minded [secular, unspiritual, carnal, merely sensual—unsaved], devoid of the Spirit.

These are the wolves in sheep’s clothing! The ones with a divisive spirit, carnal minded and not Spirit minded! - verses 17-19.

Matthew 7:15 (NIV)

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Romans 8:5-8 (NIV)

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Titus 3:10-11 (NIV)

10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

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20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up on [the foundation of] your most holy faith [continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], pray in the Holy Spirit, 21 and keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously and looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ [which will bring you] to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy but with fear, loathing even the clothing spotted and polluted by their shameless immoral freedom.

In verses 20-23 above Jude exhorts believers to keep on building themselves up in the faith and to rise higher and higher in the power of the Holy Spirit and to keep ourselves in God’s love by casting off the sinful flesh and looking forward to Christ’s mercy that will lead us to eternal life!

And at the same time, we are to do all we can to help others work out their salvation but always being mindful not to become tainted by their sin and led astray ourselves! Bad company can corrupt good character!

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (NIV)

33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

All glory to God forever and ever - verses 24-25

24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling or falling into sin, and to present you unblemished [blameless and faultless] in the presence of His glory with triumphant joy and unspeakable delight, 25 to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

In the above two verses Jude reminds us that it is only in Christ Jesus that we can avoid stumbling and falling into sin. And reminding us that it is only Jesus that deserves all glory, honour and praise!

Prayer
Dear Father
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would help me to live my life in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Help me to know your Word and to do what it instructs in complete obedience and help me to fight the good fight of faith in Christ Jesus. Help me to love others as you love me. Amen!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

God changes useless into useful!

 The Book of Philemon

The Book of Philemon is one of the letters that Paul wrote to an individual, the individual of course being Philemon who lived in the city of Colossae in Asia Minor which is modern day Turkey.

The main theme of the letter in a nutshell is about a runaway slave, Onesimus, who was the ‘property’ of Philemon who leads the Church at Colossae. Paul is telling Philemon that he is sending Onesimus back to him and is asking Philemon to receive Onesimus back in love.

Now to set the scene in which Paul wrote this letter let’s have a look at both the physical and relational environment in which the letter was written.

Paul was in prison in Rome when he crossed paths with Onesimus, but the Bible does not say how they met. We are told that Paul had come to regard Onesimus as a son and held him in high esteem. Although the Bible does not say so, there is a distinct probability the Paul had led him to the Lord and that a great change had taken place in Onesimus as a result of his conversion and the personal fathering and mentoring that Paul gave him.

I say this because Paul says in the letter that he knows that Philemon considered Onesimus to be useless but now he (Paul) considers him to be now very useful to him and will now also be useful to Philemon!

Philemon verse 11 (NIV)

Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us.

This letter gives us a wonderful example of how God knows each and everyone’s circumstances personally. Here we have a runaway slave from Turkey going to Rome, meeting a man of God (I have no doubt that this was by divine appointment), getting saved and having his life radically changed from being useless to useful! It also shows us how important it is for the Church to have Father figures who are strong in the Lord to mentor younger men in the way and walk of sanctification in Christ Jesus – the work and way of the cross!

When a person comes to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour, God turns the bad things we have done to His good purpose!

Now, coming back to how God knows everything that is going on (the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end), we see that Paul and Philemon are personal friends and obviously met when Paul was in Ephesus for about three years. Philemon was a leader in the Church at Colossae not far from Ephesus and the Church in Colossae met at his and his wife’s home.

Now looking at Paul’s letter to Philemon I would like to split it into four sections, just for the purpose of explanation, to highlight what I believe are very important values Paul shows us today in our dealings with each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. I personally believe these values were part of the reason that God included this letter as part of His Holy Bible.

Section 1 – verses 1-3: Greeting each other in a Godly manner and with sincere hearts.

Philemon verses 1-3 (NIV)

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The three verses above also contain a general greeting to the Church at Colossae from both Paul and Timothy. And of great importance here us today as well, especially in our dealings with our brothers and sisters in Christ, is the fact that Paul speaks a blessing of grace and peace to them in the name of the Father and the Lord Jesus. In our dealings with each other we should always remember to bless each other with our speech in this way as well! No unwholesome talk or gossip, just letting our tongues bless each other to the glory of Jesus!

Section 2 – verses 4-7: Giving thanks to God in everything and imitating the Lord’s character.

In the next four verses, 4 – 7, Paul gives thanks to God for Philemon and encourages Philemon by telling him that he is always praying for him because he has heard about Philemon’s great love for the people and his great faith in Jesus the has refreshed the hearts of the Church in Colossae.

Philemon verses 4-7 (NIV)

4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Let’s imitate Paul in this way and always give thanks to the Lord for our brothers and sisters in Christ! In this way we will build ourselves up in our love for each other and refresh each other’s hearts and bring glory to the name of Jesus!

And always remember to pray for each other and to build up and edify each other not breaking each other down with negative and disparaging talk - gossiping!

1 Corinthians 4:15-16 (NIV)

15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

The above verses highlight the importance of the local Church body having godly fathers in the house!

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)

1 Follow my example (some versions say, “imitate me”), as I follow the example of Christ.

Section 3 – verses 8-21: Building open, solid, and honest relationships with each other and speaking the truth in love.

In verses 8-21 Paul makes a personal plea to Philemon to receive his slave Onesimus back into his service without prejudice and punishment on the basis of their mutual love for the Lord and their personal love for each other in Christ Jesus.

3.1
Paul’s appeal verses 8-11: 8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

In these three verses Paul makes a personal appeal to Philemon and says that because of the authority he holds within the Church he could order Philemon to do the right thing but that he would rather not do that as he prefers to follow the way of love and make his appeal from a heart of love. Love never fails!

1 Corinthians 13:8a (NIV)

Love never fails.

The Greek word for appeal in verses 8-11 is parakaleó – Strong’s 3870 (par-ak-al-eh'-o) and its full Biblical meaning is, to plead, entreat and encourage someone to do something from a personal basis of mutual love. So here we see that Paul is practicing what he preaches.

1 Corinthians 16:14 (NIV)

Do everything in love.

And in verse 10 Paul let’s Philemon know that he has personally ‘fathered’ Onesimus, and this statement is made to assure Philemon that Onesimus is a different man now that he belongs to Jesus than what he was before he ran away – he is walking out his salvation and is a doer of the Word and has this become very useful to Paul and will become the same to Philemon and the Church at Colossae!

Dear readers, let us show the world that now we are born-again we are different people, we are new creations, God has transformed us by the power of the Holy Spirit and to the Glory of Jesus. Let us emulate Paul as he emulates Christ. Let’s act and talk in a manner that is worthy of our salvation in Christ Jesus! Let us live life, walk and talk in the Spirit just like Jesus and Paul!

Let us show the unsaved people of the world that we are not the same as them – we have been called out and separated from them to serve God!

1 John 2:15-17 (NIV)

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

3.2
Verses 12-14: 12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.

In these verses Paul exposes his heart to Philemon as his words clearly demonstrate his love for Onesimus as a son in Christ Jesus and how he would love to keep Onesimus with him, but he knows that the right thing to do is to send him back to Philemon so that forgiveness and reconciliation between the two can be achieved. Paul also states that he wouldn’t keep Onesimus anyway without Philemon’s consent so that he would not feel forced to do any favours for Paul.

Here again Paul demonstrates his desire to see that this matter is handled in a loving and Godly way that does not bring offense! Let us remember this, dear readers and let us to the same in our relationships with others, particularly with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

3.3
Verses 15-16: 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

In these two verses we see Paul gently reminding Philemon that as Onesimus is now born-again and belongs to Jesus he is free and is no longer a slave to sin nor to man. He also encourages Philemon saying that now that Onesimus is a child of God and no longer a slave but a brother he will stay and serve Philemon out of love and will be become as dear to him as he is to Paul.

The saving grace of Jesus sets us free from the law of sin and death and from the slavery of sin and transforms us to become more and more like Christ!

John 8:36 (NIV)

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

3.4
Verses 17-21: 17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

In verse 17 the Greek word for partner is koinónos – Strong’s 2844 (koy-no-nos') and means ‘two brothers in Christ who mutually share fellowship with each other.’ So, in this verse Paul is asking Philemon to welcome Onesimus back because of the mutual fellowship that he (Philemon) shares with him (Paul).

Paul goes on to say in verses 19 and 20 that he will personally pay back anything that Onesimus owes Philemon, but he is also to remember how much Paul has put into him (Philemon) too and when Philemon does this, Paul’s own heart will be refreshed too. When we all behave in this manner, God pours out a blessing on all of us, the is the unity that the Holy Spirit brings to the Church when we are obedient to the Lord and His Word!

Paul ends his personal appeal by saying that because he knows Philemon as a true brother in the Lord, he knows he will do what he asks and even more.

Dear readers, let all of us in Christ Jesus be prepared to go the extra mile!

In these four verses what stands out to me is the mutual love and trust that Paul and Philemon have because of their relationship with each other in Christ Jesus and their mutual desire to be God pleasers and doers of the Word.

Readers let’s be the same as these two heroes of the past and love and trust one another as we serve the Lord and eagerly desire to do the right thing in all things to the glory of Jesus so that our lights may shine out to the world who are watching us and who are perishing!

Section 4 – Ending by pronouncing a blessing upon other in Jesus’ name.

Verses 22-25: 22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Paul ends his letter to Philemon in a personal way that shows of their mutual love and friendship with each other. He asks Philemon with complete freedom to prepare a room for him as he hopes to visit him and answer to his (Philemon’s) prayers. Sadly, I don’t think this visit happened before he was put to death! Reminiscent of our Lord in the garden at Gethsemane! Lord, not my will but yours be done!

Paul also passes on greeting from Epaphras who was in prison with him and who was also from Colossae. And from his fellow workers who were attending him whist he was in prison.

And lastly and most importantly he closes by pronouncing a blessing over Philemon, his household and over the Church at Colossae!

Readers, lets never forget to proclaim a blessing over each other in the name of Jesus whenever we are together and when we depart to go our different ways!

What lessons do we learn from this letter that we need to apply to ourselves as the Church of today?

1. God knows each one of us by name and knows exactly where we are both physically and spiritually.

2. God changes us from useless to useful in Christ Jesus, if we obediently allow the Word to fill our lives and actions.

3. We need always be obedient to the Word and doers of the Word.

4. We need to always live life in the Spirit – only by doing this can we bring glory to Jesus.

5. We need to do everything in love.

6. We need to put the needs of others before our own.

7. We need to be a blessing to each other.

8. We need to pray for each other and speak blessings over each other’s lives whenever we ar together.

9. As men and women, and as we grow to spiritual maturity, we need to become Father’s, Mother’s and mentors to the other men and women in the body who are less mature in their spiritual walk.

10. We need to ensure that in all we do we bring glory and honour to Jesus!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father
I pray in Jesus name that you would help me to be a blessing to others and to put the needs of others before my own. Help me Lord to be obedient to your Word and be a doer of the Word and not just a reader. Help me, Lord, to love others as you love me! Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus, the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

Do you conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ?

 Let the Word of God renew your mind and conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

My Dear Readers

In this article, and indeed in all my articles, the person that I am addressing first and foremost is the man that stares back at me when I look in the mirror. I sincerely strive to ensure that the man I see when I look in the mirror reflects Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour. If you are like me, which I suspect you are, I have to work hard at it every day. As the Apostle Pauls says in Phillipians 2:12, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

Is your behaviour and manner of life worthy of your salvation in Christ Jesus?

Does your lifestyle, your speech, your behaviour towards God and your fellow man reflect Jesus at all times?

Colossians 1:9-10

9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

Titus 3:1-2 (NLT)

Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. 2 They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.

As a born again Christian, are you an imitator of Christ in all things?

Ephesians 5:1 (NLT)

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

Are you obedient to the Word of God, the Bible?

John 14:15 (NIV)

If you love me, keep my commands.

Are you a doer of the Word and not just a reader?

Luke 11:28 (NIV)

He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Are you doing the things that the Lord predestined you to do long ago?

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We are not saved by works only by the blood of Jesus, but God created us to do good works, but only the predestined works we do in Christ Jesus are valid in the eyes of God.

Are you doing God things and not just good things?

Are you living life in the Spirit?

Let’s take time to reflect on the above questions and sincerely, honestly and wholeheartedly examine ourselves against the Christian’s lifestyle manual given to us by God himself – the pure and unadulterated Word of God, your Holy Bible! The Word that became flesh and walked among us, the Word that was with God before the creation of the world! The Word that is the bread of life. The Word that brings out from us rivers of living water. The Word that conforms us to Christ’s image!

John 1:1-3 (NIV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

John 1:14 (NIV)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 6:35 (NIV)

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 4:13-14 (NIV)

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Are you being led by the Holy Spirit who teaches us the truth of all things? If you truly love Jesus, you must keep His commands and the Holy Spirit will lead you in all things!

John 14:15-18 (NIV)

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

I ask you again: “Are you living a life that is worthy of the Gospel of Christ Jesus?”

Are you living a life in the flesh (still willfully sinful) or are you living life in the Spirit as Jesus did? Do you still do whatever you want or are you totally in submission to God and His Word? Because if you do still live in the flesh, you cannot please God!

Romans 5:5-8 (NIV)

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Galatians 5:16-18 (NIV)

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Do you still swear and use foul language as part of your everyday speech, and do you still willfully act in other evil ways that are contrary to the Bible? Do you still tell lies? Are you still a friend of the world? A friend of the world is an enemy of God!

James 4:4 (AMP)

You adulteresses [disloyal sinners—flirting with the world and breaking your vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend [that is, loving the things of the world] is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Do not leave yourselves open to the wrath of God! Do not become an idolater! Once you give your life to Jesus make sure that you allow God’s s sanctification process to work in you as you walk to spiritual maturity – in this way you will become more and more Christlike.

Colossians 3:5-10 (NIV)

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Are you bearing plenty of good fruit and bringing glory to the Lord? Does your life reflect and manifest the fruit of the Spirit? Are you living at peace with others or are your actions self-serving, giving no thought towards others? Do you consider others before yourself?

John 15:8 (NIV)

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Galations 5:22-26 (NIV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

A true believer will, from the heart, act in a manner that is worthy of the Gospel – the good news of salvation in Christ Jesus. When each believer conducts himself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ then we are standing firmly in the one Spirit – it is the unity of the Holy Spirit that brings all glory, honour and praise to Jesus our Lord and Saviour!

Philippians 1:27-30 (NIV)

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

John 16:33 (AMP)

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]

The love of God + Jesus as Lord and Saviour (being born again) + Knowledge of the Bible + Living life in the Spirit = an effective Christian that loves Jesus and keeps His commands – a doer of the Word – a true man of faith! A person that lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ Jesus.

1 John 4:19-21 (NIV)

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

John 3:3-7 (NIV)

3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again”

4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NIV)

13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.

1 John 4:7-8 (NIV)

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Matthew 4:4 (AMP)

But Jesus replied, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’” (Dt 8:3)

2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

James 1:22 (AMP)

But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].

Hebrews 11:6 (AMP)

But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.

Dear readers, I do hope these verses have convinced you to realise that a thoroughly good knowledge and understanding of the Bible is of paramount importance to every born-again Christian! Without this knowledge and understanding your walk to maturity in Christ Jesus will be fraught with doubt, unbelief, backsliding, and not forgetting to mention disappointment and ineffectiveness in completing your God given purpose on earth!

Without a good knowledge of the Bible, without the leading of the Holy Spirit and without being a doer of the Word and without the love of God in you, you will be unable to live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ Jesus and you will not be truly born-again, you will not truly belong to Jesus.

Beware of the devil's trap of being a lukewarm Christian that becomes so sour in the Lord's mouth that He will spew you out!

Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)

True and False Disciples

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Revelation 3:16 (NIV)

 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 

Prayer
Dear Father
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would help me to live my life in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Help me to know your Word and to do what it instructs in complete obedience. Help me to love as you love. Amen!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

What is holiness?

 "Be holy because I am holy," says the Lord.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

In Hebrews 12:1-3 the writer starts off the chapter by encouraging us to throw off those things that hinder our Christian walk, to fix our eyes on Jesus and to run the race that God has marked out for each of His children – those of us that are born-again! He also exhorts us to consider the magnitude of what Jesus did for us on the cross and to not grow weary and lose heart in our walk of faith.

In Hebrews 12:4-11 we are told that we can overcome our sinful nature by heeding his discipline. God disciplines us because we are His sons and daughters and as such, He loves us. Discipline in love is an integral part of God’s character.

Hebrews 12:4-11 (NIV)

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

We are also told to endure hardship as discipline and if we don’t heed His discipline then we are not His legitimate children and we are not truly born-again!

In verse 10 we are told that God disciplines us for our own good so that we can share in His holiness – for it is written “Be holy, because I am holy.” See Leviticus 11:44 and 1 Peter 1:15-16 below.

And being holy is the subject of this article, so let’s examine from the scripture what it means for us to be holy.

What is holiness?
In the verses below we can see that it has always been God’s intention for His people to be holy because He is holy. The Lord tells us to consecrate ourselves and be holy.

To consecrate oneself means to dedicate oneself to a higher purpose, for a Christian today this means our purpose is to dedicate ourselves to God through His Son Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Peter quoted "be holy for I am holy* from Leviticus 11:44 in 1 Peter 1:15-16 and thus we know without a shadow of doubt that this instruction still applies to Christians today! And God adds to the verse from Leviticus by telling us to be holy in all we do!

Lev 11:44 (NIV)

I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.

1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

And the Apostle Paul reminds us that we have been called to live a holy life, not because of who we are or because of what we do, but solely because of who God is and because of His purpose and His grace upon us as sinners and what He does in our lives. We get what we don’t deserve, eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour! It is not about us it is all about Jesus who is our righteousness.

1 Timothy 1:9

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

Holiness is a characteristic of who God is, and as such holiness and being at peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ should be of paramount importance to us as believers, because without holiness we will never see (or truly know in the Spirit) God!

Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

To get a better picture or understanding of the above verse let’s examine the verb ‘will see’ from its original Greek meaning. ‘Will see’ is translated from the Greek word horaó (hor-ah-o, Strong’s 3708) and in its broad definition means: to see, perceive, attend to, look upon, experience, discern, beware of. In Biblical spiritual terms it is to see properly metaphorically, meaning: "to see with the mind" (i.e. to spiritually see), and to perceive with inward spiritual perception. In other words, by being led and guided by the Holy Spirit and, as the Apostle Paul says, living life in the Spirit (Romans 8).

And now, whilst we are in Greek mode and before we can look at what the Bible teaches on being holy, let’s first understand what the word holy means from the original Greek text of the New Testament.

Holiness is from the Greek word ‘hagiotes’ meaning holiness or sanctity – holiness is God’s sanctification work in us once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, in other words once we are born again. Sanctification is a process that we go through on our walk to Christian maturity, and it is achieved by being obedient to His Word and by being led by His Holy Spirit – living life in the Spirit (Romans 8). Hagiotes is derived from the Greek adjective ‘hagios’ which means set apart (for God) for the specific purpose of being holy and sacred.

From this we can safely conclude that God expects us, as Christians, to set ourselves apart to be holy because He is holy. In fact, Hebrews 12:14 above states quite emphatically that we won’t see the Lord unless we pursue holiness.

Also, as we endeavour to pursue holiness, we will experience a measure of pain as He chastises us for our own good, through the process of dying to self – discipline is part and parcel of God’s sanctification (a bringing to holiness) process.

Nevertheless, this chastising process (sanctification) will yield within us the peaceable fruit of holiness and righteousness in Christ Jesus. 

Hebrew 12:9-11 (NLT)

9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

In other words, that which is holy belongs to God, and conversely whatever belongs to God is holy. We are sanctified and made holy and "set apart for a holy use or purpose" by God, and to find out what our use and purpose is in Christ Jesus we need to live life in the Spirit. We need to always be led by the Holy Spirit.

God has selected us to be His servants and has called us to come out of this world, to be different and separate from the rest of the world. Jesus said in His prayer to the Father for the Apostles,

John 17:14-16 (NIV)

14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

The Christian must live in this present evil world, but his life must be different from the lives of the other people that are in the world – who are not born-again, who do not know Jesus as Lord and Saviour. In other words, our lives and the way and manner in which we live, must reflect God’s holiness. We must be imitators of Christ and reflect His nature in all we do and say.

We, as born again believers in Christ Jesus, must come out from any of this world's ways that are sinful and evil, out from the religious and spiritual "Babylon" that is this whole world. The world is Satan’s domain and so we must set ourselves apart from it.

2 Corinthians 4:4-6 (NIV)

4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Revelation 18:4 (NIV)

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her (the world), my people,’[Jer 51:45)

so that you will not share in her sins,

so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

Making such a distinction and living by it is one of the many ways that God's true servants are different from the rest of the world.

Instead of being immersed in the lawless and sinful ways of the world, we should put our thoughts on better and higher things, things that are worthy of our salvation in Christ Jesus, thoughts and actions that lead to eternal life and not on worldly things that are in opposition to God and that lead to eternal death – eternal separation from God in a fiery hell!

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

This scripture makes is very clear that we should avoid filling our minds with entertainment that is sinful: void of (God’s) love, lustful, sexually illicit or that is filled with murder, hatred, evil, violence, abuse and all other such evil things. In this way we will be able to be at peace with others because the God of peace will be with us.

We often justify our sinful actions by saying things like: "It’s only a song — it's only make-believe, it's only a movie or that’s who I am."

On the contrary that is not who you are in Christ Jesus, you are a new creation, the Bible says this:

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

We cannot call ourselves Christians and continue to walk in the ways of the world – we must walk in the way of the Spirit (be holy)! Christians need to be different from the rest of this world — to say no to sin, to evil and to wrong things as it is written:

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NLT)

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

We will continue to be holy if we live a life of holiness in the reverent fear of God. That is the way of obedience and conformity with God's ways and His Word. That is living life in the Spirit. In this way we will bring glory, honour and praise to Jesus!

God wants a glorious Church without spot or blemish. Jesus gave his life for the Church in order to make her holy through the process of sanctification.

God calls us to be holy as he is holy, and we can’t do this if we are clinging on to the pleasures that the world throws at us, for friendship with the world is enmity with God. In fact, God is so opposed to those that call themselves Christians yet live in disobedience to the Bible and continually live a life in willful sin that he calls them adulterers, vow breakers and his enemies.

If you reject God’s process of holiness and sanctification, then you are not born-again and you will be going to hell if you do not become truly repentant of your sin! Without holiness no one can see God! I do not say this to be horrible, I say this because it is God’s truth and I care about your salvation!

James 4:4-8 (AMP)

4 You adulteresses [disloyal sinners—flirting with the world and breaking your vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend [that is, loving the things of the world] is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose that the [human] spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy? 6 But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].” 7 So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people].

Prayer
Dear Father
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to overcome the desires of my flesh and help me to be holy just as you are holy so that my life will bring glory to Jesus and be a true witness to the unsaved. Amen!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

Last update: 18 August 2023.