Jesus Christ came to simplify things and all we couldn’t achieve by ourselves for us. He said,‘my yoke is easy…’ (Mt 11: 28-30).
A true understanding of Jesus and the word of God will really prompt us to cast our cares completely upon him ‘…for He cares for you’ (1Pt 5:7); including living a holy life. Remember He said, ‘… not by power but by my spirit’ (Zachariah 4:6).
Man cannot do anything of his own accord not even to live a holy or pure life,''For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not'' (Eccl 7:20); even when he doesn’t sin with his eyes, hands or mouth or has overcome sin and sinful habits, will he say he has escaped from presumption sin and hidden faults which equally defiles a man.
The kind of sin King David cried out to God to set him free from which besets every man descended from Adam and Eve,''Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults,Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression''.(Ps 19:12, 13).
Jesus emphatically said “you can do nothing without me…’’’ (John 15:5) and
“You can only be clean by the words which I have spoken to you which you have taken in by faith when you abide in me’’ John 15:3-4 (Paraphrase mine).
As profound as the scriptures above are, they are pretty straightforward.
The various acts of cleansing:
…By God
1. The act of cleansing by God:
The power of cleansing or making pure belongs to God and one of the ways He does it is through His words,''Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth'' (John 17:17),''Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool'' (Isaiah 1:18).
… By Jesus
2. The act of cleansing by Jesus:
Because, Jesus consecrated himself for our sake in truth. All believing followers of Jesus are automatically consecrated,''And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth'' (John 17:19).
…By the Holy Spirit
3. The act of cleansing by Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit cleansing is a triple action, it is an act of reassurance of what God the Father and the Son have both done in order that our hearts will not be troubled,''Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more'' ( John 16:10),''For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God''(Romans 8:15-16).
…By Man
4. The act of cleansing by man:
Is failure in the making and disappointment in the waiting. Any act by works or human strength and wisdom always fails, and keeps man struggling. God has made it easy for man, by just your demonstration of faith and hope in Jesus Christ, you would have made yourself holy or pure like your master Jesus,''And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure''(1John 3:3),''Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father''(John 14:12).
To buttress my summation, I will like to quote Apostle Paul on what he talks about how you are made holy and blameless by Jesus provided you continue in Faith in him,''In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister''(Col 1: 22-23). Faith is the keyword. It is the only law known in heaven to be applied on earth. The truth of the matter is: your faith in God and Jesus is what reckons, counts or makes you holy before God.
“And Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him as righteousness’’ (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3-9, 20-22).
Abiding in Jesus is Jesus’ (John 15:4) admonition to us to have faith, be committed, steadfast, loyal e.t.c to him; and bearing fruits are the promises to be fulfilled and blessings be given, including, holy living, purity, power and miracles when we do it(Galatians3:5, 9,14).
Finally to be holy or ‘be ye holy’ in God’s opinion is any or all of the following:
1. Have faith in God
2. Be committed to God
3. Be steadfast in God
4. Pursue/Strive to satisfy God
5. Wait on God
6. Obey God
REDEEMED PEOPLE: OPERATION Proclaim! What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs - JESUS CHRIST (Mathew 10:27).
Thursday, 25 November 2010
GOD’S MIND ON HOLINESS- What does God say about holiness? -John 15:5. Vol. 1.
In God’s mind or opinion when He enjoins us to be holy as it is replete in his scriptures. He has only asked you to be set aside for his will and purpose to be fulfilled in your life and by extension the world. It means God intends you will:
1. Carry out his instructions (which are his words)
2. You will wait on him (always be steadfast in and committed to)
3. You will demonstrate faith in him (that is believe and act)
4. You will intimately strive or pursue not to offend him (but please him)
Holiness does not necessarily mean purity (as in, of one kind only, devoid of pollutants or contaminants). Only Jesus is really and actually pure as man and God (1John 3:5).
If it were, that is, holiness meaning purity then you would have made the word of God irrelevant, null and void which says, ''Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference''(Rom 3:22),''Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.(Rom 5:18),
or ''If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us'',''And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure'',''Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you''. (1 John 1 :9-10, 3:3,Jn 15:3).
In our fallen state or nature we do not have the power to make ourselves clean, no matter how hard we try to be holier than thou or even the Pope (if he is really holy). Jesus and only Jesus can make us clean or pure. So what does God want from you? God wants and seeks from you a continual focused pursuance, that is, being in him in spite of distractions, till the end of your life on earth or the end of the world,
''But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved'',
''Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me''(Mt. 24 : 13, 16:24).
When, He said to Abraham; a man of like passion, a man like us. ” Walk before me (that is, with your faith in me be strong and unmovable) and be blameless (that is, I will count you as righteous or holy before me and for us, contemporary Christians the righteousness of Jesus will justify us) Genesis 17:1, Romans 8:3.
Jesus revealed so much in His speech in John 15:4 about the challenges and life of a Christian on earth. From the scripture, it is quite clear that abiding in Jesus and He abiding in us is what gives us the enablement or power to do the many good and virtuous things expected of a Christian.
On our own accord and strength, we will only struggle and be far from achieving them. Jesus was very clear and He didn’t mince words when He said ‘… for without me you can do nothing’ John 15:5.
The word nothing includes everything and means everything; holiness or purity inclusive, amongst others.
Christianity on our own terms or strength is lame duck Christianity with out Jesus. Believe or hope in Jesus and He will make you holy and pure-a thoroughly sanctified Christian. It is as simple as that.
Only God is truly separate or set apart;
Only God is truly bright or brilliant;
Only God is truly moral, pure or clean;
The three above connotes or describes the uniqueness or awesomeness of God’s holiness, Isaiah 6:1-7, Revelation 1:2-18.
1. Carry out his instructions (which are his words)
2. You will wait on him (always be steadfast in and committed to)
3. You will demonstrate faith in him (that is believe and act)
4. You will intimately strive or pursue not to offend him (but please him)
Holiness does not necessarily mean purity (as in, of one kind only, devoid of pollutants or contaminants). Only Jesus is really and actually pure as man and God (1John 3:5).
If it were, that is, holiness meaning purity then you would have made the word of God irrelevant, null and void which says, ''Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference''(Rom 3:22),''Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.(Rom 5:18),
or ''If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us'',''And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure'',''Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you''. (1 John 1 :9-10, 3:3,Jn 15:3).
In our fallen state or nature we do not have the power to make ourselves clean, no matter how hard we try to be holier than thou or even the Pope (if he is really holy). Jesus and only Jesus can make us clean or pure. So what does God want from you? God wants and seeks from you a continual focused pursuance, that is, being in him in spite of distractions, till the end of your life on earth or the end of the world,
''But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved'',
''Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me''(Mt. 24 : 13, 16:24).
When, He said to Abraham; a man of like passion, a man like us. ” Walk before me (that is, with your faith in me be strong and unmovable) and be blameless (that is, I will count you as righteous or holy before me and for us, contemporary Christians the righteousness of Jesus will justify us) Genesis 17:1, Romans 8:3.
Jesus revealed so much in His speech in John 15:4 about the challenges and life of a Christian on earth. From the scripture, it is quite clear that abiding in Jesus and He abiding in us is what gives us the enablement or power to do the many good and virtuous things expected of a Christian.
On our own accord and strength, we will only struggle and be far from achieving them. Jesus was very clear and He didn’t mince words when He said ‘… for without me you can do nothing’ John 15:5.
The word nothing includes everything and means everything; holiness or purity inclusive, amongst others.
Christianity on our own terms or strength is lame duck Christianity with out Jesus. Believe or hope in Jesus and He will make you holy and pure-a thoroughly sanctified Christian. It is as simple as that.
Only God is truly separate or set apart;
Only God is truly bright or brilliant;
Only God is truly moral, pure or clean;
The three above connotes or describes the uniqueness or awesomeness of God’s holiness, Isaiah 6:1-7, Revelation 1:2-18.
…ABOUT LOVE -1 John 3:16 -18, 4:7-21, 5: 1-3
…Hmm LETS TALK ABOUT LOVE Hmm...
LOVE HAS BEEN DEFINED OR DESCRIBED BY ALL SORTS OF PERSONS. MEN HAVE STRUGGLED TO TRULY DEFINE LOVE, BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT THEY HAVE ALL BEEN INADEQUATE. WHY? BECAUSE LOVE IS A MYSTERY AND IT CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD FULLY, WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN.
FIRST OF ALL GOD IS LOVE;
LOVE IS ETERNAL;
LOVE HAS ITS CITIZENSHIP IN HEAVEN;
LOVE IS NOT A MAN’S IDEA NOR
A MANS INVENTION;
LOVE INCARNATE IS JESUS CHRIST;
LOVE PROCEEDS FROM GOD,
THUS LOVE IS A SPIRIT,
REALLY IT IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD;
LOVE CAN ASSUME SEVERAL DIMENSIONS,
IT CAN MANIFEST AS THE LOVE BETWEEN
THE GOD HEAD,
THE GOD HEAD AND MAN,
A HUSBAND AND WIFE,
A FATHER AND MOTHER,
AN UNCLE AND AUNT,
A COUSIN AND COUSIN,
A FRIEND AND FRIEND,
A NEIGHBOUR AND NEIGHBOUR;
LOVE IN ITS TRUE FORM
REMAINS UNTAINTED AND
CANNOT BE MANIPULATED;
LOVE IN ALL OF ITS MANIFESTATION
IS FULL OF GODLY REASON (WISDOM);
LOVE IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD SHED
ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS;
LOVE IS ENOURMOUSLY MISUNDERSTOOD
AND GROSSLY ABUSED, BUT
THEN IT IS THE ONLY
TOOL GIVEN TO CHRISTIANS AS AN
EVIDENCE TO PROVE TO THE WORLD
THAT THEY ARE CHILDREN OF GOD;
LOVE IS WHAT CAN MOVE ONE
TO PAY THE COSTLIEST AND
SUPREME PRICE OF LAYING
DOWN ONE’S LIFE;
LOVE IS THE ONLY DEBT
YOU CAN TRULY OWE A MAN WITHOUT
FINISHING THE PAYMENT;
LOVE IS THE ONE THAT SNATCHES
YOU FROM SATAN’S GRIP AND CLUCTHES YOU TO HIMSELF;
LOVE IS WHAT REMINDS OR TELLS
YOU TO PUT GOD FIRST IN ALL THINGS;
LOVE IS THAT HAND THUGGING
YOUR HEART,
IMPLORING YOU TO LOOK GOD’S DIRECTION;
LOVE, ONCE IGNITED CANNOT
BE QUENCHED;
LOVE IS THE MOST COUNTERFEITED
PHENOMENON, BUT YET STANDING
SURE AND EASILY DISTINGUISHED;
LOVE IS THE MOST LACKED
PRESENCE ON EARTH;
A MAN OVERWHELMED BY
LOVE IS ALWAYS A FRUITFUL VINE,
AND A FLOWING STREAM FULFILLING
THE NEEDS OF THOSE THAT PARTAKE OF IT;
A PLACE OVERSHADOWED
BY LOVE CANT HELP HAVING
GOOD BEINGS: SPIRIT AND
HUMAN GRAVITATING TOWARDS
IT’S DIRECTION;
LOVE IS WHAT GOD LOOKS
FOR IN YOUR HEART BEFORE
HE CAN DECLARE YOU A
GOOD MAN;
LIKE A MAGNET
LOVE PULLS TO LOVE;
LOVE WILL PULL YOU
TO GOD AND PULL GOD
TO YOU;
LOVE COST GOD HIS (BE)
LOVE (I.E JESUS) FOR THE
SAKE OF HIS LOVED ONES-
WHAT AN IRONY!
A CASE OF THE LOVER
EXCHANGED FOR THE LOVED!
I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE
BY SUBMITTING THAT GOD
IS THE EPITOME OF LOVE.
Bro. Yusuf Rufa’i,
Is an Ambassador from God & a fellow Servant in the Lord
www.ambassadoryusufrufai.blogspot.com
www.redeemedpeople.blogspot.com
Email: yusufrufai2@gmail.com
Tel: +234 80 28 78 28 91
LOVE HAS BEEN DEFINED OR DESCRIBED BY ALL SORTS OF PERSONS. MEN HAVE STRUGGLED TO TRULY DEFINE LOVE, BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT THEY HAVE ALL BEEN INADEQUATE. WHY? BECAUSE LOVE IS A MYSTERY AND IT CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD FULLY, WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN.
FIRST OF ALL GOD IS LOVE;
LOVE IS ETERNAL;
LOVE HAS ITS CITIZENSHIP IN HEAVEN;
LOVE IS NOT A MAN’S IDEA NOR
A MANS INVENTION;
LOVE INCARNATE IS JESUS CHRIST;
LOVE PROCEEDS FROM GOD,
THUS LOVE IS A SPIRIT,
REALLY IT IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD;
LOVE CAN ASSUME SEVERAL DIMENSIONS,
IT CAN MANIFEST AS THE LOVE BETWEEN
THE GOD HEAD,
THE GOD HEAD AND MAN,
A HUSBAND AND WIFE,
A FATHER AND MOTHER,
AN UNCLE AND AUNT,
A COUSIN AND COUSIN,
A FRIEND AND FRIEND,
A NEIGHBOUR AND NEIGHBOUR;
LOVE IN ITS TRUE FORM
REMAINS UNTAINTED AND
CANNOT BE MANIPULATED;
LOVE IN ALL OF ITS MANIFESTATION
IS FULL OF GODLY REASON (WISDOM);
LOVE IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD SHED
ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS;
LOVE IS ENOURMOUSLY MISUNDERSTOOD
AND GROSSLY ABUSED, BUT
THEN IT IS THE ONLY
TOOL GIVEN TO CHRISTIANS AS AN
EVIDENCE TO PROVE TO THE WORLD
THAT THEY ARE CHILDREN OF GOD;
LOVE IS WHAT CAN MOVE ONE
TO PAY THE COSTLIEST AND
SUPREME PRICE OF LAYING
DOWN ONE’S LIFE;
LOVE IS THE ONLY DEBT
YOU CAN TRULY OWE A MAN WITHOUT
FINISHING THE PAYMENT;
LOVE IS THE ONE THAT SNATCHES
YOU FROM SATAN’S GRIP AND CLUCTHES YOU TO HIMSELF;
LOVE IS WHAT REMINDS OR TELLS
YOU TO PUT GOD FIRST IN ALL THINGS;
LOVE IS THAT HAND THUGGING
YOUR HEART,
IMPLORING YOU TO LOOK GOD’S DIRECTION;
LOVE, ONCE IGNITED CANNOT
BE QUENCHED;
LOVE IS THE MOST COUNTERFEITED
PHENOMENON, BUT YET STANDING
SURE AND EASILY DISTINGUISHED;
LOVE IS THE MOST LACKED
PRESENCE ON EARTH;
A MAN OVERWHELMED BY
LOVE IS ALWAYS A FRUITFUL VINE,
AND A FLOWING STREAM FULFILLING
THE NEEDS OF THOSE THAT PARTAKE OF IT;
A PLACE OVERSHADOWED
BY LOVE CANT HELP HAVING
GOOD BEINGS: SPIRIT AND
HUMAN GRAVITATING TOWARDS
IT’S DIRECTION;
LOVE IS WHAT GOD LOOKS
FOR IN YOUR HEART BEFORE
HE CAN DECLARE YOU A
GOOD MAN;
LIKE A MAGNET
LOVE PULLS TO LOVE;
LOVE WILL PULL YOU
TO GOD AND PULL GOD
TO YOU;
LOVE COST GOD HIS (BE)
LOVE (I.E JESUS) FOR THE
SAKE OF HIS LOVED ONES-
WHAT AN IRONY!
A CASE OF THE LOVER
EXCHANGED FOR THE LOVED!
I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE
BY SUBMITTING THAT GOD
IS THE EPITOME OF LOVE.
Bro. Yusuf Rufa’i,
Is an Ambassador from God & a fellow Servant in the Lord
www.ambassadoryusufrufai.blogspot.com
www.redeemedpeople.blogspot.com
Email: yusufrufai2@gmail.com
Tel: +234 80 28 78 28 91
FAITH (Mbuotidem-Abasi): 50 AND 1 QUALITIES I WANT YOU TO HAVE – RUFA’I
1. Love God
2. Love Jesus
3. Love Holy Spirit
4. Win Souls for Christ
5. Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
6. Be the World’s powerful Prophetess
7. Be the World’s powerful Evangelist
8. Be filled with God’s wisdom
9. Be Filled with God’s knowledge
10. Have patience
11. Have long suffering
12. Be full of Joy
13. Be hopeful in Christ
14. Have great faith
15. Be faithful to God
16. Be loyal to God
17. Be faithful to me
18. Be loyal to me
19. Love me endlessly
20. Care for me endlessly
21. Understand me carefully
22. Love me your husband only
23. Care for me your husband only
24. Give you body to me your husband only
25. Pray for me always
26. Minister to me always
27. Be my special adviser
28. Be my financial manager
29. Cook for me delicious meals
30. Be my chief cook
31. Wash my clothes and underwear
32. Ask for three (3) things from God for me
33. Love my mother
34. Care for my mother
35. Love my siblings
36. Care for my siblings
37. Respect my family
38. Be the world’s greatest wife
39. Be the world’s greatest mother
40. Be the world’s most beautiful woman
41. Be the world most intelligent woman
42. Control your tongue
43. Use the power in your tongue wisely
44. Love your neighbors as you love yourself
45. Be hospitable
46. Show compassion
47. Respect Elders
48. Cherish children
49. Raise our children in the way of the Lord
50. Give our children love and attention.
51. Be humble unto the Lord.15-12-05
Bro. Yusuf Rufa’i,
Is an Ambassador from God & a fellow Servant in the Lord
www.ambassadoryusufrufai.blogspot.com
www.redeemedpeople.blogspot.com
Email: yusufrufai2@gmail.com
Tel: +234 80 28 78 28 91
2. Love Jesus
3. Love Holy Spirit
4. Win Souls for Christ
5. Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
6. Be the World’s powerful Prophetess
7. Be the World’s powerful Evangelist
8. Be filled with God’s wisdom
9. Be Filled with God’s knowledge
10. Have patience
11. Have long suffering
12. Be full of Joy
13. Be hopeful in Christ
14. Have great faith
15. Be faithful to God
16. Be loyal to God
17. Be faithful to me
18. Be loyal to me
19. Love me endlessly
20. Care for me endlessly
21. Understand me carefully
22. Love me your husband only
23. Care for me your husband only
24. Give you body to me your husband only
25. Pray for me always
26. Minister to me always
27. Be my special adviser
28. Be my financial manager
29. Cook for me delicious meals
30. Be my chief cook
31. Wash my clothes and underwear
32. Ask for three (3) things from God for me
33. Love my mother
34. Care for my mother
35. Love my siblings
36. Care for my siblings
37. Respect my family
38. Be the world’s greatest wife
39. Be the world’s greatest mother
40. Be the world’s most beautiful woman
41. Be the world most intelligent woman
42. Control your tongue
43. Use the power in your tongue wisely
44. Love your neighbors as you love yourself
45. Be hospitable
46. Show compassion
47. Respect Elders
48. Cherish children
49. Raise our children in the way of the Lord
50. Give our children love and attention.
51. Be humble unto the Lord.15-12-05
Bro. Yusuf Rufa’i,
Is an Ambassador from God & a fellow Servant in the Lord
www.ambassadoryusufrufai.blogspot.com
www.redeemedpeople.blogspot.com
Email: yusufrufai2@gmail.com
Tel: +234 80 28 78 28 91
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