Created for Holiness! (Part 5 of 7)

Hello Friends!

Welcome Back! Let’s continue to explore the eternally important topic for the Christian Church today… HOLINESS!

Created for Holiness! (Part 5 of 7)

Key Distinction: Beware the Counterfeit!

Within many Charismatic and Pentecostal churches there is a practice known as “falling out in the Spirit.” This happens when a preacher prays for someone in a prayer line and that person then falls over backward under the supposed power of the Spirit. Beloved, this is neither scriptural nor what we have been discussing here in this series.

 

NOTE: NO ONE in the ENTIRE BIBLE ever fell BACKWARD under the power of the infilling Holy Spirit!

The ones who fell backward were:

 

The backslidden priest Eli, who fell backward and broke his neck upon hearing that the Ark was taken and his sons killed:

 

Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years – 1 Samuel 4:18

The unrepentant sinners of Israel fell backward:

 

But the word of the Lord was to them, “Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little,” that they might go and fall backward, and be broken and snared and caught – Isaiah 28:13

The soldiers who arrested Jesus Christ fell backward when He said His Divine Name I AM:

 

Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground – John 18:6

None of us would want to emulate these types of "experiences" in our Christian walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

All the other examples noted in the Scriptures involve godly believers falling forward on their faces in the presence of God's heavenly Power! If you are seeing others falling backward – hardly a sign of humility – I would suggest that you question which “spirit” is doing the work and would strongly suggest that you do not partake in this activity!

 

Just to show how sad this sort of thing can be, friends have told me over the years how folks who “fell out” under the “power” in their church were not caught properly by the “catcher” behind them and actually suffered physical injury. In fact, in my past personal exposure to these movements, I too have witnessed - and experienced - much of this dangerous and unbiblical activity. 

Can this sort of tragic bungling really be the work of the Holy Spirit? I don't think so...

 

Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s continued investigation of God’s HOLINESS!…

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!

Shane <><

What's in your hand?

2 Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied.

3 The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”

Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.  4 Then theLord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.  Exodus 4

To sum up the verses briefly: God can do anything!

Do you really think that God didn't know what was in Moses' hand?  That God couldn't see Moses?  It was a rhetorical question.  We see only what's in front of us, but God sees all.  He sees all the things that are, all the things that were, and all the things that will be.  He knew that the staff would become a snake and that upon Moses grabbing the snake, it would turn into a staff again.

I love the part where it says Moses ran from the snake.  That shows two things, first, this was real!  There was no trickery where the light changed and the staff looked like a snake, there was really a snake there when there hadn't been one moments before.  The second is that Moses acted on instinct and didn't trust God.  This will continue to come up throughout the books to come.

Now to apply it to us, we will often see obstacles in front of us, and not know how to handle them.  Yet God sees the differently.  It may not be meant as an obstacle for us, but is really an opportunity for someone near to you to see how you follow God in your life.  We can't always see the entirety of what's going on in our lives, but we need to realize that God has it all in his hands.  No matter what he puts in front of us, whether it be a real snake or a figurative snake, God is still in control.  Our first instinct may be to run but we need to have the courage and faith to reach out and grab the snake when God commands.

Earned - Not Given

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  James 2:14-17 

I remember when I pledged for my college business fraternity, and I figured it would be pretty easy because it was after all, a business fraternity.  Wrong!  Obviously I just plainly ignored the word ‘fraternity.’  That would all change as I was instructed to walk through a foot of snow on campus early on a Saturday morning.  Then when I got to ‘The job interview you never wished for,’ it was clear if I ever got through it, I’d cherish the moment I joined.  Then after initiation, a truth was revealed to me.  The things that are worth the most are never given to you.  They are earned.

We earn our right to be called children of God through our actions.  Many of you are probably asking what about God’s grace?  It is given even though it is not earned, and yet it is incredibly valuable.  Furthermore, works cannot get you into Heaven anyway.  While both statements are true, it is neither in the grace given nor the deeds that have the greatest value.  The greatest value is in the relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ, and as we have learned, no enduring relationship comes about without hard work.  We will fight with God and question His judgment.  There are times we outright fail Him.  But when true transformation happens, we realize just how much love and value there is gained.  That is why I say grace is given, but a spiritually growing, on fire, boundless relationship with God has to be earned.  No short cuts.  Nothing easy.  You do not just ‘get it.’ 

Being in a relationship with Jesus Christ is awesome!  He only asks that we follow Him.  None of us have to do it, and if we simply believe He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave, we receive the gift of eternal life.  But a true Christ driven and purposeful life comes with the pain, sacrifice, willingness, and strength to do all you can for the one who gives us life.  What transformative change is happening in your life?  What will you do to maintain your purpose driven life?  My prayer is that we work continually on our relationship with Christ because it isn’t just given.  It is earned.  Amen.

Tues Devo: Response

Psalm 101:1-3 “I will sing of lovingkindness and justice, To You, O Lord, I will sing praises. I will give heed to the blameless way. When will You come to me? I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart. I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me.” (NASB)

Hello,

Ever notice how often verses in the Bible about our commitment are preceded by statements about God? The proclamation made about walking in integrity, not setting any worthless thing in front of them, and separation from the actions of those who have fallen away is not just blindly there. If it were, there would not be a foundation for that proclamation – it would be baseless and susceptible to stopping whenever the emotions changed. But the statements in the first couple of verses lay the critical foundation. It is the recognition of the lovingkindness, justice and blameless-ness of God. Our actions and choices are responses to God.

But these choices and actions are easily stated – but not easily done. Walking in integrity is not a casual statement – it is all encompassing. Setting no worthless thing is just as much about the quantity (none) as the quality (worthless). And to not follow after those close friends who fall away – and not get drawn into what has drawn them in is challenging and takes discipline to continually evaluate your choices on the merits – not the doers.

The only thing worthy of such efforts is that which is perfect and unchanging –and that which has shown love beyond measure.

Difficult? Yup. Worth the fight? Yup.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill