The Way of Holiness
Have You Ever Wondered?
Have you ever wondered why Pentecostals do or don’t do certain things?
Some think it’s a “Pentecostal” thing.
I heard someone say to another, “You can’t do that! You go to a Pentecostal Church.” THAT is not the reason we do and don’t do certain things.
I heard the same reason given but with slightly different words when I would question and ask why as a child. It caused me to begin to question what I believed and why I believed it as I grew older.
Midway through my teen years, I began a quest to know God’s Truth. In my confusion, I sincerely poured my heart out to God and wanted to know what His Word really says and means.
God will answer and reveal things to you in His Word if you will go to Him sincerely in prayer and with an open heart. His answers did not come all at once. He opened my understanding her a little, there a little as I grew and matured in my walk with Him.
As we study the Bible together, prayerfully ask God to help you to understand His Word and His ways. These studies are a combination of studies put together by Bro. Gregory and I.
I pray this helps you understand holiness inside and out more fully. Holiness is beautiful and is for our protection, not oppression.
Should We Wait Until They Ask?
The recurring common reason and excuse I'm hearing for not teaching holiness and separation from the world is to "wait until they ask".
Do you wait until a baby or child asks before you instruct them not to bite, or hit, or steal, or pull hair, etc? No, you work to teach and correct a bad behavior they're exhibiting.
Do you wait until a baby asks before you teach it how to say words, how to walk, or what 'No!' means?
Do you wait before a child asks before you begin teaching it the ABCs, how to put letters together to make words, and how to write?
Do you wait until a child asks before beginning to teach him or her reading, writing, arithmetic, history, geography, art, music, etc?
No, you begin trying to teach and instruct things you know they need to learn, increasing the knowledge and lessons needed as they grow and grasp what they've previously been taught.
Did God wait for His people to ask before He gave them the 10 Commandments and extensive instructions in the Law concerning the governing and ordinances of right and wrong?
No, He gave them rules to follow, instructing and correcting bad behavior and the sin nature that are contrary to God's ways.
God gave them instructions on how to dress, how to live, what was ok or not ok to eat, things that were an abomination to Him, what was right and what was wrong.
Did Paul wait for the saints in the Churches to ask questions before sending letters of instruction on how to live as a Christian and the sins they needed to shun and avoid? In a few instances, yes, but for the most part, No. Paul sent them letters instructing and teaching them how to live Godly in this present world.
His letters included instructions for all...men and women, young and old, married and unmarried....concerning many topics including clothing, hair, alcohol, submission, things that will send a person to hell, and the need for the Fruit of the Spirit besides just the Gifts of the Spirit.
Paul in his letter to Timothy instructed him to.....
2 Timothy 4:2 -
• Preach the word;
• be instant in season, out of season;
• reprove, ( means reprimand, tell a fault, admonish)
• rebuke, (means express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions.)
• exhort (means to try to encourage or strongly urge someone to do something)
• with all longsuffering and doctrine. (Use patience and the Word of God)
No, I will not wait until someone asks before teaching Biblical Truths that are contained within the Bible. Because....
2 Timothy 3
[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
• for doctrine,
• for reproof,
• for correction,
• for instruction in righteousness:
[17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Throughly furnished means to equip fully (Strong’s G1822)
If we're not teaching, we're failing
God told Ezekiel in Ezekiel 44:23, “And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” The priests and the ministry were instructed by God to TEACH MY PEOPLE THE DIFFERENCE!
Our Churches are failing when they preach motivational messages but do not teach the Doctrines.
"...Make a separation between the Sanctuary and the profane place." Ezekiel 42:20
There must be a separation!
There must be a separation between the Holy and the unholy!
Too many for too long have been trying to blend the two. You cannot be Holy and unholy at the same time!
God is a Holy God and commands us to be Holy as He is Holy. He commands us to 'come out from among them <the world> and be separate. And touch NOT the unclean thing.' 1Cor 6:17
Ezekiel 42:20 stood out to me as I read my Bible one day. Then, it stood out to me again as I opened my Bible the very next morning. .
My eyes were drawn to several passages in Daniel 9 where Daniel not only repented for himself but for all of Israel.
God is calling His people to repentance and to cleanse our homes from anything that is displeasing to Him. So, I began to repent and ask God to forgive me of any time that I have rebelled against Him; for anytime that I have not obeyed His voice; for any time I have not walked in His ways.
I knew God was speaking, I could feel His Presence strong, yet I felt a hesitation at posting about it on social media. I told God many do not want to hear what I have to say. They don't believe it and some get angry at my words. I wrote these words down, but then set it aside.
I began to listen to a video I was tagged in. Brother Raggio confirmed in his teaching on The Beauty of Holiness what I was feeling and writing. I would encourage you to listen for the entirety of his message as well. (It's on YouTube and FaceBook)
Too many look at God as a loving God while ignoring the other part of God that is Holy and requires Holiness of us. They excuse away sin and think God will not condemn them for sinful lifestyles.
This is one of the greatest deceptions the devil has perpetrated on mankind.
The Bible instructs that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14
Just claiming to love Jesus is not enough to get you into heaven. There is more to our walk with God after we have repented of our sins, been baptized in the name of Jesus, and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in other tongues The Bible says no sin can enter there. (1 Cor 6:9-10, Gal. 5:19-21, Rev. 21:27) There must be a separation between the Holy and the unholy.
The time of Jesus' coming is drawing nearer. There is also coming a time of great Tribulation.
I feel a confirmation to what Bro Raggio said, "If you persist in being worldly and spiritual, you're going to be destroyed."
There must be a separation!
"...Make a separation between the Sanctuary and the profane place." Ezekiel 42:20
We must teach Holiness and separation from the world.
If we don't teach it, how will they know?
The Bible says in Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...."
There is a lack of knowledge and understanding of what God’s Word says because there are many who do not read it. If they do, they do not read it in it’s entirety. But, also, part of it is from a lack of understanding. The understanding comes when there are ‘teaching priests’ (2 Chronicles 15:3) These are those who expound and teach what the Word of God says and means.
There are those who do not want to hear the deeper Truths in the Bible. However, a strong warning follows for those who close their ears and refuse to hear the teachings in God's Word.
...BECAUSE thou hast REJECTED knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
We have to teach WHY we believe what we believe. And it has to be more than just Acts 2:38. Because when the questions of controversy arise, we need to be able to stand and give an answer.
We like to read the Promises in the Bible. The little box of Bible Promises became popular many years.
While those are good (because they are God’s Word and we can hold God to His Promises), we need to also take notice that for every Promise there is usually a clause attached of what God expects or requires from us.
Every Promise in the Book is mine, but so is every warning, admonition, instruction and teaching regardless of how our flesh feels about it.
If it’s in the Bible, we need to be open to hearing what the Word of God says. There is a way that SEEMETH RIGHT unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 16:25)
Jesus corrected a lot of false teachings and concepts in Matthew 5.
Man thought and taught one way while God's Word taught another.
21 - ye have heard that it was said... but I say unto you....
27 - ye have heard that it was said... but I say unto you....
31 - it hath been said....but I say....
33 - ye have heard that it was said... but I say unto you....
38 - ye have heard that it was said... but I say unto you....
43 - ye have heard that it was said... but I say unto you....
Make sure you are following and living God's way because there is a way that seems right unto man, but it’s not according to God.
Isaiah 55:8-9 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
God’s ways are not our ways nor is His way of thinking the same as how we may see or reason things to be.
We must be sure that what we believe and how we live, dress, and conduct ourselves are in line with God’s Word and His ways.
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