GOD’S WILL CHAPTER TWENTY ONE HOLINESS

AM I HOLY, DO I LIVE HOLILY?

As a word, holiness is now trite that most people now render it merely sermonic. This eminent feature of divinity now seems a commonplace religious term. Nevertheless, it can’t ever be unremarkable. The facile treatment in its mentions and uses has made it too theoretical and too ideal. How do we define it? What is holiness? Am I holy? Are you holy? How do I know? Well, it’s simple. I am born again; I believe in Jesus; I’m baptised by immersion; I’m baptised in and with the Holy Ghost. Indeed I’m holy! I am holy by the blood. But do I live a life of holiness? How do I know? What life really is the life of holiness and what are the attributes of such a life? It’s only the knowledge of what holiness means that can make me know whether I really am living holily or not.

BAFFLEMENT

Somehow, there’s a bafflement when people highlight things that embody holiness and declare that those things be eschewed if there’s no holiness. For example, some might say, “If you go to church without being holy… you may end up in hell.” That statement has separated the church from holiness. Really, both are distinguishable yet they are mutually inclusive. “You may preach, or evangelise and win souls and still end up in hell if you’re not holy.” Again, holiness and soul winning are being disrupted through a deletion of mutuality.

AFTER ALL WORKS ARE DONE

The Apostle Paul actually said it’s possible after he’d won many souls, to be cast away. “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (1 Corinthians 9:27).” Yes, it’s possible. After all, with all Moses did as God used him he still missed the promise land. He was used by God for signs and plagues in Egypt and Parting and Crossing the Red Sea. Marah water became sweet. The Rock gave out water. Manna came from heaven. Moses went into the cloud on the mountain Sinai to meet with God for forty days and nights. He gave the Israelites God’s laws. He supervised the Ark making. He was most gentle. And King Sihon of the Amorites as well as Og of Bashan was conquered. Balaak and Balaam failed. Moses’s eyes shone too bright he needed to use veil. His eyes and bone never waned even in his dotage. But he didn’t get to the promise land. Now, imagine someone say, “If you do all that Moses did and fail to live a holy life, you will end up in hell.” Then please, simplify and define holiness. How do we live it?

I would not say that I was led to write this. No, I wasn’t. I just am permitted to do so by the Holy Spirit. It was in GSF, one day when Pastor Olumide Refined Falola was teaching us at a leadership training that I got to understand holiness better. Holiness translates into Yoruba as Iwa Mimo. Mimo, from the ordinary use will mean clean. But from religious use it means sacred. Iwa means behaviour or attitude. So, holiness should mean, and it is, sacred attitude or sacred custom. But the ordinary translation which is clean often affected many such that holiness is reduced to cleanliness or chastity. Pastor Falola explained it as sacredness- being consecrated and dedicated. He explained it deeply. So, I felt burdened and it’s distressing when I found out holiness has become a term known to many but as merely ideal. It’s treated too facile that many cannot understand what it really is. Then I decided to write on it. It’s on the 28^th of May that I realised the disruptions of holiness meaning by the devaluation of the features in the package of holiness.

THE TEACHER INTERVENED

As I studied the Book of Prophet Habakkuk, at about 8 p.m. on the 1^st of June, 2017, I had to check some verses in different versions, especially The Amplified. Chapter 2 verse 4 is a key to this letter: Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

The Amplified refer the reader to Psalm 15, Isaiah 33:15, Micah 6:8, Isaiah 56:1 and Amos 5:4. I checked all of these. I wanted to know why my attention was fixed on these. Then the word came to me. I had prayed in the afternoon, “Lord, speak, thy servant is listening. After I got the passion to write on holiness, I never made any attempt to think much about it. I didn’t really know how to explain it clearly too. I just had the idea that it’s not meant to be rendered merely ideal. I heard within me, “What holiness means… you wanted to write about Holiness,” without which no man shall see God. Yes, I wanted to. And I put all the trust for that in the Holy Ghost. He has no objection. I thought of Psalm 24 also. Then at 8:32 I got the words: Chastity (Purity) plus Character (morality) plus Service will give us holiness. Chastity, Character and Service (to God) is the wholeness of the Ten Commandment.

IS HOLINESS A PARTICULAR ACT

Then what is holiness?

Holiness is the state of biblical culture. Culture is not a way of life but ways of life. Culture involves several activities; custom and values. Righteousness is the life of holiness. That is, holiness is the perfect state of life and living while righteousness is the acts or lifestyles of perfection. That is, holiness involves the acts of righteousness. Holiness is a culture. There are observable factors and modes and dispositions that make others know that something is sacred. Sacredness of a thing is either in its being (type), place (shrine, temple, altar, and ark) and treatment and uses. It refers to being (type), places, fellowship, treatment, and dispositions of persons. As holy people we have places to be or not to be, treatment we deserve and treatment we should give to others and manners of doing things.

The Bible shows that anyone guilty of one of the laws is equally guilty of all. That is why we must be watchful. That’s why Paul was careful; That’s why we must be prayerful. That’s why we must trust God for help and ask for help.

CHASTITY

This is puritanic morality in sexuality. Holiness is the quality of living a righteous life. A righteous life in the sexual behaviours is a salient aspect of holiness.

ADULTERY AND OTHER SEXUAL PERVERSIONS ARE FORBIDDEN

Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.  

Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.  

This law on sexual rectitude is elaborated in Leviticus chapter 18 from verse 6. Incest, heterosexual, homosexual, lesbianism, masturbation, zooerastia, rape and fornication including pornography are all represented by ‘adultery’ in this verse. Homosexuality is vile affection- very abominable. “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet (Romans 1:26, 27). Such abomination is not to be tolerated or defended as stipulated in Leviticus 20:13 “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” Then sexual relation between human and animals is forbidden. “If a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast (Leviticus 20:15).” These are to shut all advocacies for abominations.

CELIBACY AND FIDELITY

On the one hand, celibacy is a subset of chastity. In other words, being a virgin, remain unmarried is chastity. It is rightly highly revered. On the other hand, marrying is also chastity if the sexual relation is between a husband and his wife only. “Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency (1 Corinthians 7:5).” Incontinence is about discharge or inability to restrain from discharging. It’s about the body or soul urging for a donation in coition. At times the mind, the soul begins the thought before the hormones and veins respond. It’s God’s will. He designed us as such. And He is involved in the rightness of our sexuality. In fact, this chastity is assumed synonymous to holiness by almost all. But it is an aspect of holiness.

CLEANLINESS

Apart from that rightness, cleanliness is also required.

“And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even. And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.  The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even (Leviticus 15:16-18).”

The same goes for an issue.

“And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even (19).”

The issue was the reason a man is not to put on what belonged to (has been worn by a woman as enacted in Deuteronomy 22:5. And a woman should not put on what belonged to the man. Fluid or issue, wet dream or coitus, cleanliness is part of holiness. Chastity, as a part of holiness involves sexual rectitude and cleanness. This is holiness. Many fellows only see in their congregation, a perverse youth generation who do not live a chaste life. But I see many who are chaste, I know many. I am. And many are making vows to be. What do you see? You see good? It’s a different thing to be wary and cautious. It’s another thing to be doubtful, suspicious and judgemental. It’s another thing to be observant and realistically critical in giving warnings. It’s another thing to be observant and yet myopically uncritical by making blind generalisations and conclusions. What do I mean? Someone once said, “There’s no holiness anymore; everything has become ruined absolutely!” Actually, when we see one or two instances of error, we magnify it as a stereotype for a whole set. But my generation is not a lost generation. There’s no generation without shortcomings. Give hope and faith the chance. The youths of Christ that I have known are gatherings where the Holy Ghost reigns and rides on their faith and their love for God and one another. And if there’s anyone yet to join in chastity, PRAY to God for that person. Are you yet to join us in chastity, come on, what are you waiting for? Make that decision and join us now. Take note of this day as you make the decision to be chaste for God.

TO MEET WITH GOD

Chastity is holiness. It is not negotiable. To meet with God, they were to separate themselves from copulating for three days.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes… And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives (Exodus 19:10, 15).”

 To eat from sacred bread chastity was required.

“And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women. And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel (1 Samuel 21:4-5).”

This means that though we are created sexual beings we are required to live sexually as godly. Chastity is celibacy or fidelity; it is also abstinence or biblical-appropriateness in sexuality. It is also cleanliness.

GLORY TO GOD FOR HIS GRACE ON THE CHASTE

Glory be to God for the life of chastity

Of those who have kept themselves pristine-

Till they transit into glory;

Of those who kept themselves pristine

Till they marry;

And be faithful aftwerward.

Glory be to God

For the life of chastity

Of those who repented

And those who rediscover themselves

To be consecrated in chastity to God-

Till they marry or till they transit into glory.

To see God, chastity is required. All who bear God’s vessel and all who shall see God must be holy.

CHARACTER

But that is not the end. Just as Paul in Philippians 3:12-14 said he’d not attained it and he’s pressing forward, not leaning on what’s past, it is important to say that holiness journeying is not concluded at Chastity Avenue. This is often the oversight in marital discourse. We must be proud of chaste brothers and sisters. But we must not let that pride create indulgence in their character. Many are chaste, I know so. But many do not have character. That is not the problem. God changes people. But the unwillingness to see character as required is the problem with many.

Character is morality. In this light, it is according to biblical or Christian custom. Of course, chastity will be part of morality. This is because morality is about rightness or wrongness. However, sexual part of holiness is of great concern such that it is most emphasised in the Bible. In fact, idolatry is often treated as whoredom. Sexual sin is against the Temple of God, our body.

“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  (1 Corinthians 6:18-19).”

Chastity is elaborate on its own. So, chastity gains autonomy just as pure science gains autonomy from Philosophy, the parent discipline; from natural science to pure and applied science in the nineteen century.

DO WHAT IS RIGHT RIGHTLY

Now, morality is about rightness or wrongness. All verbs or actions words and state of being that one can think of should be done or be right. Say what is right, eat what is right, see what is right, give what is right go to the right place, be with the right people, spend what is right, sell what is right, save what is right, think what is right (unwanted thoughts and sight and so on may go, as temptation or emotion, resist every wrongness. That they come isn’t your call, it’s temptation but fight it). Produce what is right, pray what is right, wash what is right, wear or put on what is right, sit as it is right, walk as it is right, work as it is right, rest as it is right, sleep as it is right, buy as it is right, report as it is right, choose what is right, carry what is right, defend what is right, protect what is right, drink what is right, cook what is right, sing what is right, dance to what and as it is right. What other verbs? Drive, ride, run, play sweep, go, come stay and so on. All verbs should be and be done in moral correctness with the Biblical yardstick.

If you won’t speak spell speak tongues

If you shouldn’t speak slang speak scriptures

If you mustn’t sing bad songs sing hymns

If you mustn’t dance badly just dance well to praises.

If you should keep bad company then keep fellowship with the church.

If you mustn’t dress worldly then dress godly.

To all you mustn’t do there are all you must do.

If you mustn’t go to sinners’ gatherings go to the Church.

If you mustn’t marry an unbeliever marry a believer.

If you mustn’t be enticed by sinful shows or events then be fascinated to Church programmes.

Do all that is right rightly at the right time.

BE WHAT IS RIGHT AT ALL TIMES

If you mustn’t be violent be calm and peaceful

If you mustn’t be hot-tempered be gentle

If you mustn’t be jealous then be well-wishing

If you mustn’t be greedy then be giving

If you’re not allowed to be hateful then be loving.

To all you mustn’t be there are what you must be.

Holiness is not undefinable.

Be and do what is right at all times.

To be holy is to do righteousness in all aspects. That is, holiness has aspects. Righteousness in all these aspects (Chastity, Character and Service) is what gives us perfection.

WITHOUT HOLINESS NO ONE SHALL SEE GOD

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord

We have to possess the trait of peace since our saviour is the Prince of peace. And Jehovah is Shalom. We have to follow holiness. Without these no man shall see God. Holiness is acceptable before God. We please Him with a life of holiness.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.    

In a verse of Psalm below we will see a generation that seek God and what they do. The holy are the ones who seek God. To seek God requires faith. Without faith no one can please God. Without pleasing God no one shall see God. If you do not have faith that by His grace you can be perfect don’t even try to be because you can’t ever be. If you do not have faith that by His grace you can make heave I won’t say don’t try to make heaven. Rather, I’ll implore you to have faith in the word of the Lord. There’s mutuality between holiness and faith. And both have deeds. Faith is not merely ideal. It is practicable. There are deeds of Faith.

Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.  

The just shall live by faith because he shall please God. To walk in faith is to trust the grace of God and simply act or live the word. Grace then supplies the knowledge, the strength and the growth. If we must, in Apostle Peter’s words, grow in grace, we must have faith.

Psalm 15:1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?  

This is simple, His tabernacle is holy, His hill is holy. Holiness is the access code. Who shall see God? The holy shall dwell there.

Psalm 15:2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.  

Now, what makes some get access to God? What makes someone holy? It is the manner of walks-uprightly; the manner and kinds of works- righteousness and the manner and kind of speech- truth.

Psalm 15:3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.  

The holy one should not speak evil, or do evil of or to anyone.

Psalm 15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.  

The holy one shall not revere the wicked. And He shall fear and worship God with reverence.

Psalm 15:5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.  

He shall not be fraudulent in business. He shall not be an oppressor.

Isaiah 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;  

This verse simply collected verses in Psalm 15 into one verse. It now adds that the holy one does not hear evil. Well, we may be walking down the street and then we hear a song in which a worldly singer sings immoral lyrics. We simply will not listen- we’ll not retain such. To listen is different from to hear.

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?  

Micah now finds three words for all these- to do justly, to show mercy, to walk humbly with God. Of course only the humble will obtain grace. Holiness is not a fantasy. It is provable and livable. That is, it is a concept that involves acts of righteousness.

Isaiah 56:1 Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.  

Now, justice is emphasised; do justly. Micah reasserted it as seen above.

Isaiah 56:2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.  

The addition here is the Sabbath. So, why should we try to remove or isolate the Holy Sabbath from holiness? We must keep it holy. How? In it we do know work. We just worship God and rest.

Amos 5:4 For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:  

Seek ye me. This necessitates the knowledge of how to seek Him. It is by living justly.

Paslm 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?  

This is a re-echo of the question in Psalm 15. The holy ones shall.

Paslm 24:4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.  

Cleanliness, purity, sincerity and humility are of mutuality with holiness.

Psalm 24:6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.  

When we do all these we seek God. Why we do all these is because we have faith. Righteousness is the act of holiness. Holiness is the state of righteousness. The righteous is perfect. The perfect is holy.

SERVICES

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  

Jesus gave two golden laws: Love God and love others. These do not abrogate the Ten Commandments and its elaborations in Leviticus. It simplifies them. The same way the just shall live by faith and do justly simplify deeds of holiness in psalm 15.

Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:  

We must love God. If we love Him we will seek Him. We will worship Him. He cannot afford to share His love with any other.

SERVICES UNTO GOD IS PART OF HOLINESS

SOUL WINNING,

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  

When Paul said after he had preached he might be cast away. He didn’t at that time mean he’s unholy. When he said he wasn’t walking as though he’s reached a state of perfection in Philippians 3:12 he meant that he’s not going to be boastful or careless but humble and cautious. He said not as though he was perfect. Then in verse 15 he said, “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” He wants us to always remember that by strength shall no man prevail. He wants us not to boast but to press forward and pray the more. He wants us to be humble and reference God. So, he told those who are perfect to have his kind of mind, that is, he wanted them not to see themselves as though they are perfect yet. In other words, preaching is a service that is expect of holy people of God. It’s a way of life of holy people.

LEGACY

Holiness involves a legacy. Part of holiness is to hand over the culture of righteousness to others. How? In the family, they do righteousness, in the church, at offices, in the society; holy people do righteousness and teach it by words and examples.

Deuteronomy 36:46 And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.  

In many places were the Israelites commanded to pass holiness and culture to their children, including feasts. There are children in faith or babes and they must be brought up in the way of holiness. So, we simply shall be and do all that holiness demands.

HOLY COMMUNION

Holy Communion or the Lord Supper is part of holiness.

Luke 22:19 “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.  

It’s a holy communion with the Lord. It’s a custom of Christians. It’s commanded by Jesus that we uphold such custom.  Remember doings and beings and values make a culture.

ADVOCACY

If I have sounded justificative then, glory to God. We do not fight or go to war to force a people to accept Christ. No, we go to them in peace and we leave in peace. Nevertheless, we must always contend for our faith. We must not keep silent until righteousness be enthroned. For example, when the whole world super powers campaign for same sex many churches and evangelists spoke loudly and publicly against it in the US. Many even complained to Donald Trump during the campaign that they need to be free to reject homosexuals. We must support biblical cultures and doctrines and not undermine it. “We may speak in tongues and go to hell?” Such statement is not healthy for holiness. In fact, in terms of holiness development and grace growth, such statement is portrayal of kwashiorkor in holiness. Actually, it takes holiness to advocate for heaven. It takes holiness to advocate for holiness. But to undermine an act or a being or a characteristic of holiness, one of the signs which the Lord said will follow those who believe is a zealous disservice to holiness in the intention of advocacy for holiness. Below are statements which make me to ask, what then is holiness and how do we live it? This epistle is not ad hominem in any way. It is just necessary to undo the trick of fear and cloudedness which the devil had started to spread.

CAN WE DO THESE AND GO TO HELL

we can speak in tongues and miss heaven.

We can "win souls" and miss heaven.

We can see vision and miss heaven.

We can prophesy and still miss heaven.

We can cast out devil and miss heaven.

We can perform miracles and still miss heaven.

We can read the whole Bible and miss heaven.

We can attend all church services, fellowship activities and camp meetings and miss heaven.

We can have anointing and miss heaven.

We can have all spiritual gifts and miss heaven.

We can be rich, prosperous and wealthy and still miss heaven.

We can give and sow seeds and still miss heaven.

We can wield power and be influential and still miss heaven.

We can have a powerful voice to sing and miss heaven.

But we cannot LIVE A HOLY LIFE and miss heaven.

HOLINESS IS THE REAL DEAL!

*"Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 20:7)*
*"O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth." (Psalm 96:9)*
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14)*
Forwarding this is Evangelism. Let us win a soul for Christ. Amen!

True advocacy, true legacy, true service, true faith, true character, true righteousness, true holiness and true love for God will require us to advocate for all things mentioned above and seek how to make them a legacy.

Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

Do not hold truth in unrighteousness.  It is not wholesome to undermine activities of godliness because of hypocrites we now have people who “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away (2 Timothy 3:5).”

We should not devalue edifying activities of the Holy Spirit. When we are to build up our holy faith by speaking in the Holy Ghost why should we now take it as an act outside holiness?

Doing all listed above is typical of the church of Christ. We can be rich and powerful and influential. We should be. We should speak in tongues. Why not, is it because there are fake prophets? Quench not the Spirit. If fake prophets make you despise the gifts and workings of the Spirit then you’ve given the Devil a victory he never deserve. Sowing seed, isn’t that a fruit of the Spirit? Listed above are gifts and fruits of the Spirit in action. How then shall we go to hell if we do them? If we do them, we are already living holily. Even soul winning is included. Oh my God! Prophecy is included. What is the evangelism when you tell people they can evangelise and go to hell and then ask them to evangelise?

CAN THE HOLY GO TO HELL

Those who are holy are blameless and perfect. It’s the will of Jesus to wash us always “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  He will do it.

So let’s answer the question up above. Can we do all those acts and go to hell? That question is wrong. ‘We,’ never! I can never conceive going to hell. God won’t let me. Will He let you? Let’s ask this way, Can someone do all those things and go to hell? Of course yes. That is why we used Moses as an example of doing great things and still missing out. So, there is a truth to the statements above? Yes. But of all that God gave Jesus, only the son of perdition shall perish. That is where the case is. We cannot do all those things and go to hell. There’s no holiness if we remove those things which include giving, anointing, gifts, prophesy, soul winning, reading the Bible; going to church and so on. They are included in holiness. Even those who do not practice giving are cast unto the left side and condemned as goats.

However, the son of perdition may seem holy but may end up in hell if he does not repent.

John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.  

Take not of the clause, “that the scripture might be fulfilled.” In the last chapter, The Word of The Lord: Ye and Amen, we have seen that the intention was not to save Pharaoh so in no way was he going to humble himself. But the people of Nineveh humbled themselves for they were intended to be saved. The scripture is written. Sins shall be many; love of many will wax cold. Only the son of perdition will align with the doom- the hell and damnation part. The Redeemed will align with faith with the grace- the paradise and salvation part.

The son of perdition is a deceiver.

Judas goes to places with Jesus, listens to sermon, had a portfolio and is committed. But he wasn’t holy. He is a hypocrite. He risks his master’s life. He does not obey the golden law of love with all thy heart.

The son of perdition is a copycat.

Simon followed Phillip and worked under him, committedly, everywhere. But he’s not avowed himself to God. Ananias and Saphira attended church. But they were copycat. It’s not bad to emulate what is good. Paul said we should emulate him. A copycat is not sincere. An emulator is. The holy ones are sincere. The secret life of the lying couple is not right.

The son of perdition is backslider

Demas love the present world. Demas has been holy. He’d served God and had character. But he left the Way of life by choosing to follow the culture of the world. So, in that sense, someone might do all those, putting his hands on a plough and still look back and will not be fit for heaven.

Doing all those things hypocritically like Simon, backsliding like Demas, copying like Ananias and Saphira, deceptive like Judas and above all being unrepentant unlike the prodigal son is what can make a person assumed to be holy or who had been holy go to hell. But doing all those things wholeheartedly is part of holiness. We cannot separate them from holiness. We should encourage them. They are what holy people do. They are part of what makes us holy.

BEWARE

Beware what you profess. Asks and it shall be given unto you. With God all things are possible. To get to Canaan was not as impossible as the dreadful giants and Anak descendants made it seem to the Israelites majority, in the wilderness. It is truly going to be through battles. But It’s the promise of God. They only needed to trust in “the word of the Lord” and march onward to possess the promise land. But alas, ten out of twelve declared impossibility and limited God’s intention to impossibility.

Numbers 13:28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.  

The focus of many is that sin shall increase and the love of many shall wax cold. Oh save us from fear.

Numbers 13:30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.  

This is faith- courage, focus, assurance, bravery, action. This is how to please God. Trust what he promised and act according to His word. What has God promised? He said He’d give us His Spirit and we will be holy and will detest sins. He said He will make us to do His will. He said He will bless us. What is my business with the giants of disappointments, trials, debts, bosses, policies, setbacks, threats and noises? I simply see God’s promise and enablement. And onward I go. In 2006, my dad lost his job. Things became difficult. Poverty wasn’t really far before but then it got inside and sat on the throne. Fear and anxiety took over. But I refused to bow. I was always singing and laughing. Then my mother said, “Samuel, you’re no longer a small boy. Don’t you know what’s going on? What’s making you this happy? Are you thoughtless?” My mother would never ask such a question again. She got stronger. I told her I trusted God and no crying or strong face could solve the problem. In 2008, sin crept into my life. Pastor Mark wrote that sin in place is destiny out of place. Oh I almost lost everything called hope. But God saved me. ESCAPE! That cost me two to three years. But I never let go of faith even when I could not see hope on all sides.

I knew I had to study English. I knew I would succeed. To pass examinations was not the problem but to pay fees was. I wrote JAMB and Post UTME in 2009 and I passed. After registration, my mother got a serious fracture in the leg that supped all funds. You know I couldn’t ignore her because of anything. My Uncle who could help had problem with his business and job. Imagine that. Satan guessed if I studied English he’d be undone. That year was gone. It’s not the story that’s important. But whenever I went to the family house where my mother was staying, I’ll sing, eat and act normal. My grandmother told my mother, “This boy doesn’t seem passionate. It’s as if he’s heartless, he’s not concerned?” My mother told her I was stronger. But my mother anxious that her situation had cost me University admission. I never worried about such. I kept choosing English. The third and last time I wrote Jamb, I chose another University, and another course but I went back and changed institution and course. English was my desire. No giant will make me cringe. Why was I so sure? His words gave me confidence. I shall prosper. I will succeed because of God’s grace. I will make heaven. What about you? You will! Just believe and follow holiness and peace.

Numbers 13:31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

This is lack of faith. This is the spirit of fear. Fear identifies and intensifies only horror. Fear does not see risk as manageable but as failure. In 2010 my father said, Samuel, you’re a good cook. Let me get you a shop and you just start selling food.” He also suggested that I just make another choice apart from my desire. But I was stronger. Anger will come in when fear controls the mind. He’s angry I was wasting time. He suggested I get a job. I did. But I didn’t trade my dream for a job. The Word of the Lord, ever reliable.

Numbers 13:32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are

men of a great stature.  

Politicians, musicians, youths, friends, families, neighbours and people in the world are sinful and contaminating? The world is pervert? They will corrupt you if you go to study in a particular place? Why must we magnify fear? Well, the fearful is wise to escape evil. The fool dares and is victimised. Being watchful is a different thing. The fearful couldn’t get to Canaan. The fearful will not get to paradise. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death (Revelation 21:8).”

Numbers 13:33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.  

Are we helpless? Are we in danger? When we carry the cross and follow Jesus, denying ourselves, are we unholy? How do we carry the cross, follow Jesus and deny ourselves? It’s in Service that we carry the cross, in Character we follow Jesus and in Chastity and Character we deny ourselves. Then is that not righteousness? Can he not help us overcome temptations? Is the one who made the promises not faithful? Get out of Fear Street and move to faith Kingdom!

Numbers 14:8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.  

This is what makes Jude in verse 24 and 25, to glorified God, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

 Though there be storm

Or errors and fallings

Of wars and losing

And evil raging roaring

The Lord in the both

Said let’s cross into life

And after He’s spoken

He slept, sure of crossing

But they feared though they heard Him

And He rebuked the storm and their faithlessness.

Had they trusted His words, Storm won’t do them anything.

Now, they doubted. But they still did well

Asking for help, that He should care to save them.

Alas, many doubt and ne’er seek or trust His help.

Even the Stone when walking on the sea

Shifted His eyes to the storm and was sinking.

He cried out and was saved.

If by thy doubt thou art sinking

Cry out now and get thy saviour’s hand reach thee

And you’ll cross over safely.

Numbers 14:8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.  

Though the word reveals that sins shall increase and the love of many will wax cold and then signs of end time are prevalent the major concern for the Lord, Jesus is not the sins but that many will not have faith that can make them trust Him and obey Him. Many will not have faith that will make them willing and obedient but fear that will make them doubtful, fearful and condemning. So, after He had told the parable of a woman who was pestering the judge avenge her, he said:

Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?  

I can avenge them speedily and save them but what of their faith in me and in my words. Only faith will make us set our affections on things above and get more excited about things of the Spirit than get discouraged from things of the Spirit. Then Apostle Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Quench not the Spirit.” No matter what, though demons appear as angels of light do not think there are no angels of light of Holy Spirit at work.

We know that it is the observable ways of life of the church that made them to be called Christians. Whether in Antioch or not, they’d be called Christians. It’s their Christ-culture and not the place that makes them Christians. I know we already know that God delights in man. Man sinned. God saved Him in Christ Jesus. So, in Jesus, we’re chosen, royal, priestly and peculiar. We’re beloved. Do all those things whole heartedly, holiness demands them. Be Chaste; have Character; Serve the lord. Uphold the culture of Christianity.

Matthew 18:4 “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”  

The word of the Lord shall ever stand true.

Let us go into supplication. In fact, pray it personally. Then intercede for others and for the Church. When the Lord shall arise all His enemies shall scatter.

Dear Lord,

You are faithful to your promises. Whatever you will you will do. Your counsel only shall stand. You love me. I believe in Jesus. I trust you for grace for “And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace (John 1:16).” Hold my hand Lord. Help me to do your will. Make me holy. Help me to overcome and lead me home eventually. Do not let me miss home. I pray. Amen! I believe. Thank you, Father.