Flourishing Even More in 2024… in Fruit

    Here in Southern Ontario hundreds of trees in the fruit orchards are flourishing in blossom. The local farmers know that each blossom signifies the potential for fruit, but not every blossom will develop into good fruit. They are always watchful of incoming threats because our changeable weather can bring frost and hail storms or swing from summer heat back to late winter chill in a matter of hours and damage the blossom; lowering, if not altogether removing, its ability to become good fruit.

    We can get stuck in our blossoming stage where we like the idea of good and of doing good but the effort needed to see it through is lacking. We can plan to go to church services/studies or to grow in our faith; we can have nice ideas and talk about them with others, but do our good intentions ever come to fruition? Do we really listen and let God’s word penetrate our heart and let it change us for the better or do we let the world and its ways envelop us like a heavy frost, chilling our zeal and wilting our potential, as soon as we leave the assembly? Do we act on our nice ideas to help another or do we let busyness like a gusty wind pull that blossom from our tree?   

    The devil happily provides distractions so that our blossoms don’t become good fruit. He will tempt us to drop our guard and encourage us toward selfish pride so that we fill our day with things that do not benefit. He wants nothing more than for our fruit to be blighted and wormy; he wants us to be a part of his diseased orchard where he’ll leave us to become further infested and rot.

“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 7:19 NKJV)

    God wants us to produce good fruit. We, as Christians and members of the kingdom of God, are to be bearing the good fruit of God’s kingdom (consider Matthew 21:43). Jesus said that a tree is known by its fruits (Matthew 12:33), and we have within us (as humans with free will) the potential to bear either the fruit of sin (which leads to death) or the fruit to holiness (which leads to everlasting life, Romans 6:21-23); we can choose to be either a tree lost in the darkness of the devil’s decaying orchard or we can be planted and flourishing in the courts of our God (Psalm 92:13-14).

“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” (Matthew 7:16-17 NKJV)

    We all are blossoming with potential for good! We need to be determined that we go on to flourish this year in abundance of good fruit. We must remain on guard and be watchful (1 Peter 5:8, Ephesians 6:10-18), and keep ourselves firmly rooted and nourished through study and application of God’s word (Matthew 5:6, 2 Timothy 3:16-17). We must prune out the bad (thoughts, words, habits) and graft in the good (thoughts, words, habits, Proverbs 23:7a, Ephesians 4:29-31, 2 Timothy 2:22, Galatians 6:10) so that the fruit we produce is always good and beneficial!    

    Throughout the month of May, if the Lord wills, we will learn what good fruit is and why it is vital that we bear it.

Are you ready to Flourish Even More in 2024 in Fruit? Me, too!

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourishing in Holiness – Every Part Must Do Its Share

    As we conclude our study on ‘Flourishing in Holiness’ I would like you to consider a few more verses that speak of holiness. As you read these verses I would like you to keep in mind Ephesians 4:14-16:

 

“…that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love , may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ – from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” (NKJV)  

 

    Each of us need to be flourishing in holiness. If each one does their part, then we can better help each other grow stronger and we can better help establish new Christians in the faith.

 

“”Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.” Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 6:17- 7:1 NKJV)

 

    It is worth our every effort to keep our hearts and minds focused on wholly trusting and properly reverencing God (Hebrews 12:28-29) so that we use our time wisely (Ephesians 5:15-17) and remove what is filth and put on only what is holy. Are you actively identifying and removing filth in your heart and mind and replacing it with holiness?  

 

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging of the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, holy women who trusted in God, also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands…” (1 Peter 3:3-5 NKJV)

 

    As women pursuing holiness, our focus is on God and joying in His wisdom, proving to the world God’s good and acceptable and perfect will (Romans 12:1-2). We develop gentle and quiet spirits, we respect our husbands and do not belittle them; we submit to them as the leader and head of the home. Are you putting worldly purchases on display or are you displaying God’s word?  If you are married, are you respecting your husband and submitting to him as head?

 

“God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NKJV)

 

    God loved us so much that He sent His Son to live (giving us an example in how we should walk, 1 Peter 2:20-24, 1 John 2:3-6) and to die for us, to free us from the bondage on sin – how can we choose to continue in uncleanness when such a price was paid for our redemption? Are you being an example of uncleanness or holiness?

 

“Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.” (Hebrews 12:9-10 NKJV, see also Hebrews 3:1)

 

    God wants us to succeed. He has provided all that we need to do just that! He wants us to be corrected and understand the folly of bad habits and our dalliances with sin. God wants us to be partakers of His holiness – are we letting Him correct us?  

 

“Greet one another with a holy kiss” (Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:26)

 

    God gave us one another and we are to greet one another in sincerity of heart and purity of mind. We should always be looking out for each other’s best interests – helping each other stay the course and draw closer to God (James 4:7-8). Are you doing your part? Are you paying attention to your brethren so that you can be guide them back if you see they are ‘growing cold’ (Matthew 24:12-13, Galatians 6:1-2), are you listening and observing so you can comfort them in their troubles (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)? Are you making an effort to love your brethren with a pure and sincere heart so that you can benefit them in their walk?

 

“If anyone defile the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are… …having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 3:17 and Ephesians 2:20-22 NKJV)

 

    We need to respect not only our own bodies, but the body of Christ, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23), and do all that is necessary to keep ourselves holy, and do our part for the whole (Ephesians 4:16) – are you doing your part?

 

“…just as he chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…” (Ephesians 1:4 NKJV, see also 1 Peter 2:9)

 

    God knew that there would be people who would seek Him and He provided His Son (and His sacrifice) to redeem them from the captivity of sin, so they could learn more of Him through His word, draw near to Him in obedience, and access Him through prayer for all that they needed by way of grace, mercy, comfort, and strength; so that they would be holy and without blame before Him in love. Are you seeking God as you should? Are you learning, drawing nearer, and accessing Him through prayer each day?

 

“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 NKJV)

 

    We don’t need to be fearful of Jesus’ return if we are putting daily effort into pursuing what is holy (1 John 2:28-29). Are you allowing God to make you increase and abound in love for your brethren and all others so that He can establish your heart blameless (without fault) in holiness?

 

    God calls us to be holy; He commands us to be holy. He has provided all we need! Are you using all that God has provided to pursue holiness so that you can flourish in it? Are you becoming more like the Lord and less like the world?  By your example, are you helping your brethren to pursue holiness or half-heartedness? Learn to love God enough to want to be a partaker of his holiness, respect Him enough to cleanse yourself from sin’s filth, and joy in His promises enough to stay the course in becoming holy!  Are you ready to do your part?

 

You can do it! So can I!! 

Flourishing in Holiness – God Commands It

    Last week we looked at Bible verses that tell us that God is holy and that He called us with a holy calling (through the gospel, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14) to be holy. When we, who are now Christians, heard God’s call (through Bible reading/study), obeyed the gospel message, and were baptized for the remission of our sins (Mark 16:15-16), God forgave us of all our past offences, washed them away, and gave us a new beginning – if that is not reason enough to do all that is necessary to become holy and set apart from the world, then I would like you to consider the commands found within God’s word:

 

“I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV)

 

    Anyone digging in their heels about having to give up some unwholesome ‘guilty pleasure,’ you may be thinking, “That’s Paul’s plea; it’s not really a command;” please consider that Jesus’s very commission to Paul was “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified (note: that means set apart) by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18). Paul’s words were from God (2 Peter 3:15-16, 2 Corinthians 1:12, 2:17), so that all who read them would know the Truth and have instruction in how to live properly before God.

 

“”Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.” Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 6:17- 7:1 NKJV)

 

“…the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior (“have behavior becoming holiness,” KJV); not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things…” (Titus 2:3 NKJV)

 

    All of God’s commands and instructions, either direct or through inspired men (2 Peter 1:16-21), have always been for our good (Deuteronomy 6:24-25) so that we might be partakers of His holiness (see Hebrews 12:3-11). God tells us to no longer be slaves of sin – Jesus’ sacrifice freed us from that bondage – and just as God raised Jesus from the dead, He raised us from the deadness of sin (Ephesians 2:1-8) to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4). We now walk in this new life as willing servants, as “slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:15-18), and the benefits arising from righteousness are holiness (or sanctification) in this life, and in the end, everlasting life (Romans 6:22).

 

    Think on these verses today. Take the time today and each day through this week, if the Lord wills, to read and reread Romans 6. We are to be holy – be less like the world as we become more like the Lord – it is a command, and we are without excuse. It is for our good and God has provided all that is needed for us to overcome and succeed in this pursuit; it is now up to us to flourish in our servitude to righteousness so that we may be holy in all our conduct!

 

    Are you ready?

 

You can do it! So can I!!  

Flourishing in Holiness – Why is it Necessary?

“…as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct…” (1 Peter 1:15 NKJV)

    Why is holiness necessary? Because God who called us is holy; He is pure and set apart from sin and evil (it does not, cannot, dwell with Him, Psalm 5:5) making Him not only the source, but also the absolute standard for purity and holiness.

    God, who is holy, called us. How?  By the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). You heard the gospel – the ‘good news’ of Jesus – you believed it (Romans 10:17), and you obeyed it (Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:37-38, 8:30-39). God called to you through His word and you answered His call through faith and obedience to His commands.

    God called us with a holy calling (2 Timothy 1:8-9) – not because we were worthy – but because He is holy and He loved us (1 John 4:8-10), and loves us still! God does not want any to perish, He wants all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9); He wants all to be saved and come to the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

“…as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16 NKJV) 

    God called us in holiness to be holy, not unclean (1 Thessalonians 4:7, please read verses 1-8 also). God sent His only begotten Son to live and to die, a sacrificial Lamb, “that He might redeem us from every lawless deed” (Titus 2:11-14). How can we, who have heard and obeyed the gospel and have been baptized for the remission of our sins – released from the very bondage of sin that held us captive – turn back to sinful practices?     

“But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as truth is in Jesus; that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which is created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:20-24 NKJV) 

    We must regard God as holy (Leviticus 10:3) and understand that to be in His presence we too must be striving – doing all that is necessary – to be holy (Hebrews 12:14); we need to diligent in removing our old habits and determined to replace them with the new holy habits He has told us to busy ourselves with (ex: 2 Timothy 2:22, Ephesians 2:10, Colossians 3, Titus 3:8, 14, etc.).

    God is holy. He has called us with a holy calling to be holy, sacred, and set apart/different from the world (Romans 12:2) – His word provides us with all we need to know to flourish in holiness. Take time this week to read the book of Leviticus, taking note of the numerous times ‘holy’ is mentioned; let it open your eyes to the fact that we must be holy.

    Let us learn to reverence and hallow God properly so we can truly appreciate the clean slate, the “new man,” He has granted us, created in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24) – He gave us a head start, now we need to finish the race (Hebrews 12:1-2)! 

    Are you running toward the goal?

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourish Even More in 2024... in Holiness

    Last month we spent our time together looking at the need to purify ourselves as God is pure – we do this because we hope to see Him one day (1 John 3:1-3), and this month, as the Lord wills, we will study, what I believe to be the sister-attribute that we all need to be flourishing in: holiness, because, like purity, without it we will not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

“…as He who called you is holy, you also 
be holy in all your conduct, because 
it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”” 
(1 Peter 1:15-16 NKJV)

    Pureness and holiness are similar:

• Pure means clean, untainted by impurities/evil, without fault
• Holy means sacred, set apart (to be exclusively the Lord’s), different (than the world) because you’re like the Lord

    Purity has a lot to do with our inner selves – our hearts, souls, thoughts, and intentions – the things we let in and influence us, whereas holiness is what others can see; it is our example, our actions, and behaviours. We will purify ourselves and do all that is needed to keep ourselves pure because we understand that we, as Christians, are now holy and set apart (from the world) for God’s service (Romans 6:19, 12:1-2). We need pure thoughts and motives to be holy in all our conduct (1 Peter 1:15).

    We must first look to God and acknowledge Him as holy (Leviticus 10:3). It is our regard for Him in this matter that will help us to understand the importance of being holy in all our conduct.  We can then look to Jesus, who is also our example in holiness. Described in Hebrews 7:26 as “…holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners…” Jesus died for us so that He could present us “holy, and blameless, and above reproach in [the Father’s] sight” (Colossians 1:22).

“As God has said: ‘I will dwell with them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do no touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.” Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 6:16b-7:1 NKJV) 

       God wants us to perfect holiness, He wants us to accomplish it, to see it through to the very end, which is everlasting life (Romans 6:22) – it is there that we will see Him, it is there that we, too, can join in praising Him, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty”!

    Are you ready to flourish even more in 2024 in holiness?

You can do it! So can I!!