7 Responses to “The Beauty of Holiness”

1. Ewan
   August 30th, 2008 @ 7:23 pm

   I’ve got a signed hardback copy of Go and Sin No More that I picked up at Brownsville back in 1999. Is this a valuable collectors item yet?

2. Jabez H.
   September 1st, 2008 @ 3:59 pm

   I have surveyed the almost 400 postings on the Discernment of Spiritual Principles blog now closed to comment. After this reading it is clear that that subject invokes much passion, interest, and ongoing controversy in setting forth, not settling out, its variant responses as to establishing clear Discernment Principles for a present day Charismatically inclusive Ecclesia. It seemed that meeting based phenomena, related behavior, new teaching of supposed important and supposedly manipulable revelation, and personalities who seemed not grounded in the New Testament or the Tanach were more in play and in focus than the Bible’s central messages for many interested parties. The debate there seemed to be about linkages to whats now happening in gatherings, rather than what is established by the teachings of the eyewitness Apostles: as to He who was, is, and will be. Having our lamps lit and ready was not discussed in this blog which has generated the most participation.

   As to establishing truth and grace related to Holiness, defined as separation unto God for His use (while still in this world), Michael Brown gives a great definition for revival in May in that blog, but little else seems to share a common understanding of the subject raised as to its New Testimate relevance and witness. I was left with the lingering impression that the Charismatic movement is largely un-self-disciplined, nonBiblical in understanding, and seems to be partially about petty loyalties to various personalities and ministries as much as about claiming any connection to Christ (who was presented as in doubt as to an immediate relevance in many reports’ emphases and preoccupations).

   Only those schooled in the New Testament there seemed prepared to call a spade a spade; to others it was a dirt or manuer digging farm tool, or a suit to trump among readers, in the manner of gambling, what grounding has already been lain by the work of our Messiah. Which supposed leaders cited there were seeking followers, and which have proven to be disciples of Christ?

   As to discernment, for Holiness, is any disciple (teacher) greater than his Master? Who and what is to be preached as being the New Covenant and to be held relevant for daily life in these times? Who is glorified in such meetings as to the preoccupations of the attention given for particpant responses shown in their reports? How do such new loyalties and reported religious activities and messages contribute to the Kingdom of God, which Yeshua came to bring, and is returning to establish in a much more visible state? Is what is reported as visible and of attention in these meetings and their emphases going to be what the visible Kingdom will be actively up to, with the rod coming forth from Jerusalem? If so, how will those activities of that attention and meeting based preoccupationz be integrated into daily life, day by day? These seem to compose questions about our lives and times more than what happens in such pump em up whip em up gatherings as are reported as to composing resulting controversies of discernment.

   Michael Brown there, in May, gave a very adequate understanding of what composes revival, and, left in doubt, in reading many other reports, where these reports actions and activities are Centered, i.e. in Jesus or of other experience and its eccentricity, for an abandonment of the will, as such to be real life disciples of our Messiah. I write this as a person coming to faith during the Jesus movement of the early 1970s, and with a Charismatic religious history, who has asked hard existential questions of the fruit of that movement, how this applies to daily living, and its testimony of that era. And I write as one who noted that yesterday Putkin cited the blood of fallen Russian soldiers, defending his understanding of what was to be defended of a breakaway provence of Georgia, as having lain down their lives as “Christians” in sacrifice for their (Russian) brethren there. This statement and the mentioned blog certainly show that a claim of Christianity means different things to different believers in the context of their own lives, histories, resulting loyalties, expressions, and thought spent, and, especially, as to what they devote attention, and time to.

   Holiness, being set apart for God’s use, is certainly a call upon all believers in Yeshua, Jesus, as the time anointed One appointed with the enabling to woo, lean, and govern by permission the souls of His people. Promised in the fullness of time, Jesus came to undo the works of Satan, to overcome the confusion of religious pride and preoccupations, and to establish a Kingdom which set our world’s captives free of religious conventionalism and other bondage through His unique example and emphases. In doing so, He taught much–including sharing discernment spiritual principles of the Holy Spirit active in lives (John 14-16, I Corinthians 13, Romans 8, etc.). His eyewitnesses have also clarified, not futher confused the matter. Paul said in Galations that the “only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love.” Did Mary or Martha get this principle? When did it dawn upon Peter, James, and John? Did the early and subsequent church histories up to this time understand the basic need to love as Jesus loves?

   Many years ago, when she was staying with us, Derek Prince’s wife, Ruth, brought her son to me and she who wanted prayer for God to remove his body tatoos from an early rebellious lifestyle (in order to witness to Jesus’ present power and life, and as a particular witness to He being the One for that prodigal to bow his knee to. Though we named the claim [named it and claimed it] there was not an instant result or miracle in that regard. Yet that was the principle as was erroneously being acted upon that we were supposedly in dominion over for a certain consequence). Later, I attended meetings with other looming personalities of the movement who reinforced this formula faith concept. Others, who did not emphasize this supposed principle were excluding “the Full Gospel,” according to its proponants. Having supposed angels in meetings, entering, or interacting with some, may or may not be more of the same–as brought into focus during such gatherings by speakers of such gatherings.

   I saw perfectly otherwise rational believers, by such wishes, attempting to manipulate the principles of physical reality to work around the effects of sin, the Fall, literal condition, and rebellion–as present in all of us of the human race. As has been noted of Binny Hinn miracle meetings, some occasional results occur, for most they do not, and, too, some claimed healed revert back, all in the way of being confused over the difference and the foci of meeting attention and supposed purpose. Some left these gatherings with a sense of guilt as to not exercising enough “faith”–which was also assigned by impostion to those present who were not healed, not changed, and continued on with life-binding ever-too-human realities of a painful existence. And so, as such, what would their own life needs be based upon that continuance of condition difficulties?

   Nearly 400 comments lunged forth from the mixed bag of today’s charismatic principles in that now closed blog, are found on other more Christ related and Christlike discipleship issues and matters on other thematic blog opportunities found here. What does this tell us of believers, the human heart, how that heart may construct its own web around its attentive notions of loyalty (to what?), and why national or world wide revival tarries? Holiness is beautiful, when related to our God who set us in this world, asks something of us as His disciples, and asked us to make disciples of the nations. Maranantha!

3. Jabez H.
   September 1st, 2008 @ 4:16 pm

   For some unknown technical reason(s), the posting mechanism lost some of my last paragraph, above. It should read:

   Nearly 400 comments lunged forth from the mixed bag of today’s charismatic principles in that now closed blog [on spiritual principles]; actual holiness allusions are found on other more Christ related and Christlike discipleship issues and matters on other thematic blog opportunities found here. What does this tell us of believers, the human heart, how that heart may construct its own web around its attentive notions of loyalty (to what?) and why national or world wide revival tarries? Holiness is beautiful, when related to our God who set us in this world, asks something of us as His disciples, and asked us [along with the first disciples] to make disciples of the nations. Maranantha!

4. john
   September 3rd, 2008 @ 2:17 pm

   Sanctification by faith seems to be almost but lost in the church today.
   This has lead to unregenerate minds and at times hearts being deceptive and wicked.
   For every wrong deed and action there always seems to be scriptures quoted to justify ones position. It somehow seems that if we have scripture to back us up we are not at fault. However if God hasn’t sanctified us and our motives in a particular area and we continue in error, we can end up twisting scriptures or God’s word as the devil did at the garden or quoting scriptures out of context as the devil did to Jesus.
   There is always room for mercy for the learning mind and the humble soul in ignorance, however as the times are reaching its fulfillment if the art of sanctification is not regained back again we are in danger of providing a platform for the devil when he comes by justifying his mistakes from scripture.

   Search me o Lord and know my heart.
   Try me and know my thoughts
   See if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting

5. Jabez H.
   September 4th, 2008 @ 11:50 am

   And sanctification, which is largely the business of God with us, working His nature in us, John, it may require well honed discernment for its personal acceptance. As the political climate in the USA today talks of change, and challenges and counterchallenges methods and means for its substance, one must look for indicators throughout the rhetoric of holiness and understanding of God’s ways and values. By the same indicators of temptation which Eve accepted as good advertising by God’s adversary–we are easily deceaved. Is change show and tell, with appeal to the senses through well proven means of entertainment and hooks into our human nature of fleshly advertising and illusions of comforts, or is change something that happens by degrees–as in the Psalms?

6. john
   September 10th, 2008 @ 9:17 am

   Hey guys
   Came across this portion of article recently,any thoughts??

   “But there are “foundations” that must be laid to come into this. And one of the most important of these foundations is a right understanding of God as a ‘HOLY’ God. -I mean deeply and utterly “Holy”. -Holy beyond words and almost beyond comprehension. The more we get a grasp of God’s HOLINESS, the more we ourselves desire holiness, and the closer and closer to Him we become. I have seen this and I know it is true.

   We all know the Scripture- “The FEAR of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” But what a lot of us don’t realize is that it is through this reverential ‘Fear’ of the Lord that we ultimately come into a deep ‘LOVE’ relationship with Him. It is utterly crucial that we embrace His judgments and holiness – as well as His mercy and grace. And as this foundation of God’s glory and holiness and majesty is laid in our hearts, our whole approach to Him changes. We start to see Him as He really is – in all His GLORY – and we start to LOVE Him more and more. And as His holiness works its way more and more into our lives, we come closer and closer to Him – not in any “romantic” or ‘sensual’ way, but in a ‘HOLY’ way. -This is a major secret of the ‘Revived’ life: Apprehending the ‘HOLY’ character and nature of God. -That is where it starts.

   Which is why I have such a problem with the “Jesus as Lover” teaching. -Because it brings God down to “our level” – a sentimental ‘romantic’ level rather than a ‘throneroom’ one. It is an awful distortion. I believe it actually ruins a lot of people’s relationship with God – rather than helping it. In many ways it is a “false Jesus” that is being preached – and the approach is completely wrong.

   I know from Scripture and all Revival history that it is the God of GLORY and HOLINESS – the “throneroom” God – that we must get to know if we are to come into the deepest heart communion and intimacy with Him. The ‘Fear’ of the Lord really is the beginning of wisdom”.

7. Paul
   September 11th, 2008 @ 8:28 am

   I cheered when I heard Dr. Brown talking about the Olympics, and the truly awful “clothing” worn by athletes these days. Modesty goes out of the window when it comes to beating a competitor or shaving 0.1 of a second off some record or other. It seems that everyone wants to wear insubstantial body-stocking type outfits which leave little to the imagination. In my more worldly days, I used to listen to secular rock and pop music (mostly heavy metal and “alternative” stuff): I remember a track by a British hip-hop artist in which he kept muttering the refrain, “everybody wants to be naked and famous”. I was rather sceptical about this observation back then, but seeing the way things are going in society in general, I’m not so sure…

   Perhaps in time, the Olympics will return to its heathen Greek roots, and they’ll dispense with clothing all together. No doubt this would meet the approval of some…

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