GREENE STREET LETTERS: Holiness? Really? Holiness?

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Holiness? Really? Holiness?

I Peter 1:15-16

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."

The video above is of Leonard Ravenhill...Not only was he an incredible man of God, but he was also an instrument through which God spoke. Leonard speech and message hits hard on the ears of this generation. It is not cuddly and sweet. It is a cup of cold water to the face, awakening you from the spiritual slumber that lulls you into a false sense of security and slumber.

Today with all our glitz and smoke and "Stuff" that the church utilizes to reach people and bring them in, we look at video's such as this and label it out of touch or out of date. For me it burns with the message of just how shallow my own faith is. How I have settled for less than what God desires of me. To couch and clothe in religious jargon that which is not truly from God. Quick to utter prophetic words that stem more from my flesh than from the Spirit of God that lives within me.
I need a fresh touch from God.
I need to be revived.
I need to be awakened.
I need to learn how to love.
I need to cast off all the trinkets and baubles of this world to embrace the purifying fire of God.
Oh that He would burn me deep and long that I might truly know just how wretched a man I am. More than knowing, my I resolve to cast off through confession and repentance, that which has battled for my attention and affection I owe only To God.
Let Revival Come to this old heart, that I may live again.

That I may live to fulfill your purpose in this old world.

Society may have labeled such terms as "holiness" and "purity" as being out of vogue and old fashioned. Maybe society is the one who has gone out of fashion and out of touch with Who God is and what God expects of us. Holiness is not simply rules that we must keep. Holiness is the very nature of God, born into me at my salvation by His Holy Spirit. Holiness is a way of life that is lived to reflect the image of Jesus to a lost (standing and living outside the will of God) and dying (not natural death, but a spiritual death that leads to eternal separation from God) world. Holiness is not what you do...
Holiness is who you are.

God on you...........
mbb

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Looking At The World Through Cracked Lens

As ol' Paul wrote in his Corinthian letters.."We see in part and we know in part." Now what piece of this bit of wisdom do we not get? I wish to not run around acting and trying to be some sort of Biblical G00-Ru (I meant to spell it wrong). Or a sage of sages.

I simply want to be able to communicate some of what God has given to me. Why? Do I think what I get is better than what you may have received from Him? Nope. But I do think encouragement comes when we share our daily story of struggle and victory in an effort to encourage each other.

Thanks for letting me share.

Time to soldier on..

mbb

Our Statement of Faith

We believe that God is the eternal king. He is an infinite, unchangeable Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power and love. From all eternity He exists as the One Living and True God in three persons of one substance, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit equal in power and glory. we believe that God created mankind in His image, male and female, for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth. Under the temptation of Satan, our original parents fell from grace, bringing sin, sickness and God's judgment of death to the earth. Through the fall, Satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God's good creation. Creation now experiences the consequences and effects of Adam's original sin. Human beings are born into sin, subject to God's judgment of death and captive to Satan's kingdom of darkness. We believe that Jesus, God's Son, was sent to this world, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary, fully God and fully man in one person. He is humanity as God intended us to be. Jesus was anointed as God's Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit, ushering in God's kingdom reign on earth, overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation, preaching the good news of salvation, healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead. Jesus' atoning death on the cross took God's judgment for sin which we deserved as law-breakers. Jesus' resurrection and ascent back to heaven opened the door for those who received salvation to begin a relationship with God.

Little Nets Into Deep Waters

Fishing nets were designed for one purpose only. To catch fish. Nets are no good if they stay on the boat. Nets serve no purpose if they are never used. I think maybe God sees us this way. We are all created for a purpose (by the way, the creator gets to define what our purpose is). Any other use besides the one we were created for does us no good. But when the creator places His hands upon us, casting us out into those scary, dark places with deep waters, it is then we can see the reality of our purpose. He knew there would be a catch waiting for us. I think I will be the net God has called me to be.

The Twelve Steps

As a community of people in recovery, we affirm that our higher power is Jesus Christ. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Just as God told the children of Israel He was going to give them a promised land, He has revealed to us that He desires to give us a "Promised Life." When Israel got to the promised land, God instructed them to go and in a possess it, fight for it and claim it. In recovery, the 12 Steps are the directions given to us on how to fight, possess and claim this promised life.

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Holiness? Really? Holiness?

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THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD