Good Morning,
"God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching, but has rejected God, who gives His Holy Spirit to you." (I Thess. 4:7-8) Holy Spirit leads and guide us into holiness. I like the end of this verse in the Amplified Bible, it says, "Therefore whoever disregards (sets aside and rejects this) disregards not man but God, Whose [very] Spirit [Whom] He gives to you is holy (chaste, pure). Holy Spirit is holy, pure and chaste, He will guide us into all things that are holy also. (John 14:26) We are changing how we think by renewing our mind, in order to live holy. "Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body and spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God." (II Corin. 7:1) We know that our thoughts are one of the strongest contaminate to our body and spirit. Mtt. 15:18-19; "But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what makes a man unclean and defiles (him). For out of the heart come evil thoughts (reasonings and disputings and designs) such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander, and irreverent speech." "[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." (II Corin. 10:5) Evil thoughts defile us and make us unholy and affect our conducts and behavior. So we must have a clean and undefiled heart which is the seat of our thoughts, emotions and intellect. "Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure." Change your thoughts and you change your behavior, conduct and course of life. "But nothing is pure (undefiled) to those who are corrupt and unbelieving because their minds and consciences (their thought life) are corrupted. Such people claim they know God, but they deny Him by the way they live. (their conduct, behavior, manners and lifestyle) They are detestable, worthless for anything good. (Titus 1:15-16)
We are to be working towards changing our old behavior and conduct into God's holy character. Work means activity where one exerts strength or faculties, to do or perform. A sustained physical or mental effort valued as it overcomes obstacles and achieves an objection or result. We must overcome the obstacles of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life to achieve the result of holiness. Holiness is achieved by grace with our effort of self control as we renew our mind we strengthen ourselves to do the Word as our lifestyle. It is not perfection but commitment to the pursuit of holiness. We have grace (the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in life; God's ability over our inability). Holy Spirit comes alongside as our helper and assisting us to accomplish the task. Holiness should be reflecting in our every day lives. We have SUPER – natural help. There is nothing impossible for us who believe, let's stay committed to pursuing holiness.
"Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure."
Love,
Pastor D.
Daughters of Z 