GET ESTABLISHED IN LOVE AND HOLINESS

Dear beloved saints,

          1 Thess. 3:12-13 says:  “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 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.”  NKJV

 

 

Notice this Scripture is saying two things:  establish you in love, increase in love so that you would be blameless in holiness.  This shows us that we can’t live a holy life without walking in love.  Actually, walking in love is the apex of holiness.

What does holiness really mean?  Does it mean never wearing any makeup or jewelry?    According to Strong’s Dictionary, the word holiness is: “the process, quality, and condition of a set apart disposition and the quality of being set apart in personal conduct.  It is the quality that separates the believer from the world.  It consecrates us to God’s service both in soul and in body, finding fulfillment in moral dedication and a life committed to purity.”

Holiness causes every component of our character to stand God’s inspection and meet His approval.”  To be holy is also to be set apart or sanctified for the Lord exclusively.  Also see 1st Peter 1:13-16.  The last phrase there is:  “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Our Father God is love and He is holy.  He wants us to walk in love and to be holy as He is.  That’s the high calling of God.  If you’re serious with God, you’ll find that the Holy Spirit will deal with you individually in a personalized way.  But He also deals with us collectively.  The exhortation to be holy is not for condemnation but to enlarge our tent so we can be greater vessels God can use.  The Lord has expressed His desire for this season to be “one of the Holy Spirit and fire, but also one of the nine fruits of the spirit and the nine gifts of the Spirit to be in manifestation with an explosion in the area of holiness.”  The fruits of the spirit have to do with character and holiness while the gifts have to do with demonstrations of the Spirit of God.  Both must go together for any lasting work of God.

          How can you get yourself ready for these things?  2 Cor.7:1 says:  Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. NKJV

That’s a good place to start…cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.  Brethren, there’s a calling.  A calling to love and holiness.  He wants us to give Him our will and our bodies so He can show Himself to the world through our bodies.  It takes a work of the Holy Spirit being given room for one to be really made holy or set apart for Himself.  Will you give Him a chance?