TRANSFORMING LOVE
GOD MAKES YOU HOLY THROUGH DISCIPLINE, Part 7 (EPILOGUE)
“…WHOM THE LORD LOVETH HE CHASTENETH (DISCIPLINES)…” (HEBREW 12:6 KJV).
“…be ye holy, for I am holy…” (1 Peter 1:16 KJV).
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Nonetheless, from the beginning, in Genesis, God said he won’t always STRIVE (fight) with man (woman) “...BUT, the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man (woman), for that he (she) also is flesh: yet his (her) days shall be an hundred and twenty years...” (Genesis 6:3 KJV).
God destroyed the old world in a flood because of the ongoing wickedness. The discipline of God is a form of fighting with you for the purpose of holiness. God sends events, experiences, and Godly people in your life to teach or direct or draw you into his HOLY and righteous ways.
God demonstrated in the Old Testament that his Spirit will not always fight with YOU and eventually he will leave his people to their sinful choices.
God, the Holy Spirit, is rich in Grace and Mercy, but mankind is ENTITLED to their human will, which he GAVE to them to make their OWN choices. “…My people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “…[God said:]... my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned away and ABANDONED me….” (JEREMIAH 5:23 NLT).
God can SEE “into” the heart of mankind.“...God, who examines our hearts...” (1 Thessalonians 2:4 NASB). “...the LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART…” (1 Samuel 16:7 NASB). God looks at the “…hidden man (woman) of the heart…” (1 Peter 3:4 KJV). “…Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men (women)…” (Acts 1:24 KJV).
“…No one needed… to tell him (Jesus) about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart…” (John 2:24-25 NLT).
“…[The] ...Lord (Jesus), which knowest the hearts of all men (women)…” (Acts 1:24 KJV). “… He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth. The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked…” (Psalm 11:4-5 NLT).
“…Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable…” (Hebrews 4:13 NLT).
“…[if]...thy heart is not right in the sight of God [he will know]…” (Acts 8:21 KJV).
God SAW into the HEARTS of men (women) before the flood. “...the Lord [god]... saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. So the Lord was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Then the Lord said, “I will wipe out mankind whom I have created from the face of the land; mankind, and animals as well, and crawling things, and the birds of the sky. For I am sorry that I have made them...” (Genesis 6:5-7 NASB).
“...God saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil—evil, evil, evil from morning to night. God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. God said, “I’ll get rid of my ruined creation, make a clean sweep: people, animals, snakes and bugs, birds—the works. I’m sorry I made them...” (Genesis 6:6 MSG).
God has NOT changed. He can STILL SEE the wickedness of mankind. “…Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable…” (Hebrews 4:13 NLT).
God, the Holy Spirit, FOREWARNED the people for 120 years, before the FLOOD, through NOAH, that his wrath was coming! “... I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God...” (Galatians 5:19-21 NASB).
“…My people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “...they chose to rebel against him, and they were finally destroyed by their [own] ...sin…” (Psalms 106:42-48 NLT).
“...Then the Lord said, “I will wipe out mankind whom I have created from the face of the land; mankind, and animals as well, and crawling things, and the birds of the sky. For I am sorry that I have made them...” (Genesis 6:5-7 NASB).
“…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV).
“...For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be...” (Matthew 24:37-39 NASB).
God “….is ... NOT WILLING that any should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance…” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV). However, “…EXCEPT YE REPENT, ye shall all likewise PERISH…” (Luke 13:3 KJV).
God DOESN’T change and he is STILL “LOOKING” at the HEARTS of his people. GOD IS “always” LOOKING “DIRECTLY” AT the HEART of HIS people!! “...God sees not as man (woman) sees, for man (woman) looks at the outward appearance (the DOING), but the LORD looks at the heart (the BEING)…” (1 Samuel 16:7 NASB).
God zooms in on the “…hidden man (woman) of the heart…” (1 Peter 3:4 KJV). God knows it is “…from within, out of the heart of man (woman), proceed evil thoughts… wickedness…All these evil things come from within, and defile a person.” (Mark 7:21-23 KJV).
The heart, without God, the Holy Spirit, and ALL that it contains “…is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked…who can know it [except God?]…” (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV).
It is God and God alone that can CREATE, within HIS people, through Jesus, his LIVING Word, a CLEAN (HOLY) heart. “Create in me a clean heart, O God… Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. …” (Psalms 51:10-19 KJV).
“....Now ye (God’s people) are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you (through Jesus, his LIVING Word)...” (John 15:1-10 KJV). “...[God’s people can stay] .... holy and clean, washed by the cleansing [power]...of God’s Word ...” (Ephesians 5:26 KJV). “…[God’s people]... can do ALL THINGS through Christ (the Word of God) which strengtheneth [them]…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). “…He (Jesus, god’s word) will keep you strong to the end…” (1 Corinthians 1:8 NLT).
SIN and HOLINESS don’t mix like oil and water don't mix, but NATURALLY separate. What will NATURALLY happen if God’s people RETURN to practicing a sinful lifestyle?
“…Be ye NOT unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? [NONE]...And what communion hath light with darkness? [NONE]...And what concord hath Christ with Belial? [NONE]...Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? [NONE]...” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15 KJV). SIN SEPARATES!! “... And besides all this, between us and you [there] a great chasm (barrier) …” (Luke 16:22-25 NASB).
“...the Lord [god]... saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually...” (Genesis 6:5-7 NASB). God is MERCIFUL and will FORGIVE all your sins, but would a HOLY God be able to, naturally, BOND, be YOKED together with, or FELLOWSHIP with a PRACTICING, WICKED, sinner?
“... And besides all this, between [the natural world]... and [the supernatural world, there is] a great chasm (barrier) …” (Luke 16:22-25 NASB).
God, the Holy Spirit, sent Jesus to make his people HOLY again, because he WANTED to RECONCILE with them. “… [He sent the ] …one … who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus…” (1 Timothy 2:5 NLT).
“... Herein is love...God ...loved [his people] and sent His Son to be the propitiation for [their]... sins...” (1 John 4:10 KJV). “…the just for the unjust, that he might bring ...[his people back] to God …” (1 Peter 3:18 KJV). “..[They]... were reconciled to God by the death of his Son...” (Romans 5:10 KJV).
God’s desire for his people’s HOLINESS is another expression and demonstration of his TRANSFORMING LOVE. God desires to FELLOWSHIP with them and holiness ALLOWS God’s people TO SEE him better, clearer, more authentically, and in life changing WAYS! “… I AM HOLY…” (1 Peter 1:14-16 KJV). “...There is none holy as the Lord…” (1 Samuel 2:2 KJV). God is “…majestic in holiness…” (Exodus 15:11 KJV). “… His … [Holiness] … is above earth and heaven…” (Psalms 148:13 NASB).
“… [God allows trouble, trials, tribulations, discipline events, situations, or circumstances, etc.,]…for [his people’s] profit, that [they] might be partakers (participants) of his holiness...” (Hebrews 12:10 KJV).
SO, “...Make every effort ... to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord...” (Hebrews 12:13 NIV).
“...[For it is God] who hath saved [you], and called [you]... with an holy calling, not according to [your]... works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given [his people]... in Christ Jesus before the world began...” (2 Timothy 1:9 KJV).
God, the Holy Spirit CALLED his people to BE HOLY, because he wants to share, sweet, intimate, close fellowship with each of them. He is willing to DISCIPLINE them and CORRECT in order to maintain and sustain the “covenant unity” relationship. “...the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in...” (Proverbs 3:12 NIV). “...Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent...” (Revelation 3:19 NIV). “….For whom the Lord loveth he CORRECTETH…” (Proverbs 3:12 KJV). “...God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life...” (1 Thessalonians 4:6 NIV).
“...Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship...” (Romans 12:1-2 NIV).
“...Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will...” (Romans 12:1-2 NIV).
If God regretted he’d made mankind, in the Old Testament, because of their ongoing, continual practice of wicked behavior and decided to wipe them off the face of the earth, what does it say about how God feels or thinks about SIN? “...Then the Lord said, “I will wipe out mankind whom I have created from the face of the land; mankind, and animals as well, and crawling things, and the birds of the sky. For I am sorry that I have made them...” (Genesis 6:5-7 NASB).
What is God SEEING, upon earth, NOW? Is his own people a PART of the wicked crowd? “...the Lord [god]... saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually...” (Genesis 6:5-7 NASB).
God’s people often, willfully, followed their OWN stubborn choices. “…But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “...But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires…” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).
Some of God’s OWN people will NOT come to Jesus (God’s Word) to live HOLY or righteous NOR will they repent. “...and [his people]... will not come to me (Jesus, the Word of God) that [they] might have [HOLY, spiritual]... life...” (John 5:40 KJV).
This verse says, “...YOU will not come to Me (Jesus, God’s WORD)…” which means you, whoever YOU is, will not respond to God’s commandment to “COME.
God, the Holy Spirit, has a FAITHFUL, immutable ROLE in the “covenant unity” relationship and will always CHOOSE to be with his people, but his people don’t always choose to abide with him. The scripture said “...you WILL not come...” Who is the “YOU” in this verse?
Just because someone believes in God, the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ doesn’t mean they are in a committed relationship with HIM. DEMONS believe too! “...You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?...” (James 2:18-24 NIV).
Some people who PROCLAIM to be children of God NEVER fully commit themselves to Jesus Christ, but are more or less hypocrites. “…“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves” (Mark 23:15 “…Their worship is a farce, for they teach [and learn] man-made ideas as commands from God…” (Mark 7:6-8 NLT).
“…the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, “Why don’t your disciples follow our age-old tradition? Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition’…” (Mark 7:6-8 NLT).
“…The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands,[as required by their ancient traditions. Similarly, they don’t eat anything from the market until they immerse their hands[in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to—such as their ceremonial washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles. So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, “Why don’t your disciples follow our age-old tradition? …Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! …” (Mark 7:6-8 NLT).
“...Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe … [Yet, you] have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others...” (Matthew 23:23 NASB).
“….These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far FROM ME…” (Matthew 15:8 NLT). “...God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart…”(1 Samuel 16:7 NASB). God zooms in on the “…hidden man of the heart…” (1 Peter 3:4 KJV).
The Pharisees sustained a religious, self-invented spirituality and were less likely to turn to trusting in and depending upon the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. “...Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye…” (Mark 7:13 KJV).
The scribes and Pharisees mastered their OWN self-effort type of religion. Jesus said, “…You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life….”(Mark 5:39-40 NASB).
It doesn’t “matter” HOW MUCH you know ABOUT God's word through knowledge, if you don’t KNOW the WORD through experience and application.
Many of God’s children won’t repent from lifelong, self-effort religious practices and will continue to “do” Christianity without having an intimate, covenant revelational knowledge of God, the Holy Spirit. “…Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity…” (Matthew 7:22-23 KJV).
Apart from Jesus Christ, “…ye can do nothing…” (John 15:5 KJV). You can’t live a righteous life without Jesus empowering you to do so.
People can FOOL themselves and the world, with self-invented Christianity, accumulated book-knowledge, false piety, and fake spiritual fruit. Knowing about God’s truths and righteous ways is not the same as living his truths and walking IN his ways.
No matter how successful you become as a self-invented Christian, if you are not committed to Jesus, you will remain unchanged. “…If [God’s people] “SAY” that [they]... have fellowship with him, and WALK IN DARKNESS (like demon), WE LIE, and DO NOT THE TRUTH…” (1 John 1:6 KJV). “... the devils also believe...” (James 2:19 KJV). “... except your righteousness (self-invented Christianity) shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven...” (Matthew 5:10 KJV).
What is your REWARD for fooling the WORLD with your self-invented Christianity and piety? “…What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?...” (Mark 8:36 KJV).
Please PAY ATTENTION, God is looking at ONE thing: YOUR HEART. If you are practicing your religion to be seen by mere men(women), that’s your reward “…But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men(women)…” (Matthew 23:5 NASB). “…And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to … [be] seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward…”(Matthew 6:5 KJV).
Being seen by men is a fleeting moment in time. “…Take heed that ye do not your alms before men (women), to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven…” (Matthew 6:1 KJV). “…For they love to …[be] seen of men (women). Verily I say unto you, They have the reward … ” (Matthew 6:5 KJV).
MEN and WOMEN look outwardly, but God looks inwardly. “...God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart…”(1 Samuel 16:7 NASB).
Godly discipline or correction is the only way God’s people can be taught or trained in HOLINESS. To be in the family and “covenant unity” with God, HOLINESS CAN NOT be an option, but a requirement. “…Be holy, because I am holy…” (1 Peter 1:16 KJV). “…KEEP ALL my decrees BY putting them into PRACTICE, for I am the Lord who makes you holy…” (Leviticus 20:8 NLT).
To NEGLECT holiness is to neglect the GREAT SALVATION, which RECONCILED his people BACK to HIM, God, the HOLY Spirit. “...For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?...” (Hebrews 2:2-4 KJV).
God, the Holy Spirit, MAKES his people HOLY and empowers them to STAY HOLY, if they choose to do so. HOLINESS is NOT an OPTION for God’s people, but an REQUIREMENT. “…I am the Lord who makes you holy…” (Leviticus 20:8 NLT). “…Be holy, because I am holy…” (1 Peter 1:16 KJV). “…KEEP ALL my decrees BY putting them into PRACTICE, …” (Leviticus 20:8 NLT).
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