HOLINESS, AN OPPORTUNITY, AN OPTION, AN OBLIGATION

JANUARY 31, 2012
Holiness of heart and life is an Opportunity, an Option and an Obligation.

1- As an Opportunity: God provides holiness of heart as a gift to believers. Through the redemptive work of Christ it is possible for a person who is dead in his sins and trespasses to become a child of God and for a child of God to be purified from all sin and to live a life of godliness in this present evil world. God provides everything that is necessary for life and godliness through Christ. (*see verses below).

2 Peter 1:2-4

(2)  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

(3)  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

(4)  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2- As an Option: God enables believers to choose the way of full salvation. Since God provides the grace to be holy, He also calls us to be holy. It has been said that God's call brings God's enabling. Whenever we are invited or commanded to do the will of God, it is because God is enabling us to freely obey or disobey His will. Whenever we choose to accept His work of grace it is because we are taking advantage of an option provided by God. (**see verses below).

3- As an Obligation: God requires Holiness of heart and life. God provides the way of holiness and God enables us to choose His way of holiness because holiness of heart and life are obligatory for a right relationship with God. (***see verses below).

*OPPORTUNITY... GOD PROVIDES HOLINESS

1 Thessalonians 4:3
(3) For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

Ephesians 5:26-27
(26) That He (Christ) might sanctify and cleanse it (the Church) with the washing of water by the word,
(27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
(23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(24) Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Hebrews 13:20-21
(20) Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
(21) Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

**OPTION... GOD ENABLES US TO CHOOSE HOLINESS
2 Corinthians 7:1
(1) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Matthew 5:6
(6) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

1 John 3:3
(3) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Isaiah 1:16
(16) Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

***OBLIGATION... GOD REQUIRES HOLINESS
Hebrews 12:14
(14) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Matthew 5:8
(8) Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
(7) For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
(8) He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Psalms 24:3-4
(3) Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
(4) He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Upward and Onward in Jesus,

Pastor David L. Gould

SAIL WITH THE TIDE

JANUARY 30, 2012
Often heard in old seafaring movies, "We sail with the tide." In the days before power boats it was essential to enter and leave a harbor with the right tide, and the help of a favorable wind. I still hope for favorable tide and wind when I am kayaking or sailing.

CHRISTIAN, now is the time to serve the Lord, before the tide ebbs out and the wind is gone.

Launch Out and Hold Fast,

Pastor David L. Gould

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL AND THE PREACHED WORD

JANUARY 29, 2012

What People Gather

The man would draw nuggets of gold, which he had dug from his mine, and then cast them along life's pathway, as gifts to whoever would take them. Most of the people gathered the scattered debris that blew across the landscape, they gathered the trash left by care-less travelers, they gathered the filth deposited by the refuse dealers. Surprisingly, very few gathered the nuggets. They lived in poverty and darkness, they wore rags, they lost home and covering, they starved and died, because they refused to gather the wealth that was there for the taking. Someone has said that evangelism is, "One hungry man telling another hungry man where to find bread."

Precious few people perceive the power that is packed into the Prophetic and the Proclaimed word of God.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

The Imagery
The following notes are the background to my imagery. I try to give more than a surface meaning to my allegories and metaphors.

Gold Nuggets... The value of eternal wealth.
Dug From Mine... Derived from dedication and personal sacrifice.
Cast Along Life's Pathway... Shared in the marketplaces, the social settings and the workplaces of life.
Scattered Debris... The humanistic focus on useful resources (education, medicine, law, government, science).
Trash, Careless Travelers... Unessential but useful resources that are neither good nor bad (exaggerated and humanistic focus on sports, recreation, amusement, the arts), and the people whose lives are defined by these resources.
Filth, Refuse Dealers... Vain philosophy, false religion, pornography, destructive elements and the people who promote these things.

Whenever the resources of life become the focus (replacing the focus on eternal truths and Biblical values), they become temporal, secular and counterproductive to a life of real worth.

Launch Out and Hold Fast,

Pastor David L. Goul

AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH

JANUARY 28, 2012

Some Things Never Change
The neighbor looked at the wild eyed, doomsday preacher and said, "What you say is true about our wicked and violent world, and it only makes sense that God will judge us someday. If I were you I would try to find an escape." The holiness preacher answered with shocked incredulity at the neighbor's remark, and pointed to his boat, saying, "I do have an escape, for me, my wife, my three son's and their wives, and animals galore." The neighbor responded by getting drunk, beating his wife and abusing his children. Some things never change.

A FEW THOUGHTS...

Actually, Noah was a preacher of hope and grace for those who would repent, but there would be judgment for those who resisted and rejected God's call, just as there will be in the future (Mt. 22:14).

Noah Was A Holiness Preacher.
2 Peter 2:5
(5) And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Note...

Righteousness does not mean simply a legal declaration of justification, it means a Divine imparting of righteousness (holiness).

Strong tells us that the word in this passage (S-1343) comes from a word (S-1342) which means equitable (in character or act), innocent or holy.

Thayer tells us that this word indicates the condition which is acceptable to God; integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting.

The Message And The Messenger
Noah was a holiness preacher, not only because he preached holiness of heart and life, but because he was a recipient of saving grace.

Noah Was A Righteous Man And Perfect In His Generation, And He Walked With God.

Genesis 6:8-9
(8) But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
(9) These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Noah Was The Heir Of Righteousness (holiness) By Faith.
Hebrews 11:6-7
(6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
(7) By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

More Than Mental Assent

Both sinners and believers are often impressed with the validity of Bible teaching and preaching, but most of them refuse to follow the way of the cross, because they consider the personal cost to be too great.

People have told me that they agree with my message, but if they followed it, they would lose their “stuff,” they would “end up in jail,” they would lose their “families,” they might “be killed” for their faith. Believers have told me that no one else has ever shown them the Biblical truth of holiness of heart and life, but then they return to churches that teach graceless, sinning religion.

Holiness Is Not Just An Option, It Is An Obligation.
Hebrews 12:14
(14) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

1 John 3:2-10
(2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
(3) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
(4) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
(5) And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
(6) Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
(7) Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
(8) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
(9) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
(10) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

The Christian's answer to a world in chaos (failed education, corrupted government, greed driven economics, pro-sodomy social code, violence, bigotry, sinning religion) is living a life of holiness and perfect love, which flows from a pure heart.

I could quote famous people who contradict these words or explain them away, but I have chosen to believe God and His word.

Indeed, some things never change.

Launch Out and Hold Fast,

Pastor David L. Gould

POEM, 10 LITTLE CHRISTIANS (copied)

JANUARY 26, 2012
A Facebook friend posted a poem I had forgotten about. I hope you enjoy it, but I hope it also stirs you to greater resolve and faith in serving Jesus.

A POEM

Ten Little Christians, standing in a line,
One disliked the pastor, then there were nine.

Nine little Christians stayed up very late,
One slept late on Sunday, then there were eight.

Eight little Christians on their way to Heaven,
One took the low road, then there were seven.

Seven little Christians chirping like some chicks,
One disliked the music then there were six.

Six little Christians seemed very much alive,
But one lost his interest then there were five.

Five little Christians pulling for Heaven's shore,
One stopped to rest then there were four.

Four little Christians, busy as a bee,
One got her feelings hurt, then there were three.

Three little Christians knew not what to do.
One joined the sporting crowd, then there were two.

Two little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done,
Differed with each other, then there was one.

One little Christian, can't do much 'tis true;
Brought his friend to Bible study--then there were two!

Two earnest Christians, each won one more,
That doubled the number, then there were four!

Four sincere Christians worked early and late,
Each won another, then there were eight!

Eight splendid Christians, if they doubled as before,
In a few short weeks, we'd have 1,024!

In this little jingle, there's a lesson true:

You either belong to the building crew;
Or you belong to the wrecking crew!
How true!
(Author Unknown, edited)

Launch Out and Hold Fast,

Pastor David L. Gould

NOT WITHOUT A PREACHER

JANUARY 24, 2O12

How Sad! People Are Held Captive

I constantly meet people who have been Christians for decades, attending supposedly respected evangelical churches, but have nearly no grace or knowledge of Biblical Christianity. Always learning but never attaining.

Harriet Tubman said,
"I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves."

The Power Of The Gospel
The gospel has the power to deliver.

It can free those who are enslaved, once they realize they are enslaved.

It can regenerate the dead, once they realize they are dead in sins and trespasses.

It can empower the weak, once they realize they are powerless.

It can restore the lost, once they realize they have gone astray.

It can give sight, knowledge, understanding and wisdom to those who realize that they are in spiritual darkness.

When Jesus Launched His Ministry He Read From Isaiah,

Luke 4:18-21

(18)  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

(19)  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

(20)  And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

(21)  And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Listen To The Preacher With God's Message

Romans 10:14-17

(14)  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

(15)  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

(16)  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

(17)  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Launch Out and Hold Fast,

Pastor David L. Gould

FAULTY FOUNDATIONS

JANUARY 28, 2012

TWO DANGEROUS SOURCES

Here are two sources from which you should not get your Theology or Bible training.

1. People who are not proficient in the Bible and the doctrines of the Christian faith.

2. Those who are trained, but do not believe the Bible.

THREE PROBLEMS
1. Many believers today have been given Deformed Theology and Sound Bite Bible teaching, with the result that they don't have the ability or the desire to listen to an in-depth study or explanation. They like cutesy-poo phrases and definitions rather than accurate and thoughtful information.
2. Most people today are focused on human theologies rather than the revealed truths of the Bible. They are impressed with human teachers to the extent that they don't even read or recognize what the Bible actually says. They judge the word of God by some man's view rather than judging men's words by the revelation of God.
3. Studies show that we, almost always, only see the thing or the idea, for which we are looking. When we focus on one subject or object, we do not see other realities, even when they parade directly in from of us. This is what happens when human theology is the focus.

Seeing is Not Always Believing
People are so focused on the principles of sinning religion they do not realize what the Bible actually says, even when they read the words. Often times I read passages to people, and they sit in awe struck silence, because they had read it many times before, but never saw what it said until the focus was taken off of sinning religion.

Therefore they are shocked when they hear that the Bible says, God delivers us from the sinful nature in this present life; that God enables believers to live without sinning; that we can be holy, even as God is holy; that we can be pure, even as He is pure; that we can be righteous, even as He is righteous; that we can be perfect, even as our Father is perfect (in love); that we can be upright.

Sometimes these people say that they have seen what the Bible says, but they dismissed it because the leading minds of the Christian world say that the Bible does not mean what it says on this subject.

"Cutsey Poo" or Catchy Phrases

Forgiven, Not Perfect...

It is popular to say, "I am not perfect, just forgiven." Well, even if they are not perfect, they are lot more than just forgiven. They are Regenerated, they are New Creations, they are Adopted, they are Sanctified (initially), they are Partakers of Divine Nature, they are Partakers of the Holy Spirit, etc. Yet, people think they sound spiritual by saying, "... I am just forgiven." In fact, if they are "just forgiven" they are not are not even saved. Put that on your bumper sticker and flaunt it.

We All Sin, Every Day, In Word, Thought And Deed

It is true that we have all sinned in our past, and it is possible to sin again, but salvation saves us from disobedience now. Also, if we sin every day in word, thought and deed, we are no more saved from sin than the devil. Though we have all sinned, God is glorified by keeping us from sin, as well as forgiving us of our sins. Remember, salvation from sin is salvation from sin's Penalty, Pollution and Power.

There is a false humility in focusing on our failures rather than God's deliverance. We should not ignore or white wash our past or our present failures, but we should not resurrect that which has died with Christ and is forgotten by God. We should not diminish the Great Salvation of Christ by exalting the work of Satan and sin over God's triumphant grace.

We Are Just Sinners; Still In The Flesh; Carnal

While this may be true of the person who says it, it is not true of the person who is walking with God. This is simply an excuse for sin and failure, while trying to look spiritual. It is the same as Flip Wilson saying, "The devil made me do it." Grace is greater than the devil, and grace is greater than our sin.

Without going into an explanation at this point, let me just say that the Bible refutes the idea that those who are saved are "just sinners saved by grace." We are saints, holy ones, partakers of Divine nature, new creatures in Christ. Those who follow Christ fully are delivered from being in the, "Flesh" and being "Carnal."

The blood of Christ saves us from the world, the flesh and the devil. False humility and false doctrine says that God cannot or will not save us from these things in this life, it says only death can save us from. However, the Bible teaches that Christ alone saves from sin, and death is our enemy, not our savior.

We Only Have A Testimony If We Overcome Tests

Another bit of sound bite theology was aimed at me recently. Since I got saved when I was three years old and since I got entirely sanctified during my college days, someone told me that I do not have any real TESTIMONY. The reason; "We have a testimony when we have been delivered from a real TEST, like drugs, alcohol, adultery, crime, perversion..." My response was, "I guess Jesus did not have a testimony either, since He never even had a carnal nature." It seems that a person can only be a valued witness if he has been a sorry scoundrel. The more vile a person has been, the better his TESTimony. Of course, I do not swallow this swill.

I believe God wants to save children early and keep them from being caught up in the ways of the world. According to this point of view, I guess my sins as a small child were not great enough to give me a testimony; I guess that God's keeping me from a life of debauchery is not a great testimony. Yes, I failed God along the way, but He forgave and restored me. My testimony is not based upon my failure, but upon God's grace, mercy, power, love and redemption.

A holy life (lived in the power of Christ) the best testimony. Also, God calls His revelation, His "Testimony." A testimony has more to do with our witness and God's glory than with our guilt; with our victory, than with our failure.

There Has Only Been One Perfect Man

This argument is raised, as if there is any challenge to the Uniqueness of Christ. Actually, there is only One Who is absolutely and inherently perfect, and that is the tri-une God.

Of course we are not inherently perfect, but that does not mean we should be satisfied with being less than God wants us to become. There is a Redemptive Perfection that is available in this life, required of those who are believers in Christ. We cannot glorify both sin and God at the same time. We cannot glorify God by denying His power over sin. We cannot be Biblical and deny (Atonement, Biblical, Christian) Perfection. Biblical Perfection glorifies God and His work of salvation, it does not glorify the believer, anymore than justification glorifies the believer.

There are other such phrases, but you see what I mean by the "one liners," the "sound bite" and the "cutesy poo" theological phrases. These man made, hell born ideas rob both God and man.

Upward and Onward In Jesus,

Pastor David L. Gould