Holy Spirit Empowered Holiness

Rom 14:17-18 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.”

I grew up in the Holiness Movement. This was, and is, a well meaning group of denominations that want to live holy lives before the Lord. Their intentions are of the very highest motives. Sadly, by the time that I came around, that desire to serve God and live holy lives had been codified into a group of do’s and don’ts that were built into the disciplines of the churches. If you wanted to become a member of one these denominations you have had to agree to follow the rules. It had become guilt driven, obligation driven, holiness was being measured by externals. I know that in their hearts this is not what they had in mind, but this is what it had become.

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Rome warns against this. He had seen it happen and he knew that it would be an ongoing theme in the life of the church. It all starts out with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit where the church is supernaturally empowered and many people come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. That outpouring leads people to want to please the Lord and to lead holy lives. Sadly, at some point along the way there are some excesses and some rules are put into place to guard against them. Then as subsequent generations try to duplicate the conditions that led to the original move of God they put more rules in place. After a while they lose sight of the fact that their desire for holiness is an outgrowth of their relationship with God and not the cause of that relationship. God pours out His Spirit as He pleases. It is not dependent on our actions or our maturity. We can’t recreate the circumstances that surrounded an earlier outpouring and expect that we will have the same results.

Following certain rules does not make us holy, having a heart that is sold out for God leads us to holiness. Actions follow holiness, they do not determine holiness. Allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell and move and take control of our lives is what leads to holiness and righteousness. When the Holy Spirit indwells us the result is joy and peace and love. In 1 Corinthians chapter 13 Paul tells us that we can do all the things that a “Spirit filled person” does and if we don’t have His love we are empty. Jesus tells us that many people who follow the “holiness” rules and do all sort of good deeds will not be recognized by Him when He comes back in judgment.

Matt 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord ,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord , did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'  Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

The kingdom of God is a matter of the heart. It must be fully surrendered and yielded to God. Actions will follow from a sense of love. Actions out of duty or obligation only make the heart harden and grow in resentment. A heart filled with love born out His mercy can’t help but do things that please Him and avoid those that don’t.

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