August 1, 2006
1 Peter 1:15-16
(15) But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
(16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
As we live in these End Times, sin, evil , apostasy, injustice and all social ills are happening all around us and through all this storm of evil and sin thrown against the True Saints by Satan, The Lord Jesus Christ commands that we stand firm in Him by abiding in Him alone and bare fruit and that our fruit should remain. This fruit is the character and likeness of Jesus Christ in us. The Lord calls us to be Holy just as He is Holy.
Now, when one begins to speak about Holiness, most Christians especially in the West think about legalism. My experience with Christians in the West is that they think Holiness is just “a gift from God” and we do nothing about it and we simply confess we are Holy and as such become...many claim erroneously that Jesus Christ has given them holiness on the Cross and they have nothing to do about it...
However, this is deceit from Satan and I testify that I have seen many Christians walk and live as the world and claim that they have righteousness by faith in Christ Jesus but the fruit that comes out of their lives is that of the flesh and demons. Many who speak and teach about holiness are labeled “Holier than thou”, “self righteous” , and other blasphemous terms by worldly Christians...
Such thinking is not scriptural and is one in which people take the grace of God in vain and insult the Spirit of Grace.
The Lord commands that we be Holy as He is Holy. The Lord commands that we separate from all that which is sin and evil and be separate and holy unto him...
The consequences of not doing so are detrimental and fatal. For without holiness one will not see God. I know many will be offended by such a message but God's word is His Word and we are to Obey.
I understand and know that there are those who think that holiness is legalism and they rule their fellow brethren with an iron fist in regards to holiness and set rules of 'do this and don't do that'...such people exist and sad to mention is that they are very many of them in Christendom and even among the so-called end time remnant movement.
However, this does not negate the word of God and Command of The Lord for us to be Holy... We cannot go around these scriptures and simply ignore them simply because of some legalistic brother or preacher...that is no excuse for us not being Holy as God has commanded us in His word.
In these last days The command is clear that we be Holy as God is Holy...
Our walk in holiness can only be founded in our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot be Holy without The Cross of Jesus Christ. Any Holiness that is outside Jesus Christ is false and a counterfeit and deceit and the end thereof is the same as that of the hypocrites, the Pharisees and Scribes who sadly happen to populate many pulpits today...
Sanctification is part and parcel of salvation. We must continuously be sanctified and bring to death those elements of the flesh and self in us by bringing them to the Cross daily. Yes, sanctification is part and parcel of salvation. Those who teach otherwise are only telling half truth and lies...
Holiness is a calling to which we must heed. It is separation from all which God calls sin and evil and embracing the life of Jesus Christ in us...the life of righteousness and Holiness.
Holiness is a separation from the world, love of the world, lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life, all which steam from Satan and his demons in this world.
I remember when I lived in the United States, how many times Christians and pastors would get offended big time whenever I raised the question of Holiness. I found that many Christians claimed that they had this green light to get to heaven and their righteousness was paid for and they had nothing to worry about yet their lives were filled with all sorts of worldliness, unrighteousness, and evil for which they gave excuses that they lived under grace and when pressed harder they claimed that we had to be “weak to the weak”.
I found this so nauseating, disgusting and an insult to the Spirit of Grace. I found out that this was just an excuse for many notable Christians to sin and live a life after the world while at the same time using Christianity as a cover. Many would go ahead to state that their life was their business and all who tried to call them to accountability to God's Word would be seen as an enemy. Brethren, such behavior is simply insulting the Spirit of Grace and abusing God's Grace...
Hebrews 10:26-30I have had no troubles preaching about Holiness in Africa like I did in America. In Africa after I preached about Holiness, people would at least be on their knees in repentance towards God of Heaven and weeping and crying before God that they would receive grace to overcome all sin and worldliness in their lives.
(26) For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
(27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
(28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
(29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
(30) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
However, in America, I always got ridiculed, ostracized, called names like,” holier than thou”, “self righteous” and in one assembly I was actually kicked out and excommunicated simply for one reason being that I spoke about holiness...the leader of this assembly claimed that I was judgmental to his sheep... So, I ask, why is it an offense to speak about holiness among some Western Christians?????
Some Christians would label me a heretic, holier than thou, but yet all I did was show them God's word about holiness and God's call for us to live holy. In these end times with sin abounding, the devil is out deceiving many Christians that no matter what they do, they have a ticket to heaven as long as they confessed Jesus before their church...once saved always saved doctrine...
Many think that they can live like the world, love the world, be like the world as long as they were baptized and go to church.
Even among the so-called end time movement, I found this hypocrisy were some Christians hide their love for the world and at the end of the day claim that they are under grace and have all things paid for by Jesus Christ.
Brethren, don't be deceived, if we love the world, then we are enemies of God and The Love of The Father is NOT in us!
Hebrews 2:1-3
(1) Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
(2) For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
(3) 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;
We should take heed that we be not deceived with the deceitfulness of sin. Sin comes in deceitfulness and with the aim of robbing our right standing with God. We are called to exhort each other daily to holiness, sanctification, purity, righteousness, all done out of love in Jesus Christ and NOT legalism like some people do.
I speak especially to the so-called remnant groups in America, don't be deceived, without holiness, you will NEVER see God...don't be deceived that because you left Babylonian religious systems therefore you are no longer accountable to God's Holy Word and the call for a Holy Life in Christ Jesus...those who tell you that you can simply claim grace, grace, grace are deceiving you and fooling around with you... God calls all His people to a life of Holiness...
Hebrews 3:12-14
(12) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
(13) But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
(14) For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;
>>We are called to serve God in Righteousness and holiness all the days of our lives...one of the reasons for our redemption is to live a holy life before God...
Luke 1:74-75>>We are to yield our members – bodies as servants of Righteousness unto Holiness and not visa versa as some do today...God gives us grace to overcome only if we obey His commandments and yield our lives to Him...
(74) That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
(75) In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
Romans 6:19
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
>>Our fruits – spiritual fruit should not be that of sin and worldliness but that of holiness...
Romans 6:22
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
>>We are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, Holy and acceptable unto God! This is not just a 'live as you will thing'...this is a command from The Lord...that we be NOT conformed to this world...what more clear command can we get from this scripture concerning holiness? Those Christians who think that they can live like the world and enjoy the world and love the world are deluded and on the Broadway to destruction...
Romans 12:1-2
(1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
>>We are called to cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit....perfecting holiness in fear of God...why do we still get accused of being “holier than thou” for quoting these verses? Is this not God's Word to which we are accountable? Why spin this scripture oh you American-nized preachers, pastors, prophets, and end time teachers? Is this not God's Word to which He has granted us Grace to obey? Does not the Grace of God lead us to repentance from ALL dead works? Why then does it just lead to sin among Westernized Christians?
2 Corinthians 7:1
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.
>>We are called to put on the new man which is created in true holiness in Jesus Christ...
Ephesians 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
>>It is God's will that our hearts be established in holiness...it is important that we note here the words used...'our hearts be established in holiness'...The Lord desires to sanctify our hearts, to transform our hearts that they be established in holiness...remember Jesus Christ rebuking the Pharisees that it was from the heart that unclean and evil thoughts proceeded...so, worldliness and sin begin from the heart and Jesus Christ zeros in on our hearts to transform them and sanctify our hearts...
1 Thessalonians 3:13
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
>>This is very clear, our calling as Christians is not for uncleanness but unto holiness...
we have our part to do, that is reject the world and its sin and say yes to God's holiness...God's grace leads us to repentance...and to a life of holiness...yes, this means denying ALL forms of worldliness that do nothing but corrupt.
>>This is not legalism but again no excuse for indulging in worldly movies filled with sexual innuendos, worldly music that only feeds lust, TV filled with so-called soft porn movie series, pornography, gambling, materialism, hate, prejudice, racism, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revellings and much more...many Christians refuse to deal with these issues before Jesus Christ and have Pastors who deceive them that these are just weaknesses and that they will be safe to heaven and can never overcome such such but are to live in such uncleanness but scriptures teach otherwise...
1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
>>Don't be deceived saints, those who love the world and the things of the world will NEVER inherit the Kingdom of God...they will be CAST INTO HELL!
Galatians 5:19-21>>Yes, one of the reasons being The Lord's chastening of His sons and daughters is that we might be partakers of His Holiness...I strongly believe that The Lord will use the tribulation period as a chastening to the Christians so as to purify and remove all worldliness from them and that they might be partakers of His Holiness...but I always ask, why wait until the tribulation starts so you can work Holy in Him, why not start now????
(19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
(20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
(21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Hebrews 12:10
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
>>We are called to follow peace with all men...and HOLINESS without which no man shall see God...again this is only in Christ Jesus and not outside the grace that God gives...many deceive and say that they don't have the grace to walk in holiness but this is just not true...Jesus Christ offers the grace to overcome sin freely...
Hebrews 12:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
>>We are COMMANDED to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, HOLY and acceptable before God...we are not to be conformed to this world brethren...don't be deceived that you can enjoy the world, its pleasures, and at the same time claim the grace of God...we are to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ and not that of the world and its deceitful pleasures...
>>Our citizenship is not of the world and therefore, we should not fix our eyes top the passing pleasures of sin but we should instead fix our eyes to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith...
Romans 12:1-2
(1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
>>Again our walk in holiness before God is not legalism and not outside the Grace of God in Christ Jesus. We don't attain to holiness alone but by God's Grace given to us in Jesus Christ. However, we must say yes, to The Lordship of Jesus Christ and Obey all that He commands. We must crucify all the desires of the flesh and love for the world in us daily at The Cross and walk that narrow and difficult path that a few are willing to take...
>>The Holy Spirit gives us the strength to overcome daily. Bothers and Sisters, this is a battle and we are not those who fall back to perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the soul...let us pray that we be filled with The Holy Spirit always. Jesus Christ was led of The Holy Spirit in the wilderness and tempted by the devil yet He overcame...
>>He has given us the same grace by His Holy Spirit to overcome sin and worldliness. Let us allow to be led by the Holy Spirit and Obey The Lord Jesus Christ by allowing Him to be Lord 100% of our lives...
>>Jesus Christ overcame sin, He lived a sinless life on earth and has granted us the same grace...we are overcomers in Jesus Christ as we obey His commands and yield our members to Him as a daily living sacrifice and as we endure His sufferings...amen
Hebrews 10:38-39
(38) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
(39) But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Weep and wail before Him, ask Him to help you overcome all weaknesses and sin and worldliness. Ask that He will grant you grace to say no to this world and when He does please Obey His Voice...no matter what the cost is...bring your weaknesses and sin before Him daily at the Cross...don't give up...this is not the time to draw back...stand up and rise up from the dust...and run to Jesus Christ, for He alone will break the power of sin in your life...no one else can do it...Trust His Holy Word and His Holy Spirit...amen.
You will be hated by friends, relatives, workmates, because you choose to obey His voice, His word and hate this world and Love Jesus Christ...but it is only by loving Him that we overcome this world....Amen
In Christ Jesus
Kato Mivule
Uganda, Africa
