New Life International Ministries, Inc.

HOLINESS & RIGHTEOUSNESS

God Bless America!

We hear a request for God's Blessing echoed by many different people in many places since September 11, 2001.  America truly is blessed by God.  Perhaps what we really need is God’s mercy?”

We received an e-mail this week. In it, we were reminded of the sins of America. The writer was actually quoting the daughter of a well-known Evangelist. The things, which were recounted, were the facts that our children can no longer pray in public schools. The ten commandments have been removed from public areas. Purity and morality are no longer considered virtues in the mainstream of American society. Abortion on demand is the law of the land. Babies are an option even after they have been in their mother’s womb for months. Suicide is being legalized or considered in several states.

I heard someone say that God has good reason to remove His hand of blessing from America. The real question to Christians is; what can we do to bring God’s protecting hand of mercy upon our country? How can we turn this wonderful country around? God himself has given us this land. We, as Christians, have the responsibility to turn to God with all our hearts. Perhaps He will be merciful, if it is not too late.

The Scripture that has come to us since before September 11, 2001 is this:

2 Chr 7:14  "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (NKJ)

God is speaking to Christians. He is not asking the people of the world to change. He is talking to you and me and all of us who are called by His name. What is God asking Christians to do to receive His mercy? Look closely at the directions God is giving us in this Scripture.

1. To humble ourselves.

Are you puffed up? Am I puffed up? I don’t feel puffed up but I believe we are a very proud people. We are so blessed with a thriving economy. We are surrounded by beautiful homes and cars. Many beautiful things fill our lives. We have learned to take them for granted, as though this is our due, rather than God’s generous blessings.  In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God calls us to see ourselves in the presence of our Holy God. He calls us to lie on our face in prayer, to see ourselves as sinners, saved by grace. We are totally without pride when we enter the presence of our Holy God. This is humbling ourselves. For we will see ourselves as we truly are when we enter His presence. No man can stand in the presence of God Almighty.

Exod 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? (KJV)

2. Next God calls us to pray.

When we pray, do we mention this country and our President along with a list of other prayer requests? God is not calling us to half-hearted prayer. Do we really believe America will be healed by this kind of prayer? Not if we really think about what we are asking God to heal.

Our Land has been polluted by an evil thought process, which is called Secular Humanism. This is the idea that there is no “absolute right or wrong”.  Everything is judged by the circumstances which surround it. For instance, when these Secular Humanists wanted to legalize abortion in the land, they took the worst case scenario “a girl had been raped and due to the rape she became pregnant and because abortion was illegal, she went to a back alley abortionist and died”. This is the way they legalized abortion. In our day, some are using abortion as a means of birth control.  The Secular Humanists are again using "Worst Case Scenarios" in their attempt to legalize assisted suicide. Abortion is wrong. Suicide is wrong. All life belongs to God. He gives life and only He can take it away.  When Christians really understand how this evil thinking has affected every phase of American life, we will fall on our face before our Holy God and ask His forgiveness.

3. God tells us to seek His face.

Matt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (KJV)

The teaching in many Churches in recent years has been to seek God’s blessing.  In doing this, we have been taught to seek our own desires rather than to seek a holy relationship with God Himself. In this Scripture, He asks us to seek His face, not His hand. Imagine, the God of the Universe wants relationship with us, you and me. That is one of the most amazing messages in Scripture. 

God, who holds our lives in His hand, can take our circumstances in a moment of time and change them from very good to disastrous. Everything is in place. The world is in turmoil. There are wars and rumors of war. Nuclear weapons are in the hands of nations that have no respect for human life. If this does not bring us to our knees before God, we will suffer the consequences. The world will not deserve the blame. You and I, who are called Christians, have been given the formula for the healing of our land.

4. We must turn from our wicked ways.

God is speaking to Christians. What wicked ways you may ask? Are we living lives of true holiness? As we lie on our face before God, ask Him to reveal any wickedness within us. We live in a world that calls good evil and evil good. We cannot avoid being affected by the culture. God calls us to be set apart for Him. How different are we from those around us?

The following is a study on Holiness and Righteousness. The only way that our Land will be healed is if you and I obey God and seek true holiness and righteousness.                      

  HOLINESS

Heb. 12-14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: (NKJ)

It is very easy to read God’s Word and receive directions telling us to live in holiness. It is quite another thing to keep our eyes on Jesus every moment of every day. If you watch television at all, you will find that the commercials are becoming more and more crude. At times it is very difficult to keep our minds focused on the things of the Lord. Should we move to some far away place and disconnect ourselves from all of this ugliness? No, we are to be in the world but not of the world. Noah lived in a world so evil that God completely destroyed everyone but Noah’s family. Yet Noah did not become like those around him. He set himself apart.

2 Pet 2:5 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; (KJV)

Life lived in Christ is a new life, free from the things of this world. Our eyes are ever on the life to come and Christ who is our salvation.

2 Cor 6:16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people."17 Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you."18 "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." (NKJ)

We are in the World but different from the World. It is a question of the mind. With what are we filling our minds? We have many choices. How can we have the Holy Spirit himself living within us and indulge in things that are so offensive to Him.  

When I worked at a bank a few years ago, the lunchroom had a television. I tried to take lunch when no one else was there so I could shut the television off and read or pray. When someone tuned it in to the afternoon soap operas or talk programs, the Holy Spirit was so offended within me that I had to leave that room. Listening and filling our minds with offensive material can sear our consciences. Everyone knows when the Holy Spirit is offended by something. If we ignore Him and continue to watch and listen, we are being disobedient and offensive to God. We are also opening ourselves to things which God hates. As our conscience is seared we become more and more open to sin.

1Thes 3:12 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. (NKJ)

We make choices every single day we live on this earth. God created us for fellowship with Him. He sent Jesus to live, suffer and die so that we may have eternal life with God. God gives us beautiful lives with a free will. We have an opportunity to choose God's way or our own selfishness. The flesh draws us in a very strong way. It tugs and tells us how much we will enjoy sin. Sin is fun for a season. The question is, will you trade eternal happiness with God, who loves and created us, for a short season of fun?

How can we live holy lives? God’s word makes it very clear. The choice is ours.

2 Cor 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (NKJ)

Holiness begins with a renewing of the mind. We are “new creatures” in Christ.  If you believe that, then you must also believe that your mind must change.

Matt 22:37 Jesus said to him," 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 "This is the first and great commandment. (NKJ)

God’s first and greatest commandment tells us how we must love God. True love requires unselfish commitment. Jesus did not give us a choice in this commandment. I have heard it said, “these are not the ten suggestions” they are commandments, requirements, in order to see God. I know it is easy to make excuses. However, I know that if we ask God, the Holy Spirit, to really help change us in sincerity of heart, He will make it possible for us to fulfill God’s will. He is the Comforter given to us by Jesus. He is also mighty in power. He will not do anything unless we really ask His help.

Rom 8:4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (NKJ)

Here is the key to life in the Spirit. We will always walk according to our mindset. If our mind is consumed with the things of God, we will walk in the Spirit. If our mind is consumed with things of the flesh, we will walk in a continuous battle with our own flesh. Our old life, (before we were born again), was sinful. There is no way to walk in righteousness unless the Holy Spirit is within us changing us moment by moment, day by day.

Rom 6:3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (NKJ)

Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." (NKJ)

What is righteousness in God’s sight, according to His Word?

Gen 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (NKJ)

Gen 6:13 And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. (NKJ)

But because Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord,

Gen 6:22 22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

Gen 7:1 Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation. (NKJ)

Why did God account Noah as “righteous” before Him? Because “Noah did according to all that God commanded him.”

Now let us look at the next person the Bible calls righteous:

Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." (NKJ)

Gen 15:4-6

4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." 5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 and he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. (NKJ)

 These Old Testament Patriarchs are called righteous by God Himself.

What about this Scripture in Isaiah?

Isa 64:6  But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

This Scripture is sometimes quoted as though it were proof that we cannot lead a holy life. This is false.  The above Scripture in Isaiah actually means that we are sinners and that we need a Savior. This is totally true. Without Jesus Christ and His sacrifice and Resurrection, no flesh could be saved.  However, because we have a sin nature, some teachers give the impression that it is impossible for us to live in righteousness. Let us look back at Isaiah 64

Isa 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him.  5 You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways. (NKJ)

This Scripture is very powerful and shows us that even though we can never be perfect, God, who loves us, calls us to faith. Even though we cannot see God, we believe that He exists and that God will act on our behalf if we have faith in Him and trust that He will meet us if we wait on Him.  When Isaiah speaks of our righteousness being as “filthy rags” he was showing that we would always be imperfect and can never pay for our own sins as shown in:

Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. (NKJ)

Man’s redemptive works always fall short. If our works of righteousness could gain heaven, Jesus would not have endured the Cross. We could have paid the price ourselves. Since our righteousness never measures up because we can never lead a sinless life, we need a Savior. Jesus is the perfect, sinless, lamb of God.  Only He could pay the price and make it possible for us to enter heaven. Even though we receive His free gift of eternal life, we continue to live on this earth until God calls us home in death or the Rapture.  The question is how do we live in the meantime? Let us look to those who knew Jesus personally, Peter, commenting on God’s delivery of righteous Lot.

2 Pet 2:6 turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, (NKJ)

Yes, Lot lived in a very evil time. The city was filled with evil and lawlessness. His soul was tormented. He was in the midst of evil but the evil did not touch him for he was repulsed by their deeds.  In this Scripture, Peter is telling us that although we live in an evil day. If we remain close to the Lord, protecting our mind and heart from the evil around us, the Lord will deliver us from temptation. It is our choice to guard our minds and hearts.

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. (NKJ)

Yes righteousness is not for super saints alone. It is for every one who is a born again believer. God has called us to true holiness.

2 Cor 5:14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. (NKJ)

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJ)

If we genuinely believe that heaven is only open to those who truly love the Lord and are drawing near to God. If we believe that we must be ready at any time to stand before a Holy God, whether through death or the Rapture. How should we stand?

1 Pet 3:10 For "He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. 11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." (NKJ)

1 Pet 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?  18 Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (NKJ)

It is true; heaven is not earned by our good works. It is also true that if we are truly Saved, we will find sin repulsive. We will desire God’s presence and the Holy Spirit within us will be offended by ungodly and evil things. The true desire of our hearts will be to live a Godly life out of gratitude for the great sacrifice Jesus made to save us from sin.

I Jn 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world-- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-- is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (NKJ)

Sin is no small thing to God. Yes, we all falter at times and all have sinned. However, it is one thing to slip and fall. It is another thing to continue in sin when you are a child of God.  God calls us to holiness. Only through His Word and a relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, can we be delivered from sin that has taken hold of an area of our mind.

Rom 6:17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. (NKJ)

Rom 6:22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJ)

Wages are something we earn by our work. Are we truly born again, living in Christ Jesus our Lord? Are we working the works of righteousness to eternal life? Are we drawing closer to the Lord every day because we wait on Him and long for his appearing?

When I was first born again, Jesus became very, very real to me. I was in my home and an advertisement came on Christian TV for a trip to the Holy Land. I began yearning in my heart to go to the places Jesus had lived. This was a time, as a new Christian, the Lord was really answering my prayers.  Suddenly, like thunder in my head, I heard these words:

“Do not wish to walk where I walked, but walk the way, that I walked.”

What was Jesus saying to this new Christian? He does not want us to be chasing after the things of this world. Relics and places and all of that mean nothing to Him. He is interested in us becoming more and more like Him. We all know the Scripture in Romans 8:28:

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (NKJ)

How many of us know the following Scripture:

Rom 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (NKJ)

How far must we go to be like Jesus? If we are truly those who love God, and called according to His purpose, the rest of our lives will be spent drawing nearer to Him, loving Him, desiring true holiness. We don’t have to battle against sin. We must only keep our eyes on Jesus, fill our minds with His Word and if a thought comes that is not pleasing to Him, immediately turn our thought to the Lord and say His Name and freedom is ours. The battle is not ours, it is the Lord’s.

Therefore, walk in newness of life.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,   19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (NKJ)

Please join with us in fulfilling 2 Chronicles 7:14 by humbling ourselves, praying the sincere prayer of faith to a Holy God, seeking His face with all our hearts and turning from anything that is not pleasing to Him. If we do this He will forgive our sin and heal our Land.

GOD, PLEASE BLESS AMERICA?

*Red Text & Italics for emphasis      

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