Happy Holiness

Can people that live holy be happy? Do those two words even belong in the same sentence? Some may say no, but I want to say Absolutely! We were created to live in a sinless garden of pleasure with face to face communion with the living God who is perfectly glorious, beautiful, just, holy and loving. (Genesis 1-2) It was because of the serpent's deception and man's SIN that God kicked man out of the garden, but he immediately promised that he would crush the head of the serpent that tempted his people to disobey him (Genesis 3). And ever since God kicked Adam and Eve out of the garden he has been RELENTLESSLY pursuing us to show us how much he loves us and wants to be with us! He told Moses to make the tabernacle so he could dwell among his people without killing them (Exodus 30-40).

But that wasn't close enough for God. He wanted to dwell among us. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, ESV) But even that wasn't even close enough. He had to come down and dwell inside of us, which is what happened for the first time for all believers on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and is what happens whenever someone decides to put their faith in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). This God is amazing! He is so holy and set apart that the four living creatures never stop crying “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”” (Revelation 4:8, ESV) And yet he came down as a baby, died on the cross a criminals death (Philippians 2:6-11) was risen again from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:4-5) and then sent his Spirit to dwell in man. This God is good and loving and wants to be close to us!!! And he gave his own Son, and the Son gave his own life for us!!! Thank you God for all that you've done to bring us into intimacy with you yet again!!!

Look at this amazing passage: “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:6–11, ESV)

Paul says that we rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ!!! That's means there is joy in the gospel and joy in salvation through Christ! Look at this amazing verse written by David: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, ESV) In God's presence there is fullness of joy!!! So why are so many people not elated like Paul and David because of God and being in his presence? Well for me, it because of my lack of revelation of how great God truly is. That leads me to look to sin for my pleasure, which leads to condemnation, which causes me to run away from God and try to somehow "hide" from his presence until I can make myself look clean again. But the great news of the gospel is that through simple faith in Christ that produces repentance, I am made completely holy by the work that he did on the cross!!! (Romans 3:24-25) That is such good news! “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!!!” (Romans 8:1, ESV) Praise God!!!

That means that through simple faith and repentance I can be made right in my relationship with God. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, ESV) Man this is good news! Now I want to go completely hard for God because I am free from the power of sin!!! But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1–2, ESV) If I mess up Jesus is still advocating for me before the Father! That is amazing!!!

So what is so good about being holy anyways? Holy and godly living is our joyful response to all that God has done for us. It is for the sake of relationship with Jesus Christ himself that we live holy and righteous, JOYFULLY obeying God's commandments. Everything I do that is not in God's will, no matter how momentarily pleasurable will ultimately end in DEATH (Romans 6:21), but when I am a slave to God everything I do out of obedience to God leads to Eternal Life!!! There is nothing but Eternal joy in obeying God's commands! (Romans 6:22-23) “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.” (Psalm 119:92–93, ESV)

I just want you to read this, because it such rich scripture: “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” (Psalm 119:97–104, ESV)

Oh to be clean and pure and spotless! It is such a joy to be free from guilt, shame and condemnation! Oh to experience the pleasure of God not only in my identity as His Son but in every move, in every step, in every decision that I take. Oh to make that man happy! It is becoming the chief desire of my heart to live a life that puts a bigger smile on the face of Christ through love and obedience. Can you imagine what a joy that is going to be the day we stand there face to face with the man like eyes of fire (Rev. 1:14) and hear him say "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." (Matthew 25:21). Oh what a joy that is going to be for both of us!!! And then we'll experience the greatest joy of all time as we get to dwell face to face with God forever. FOREVER!!! That means it never ends!!! The eternal unending bliss of getting to be with God is going to be amazing!!! And we get to experience a little bit of that now, as we cry with Jesus, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10, ESV).

Father, thank you so much for the gift of unbroken fellowship with you through the price that your Son paid on the cross. Jesus thank you so much for your goodness and your love towards us, that your commandments are not burdensome, but lead us to life. Jesus I pray for me and everyone reading this, and everyone in your body that you would give us fresh passion and vision for wholeheartedly loving you and obeying you. God make it our delight to meditate on your word day and night, that we would bear fruit for your glory oh God! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Here is an awesome podcast from some friends of mine that I've been listening to that will surely blow your mind!!! http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/circuit-riders/id449476756

What I've been learning about God and abortion

A real controversial issue right now is the issue of abortion. I understand that everyone in the world doesn't agree with me on this issue, but I believe that I've called to God to do my small, and just to write a blog to plea with all of us to do our small part to defend the innocent unborn humans.

I'm sure that most Christians have been aware of Psalm 139 for some time now, but to just to remind us all of how precious each life is in the sight of God: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:13–16, ESV)

And while it's incredibly important to have the positive feelings of love towards the babies, I believe God wants to baptize with an anguish, reverence and godly fear regarding his judgement towards those that those repent for killing children in the womb.


Let me repeat that statement in a slightly different way: I believe the same God that created the heavens and earth and revealed himself through many ways (especially Jesus Christ) is a righteous judge and will have vengeance on those kill humans... unless they repent and put their faith in Christ. Of course, I'm as guilty as anyone of sin, with all the times I've had anger and lust in my heart, stolen things, lied to my parents, coveted many things and much more. I'm completely guilty, and I thank Jesus for the amazing gift of what he's given me through simply faith in him. But being saved from his wrath makes me want to save others from his wrath as well. So that's really the thing that motivates my heart to want others to come to know Jesus, because I know if they don't repent they will have to face the righteous judge that fights for his people and doesn't miss a single act of disobedience to him.

Another passage I want to share with you is what I was reading in Leviticus. For a little historical background, the priests of Molech would make his hollow idol out of bronze, and his arms would be outstretched as if to receive a gift. Then they heat the idol up with fire, and place babies into the outstretched, heated arms of Molech. While the babies was screaming, crying and burning to death, other people would be playing drums to drown out the sounds of the baby. And this is what God said to Moses: ““Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech.” (Leviticus 20:2–5, ESV)
The most fearful part of that passage is not just what happens to those that kill babies, but also what happens to those that would close their eyes to the baby killer. And that is what convicts me even that if we simply stand far off and close our eyes to the murder of the unborn, then we are equally to blame. I may be wrong, but I am certain that as fellow human beings we must speak up and act out to defend the unborn.


So what can we do? I've been really thinking a lot about that lately, because I believe it is so much more than praying and speaking about it, although those are both so important. 


Here are some practical application I've thought of and prayed about to fight for every human life:
1. Pray and fast. We are in a spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:12), and our prayers can change individual hearts, change circumstance and change the spiritual atmosphere in different regions.
2. Give money to those that adopt children, orphanages, or even adopting yourself. I've even heard  One of the biggest things that leads to abortions is children not being valued. By adopting children, we are sending a message to the world that every life has value. Please pray specifically for more as I would love to adopt many children in the future, hopefully when I'm married.
3. Help an expectant mother out in many ways. I know that knowing there are people around to help out encourages me to keep obeying God, and I can't imagine how much it would help a single, teen aged abortion minded girl to have someone caring for them, and showing them that both they and their baby are valuable.
4. Speaking out and voting are important as well. If we are able to elect officials and vote for laws that will protect children and promote family and adoption, then our money as taxpayers will go to help the right things, not the wrong things.

If someone needs an awesome movie to share with others, here is one, made by Christians that are serious about seeing abortion end and life be valued:



Also, here is an awesome pro-life website run by people that I deeply respect, but don't know personally: http://bound4life.com/.

Please let me know if you guys find any more awesome websites!!!

Jesus, I plea your blood over my sins and the sins of my nation. God end abortion and send revival to America, so that the nations of the earth may be touched.