But you have been anointed by [you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from] the Holy One, and you all know [the Truth] or you know all things. I John 2:20

But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides permanently] in you; [so] then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His anointing] has taught you [to do]. I John 2:27 Amp

You are Anointed by God

Introduction: God has anointed you so that you may be equipped for every good work: to resist evil, to know the truth, to preach the Word, to be able to pray, to have fellowship with God. . . . expound on this.

1. You are anointed of God.
   1. Have you ever considered yourself to be an anointed Christian?
      1. Maybe you’ve thought that only certain people in ministry are anointed?
      2. Maybe you’ve only considered that the O.T. prophets and the N.T. apostles were the only ones anointed and that you are not.
      3. No matter what you have or haven’t thought about the anointing of God, if you are a Christian, then you have received an anointing.
   2. Do you know this anointing is? Do you know what it means to be anointed?
   3. According to Webster’s Dictionary, to anoint means to “rub oil or ointment on,” “to put oil on in a ceremony of consecration.” So, to anoint something or someone is to apply something, in this case oil, to an object.
      1. Maybe you have been anointed with oil in a prayer service, or when someone has prayed over you for healing.
      2. Maybe you’ve even done the anointing.
      3. Then again, perhaps the idea of anointing with oil is foreign to you.
      4. Whatever the case, anointing is found all over the Bible.
   4. Prophets were anointed
      1. 1 Kings 19:16 says, “Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet” (NIV)
   5. Priests were anointed
      1. Exodus 40:13, says “Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest” (NIV).
   6. Kings were anointed
      1. 1 Samuel 16:3,13 says, “Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate…¹³So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah,” (NIV).
   7. The sick were anointed.
      1. Mark 6:13 “They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them” (NIV).
   8. Objects were anointed
      1. Leviticus 8:10 “Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it, and so consecrated them,” (NIV).
   9. For what purpose were they anointed?
      1. Prophets were anointed to be able to proclaim God’s word.
      2. Priests were anointed to carry out their duties of worship and sacrifice.
      3. Kings were anointed so they could rule.
      4. People were anointed for healing.
      5. Object were anointed so they could be set aside for holy use.
   10. As you can see, anointing is a very biblical concept and a common occurrence.
       1. As I said, anointing occurs for a purpose: for proclaiming, for worship, for sacrifice, for ruling, for healing, and to make something ready for holy use.
   11. In fact, that is why Jesus was anointed, so that He could carry out His ministry.
       1. In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus quoted from Isaiah 61:1-2 and said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,” (NIV).
   12. Alright, so now you know that anointing is biblical, that it was done for a variety of reasons, and that even Jesus was anointed. You may ask why this is important. It is important because it helps you understand better your need for anointing.
2. 1 John 2:27 says that you have received an anointing. You have been anointed, but with what?
   1. For a clue to that, let’s go to Jesus’ baptism in Matt. 3:13_17 “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. ¹⁴But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” ¹⁵Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. ¹⁶As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. ¹⁷And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (NIV)
   2. Have you ever wondered why Jesus was baptized into John’s baptism of repentance?
      1. Some say it was to identify with us; there is much truth in that.
      2. Others say it was to be an example; there is also much truth there, too.
      3. Probably the main reason that Jesus was baptized was because it was at His baptism that He began His ministry and entered into the Melchizedek priesthood so He could become the High Priest and be the Holy Sacrifice.
         1. Amos 3:7 “Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.”
         2. Exodus 29:1,4_7 “This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests:… (after offering a blood sacrifice) ⁴Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. ⁵Take the garments and dress Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself and the breast piece. Fasten the ephod on him by its skillfully woven waistband. ⁶Put the turban on his head and attach the sacred diadem to the turban. ⁷Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head” (NIV).
         3. Numbers 4:3 “Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting” (NIV).
            1. So Jesus was probably 30 years old when He began His ministry.
   3. In Jesus’ baptism, He was anointed with the Holy Spirit that descended as a dove. Jesus was washed in baptism and He was anointed with the Spirit of God.
   4. If Jesus needed to be anointed, then so do you.
   5. Jesus said that He would send the Holy Spirit who would teach us all things (John 14:26).
      1. John 14:26, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
      2. 1 John 2:27 “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit __ just as it has taught you, remain in him.”
   6. The anointing you have received, then, is the Holy Spirit.
3. What does this mean, then, that you are anointed with the Holy Spirit?
   1. It means that you are anointed for Christian ministry while you live in this world.
   2. It means that you have been enabled, entrusted, and empowered to accomplish God’s will. In my research about this I found about 40 things you are anointed to do. Ten of them are:
      1. To be able to discern truth – 1 John 2:27.
      2. To testify of the truth – 1 John 5:6 “This is the one who came by water and blood __ Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.”
      3. To be able to pray – Rom. 8:39 “and Ephesians 6:18 which says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. . . “
      4. To Live a righteous life – Romans 8:4 “in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”
      5. To be strengthened with power in your inner being – Ephesians 3:16 “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,”
      6. To be led by God – Romans 8:9 “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”
      7. To live in joy – Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,”
      8. To live in hope – Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
      9. To receive spiritual gifts – 1 Corinthians 12:4 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.”
         1. 1 Corinthians 12:7 “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
      10. To bear spiritual fruit – Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
   3. It is this anointing that opens your mind, teaches you, guides you, calls you to pray, empowers you, and enables you to be stronger Christians, more powerful Christians. Not just people who are saved, but people who are saved, indwelt, and empowered.
4. How, then, is this anointing received
   1. The Cross
      1. The Holy Spirit is received by faith in the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross.
      2. Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit and that the Holy Spirit would indwell His people.
      3. It is only because of the cross that you have forgiveness of sins, and the privilege of the indwelling Spirit, no only in you, but upon you.
5. Conclusion
   1. You are anointed vessels of God. You have been cleansed by God and been filled with the Holy Spirit.
   2. Not only is He in you but He is upon you.
   3. As the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost in the upper room and anointed them for service, you too have been anointed by God with the Holy Spirit for Christian service.
   4. I have taught you this so that you would learn about your anointing.

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Offering Hope – Be Encouraged

by Hope Reeder

And there is hope for your future, says the Lord. Jeremiah 31:17

(Part 1 of 3)

Many are hopeless these days for one reason or many. You are not alone. I believe the Lord wants to bring encouragement to you. He wants to bring hope to your circumstances. This is my way of encouragement to you as truly the Lord Himself has brought me hope over and over in my lifetime. Please be encouraged to over and over again refer back to these pages anytime. Bring hope into your life by speaking these out loud and you will release hope into the atmosphere where you are!

You are going to make it! In fact, you are going to go beyond normal limits!

I love you, Hope

You will see Me and find Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will release you from captivity… Jeremiah 29:13-14

Offering Hope – Speak these out loud!…

I will be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until i get there.

Though no one can go back and make a new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new end.

I will never give up for that is just the time and place the tide will turn.

If I have inside of me the stuff to make cocoons, then maybe the stuff to make butterflies is there, too.

To be upset over what I don’t have is to waste what I do have.

I hang onto my humor. I Don’t ask for permission, I just do it. I make everything fun!

Today I will seek out things that are fun to do.

I am curious, eager to try new things.

I experience and express my emotions freely.

I am creative and innovative

I rest when my body tells me to.

I learn enthusiastically.

This is a new and wonderful day for me; there will never be another day like this one

Whenever my attention wanders away from that which is good and constructive, I immediately bring it back to the contemplation of that which is lovely and of good report.

I am going to be a wonderful success in all my undertakings today.

I am definitely going to be happy all day long!

I am not afraid of life. I believe that life is worth living, and my belief helps create the fact.

Either I find a way, or I will make one.

It doesn’t matter what the disease is. There is always room for hope. I am not going to die one of the statistics.

The question I ask myself is not if I should heal but how I should heal.

I will not wait to have a good day. I will make one.

I move beyond my old limitations and allow myself to express freely and creatively.

Life is about change, and I adapt easily to the new

I forgive myself and others, release the past and move forward with love in my heart.

I love and approve of myself, am at peace with my own feelings and stand tall and free.

If I can endure for this minute whatever is happening to me No matter how heavy my heart is or how dark the moment might be…If I can but keep on believing what I know in my heart to be true, That darkness will fade with morning and that this will pass away, too…Then nothing can ever disturb me or fill me with uncertain fear, For as sure as night brings dawning, my morning is bound to appear…

I will persist until I succeed

I can go the extra mile today

I will dwell on the positive affirmations and things in my life, and they will become my aspiration.

My free time can be used creatively, inventively, and imaginatively. I do not need to use it for routine habits, which are unimportant and unhealthy.

I will be patient in steadily working toward my goal, remembering that all good comes in time.

I will hold on. I will be brave. I am almost there. I will never give up.

Walking away from something that is bad for me is not quitting!

I have learned to treat myself gently because with a few exceptions, I am doing my best.

I will not feel guilty for caring for myself.

I will not be hard on myself today.

I will not be embarrassed by my pain. I will go through it with dignity. It will enhance me.

I am grateful for who I am.

I will accept my pain when it is present. I will NOT anticipate it.

I will be more understanding of the needs of others when I am able to care for my own.

I will resist anything that takes me off the chosen path of recovery.

Loving life increases my energy and passions.

When I am in trouble, dwelling on it doesn’t really help. I can feel sad, I can grieve, but eventually I have to move on. Time does heal, and when I am going through a difficult patch I will remember I don’t want to make it any worse.

When I put force and energy behind something, the results are powerful.

If I break my habits and shake up my day a bit, I will gain new impressions and understanding.

The more things I plan to do the more energy I will have.

I am in charge. I am responsible for the direction of my boat.

I will forgive in order to move forward.

No one can make me a victim unless I allow them to.

Anger hurts more than the person I feel rage toward. I will let go and move on. Life is too valuable to get stuck.

I am naturally beautiful when I am myself.

All that we are is a result of what we have thought.

I will not let others interfere with my steady resolve to live a full, useful and productive day.

Focusing on the present moment will make me less anxious

I am meant to be very different from everyone else. This releases the burden of feeling like I have to be someone other than me.

Today is the beginning of the rest of my life. It is a clean slate. I will begin it totally refreshed and just live it.

I carry within me all the essentials of a happy existence.

My task is to do the best I can which is enough!

I gain energy from doing those things I choose to do rather than what I feel I have to do.

When I put my time to good use, I value myself and feel good.

If I expect recovery to be easy, I will become frustrated. The easy stuff doesn’t teach us much what is difficult and challenging enhances my growth

I will be proud of my strengths and nurture them.

No one else can blame me and make me feel wrong unless I accept the accusations and choose to feel the guilt.

What I do today may have a profound impact on my life tomorrow. I will be the best person I can be today.

A quiet and pleased mind absorbs beauty and grace naturally. I will relax, be calm and therefore be content.

When I do a good job in whatever challenges there are, I am living

It is comforting to know I have all the necessary muscle to cope when faced with really difficult times.

Whenever I face a hardship, feel anxious, nervous, and sad, I will embrace my pain and agony. I know I can learn from my misery and pain and share the knowledge with others.

I will surround myself with people who are affirming and encouraging.

I will choose what is really important to me before I run out of time.

Remaining optimistic will help me experience joy.

I will go about my life doing what I believe is right and hold fast to my beliefs.

I appreciate and am grateful for all the help I get along the way as I try to stay on course.

I choose to make the best of what I have, I am brave, I will survive.

I have faith in family friends and myself. I have faith in this world.

I have faith in my process of recovery.

I will look for the beauty in every problem I have to solve.

Thoughts provoke action. I will think healthy thoughts to provoke healthier actions.

When I am faced with a difficult time, I will get through it better by focusing on what I hope to accomplish. I will be strong, do what I have to do and move forward.

I do the very best I know how, the very best I can.

Where ever I am I will do my best and that is all I will ever expect of myself

I will live my life in the way I want to be remembered.

I will surround myself with trustworthy people and put my trust in them.

When I am required to exhibit strength, it comes.

Negative thoughts will NEVER help; they will ALWAYS hurt me.

I am not in control of others, but I am in control of myself.

When I am content to simply be myself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect me.

I will never please everyone and that’s okay.

I will not listen to anyone who tells me what I can’t do.

I am proud of myself for all I have accomplished no matter how small or great.

I regret nothing, because I am and do the best I can.

I will not let the lessons or experiences of the past dampen my enthusiasm for new beginnings.

I will only go where my heart leads.

I will trust my soul-it knows the way.

I will see myself doing all the things I would like to do. I will take the time to use my creative power of visualization to create the life I would like. Above all I will take the time to see myself being happy.

I will trust, honor, and respect the process of change.

I can listen to my needs.

Taking time to honor the needs of my body is taking time to respect the needs of my soul.

I can get out of my rut and discover what interests me.

I will do what I need to break through my resistance.

See how powerful I am!

I will seek out people who empower me. And during those times when they are not around, I will know that I can empower myself.

When I look back at my past I will look tenderly and gently at all I have been through. I will be proud of my accomplishments and how far I have come.

One step at a time. That is how I will get where I am going.

I will take the time to honor and express my dreams

I am free to redefine and help create the life I choose.

I am free to see life in a new way.

I can open myself to the hopes and dreams of today

I am ready to heal my heart. I am deserving of this.

I am powerful now and powerfully connected to myself.

There is a purpose and value to each day of my life. I will nurture my times of action of creating of doing and value my quieter times of going within.

I have all the guidance, energy, ideas, creativity, power and ability to do all I am meant to do. I will be given the power to enjoy it.

I will make each moment count today.

Give yourself some relief. Take the pressure off.

Today I take time to inhale peace and exhale fear.

Facing and feeling my fears will empower me to move on.

I am doing better than I think.

Reward yourself often. When you accomplish a particular task. When you have gone through a grueling part of your healing process. Reward yourself during the frustrating times just for being patient. Sometimes, reward yourself for just being you.

Many things are possible if I accept the fastest way is one step at a time.

When I feel too much stress, I will give myself a break and let my body start soaking up some healing energy.

I will not let expectations distort my experience.

I believe I deserve love.

I am not afraid of making mistakes.

I can embrace the mystery and magic of myself

I can stop punishing myself with fear.

I will not allow the fear of “what if” to ruin the joy of “what is”.

I can let go of the need to prove myself to others.

I will be gentle with myself when I get stuck.

I do not need to be paranoid and have to think every event means something.

I trust the timing of my lessons.

Self-Love is my birthright.

Every choice I make will teach me something and whenever I learn something there is success, not failure.

I am making the healthiest, most loving choices. I am capable of making at this very moment

I can weather the storms and let them pass.

I can let go of shame.

I can recognize the desire in my heart to recover.

I am grateful to the people who are helping me heal, grow and move along my path.

I am free to be all I can be.

I deserve to recover.

Sometimes I need to spin our wheels. It helps me get unstuck.

I can allow myself to heal. I can find new messages that empower me with love, messages that set me free.

No matter what I am going through, my soul can be at peace.

Maybe I am where I am today for a reason other than I thought. Maybe the first thing to do is cleanse the past and heal my heart.

I have the power to create joy by choosing what feels good for me.

I will be gentle with myself. I am not alone in my problem, my powerlessness, or my search for solution.

I can learn to embrace change.

I will let myself receive the healing I need.

For now I will trust and experience what I am going through. I know that this time of change is sacred.

I will let my choices come from my heart.

I trust that the waiting part of change is necessary. I trust my desire for change is the beginning of change. I trust that each moment I am moving closer to the change I desire.

We will be given the power to do all we need to do. Take the simple steps that lie before you. Take one step at a time. You will find the way again.

I will not try to complicate things or try to figure it all out. The answer is simple. I will look into my heart.

I will reduce as much toxicity in my environment and in myself as I can.

I will embrace the changes taking place in me now. They are good.

I will be clear and forthright about what I need and want.

I have faith that where ever I am going is important and wonderful

I can use the potent, creative power of visualization to create pictures of all the good I would like to see in my life.

I will not allow my dis-ease to control or manipulate me.

I will nurture myself through each stage of recovery.

IF I feel an emotion-an old, stuck, hardened chunk of emotion or a new one that has arisen along the way, I can release it and the belief attached to it.

How overwhelmed we feel when we anticipate the future, all that needs doing, all the tasks, the work, the potential problems, the responsibilities. I will stay in the present moment, and the past and future will fall naturally and easily into place.

All the wonders I seek are within myself.

I am the first person who needs to like me.

I can become the person I want to be

I make the world more special just by being in it.

I believe life is worth living

I can sit down in a quiet place and get in touch with myself.

I will make an effort everyday to feel good about who I am and what I can be.

Today I will work on improving my abilities rather than my disabilities.

I run my own life.

I am okay.

I can live in peace at a time of stress.

I cannot climb uphill by thinking downhill thoughts.

I can move away from self-defeating habits.

I have choices. I can choose new responses to old situations. I can learn to recognize my true needs and choose positive ways of satisfying them. I can choose recovery-NOW!

I will aim to follow my meal plan and let life happen.

Understanding and respecting my limits, I can learn to say no to what might jeopardize my serenity and well being.

I need care and attention. I am responsible for seeing that this need is met.

I will give myself the care and attention I need.

The beginning I make today is never insignificant or unimportant. It is the foundation of my future.

I now have the opportunity to pursue my desires until I discover what brings me happiness.

Freedom from my eating disorder clears away the depression and inertia that prevents me from identifying and going after my deepest hearts desire.

I am free to do and enjoy the good things that come my way, and I am equipped to deal with inevitable problems.

If I begin to get bored with the mechanics of my program, such as food plans, I need to remember what it was like before.

I am grateful to wake up in the morning alive and alert, free of the after affects of a binge. I am grateful to go through the day ready for work, play, problems, and challenges. I remember what it was like before (in the midst of the ed). I do not want to go back to that place.

I grow by doing what’s hard to do.

I will accept today’s challenges to grow.

I no longer need to spend large blocks of time obsessing.

I have the wisdom to know how I want to spend my time and energy today.

I cannot control or change others, but I can change myself.

Today I can take a small risk in the interest of enriching my life.

I will determine my priorities today to avoid confusion.

I can choose to have a daily reprieve from self-destructive behavior.

I will seek progress, not progression.

If I let myself down by slipping back into old habits, I can gently correct my course without feeling that I have failed.

Today, I will concentrate on taking one step forward, however small

Today, I will seek renewed supply of serenity, courage and wisdom.

I have much to give. I can be loved and accepted according to how well I give of myself, not for how much

Whatever my weight today, I am a worthwhile person with valuable contributions to make to those around me.

Once I have made my food plan for the day, I can put that issue to rest and think about love, work, play, hobbies, and other people. I can be more patient with my recovery today.

I am not finished growing, changing and evolving.

I like myself today. I am aware of possibilities for improvement, but I don’t want to be anyone else. I am comfortable and accepting of who I am. I can forgive my mistakes and move on to try again.

Today I am glad to be ME!

Positive or negative… the choice is mine!

My actions today will build good memories for tomorrow.

It is often easier to know what to do than to do it. Today I will do those things that strengthen my recovery.

I cannot see the outcome of the journey, but I can take the next step

I have the will, strength and desire to continue working on recovery.
_

God loves you and I love you too, Hope

Holiness – Determined! – by Hope Reeder

Is Something Missing?

Morning truly has broken over the last days! We are living in the end times and holiness will be reckoned with! Both God and Moses knew
un-holiness would stop the blessing of the Lord. Today Moses is not around. Today, many boast of the size of their ministry calendar, their passionless worship team, the many pools of busy-ness one can dive into, the gifted pastor, the bargaining evangelist or the overused mind tool of the prophet, or the charisma of their ministry, yet without mention of holy.
Completely barren of, holiness, worship is attempted without the fire of God and man’s reasoning replaces the Holy Spirit in life changing decisions that are being made. Today many empty shell congregations and ministries claim the many promises of the Bible yet those promise are for a ‘holy’ people. To assume that everyone in the congregation as a unit, everyone in your ministry, as a unit, or all the followers, empowered by being a unit, sanctions the label ‘holy’ would be a fatal error. Many attempts to build a huge prosperous ministry, to follow or be followed are being made but without mention of holy. These days most churches are barren of holiness and without this base, messages from the pulpit on ‘love’ sound like seduction. Who wants it? Something is missing!
Isn’t it time for us to recognize that God meant what He said in His Word? Should we continue to live blindly in a plastic world as pretenders, in legalism, critical of one another wrestling with that ever present can’t-seem-to-stop judgmental spirit? Is it not time that we should take the Bible more literal that we first thought? Do we have an option?
Is Holiness an Option?
I think God meant it when He said, ‘narrow is the way and few there be that find it. Matt 7:14 God purposed to have a holy people. ‘PURSUE HOLINESS for…without holiness, no one will ever see the Lord’ Hebrews 12:14. Is it not time for us to realize that if we want to see, or if we want others to see the Lord, holiness is not an option? How have you looked at ‘holiness?’ There is a line being drawn. Ezekiel  Do you see the line separating the holy (Holy of Holies) and the common (outer court)? Ezek 42:14-43:1
14 When the priests enter the Holy Place, they shall not go out of it into the outer court unless they lay aside there the garments in which they minister, for these are holy, separate, and set apart. They shall put on other garments before they approach that which is for the people.
15 Now when he had finished measuring the inner temple area, he brought me forth toward the gate which faces east and measured it [the outer area] round about.
16 He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds with the measuring reed round about. 17 He measured the north side, five hundred reeds with the measuring reed round about. 18 He measured the south side, five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. 19 He turned about to the west side and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. 20 He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall round about, the length five hundred reeds and the breadth five hundred, to make a separation between that which was holy [the temple proper] and that which was common [the outer area]. Ezek 44:23 The priests shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the common or profane, and cause them to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.
Where do we stand?

Holiness or hypocrisy: this is the choice! …or is it? Holiness is costly but it is an absolute with God. For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy: for I am holy. Leviticus 11:44 (NKJV) Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. Leviticus 19:2, 20:7, 20:26.
And a highway shall be there and a way; and it shall be called the Holy Way. Isaiah 35:8 But as He which hath called you is Holy, so be holy in all manner of conversation because it is written, be ye holy; for I am Holy. I Peter 1:15 God wants His children to be just like their Daddy, holy.
Who’s Your Daddy?
God is Holy! Holy…is God! Holy = God. Holiness is God’s divine nature! Holiness is who God is! How can we claim to be like our Daddy, know Him or the richest measure of His divine presence, without knowing the Spirit of Holiness? God owns His Holiness. His whole being is Holy. God’s sons and daughters must be holy. God’s Holiness DNA must be the life’s blood that flow through our very being, our mind, our thoughts, our body and soul, our actions and our priorities. Do you ‘know’ your Daddy? If so, then you will recognize…

God disciplines us, even as our earthly fathers thought best, but God disciplines us for our good (why?) so that we may share (partake) in or be partakers of his holiness. Hebrews 12:10 …if you will indeed obey My Voice and keep My Covenant…you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Exodus 19:5,6 True holiness is true obedience of His Word, His Voice. I think as He thinks, love as He loves, I do as He does, live as He lives. Spirit of Holiness – raised Christ from the dead. Rom 1:4
Wait a Minute!
Upon examining the life of the Pharisee, today one would evaluate them quit high on a scale of one to ten. The educated and theologically correct Pharisees gave themselves to fasting, praying and ceremonial purity. They believed in angels, in healing and in casting out demons. They always observed the sabbath, observed the Feasts of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. They loved the family, condemned adultery and fornication. They ritually taught their children to read and memorize the scripture. They memorized and could quote the first five books of the Bible!
They knew the teachings of the prophets. But wait! There’s more! They danced before the Lord. They contributed to the needs of the community. They tithed down to the last coin. They meticulously practiced the Law and were constantly in Jesus’ presence.
In the congregations of today, just a handful of these guys would be hailed as gifted talented leaders. Who wouldn’t want them? They would be ushered to the platform to speak, preach, teach, prophecy, testify, and be royally honored. They would be featured in our modern day high-tech Sunday morning flash video shots, ordained as elder and deacons.
But wait! ………………all so religiously polished yet Jesus called the Pharisee hypocrites and John the Baptist called them ‘Brood of Vipers.’ Wait a minute! But isn’t this life-style what ours is suppose to look like? Jesus said that except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of the heavens Matthew 5:20 Holiness is not based or promised on Pharisaical moral and duty. So what did Jesus mean? What are we missing here?
The Lost Element
Always present yet always in dispute, or debate, doubting, judging, and forever challenging Jesus and quoting scriptures. For all their understanding of scriptures they failed in one area! They failed to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. In the Pharisee’s heart, at the very core was the one missing element; Relationship! They were ‘close’ but they had no true relationship!
Do you know the President of your country? ‘Sure I know him!’ you say. But do you ‘know’ him? ‘Well, not really, I know ‘of him’ but I am not in relationship with him.’ The same could be true with a God relationship.
We are sometimes so close to God yet we do not even know Him, His Spirit, or His ways! Job 36:26 God is a great God and we don’t even know Him. Somehow could we have become an empty shell of pretenders performing ritual duties without a relationship with a Holy God?
Multitudes are unaware of the absence of Holiness. Spiritual genealogy yields no outlaws though. It is true. Holiness is an extension of what is known as Holy. Holiness is the dividing line between Unbelievers and Believers characterized by their holiness or lack of it. If we know Him intimately (and His Holy nature) He lives in us and our holiness is based in an intimate relationship with His Holy Presence.
For By What Are We Distinguished?
What makes you different? What separates you? We all love to quote Exodus 33:15 If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here! Everyone can agree! But what about the next verse? FOR BY WHAT shall it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight? Is it not in Your going with us so that we are distinguished from all the other people upon the face of the earth? Ex. 33:16 Moses had an intimate relationship with God. He ‘knew’ God’s Voice by experience which is far better than mere knowledge. He would do anything to meet Him in a tent! He could not stay away from His Presence! He knew Holiness which caused Moses himself to become holy because he honored, or ‘hung out with’ a Holy God.

Marked by The Beauty of Holiness
Holiness is recognizable as it resides in another. There is a beauty in holiness! When holiness looks upon holiness, a striking indescribable delight comes over you. Moses knew this. Holiness draws holiness to it’s heart with such purity. It is cross-identifiable, mutually born from the understanding of the companionship of the holy, a passion running deep from the deposit of God’s fellowship. Pure. Clean. Innocent. Beautiful. Timeless.
A quality not understandable among the religious still playing their games, but a distinguishing, set- apart aroma, a beautiful fragrance to God and to the people of Holiness. An invisible mark engraved by gold and carved in the forehead, the eyes, the heart, the hands, the mouth, and the voice stating ‘Holiness Unto the Lord.’ A drawing like no other into fellowship. The fellowship of holiness is the fellowship of the true church. purity in love. Clean hands, pure heart (thoughts).
Why? Because true holiness is based in holy addiction to the presence of a Holy Lord, a relationship with a Holy God, the Spirit of Holiness, the person of the Holy Spirit.
How Then Are We Made Holy?
We are sanctified, purified, consecrated, separated unto the Lord, dedicated and made holy by the Truth and Your Word is Truth. John 17:17-19 The secret of the sweet, satisfying companionship (relationship) of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them it’s deep inner meaning. Psalm 25:14 It was the Spirit of Holiness that raised Christ Jesus from the dead (Rom 1:4) and it is this resurrection power that lives inside us. This mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations (from angels and men) but is now revealed to His “HOLY” people …which is Christ within us, the hope of (realizing the) glory. Col 1:27
We are made holy by a true infilling of Christ’s Spirit which is the Holy Spirit, and by His Word which is Truth. We are made holy in mind, body and soul as we spend time with a Holy God, our Daddy. The more we hang out with our Daddy, the more we will be like Him.
He Is Calling You Now, Come …
Hebrews 12:14 tells us that without holiness we will not see the Lord. We can see the Lord in our visions, dreams, in others the more we are in God’s Presence. Clean hands, pure heart! How refreshing it is to be washed again in innocence. How pure. Holy. God is Holy and we must be holy too. Let Him wash over you now. Let Him be seen as you rest even now in His Presence. Let Him love you now. He is drawing you higher, closer and nearer to Him, to see Him. As John tells us in his writings of Revelation 4: … I looked and behold, a door standing open i heaven! And the first voice which I had heard addressing me like the ‘calling’ of a war trumpet said, COME UP HERE, and I will show you what must take place in the future. At once I came under the HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER and (SAW) behold, a throne stood in heaven with ONE seated on the throne!…
(read on and SEE the Lord – Revelations 4:) You who have heard the Word (Truth), believe in , adhere to and rely on Him are stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit. That Spirit (Holy) is the guarantee of our inheritance (the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage)… Ephesians 1: 13, 14 read on…
You shall receive (this Holy Spirit promise) power, efficiency, and might, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you… Receive the Holy Spirit now … (Acts 1:8, 2:all) He chose YOU out (actually picked you out for Himself as His own) before the foundation of the world, that you should be holy, consecrated and set apart for Him (Ephesians 1:4) because YOU have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:12). You are HIS. You are made holy by Truth and Truth is God’s Word. Encounter His Holiness now… He loves YOU so much! He gave you His ALL.

I am DESPERATE to SEE The Lord! Heb. 12:14
So I must know the Spirit of Holiness! I must know HE WHO WAS, and IS and IS TO COME! There is no other way. He is the only way.

Going Beyond Normal Limits,

Hope