THE CHRISTIAN STANDARD IN A CORRUPT WORLD

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

The new birth experience is the greatest of all miracles, the greatest thing that can happen to a man. By it we are reconciled to God. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior and Master of our lives is our standard. We are called to follow His manner of life, uphold His ministry of love, listen to His message of life and light, copy His model of loyalty,follow His method of laboring in the kingdom, take Him and look unto Him as the author and the finisher of our faith, and worship Him in meekness and lowliness. But Jesus acknowledge our plight of living in a sinful, corrupt world with its contaminating and corrupting influence when He prayed for His followers in John 17:15-16. Nevertheless, we are to continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine till er are raptured to spend eternity with the Lord.The new life is entirely different from the old life because “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

In Christ, we no longer live in sin but are dead to and freed from it and live unto God in righteousness.Christ now lives in us and regulates our lives to please Him. Since He can only relate to and have communion with us when there is agreement of compatibility between Him and us (Amos 3:3), He commands us to put on His image (1 Peter 1:15-16). This has been His requirement from time immemorial (Leviticus 11:44). He commanded the children of Israel whom he had adopted as His own to sanctify themselves and be holy, because He is holy. He still maintains this standard and repeats the call today. Having been reconciled to Him, we should “continue in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship” (Acts 2:42) and become partakers of His holiness, putting on Christ. His attributes then begin to manifest in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). We are to be doers of the word and remain unspotted from the world, we become yielded to Him, doing only His will, avoiding the corrupting influence of the world. If by God’s grace, we are able to live the Christ-like life, God will be well pleased with us.

Believers are to be like Christ in character, conduct and way of life. God gave the warning to all believers. In the book of 1 John 2:15-17, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever”. The world refers to the world order, the characteristics and attitudes of the people of the world in contrast to the dictates of God. Life in this old world is ordered and directed by Satan and his demons (devils) who have blinded people from the light of Jesus. Worldly associations, worldly pleasures, worldly ceremonies worldly dressings (half naked dressings), worldly philosophies, politics and festivities are all initiated and ordained by Satan. These last days are replete with unprecedented pollution and corruption compared with any period in history. Evil has become the modernized, Man’s cup is getting filled to the brim and evil is being celebrated and glorified. The world is drunk with the wine being distributed and served by the prince of the air – the devil, who is the god of this world.

The love of money has sealed up the hearts of many from God’s word. Immorality has become so common that nakedness of some women is on display on the streets and internet. In the world system, men are driven by inordinate ambition, pride and self-exaltation and hunger for power, pleasure, and praise of men, material possession and popularity, although the result contradicts their expectation. Others have taken to alcoholism, polygamy, adultery, and all sorts of pursuits regardless of the stand of the word of God. The modern film industry and television have become the greatest perpetrators of sinful and criminal tendencies in children and older people. Worldly magazines, and books exert influence on the mind and believers are fast becoming receptive to the standard of the world as almost everyone seems to embrace it. But these are the deceptions of the devil and the wayfaring pilgrim must come out and stand clear of them.The only way to be totally free from the corruption and pollution of the world is: To be cleansed by Christ and become identified with Him. This is something real and practical. We need to be totally crucified with Him and to reign with Him without rival in our hearts. Also, we need to set our affections on things above and be heaven-focused at all times (Colossians 3:1-2).

Eschew evil practices and be bold for the Lord like the three Hebrew children and Daniel, and damn the consequences (Daniel 3:16-18). We should be in constant touch with heaven through meditative study of God’s word and prayer. Our prayer should always be “turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in thy way” (Psalm 119:37). The grace of God is sufficient to make us “live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”. If we conform to the world, how can the gate of heaven open to us when we die, or how can we be caught up with Christ on the day of rapture? We will be left to the antichrist of the great tribulation. This shall not be our portion in Jesus’ name. Who is on the Lord’s side?

CLEAN HANDS AND PURIFIED HEART

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully” (Psalm 24:3-4). “Clean hands and purified heart simply imply holiness within and holiness without, that is, holiness in its entirety,and this is the climax of the call of God on all flesh. God will not compromise the demand for holiness under any condition. Holiness is preferred by the holy God above every other thing in the life of man. “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:7). The importance of clean hands and pure heart above other things cannot be overemphasized. To walk with God and work for Him creditably here on earth, to be in favor with Him at all times, and to live with Him in eternity all depend on holiness of heart and life. Holiness encompasses all other Christian virtues such as Humility, Obedience, Love, Integrity, Newness, Empathy, Separation and Submission.

There are some people who demonstrate clean hands, manifesting a kind of outward holiness in their public life, but whose hearts are full of bitterness,evil thoughts,hatred, envy, hatred,selfish motives, to mention a few. This is nothing but hypocrisy (Matthew 23:23). Whereas on the other hand, there are some who claim that their hearts are pure even when their visible lives are devoid of godly virtues of love,meekness, kindness, gentleness, longsuffering, temperance, peace, joy and faith. Whatever reason they may present, this is self-deception and delusion. Since the fall, no man is born with clean hands and purified hearts. The Bible says, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me…For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Psalm 51:5; Psalm 3:23).

No man can attain God’s divine nature by himself or confer it on another man. “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one” (Job 14:4). God in His infinite mercy and love has given great and exceeding precious promises for the systematic accomplishment of this His nature in man,having made appropriate, adequate and perfect provision through the substitutionary suffering and death of His only begotten Son.Right from the beginning of God’s dealing with man, up to date and till eternity,cleanliness and purity of heart stands out preferred and pre-eminent among all others demands of God from men of all races. This is not to condemn or relegate other demands of god from man such as worship, offerings, service, and the likes; but it to say that cleanliness and purity of heart comes first before others before others can be acceptable to God. The absence of cleanliness and purity of heart led to the flooding away of the antediluvian age, despite the fact that men began to call upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26). Only Noah and his household in whom this greatness virtue was found escape the flood. “And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation” (Genesis 7:1).God also called out Abraham from the filthiness and idolatry (Genesis 12:1) and the higher calling unto perfection. “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine,the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect” (Genesis 17:1). All through God’s dealing with the descendants of Abraham – the Israelites,the paramount thing He was passionately seeking is cleanliness and purity as clearly depicted in the commandments He gave them through Moses their leader (Exodus 20:1-7), Cleanliness and purity of heart was the qualification and mandate of the prophets and kings (Isaiah 52:11; 2 Chronicles 25:2,14-15).Cleanliness and purity of heart formed the conclusion of every message in the New Testament, either those of Christ or of the Apostles (Matthew 5:48; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Revelation 21:27 etc.).The implication of the foregoing is that, you may be prayerful, pious, and generous; you may even be known in the Church and be involved in the service and work of God. You may be expert in worship and even be eloquent in preaching, among many other religious activities. If you lack cleanliness and purity of heart, you would be lost forever in the lake of fire (Matthew 7:21-23). What then shall it profit you? Do you want to waste this only one life? Obviously no!

The fallen man completely lost his bearing and was totally incapacitated by the tyrant of the sinful nature. The more he tries, the more increasingly difficult it is for him to fit into God’s expected image. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:7-8). As a matter of fact, man’s effort at its best is described as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). But God in His infinite love and mercy, not willing that any should perish has made adequate and full provision for the cleansing of man from the filth of sin, and for purging of the heart for purity.Then see what God has for you: “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate” (Hebrews 13:12; Read Hebrews 9:14, 22).

The Blood - of Jesus Christ which was shed at Calvary for our sins and purging, and the Bible that reveals man’s nature and the need to him with the promises of God. Whatever God has promised, He’s both able and faithful to do. Yet, man is not left without a role to play in the process of purification.A process is involved in turning sinners to saints, vanquished to victors, and carnal men to Christ-like models. It is spiritual process which God undertakes to renew, regenerate, and recondition the heart so as to eject and repel every sinful and carnal inclination, and become God-centered issuing out the fruits of righteousness. But this not every sinful and carnal inclinations, and become God-centered issuing out the fruits of righteousness. But this is not without such a heart coming to God in the due cooperation and submission to Him as the process Maker. When the heart has thus been purified, it manifests in clean hands – obvious holiness and righteousness in all life’s dealings and endeavors.

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN LIFE AND MINISTRY

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith meekness, temperance: against such, there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). The fruit of the Spirit is the true nature of Christ, produced by the Spirit of Christ in the lives of Christ’s followers. It takes Christ to be totally established in the believer before Christ-like virtues can be produced in him. The difference between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit is quite obvious. The flesh produces works; Spirit produces fruit. The works of the flesh are dead the fruit of the Spirit is alive. The one in the flesh, the other is Spirit. Therefore, for anyone to possess and manifest the fruit of the Spirit, he must have left human effort for the indwelling of Christ.

The necessity of conversion in the life of every believer before he/she can be enlisted in the work of the ministry is not negotiable. It is fundamental to His ministry. In the book of Isaiah chapter fifty-two verse eleven, it stated; “ Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord”. Genuine salvation experience is mandatory for any minister of God in particular. Paul’s conversion (in Acts 9:1-9, 21) preceding his ministerial calling and engagement typifies God’s process of engaging anyone in the ministry. One cannot explicitly expound on the experience he does not have practical knowledge of. Penitence, humility, mournful, and sorrowful repentance that leads to genuine salvation, are required from every guilty sinner. Forgiveness is certain and sure from God to every sincere sinner who without delay prays with fervency for his soul’s redemption. “Fruit of the Spirit” will immediately emerge in clear replacement of the works of the flesh in the life of every genuinely saved soul. Any minister that fails to have this experience will fall short of God’s standard of calling and become unfit for ministry as his life will betray his ministration.

The fruit of the Spirit comprising the nine Christian virtues is the evidence of the minister’s experience of the new birth. These nine-fold virtues are bound together and manifested in love which is the central controlling quality required in Christian living and service. The redemptive work is conceived, delivered, and operated in love. Love, therefore, is the totality of the ministry. Every other virtue in the fruit of the spirit revolves around love. Joy is love exulting. Peace is love reposing. Long-suffering is love untiring. Gentleness is love enduring. Goodness is love in action. Faith is love believing. Meekness is love under discipline, while Temperance is love in training. Possessing the “fruit of the Spirit” is making heaven out of the ministry here on earth.

For every believer to keep the “fruit of the Spirit” however, he must abide in the Vine and be pruned (John 15:1-8) regularly. He must ensure the unbroken relationship with Christ the fountain of his fruitfulness; He should always allow the Lord to reproof and chasten him when necessary and ensure chastening as a true child of God (Hebrews 12:11). He should ensure unbroken prayer fellowship and devotion. The Bible should constantly and regularly be his companion and guide through constant meaningful study with a willingness to obey. He must distance himself from sin, every appearance of evil and the world, why keeping involved in the work of the Lord without delighting in the bread of idleness. Daily self-examination and prompt correction where necessary will make him reputable, waiting for the Lord.

POWER OF HOLY SPIRIT FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY

In the book of Acts 1:8, the Lord Jesus Christ declared that; “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth”. This promise when it was fulfilled on the day Pentecost marked the beginning of wonders in the book of Acts. The advent of the Holy Ghost has always been amazing in all ages. From creation, God’s work has always been done and handled by the power of Holy Spirit. No one has ever been sent to represent God and proclaim His word except by the instrumentality of the Spirit of God. Who can handle the Scriptures effectively without the Spirit of truth who inspired it? Who can change the lives of sinful men, and edify the believers without the help of the Comforter? No wonder the Lord charged and instructed the disciples to wait until they were endued with power from on high. If we are going to live dynamic lives and do enduring pastoral work, we need to be endued with a power that comes from above. Before Christ went to heaven after having given the great commission to His disciples, He charged them not to depart from Jerusalem until they have been endued with power from heaven. “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). From this charge, we discover the need and necessity of being baptized with the Holy Ghost before effective and enduring service can take place.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is like having Christ present with you as he was with the disciples in the days of His flesh. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). It makes a believer a consuming firebrand bringing revival to the lives of others (Matthew 3:11), and others a conserving tanker of the water of life refreshing the life of men (John 7:37-39). It is the anointing that breaks the yokes and brings signs and wonders to follow the ministration of the gospel ministers (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38). The arrival of the Holy Ghost upon the believer is like having the peaceful dove of heaven resting upon one’s life-giving confidence, boldness, and courage in troubles and trials. It is an experience no Christian leaders and members can do without. “And when the day of Pentecost has fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).

The Holy Ghost came on the day of Pentecost as the Lord promised and baptized the hundred and twenty disciples in the upper room. It was a mighty outpouring of God’s power on human vessels. It was a wonderful experience in the lives of the early church and for all believers today, who desire to tarry in prayer to be baptized with God’s power from high. The Holy Ghost is already here, we are not waiting for Him. He is the one waiting for us to receive Him if we are ready now. To receive Him: Let the love of God be fully shed abroad in your heart exceedingly by the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:5).

Be sure of a genuine experience of salvation and a sanctified heart. Lay your life down on the altar consecrated to the Lord’s service exclusively. Long for the river of living water exceedingly and look for the Comforter expectantly. Labor in prayer and endure like Elijah until you receive Him. Lift your voice in the hope to be immersed exactly as in the day of Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit has come, the initial evidence is speaking in tongues. This will be followed by the manifestation of power in the believer’s life. He is given – powerful anointing to speak against sin like Micah the prophet. “But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin” (Micah 3:8). He also gives prevailing authority to do the miraculous with persuasive persistence, and energized faith to do the impossible (Acts 5:11-15; Acts 6:8). There is prayer ability beyond the ordinary “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).

The Spirit of the living God gives perceptive insight into hidden things for the benefit of the Church. In addition, the Holy Ghost gives passion unquenchable for souls and zeal for the gospel work (Colossians 4:12-13).The arrival of the Holy Ghost gave birth to the New Testament Church in the Acts of the Apostles. The difference is very clear and the clearness is due to the anointing upon the Apostle who led the church. When church leaders are under the anointing of Holy Ghost, the following will be the event: Consistent conversion of souls into the kingdom (Acts 5:14); Constant conservation of converts and the newcomers (Acts 2:41); Correct Christian living in the church; Conforming church members (1 Thessalonians 1:5-7); Comforting counseling that strengthens members; Commissioned Christian witnessing by life and word (Acts 8:4). Above all, the church will be prepared and living in expectation of the Lord’s second coming.

THE BROAD WAY AND THE NARROW WAY

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction,and many there be which go in thereat:Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Our Lord Jesus Christ’s mission on earth was to give His life and shed His blood for our salvation. His desire and sacrifice was not only to make men religious but to possess the righteousness of God. He was then committed to show men the true way back to God and eternal life heaven. Before he came, many religious leaders were misleading men, professing to them the way to heaven but they were blind leaders of the blind, not knowing the way to the heavenly city; they made men twofold children of hell than themselves. The reason why Jesus said, “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14).Just like the time of Christ, there are many religious leaders today that keep deceiving people, and they “called evil good and good evil; put darkness for light and light for darkness”. (Isaiah 5:20).Calling on all who desire entire life and heaven today, Christ now says, “Enter ye in at the strait (narrow) gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

The gate of the natural birth through which the whole humanity came into this world doesn’t lead to eternal life. Every one that desire eternal life must repent and believe in Christ through genuine salvation and get transformed, enter through the straight gate and walk in the narrow way of consistent obedience in order to be part of Christ’s kingdom. As in the days of Noah and Lot, few will escape judgement because only few go through the strait and walk consistently in the narrow way that seems unpopular to many people. Like the days of old, the Lord is still saying today, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24).

A gate serves two purposes; it lets in and shuts out. This gate is only opening for admittance to that “way” which leads to life and all who do not enter by it are eternally locked out from the presence of God and the realm of eternal happiness. You and the sins enjoys from time to time must be parted in order to see God. All sins must be given up completely. You must forsake them all without reservation, hate them with perfect hatred and ask the Lord to give you power to overcome them. The way is very narrow; it’s by abandoning all idols of the heart and the pleasures of sin and the flesh before we can pass through the strait gate that leads to life eternal. Many are called but few are chosen. Only few find the way of life.Only the humble and lowly in hearts who find their way to strait gate were able to repent and mourn for their sins. Such few with meekness of heart could walk in the narrow way. And only those few find life at the end. The broad way is the path of self-will and self-gratification. It is “wide” because it is a downward road. It is popular but deceptive. For those who are working in it, it is “the way which seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

In the broad way, liberty and freedom are the favorite words, pride and vanity, pleasure and ambition, independence and self-indulgence, covetousness, and love of money, revenge and retaliation,loose talk and indecent dressing, partiality and favoritism, sins of kinds are all indulged in without remorse or sorrow of heart. Those in the broad way justify themselves and paint their sins in bright colors calling them mistakes, faults, weakness, or harmless habits. What further deceives men and women walking in the broad way to destruction is that men of eminence and women of influence, wise men after the flesh, and honorable women, not a few are walking the same broad way with them. If the words of Jesus are true, “broad way is the way that leadeth to destruction” “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 5:20). Again, “strive to enter in at the strait gate”. To strive means to be earnest, to urgently cut off whatever is tying you down to sin, to deliberately burn the bridge that links you with the world. “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:120).

Walking in the narrow way means a steady perseverance in faith and obedience to God through the grace of Christ. Walking in the narrow way means that our affection, mind, our will, all our actions and speech will be brought within the scope of God’s word. Those who are walking in the narrow way, have been called out of the world, cleansed by the blood and made new creatures in Christ, they are walking in the light and do not secretly have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; they keep themselves unspotted from the world and constantly crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts; they abstain from all appearance of evil, die to carnal desires daily and bury self-will at the foot of the cross; they are willing to suffer the loss of things which will  hinder them from getting to heaven at last. Strive now to enter in. “Arise, call upon thy God”. “It is time to seek the LORD, till He comes, and rain righteousness upon you”. Enter while you may.