Pastor Mel Ayres will give a prize to those who can list four more steps to holiness. Good Luck!
You can also use this forum to submit questions you have about the Bible by clicking “post reply”. We encourage others from the internet church community to help answer each others questions. One question a week will be discussed during Sunday’s sermon.
I believe that being holy is nothing we can work for.We become holy by Christ and he alone.But the attributes of being holy comes when we do what the Word says
1. Accept Christ(2pet.1,3) 3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2. Do his will (9Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10And by that will,
we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
3. Discipline (Hebrews 12:10 (New International Version)10)Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.
4. Think that you’ve been made Holy (I think myself happy, King Agrippa (Acts 26:2) what he thought became real
Four more steps to holiness huh...I don’t have my notes with me, so Pastor Mel probably mentioned all these already, so I’ll just list some of my thoughts:
1. Watch what I watch...movies, TV, walking around...I often check myself and ask the Holy Spirit if He wants to watch what I’m watching (I got that from Ken Copeland I think)...easier said than done, especially when He says no and I want to watch it anyway...I’m pretty sure I’ve still made Him watch some things he didn’t care for...but I’m working on it daily…
2. Watch my thoughts...I’ve been really focusing on this one...just stopping and making myself aware of what I’m thinking about...it’s amazing to me how my mind can start going places I don’t want to go and I’m totally unaware of it
3. Fasting...crucifying the flesh/denying the flesh...I’m talking about not eating food and spending that time in the word/prayer...starve the bad dog and feed the good dog (I’m just pointing this one out as a great tool...I personally am not as strong in this area as I’d like to be yet)
4. Being sober and vigilant...especially after great victories...I’ve heard P. Mel say many times “you must know what get’s you and guard yourself in that area"…
5. Accountability...having someone to confide in...your spouse or a friend...for me, it’s my wife and serving in the church...both keep me accountable and this has given me great victories!
6. And to that point...not forsaking the assembling of the brethren...GOING TO CHURCH regularly and GETTING INVOLVED!!! It’s going to be a lot harder for the devil or your flesh to take you out when you have deep roots in the church and you’re consistenly under the corporate annointing...it’s easy to take the sheep that’s wandered off by itself...I’ve yet to see anyone strong enough to survive on their own…
7. Vision...purpose...destiny...must...must become a reality personally...after 7 years of hearing this I think I’m just now starting to get it...you will be able to say “No” to temptations that are contrary to your vision WHEN your vision is REAL to you...I’ve found that it has to be much more than something I write and then put aside...I literally have to carry it around with me so I can pull it out and look at it and then say “NO"…
8. Just say “No”
9. Taking communion over any area that’s a struggle…
10. Not being idle...downtime can be a killer...ask King David...stay busy…
11. Log onto iFaith forum and think about holiness…
Am I suppose to give scripture for all that?...Adam...can you fill those in for me? Thanks and God Bless All!
FOUR MORE STEPS TO HOLINESS (page#1of 2)
1.LET THIS MIND THAT IS IN CHRIST BE IN THE ALSO (Phillippians 2:5)
A. Accept Christ into your heart and seek and receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who is our guide
and teacher.
B. Get your body under the subjection of the Holy Spirit by remaining in The Word and hiding it in your
heart, (Psalm 119:11) which enables you to mortify the deeds of your body,(Romans 8:13) through the
conviction power of the Holy Ghost.
(Ephesians 4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt
according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And that ye put on the
new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.)
(Romans 12:2) And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect, will of God.
C. Having a manifestation of the mind of Christ means you understand, accept and walk in the victory
Christ obtained for us and you’ve learned obedience just as Christ did and you live a life submitted
to God in which your are committed to God and your thoughts are established (Proverbs16:3) therefore
the carnal mind, which is under the authority of satan must flee.
2. TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART
A. Having trust in God shows your dependency on Him and your need for His continued unfailing guidance
and protection that He promised.
FOUR MORE STEPS TO HOLINESS (page # 2)
B.Trusting in the Lord also shows that you understand your will is selfish and you prefer to have a
kingdom mindset which is flawless.
3. LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING (Proverbs 3:5)
A. Through reading and meditating on the (seed) the Word of God you develop Godly understanding and with
this understanding wisdom will be ushered in and remain (Proverbs 17:24) with you just as she was when
God created the heavens and the earth.
4.ACKNOWLEDGE HIM IN ALL THY WAYS AND HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATH (Proverbs3:6)
A. Remain humble and stay in a constant state of worship and thanksgiving for He has given us all things
that pertain to life and godliness. (2Peter 1:3) salvation is a gift,healing is a gift, forgiveness is a
gift and being holy is a gift, develop the kingdom mind set (Gods way of doing and thinking)
(1Peter 1:16) believe and trust in the gift giver and accept the gifts then the manifestation of being
holy; which is holiness will be evident.
I am so thankful that God, in His grace and mercy has made me holy and blameless in His sight through Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:4)
I am also aware of God’s request that I present my body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to Him and to not allow my life to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. (Romans 12:1, 2)
In order to reach for the prize of the upward calling in Christ (Philippians 3:14) and to allow more of Jesus’ life to live in and through me I have found the following effective in keeping me closer to God’s call on my life:
1) I present my body and mind to Him by allowing the Holy Spirit to bring to my attention anything that I am doing or thinking that might be less than a blessing to Him or others. (Romans 6:19; 12:1)
2) I put a guard on my tongue and strive to speak words that are edifying and encouraging to others. (Proverbs 18:21, Ephesians 4:29, 1 Peter 3:10)
3) I walk in the light of Jesus Christ by fellowshipping with other like-minded believers. As hard as it is at times, I try to be accountable to those God has put in my life (1 John 1:7)
4) I stay open to God’s working in my life by receiving correction from Him and other mature believers that God has put in my life. (Hebrews 12:10; 1 Peter 5:5)
I also believe that none of this would be possible without much prayer (with my understanding and in the Spirit) and, as Pastor Mel taught on Sunday, a strong appetite and feasting on God’s Word.
1} 2 Timothy 2:21
Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
2} Isaiah 35:8
A highway shall be there,and a road, and it shall be called the highway of holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoevers walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.
3} Titus 2:14
Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
4} 1 Corinthians 6:11
But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Four other steps to holiness or living a holy life includes;
1.A constant discipline of ones self,bringing ones body under check, subjection to the will of God at all times in words, in deeds, in action and thoughts, this should be a constant effort. 2 Tim 2:16 says we should aviod Godless chatter for they increase ungodliness.Rom 8:12 “we are debtors,not to the flesh” so we can check ourself. We should accept God’s descipline Hebrew 12:4-11,God disciplines us, that we may share in his “HOLINESS” Hebrew 4:10.some christain can take anything but can’t accept God’s descipline. In 1 Cor 9:27 Paul speaks of keeping his body under subjection.
2. Constant fellowship with believer, not forsaking the gathering of believers.Fellowship in Gods house helps us hear his word,know his word and this will set us free. Jesus God in human form did fellowship in his fathers house Luke 2:49,in Luke 4:16 Jesus was in the synagogue “as his custom was”, Heb 10:25 admonishes us to fellowship to exhort one another. The bible says “iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend”. Jesus told Martha, Mary has choosen what is better Luke 10:39.(but we shouldn’t be hearers alone but also doers)
3. Prayer which is communicating with God, which includes speaking and listening Colo 4:2,all through Jesus’s walk on earth he went up to a quiet place to pray mark 1:35, i would want to believe he is God and didn’t need prayers,he’s all powerful, all knowing God but there was still a need to communicated with heaven.We need to keep in touch with our source (God) to walk holy on earth.Math 6:5-14 Jesus taught us how to pray, talking to God includes prayer of worship, of thanksgiving by which we are transformed Rom 12:2.
4. Lastly Trusting in God, when Jesus told his disciples that it would be easy for a camel to go through a needle than for a rich man, the disciples were amazed and they ask, who will be in heaven ? mark 10:25-27 Jesus looked at them and said “with man this is impossible but with God all things are possible”. have faith and trust in God do not lean on your own understanding.let he that thinks he stand take heed less he falls.
The name of Jesus and the blood he shed for forgiveness and cleasing of our sins which we can asses anytime we sin,learn to always go to God for forgiveness Rom 8:1. We all make mistakes “ a saint is just a sinner who fell down and got up”.
This all together and relying on the holy spirit would produce a holy life.
To answer Pastor Mel’s question, I think four steps to holiness could include:
1/. Being true to the word of God if and when you have been saved as well as reading it for understanding.
2/. Cutting off every tie to past lifestyles that contradicted holiness.
3/. Treating every person regardless of RACE with AGAPE LOVE and acceptance, in otherwords genuinely loving your neighbor as yourself.
4/. Communicating with the Lord God through prayer and supplication.
Holiness, I believe is something between us individually and God, He alone knows our inner thoughts towards our brethren.
If you only focus on the Word you become a professor known as a “Solascriptura”. As it says in the Word we can become as professors professing us wise yet forgetting the Sprit thus we become as fools. Question to consider: how would you reconcile Solascripturas?
1.) You first must Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior of your life. You certainly cannot live Holy without Him in your life. He must be Lord in your life where you COMPLETELY submit to Him and surrender your own ways to follow Him. Romans 10:9-10 & Matthew 16:25
2.) Be baptized in the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues and then pray daily in your Holy Spirit Language to build up your most Holy Faith. This is the only way to have POWER (Holy Spirit Power) over your flesh
Acts 1:8 and Acts 2 (whole book)
3.) Read the Word of God daily and Meditate on his word day and night and be careful to do everything in His word...Basically be Obediant to the Word of God with a healthy fear or reverance for God and His Word.
Joshua 1:8 and James 1:22
4.) Be Heavenly minded and Serve the Lord with your whole heart by serving people. Serving in the house of the Lord and serving other people takes your eyes off of yourself (Selfishness) and allows the Love of God to work in you which is when you will be the closest to God and resemble His likeness which is what will lead people to Christ Proverbs 11:30 and Matthew 6:20-21
God’s Word (will) is the only thing that he is obligated to fulfill. We must baptize(submerge)ourselves in the word of God more than any other source of information. Without the Word we have no direction, nothing to speak, nothing for the Holy Spirit to bring to past.The Holy Spirit is here to bring The Word Of God to embodiment. However, we can never feel like our seeking God’s Word is appropriating our relationship with The Living God, we would then be trying to perform the job of The Mediator (Christ Jesus)1 tim.2:5 Colossians 2
6.As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7.Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding(STAYING IN IT ALWAYS) therein with thanksgiving.
Jesus is the Word Of God,made flesh so when we abound in him we abound in the Word and when in the Word we get vision and we see into the Word of God and he gives us the desires of our heart.
Psalm 37
4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
Staying in the Word keeps us from wasteing lots of time chaseing our own desires and dreams, we are able to get straight to the point(GOD’s WILL)
P.S
I love ifaith already u cant get this fellowship everywhere! Luv u bro.
Four other steps to holiness or living a holy life includes;
1.A constant discipline of ones self,bringing ones body under check, subjection to the will of God at all times in words, in deeds, in action and thoughts, this should be a constant effort. 2 Tim 2:16 says we should aviod Godless chatter for they increase ungodliness.Rom 8:12 “we are debtors,not to the flesh” so we can check ourself.In 1 Cor 9:27 Paul speaks of keeping his body under subjection.
2. Constant fellowship with believer, not forsaking the gathering of believers.Fellowship in Gods house helps us hear his word,know his word and this will set us free. Jesus God in human form did fellowship in his fathers house Luke 2:49,in Luke 4:16 Jesus was in the synagogue “as his custom was”, Heb 10:25 admonishes us to fellowship to exhort one another. The bible says “iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend”. Jesus told Martha, Mary has choosen what is better Luke 10:39.(but we shouldn’t be hearers alone but also doers)
3. Prayer which is communicating with God, which includes speaking and listening Colo 4:2,all through Jesus’s walk on earth he went up to a quiet place to pray mark 1:35, i would want to believe he is God and didn’t need prayers,he’s all powerful, all knowing God but there was still a need to communicated with heaven.We need to keep in touch with our source (God) to walk holy on earth.Math 6:5-14 Jesus taught us how to pray, talking to God includes prayer of worship, of thanksgiving by which we are transformed Rom 12:2.
4. Lastly Trusting in God, when Jesus told his disciples that it would be easy for a camel to go through a needle than for a rich man, the disciples were amazed and they ask, who will be in heaven ? mark 10:25-27 Jesus looked at them and said “with man this is impossible but with God all things are possible”. have faith and trust in God do not lean on your own understanding.let he that thinks he stand take heed less he falls.
The name of Jesus and the blood he shed for forgiveness and cleasing of our sins which we can asses anytime we sin,learn to always go to God for forgiveness Rom 8:1. We all make mistakes “ a saint is just a sinner who fell down and got up”.
This all together and relying on the holy spirit would produce a holy life.
Thanks and God Bless All!
