I was listening to a preacher the other day and he was talking about the identity crisis in our hour—about how this world has gone plumb crazy to where people are so confused and deceived by Satan that they don't even know what they identify as: Male? Female? Other? He was saying how God only created two genders. Male and Female. There was no other options. He said God doesn't make mistakes either—what gender you are born as was exactly the gender that God intended for you to be.
As he was talking, my wheels in my mind started turning. As Pentecostal Holiness people, most of us would agree with the sentiment the preacher was trying to convey, but as I got to thinking, it came to me that we, as a movement, too, are dealing with a similar crisis. It may not be a crisis concerning gender identity between male and female. Yet, there is another identity crisis of great importance in our churches.
As a movement, a similar spirit of deception has crept into our churches. Our people are losing their identity as a sanctified, set apart, Holy people. They are in a “Spiritual” identity crisis. The question is being put to each soul sitting in our pews:
Will we identify with Biblical living and the standards of God’s Holiness. Will we come out from among the world and be set apart and be “peculiar” people?
or
Will we identify with carnality and worldly living—embracing this world’s philosophy and thus rejecting the heritage of holiness that has been handed down to us?
I realize the Devil has always fought the Holiness movement with worldliness and carnality throughout the ages, yet, in today’s world, worldliness and carnality among our churches is becoming more and more the norm, instead of the exception. We are not hearing messages of sanctification and Holiness preached very often any more. We have become soft and easily offended as Christians. It doesn't take much for us to get mad at the man of God. We almost sit back and dare him to even come close to where we are living. There is not much support for the men of God among the pews. It’s almost like there is a division or a line between the pulpit and the pews. Everything the man of God says is criticized, critiqued, or mocked. For some reason, we think we have been enlightened and we don't think God requires ‘all that’ nowadays.
We have embraced the devilish doctrine of easy living. We think it is simply enough to show up at church 3-4 times a week. We can go anywhere we want. Do anything we please. Act anyway we please. Watch anything we want. Talk about anything and everything (and everyone!) we want to (all without any conviction of the Holy Ghost!)
We can dress any way we see fit and feel no shame. We can live just like the world, yet, we waltz into the Holy House of God on Sunday and say, “Oh, how I love Jesus!”
NO, YOU DON’T!
Don’t judge me!
I’m not here to judge anyone, but the Bible has already been pre-determined. It is still our measuring line. Let’s look at this spiritual identity crisis from the Bible’s perspective.
1 John 2:3-6 KJV
[3] And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. [4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. [5] But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. [6] He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
John 14:24 KJV
[24] He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
1 John 5:2-5 KJV
[2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. [3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. [4] For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. [5] Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
I didn’t say all that. The Bible says that! Those verses were plainly written in black and white before you or I were even born. God does judge us by our actions (even more than what we profess with our lips.) We can’t truly love God and then rebel against/refuse to do what He commands of us… it’s time as a people we return to the TRUTH.
For you see, Holiness standards are NOT the real issue (despite what people say). People aren’t just Holiness fighters.There is much more to it than that. Worldliness is an outward manifestation of an inward spiritual deficiency or sin. Bucking against Holiness (or trying to get as close to the world as possible while still professing the label of “Holiness”) is a simply a result (or a symptom, if you will) of a much deeper problem.
My friend, I’m here to inform you that the symptoms aren’t the problem, although they are a tell-tale warning sign. They are just revealing to everyone that there is a spiritual sickness…a heart condition!
• Rebellion isn’t the problem— it’s just a symptom
• Pride isn’t the problem—it’s just a symptom
• Anger isn’t the problem—it’s just a symptom
• Worldliness isn’t the problem—it’s just a symptom
• Being Carnal isn’t the problem—it’s just a symptom
When your heart isn’t right, obeying the commands of God and adhering to His standards of holiness and Godly living
become grievous. All those rules and regulations become legalistic (or bondage) in your mind.
When I was a young person myself, I heard a person pose these questions to a group of young women one time.
Why do you want to cut your hair (or damage it so bad to where it becomes short) ?
Why do you want to wear short skirts that show off your legs (or even worse) when you sit? Or a skirt that has a split up the side/back that shows little flashes of flesh when you walk?
Why do you want to wear low tops or tight clothing that reveal your body?
Some of the girls really did have answers for the person. Some said their hair caused them headaches so cutting it was their only option.
Some liked their hair a certain way so they didn’t care if their particular favorite ‘do was damaging to the hair itself.
Some said they needed to wear shorter skirts or skirts that had a split in them so they could walk freely.
Others simply had no answers as to why they wanted to do these things, besides “I like it.”
That person then preceded to break down the real reasons behind all those “standards” that God required of His people. That person explained why it is necessary that we lay off some things as Holiness people and dress modestly by the Word of God. God enabled that person to explain it in a way that those girls could understand. The person showed them how it’s really not the issue of Holiness that made them buck against the man of God or the preaching, but rather, it was simply an indication that they still had a place in their hearts that wasn’t fully surrendered to God.
The person used this illustration—say you met the guy of your dreams. He is everything you have ever dreamed of. He is good and kind. He treats you with respect. He is honorable and Godly. He loves you just for you—not for some fake or made up version of you. You can just be you! He makes you happy. He makes you feel adored. He is always telling you how much you mean to him. As the relationship progresses, one day, He says to you…you know I love you as you are, but there is something that you wear that doesn’t please me. The outfit that you wore last night doesn’t reflect the person I know you to be. It sends the wrong message to others. Would you NOT wear it anymore for me?
Remember girls, this guy is IT! Everything you ever could dream of!!! What would your answer be ??
Would you get mad at him for even mentioning it and accuse of being controlling and trying to run your life… it IS your life, after all… but remember, reacting that way might ruin the wonderful relationship you all share. Or Would you gladly get rid of anything that didn’t please him (Or do anything he requires) simply because you love him?
Most of the girls responded that if he was really “all that” and he truly loved them—that they would just get rid of the outfits he didn’t like. The person said, “why would you do that? You liked the outfit and didn’t see any problem with it?” To which they responded, “ Yes, but because we love him, we would WANT to do what he liked or wear what he likes us to wear to please him.”
The person replied,
Exactly!! Because you love him! There isn’t anything He could ask of you that would be too much because you LOVE HIM and He loves you! So, naturally, You would gladly oblige his preferences. So I ask you, “Do we really LOVE God like we say we do if we won’t do what He asked of us? He loves us way more than any earthly man could ever love us. He exhibited His great LOVE by His ultimate sacrifice for our sins. He gave His life for our redemption. He has made a way for our escape from an awful punishment. Now, he has gone away to prepare a place for us — that where He is, we can be also!! His love is eternal. Is it too much for Him to ask of us to do what He requires in order to please Him? After all He has done for us??
I saw some of those girl began to get teary eyed as they saw their actions in light of God’s Word. Most of them weren’t “bad/rebellious” girls. They weren’t evil: They had simply been deceived by this world and Satan to think there wasn’t anything to the rules/regulations of Holiness. They didn’t understand the purpose behind God requiring His people to be Holy vessels. I saw as some of those same girls chose to embrace the truth and allow God to do a work in their hearts. Within a bit of time, as those same girls began to draw nigh to God and began to “fall in love” with Him, their “outward symptoms” of worldliness began to disappear. They became true “Holiness” in their hearts first, then it became outwardly manifested as well.
So, why should we be Holy???
-Because God requires it!
He said in the beginning of Leviticus 11:44 — For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy…
Leviticus 11:45
For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Leviticus 20:7-8
Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God. [8] And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you.
Leviticus 20:26
And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I will receive you,
Because He is a Holy God, He only accepts a Holy people. Oh, He will save unclean vessels! He tells us that He came to seek and to save that which was lost! But He doesn’t leave them there. But rather, He cleans them up and sanctifies them for His Glory! He wants vessels willing to be molded in His image and His Holiness!
-Because it’s the only way to “see the Lord”
Hebrews 12:14
[14] …holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
This scripture declares to us that in order to see God, we must embrace His Holiness in every avenue of our lives! We must be holy in our outward appearance, holy in our conduct, holy in our conversations, holy in our attitudes, and holy in our minds. We must allow God to transform our minds to be more Christlike! The Bible says the carnal man receiveth not the things of God! I want to receive! I want to be HOLY in every way before the Lord!!
-Because it is how God accepts worship and praise.
1 Chronicles 16:29
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
2 Chronicles 20:21
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord ; for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 29:2
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
Psalm 96:9
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
God loves Holiness! He references the “beauty of holiness” multiple times in His Word! He calls Holiness beautiful! It is His very nature!! He longs for worship/praise from a Holy people— set apart for His Glory!!
-Because Holiness living is a witness for God to show the world there is a difference in God’s people.
Isaiah 43:12
…therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord
Luke 24:48
… And ye are witnesses of these things.
Acts 5:32
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Leviticus 20:24
…I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people.
Ezra 10:11
…Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land...
One woman told me a story about how she came to accept the holiness way of life to be true. There was a holiness woman she heard testify—she said the woman had such a joy and a glow about her —the woman didn’t even mention one single holiness standard in her testimony. She was simply recounting a story about how she was at Walmart and some random person walked up to her and asked her to pray for her sick daughter. She prayed for the little girl right there in Walmart. The woman who was telling me the story said that when she heard the other woman’s testimony, she thought “no one has ever come up to me at Walmart for prayer.” She said right then, the Lord spoke to her then and said, “Do they even know you are saved? You don't look any different than the rest of the world!” That was a pivotal point in that woman’s life. She had seen holiness people before as a child and had never desired to have anything they possessed.They seemed self righteous and condescending. While they looked the part, They didn’t have the Spirit to bear witness! It is more than just living a standard—it’s having a personal relationship with God that will “shine” out as a witness to others !! The outward appearance is just extra witness of that inward Glory!!
-Because it provides a hedge of protection against the enemy. It helps us avoid some battles God never intended for us to have to fight.
Ecclesiastes 10:8
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
The hedge is representative of God’s boundaries. They were put there as a protection for us against the enemy. The verse here is telling us that if you break through the hedge, the serpent will be there to bite you. The boundaries God instituted to us in His Word weren’t to hurt us or to bind us but rather, to protect us from the Devil and his traps….God loves us so much! He doesn’t want his children to be bound to anything of this world. Despite what the Devil tries to tell us as Holiness women, God didn’t set standards to belittle us, to repress us, or to “make us ugly”… in fact, a true holiness woman is beautiful in God’s sight! He esteems holiness as true beauty! As the Bible says, Let God be true and every man a liar! Don’t let the enemy or this world lie to you! You are beautiful to God just the way you are! You don’t need any upgrades or modifications! You don’t need any paint jobs or remodeling either!! God designed you just as you are—a one of a kind masterpiece!
-Because Holiness (with a pure heart in a right relationship with God!) pleases God. It brings His favor and His blessings. Holy living will bring with it—power in prayer and power with God. God will pour out His anointing on any soul wholly surrendered to God in every part of life if they are willing to submit to His ways.
Because HOLY is who God is— Let’s be HOLY as well!!
There is so much power in submission! Dear women of God, Let’s submit our will to His will and become more like Him in every aspect of our lives!
Let’s protect our identity as sanctified, set apart believers in this last day!! Don’t allow the enemy to steal your identity! You are part of a mighty army of God! You are needed! You are wanted! You are loved! Lift the banner of Holiness once again! Be a witness to others of His mercy and His goodness! Don’t lose your Holiness identity! Allow the Lord to shape you and mold you into His image! Surrender every part of your heart to the Lord, obey His commands, walk in His precepts, and watch Him do great things in your life!!
From my heart to yours,
—Tiphanie❤️
Love this! So good ❤️