The Holiness of God
“The call of God is the manifestation in time of the purposes of eternity.”
Andrew Murray
What a profound statement!
Yet the question so often asked is, what is the call of God? Many will say that any career Christian was ‘called’ to that particular vocation; be it missionary, medical, teaching, or whatever.
We certainly believe we have been called to work among the lost, the lonely, the abused, weak, or down-trodden. But was this our first calling from God.
I don’t believe it was. I believe the first call of God on man is holiness.
“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” 1 Peter 1:15
There are other verses of course
“Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy: for I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 20:7
and,
“Because it is written, Be holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16
I believe God calls us first to the imitation of His own attributes before any other thing, and from our attempts, poor though they may be, He gives us all other things, including even revival.
Our Churches today are simply too unholy to hold, contain, or even begin revival. I specifically used “too unholy” as against “not holy enough,” because that is how I felt Holy Spirit was prompting me.
If the call of God is, at this time, the manifestation of God’s eternal purposes, then holiness, both personal and corporate, must be our starting point.
Without holiness, we are unfit to hold any kind of revival, despite the fact that nearly all the gifts of God that go with revival — like healing, deliverance, signs, and wonders — are normally without repentance.
Revival is, I believe, almost a “special case” because revival without repentance just isn’t and cannot be revival.
Repentance therefore must start with the church and it must be channelled towards greater holiness in order to be even capable of handling the Holy presence of God — itself a hallmark of revival.
Unholy and holy cannot mix. That which is Holy expels, drives out, even destroys (!!) that which is unholy.
We cannot continue to call upon God for revival if we have an unholy and unrepentant church.
Holy it may never be, not completely, but we can start by repenting of our lack of holiness — our unholiness — then we can stand back and watch God move in our midst.
That, surely, is the call of God on this generation for His eternal purposes.
~ Chris G. Bennett
Chris Bennett came to salvation in 1962 but didn’t begin ministry until 2007 — a late-comer! Now mandated by The LORD to prophesy and open old wells of revival in the U.K., but especially in Wales. He has also operated Healing Rooms, and worked with deliverance teams, all with his wife, Linda. Happily now doing whatever The LORD asks of them! Founder, with wife Linda, of their ministry The Upper Room Encounter.
I am amazed at this interpretation of Rom. 11, 29 that God gives gifts to men without their repentance – although he may, of course! I understood this verse to mean that once God has given a gift to anyone he does not ‘repent’ of doing so, or change his mind. Indeed, some versions of the Bible read that ‘the gifts and call of God are irrevocable’. After all, the Apostle’s main point here is that God has never changed his mind about choosing the Jews!
YES. Amen.
Amen..God desire holiness to start a revival
聖潔過於重要,懇求天主幫助普世所有人聖潔,也幫助所有人意識到並深切痛悔自己的罪惡。願天主的旨意奉行在人間,如同在天上。我也像天主祈求聖神為全世界每一個人禱告的一切內容。阿門
{ HKP : Google Translate : “Holiness is too important, and I ask God to help all people in the world to be holy, but also to help all people to realize and deeply repent of their sins. May God’s will be carried out on earth as it is in heaven. Like God, I ask the Holy Spirit to pray for everything for everyone in the world. amen” ]
我向天主祈求聖神為世界每一個人祈禱的一切內容
[ HKP : Google Translate : “I ask God for everything that the Holy Spirit prays for everyone in the world” ]
Amen, good word and teaching. Thanks for sharing.