GODLY Family Principles

By Apostle Aje Pelser

Preached Sunday Evening, 23 May 2010, at Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town

Principles that help us serve God as Families.

 

Preserve the Unity of the Spirit

Ephesians4:1

¹ I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

² With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering,forbearing one another in love; ³ Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Apostle Andre often preaches on the unity of the Spirit and the unity of faith, because, although many speak about creating unity, it can only be preserved. There was unity with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit from the beginning, and we have entered into that unity by faith in Jesus name. From there it needs to be preserved.

Similarly, in marriage, there is a union between man and wife from the start, and as children are added, family friends, son in laws, daughter in laws, that unity needs to be preserved through Christ.  Let's teach our children to value the unity of spirit in our families and in our churches, and those whom God adds will value it too and preserve the unity as well!

Observe Boundaries

Deut 19:14“You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which the men of old have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

Deut 27:17 ‘Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor’s landmark.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

Job 24:2“Some remove landmarks; They seize flocks violently and feed on them;

Prov 23:10Do not remove the ancient landmark, Nor enter the fields of the fatherless;

Hos 5:10 “The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark; I will pour out my wrath on them like water.

Itis fine to set boundaries, daughters become mothers, sons become fathers with their own households. Gen 2:24  Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Prophet Nola Prophesied about a word God gave her for the overcomers conference: "SHIFT".

There is a shift in boundaries during the growth of a family, church and business, and regular family meetings can help to redefine boundaries that will ensure each member is valued and appreciated. If this is done prayerfully and the Priest of the home, or the patriarch of a family recognizes members by the Spirit, it ensures that the kingdom values of righteousness, peace and joy of the Holy Spirit are established in relationships. Solid families mean solid communities and churches, and this will lift nations to fulfill their redemptive purposes for God. 

 

Measure of Faithequals Area of Authority

Rom 12:3  For I say,through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

 You discover your measure through trial and error and it is revealed through a body of believers. Everyone will know what your gift is because your gift makes room for you. What value do I add to this church? This move of God? My family? This household?

Responsibility givesauthority

You can only speak into someone’s life if you love them and take spiritual care ofthem.

 

Understand Functions

Romans 12, I Corinthians 1. See Household leaders training manual, Gifts and Functions Manual, Five Fold Ministry Manaul available from MBC.

 

Enjoy Serving God asa Family

Joshua said:

Jos 24:15  And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the otherside of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

  Gen 18:17  And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,

  Gen 18:18  since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Gen 18:19  For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him."

 

Focus your Energy

Focus on outreach and winning new souls – energy needs to be directed to evangelism, away from family issues. There is a time to deal with family issues and a right way to do it, aligning with the Word of God. But the Bible warns us not to bite and devour one another to the point that a person runs down the stairs out the door never to return, unfortunately, this is where most familes find themselves - ready to give it all up! What a lie of the devil! Let's have a balance of inward and ouward focus. He who leads many souls to righteousness is wise! With joy draw water from the wells of salvation. An easy way to reach out is to include those who do not have their immediate families with them, in some family meals on Sundays on holidays, now and again, and let them feel part of the family of God that way, their conversion will follow shortly in Jesus' name! 

Ify ou lose your life you will find it! Be a combine harvester! 

Commendations for an OvercomingChurch

Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser at HARVESTER Reformational Church, Cape Town.

 

The Lord spoke to me by His Spirit and said: “Commend them” regarding the Overcomer’s Conference.

He Lords commendations for a church will propel us into new conquests for His kingdom!

The Meaning of Commendation: 

Act of commending: “praise of somebody's abilities”

Recognition of Accomplishment: “an award or citationgiven to somebody in recognition of an outstanding achievement”

Encarta Dictionary.

 

Well done good andfaithful servants! Enter into the joy of the Lord!

Luk 19:16  Thencame the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.'

Luk 19:17 And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you werefaithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.'

Mina G3414 - Thayer Definition:

1)in the OT, a weight of 300 shekels was one pound

2)In the NT, a weight and sum of money equal to 100 drachmae, one talent was 100pounds, a pound equalled 10 1/3 oz. (300 gm)

Partof Speech:noun feminine

ARelated Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: of Latin origin

 

Drachma; Dram

drak´ma,(δραχμή, drachmḗ): The word is used in the Septuagint as therendering of בּקע, beḳa‛,“half-shekel,” which must refer to the light standard for the shekel, as itsweight was about 62 grains. In the New Testament the word occurs only in Luk_15:8,Luk_15:9, where it is rendered “a piece of silver” (m “drachma”). It wascommonly taken as equivalent to the Roman denarius, though not strictly so.

Denarius

dē̇-nā´ri-us (δηνάριον, dēnárion): A Roman silver coin, 25 of which went to the aureus,the standard gold coin of the empire in the time of Augustus,

this was the ordinary wage of a soldier and a day laborer.

 

Youexecuted God’s Will through a Body!

Heb 10:5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "SACRIFICE ANDOFFERING YOU DID NOT DESIRE, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME.

Heb 10:6  IN BURNTOFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES FOR SIN YOU HAD NO PLEASURE.

Heb 10:7  THEN ISAID, 'BEHOLD, I HAVE COME— IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME— TODO YOUR WILL, O GOD.' "

 

Well done foroperating in His rest!

Mat 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Mat 11:29  Take Myyoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Mat 11:30  For Myyoke is easy and My burden is light."

Demons are restless! They are looking for the rest that belongs to us, they can’t have it in Jesus’ name.

 

The Lord commends youfor esteeming others higher than self.

Php 2:3  Letnothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness ofmind let each esteem others better than himself.

Php 2:4  Let eachof you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests ofothers.

 

Your servanthoodis commendable, you took on the form of Christ!

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

Php 2:6  who, beingin the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

Php 2:7  but madeHimself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and comingin the likeness of men.

Php 2:8  And beingfound in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to thepoint of death, even the death of the cross.

 

 

Your strength wasunder His control – meekness

Col 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tendermercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

Col 3:13  bearingwith one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint againstanother; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Jas 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

 

You showedtremendous hospitality

Rom 12:10  Bekindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

Rom 12:11  notlagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

Rom 12:12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly inprayer;

Rom 12:13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

 

The truth has setyou free – you were honest with God about your problems!

Joh 8:25  Then theysaid to Him, "Who are You?" And Jesus said to them, "Just what Ihave been saying to you from the beginning.

Joh 8:26  I havemany things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; andI speak to the world those things which I heard from Him."

Joh 8:27  They didnot understand that He spoke to them of the Father.

Joh 8:28  ThenJesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will knowthat I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Fathertaught Me, I speak these things.

Joh 8:29  And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

Joh 8:30  As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

Joh 8:31  Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, youare My disciples indeed.

Joh 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

 

You arecontinually Overcoming through Christ!

Rom 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,

Rom 8:39  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

06/03/2005;  revised: 02/05/10

Apostle Andre Pelser

 

I want to discuss several aspects about the name Ebenezer to revive your spirit and strengthen your faith to believe that the Lord is ready to help you as well! He will help you in a marvellous way!

 

The Audible Voice

 

On 19.02.92  I heard the voice of the Lord audibly speak to me when he woke me up and said: ‘I am Ebenezer!’  This happened in the double storey house we rented in 14 Quest Road, Milnerton.

 

At that time I sweated in prayer for provision for my family. The income in the church was no more than R4 000 per month. The hall in Milpark Centre we rented cost R4 000 per month. Our house cost R2 000 per month and the schools R2 000 per month as well. We had no idea how we would survive in this new venture having started a church and a bible school in the Cape.

 

We called it Milnerton Christian Centre at that time. Later on that year the children suggested that we change it to Harvester, a chain restaurant in England where we liked eating whenever we went to minister with John Waller, an Elim pastor who pioneered a work in Slough, East of London. The children said, ‘why don’t we change the name of the church to Harvester? It is a good place to eat!’ Because we provide spiritual food for people we decided to change the name.

 

The Mustard Seed

I immediately knew that he had revealed himself to me in a way he has never done before. I made a vow to accept him as Ebenezer and to serve him accordingly: ‘Lord I will plant my mustard seed size faith to believe that you who helped me thus far will remain Ebenezer to us for the rest of our lives. I will not be slack in any business matters for I put my trust in you to provide, to lead and to guide me and to give me wisdom to obtain wealth and to do your work in the earth

 

Mark 4:30-32

30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: 32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

The King James Version

 

I will be your son – be a father to me. Give me wisdom to speak to people as much as they can understand.

 

Sometimes we speak to people on a level that interests us but goes over their heads. That is not wise; sometimes we under-estimate the understanding of people. I saw in the bible how Jesus and Paul gauged their audiences and I desired this gift as well. So I included it in my vow to God.

 

The Meaning of Ebenezer

 

68 Õeben { eh’-ben}

 

from the root of 1129 meaning to build; TWOT - 9; n f

 

AV - stone(s) 247, weight(s) 7, divers weights + 68 3, hailstones 3, stony 2, carbuncle + 688 1, hailstones + 1259 1, hailstones + 417 1, headstone 1, masons + 7023 1, plummet 1, slingstones 1; 272

 

1) stone (large or small)

1a) common stone (in natural state)

1b) stone, as material

1b1) of tablets

1b2) marble, hewn stones

1c) precious stones, stones of fire

1d) stones containing metal (ore), tool for work or weapon

1e) weight

1f) plummet (stones of destruction) also made of metal

1g) stonelike objects, eg hailstones, stony heart, ice

1h) sacred object, as memorial Samuel set up to mark where God helped Israel to defeat the Philistines

1i) (simile)

1i1) sinking in water, motionlessness

1i2) strength, firmness, solidity

1i3) commonness

1j) (metaph)

1j1) petrified with terror

1j2)   perverse, hard heart[1]

 

1129 banah { baw-naw’}

 

a primitive root; TWOT - 255; v

 

AV - build 340, build up 14, builder 10, made 3, built again + 8735 2, repair 2, set up 2, have children + 8735 1, obtain children + 8735 1, surely

1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue

 

5828 `ezer { ay’-zer}

 

from 5826; TWOT - 1598a; n m

 

AV - help 19, help meet 2; 21

 

GK - 6469

1) help, succour

1a) help, succour

1b)    one who helps[2]

 

5826 `azar { aw-zar’}

 

a primitive root; TWOT - 1598; v

 

AV - help 64, helper 11, holpen 3, succour 3, variant 1; 82

 

GK - 6468

1) to help, succour, support

1a) (Qal) to help

1b) (Niphal) to be helped

1c)    (Hiphil) to help[3]

 

A brief account of the Ark

 

1. Philistines go to Aphek to attack Israel. The Israelites suffer a heavy defeat in battle.

2. Israelite messengers bring the ark to Ebenezer (the Israelite camp) believing this will save them.

3. In a second battle, the Israelites are again defeated. The ark is captured.

4. Philistines take the ark to Ashdod and keep it in the temple of Dagon. The statue of Dagon is discovered broken and a plague breaks out in the area. (Possibly bubonic plague spread by the mice of 1 Samuel 6:4–5.)

5. They send the ark to Gath . . .

6. . . . and then to Ekron. In both places, plague spreads.

7. The ark is sent back to Israel, with gifts, on a new wagon without a driver. It arrives in Beth Shemesh.

8. The Israelites are overjoyed at the return of the ark. It had been missing for 7 months.

9. The ark is moved to Kiriath Jearim, where it stays for 20 years until David moves it to Jerusalem.

 

The Blessed Presence of the Lord

 It stayed in the house of Obed Edom and his household prospered tremendously because of the help of the Lord. The Ark represented the presence of the Lord in those days. Today we do not have to build physical arks to obtain the presence of the Lord. Jeremiah prophesied and said we do not have to build one because there is an eternal ark in heaven that was the original ark and the Holy Spirit provides the presence of the Lord in our gatherings and in our lives. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

EBENEZER [ebb un EE zur] (stone of help) — the name of a place and a monument in Israel:

1. A place where Israel was defeated by the Philistines and the Ark of the Covenant was captured (1 Sam. 5:1). Its location was perhaps at modern Izbet Sarteh near Aphek.

2. A stone erected by Samuel to commemorate Israel’s victory over the Philistines. It may have been named after Ebenezer No. 1 to show that Israel’s defeat there 20 years before had been reversed (1 Sam. 7:12).

 

The previous name of Ebenezer

1033 Beyth Kar { bayth kar}

 

from 1004 and 3733;; n pr loc

 

AV - Bethcar 1; 1

 

GK - 1105

 } & 4122

 

Beth-car = “house of the ram” or “place of the lamb”

1)                a place apparently belonging to the Philistines[4]

 

3769 karar { kaw-rar’}

 

a primitive root; TWOT - 1046; v

 

AV - dance 2; 2

 

GK - 4159

1) (Pilpel) to whirl, dance

1a)    whirling, dancing (participle)[5]

 

The interpretation of the meaning

The Philistines obviously danced and whirled around because they captured the ark that represented the presence of the God of Israel. Now they knew that Israel could no longer defeat them.

 

Could this have been the reason why David danced and whirled before the ark? He ‘kararred’ before the ark, because ‘karar ‘ is a root word of ‘Bethcar’. The Name was changed to Ebenezer after the ark was taken back.

 

⁹And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.  ¹⁰And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. ¹¹And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar. ¹²Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, [6] saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.  [7]

 

The application of the message

Maybe you have faced difficult situations for twenty years and you have wondered when it would end. Today the Good News is this: if you can believe that this word is for you, if you can hear it echo in your heart, if you are willing to confess it with your mouth, it will become a reality to you as from this very moment! Faith comes by hearing the word of the Lord. When faith comes, faith produces substance for what you are hoping for. Faith brings evidence that what you are hoping for is not in vain.

 

It is time for you to take back what the enemy has stolen from you. It is time for you to enjoy the refreshing presence of the Lord again. It is time for you to know God as Ebenezer again.

 

The Word that is sure

 

As I heard that audible voice, hear it today: I am Ebenezer! Hear the voice of God in your spirit! Hear it in your mind!

 

Peter said we have a ‘Word made sure’, namely the written Word of God that is more sure than the audible voice of God, that rises in our hearts like the morning star till the day dawns and the light breaks forth. He says we should hold on to that Word until everything becomes clear!

 

I have brought the Word of the Lord to you today: Today the Lord says to you: I am Ebenezer! Believe it! Act on it!

 

The time is here for you to dance

It is time for you to rejoice and to Karar before the Lord like David did when the ark finally returned! It is your time to dance and sing, because the presence of the Lord is with you. He said I will never leave you nor forsake you. He said I will be with you till the end. He said My Spirit will be in you and He will lead and guide you like a good shepherd. He said He will show you things to come. He is your Comforter, Your Paraclete. He is your friend that sticks closer than a brother. He is your strength, your provider, your healer, your saviour and your deliverer from all kinds of evil.

 

Ebenezer is with you today!

Let us rejoice!

 

Elohim

In the book of Genesis the name Elohim is used of the Creator.

El=Strong One

Daniel (God is my judge), Samuel (heard from God), Immanuel (God is with us)

Psalm 19:2: The heavens declare His wonders.

By faith we understand that the worlds were created by God. We were not there when it happened. We need faith to believe the word of God. (Hebrews 11:3)

El Elyon

Genesis 18:18 High and Lofty One

The God of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:1) who had no ancestry. Jesus is the new High Priest of the New Testament according to the order of Melchizedek. Jesus was not from the tribe of Levi or from the line of Aaron who ministered in the Old Tabernacle. Jesus is the First Born from the dead and He is the Head of the Church of the Firstborn. All born again believers become part of that heavenly Church (mentioned in Hebrews 12:22) and therefore all believers now become royal priests that can enter into the holy presence of God like the Old High Priest under the Old Covenant could only do once a year. What a new way of living! Jesus opened up a new way into the holiest of all – for all who will follow in His wake! He lifted us up into a new dimension of living and ministry!

Daniel 3:26

It

El Shaddai

The Mighty One

Genesis 17:1

God appeared to Abraham as the Mighty One who could create and maintain what He created

 The Mighty One can break all barriers and help us to overcome Satan, Sin and Self in our lives. There is nothing impossible to Him. All things are possible if we can believe.

El Shaddai mentioned 31 times in Job

El Olam

Genesis 21:33

Ephesians 1:9, 10

The Eternal One who knows all secrets. He reveals mysteries to us. It is an apostolic gift to open up the mysteries of God to the church so that they can understand the ways and the mind of God so that His will can be done on earth as it is in heaven.

David says, when I worship on the harp, the Lord reveals dark secrets to me.

Adonai

Lord

Genesis 15:2

This redemptive name expresses the relationship between God and man. When Abraham prayed for Sodom and Gomorrah he used the name Adonai. He knew who He was speaking to and what he wanted from Him. He wanted Him to remember that they were human beings.

Jahweh

Used 6 000 times in the Bible

The God of the Ten Commandments: JWH no vowels written out of reverend fear for the great God whom they served.

Moriah – the face of Jaweh

Josiah – help from Jaweh

Hallelujah – glorify Jaweh

He has given us a New Commandment: to love God with all our heart, soul and being and to love our neighbour as ourselves. In this all the other Old Testament Commandments are fulfilled! He is a covenant keeping God. There are more than 7 000 Promises of God for believers in the Bible. Every need is covered with a divine promise. He has already provided for you.

Those who participate in sponsoring apostolic missions to other nations have this promise from apostle Paul: My God shall supply all your needs (Philippians 4:10-19).

Jehovah Jireh

Genesis 22:14

God is our Great Provider. The cattle on a thousand hills belong to Him. All the silver and the gold is His. He is our Heavenly Father. He knows what we need. He answers even before we call on Him. He desires that we prosper and be in health even as our souls prosper (3 John 2)

He is the ‘many breasted one’ that can feed all of us at the same time!

Rapha

Exodus 15:26

The Lord God is our Great Physician and our Healer if we walk according to His Word. Keep the word before your eyes, in your heart, in your mouth and it will be health to your bones! It will do you good like good medicine! The Lord sent His Word and healed them – Psalm 107. By His stripes we were healed ( I Peter 2:23, 24).

Deuteronomy 7:15

Nissi

Our Banner

Exodus 17:15

Deuteronomy 28:7

Lord of War. Israel marched under four Banners under through the wilderness. The sign of a Lion represent the tribe of Judah, an Eagle, the tribe of Dan, a Calf, the tribe of Ephraim and a Man represent the tribe of Rueben. These also symbolize the four faces of Christ’s nature. The Lion is the King, the Calf the strength of an ox to labour; the man speaks of the Word being made flesh and the Son of God coming in the form of a man; and the eagle speaks of the soaring one, the spiritual being, the one who can scale the cliffs and pierce the heavens.

Solomon wrote: My beloved is mine and I am His and His banner over me is Love!

The Lord has stretched His banner over you already! In the Spiritual realm the angels and demons can see under whose banner you are marching! If God is for us who can be against us?

Shalom

Peace

Judges 6:23, 24

He reconciled sinful man with Holy God – made peace. Peace comes after war. The battle for your soul has been won on Calvary. Jesus defeated Satan and wiped out the handwriting that is against us and nailed it to the cross. Then he disarmed Satan of all the weapons in which he trusted and displayed him openly as a defeated foe. He gives you peace. He is the Prince of Peace. The world cannot know peace because they reject the Prince of Peace.

He forgives sins and gives us peace within

Sabaoth

I  Samuel 1:3

Lord of Hosts

The Lord of War and Majesty

Psalm 24:10

God wants to give us comfort in great anxiety. Only God can do that. No one else can give yo peace that passes understanding. In the midst of trials and tribulation he can give you a Sabbath’s rest! The battle is the Lord’s. He will fight your battles and give you the victory! Put your trust in Him. His armies will fight on your behalf. Those who are for you are more than those who are against you!

Ra-ah

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want (another shepherd!) He makes me lie down in green pastures (he does not drive me like a cattle driver to exhaust me – he is not a slave driver or a dictator like Hitler!) and leads me beside still waters (He does not build a bridge for me over troubled waters!) Sheep are afraid of rough waters because if they fall in their wool will get too heavy and they will drown. They only drink when the water is still. That is where the Shepherd restores our soul so that He can lead us paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.  

Psalm 23:1

Tsidkenu

Righteousness

Jeremiah 23:16

Isaiah 54:17

Your righteousness is of Me says the Lord; the Lord has become our righteousness according to I Corinthians 1:30. We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. He made Him who knew no sin to become sin so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 5:210

Shammah

The Lord is there: before you get there, the Lord is there! He prepares the way for you to get there! He is always there. He never fails to show up – wherever you go, He’ll be there!

Ezekiel 48:35

Revelation 21;22, 23

I’ll be there for you for a thousand years

Yakaddish Kem

Holiness

 Exodus 31:3

I Corinthians 1:30 – The Lord is our holiness. Holiness has become a person, not just an attitude or moral behaviour. As Christ gains ascendency in our lives, as He increases and we decrease, our holiness augments.