Tag Archives: Holiness

Repentance

Turn Away from Evil and Walk in Purity

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“I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my heart will not reproach me as long as I live.”
—Job 27:6, NASB

Beloved, hear the word of the Lord. If we desire revival, if we long for His glory to rest upon us, we must turn away from evil and walk in purity. This is not a side teaching. It is not a call for the “serious” believer only. It is the foundation upon which all intimacy with God stands. We cannot see Him and still embrace what He hates.

Come Out from Among Them

The prophetic voice cries aloud: return to the ancient path. Do not mix what is holy with what is profane. Do not call evil good, nor tolerate darkness in the name of relevance. The word is clear: “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord, and do not touch what is unclean, and I will welcome you” (2 Corinthians 6:17, NASB).

Today the Church risks being known for everything but holiness. We speak of love, but do not discipline sin. We exalt grace, but refuse to grieve over what grieves the Spirit. “Be holy, for I am holy,” says the Lord (1 Peter 1:16, NASB). And holiness is not a style or a tone—it is separation unto God. It is walking as Yeshua walked, with clean hands and a burning heart.

Build on the Rock

The apostolic call is to establish foundations. And any true foundation must be built on purity of heart. Yeshua said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8, NASB). Not only in eternity, but now. Purity grants spiritual clarity. Apostolic vision cannot function through a fogged lens. If we want heaven’s blueprint, we must cleanse the altar first.

Paul reminded Timothy, “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5, NASB). Let every leader, every disciple-maker, every spiritual father and mother hear this: we reproduce what we are. If we want a pure Bride, we must be a pure people. If we want to plant holy churches, we must be holy vessels.

Guard the Heart

Let us not forget the pastoral heart of God. He is not harsh. He is holy. He does not call us to purity to shame us, but to heal us. Compromise is a wound that festers. Sin always takes more than it gives. But purity restores the soul. “Who may ascend onto the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? One who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:3-4, NASB).

Pastor, shepherd the flock by example. Speak tenderly, but speak truth. Do not pamper the sheep into apathy. Call them higher. Let your heart break for what defiles them. We must not build cozy gatherings while the cancer of sin spreads through the body. Feed them, yes—but cleanse the wound.

Expose the Lies

The teacher’s task is to bring clarity, not confusion. And Scripture is not unclear. The call to turn from sin is woven through both covenants. “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness” (2 Timothy 2:19, NASB). “Make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Romans 13:14, NASB). “Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8, NASB).

This is not law. This is love. God’s commands are not burdensome. They are guardrails that protect the glory He desires to share with us. The Spirit leads us into all truth—and purity is the fruit of truth applied. We do not obey to earn His presence. We obey because we love Him. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15, NASB).

Choose Life

The evangelistic heart weeps over the lost and cries out to the wandering: choose life. Choose purity. Choose the cross. Salvation is more than escape from hell. It is freedom from sin. The Gospel is not a license to stay in filth but an invitation to come out clean.

Yeshua still saves. And He still sanctifies. The Blood is enough to wash every stain. The Spirit is powerful enough to break every chain. And the Father still runs to the repentant with open arms. Let us proclaim it boldly: “If anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB).

To the addict, to the immoral, to the proud and self-justifying—there is mercy if you will turn. But you must turn. The way is narrow. The gate is small. You cannot carry your idols into the kingdom. Lay them down and come.

The Call: Turn and See

Beloved, turn away from evil. Not just the obvious kind, but the hidden kind. The bitterness. The secret lust. The casual compromise. The entertainment that quenches the Spirit. The conversation that pollutes. The justification that numbs. Turn. Purify your heart. “Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14, NASB).

Do not delay. A pure heart is a joyful heart. A clean conscience is a soft pillow. And the reward is God Himself. Revival is not for the clever, but for the consecrated. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8, NASB).

Let the Church be holy again. Let the Bride be ready. Let the Spirit fall on altars that are clean.

Purge my soul and wash me white,
Turn my gaze to holy light.
No more shade shall stain my song—
I was made to love what’s strong.

A Prayer for Purity

Holy God,

Search me and know me. Burn away every unclean thing. I do not want to grieve Your Spirit. I choose to turn away from evil, even when it costs me. Cleanse my eyes. Cleanse my motives. Cleanse my speech and my desires. Let me be holy as You are holy. Fill me with a love for righteousness and a hatred of sin. Make me pure, not in name only, but in truth. Let my life reflect the Lamb I follow. In the name of Yeshua, Amen.

See Also

Holiness and Revival

Love God, Hate Sin

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“Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the court [of your city’s gate]! Perhaps the Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
—Amos 5:15 (AMP)

Beloved, we have arrived at a point in Church history where we must confront an inconvenient truth: you cannot love God and be neutral toward sin. To love God is to embrace what He loves and to despise what He hates. Anything less is compromise, and compromise is not the soil in which revival grows.

In our hunger for grace, we have softened our stance against evil. We whisper warnings when God shouts them. We stroke the edges of darkness rather than calling it what it is. But the Lord, whose name is holy, still burns with a fierce hatred for sin—not because He is cruel, but because He is love. Love abhors all that destroys. Therefore, if we are to walk as Yeshua walked, we must awaken to His holy hatred.

The Holy Divide: What Love Demands

To love purity is to loathe impurity. To love truth is to grieve over lies. This is not double-mindedness—it is the necessary result of a sanctified affection. David cried, “From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:104, NASB). Not tolerate. Not minimize. Hate.

This is not a hate born of pride or cruelty. It is the righteous hatred of Christ Himself, who Scripture says was anointed above His companions precisely because He loved righteousness and hated wickedness (Hebrews 1:9). It is the burning purity of God that pours oil on His people—not charisma, not comfort, not conformity, but consecration.

We do not get to pick which evils are worth hating. Sin is sin, whether it sits in the heart or walks in the streets. Whether it is lust in the pew, corruption in the court, or deceit in the pulpit—all of it grieves the Spirit. The cross was not partial in its sentence. Yeshua did not bleed selectively. And the Spirit will not dwell in a temple where evil is excused.

The Gap Between Anointing and Affection

Why do we cry out for revival and yet see no rain? Why do we pray for the fire to fall, yet keep our altars wet with compromise? It is not because God is unwilling. It is because our affections are divided.

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15, NASB). The anointing follows affection. You cannot embrace holiness with one arm while hugging rebellion with the other.

It is our imperfection in loving the good and hating the evil that restricts the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. God does not give His glory to the half-hearted. If we want to be full of the Spirit, we must be emptied of what grieves Him. We must be willing to lay aside not just bad things, but lesser things—even things others around us still cling to. This is the cost of the oil. But oh, the reward is worth it.

The Dangerous Comfort of Niceness

Our nation has known unprecedented religious freedom. We build churches without resistance. We broadcast sermons without censorship. But let us not mistake absence of persecution for the favor of God. Sometimes it means we have become too tame to be threatening.

“Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers used to treat the false prophets” (Luke 6:26, AMP). The world has not hated us because we have not given it a reason to. We have chosen the easier road. The applause of man has become louder than the voice of God.

We are too quick to excuse sin, to dilute conviction in the name of love. But beloved, this is not the love of Christ. The love of Christ was never silent in the face of wickedness. It flipped tables. It rebuked the religious. It wept over the lost. It bled for the sinner but never approved the sin.

To love like Jesus is to be misunderstood. It is to be a nuisance to the world and a fragrance of life to the remnant. It is to pursue righteousness even when it costs you reputation, comfort, and standing. Vance Havner was right—we are so busy running for office that we have forgotten to stand for truth.

The Narrow Way: Love That Separates

“Whoever pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness, and honor” (Proverbs 21:21, NASB). Notice that the path to life is not through appeasement. It is through pursuit. Righteousness must be chased with abandon.

If we are to be the Bride of Christ, we must look like Him. And the Lamb is pure. He is holy. His garments are not stained with compromise. Those who follow Him must wash their robes in His blood and forsake the harlotries of this world.

We must recover our disgust for sin—not as self-righteousness, but as spiritual sanity. Sin is not a lifestyle choice. It is death. It is rebellion. It is the very thing that pierced the hands of our Lord. To tolerate it is to make peace with the nails.

Let us not be afraid to be counted among the fools for Christ. Let us reject the fear of being labeled “intolerant,” “radical,” or “legalistic.” The only label that matters is this: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That label does not come cheap. It is forged in the fires of obedience and secured in a heart that loves God more than it loves comfort.

Justice Begins at the Gate

Amos cried out not just for private piety, but for public justice. “Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the court [of your city’s gate]!” (Amos 5:15, AMP). The revival God seeks is not one of emotion alone, but of reformation.

If we tolerate injustice in our courts, dishonesty in our systems, and corruption in our dealings, we mock the God of righteousness. The Church must again become a voice for justice—not partisan justice, but Kingdom justice.

Righteousness is not quiet. It speaks. It acts. It stands at the gate and says, “This is wrong,” even when doing so is costly. Revival that never touches the courtroom, the classroom, or the boardroom is not the revival of the prophets—it is a counterfeit.

A Prayer for Sanctified Affection

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17, NASB). This is the cry of every heart that longs for more of God. Not more knowledge, not more comfort—but more of Him.

And to have more of Him, we must love what He loves and hate what He hates.

Beloved, this is not a call to become bitter, angry watchdogs. This is a call to become blazing altars. Let the fire of God burn in you until it consumes every unclean thing. Let your affections be purified until you no longer negotiate with sin but grieve over it. Let your heart be so aligned with Heaven that every compromise feels like betrayal.

When that happens, the oil will come. The power will come. The revival will come.

But until then, may our prayer be:

Lord, I want to receive more of the Holy Spirit’s goodness in my life,
yet I recognize today that I still cling to things You hate
and resist that which You love.
Sanctify my affections, that I may experience more and more of You.
Amen.

⸻

See Also

Spiritual Growth

Transformed to Triumph

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Living the New Self in Christ

“Put on the new self, the regenerated and renewed nature, created in God’s image, godlike in the righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:24, AMP)

Beloved, God does not improve the old; He makes all things new. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB) The command to put on the New Self in Christ calls us to shed yesterday’s grave-clothes and step into robes woven by grace. What once defined us—failure, shame, and sin—no longer speaks the final word. Yeshua speaks a better word, one of cleansing, adoption, and holy identity.

The accuser still prowls, rehearsing our past. Yet Scripture silences him: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1, AMP) Each charge against us met its death at the cross. You need not negotiate with darkness; resist it. “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7, NASB) Standing firm in the New Self in Christ, we fight from victory, not for it.

Transformation, however, is more than pardon; it is daily participation in divine life. Jesus calls, “Abide in Me, and I in you…for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5, NASB) Communion fuels change. As we linger before His face, the Holy Spirit realigns thoughts, reshapes desires, and reorders loves. Hollow religion checks boxes, but the New Self in Christ pursues intimate union—“more of Him, less of us.”

God’s discipline also shapes us. “For the Lord disciplines those He loves.” (Hebrews 12:6, AMP) When correction comes, yield quickly. The Father’s pruning knife removes what limits fruitfulness. Soon the very wounds He cleansed will bloom with perseverance, humility, and joy. Chastening is never rejection; it is proof of belonging.

At times resistance you feel is not discipline but warfare. The thief aims to steal confidence and mute testimony. Lift the shield of faith; declare God’s promises aloud. “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:11, NASB) Your story of redemption echoes heaven’s verdict and drives despair into retreat.

Seeing Christ clearly empowers holy living. John beheld Him among the lampstands, eyes like fire and face shining like the sun. (Revelation 1:13-16) Ask the Spirit to paint that portrait on your heart until every lesser image fades. Beholding births becoming. “We all…beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NASB) The New Self in Christ flourishes when vision of His glory remains vivid.

Walking in newness also restores purpose. God prepared works beforehand so we would walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). Step into those assignments with courage. Let compassion guide deeds, truth anchor words, and hope brighten presence. The world longs for authentic witnesses who embody righteousness and holiness without pride. Show them what grace can produce.

Dependence marks every moment. “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness.” (2 Peter 1:3, NASB) You lack nothing necessary for victory. Draw daily from Christ’s fullness through prayer, Scripture, and fellowship. Spiritual drought ends where living water is welcomed.

Finally, press on with expectation. “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6, NASB) The Artist will finish His masterpiece. Until then, keep putting on the New Self in Christ, rejoicing that sanctification is certain, not optional. The Spirit’s fire will refine and reveal the beauty of holiness.

You tore the veil, ignited night,
You breathed on dust and dreams took flight;
Now frame my life with heaven’s hue,
Until all I am looks just like You.

Prayer

Father, I lay aside every weight and sin. Clothe me in the New Self in Christ. Holy Spirit, reveal Yeshua’s glory, uproot compromise, and empower obedience. Make my life a living testimony that draws many to Your throne of grace. Amen.

See Also

Faith

Return to the Ancient Path

A Call to Walk with God

Return to the Ancient Path. Hear the voice of the Lord today, calling you back to Himself. In a world rushing toward destruction, the invitation still stands: leave the broad road and enter the narrow gate. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14, AMP).

Return to the Ancient Path where true rest for your soul is found. “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find a resting place for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16, NASB). Yet many say, “We will not walk in it.” Will you also turn away, or will you answer the call of God?

The ancient path is not forgotten. It is alive and well, illuminated by the One who is the Light of the world. Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6, NASB). Jesus is the only Way — the only Gate — the only Door that leads to life. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

God has shown you what is good: “To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NASB). Return to the Ancient Path — the Holy Way — where the unclean cannot travel, where fools cannot stray (Isaiah 35:8, AMP). It is a highway for the redeemed, for those washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Have you stumbled? Have you strayed? “For My people have forgotten Me, they burn incense to worthless gods, and they have stumbled in their ways, in the ancient roads, to walk on paths, not on a highway” (Jeremiah 18:15, NASB). Beloved, return before it is too late. The mercy of God calls you still.

When the Father sees you coming home, He doesn’t wait on the porch—He runs to embrace you. There is no place better. 🕊️

To the faithful remnant, those who have not bowed to idols, who have not compromised their walk — this call is for you also. Stand firm. Strengthen what remains. Return to the Ancient Path with renewed zeal. Walk as Enoch walked, and be found pleasing to God (Genesis 5:24, NASB). Walk as Noah walked — righteous and blameless in your generation (Genesis 6:9, NASB).

Cry out as David did: “Make me know Your ways, Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation” (Psalm 25:4-5, NASB). Trust Him with all your heart. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight”(Proverbs 3:5-6, NASB).

Return to the Ancient Path. The Shepherd of your soul stands ready to lead you. “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name”(Psalm 23:3, NASB). He has not forsaken you. His arms are still open. His mercy endures forever.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25, NASB). The Ancient Path is the path of life — the way of holiness, righteousness, and peace. Jesus is calling. Do not harden your heart.

Return to the Ancient Path today. The gate is narrow, but it is open. The Way is singular, but it is sure. Jesus is the only Way — and He waits for you.

O Ancient Path, steady and true,
Your ways are mercy, ever new;
We lift our eyes, we will not stray,
Guide us, O Lord, in Your holy way.

A Closing Prayer

Father, in the name of Yeshua, we come before You. You are the Ancient of Days, the God of the eternal covenant. You have called us to the Ancient Path — the way of life, the way of holiness, the way of truth. Lord, we confess we have strayed. We have sought out our own roads, and we have stumbled. But today, by Your mercy, we return.

Father, lead us back. Strengthen the faithful remnant. Awaken the slumbering heart. Set our feet on the narrow road again. Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We declare there is no other Way but You. Teach us Your paths. Lead us in Your truth. Restore our souls for Your name’s sake.

Holy Spirit, guide us in this hour. Make us a people who walk by the Spirit, who do not turn aside to the left or the right. Seal us in Your righteousness. Uphold us with Your mighty hand. For Your glory, for Your kingdom, and for the honor of Your great Name.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

⸻

See Also

Holy Spirit

Boldness in the Presence of God

A Call to the Fearless

This word was born last night at the Pray West Boylston prayer meeting at Freedom Worship Center, and was sparked in part by a message two Sundays ago by Samuel Maisonet, formerly of Faith Church in Auburn. It is a word for now — for you, beloved of God.

The world trembles at the sound of danger. Men pray for safety; hearts seek shelter. But I write to you, beloved, that you would not pray as the world prays. You are called higher. You are summoned to boldness in the presence of God.

When the early Church faced threats — real threats of death and imprisonment — they did not plead for protection. They did not beg to be hidden. They lifted their voices and cried:

“And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence.” — Acts 4:29 (NASB)

The ground beneath them shook. Heaven answered with fire. They were filled again with the Holy Spirit. They spoke the Word of God with boldness, not fear.

But boldness is not born of flesh. It is born in the presence of God.

Come and see the prophet Isaiah. He was drawn up to the heights of heaven, where the Lord sat enthroned, high and lifted up. Seraphim circled and cried:

“Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of armies, The whole earth is full of His glory.” — Isaiah 6:3 (NASB)

Before the healing comes, the jar must break. This is where revival begins—on our faces, with nothing held back.
She broke her jar—and with it, her pride, her plans, her past. Only in surrender can the fragrance rise. This is where healing begins.

Isaiah fell on his face:

“Woe to me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of armies.” — Isaiah 6:5 (NASB)

The fire of God touched him. His guilt was taken away. His sin was atoned for. Then — only then — did he hear the voice of the Lord:

“Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” — Isaiah 6:8 (NASB)

Return to the Lord in brokenness

Beloved, Isaiah did not hesitate. His heart, once trembling, now burned. He answered:

“Here am I. Send me!” — Isaiah 6:8 (NASB)

This is the secret: Boldness comes after brokenness. Confidence is born from cleansing. You cannot stand fearless before men until you have bowed low before God.

Boldness in the presence of God is not arrogance — it is holiness on fire. It is the soul washed clean by the blood of Yeshua, the lips purified by His mercy, the heart inflamed by His Spirit. It is the Church, shaken but unshaken. It is the believer, trembling but bold.

And understand this: When God speaks, His command is often 180 degrees opposite to human logic. Where we would pray for protection, He calls us to pray for boldness. Where we would build walls, He calls us to tear them down with His love. His ways are not our ways — they are higher.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. — Isaiah 55:8 (NASB)

“Whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” — Matthew 16:25 (NASB)

Boldness is not reckless noise; it is love in motion. Last night, the Spirit whispered a deeper truth: it is not only God’s love that draws people — it is God’s love in us. The world will not be won by arguments or anger, but by a bold, visible love that cannot be denied. The true disciple goes out in love and shines. They see Yeshua in us.

As the song “Send Me” by Bethel Music so beautifully sings:

“And before You even ask, oh my answer will be yes.”

This is the posture of boldness: a surrendered yes before the question is even asked.

Will you not come? Will you not enter the presence of the Most High? Will you not fall before Him and be made new?

Do not pray merely for safety. Pray for boldness.
Do not ask merely for comfort. Ask to be sent.
Do not walk in mere knowledge. Walk in love.

The Lord is asking even now:

“Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”

Let the cry rise from your cleansed lips:

“Here am I. Send me!”

The world is waiting for the fearless.
The lost are waiting for the loved.
Heaven is waiting for the willing.
The Lord of Glory is waiting for you.

From trembling knees to lion’s roar,
You lift my voice to heights unknown.
In fire and cloud, You speak once more —
The King of Glory claims His own.

Closing Prayer

O Holy Father, El Shaddai,

I come trembling before Your throne. Cleanse my heart with Your holy fire; purify my lips with Your coal. Let every fear be burned away by Your presence. Let every weakness be clothed in Your strength.

Fill me, O Lord, with the power of Your Spirit. Let boldness rise where once there was fear. Let Your love overflow from my heart. Let my voice proclaim the name of Yeshua without shrinking back. Grant me the courage to answer when You call, to stand firm when others fall away, to speak when silence tempts me.

Here I am, Lord — send me.
Here I am, Lord — fill me.
Here I am, Lord — use me for Your glory.

In the mighty name of Yeshua, the King of kings,

Amen.

See Also

Holy Spirit

Where Is the Fire? 

A Call to Live by the Spirit

Oh, for that flame of living fire! The ancient hymn sighs with longing, its words almost lost to a generation numb to holy passion. Where is that Spirit, Lord, which once set the hearts of saints ablaze, which filled prophets with boldness and caused apostles to endure shipwreck, hunger, and sword with unwavering joy?

We must ask ourselves, Where is the fire? And we must answer honestly. The fire of the Spirit has not vanished; it has simply been replaced — replaced by comfort, self-interest, and a cross-less Christianity. The Apostle Paul gave the key when he declared: “But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14, NASB)

If we desire to live by the Spirit as those saints did, we must return to the cross. There is no shortcut. There is no modern substitute.

Living by the Spirit Begins at the Cross

To live by the Spirit is to first die at the cross. Jesus said plainly, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23, NASB) To live under the Spirit’s rule moment by moment, we must let the cross do its work, severing our attachment to the world and emptying us of self.

Many today want the fire without the altar. But Scripture is clear: “Present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”(Romans 12:1, NASB) Without sacrifice, there is no fire.

Living by the Spirit today looks like surrender — absolute, unrelenting, joyful surrender. It is not a Sunday activity but a daily death. It is the laying down of plans, the renouncing of pride, the crucifying of comfort.

What Living by the Spirit Looks Like Today

To live by the Spirit in today’s world is to walk in conscious, continual submission to God’s voice. It is a life that bears the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23, NASB)

It looks like believers who are bold in their witness, unashamed of the gospel, as Paul was when he wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16, NASB)

It looks like saints who are not driven by fear or anxiety, but who trust wholly in God’s providence: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6, NASB)

It looks like households where prayer is not an afterthought, but the breath of the home. It looks like workplaces where integrity shines, conversations where grace abounds, and lives so surrendered that the fragrance of Christ follows everywhere they go.

A community gathered in Spirit-led worship, encircling the fire—symbol of God’s presence—each heart lifted in surrender and awe before the Lord.

Why Has the Fire Diminished?

Why must we ask, “Where is that Spirit, Lord?” It is because we have settled for a form of godliness without its power (2 Timothy 3:5). We have exchanged the Spirit’s fire for the world’s approval. We have chosen safety over surrender.

The saints of old walked in the power of the Spirit because they first walked the narrow way of the cross. They were crucified to the world, dead to its charms, and alive only to God.

If we would regain the fire, we must return to that narrow path. Jesus warned, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.” (Matthew 7:13, NASB)

A Call to Rekindle the Flame

Where is the fire? It waits for those willing to lay all on the altar. It waits for those who will take up the cross daily, die to self, and live by the Spirit.

Today, the call is urgent. Lay down your life anew. Present yourself as a living sacrifice. Crucify the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24). Boast only in the cross of Christ, and watch as the fire returns — not as a flickering candle, but as a consuming blaze.

We need not sigh with nostalgia for a bygone era. The Spirit has not changed. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8, NASB) His fire still falls — but only where there is fuel. Only where there is surrender.

Let us forsake the comforts of this world and seek the face of El Shaddai. Let us live by the Spirit, moment by moment, breath by breath, until our lives burn as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.

Then, and only then, will the world look at the Church and see not a hollow religion, but a living fire.

Closing Prayer

Lord Yeshua, we kneel at the foot of Your cross. Crucify our pride, our comfort, our idols. Set our hearts ablaze with the fire of Your Spirit. Let us live by the Spirit, walking in the steps You have marked out for us. May our lives be living flames, drawing all men to You. Amen.

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See Also

Faithful Living

Walking Faithfully with God

A Call to You, Beloved

“Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for God took him [home with Him].” — Genesis 5:24 AMP

Beloved, hear the Word and do not harden your heart. In the beginning, before the flood, when darkness had spread like a veil over the earth, there was one who chose to walk another way. Enoch did not follow the crowd. He did not bow to the idols of ease or pride. He did not walk in his own strength. He chose, instead, the narrow road—a road lit only by faith. And because he walked faithfully with God, he pleased God. He vanished from this world because God took him. Enoch did not taste death.

You must understand this: you cannot walk with God and walk with the world. The path of the righteous has always been lonely, yet it is filled with the presence of the Lord. Enoch’s testimony still speaks—he lived close enough to Heaven that God brought him home. He lived as one who knew God, not as an idea, but as a Person. Not a doctrine, but a daily companion. His life exposes the shallow living of his generation—and ours.

Oh child of God, are you walking with Him, or are you drifting? Do not be deceived: this world will never honor the Spirit-led. It will mock your holiness and call it bondage. It will seduce your soul with busyness, pleasure, and endless distractions. But hear me—this world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever (1 John 2:17 NASB).

A quiet river winds through a lush, untouched garden where fruit trees flourish and golden light streams from Heaven—a glimpse of Eden, where God still walks with man.

The Secret Place of the Faithful Walk

You were not made to walk alone. You were not made to carry your burdens without help. The breath in your lungs, the beat of your heart, the thoughts in your mind—all are sustained by God. You depend on Him for everything. Every. Single. Thing. And yet how often do you live as though you are sufficient?

Enoch knew better. He knew what you must know now: our strength fails, but God never does. The devil whispers to your soul, “You’re doing fine. You can take care of yourself.” But you cannot. You were created to walk hand-in-hand with El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One. You were never meant to lead your own life.

Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you. The Spirit is calling you out of mediocrity and into intimacy. Not to religious routine, but to fellowship. To the secret place. To the stillness where God speaks and strengthens.

The Voice Still Calls: Walk With Me

The Lord is calling. He’s not calling the crowd—He’s calling you. He wants your attention. He wants your obedience. He wants your heart, wholly surrendered. Not once, but daily. Moment by moment. He wants your walk.

To walk faithfully with God is not merely to believe that He exists—it is to believe Him, trust Him, follow Him. “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3). No, beloved. You cannot walk with God while holding hands with sin. You cannot walk in the Spirit while dragging the chains of compromise.

Lay them down. Lay down your pride. Lay down your fear. Lay down your timeline. Choose Him now. Say with your heart what Enoch said with his life: “I will walk with You, even if I must walk alone.”

When shadows press near and voices grow loud,
I follow You, Shepherd, apart from the crowd.
Your whispers are clearer than thunder or flame,
And I walk in Your shadow, upheld by Your name.

Prayer of the Heart

Holy Father, I need You more than breath, more than rest, more than anything this world offers. I have tried to walk in my own strength, and I have failed. But now I come. I return to the narrow road. Take my hand, Lord. Lead me like You led Enoch. Let me walk faithfully with You until the very end. May Your Spirit fill me, guide me, and keep me. Let me not stray. In the name of Yeshua, my Redeemer, amen.

See Also

For the Worshiper (Go Deeper)

Footsteps wind through a misty forest toward the light, symbolizing the soul’s desperate journey—walking faithfully with God, step by step, breath by breath.

The Song of Enoch
“And Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for God took him.” — Genesis 5:24 AMP

https://www.133.church/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-Song-of-Enoch-Long.mp3

Verse 1
I was a man among many, born of dust,
Yet my soul found no peace in the ways of the earth.
Their laughter was hollow, their idols were rust,
So I turned my face to the One of true worth.
In the silence of dawn, I heard Him call—
Not in thunder, but in the hush of my fall.
“Walk with Me, son, and trust My way,”
And I bowed low—I could not delay.

Chorus
For I cannot breathe without Your breath,
I cannot stand but by Your strength.
Each step, each heartbeat, each fragile day—
I walk because You make a way.
Desperate I am, and desperate I stay,
Forever dependent—O God, be my stay.

Verse 2
The world mocked softly, with velvet chains,
Whispered, “Why strive for a God you can’t see?”
But I saw His glory beyond the plains,
And His voice thundered in secret to me.
The stars could not guide me, the moon did not know,
But the flame in my bones began to grow.
Not by sight, but by holy fire,
I walked with God, my one desire.

Chorus
For I cannot breathe without Your breath,
I cannot stand but by Your strength.
Each step, each heartbeat, each fragile day—
I walk because You make a way.
Desperate I am, and desperate I stay,
Forever dependent—O God, be my stay.

Bridge
I did not seek reward or crown,
I only sought to hear Your sound—
The footsteps of the Living One,
The whisper of El Elyon.
When all around me turned to dust,
Still, I held Your Word in trust.
“Abide in Me,” You gently said,
And You became my daily bread.

Verse 3
Now the path grew narrow, the crowd grew thin,
But I would not trade this walk for sin.
For I have seen the Holy Flame,
I have heard Yeshua call my name.
And when the earth could hold me no more,
You opened wide the unseen door.
You took me in—not by death or rod,
But by the hand of the Living God.

Final Chorus
I cannot breathe without Your breath,
I cannot rise but by Your strength.
Eternal steps on Heaven’s way—
I walk because You make a way.
Desperate I was, and desperate I’ll be,
Forever held in Your eternity.

Tag
So teach me, Lord, to walk like this,
In holy fear and Heaven’s kiss.
Let every breath, each footstep trod,
Cry out—I’m desperate for my God.

Personal Holiness

Becoming a Man of God

“Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” —Matthew 7:17, AMP

What kind of tree are you becoming? The words of Yeshua are clear—our fruit reveals our root. A good tree cannot help but bear good fruit, just as a tree corrupted at the core will bring forth bitterness in season. But too many attempt to fix their fruit without tending to the tree. They adjust behaviors without addressing the soul. They mask sin with service and substitute image for integrity. Yet God sees through every leaf and branch to the heart of the tree itself.

The Lord never said, “By their gifts you will know them.” He said, “By their fruits” (Matthew 7:20). These fruits—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22–23)—can never be manufactured. They grow only from a heart surrendered to El Shaddai, cleansed by the blood of Yeshua, and filled with the Spirit of holiness.

The Broken Cup

A cracked cup cannot hold what it was made to carry—only the Potter can restore it to fullness and purpose.

Imagine a cracked cup. You can polish it, decorate it, and fill it with the finest drink, but the leak will remain. Only the Potter can mend what is broken. God is not impressed with how well we appear to hold righteousness; He desires to make us whole. “Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earthenware… If anyone cleanses himself… he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:20–21, NASB).

God calls us not to do more, but to be more like Him. A man of God is first a man possessed by God—his identity, his affections, his mind, and his motives all yielded to the will of the Lord. When this is true, all his work becomes sacred. Whether farming, building, managing, or preaching—every action flows from the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead.

A Holy Man Makes Holy Work

This is what makes the difference: a holy man makes holy work, not the other way around. Even our best deeds are stained if they do not spring from purity of heart. “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:3–4, NASB). Holiness is not a performance; it is a possession. It is the Spirit of God indwelling you, purifying your desires, setting you apart.

Paul told Timothy, “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:11–12, NASB). That charge was not limited to preachers. It is the daily call of every man who longs to walk with God.

Abiding in the Vine

This pursuit is not about striving harder—it is about abiding deeper. “Abide in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine… apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4–5, NASB). To become a man of God is to abide in the Son of God. Your fruitfulness depends entirely on your connectedness to Him.

Don’t just polish the leaves. Go to the roots. Invite the Holy Spirit to examine your heart. Confess your sins. Surrender your will. Let His fire purify, and His grace empower. Then your life will not just contain good works—it will become good because He is good.

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O God, plant me by Your living stream,
Let righteousness rise as my only dream.
Purge the rot, the pride, the shame,
That I may bear fruit that glorifies Your Name.

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Prayer

Father, make me a man of God. Not by title, nor by appearance, but by Your Spirit working deep in my heart. Cleanse me from every hidden sin. Mend what is broken. Shape me like the Potter with holy hands. I surrender not just my actions, but my affections. Fill me with Your Spirit, that the fruit of my life may reflect the root of Your righteousness. Let all I do be marked by who I am in You. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

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See Also

Intimacy

Come Out and Cleave

A Call to Holiness and Purity

This article, inspired by a call to holiness and purity, came from the Lord at a prayer meeting last night at Freedom Worship Center in West Bolyston.

Beloved, You were not made for the world. You were made for the King. Not for mixture, but for fire. Not for compromise, but for communion. Not to be used, but to belong—fully, joyfully, eternally—to Yeshua, your Bridegroom and King.

You are His Bride. And this is the season of engagement.

He is calling you to be set apart, adorned in holiness, washed in purity, and ready for the wedding supper of the Lamb.

Holiness: Set Apart for El Kadosh

“You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”
— Leviticus 19:2, NASB

“But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.”
— 1 Peter 1:15, NASB

Holiness means to be set apart for God alone.

It is not merely moral excellence—it is belonging. It is the divine seal of consecration, marking you for sacred service and intimate worship before El Kadosh, the Holy God.

For men, holiness confronts the sin of self-exaltation—the drive to be independent, powerful, and admired apart from God.

Lay down your ambition. The throne is already taken.

For women, holiness confronts the sin of idolatrous dependency—the pull to find identity, security, or approval in people or roles rather than in God.

Lay down your fears. The Bridegroom is your covering.

Holiness calls both to surrender.

Both: Belong wholly to the Lord.

Come out from what is common. Come into what is holy.

This is the first step of love: to leave all lesser things for the One who is worthy.

Purity: The Heart That Sees God

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
— Matthew 5:8, NASB

“Let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
— 2 Corinthians 7:1, NASB

Talking with God face to face

Purity is the inward condition—a heart free from contamination, deception, and mixture. It is not naïve—it is clean. It is not weak—it is ready to see clearly, to worship without distortion, and to walk without stumbling.

Sin stains men most often through lust, anger, and unchecked appetite—the war of the flesh.

For women, impurity often enters through envy, insecurity, comparison, and emotional idolatry—the war of the soul.

But purity restores clarity and communion.

It is the fragrance of the Bride who keeps her lamp burning.

It is the scent of oil on the hair of the one who has sat at the Bridegroom’s feet.

Engaged to the Holy One

“I betrothed you to one Husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:2, NASB

Church, you are not your own. You are not free to blend with the world, to flirt with Babylon, to taste both the cup of demons and the cup of the Lord. You are engaged—and engagement demands faithfulness.

You are not just waiting—you are preparing.

You are not watching the clock—you are watching the skies.

You are not making yourself relevant—you are making yourself ready.

This is the hour to return to your First Love.

To shed every garment stained with self, and be clothed in fine linen—bright, clean, and holy.

Cleave to the One Who Cleaves to You

“The one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”
— 1 Corinthians 6:17, NASB

This is not the time for divided loyalty or distracted hearts.

The world will demand your opinions. The enemy will provoke your flesh. But the Bridegroom calls you to cleave.

Cleave to Yeshua:

  • In worship, where no one sees.
  • In obedience, when no one agrees.
  • In love, when the fire costs you everything.

You were not saved for status. You were saved for union.

Abide Until the Wedding Comes

“And so we shall always be with the Lord.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:17, NASB

Do not drift. Do not slumber. Abide. Abide in the Vine.

The banqueting house is prepared. The banner overhead is love. And the Bridegroom is nearer now than when you first believed.

This is the call:

  • Come out—into holiness.
  • Stay pure—guard your devotion.
  • Cleave—into covenant.
  • Abide—into eternal union.

Final Plea to the Bride

Holiness is your robe.

Purity is your fragrance.

Love is your oil.

You are not a slave. You are not a servant. You are not a platform. You are the Bride of Christ.

Return to your place. Return to your purpose. Come out, and cleave.

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And the one who hears, say, ‘Come.’”
— Revelation 22:17, NASB

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See Also

Personal Holiness

Set Apart to Burn

Beloved, God is holy, and those who dwell in His presence must be holy also. You were not redeemed to blend with this world but to be set apart for El Shaddai, radiant in righteousness, clothed in purity, and burning with longing for the One who is altogether lovely. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6, AMP). This hunger is not of the mind—it is of the spirit. It is not theory—it is fire.

Do you not know, dear one, that the Lord your God is a consuming fire? (Deuteronomy 4:24). He burns away all that is unclean. But He also warms the heart of the one who seeks Him in truth. If you would walk in intimacy with the Spirit of God, then let there be a great returning—a forsaking of compromise, a renouncing of secret sin, a full surrender to Yeshua HaMashiach. For these reasons, you are set apart, called into His embrace to burn with passion for holiness. “Everyone who has this hope [in Him] continually purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3, AMP).

The world mocks purity, but the Spirit exalts it. Weep if you must, tear down the altars of pride and entertainment and comfort. There is no path to glory that bypasses the cross. And the cross still calls you to die daily—to die to flesh, to sin, to vanity—and live unto God. “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, completing holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1, AMP).

Rebuilding the altar of the Lord

Tozer was right: you cannot feel what is not rooted in the soil of repentance. Many want the wind of the Spirit, but they will not build the altar. Yet God visits the altar, not the stage. He comes where there is brokenness and obedience, where hearts lie prostrate and spirits cry out for the living God, set apart to burn in His presence.

Come out, dear reader. Be separate. Be clean. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded (James 4:8). Not for shame, but for glory. Not for legalism, but for love. The Bridegroom is holy. His Bride must be made ready, set apart for His divine calling. And the beauty He sees in you is not your gifting—it is your holiness. It is Christ formed in you.

“Without holiness, no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14, NASB). These are not words of wrath, but of invitation. For He longs to be seen. He yearns to be known. But He will not reveal Himself where idols still reign.

So, lay the groundwork—repentance, obedience, separation, holy living—and then watch. You will be filled. Set apart, you will burn with His holiness. The Holy One will draw near. And the joy of His presence will become wonderfully, wonderfully real.

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Prayer

O God who is holy and enthroned in glory, we repent of every impurity we’ve harbored. Cleanse us, refine us, draw us into the furnace of Your presence. Plant within us a new hunger, a deeper thirst, a passion for purity. Let us walk blameless before You, not by our strength but by the blood of the Lamb. We are set apart to burn in Your holy fire. Make us holy as You are holy. In Yeshua’s name, amen.

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See Also