LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart ~ Psalms 15:1-2.
Introduction
Man today is in a constant, frantic and insatiable search for power. This is directly connected to the systems of our present world, wherein the powerless is treated as a hopeless pauper. Hence, the constant striving to accumulate more.
Albeit, what we need is real power to become better versions of ourselves, make true progress and fulfill our assignments on earth. But such power can only be accessed in God’s presence through purity of heart. Hence, the place of purity in our quests on earth can’t be overemphasized.
There is power in purity, and there’s progress in power! Your character is the taproot of your future excellence (Matthew 7:17-19). No wonder that God lamented the deficiency of purity in the hearts of men, and how dangerously deprived we are in the absence of it (Deuteronomy 5:29).
Nowadays, many believers who wereprogrammed for dizzying heights in their callings have astonishingly become victims of character deficiencies. Lasting blessings call for Christ-like and unsoiled character: slightly soiled, greatly reduced in price!
God always waits to confirm your character before He defends your destiny. Hence, real men/women seriously pursue purity of heart, and none truly chases God and remains stagnant (Amos 3:3). David choseto have his life regimented by the Lord’s statutes, and he ended up as a wonder unto many (Psalm 18:22; 19:8; 119:5,12; 71:7).
Myles Monroe said: “no matter the beauty of your picture, it is still at the mercy of your nature”. Without godly character, you lose the essence of your grace and charisma. Without functional reverence and fear for God, you misplace your relevance on the earth. The day you become tired of living right, you start becoming a victim of trials.
Now, your true character is what you do in secret, when no man will find out. But remember, even if men won’t ever find out, God constantly has you on His supernatural radar!
Character is integrity manifested. It is matching your words with your deeds, and aligning your outlook with the musings of your innermost recesses. Godly character is a virtue that everyone must learn to develop.
To develop your character, you shouldn’t allow negative opinions to rule your world, or your fleshly desires to overrule your goodsense (Genesis 16:1-2). You shouldn’t give attention to, talk less of giving in to, those who are unfamiliar with God’s Word(Genesis 16:2-4).
Those who truly aspire to develop a lifestyle of purity don’t feel free to disobey God’s Word, neither do they enjoy drifting through life and refusing to mature in the things of God (Genesis 2:17).
If you’re presently immoral or dubious, discipline yourself before that poison destroys your colourful destiny. If you’re proud or arrogant, deflate that satanic ego before it rubbishes your essence and degrades your status. You must sit down, think and make necessary adjustments before sin hits you with an unforgettable pain.
Good character is never worked out without pressure, and it’s never developed without determination. Nevertheless, where you stand will determine how you withstand the odds against your character formation. When you stand in righteousness, you glow even in life’s challenges (Romans 5:3).
Purity, Power And Possessions!
In God’s presence is the gracious outflow of His ultimate power and might. Albeit, abiding in His presence requires a well-maintained purity of heart (Psalm 62:11-12).
One of the sterling qualities of the Most High God is His characteristic holiness(Isaiah 6:1-3). He is incontrovertibly holy; He cannot even behold iniquity.
Holiness is a particular demand of God from His people (1Peter 1:14-16). When Jesus Christ was bearing our sins on His shoulders on the Cross, God turned His face away from Him temporarily (Psalms 22:1-3).
Anyone that would be a channel of God’s power must be manifestly pure in His sight.When we live in purity, creative forces will obey us and our glory shall burst forth like the sunshine (Isaiah 48:17-19). No doubt, God’s commandments are there to make us powerful Commanders!
Again, most things “we have” in life are as a result of “who we are”. We supernaturally attract “what we have” by “who we have become”. Promotion is a function of “what we do” but, more importantly, it’s a reflection of “who we are” (Joshua 1:6-9).
The destiny of every seed lies in its nature. The quality of your character is the foundation of greatness (Matthew 5:8). Your competence can truly take you far in life. But, after a certain point, it’s your godly character and civilized behaviour that will catapult you to the positions of honour, nobility and greatness!
Undoubtedly, God’s best is available to those who stand with Him in purity of heart (Psalms 34:18). Thus, each time the Holy Ghost touches human lives, He works to change our personalities (1Samuel 10:6).
If you aren’t happy with your current position in life, work harder and smarter, and the place to begin is with yourselves. It takes a principled lifestyle to make you a principal; your lack of it will certainly keep you local and stagnant!
The joyous answer to a breakthrough life lies in becoming more than we currently are. Nevertheless, it’s our wise endorsement of God’s Word that will eventually bring us excellent approval.
Every error defeated by discipline paves a way for our future glory (Galatians 3:24).Contrariwise, every philosophy of life that contradicts divine instructions will eventually lead to destruction.
Any day you choose to attract better things to yourself, start cooperating with the Holy Spirit by allowing necessary changes. Otherwise, you will have exactly what you have now — same level and same frustrations.
There are many disciplines that keep God’s law implanted in us for good: humility, self-control, obedience to divine commandments, diligence, balanced attitude, planning ability, wise investment, sensible belief system, etcetera.
When the Master approves you by reason of your purity, godly characters and honorable virtues, the world will become attracted to your worth, and will readily pay any price for your talents.
Friends and brethren, Jesus Christ is calling us to be His genuine disciples today, and to be dead to self, sin and to the satanic systems of this world. Only His true disciples can change the world, and only they will make heaven at last!
The place of genuine repentance, acceptance of the Lordship of Jesus Christ, being born-again and living right cannot, therefore, be overemphasized. A monkey is still a monkey, and it will remain nature-limited no matter the packaging it has.
You cannot take pleasure in the works of the sinful flesh and still enjoy the power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:19-25). God is never tired of blessing us if we are not tired of pursuing His values. When you pursue godly values, valuable things will certainly pursue you. May you never miss it, in Jesus name. Amen. Happy Sunday!
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Bishop Taiwo Akinola,
Rhema Christian Church,
Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
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