HOW CAN THERE BE AN IGNORANT HOLINESS?
"A good man does not ask what is the way in which he must walk, or in which is the most pleasant walking, but what is the right way, the way in which he should walk."
"The way of religion (Christianity) and godliness is a good old way, the way that all the saints in all ages have walked in." - both quotes are from Matthew Henry
"We cannot at all times discern the path of duty, and at such times it is our wisdom to apply to the Lord Himself."
"Father, first tell me which is the way, and then teach my little trembling feet to walk in it."
"Spiritual senses are dependent upon God, and heavenly knowledge comes from Him alone. To know the way we ought to take is exceedingly needful, for how can we be exact in obedience to a law with which we are not acquainted? or how can there be an ignorant holiness? If we know not the way, how shall we keep in it? If we know not wherein we should walk, how shall we be likely to follow the right path?" - all three of the above quotes are from Charles Spurgeon
Psalm 25:4 says - "Show me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths."
Psalm 143:8 says - "...cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee."
Today, the cry to know God's ways needs to be on the lips of every Christian. Now - more than ever - he must have the one and only desire to be wholly and always under the direction and guidance of God.
The saint of God needs to know and understand God's methods of divine government...His methods of administering the affairs of the world...His principles on which He bestows salvation, happiness, and favor...and His rules and great laws which He has prescribed. He needs to continuously cry out to the Lord to know His ways...be taught His path... and be led into His truth. He also needs to know the way of safety and righteousness...the safe way...the way and course of life according to God's will...the way of holiness...and the way of His commandments and ordinances.
"Show me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths."
"...cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee."
He cannot be a deceiver like the remnant of Israel who came before the Prophet Jeremiah inquiring as to which way was the safe way to take for them and their children - while all along having a made-up mind to do as they pleased. They came before the Prophet pretending to want to be directed by God, yet their faces and hearts were set on going to Egypt - "...Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) That the LORD thy God may show us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do" (Jeremiah 42:2-3). They really did not want to be shown God's way or will. They simply wanted their way - but His sanction on it.
God's way is not always appealing to the flesh. In fact, at times it goes against the desires of the flesh and self.
God's way is a "way of understanding" (Proverbs 9:6). It requires that the follower of Wisdom (the Lord Jesus Christ) "forsake the foolish" (Proverbs 9:6) in order to live. It requires that he frequently attend the throne of grace...continuously cry out to the Father of lights for wisdom... carefully and constantly read and study the Scriptures... go up to the house of the Lord as he has opportunity...sit under the ministry of Gospel preachers and teachers who feed men with knowledge and understanding... submit to the commands of Christ... fellowship with knowing and experienced Christians who are walking in wisdom... choose and keep to the path of wisdom...and govern Self by the Word of God.
It is "the way of the just" (Isaiah 26:7) which comprises uprightness. This is a path of evenness that is agreeable to truth, justice, and equity. It is a course of obedience and holy conversation. It includes no stumbling blocks or offensive things.
It is a "narrow...way, which leadeth unto life" (Matthew 7:14). It is hedged in on all sides by God's Divine Law. It requires that Self be denied...the body be kept under...all corruptions be mortified... daily temptations be resisted...and all fleshly inclinations give way to duty.
It is the "way of holiness" (Isaiah 35:8) - the "good way" (Jeremiah 6:16)...the way of God's commandments...where no impure person is allowed to travel. It is an appointed way...an appropriate way... the way where God brings His own unto Himself...the way of separation from the world and the flesh...the straight way...the way of holy worship and holy conversation... and the way of the Holy One. It is the way wherein the holiness of God is imputed to the saints - the place where they are sanctified by the Spirit and grace of God.
It is an "even place" (Psalm 26:12) - a level region...a smooth and level ground - in contradiction to the crooked and perverse ways of the wicked. The saint who walks here is resolved to live for God and godliness and is not shaken by the temptations of the world.
It is a "good way" (Jeremiah 6:16) which takes in the paths trodden by saints of old. It is an old way - the way of faith and holiness - which leads to a true rest for the soul.
It is a "plain path" (Psalm 27:11) - a straight path - an open, smooth, and straightforward path - in opposition to the way of cunning which is intricate, torturous, and dangerous.
It is the "way of peace" (Luke 1:79)...the "way of wisdom" (Proverbs 4:11)...the "right way" (Ezra 8:21)...and the "way of God in truth" (Mark 12:14). It is the "way of life" (Proverbs 10:17) to all those who "keep instruction" (Proverbs 10:17).
"Show me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths."
"...cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee."
It is imperative that the saint of God know the right way to take - for he is surrounded by many enemies who are cruel and harsh and desire to see him fall.
This is why the Lord Jesus said in Luke 13:34 to - "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." This pursuit to know God's way must be made a life and death struggle. The saint of God must be in earnest... agonize...put forth all powers...be diligent... and make it his first and chief business to overcome all sinful propensities in order to fulfill his duty.
We leave you with the words again of Charles Spurgeon saying - "Spiritual senses are dependent upon God, and heavenly knowledge comes from Him alone. To know the way we ought to take is exceedingly needful, for how can we be exact in obedience to a law with which we are not acquainted? or how can there be an ignorant holiness? If we know not the way, how shall we keep in it? If we know not wherein we should walk, how shall we be likely to follow the right path?"
It is impossible for the believer in Jesus Christ to claim an ignorant holiness! No one walks in ignorant holiness today! He must know the ways of God in order to walk in them!
"Show me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths."
"...cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee."
Is this your prayer?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved
Subscribe to Daily Bible Messages at - connie@walkingintruth.org
Walking In Truth Ministry | P.O. Box 383016 | Duncanville | TX | 75138
"The way of religion (Christianity) and godliness is a good old way, the way that all the saints in all ages have walked in." - both quotes are from Matthew Henry
"We cannot at all times discern the path of duty, and at such times it is our wisdom to apply to the Lord Himself."
"Father, first tell me which is the way, and then teach my little trembling feet to walk in it."
"Spiritual senses are dependent upon God, and heavenly knowledge comes from Him alone. To know the way we ought to take is exceedingly needful, for how can we be exact in obedience to a law with which we are not acquainted? or how can there be an ignorant holiness? If we know not the way, how shall we keep in it? If we know not wherein we should walk, how shall we be likely to follow the right path?" - all three of the above quotes are from Charles Spurgeon
Psalm 25:4 says - "Show me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths."
Psalm 143:8 says - "...cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee."
Today, the cry to know God's ways needs to be on the lips of every Christian. Now - more than ever - he must have the one and only desire to be wholly and always under the direction and guidance of God.
The saint of God needs to know and understand God's methods of divine government...His methods of administering the affairs of the world...His principles on which He bestows salvation, happiness, and favor...and His rules and great laws which He has prescribed. He needs to continuously cry out to the Lord to know His ways...be taught His path... and be led into His truth. He also needs to know the way of safety and righteousness...the safe way...the way and course of life according to God's will...the way of holiness...and the way of His commandments and ordinances.
"Show me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths."
"...cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee."
He cannot be a deceiver like the remnant of Israel who came before the Prophet Jeremiah inquiring as to which way was the safe way to take for them and their children - while all along having a made-up mind to do as they pleased. They came before the Prophet pretending to want to be directed by God, yet their faces and hearts were set on going to Egypt - "...Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) That the LORD thy God may show us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do" (Jeremiah 42:2-3). They really did not want to be shown God's way or will. They simply wanted their way - but His sanction on it.
God's way is not always appealing to the flesh. In fact, at times it goes against the desires of the flesh and self.
God's way is a "way of understanding" (Proverbs 9:6). It requires that the follower of Wisdom (the Lord Jesus Christ) "forsake the foolish" (Proverbs 9:6) in order to live. It requires that he frequently attend the throne of grace...continuously cry out to the Father of lights for wisdom... carefully and constantly read and study the Scriptures... go up to the house of the Lord as he has opportunity...sit under the ministry of Gospel preachers and teachers who feed men with knowledge and understanding... submit to the commands of Christ... fellowship with knowing and experienced Christians who are walking in wisdom... choose and keep to the path of wisdom...and govern Self by the Word of God.
It is "the way of the just" (Isaiah 26:7) which comprises uprightness. This is a path of evenness that is agreeable to truth, justice, and equity. It is a course of obedience and holy conversation. It includes no stumbling blocks or offensive things.
It is a "narrow...way, which leadeth unto life" (Matthew 7:14). It is hedged in on all sides by God's Divine Law. It requires that Self be denied...the body be kept under...all corruptions be mortified... daily temptations be resisted...and all fleshly inclinations give way to duty.
It is the "way of holiness" (Isaiah 35:8) - the "good way" (Jeremiah 6:16)...the way of God's commandments...where no impure person is allowed to travel. It is an appointed way...an appropriate way... the way where God brings His own unto Himself...the way of separation from the world and the flesh...the straight way...the way of holy worship and holy conversation... and the way of the Holy One. It is the way wherein the holiness of God is imputed to the saints - the place where they are sanctified by the Spirit and grace of God.
It is an "even place" (Psalm 26:12) - a level region...a smooth and level ground - in contradiction to the crooked and perverse ways of the wicked. The saint who walks here is resolved to live for God and godliness and is not shaken by the temptations of the world.
It is a "good way" (Jeremiah 6:16) which takes in the paths trodden by saints of old. It is an old way - the way of faith and holiness - which leads to a true rest for the soul.
It is a "plain path" (Psalm 27:11) - a straight path - an open, smooth, and straightforward path - in opposition to the way of cunning which is intricate, torturous, and dangerous.
It is the "way of peace" (Luke 1:79)...the "way of wisdom" (Proverbs 4:11)...the "right way" (Ezra 8:21)...and the "way of God in truth" (Mark 12:14). It is the "way of life" (Proverbs 10:17) to all those who "keep instruction" (Proverbs 10:17).
"Show me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths."
"...cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee."
It is imperative that the saint of God know the right way to take - for he is surrounded by many enemies who are cruel and harsh and desire to see him fall.
This is why the Lord Jesus said in Luke 13:34 to - "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." This pursuit to know God's way must be made a life and death struggle. The saint of God must be in earnest... agonize...put forth all powers...be diligent... and make it his first and chief business to overcome all sinful propensities in order to fulfill his duty.
We leave you with the words again of Charles Spurgeon saying - "Spiritual senses are dependent upon God, and heavenly knowledge comes from Him alone. To know the way we ought to take is exceedingly needful, for how can we be exact in obedience to a law with which we are not acquainted? or how can there be an ignorant holiness? If we know not the way, how shall we keep in it? If we know not wherein we should walk, how shall we be likely to follow the right path?"
It is impossible for the believer in Jesus Christ to claim an ignorant holiness! No one walks in ignorant holiness today! He must know the ways of God in order to walk in them!
"Show me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths."
"...cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee."
Is this your prayer?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved
Subscribe to Daily Bible Messages at - connie@walkingintruth.org
Walking In Truth Ministry | P.O. Box 383016 | Duncanville | TX | 75138
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