Holiness Highway

By Mary L. Barnes

Paul said to examine yourselves, whether ye be in faith, and prove your ownselves. Know ye not your ownselves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

The Great Commission command us to extend God's kingdom to all people.

Believers should clothe themselves with Christlike characteristics such as truth, righteousness and peace.

Communication with the Lord effectually convinces and humbles a saint, and makes him glad to part with his most beloved sins.

We throw ourselves on God's mercy, knowing that unendurable suffering comes with a sense of God's absense.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 10, 2009
• ISBN: 9781469117782

Mary L. Barnes

I was born in November, 1946, in Blenheim, South Carolina. I grew and attended Wright High School, and graduated in May' 1964. I moved to Brooklyn, New York, in January 1965. I had four different jobs in 1965. I went to school for Typing and Short Hand, I also had Math and English. I got a job in October with New York Telephone Company, as a Long Distance Operator, making $69.50 a week. I retired with a package deal, from the Telephone Company July 1995. I relocated to Blenheim South Carolina.

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Copyright © 2009 by Mary L. Barnes.

Library of Congress Control Number:          2009906836

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Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Holiness Highway

A Decision That Last

A Friend At Midnight

A Secret Service Christian

A Vision of Peace

All Night In Prayer

An Assignment

Appointed To The Service

Be Perfect

Being Thankful For God’s Kindness

Between Two Opinions

Blessing Without Belief

Calling The Spiritually

Alive People

Choose To Be Thankful

Checking Your Progress

Christ Letter

Christ’s Going Sets New Standards

Christian Ethnics

Christian Versus Christians

Citizenship

Clean Outside Filthy Inside

Cloudy Day

Committed To The Commission

Comparing The Old

With The New

Concern for the Poor

Count It Joy

Criticizing Those The Lord

Has Not Denounced

Cross Examined By The Lord

Despising Those Who Tell

The Truth

Do Not Fail The Test

Do Something

Don’t Give Up

Don’t Miss God’s Answer

Don’t Neglect Your Gift

Don’t Try To Play God

Endure Hardship

Everyone Has Four Faces

Examine Yourselves

Forget The Coverup

God’s Spirit And

Our Own Desires

Grace Received In Vain

Habakkuk’s Question

Habits Worth Having

Hills And Valleys

Hold To Sound Doctrine

Hold To The Message

Hungry Dogs

Hypnotized Christians

Identity Crisis

It’s Cleanup Time

It’s Not Too Late

Keep Up The Good Work!

Knowledge Beyond Classroom

Let Go Of Doubt

Lip Service

Look Before You Leap

Looking For One

Trustworthy Person

Love Builds Up

Love Made The Difference

Main Road

Making It Personal

Mistake In Timing

No Deceit In God’s House

No Nobodies

Nothing Happens By Chance

Patience Will Endure

Paul Defends His Gospel

Peace That Passeth Understanding

Priceless Knowledge

Progress Toward Perfection

Purchased Friendship

Recorded In Book Of Life

Reflections For Your Journey

Rejoice in Suffering

Run To Win

Run With Endurance

Seeking God’s Approval

Slow Spiritual Progress

Sold For Nothing

Some Assembly Is Required

Speak The Truth

Standing In The Spotlight

Stay Loyal To God

Stop Searching For Praise

Storm Warnings

Telling Others About Christ

The Babbler Speaks of Jesus

The Christian Walk

The Generous Eye

The Need For Faith

Those Of Simple Ways

Too Deep For Words

Trusting God In Hard times

Trusting In The Lord

Undercover Followers

Unlocked Message

Verbal Infections

Wait On God

Walking Worthy Of Your Calling

What The Lord Requires

Where Can I Serve

Who Are Christians

Acknowledgements

I thank God for the insight, and the strength to continue, and when I couldn’t think of a title he gave me that also. I am especially grateful to my husband Minister Willie Barnes, for encouraging me.

My son Tron, of [e-mail]. For doing my cover page.

I dedicate this book to all my children: La’Tasha, Darrin and Tron. My step Children, my sisters: Lucille, and Creola, my brother William Tyson, my pastor Rev. Coleman and first lady, Patricia Cannon, my consins, grand children, my host of nieces and nephews. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

Foreword

Holiness Highway is a road built to make travel easier, it’s set apart for those who are holy, the unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for him who walks the path. (Isaiah 35:8)

On our pathway even the foolish and unwary traveler, once redeemed and born again may travel without becoming lost, and those who journey to the Holy City by this highway will be characterized by a special joy which the world knows nothing about.

Christians life begin by affirming that God exist for us.

Righteousness toward men is a branch of true religion, so religion towards men is a branch of true religion.

Holiness Highway

Isaiah 35:8-10

A road will be there and a way; it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for him who walks the path. Even the fool will not go astray. There will be no lion there, and no vicious beast will go up on it; they will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk on it. And the ransomed of the Lord will return and come to Zion with singing, crowned with unending joy. Joy and gladness will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee (Isaiah 35:8-10).

Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah spoke of a holy highway. Many scholars believe this spoke of the path back to Jerusalem for God’s people. Other scholars believe that Isaiah was referring to the way to heaven through the Messiah.

This road is a main road that was once deserted land. Lions won’t lurk along this road. Travel is made easier along this road. This way is set apart for the saints of God and not for the wicked. Every danger shall be warded of, for the returning people.

The way of religion and godliness is called the way of holiness, which call for a worship and a holy conversation.

The way of holiness is the way of God’s commandment, it is the good old way. And the way to heaven is a plain way. Those who are learned or knowing little, shall be kept from missing the road. Those that walk in the way of holiness may proceed with a holy security and serenity of mind, knowing that nothing can do them any real hurt. They shall be quiet from the fear of evil. The promise of a safe highway is a reversal of the judgment in 33:8. Isaiah 33:8 says: No one travels any more; every road is empty. Treaties are broken, and no respect is shown to any who keep promises.

Those that are dumb and knew not how to speak of God or to God, their understandings were opened to know him shall have their lips opened to show forth his praise. These miracles Christ wrought to prove that he was sent of God.

Those who by faith humbly wait for God, shall find him gracious to them. Every morning we must commit ourselves to him, and go forth praising him and lifting up his name.

As we prepare to travel this highway, we see signs that read: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control.

John 3:1, Nichodemus, came secretly to Jesus with a question. Nicodemus said to him, Rabbi we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. Jesus answered and said to him, most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Jesus answer became the best known Bible verse of all.

Nicodemus onced defended Jesus, when Jewish scholars criticized him. Nicodemus asked, Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing? John 7:51

Ananias, lied to the Holy spirit, trying to keep money that didn’t belong to him. Ananias knew he had broken the commandments.

Matt 27:16, Jesus described Barabbas, as criminal, robber, and insurrectionist murderer. People like that were usually crucified. On the religious holiday of passover, it was Roman custom to release one Jewish prisoner. So Pilate, the Roman governor gave the crowd a choice: Jesus or Barabbas. They were convinced to choose the killer.

Peter, one of Jesus three best friends, stepped out of a boat to walk on the water, he took his eyes of Jesus. He was the disciple who hacked off an official’s ear during the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was the first of the twelve who declared Jesus was divine. Peter is the disciple that denied Jesus three times. He began to look at all this now because he wanted to travel holiness highway.

Thirty years later when it came time to die he felt unworthy to die as Jesus did, and he ask to be crucified upside down.

We don’t know what others have done, we don’t know if they got it right with God, that is not our concern, it’s between them and God.

We must get right with God now, later may be too late.

Let all who hear what God has done, acknowledge that he can do everything.

We are taught to keep the commandments, statues, and the judgments, if ye hearken to these judgments that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the Covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers and he will love thee, and bless thee.

Isaiah spent his life trying to get Judah to become acquainted with God and his word, he wanted them to trust in God’s guidance. He spoke to God about the coming judgment on both individuals and nations surrounding Judah. People’s motives were clear to God, he punished sinners, and he reward those who are honest and lived by his commandments.

The restored Babylonian exiles symbolize political and spiritual exiles and the physically and spiritually blind, deaf and lame of all times and places. The Lord would come to rescue them from their tragic predicaments.

The King of Babylon was kind to Jeremiah, yet the prophet must foretell the ruin of that kingdom. If our friends are God’s enemies we dare speak peace to them.

On our pathway even the foolish and unwary traveler, once redeemed and born again, may travel without becoming lost, and those who journey to the Holy City by this highway from Babylon, the city of destruction, will be characterized by a special joy of which the world knows nothing, and will sing a special song of thanksgiving which the unsaved can never utter.

The way shall be made for Christ’s salvation, and all difficulties shall be removed. He brings a reward of comfort and peace with him; and they shall be called, the holy and redeemed of the Lord. Holiness puts honour and beauty upon any place or person, and makes them admired, beloved, and sought after.

Isaiah describes the joy that will soar in the hearts of God’s people as his presence work its marvelous transformation of the land and its people. In that day the redeemed, and only the redeemed, will enter Zion singing, filled at last with joy and gladness.

Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. When God’s people returned out of Babylon to Zion they came weeping (Jere 50:4), but they shall come to heaven singing new songs, which no man can learn, (Rev 14:3).

Those that by faith are made citizens of the gospel Zion may go on their way rejoicing, they shall sing and praise in the way of the Lord. When Christ shall come to set up his kingdom in the world, then wonders, shall be wrought on men’s souls. By the word and spirit of Christ, the spiritually blind were enlightened, and these deaf to the calls were made to hear them readily.

Our Lord Jesus when he was here upon the earth, with a word’s speaking, he gave sight to those who was born blind. By his power the ears of the deaf also were unstopped, with one word Ephphata—be opened (Mark 7:34).

Satan blinds the eyes by unbelief and seals up their lips from prayer. The more people magnified Christ, the more desirious the Pharisees were to vilify him, it was evident that if Satan aided Jesus in casting out devils, the kingdom of hell was divided against itself.

Many that were lame had the use of their limbs restored so perfectly that they could not go, but leap, and with so much joy in them that they could not forebear leaping for joy. (Acts 3:8).

Matt 9:27 And when Jesus had departed there, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, you Son of David, have mercy on us. At this time the Jews expected a Messiah would appear, these blind men knew and proclaimed in the streets of Capernaum that he was come, and that Jesus was he. Those who have lost their bodily sight, may, by the grace of God have the eyes of their understanding fully enlightened and whatever our wants and burdens are, we need no more for supply and support, than to share in the mercy of our Lord Jesus. Christ is enough for all. They followed him crying aloud. He taugh each us always to pray, and not to faint, though the answer does not come at once. They followed Christ, crying, but the question is, Do ye believe?

Many are spiritually blind, yet say they see. Jesus cured these blind men, and when they had received sight, they followed him. None of them followed Christ blindly. He first, by grace, open mens eyes, and draws their hearts after him.

The unconverted are blind, salvation brings sight, light and life. Then and only then are the crooked things made straight, the way made plain.

Even as God dried up the Red Sea for Israel, he will bring Jews and Gentiles together, and will remove all obstructions.

Sin has been and is, the guilty cause of all the suffering that exists in the creation of God. This is not all, sin is to be looked at as it affects the glory of God.

The blossoming of desert vegetation symbolizes the inward change that takes place in the redeemed soul. Instead of arid fruitlessness and spiritual death comes the fair bloom of newly blooming faith they will start rejoicing and singing free at last.

If religion does not dwell in us, we cannot be faithful.

The close connexion between the blessedness of the Jews and of the Gentiles, runs through the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus will complete his works, and he never will forsake one whom he has redeemed and sanctified.

Are we walking in the way of holiness?

In Ancient times, certain roads between temples were open only to those who were ceremonically pure.

Many events may have been part fulfillments of this, as earnest of more glorious times yet to come.

Images of the dread judgment of God are balanced by this portrait of the joy of the redeemed. The Apostle Paul reflects the sense of this passage in Rom 8:18, where he says, I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. God’s people will suffer while society is corrupted by sin, and evil men are bent on oppressing the righteous. But just as God’s day of vengeance is just retribution for the wicked, it introduces the divine repayment of the redeemed for past pain.

The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi we know that you are a teacher come from God, no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him. Nicodemus was afraid, or ashamed to be seen with Christ, therefore came in the night. There are many Nicodemus. But though he came by night, Jesus bid him welcome, and hereby taught us to encourage good beginnings. Although weak and though, now he came by night, yet afterward he owned Christ publicly. He did not talk with Christ about state affairs, through he was a ruler, but about the concerns of his own soul and its salvation, and went at once to them. Jesus spoke of the necessity and nature of regeneration or the new birth, and at once directed Nicodemus to the source of holiness of the heart.

After the tree of David had felled and only the stump or Branch left, a. significant Messianic title, will spring up. He will be supernaturally endowed by the sevenfold Holy Spirit of God. Therefore, he will administer a perfectly righteous rule, for no clever litigant or petitioner will ever be able to deceive him by false evidence. He will maintain the rights of the defenseless and the poor (especially the meek who are persecuted for their faithfulness to God). As a belt holds all the wearers clothes together in proper place, so God’s standard of holiness will be the constant and unifying force in Messiah’s rule. The condition of Christ’s empire will be that of harmony and peace, based upon the true religion.

The apostles and the first believers attended the temple worship at the hour of prayer. Peter and John seem to have been led by a Divine direction, to work a miracle on a man above forty years old, who had been a cripple from his birth. Peter, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, bade him rise up and walk.

During their possession of Palestine, the Romans constructed several important highways, as they did in all countries which they ruled.

Deut 7:8 Here is a strict caution against all friendship and fellowship with idols and idolators. Those who are in communion with God, must not have communication with the unfruitful works of darkness. Limiting the order to destroy, to the nations here mentioned, plainly shows that after ages were not to draw this into a precedent. The proper understanding of the evil of sin, and of the majesty of a crucified Saviour, will enable us to perceive the justice of God in all his punishments, temporal and eternal. We must deal decidely with our lusts that war against our souls, let us not show them any mercy, but mortify, crucify, and utterly destroy them.

When the Holy Ghost came upon the Gentiles that heard the word, then, were the fountains of life opened.

When the gospel should be publicly preached, the Gentiles would seek Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, and find rest of soul. When God’s time is come for the deliverance of his people, mountains of opposition shall become plains before him. God can soon turn gloomy days into glorious ones.

Thousands in the world that now is, have been undone by ungodly marriages, for there is more likelihood that the good will be perverted, then that the bad will be converted. Those who in choosing yoke-fellows, keep not within the bounds of a profession of religion, cannot promise themselves help meet for them.

The sufferings of the saints strike no deeper than the things of time, last no longer than the present time, are light afflictions, and but for a moment.

Many have a great deal to answer for who do not help the oppressed, but oppress them.

Wonders shall be wrought in the kingdoms both of nature and grace, wonders of mercy wrought upon the children of men, sufficient to evince that it is no less than a God that comes to us.

A Decision That Last

2 Cor. 5:1

For we know that if our earthly house of the tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens 2 Cor 5:1.

By inspiriation of God, the Scriptures were written, which are the word of reconciliation, showing that peace has been made by the cross.

Christ knew no sin. He was made sin, not a sinner, a sin offering, a sacrifice for sin. The promises of God are strong reasons for us to follow after holiness.

Every man has two houses, the house of the body, and the house of the soul, the one is the outward, the other is the inward.

Faith is a grace which answers many useful purposes. It is the eye of the soul, by which it looks to Christ for righteousness, peace, pardon, life and salvation. It is the hand by which receives him, and the foot by which it goes to him, and walks in him as it has received him, which denotes not a single act of faith, but a continued course of believing. It is expressive, not weak, but a strong steady faith, glory, happiness, and interest.

We know Christ no more after the flesh, as Christ has entered on his new heavenly life by his resurrection and ascension, so all who are in Christ united to him by faith as the branch is in the vine are new creatures.

Our life is governed by faith in our immortal hope, not by outward specious appearance of present things.

The believer not only is well assured by faith that there is another happy life after this is ended, but he has good hope, through grace, of heaven as a dwelling place, a resting place, a hiding place.

Believers in this world need the grace of God, to arm them against temptation, so as to bear the good report from men without pride, and to bear their reproaches with patience. They have nothing in themselves, but possess all things in Christ.

Paul has spoke of looking for the things that are unseen and eternal. He describes the body as a tent dwelling, temporary abode, in which we are camping during a journey.

Paul had the advantage over the twelve that as one born out of time, he had never known Christ in the heavenly life. To the twelve it was expedient that should go away that the comforter should come and they might know Christ in the higher spiritual aspect and in his new life giving power and not merely after the flesh in the Carnal Aspect of him. (Rom 6:9-11).

On judgment day they will have to answer personally for their sins, under a responsibility which rests entirely on themselves.

The apostle proceeds in showing the reasons why they did not faint under their afflictions, namely their expectations, desire, and assurance of happiness after death.

When the gospel is faithfully preached, and fully received, it betters the condition even of the poorest.

The renewed man acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new Company. The believer is created anew, his heart is not merely set right but a new heart is given him.

All the works which a man does in this world, in the body, and spirit, he must give an account of in body and spirit before he goes out of this world.

It is wrong for believers to join the wicked. A Christian life should be devoted to Christ.

We do not sight because of the weariness of this life, but because of the desire of a better life.

We are in the light by faith when the conscience is in the presence of God.

A Friend At Midnight

For every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Luke 11:10)

A believer must pray according to God’s will. "If we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we have the petitions that we desired of him.

If a friend traveled on foot all day, and did not arrive until midnight, he must have been desperately hungry. Hospitality demanded that he be fed.

Jesus knew all about Jewish customs regarding hospitality. A host provided food and lodging for a guest, even if he showed up unexpectedly late at night. Those listening to Jesus could identify with him. They knew what they were obligated to do in this kind of situation.

His responsibility of