A Call for Holiness: Vision: 3 x 7 = 21

By Tommy E. Woods

A call for holiness! It appears that in our present time, the world has moved farther and farther from God. Crime is raging all over the land and country. Immorality appears to be an accepted way of life. Attitudes of hatred permeate at many levels of our society. Many churches seem to have lost the mandated mission of soul winning and kingdom building. Many lifestyles of Christians and non-Christians seem to have moved far away from the principles of decent and holy living. Many families have failed to establish and teach biblical principles to their children at early ages; therefore, holy living for them is not a top priority.

The fact that many people have not taken holy living seriously enough to spiritually impact their way of life does not negate God's instructions for us to live holy lives. Throughout the Bible, it is expressed over and over again for us to be holy, for God is holy. The ultimate consequence of not living a holy life is that we will miss sharing eternity with God, which is an awesome price to pay. The reason for writing this book came to me in a vision about the need to speak out about our calling from the Word of God to live holy lives. Hearing and applying the call for holy living begins with each individual. If the world is going to get any better, it is going to be up to us the people of God to make a difference. It is my prayer that after reading this book, each of us will aggressively pursue holiness and will also aggressively seek to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098094119

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A Call for Holiness

Vision: 3 x 7 = 21

Tommy E. Woods

ISBN 978-1-0980-9410-2 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-0980-9411-9 (digital)

Copyright © 2021 by Tommy E. Woods

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Scriptures noted KJV are taken from the King James Version. Copyright 1976 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Scriptures noted TLB are taken from The Living Bible. Copyright 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Scriptures noted NLT are taken from New Living Translation. Copyright 1997 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Scriptures noted NIV are taken from the New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Abstract

Introduction

Our Reverence to God

Christ the Center

The Holy Spirit Guide

A Call for Spiritual Leaders

A Call for Godly Women

A Call for Obedient Children

Twenty-One Golden Nuggets for Holy Living

Summary

Final Words from the Author

This book is dedicated first to God who is the creator and sustainer of this world. To God who loves us so much that He gave His only Son on our behalf that we might live with Him one day. To God who is a Holy God and desires for us to live holy lives, even in a world dominated by sin. To God be the Glory!

Secondly, I am dedicating this book to my wife, Gloria Jean Woods, who has been by my side for fifty years. Over these years, she has remained faithful and supportive of my work with young people. I dedicate this book to her and to our union together in the ministry of God’s work on earth.

Thirdly, I dedicate this book in memory of my mother, Fannie Lee Woods. My mother was a godly mother who taught me about the things of God at an early age. She made sure that I went to church and Sunday School every Sunday. She sacrificed her last in order that I had the things I needed in life. I thank God for the inspiration she had upon my life.

Preface

Alittle on why I am writing this book, I really never had a desire to write a book. I used to develop a manual each year for the Alabama Baptist Boys’ Crusader ministry, but that was about the extent of my ambitions for book writing. I have, however, been very concerned about the downward plight of Christians in our society, especially about the lack of spirituality amongst Christian men. The events, which transpired prior to the decision to write this book, started with a call I received on the night of October 21, 2008. A very close cousin of mine, Rev. Claborn May, was in an accident and ran off the road down an embankment and into a tree, totaling his car. By the grace of God, he came out of the accident with only bruises. The next day, his brother, Rev. Nathaniel May, came from out of town to check on him. While he was here, we had discussions about the spiritual conditions of the world. He suggested that I write a book. Still at this point, I had no desire to write a book.

On the morning of November 1, 2008, I was awakened from my sleep at 2:00 a.m. with the vision about writing a book about the need for Christians and the church to examine their spiritual relationships with the Lord and, where required, return to the holiness of God. The book title given to me was 3 × 7 = 21. At first, these numbers were a puzzle to me. The number twenty-one kept resonating in my mind. There are several numbers in the Bible that are often referenced for significance and meaning; such numbers as three, seven, twelve, forty, and many others. However, rarely is the number twenty-one mentioned for its significance. There is, however, in Daniel 10 where Daniel fasted twenty-one days to better serve God. God’s message concerning the number twenty-one became clearer to me as this is what we hope to achieve in this book; an appeal to serve God better.

In this twenty-first century, God wants the church and the people of God to return to spiritual connection through rededicated lives based on holy living. God’s people have not lived as we should. We have not been faithful to His Word. Today is our day to turn back to God and turn away from the evils and corruption of this world. People of God, this is our moment. Seize it! This twenty-first century, let us submit to God, resist the devil, and watch him flee from us! Then, let us worship, live, and behave God’s way! I started writing in 2008 and had numerous interruptions over this twelve-year span before completion in 2020. However, I feel that with all that has come upon us in 2020, the timing is right for the message of God to come clear in the lives of believers.

This book begins with the number three. The first three chapters are written on the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. There is a total of seven chapters, which denote spiritual perfection, and the final chapter gives twenty-one golden nuggets for holy living. There are several places where scriptures may have been used more than once. This is because some of the scriptures are relevant for several important topics. It is my hope and prayer that we the people of God will do as Daniel did by fasting and praying and rededicating our lives to holy living. Be blessed!

Acknowledgments

Iam grateful to the following people who proofed my manuscript before it was submitted for publication. Their help was so valuable to me as this was my first book.

Dr. Trudier Harris, University of Alabama English professor and award-winning author.

Maxine Abrams, retired educator and director of the Bethel Community Educational Ministry for expelled students.

Dr. Lorenza James, pastor of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church.

Rev. Schmitt Moore, pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church.

Rev. Claborn May, pastor of Holly Spring Missionary Baptist Church.

Abstract

At the beginning of time, God created man and woman in His image and as perfect holy beings. God’s only command was for them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which in time would lead to their death. They disobeyed God and ate of this tree and thereby ushered sin into the world. Over time the world has moved to a very dark era of sin with crime, violence, immorality, hate, and living ungodly and unholy lifestyles. In this book, there is an urgent call for holiness because it is a serious matter of life or death. To see God, we must be holy.

Introduction

Holiness, holiness, holiness.

Let me begin by defining holiness as the state of being holy. Being set apart from sin and totally devoted to God. God is holy. Mankind was created by God to be holy. When God created man and woman from the dust of the earth, they were made in His image