All the Be’s of the Bible: Book 1

By Grady M. Sanders Jr.

The About the Book information is not available at this time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9781669866152

Grady M. Sanders Jr.

Mr. Grady M. Sanders Jr. was born and raised in Washington, DC. He is a graduate of the Washington Baptist Seminary. He is married to Cherette J. Sanders. He is an army veteran and a retired government employee who now works at being an electomachnic. (Notes, Portions of this book includes topics from/Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

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Be Not Ashamed

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this

adulterous and sinful generation; of him also

shall the Son of man be ashamed,

when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Mark 8:38 KJV

I always loved my parents as any child would; however, I can remember that as my childish view grew, I was somewhat ashamed of my mother and father because they were my parents. They did nothing wrong except love me, and like any good parent, they disciplined me. As a child I thought my parents were not like the other children’s mothers and fathers, and they weren’t, they were mine. Yet somehow, I thought that the other children’s parents were better than mine, and I did not base it upon what they had; my crime was I was ashamed to be seen with them. My father was taller, and my mother was shorter. Later, I got over this childish dilemma; and as I gained some understanding, I knew that I always loved having them near and being near them and assuredly loved being seen with them. I think that as Christians we may not be ashamed but somewhat bashful, which may be something Christians feel as they begin to grow in the Lord and struggle and intermingle in this present world while claiming Christ as a friend and walking under the light of His Word. In the beginning, Christians are bold and want others to know of the joy that we feel, as our belief in God is fresh and strong and overflowing, and we express that joy through our witnessing. However, from day to day, we notice that the receptions we get are not at all what we expected. Although our belief in God is real and remains strong even as things change regarding how we interact with others. Many Christians, to include myself become hesitant to let others know of our relationship with Him. One thing is for sure, and that is that Jesus lets us know that He loves us so much that He will always call us friend and brother and sister and will never be hesitant to stand before God and say, Forgive them for missing opportunities to let others know of Your grace and mercy (emphasis mine). We should not be ashamed to let the world know of our relationship with God no matter the cost, and if you are, as His friend, then He lets us know that He will be ashamed of us. Am I not being harsh when I quote Christ, or do you think Jesus is being unfair for saying what He did? So are you bashful or ashamed? And if not then be a witness and let others know that you love the Lord, and your purpose is not to change them because you can’t or to force your faith upon them but to let them know how good God is in your life. My brothers and sisters, be encouraged and do not let the faces or lifestyles or words of those around you cause you to be dissuaded or ashamed and keep you from spreading the good news, as the opportunity presents itself to those who will take the time to listen. Never be combative or so stanch but have an open mind, so that you can listen to others, just as Jesus listens to us and never passes judgment. As we listen to God and learn about righteousness from His spirit which allows us room to grow and to learn as we make changes to our attitude or gain more knowledge, be it spiritual or secular we can show others through our bold commitment to Him that God is sovereign and Lord and savior to all of mankind. Jesus is our example and teacher, and He always listens and helps us to obtain knowledge. Therefore, my fellow Christians, be not ashamed of the life you now have as you chose to follow Christ and to let Him live in and as you live through Him (Romans 1:16). Now let the spirit of Christ empower you, and to God be the glory!

1A

Be Free by the Truth

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 8:32 KJV

Can you handle the truth of God’s Word, or would you rather be afraid and not like to know the truth because you may feel condemned? Does the gospel truth scare you? Thereby will you avoid it in order to have a type of peace based on shared truth or a facsimile of it? Truth in life is relative when need be and yet it’s not the same for everyone as in, the sky is above us and water is wet, and not all truths are relevant, like does an ant have a brain, or does a dog truly understand us? The truth is that some people like baseball and others like musicals. Some people will eat only ground steak, and others will prefer to be a vegetarian, and these are truths. The truth is that we often believe the lie because it is more to our liking. The truth is people will lie for many different reasons if it suits them. God’s truth is that He made us from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7) and said that what He made was good. As we look at ourselves in the mirror, the truth is we may not like some facet of ourselves for different reasons and will desire for oneself certain features and personalities that we see in others, which brings the truth to light that we are no more than flawed creatures that dress up with the wool of sheep as we present ourselves to others. The truth is no matter what we do as the offspring of a man and a woman who knew each other biblically, we cannot change one feature just by wishing it to happen (Luke 12:25). The truth is that we can change our character or attitude for the better as we do for the worse if we desire. The truth is that we are never satisfied or content as we should be. The truth is that we will spend a vast amount of time in this fleshly bodies of ours jockeying for positions of strength but will spend little time attempting to improve our spiritual minds. The truth is that if a young man or woman will refrain from drugs and alcohol and fornication and desire instead to achieve their goals through other avenues such as education, we also know that all knowledge is not gained in classrooms, then the doors to success will open to them. The truth is that a person can have a more fruitful and meaningful life with someone who seeks the same thing. The truth is many will commit to doing derogatory acts for both pleasure and money because they have a lack of understanding regarding the meaning of life. The truth is many people choose not to live a moral and just life. The truth is that we will reject others because we consider them not to be like us, dignified or holy and without certain class skills, which are man-made illusions designed to craft the illusion of dignity, not having crafted it inside their soul first, and therefore if they do not show it through an appearance of glamour on different levels, then they are not worthy of our company or respect. The truth is that misdeeds are expressed more often by Christians, and some are spoken of as if they are deeds done in the name of God. The truth is that you can have a whole lot of money and believe that it makes you more superior and more refined and knowledgeable, but it can also cause you to be more arrogant, rude, and misinformed, afraid and delusional and the same thing can happen to those who have minuscule wealth. The truth is that we all seek an advantage over one another. The truth is that we will ignore the sins and rude behavior of our friends but condemn the same sins in those whom we deem not our friends as we go about doing the same things. The truth is people will avoid their family and friends because they may be embarrassed by them or because they fear them giving them help. The truth is that if not rooted in Christ, women will avoid the truth of their spiritual nature and will rely on their personal soulish nature thinking they are somehow unworthy or undeserving; and with their desire to be loved, appreciated, and taken seriously, they will often make the wrong decision from which they believe they cannot turn from. The truth is women will have a baby out of wedlock for all the wrong reasons and will continue to look for love because they do not want to be alone and will allow the man to be supported by her as she becomes submissive. The truth is that women will wish that her nature not be passed on to their children. The truth is that if not rooted in Christ, women will avoid the truth of their spiritual nature and will grow fearful of others and seek an advantage through their ability to make war and money. The truth is that many men train themselves to be tough and manly and reach for the brass ring, as they are either unwilling to work or unable to find work for a lack of skills. The truth is that men will commit evil to get what they want. The truth is that men will use women for their own pleasure with no regard for what happens afterwards. The truth is that men will look to have many sexual experiences and will not care for the woman enough to marry her as He tells her he loves her, and any children derived from that relationship will suffer. The truth is that men and women will refuse to marry because neither trusts the other to meet their expectation. The truth is that no one person is perfect, nor is there a perfect marriage. The truth is that each person has to give up some space for the other. The truth is that people will divorce for reasons that include sex. The truth is that you may think that God made you with a more superior bloodline than others (Acts 17:26); well, be not deceived. The truth is that we have created for ourselves a class status of sorts in which we all live; and we all are equal at the cross, yet we make the attempt to maintain those boundaries. The truth is that you will reject those who have been washed in the blood of Christ as His heirs, along with Christ. The truth is that people will join coalitions and try to get others to do the same to foster alliances for selfish gains. The truth is and will be revealed that mankind is somehow unable to achieve any beneficial, gainful, or meaningful life without Christ and may also attempt to discredit and disrespect others because they themselves are not truly happy. The truth is that the saints of God should come together and pray and encourage one another so that each one may become stronger in the things of the Lord. The truth is so fluid that it varies from person to person, particularly when they discuss the Word or God. The truth is that we all have our own personal truth as to what we believe, and it can never be just one truth except when it comes to the things of God, which we should all agree with. The truth is that we oftentimes will not allow anyone to change our mind or life even though we may be confronted with the truth; we may still try to impose our will on others. The truth is that we all are stubborn and will hold on to our own beliefs, and that can be our downfall if we refuse to listen or be open to the spirit of God. The truth is that many do err when it comes to the knowledge of God because they rely more on hearsay, instead of reading the bible. The truth is that there are many religions that are based on fundamental designed truths like honesty and justice and reciprocations and have at its center either a universal god or that universal self-awareness believing that somehow, we can make our spirit/soul better. The truth is God is not mocked; be not deceived (Galatians 6:7). As these are but a few truths expressed by me, know that there are more. However, one truth is evident, and that is that Jesus is the only way and the only truth and the only life (John 14:6) and source of hope for the believer; and if we accept Him as the truth, that He is the son of God who died on the cross and is risen and now stands next to God, then as you reject any false truth (Galatians 1:8), God will accept you and call you His child as He called Jesus His son. The truths I have shared are based on my own opinions, speculations, and personal observations, except what I have written about God and His son, and the knowledge of Him is the truth that will make us all free from the fear of death.

2

Be a Striking Likeness of Jesus

And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13 KJV

To the world, a Christian should be a striking likeness of Jesus Christ or, better yet, a close facsimile. Surely you have read and heard of the lives of Christians and how they had to endure much tribulation at the hands of the religious and nonreligious individuals, and all of it was both physical and verbal (Luke 6:22, 23:39; John 19:2–3). Many of the same hardships and misgivings that we encounter in this life as we walk by faith, Jesus and His disciples also suffered. So do not think that your trials, although they are your own to claim, are unique and that no one else has had or will have to deal with hurt and shame (1 Corinthians 10:13). As Christians in this country, we are not under threat of death or imprisonment for our faith, yet we struggle to expose ourselves to others for fear of being ridiculed or rejected. However, there are people in other countries who have to suffer similar insults along with the threat of death for their belief and they still walk with an unwavering faith. I have not met anyone who has suffered for their faith, nor have I suffered threats for my faith, but I do struggle to make other people comfortable around me. I do not act as they act, but neither do I condemn them for their actions (John 6:37) just as Jesus did not (John 8:15) even though they sought His demise (Matthew 20:18-19), and neither should they condemn us for our faith. Christ suffered many misgivings for us so that we can come to know God and His love. Because of His love for us, He did not retaliate because of His mistreatment by others, nor did He complain because He knew that He was to be an example to us in many ways. He did leave an impression upon the world that He was more than just a savior; He was also a human being. We also read in the gospels how beautiful and eloquent the love the disciples had for their Jesus, as He had the same love for them. Know that the love of and for Jesus in the life of a Christian can be so personal that it seems as if He were somehow attached to our being, which He is through the Holy Spirit, and that is why we can relate to Him as being human, divine, and mine. And because of the disciples’ devotion to Him, they knew of His reliance on God and how they had to endure much of the same after He was taken away to be judged (Matthew 16:21) for claiming to be the son of God. Although they did run away when He was arrested; and they could have denied Jesus just to keep from being hounded and jailed and possibly killed as Stephen was (Acts 7:58–60), but in the end they did not deny Him (Acts 5:25–29). The disciples came together in one place, and Christ appeared in their midst and encouraged them to carry on. As they began to express their love for Jesus through their living, they faced ridicule. They also rejoiced that they had suffered for living as He intended them to (Luke 24:36–53); however, there are many scripture verses that tell the story of their lives and how much suffering they were exposed to because of their attempts to live in similar fashion as Christ did, and it is told in the book of the Acts of the Apostles. Acts records the life of the early church and people as they attempted to live for Christ and Acts even has some record of how they died for being like Christ. If we are to have the same characteristics of Christ, then we need to aspire to be ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20, Colossians 3:10, Ephesians 6:20). Like the early saints of God, we also should endure hardships; however, our hardships may not be similar to what Jesus and His disciples endured in their travels. Thanks to our current laws, we have freedom of faith to worship God without reprisals, but our biggest dilemma is resisting temptation. If we were to somehow come to suffer for our faith for not following the influence of drink and pleasures, then we can truly say that we have accepted by faith the knowledge of Jesus and made His suffering our own. And if people were to look upon our actions, would they take knowledge as to whether or not you/we had the spirit of Christ dwelling in us (Romans 8:9)? Will people know by your actions that you know the Lord Jesus, and as you live to please Him as servants of God (Mark 8:34–35)? Would people be able to perceive that you have spent time with the Lord and if you were to be asked if you know Jesus, what would your answer be (Matthew 26:69–74)?

3

Be Someone Who Loves

like Christ Did

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another;

as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 13:34 KJV

Love is a strange word when it is required and applied to combat unjust acts. Many a person has rejected any attempt to love someone who has committed a personal trespass against themselves and others. Hear ye, hear ye, God has given us a new commandment: to love one another. This is not necessarily a new commandment but a culmination of the commandments with regard to how we should act and live with one another. To command a person to love is to go against a person’s soulish will when that person feels justified in hating someone for a wrong, and to do so or just having a feeling of hate sometimes feels better, as it feeds the mind with thoughts of anger. What if you meet a stranger as you go about your day, could you just love that person as Christ loves you, not having any reason to do so? No man can command such, but God did because He knows what can be accomplished through the power of a human spirit. He knows that the greatest need for a person is love. So how can I love that person who gave me an insult that reached into my heart in front of many witnesses and then laughed at me? How can I forgive that person who stole that which is most precious to me? God is concerned with how you feel, but He says for you to love that person for the sake of your own spirit. He did not say, Well, depending on the situation, it is okay to hate and strike back in anger or If this happens, then you do not have to love them anymore; but what He said for you to do is simply to love, and there is forgiveness incorporated in love. It is a command because if it were a suggestion or a request, then He would have given you the choice to do so even though you still do have the choice to either love that person or not. Mind you, He did not say for you to like your neighbor as you love yourself, because liking is such a fluid feeling and can be applied to anything, but love has to be genuine. What God commands and desires is that you love even though He will not force you to; He knows you have a choice and hopes that you choose to be like Him and love without reservation. Because Christ also had a choice, He could have chosen not to have given His life to save the whole world, but He did because He loved without hesitation. Will you choose to be like Christ and love those who trespass against you and speak all manner of evil against you? And to do so will most assuredly go against your own soulish tendencies and ambitions. So to defeat the purpose and desire of Satan, love your neighbor as each person should and do so as if we are all a part of one nother.

4

Be What We Profess to Be

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men,

him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 10:32 KJV

Confession is good for the soul, as many people say. There are people who will brag or boast about their many accomplishments to get recognition, and then there are some people who have done something that they would rather not speak about out because they have a humble spirit. Some people will embellish the truth to inflate their own ego. Some people will not let others know of some instances in their life because of the stigma that may come with it. A thief, no matter how comfortable he or she is with stealing, would not want to be known as a thief, nor would they confess to a crime. Nor would an adulterer like to be known as a liar or a prostitute like to be known as a whore because to confess to such things will bring consequences. There are some people who should and do confess to that which they have done because it is the right thing to do and since it may be a good act of sorts as it brings a sense of pride for their accomplishment(s), which will allow for the praise of others to be heaped upon them also. The bottom line is that we should confess to certain acts because it can bring a sense of relief as with letting others know that you are a Christian. Confessing to doing the right thing always goes along with doing it for the right reason. Unless that person has no shame as they confess to wrongdoing, then they may not care if their character is attacked. What of the feelings of those people who have relatives who have done vicious deeds and they do not want to let others know of their family history for the shame it would bring to them? Now there are many Christians who have a problem with confessing to being a child of God because they may be ashamed (Mark 12:34). The truth be told, some Christians will hide their faith and stand around and say nothing and act unjustly and swear before God as they join in with others and allow them to drag the name of one of their friends through the mud because they are afraid of what someone would do to them. Yet Jesus, who stood in the midst of tribulation from religious leaders and did not deny who He was even at the threat of death, confessed that He was God. And if we are to be what we profess to be and that is a follower of Christ then we should also confess that we are a child of God; and if it brings ridicule, then our next step is that we should rejoice (Acts 5:41). Now Jesus stands at the right hand of God and says, My Father, please do not hold their trespasses against you against them as they attempt to live according to your will for their lives. Also He asks that the Lord forgive us for not confessing Him before others. Jesus’s request is for God to forgive us and to continue giving us opportunities to confess our faith before others and one day overcome our feelings of being ashamed and profess that I am a child of God and I will let others know it, and if given the chance, I will shout and say that You are my Father/God, and I am your child and servant.

5

Be Kindly Affectionate toward Others

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came

where he (the wounded man) was:

and when he saw him, he had compassion on him.

Luke 10:33 KJV

How important it is to be nice and have love for others when you do not have to show or act in a kind manner towards others. Yet what we have here in scripture is an example of a just person, but we should also know that his actions are more common than not; he made the decision to be a caring and helpful person, just as others may decide not to be for many different reasons. Inasmuch as he went out of his way, and we can use his example to show us, that a kind act toward a stranger should be done without having to be prompted to do so. Whether he saw how ill-treated the man was by others or not was not what prompted him. This story is one of Jesus’ parables, and yet I would also like to believe that He shared it to remind us of our duty to one another (Matthew 22:37–40). The possibility that the Good Samaritan saw someone else do something out of the ordinary and wanted to change his own outlook on life is a possibility or he loved his family and friends as well and wanted to be an example to them, and maybe he did this act because he was taught that he could make a difference in the life of others because he loved his God or hoped that someone would show equal compassion for him if he were in need of help. To do such a kindly act, he had to practice charity i.e. love. In similar circumstances, I must say of myself that I was unable or unwilling to help everybody I met but I did what I could for my family as well as strangers, and that is what I believe God desires: for us to be as helpful as possible so that we can maintain our sense of humanity. Sure, we all have looked upon others with contempt and had no mercy and cared not for their situation. For a person not to totally care oftentimes is a learned nonsocial behavioral trait, but if a person is taught about caring and its function and still rejects any notion to help others, that is not good. We all need to pay less attention to serving self and instead make more self-sacrifices in our attempt to be like Christ from time to time. Living like Christ is something that a person should strive to do as they practice the art of caring and demonstrate it at every opportunity in public as well as within a family so that, at any age, those who are observing can be shown something that causes them to develop and nurture a caring spirit within their own life. Would you not like for someone to come to your aid and care for you when a situation calls for it? In caring for His creation, God decided to send His only begotten son because our soul called for it to be healed (Romans 8:3). While on His journey toward the cross, Christ saw mankind in a suffering state and stopped on numerous occasions to heal those he met, and it was those acts of kindness that touched the hearts of the people, and many desired to follow His example. Christ who made the ultimate sacrifice did so, so that we could live and know that God had compassion on us. He also did more than just show us the depth of His love; through His acts of kindness, not only did we learn that we also can help those we meet along our journey in this life but also that we should do it out of our love for one another. A person may ask, How can I love someone whom I do not know? Well, it can be done but unless you have the spirit of God dwelling on the inside (John 3:16) then you are simply being a good person without any hope for your soul salvation.

6

Be You a Holy Person

But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.

1 Peter 1:15 KJV

What does being holy mean? It is showing that you have a relationship with God. Oddly enough, when a person desires to live holy and others do not, holy living can be ridiculed by others because they may feel inadequate. It is also sad to say, in my opinion, that some are disrespectful or jealous of your attempts to portray a life that imitates/emulates that of Christ. Many people who wear the label Christian in their attempt to live a life pleasing to God based on their own ability or inability but are unable to do so may look upon you as setting yourself above them. A person who desires to live holy does so not to be set above others or to shame those around them but should have as their motive to please God, for He said, Be you holy as I am holy (1 Peter 1:16–19). Is holiness a time to be great and for others to take notice of you? No; however, it is a time to be an example in the face of temptation. Is holiness a form of dress that distinguishes you from other faiths? No, but we should always dress as if we are standing before the spirit of God. Is holiness an attitude? Yes, because our attitude determines our actions. So how does anybody determine if they are holy if holiness is based on rules and guidelines that were either written down, in all cases by man, and were brought into being and were put into practice by the person, or are you now acting in a manner that is different from others based on those rules that may not have anything to do with the tenets of God? It is true that holiness is not found in one’s dress or adherence to rituals, but holiness is not achieved in the soul/spirit as righteousness is. This is the perception of many people who want to be holy but do not know how to be, as they rely on things to make them holy and not the spirit of the Lord. There is no holiness in a sun or plant or animal or even in people/demigods, which if practiced based on one’s own volition and lies outside of the holiness as required by the supreme God, simply put, it is useless. So being holy is not a period in which you have an opportunity to be graceful but being holy is an opportunity on a daily basis to show the love and kindness of God in your life as you interact with others. If the god, you serve has any quality or greatness that is considered good, and those good qualities are discovered and desired then that good is distinguishable and will be put on display in the company of others as well in those who follow that god in an archaic manner as some ports to do. If wickedness is called for by your god, then will you commit wicked deeds even if those deeds conflict with your conscience? And if so, then separate yourself from that deity. Therefore, many people have and do serve gods whom they believe are true and just and will seek their god for different reasons and will do so believing that they are just but there is but one Holy God and that is the God of the universe. Whether they want to be like their god or not, their everyday lives will determine the nature of the god they serve; and thereby, taking on their god’s philosophies and ways does show a relationship or correlation with their god. And if that god is in favor of killing or loving, then you will be like your god I believe because that person wants to please their god. For some people, they are a god unto themselves; so by their actions you can tell they have no religious ideals, but they based their actions on what they determine is right for them to do. So with the God of the Christians, if they say that they are His servants, then they will show it by how they dress and by the way they treat others, which is due to their seeking His guidance as they attempt to live holy before Him in love. They show the type of holiness that He requires as they endeavor to love one other in word and in deeds and in truth (Proverbs 9:9). So holiness is not just a way of dress or talk or act or who has the best god at the moment or based on commandments, but holiness is achieved as we walk with the knowledge of God and how one lives his or her life as a person of faith. And no I have not contradicted myself. And as any holy people should, they should place their faith in a holy God whose ways are just. Christians have an infinite advantage over paganism because their God is holy and not mankind-influenced, and He calls upon all who believe in Him to imitate His holiness; and the reason why they should be holy is, that God who has called them is holy.

7

Be like a Holy God

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1 Peter 1:16 KJV

In Leviticus 11:44, God gave a commandment—first to the Israelites, and with equal propriety, it was passed on and surely applied to all the followers of Jesus who profess to be children of God; Be ye holy. The foundation of the command is that those who profess to be His people ought to be like their God in strength of character and will in everyday life. Yet holiness is the foundation upon which to grow and is the bases of our walk with God. The person or persons who serve a certain god may consider that god to be just, and if that god is due some form of homage, then they will pay homage which amounts to idol worship, and they who choose to follow another god’s tenets as a show of devotion will exhibit behavior based on those religious tenets that are associated with that religion. The servants of a false god will attempt to rise and to reach as high as humanly possible a type of pseudo virtue based on what the teachings of that religion and which befits that god if that is their goal, but they can never achieve a state of holiness because no idol poses the ability to share their being with another as God can. Therefore, if they consider their god as being good, then they will be good; and if their god is evil, then they will be evil based on their own personal efforts and what is taught them. Let it be known that any true and righteous teacher should not teach his followers to live a life of wickedness or unrighteousness while they go about committing deeds based on their religious duties. It is always incumbent upon a person to decide as to whether or not they will commit to doing acts of unrighteousness. Surely as worshippers of the living God and as I make this statement, it can be construed as bias; the followers of Jesus should not disregard their own personal ideals of morality as they strive to develop those traits as defined in the scripture tenets which can be achieved with the aid of the spirit of God, yet in all cases, the morals Christians work towards expressing are one in the same as God’s. Jesus’ followers, however need to know that the holiness of God can’t be achieved by their own willful merits, and I may seem to contradict myself, neither can holiness be achieved by such actions through charity…1 Corinthians 13:13… but Christians can be aided in their attempts by the inward workings of the Holy Spirit as it works with our spirit to bring about holiness, but not by works of charity, therefore, I believe holiness is a state of BEING not a state of action. As God is Love and by the same definition of BEING, He is holy, and God does not have to practice either holiness or righteousness, but we must put into action our spiritual works as we interact with others, but holiness is not obtained by works. There is but one true God and subsequently one type of holiness and that holiness is as much a part of Him as the spirit is, and no one worshipping another idol can achieve a state of holiness apart from God. Therefore be Ye Holy As I am Holy,’ saith the Lord God to His servants." Therefore let me repeat myself, Holiness is a state of BEING symphonious with God and is not derived from spiritual works.

8

Be You Fervent in Your Prayers

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another,

that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent

prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

James 5:16 KJV

A prayer life is just as needful as the will to survive, and one is good for the body the other for the soul. Praying on a daily basis must take place if the person is to survive spiritually. Just as much as a body is dependent upon daily sustenance to live physically, a Christian’s life must consist of daily prayer if their spirit is to have a part in giving strength to the body. A body can live a long and natural life, but a Christian’s spirit will remain lazily in the body if that soul does not engage in daily prayer. Now survival is something we unknowingly know to do, such as seeking shelter from the elements without having first learned it, nor breathing something we learned to do. Another example is that when we are hungry, we do not tell our bodies that we are hungry, but our bodies have a way of letting us know in order for it to remain animated. These are natural occurrences that we do not have to work at if we are to maintain life. The soul, however, is different. It does not know that it needs to be fed spiritually or that prayer is needful if it is to grow, as it is also a part of the human being. The soul’s tendency is to get its direction from the body, and not having another source like the holy spirit to give it direction, it goes along with whatever the body desires because the soul lost its spiritual connection with God through the sin of Adam. And not having a spiritual guide, the soul derives pleasures as it relates to the flesh. It enjoys what the body enjoys, it reacts to what the body reacts to, and so forth. Therefore if the soul is to grow beyond life’s pleasures, the spirit needs to be fed, and that can only happen when God’s spirit is sought after by the mind through belief in the finished work of Jesus, yet some may dismiss the minds notion that it needs a relationship with God’s spirit. And with a strong spirit, the soul will then get its direction from it. Therefore, no one should be surprised by an inner force (conscience/spirit) that seems to want us to take certain actions that move us in certain directions toward safety in Christ, cause that feeling may be the Lord calling you, as it means to aid us in our spiritual survival, and that is what I mean when I say that prayer is most important for the survival of our soul. It is the spirit that moves us to pray and not our soul, but do we give heed to the unction of the spirit? Personally I work hard at maintaining a prayer life, but just like any of God’s children, I fall