Symbolic instruments of Praise, Worship, Warfare and Intercession

When we talk about these instruments, we are talking about tools that are symbolic. The bible is a book full of symbolism. We see in Col 2:16 & 17 that the festivals are referred to as shadows of things to come. Heb 10:1 also refers to the law as a shadow of things to come, but not the same image of those things. The Israelites were given these things as symbols of the things to come. The definition of shadow is “an image cast by an object and representing the form of that object”.

Romans 6:4 talks about us being buried with him in baptism and then raised again to newness of life.

Colossians also makes reference to being buried and raised again. Every reference to the communion tells us that the bread represents Christ's body, the juice, His blood. The relationship between the church and Christ is said to be like a marriage. When Christ was on earth, he taught in parables. These very parables are stories created to portray things of the Spirit with natural means.

These are only but a few symbols that the scripture uses to give us things in our natural realm, that connect with our natural senses and intellect to help us understand the things of the unseen spiritual realm.

So we need to remember that these things in and of themselves have no power. They are objects used to express things in the natural realm that are being revealed in the Spirit.

With this said, I will also state this. There are some of these instruments that are used propheticallythat as far as scriptural referencing, I feel is a little on the thin side. However, I have also experienced that power when these are used. I will make it clear that I would rather tread lightly in thisarea then to use scripture in what I feel is not an appropriate interpretation.

Alright, let's start with color interpretation. There are so many color interpretations out there. I heard it once said that if you had a room full of people that moved in prophetic color interpretations that you would have as many color interpretations as there were people. This is true for the most part.

I will present two interpretations:

One I have found to be the most scriptural I have truly ever seen represented. It from a teachingdone by one of my dearest friends, who has moved in the area of prophetic worship for many, many years. She has traveled and taught extensively for a large part of that. Her name is Mevalene Anderson. She uses the colors of the stones of the priestly breast plate, and coincides this with the blessings that were bestowed upon each of the 12 tribes.

Rueben is red - God's love

Simeon is gold - refined

Levi is yellow - anointing, like liquid gold

Judah is green - healing, prosperity

Dan is blue - God's glory

Naphtali is silver - we were bought with a price

Gad is orange - warrior, or used with red as fire

Asher is pink - childlike faith, innocence

Issachar is purple - royalty

Zebulan is aqua - refreshing, haven

Joseph is black - new beginnings

Benjamin is iridescent - white, purity

Many of these coincide with other interpretations. Most other interpretations rely on nature to help interpret the meanings. But God does give divine revelation when He is actually consulted.

Red is the blood and sacrifice, power and passion

Black is sin, but also of things hidden

White is purity, without blemish, holiness

Silver is redemption and righteousness

Brown is the earth and flesh

Green is prosperity and abundant life

Pink is innocence and intimacy

Orange is war and fire

Purple is royalty and kingship

Gold is divinity

Bronze, brass or copper is strength, trials and testing

Yellow is glory and sonship

Blue is open heaven, revelation, Holy Spirit, priesthood

Aqua is water, refreshing

Burgundy is new wine

The most important thing to remember is that the Spirit has a reason for moving us towards colors.

If you are constantly drawn to the same color flag all the time, or your home is filled with certain colors repeating itself throughout your home, there is a message being relayed in that. Ask the Holy Spirit, He will bring the revelation.

Now moving on to flags.

Scripture actually does not use the word flag. It refers to banners, ensigns and standard. Flag is a more modern term, and is used in some more recent translations. Each one of these words has slight differences in their meaning.

Standard (Strong’s #1714) Banner, used more towards a military reference; also #5127 to put to flight, to drive hastily, to cause to disappear.

Banner #5251 Something lifted up, signal, pole, sail, ensign.

Ensign #226 sign, signal, a distinguishing mark, remembrance, miraculous sign. It is used in this context 77 times in scripture. Sign of something past, or future, or sign of something unseen such as covenant. Gen 17:11

Webster’s: Banner: a piece of cloth attached by one edge to a staff, an ensign displaying a distinctive or symbolic device.

Flag: A piece of fabric of distinctive design that is used as a symbol, a signaling device, to attract attention.

All of these are sometimes used interchangeably.

IDENTIFICATION:

Uses in scripture:

Standards were used as a mark of identification. Num. 1:52 “The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies.” (NKJV) Num 2:2 “Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by their own standard,”

There are others along this same line.

Each standard was unique and identified the individual tribes. We are familiar with the Lion of Judah, however, all of the tribes had a symbol on their standards. There is some controversy as to what those were. Much has been lost over time.

I have taken what seems to be the consensus:

Reuben: Palm tree-Mandrakes or water

Benjamin: Wolf

Joseph: Ox (Ephraim and Menassah) Two oxen, one domestic, one wild

Gad: Troop

Naphtali: Stag

Dan: Scales, or serpent

Zebulun: Ship

Issachar: Donkey

Levi: Breastplate

Simeon: Tower

Asher: Olive Tree

Judah: Lion

The flags are believed to have been the color of each of the stones in the breastplate. These interpretations come mostly from the Midrash. There are about a 100 of these books and they are written as a means of scripture interpretation and historical documentation.

Nations today still use flags as a means of identifying themselves. These flags contain colors and symbols that represent something about the country itself. Take the american flag. The red stripes are symbolic of shed blood. Many lives have been lost that the people of this country might have the freedom that we have. The white stripes symbolize higher realms of light. The stars represent the states that are part of this country, and the blue is symbolic of Americas relationship to the Almighty, Creator of all. Other interpretations are red for valor, white for purity, blue for justice. Nothing is without some kind of meaning in the flag. Even the fact that all these things are woven together.

MILITARY, RULERSHIP, POSSESSION:

The majority of scriptural references to banners is used in a military context. The references in Numbers 2 states that they set these standards according to their armies. Song of Songs 6:2 makes reference to the awesomeness ,(some translations say terrible) as an army with banners. When the word terrible is used, it creates a picture of how an approaching army with it's banners looks to the enemy!!

It strikes dread in their hearts. When we look at Is 31:8 & 9 we see the enemies perspective.

“Then Assyria shall fall by a sword not of man, and a sword not of mankind shall devour him. But he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall become forced labor. He shall cross over to his stronghold of fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the banner.”

Raising the standard is part of the preparation for war, together with strengthening the the guard and posting the watchmen.

Jer 51:12 “Set up the standard on the walls of Babylon; make the guard strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes. For the Lord has both devised and done what he has spoken against the inhabitants of Babylon.”

Banners and flags are used to make proclamations. To declare a thing that will happen. Jer 50:2 (NLV) This is what the Lord says: “Tell the whole world, and keep nothing back! Raise a signal flag so everyone will know that Babylon will fall!” (NKJV) “Declare among the nations, Proclaim, and set up a standard; Proclaim and do not conceal it. Say Babylon is taken, Bel is shamed. The idols and strongholds are coming down.

THE LORDS BANNER

In Ex 17 we see that the Israelites were at war with the Amalekites. After the victory was won Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah Nissi. The Lord is my banner.

The Lord himself has a banner/standard. Is 11:10 “and in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the gentiles shall seek Him and His resting place shall be glorious. “ This banner/standard is Jesus.

This banner is used to call the lost to himself Is 11:12 He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”

The Lord raises this standard in battle on our behalf. Is 59:19 “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him”

The Lord himself gives us this banner to display: Ps 60:4. “You have given a banner to those that fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth.”

We are also his banner Zec 9:16 “The Lord their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over his land.

And of course this banner is waved over us in love Song of Solomon 2:4

As we use banners/standards we are making declarations and decrees. We put the enemy on notice, he is going down and celebrate the victory as he is defeated. As the Lord leads us to certain flags, certain colors/images, we are declaring our identity in Him and who He is to us.

TABRETS/TIMBRELS

The word tabrets means a timbrel a drum. It was made with a wooden circle and covered with a membrane. It had a leather strap attached that was slung over the shoulder. We see this instrument used often in ancient worship and celebration. This is the closest definition we have, this instrument has virtually disappeared over the centuries.

Ex 15:20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

2 Sam 6:5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even harps, and on psalteries and on timbrels, on cornets, and on cymbals.

Ps 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance; let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

And the list of these references can go on and on. The amazing significance of this instrument is that Lucifer was made with a tabret. Ez 28:13 After listing the stones it says, the workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day that you were created.”

This instrument is so pleasing to the Lord that he created the first worship leader to have one as part of his very being.

WARFARE/JUDGMENT

These awesome instruments can be used in warfare as well. Is 30:32 “And in every place where the staff of punishment passes, which the Lord lays on him, It will be with tabrets and harps, and in battles of brandishing he will fight with it.”

As the staff of judgment comes down, it comes with the beat of the tambret and the sound of the harp.

Praise is a powerful weapon against the enemy. These instruments were used as celebration and praise unto God. Praise breaks the enemies power over us and places our mind, will and emotions in a place that lines up with the word.

The word tells us that this instrument will once again be returned to us in its original form. Jer 31:4 “Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin os Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tabrets, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.”

Interesting thing about this passage. It refers to us adorning ourselves with tabrets. These instruments were apparently beautiful to look at. This word adornment not only means to decorate, but it means to attack in a hostile manner.

The design of current tabrets is of course symbolic. They resemble the ancient drum by stretching a piece of fabric across the middle of the ring, leaving enough room for a hand hold. The colors and streamers used on these tools are symbolic much the same way it is for flags or other instruments. They are also used as an adornment, to decorate, much like the above passage says they do for us.

TESTIMONY PG 22

STREAMERS

The definition of a streamer is a flag that streams in the wind, any long narrow wavy strip resembling or suggesting a banner floating in the wind.

Since banners and flags have already been covered I do not see it necessary to go elaborate.

ROD OF GOD

The Hebrew word for rod is Matteh. #4294 which means a staff, branch, tribe but also references a scepter and a sword.

Some translations use the words stave, staff, and scepter.

Ex 4:20b “and Moses took the rod of God in his hand” Ex 17:9 also refers to the rod of God.

IDENTIFICATION

These rods or staffs were used an a means of identification. Num 17:2 “Speak to the children of Israel and get from them a rod from each father's house, all their leaders according to their fathers's house, all their leaders according to their father's houses—twelve rods. Write each man's name on his rod. “

Gen 38:25 When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child. And she said, Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.”

In the new testament we see this reference to identification. Mark 6:8 “He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff--”

DISPLAY OF SUPERNATURAL POWER

We are all familiar with the Exodus story. The Lord used the staff that was in Moses hand to symbolically represent the expression of His power. The water into blood, the parting of the red sea, the water coming from the rock. As an expression of his power, the Lord used the actions of Aaron to execute judgement upon Egypt. Aaron repeated what the Lord was doing in the Spirit, Ex. 7:17 By this you shall know that I am the Lord. Behold, I WILL STRIKE THE WATERS which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood.” vs. 20 “And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the Lord commanded. So he lifted up the rod an d struck the waters that were in the river, in the sign of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all the waters that were in the rifer turned to blood.”
Ex 4:17 “And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”

ROD OF TESTIMONY

The staff itself was used as a way of remembering the acts of God in their lives. They would mark their staffs with symbols of significant events in their lives. The birth of their children, promises God had given them, the fulfillment of those promises. Whenever the Lord moved in some miraculous way, they would mark it on their staffs. Jud. 5:11 “Far from the noise of the archers, among the watering places, there they shall recount the righteous acts of the Lord,”

JUDGEMENT

Is 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth and he shall smith the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Rev 19:15 “Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He himself will rule them with a rod of iron.”

Rev 2:27 “He shall rule them with a rod of iron”

Is 30:32a “And in every place where the staff of punishment passes, which the Lord lays on him”

THE LORDS ROD

What is the Lords rod”

Is. 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod, out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Fathers rod is Jesus.

This is why David could say Ps 23:4 “Your rod and staff, they comfort me.”

I have found this to be an extremely powerful tool in warfare and in staking the territory. I have used to to walk my home, my church building and other places. Aaron was a priest before the Lord. When he used his rod to exhibit the Lords awesome power, he was doing it in the role of a priest before the Lord. When you use this instrument especially with the mindset that you are a king and priest before the Lord, there is tremendous power in the realm of the Spirit.

BILLOWS

There are two scriptural references for this and two definitions.

#1530 heap, spring, wave, billow, over a dead body, used in ratifying a covenant, spring

#4867 breaker, breaking of (sea)

Ps 42:7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of your waterfalls; all your waves and billows (1530) have gone over me.

Jonah 2:3 For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea, and the floods surround me; all your billows (4867) and Your waves passed over me.

I personally love using billows. When you pass them over someone it is like they are being washed over by the depth of the Lord. They are covered and encapsulated in His presence. As you wave them up and down in the air, it's like casting things to heaven and pulling things down from heaven.

VEILS

Typically when the scripture refers to a veil, it is talking about something that is a covering around the head and face.

Spiritually speaking it is referred to being blinded or unable to see spiritually clear.

2 Cor 3:14 “But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ,”

Clear sign only comes through Christ.

2 Cor 3:16 Nevertheless when on turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

The veil in the tabernacle/temple, kept the Holy of Holies separated. The priest was only permitted to enter into the presence of God once a year to place blood upon the mercy seat. But Christ went into the Holy place for us once and for all. Through him, the veil of his flesh we can now go into the presence of God anytime we want to and come before him with boldness.

Heb 10:20 “by a new and living way which he consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.

To come before the Lord and use this instrument is a powerful way to intercede for others. As we pray for the veil to be removed off their lives and for our lives as well. That we may see clearly all that he is showing us. 

****************************************

Article borrowed from  http://unveiledheartworshipflags.com

SALE!!! Double & Triple Layer Worship Flags – You Get 3 Pairs For Reasonable Price

Sale on Double and Triple Layer flags.  You get a set of 3 pairs of Double or Triple  Layer Flags for cheap.

Just click the link below or visit our SALE!!! tab:

http://worshiphisholinessflags.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_13.html 

Videos - Flag Ministry

Vain Worship - Lesson 6

Our Lord says in Mark 7:7, "And in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." When we follow the commandments of men instead of God's instructions, our worship becomes vain. If our worship is vain, it is empty, hollow, and useless. It will do us no good. If it is vain, it would be as though we had not worshipped God at all and we will be lost. When we worship in the way "we want" then God is dishonored and insulted. When we worship the way God has told us in His word, God is honored and glorified.

As we read in John 4:24, "God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." To worship in truth is to worship as the word of God directs. Jesus said in John 17:17, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." Since the word of God is truth, when we worship God in truth, we worship Him according to His word. The only way God will accept our worship is to follow His directions in the Bible.

God says in Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." If we don't know what God says, we are going to be destroyed or lost for our lack of knowledge. It is sad to say but the vast majority of people are illiterate of God's word. They don't really know what the Bible says.

When people are ignorant of God's directions on how He is to be worshipped, they wander in spiritual darkness. Our Lord says in Matthew 15:14, "And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch." We must first have a desire to know the truth of God's will and then be willing to change when we find we are wrong and are not worshipping according to His truth. Jesus says in John 8:32, "And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." Only the truth can make us free, otherwise we are still under the bondage of sin. We may be sincere in our worship, and we must be, but if we do not worship God "in truth", that is as God directs, then our worship will be vain and unacceptable to God.

Also if we try to worship God "in truth" but not "in spirit", that is not with the proper motive of honoring God and with reverence, then we are just practicing ritualism and our heart is far from it. This type of worship is also vain and unacceptable to God, for Jesus says in Matthew 15:8, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." We must worship God both in spirit and in truth.

*********************************

Lesson taken from http://www.bible.ca/interactive/worship-6-vain.htm

Our God is an Awesome God!!!!

Praise the Greatness of our God!

He is the Rock His works are perfect, all His ways are just. Deut 32:3-4

1.0 INTRODUCTION

When it comes to holiness we often think in negatives. The first thing that comes to our minds is the absence of sin. But to reduce holiness to the absence of sin is like reducing light to the absence of darkness. Holiness is a wonderful and powerfully positive attribute of God. It defines all that he is and all that he does. He is 'The Holy One'. It is the attribute of attributes. The holiness of God is the blinding radiance of his very essence, brighter than the sun shining in all its brilliance. This study looks at 5 aspects of the holiness of God

2.0 SEPARATE – GOD IS NOT LIKE US

Both the Hebrew word 'Qodesh' and the Greek word 'Hagios' which are translated as 'Holiness' in the Bible carry with them the root meaning: 'cut-off' or 'separate'. When applied to God this means that God is separate from the rest of creation. God is not like us, he is above and beyond all our creation-bound thoughts, experiences and imaginations. Isa 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" Isa 40:25-26 "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.

Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." 1Ti 6:15b-16a God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no-one has seen or can see.

2.1 Communicable or Incommunicable?

In this sense Holiness embodies the 'Incommunicable' attributes of God – those which man cannot reproduce in himself. The ways in which God is separate or 'other' to us: His omniscience, his omnipresence, the mystery of his being – spirit, three-in-one, eternal in existence, transcending time and space. And yet holiness itself is a 'Communicable' attribute of God! It is part of those attributes in which man can be like God: just, good, loving, merciful etc. We have been made holy, and we are in the process of becoming holy. When describing the attributes of God; holiness is often referred to as the "attribute of attributes" because it embodies them all, both incommunicable and communicable. All that God is and all that he does is holy. Holiness is also where these two types of attributes of God meet, as it is itself both incommunicable and communicable. This can been seen by these three seemingly contradicting statements about holiness in the scriptures:

• Only God is holy

Rev 15:4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy.

• We are already holy

Heb 10:10 We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

• We need to become holy

Heb 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no-one will see the Lord. These are not contradictory, but just go to illustrate how much holiness covers. It represents the unique nature of God that he alone has that we cannot obtain. It represents the communicable attributes of God to which we must obtain, and it represents the closeness to God and the belonging to him that is already ours in Christ. Holiness is thus a multifaceted jewel, so much more than just the absence of sin.

3.0 SACRED – GOD IS WORTHY OF HONOUR AND REVERENCE

Another definition of both the Greek and Hebrew biblical words for holiness is: hallowed, venerated, worthy of honour, sacred or simply "divine". It speaks of the awesome majesty of the creator. Again we see that holiness is the essence of the divine. This is borne out in scripture where 'holy' and 'divine' are used interchangeably, and where the fact that God is holy is inseparable from his awesome glory and his worthiness to be praised.

Da 4:9 - I know that the spirit of the holy [divine] gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you.

Isa 52:10 - The LORD will lay bare his holy [divine] arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

Ps 103:1 - Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy [divine] name. 

Isa 6:3 - "And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

Ps 22:3 - You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.

Rev 4:8-11 - Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

People and places can be holy or sacred in this way too, but not in their own right, only as a result of closeness to God who is the only source of holiness. Moses was commanded to take off his shoes because he stood on holy [sacred] ground. There was nothing special about that particular stretch of desert, except it was where God was present. The tabernacle had holy [sacred] things and a holy and most holy place. But again this was not a holiness intrinsic to the objects or places themselves but due to the proximity to the very presence of God. As Christians we are a holy people because God is not just close to us, but within us! We are participants of the divine nature! (2Pe 1:4)

4.0 SINLESS – ABSOLUTE MORAL PURITY AND PERFECTION

Having said that holiness is much more than the absence of sin, we cannot study holiness without taking the moral aspect of it into consideration. But even here God's moral holiness is not just the negative avoidance of sin, it is equally to do with the positive affirmation of all that is good. God's moral holiness means that he is utterly flawless and perfect in all his ways, not only in what he does not do (avoidance of sin) but also in all that he does do – all that he does is just, true, good, loving and pure.

Some people's image of holiness is like a hermit in a cave who avoids all temptation, is free from all evil, and commits no sin. However the scripture makes it clear that holiness is absent not only when we do evil, but also when we don't do good! God's holiness is thus equally demonstrated by his separation from all that is impure and his wrath towards all that is wicked and evil, and also in his closeness and binding love to all who do good and seek to follow in his ways. 1Jn 1:5 God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

Heb 1:9 - You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.

Jas 1:17 -  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Jas 4:17 - Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. This is part of the communicable aspect of God's holiness. God wants us to be holy as he is holy. To have the same hatred of sin, and love of righteousness that he has. To have the same purity and love in all our thoughts, words and deeds. This however is part of the process of sanctification, it is not something we get the instant we are saved but something that we need to work at: constantly and daily. Although we have the Holy Spirit within us, who helps us to become holy, we also have the flesh – our natural carnal selfish desires that pull us in the opposite direction. To live to God requires death to self.

1Pe 1:15-16 - But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 

2Co 3:18 - And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Gal 5:16-17 - So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

Lk 9:2 - Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

5.0 SET APART – BELONGING EXCLUSIVELY TO GOD

There is one other biblical definition of holiness, but I have left it to the end because it is more related to people and things than to God himself who quite rightly is the main focus of our study. That definition is: set apart, consecrated, given over to exclusive use for God. This is how the objects in the temple were holy, because they were only used in service to God. This is how the Nazarites were holy, because they took a vow to serve God, and to engage in no other activity for a set period of time. In this way we too can be holy if we consider that we are no longer our own, we belong to God. We exist exclusively for his use, and we will not engage in any activity outside of his will.

1Co 6:19-20 - Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not our own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.

Ro 6:13 - Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.

2Ti 2:4 - No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer. In a way this does relate to God's holiness too because he is utterly committed to his own glory and purpose. He never takes a vacation to go fishing or to oversee some other universe. The plan that he has put into effect through his son is his one consuming passion. God is consecrated to himself, set apart for his own will. He acts exclusively to forward his own honour and glory.

Ps 121:14 - He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Eze 39:25 I will be zealous for my holy name.

Jn 6:38 - For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

6.0 THE STANDARD – GOD DOES NOT CONFORM TO A STANDARD HE IS THE STANDARD

Of course the ultimate definition of Holiness is God himself. He is not holy because he adheres to some standard. He himself is the standard. Holiness is the essence of his being. He is holy because he is holy. Thus to be holy is to be like God. There is no other standard given to be holy – you must be holy as God is holy.

Mt 5:48 - Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. He is also the source of all holiness. There is no other source. Anything or anyone that is holy is not so in itself, but because it is close to, consecrated to, or reflects the character of God himself. The reason we can be holy is because he is holy and his Spirit lives in us.

Lev 11:4 - I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.

Lev 20:8 - I am the LORD, who makes you holy. Holiness is the essence of the divine, and our divine calling in Christ.

1Co 1:2 - To those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-- their Lord and ours.

This article is Unit 2 of a 7 part series on THE GREATNESS OF GOD! 

*****************************************************
 http://www.holiness.org.uk/awesomeholy.html

Psalms 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him [Jesus] and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

 

James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you… 

 

Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, Revelation 4:11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”