The Pure in Heart Will See God
Recently, God was speaking to me about holiness. Holiness extends beyond simple religious "dos" and "don'ts." It cannot be relegated to legalism or to the appearance of religious piety through ritual and service to God. Holiness flows from the heart—an inner consecration not only to the things of God but to the very person of God. Holiness gives one entryway into the fragrance of Christ being manifested through you. It does not require one to be "churchy"!
2 Corinthians 2:14 says, "But thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ and reveals the fragrance of His knowledge through us in every place" (EHV). This goes beyond gifting. Holiness comes through purification by the Spirit of God, often through intensified dealings with God. A purified heart can "see" more of the Lord—His ways, His goodness, and His majesty—which brings about even deeper consecration in the individual. Matthew 5:8 says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
The Radiance of God in a Face
Years ago, I was sitting on a couch when a relative began staring at me very intently for a long time. After a while, she said, "Your skin looks so good—as if your face is glowing!" She asked, "What have you been doing for your skin?"
I replied, "Nothing."
A little later, I caught her staring again, almost profusely. She said once more, "You must be doing something. Your skin is glowing!"
In that moment, I realized what she was seeing was not natural; it was spiritual. It wasn't a skincare regimen.
I said to her, "I've been with Jesus. I've been in a lot of prayer."
Isaiah 60:2 says, "But the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee" (KJV). She was seeing the glory of the Lord radiating, and it came from consecration. Her response, in a serious and sincere tone, was "Maybe I need to be with Jesus and praying too." (Photo via Pexels)
Meeting Jesus at a Bar
Religion would say, "Don't go there. You shouldn't be doing that!" But this is what holiness would do (and this really happened):
A certain man of God met a coworker at a night lounge for drinks. The man of God drank water; the coworker drank wine. The man of God shared Jesus in a very non-religious, conversational way. After a while, the coworker excused himself from the table and didn't return for over thirty minutes.
When he finally came back, he was out of breath. The man of God asked where he had been and why he was breathing so hard. The coworker said the words about Jesus had permeated his being so deeply that he had to get up and run around the city block.
It wasn't the words alone; it was the life on those words—life that can only be imparted by one consecrated to Jesus with the holiness of God upon their life. The man could no longer remain in his present condition... he had to give his life to Jesus—no fussing, no begging, no pleading, no shaming, no church cliché! He encountered the life of God being transmitted through words imbued with the Spirit of God.
Meeting Jesus at a Kitchen Table
Jesus said in John 6:63, "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (NKJV). A dear friend once told me a story about a family who had been trying to get their teenage son saved, but to no avail. They talked to him about Heaven, Hell, and all the things good evangelicals do. Still, nothing changed.
One day, a mutual friend of ours (from another nation) came to their house for dinner. He didn't preach. He didn't prophesy. He simply prayed a blessing over the food—no fancy apostolic talk. He ate chicken.
When he left, the teenage boy began weeping. His parents asked what was wrong. He said, "I want to give my life to Jesus."
He added, "That man who ate with us—I could feel God coming off of him. I could feel God at the table." (Photo via Pexels)
This happened in Virginia. I know the man very well. I've been in his home and observed his lifestyle. I believe we often use many words while using very little of Jesus Christ in us and Christ upon us to bear fruit. These encounters happened at a kitchen table, not a pulpit. The first story happened at a bar, not a church.
One of the Greatest Soul Winners: Charles Finney
The great Charles Finney, considered one of the greatest soul winners of his time, once walked into a factory in upstate New York. Some workers mocked him for being a preacher. He never preached a message. His life was the message. His consecration was the sermon.
Suddenly, conviction fell. Workers began trembling and shaking. It spread like wildfire throughout the factory. People wept and cried out in repentance. Finney left after a long day. When he returned hours later, they were still under conviction, crying out to God.
The Best Sermon Never Preached
The best sermon never preached is a life of holiness consecrated to Jesus. Some things people call "the supernatural" (I am not referring to the nine gifts of the Spirit) are simply Jesus being manifested through those who have chosen the path of holiness.
Let your life preach Jesus more than your words. Selah.
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Demontae Edmonds
Destiny 4 the Nations
Email:Â INFO@F4Nations.com
Website:Â www.d4tn.org
Demontae Edmonds is the founder of Destiny 4 the Nations, host of "This is Freedom" podcast on Charisma Podcast Network, and host of Atlanta's "Highways" TV program. He travels the nations preaching the Gospel with notable signs, wonders, and miracles. His heart is to share the reality of Jesus Christ with the world through demonstrations of the Holy Spirit's power and presence. He has authored the books "Grab Hold of Your Miracle," "Discerning of Spirits: 7 Dimensions of Revelation," and "The Supernatural Gift of Faith."
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