We CAN be Holy and perfect

Friday, August 8 2014

One thing I am learning doing the Lord's work on this blog, while sharing the gospel and my own life experiences, is the Lord will not allow His words to be preahed, while His vessel is not totally anchored in Him. When I say this, I don't mean I tossed out my saved, sancitifed christian life in the waters and went having a ball at the club drinking and all that, its that the Lord was growing me in the most painful  part of my life, my very own ministry. The place where I had the world's biggest waves hit me in the world and now He wants to show me that in Christ, there are many ways one can go about courtship and prepearing for marriage but God has a high calling for the approach that men takes and the respect the woman are to have for themselves. He keeps his most valuablechildren from making mistakes and keeps them hidden when they don't want to for something greater. With that being said, God is allowing me the strength to write about His call for us to be holy as he is holy and perfect as he is perfect. 

Matthew 5:48

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

1 Peter 1:15-17

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

All too often, I hear in the Christian faith from Christians who have identified in their life a day or time they decided to follow Christ, that they are still sinners, they can never be perfect, and that being holy is unattainable on earth.......

If these stories were in the bible I would believe them, but they are not. The bible, which has been given authority states we are to be holy and perfect just like God is in heaven. 

"But Janet how can I be holy in this perverse crooked world!???" you may ask.

Let's first define what holy and perfect are together. When people think of these words in the Christian faith, their images automatically go to angles and heaven. They totally remove the context of the verses above and other verses where the term "holy" and "perfect" are mentioned in the bible . 

Let's break it down. 

When God calls his children to be perfect and holy here on earth, He is speaking of the measure of holiness and perfection one is given on this earth . A verse in Romans 12:3 talks about the measure of faith God gives each of us according to to how humble we are. This is the kind of mentality we should have when God is calling for us to meet these standards. It's very attainable. We aren't angels. We are still in the flesh that feels one thing although the spirit of God through His Word the Bible tells us to act another way. The more consecrated and committed we are unto the Lord, the same measure of holiness and perfection He gives us. We are growing in this act of being holy and perfect. It must be an intentional act because if not, the kingdom of heaven won't be yours. 

Hebrews 12:14King James Version (KJV)

1 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Holiness and perfection are one in the same. When God says He is holy what does this mean?

When we talk about the holiness of God, we’re talking about his separateness. That is, God is set apart from this world. He is set apart from the evil acts of a sinful people. As God’s children, meaning New Testament believers, on this side of the cross, we have been cleansed from our sin. The sacrifice of Jesus has made us clean in the sight of God. We have been made holy through Jesus therefore We can interact with God because of this great gift.

So, practically how do we live a holy life daily?

Living holy again is simple by God's grace. One must seek sanctification, which is an experience for all believers after salvation. Seeing that we have been made Holy through the blood, on the cross of Jesus we need to act like we’re holy.

We are to be set apart from the world. 

We are to stop acting like sinful, unsaved people. Which encompasses everything in these verses and more:

Ephesians 4:31

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice

Ephesians 5:3

 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

Just think about things you wouldn't want Jesus seeing when He comes back to take you, His child, back to heaven.

We are to hate sin and steer clear of sinful situations. We are to honour God with our bodies, our every breath and our every thought. That’s what it means to be holy.

Being holy means being set apart for God.

• For me being holy is watching what I say, I don't curse, and I pray to God to not only speak with grace but also listen and respond with Grace. 
• For me it means NOT dating the worlds way. Not pressuring a guy to commit to me, but allowing God to lead him, while maintaining purity(no sex) and keeping it open, while my church family and friends know. 
• For me being Holy means being intentional about reading my bible everyday and letting it's raw words pierce my hearts.
•  For me being Holy is serving my family first, then my church by attending church services, joining ministries and asking about the well being of my other members, and finally serving my friends. 
• For me it means watching what I watch on tv and listen to as music..if they aren'ttalking about Jesus, salvation and my finally resting place in Heaven, I ain't listening to it. 
• Being holy means keeping my eyes on heaven, always checking in that I am growing in faith daily, repenting of any wrong doing,  so heaven is my goal and that I make it. 

Sometimes I don't FEEL holy and perfect. Sometimes I feel so broken, but ALL the time I am praying, asking God, help me identify my weakest moments,keep me in this time of doubt in the flesh. God counts me holy and perfect, because I am not sinning, my flesh just wants to bring me down.

God will teach you very practical ways on how to be Holy as you grow in him. We must remember, to be perfect and holy starts from the inside but will manifest on the outside! There is no "its only about the heart"!

Being holy and perfect is truly truly an act of love for your self and love for others.

Matthew 22:36-40

36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

I love you all. Praying for you.<3

(2014 Graduation Gala at my church)

CHIME IN: In what ways can you be holy in your everyday life?

From your Sister in Christ ,

Why Worry?

Monday June 21nd, 2014

  

The bible commands us to not worry. Jesus taught us that worry is one of the most ineffective pastimes that we acquire. Not one single hour is added to your life by worrying. Worry is the assassin of rest and of relationships. It steadily stalks us and hijacks the mind. While we may continue to function publicly, there is still a sinister force lurking within us. This enemy called a "sense of completion", which comes from within and which cannot be achieved by the mere acquisition of things.

Luke 12:34

 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

We often wrestle with things we cannot change. In going into the summer, I had goals on internships I wanted to acquire and wanted to make sure everything I would be doing would be pleasing unto the Lord. Often like many, from the time you put in your application you start to think and worry on the possibilities, whether you will get accepted or not. By God's grace these thoughts also came into my head but I used God's prescription to combat the worry.

God's prescription for worry is prayer.  

Philippians 4:6-7 

"Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the pece of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hears and minds through Christ Jesus"

God took control of my situation this summer by allowing me to gain a meaningful volunteer experience I will be getting paid for and participating in a great leadership summer institute. It was all because I didn't let thoughts of worry, I prayed and leaned on him.

It was a blessing to attend one of the summer program I applied and got accepted to, NEW Leadership NJ. New Leadership is a program located at the Center for American Women and Politics within the Eagleton Institute of Politics. It is is a bi-partisan, residential program to educate college women about the political process and teach them to become effective leaders in their communities. I was apart of a national network of college woman from different socioeconomic backgrounds whom learnt from Women Leaders in the political sphere and addresses issues of diversity among many other topics.  I was also able to meet high ranking woman in public serve that I could build relationships with. It was an extra blessing to learn most were believers of God! It proves God truly reigns.

 I look forward to seeing where else God has for me. It won't involve worry,but sold out consecrated that God's got me. Do you believe he's got you?

Lets Connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram 

From your Sister in Christ ,

Janet Adeola Songonuga

Here is an excellent bible study on being free from worry and anxiety

 Some more pictures from the Program 

(Lieutenant Governor &Secretary of State for NJ)

(NJ Secretary of Higher Education)

Let this encourage you. God's got your life and love story. <3

 

 

Are you Sanctified?

Sunday, April 20th 2014

Let's start with this scenario:

You woke up this morning. You could have felt better, but you praised God non the less. Read a quick verse on your Bible app, prayed a little prayer and went about your day. Oh! And today it seems like every single person and situation wants to push your  buttons so in turn they all get on your nerves! A car passes you by, you don't curse but you start thinking evil things, when you tell your friend later it's when a curse word slips out. Later you realize your sibling or roommate may have taken something you needed, you totally blow UP just for the small thing that you'll probably eventually get back later. On facebook, instagram, twitter you post an encouraging verse but yet you are so discouraged, have extreme disbelief and ready to punch the next person that comes at you wrong.

Are you sanctified?

The above situation speaks about a brother or sister who may have given their life to Jesus Christ, but they are babies in Christ and are not yet Sanctified.

Sanctification is an experience, a gift given by God after one has received Salvation. Salvation is simply explained in Mark 16:16 which states:

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved

Salvation is receiving, believing in Jesus and then putting on a new man by becoming Born Again. Jesus explains salvation is just the beginning of a journey that is to be ran steadily till ones physical death or His return to earth. 

Sanctification is an act where ones heart is purified and made holy. God takes your filthy heart that you've given to Christ at salvation and replaces it with a new heart to not have you continue to struggle with pleasing God and spitting out the customs you've adopted from family or the world. Salvation gives you entrance into God's family but Sanctification brings you to the table of holiness.

Sanctification gives you an undeniable peace, that will hold you together in situations when it seems the world will end, but because of God's grace you stand. If you have purposed in your heart to follow the Lord but it seems sins like anger and sins against your body like sexual sin and blasphemy keep rising, sanctification is an experience that will help rid those sins forever.

In Scripture we find many explanations of sanctification. Here are some:

1 Thessalonians 5:22,23,24

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

1 Thessalonians 4:3

3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:26

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Hebrews 13:12

12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

1 John 1:7

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Yes alot of scripture, but from reading you'll see God yearns and desires for each and everyone of his followers to be sanctified. Salvation is not enough to keep you in this now sin saturated world you've had your eyes open up to. We need God's increased grace and our hearts to be changed

Towards the end of the scriptures stated above, what's described is the after effect of sanctification. Temptations that may not have been so hard to roll and walk away from are now incredibly easy to leave when sanctified.  You have increased power to now walk in the light and stay in the light. Sanctification also helps you be separate from the things of the world. You see as a changed person, a new man there must be a clear difference.At Salvation you may still go to the club,bar, sports games and maybe not partake in the drinking with no real heavy conviction. But it reads in

1 Peter 1:14-16

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

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

That taste to go to these places will be removed. Secret sins that protrude even after you've poured your heart out unto God in church like lying, stealing,porn watching masturbation, homosexuality, and keeping a fictitious husband or wife from novels movies or TV shows will be no more! For females and men the dressing that you start getting convicted off to not wear, you'll be given the grace to truly let it go and really embrace modesty..a very lost virtue!

Sanctification is essential to receive. Due to it's result of bringing holiness of life and purity of heart these makes for the center of Christian living. 

A key difference to note is salvation is a one time experience! Yes one can receive Christ and backslide, but they just come to God for forgiveness not re-receive salvation. Sanctification is also a one time experience however it's   an experience that deepens and grows. So if you are dealing with anger and you've received sanctification by God's grace,and still lash out, don't feel condemned, go before the name of the Lord, pray and he'll give you more wisdom and self control for the next time.

By God's grace I prayed and sought the Lord and was sanctified in 2013. Believe me, I didn't know I had it because it seemed the littlest things would get on my nerves. The undeniable peace that comes with sanctification wasn't consistent. When I knew I received it, I felt an overwhelming peace. I could tell you my life right now and you would say why aren't you far away somewhere, it is because the peace of God resides in my heart. I am sanctified and lean totally on our Lord and savior Jesus Christ and know everything will work out for good. 

When you grow spiritually everything else encompassing your life improves for the better!

God is calling you to this experience if you've received him into your life. If you have't received him, he is calling you home. Just seek him, wait upon the Lord for him and by God's grace sanctification will be yours too.I am praying for you. I love you.

Lets Connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

So, I ask you to share your comments below are you sanctified?

From your Sister in Christ with a Heart of Friend,

Janet Adeola Songonuga

P.S When you come into faith it's very important that you stay faithful to what God has asked you to do. For me it was to start this blog and upkeep it. I sincerely apologize for how long it has taken for a new blog to come out. By God's grace I will go back to being more consistent. May God bless you as you read and share it <3

(There is a new Name Written down in Glory! Me and my newly Born Again cousin that just gave her life to Jesus< 3 SO excited for her journey. I love you!)

(Each year my Church has an annual Easter Retreat on Easter Weekend.
Since you missed it you can check out some messages HERE)