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Maxims of Holiness by Bahatram Dan..pdf

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MAXIMS OF HOLINESS A SHORT GUIDE INTO THE REALM OF GOD. Bahatram Dan.
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MAXIMS OF HOLINESS A SHORT GUIDE INTO THE REALM OF GOD. Bahatram Dan. Maxims of Holiness. 2 CONTENTS: FOREWORD 1.Foundations.. 4 -Guard your foundations 2.A life of conversation... 6 3.Transformation of mind.. 7 4.A container for the glory of God 8 5.Develop a back-bone 9 6.Simplicity.. 11 7.The art of submission.. 12 8.Meditation 13 9.Worship 14 10. Fast and Pray... 15 11. Word of Encouragement. 16 Maxims of Holiness. 3 FOREWORD In this book, we will look at Holiness as a propelling spiritual force, leading into a peculiar dimension of intimacy with God, a discipline by which God invites ones soul into a perfect union with His nature and a high sense of spiritual sensitivity brought by perpetual confidence toward God. Holiness is the act of obedience to Gods continual invitations of love. Maxims of Holiness. 4 FOUNDATIONS. For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God'sbuilding. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wisemasterbuilder, Ihave laidthe foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heedhowhe buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is J esusChrist. -1st Corinthians 3:9-11 (KJ V) The start of ones walk with God must always be based on strong foundations; there is one foundation that we all must be built upon: Jesus Christ, and upon Him, we build our governing principles which are our personal foundations on which our walls are built upon. If ones foundations are weak, the walls built upon them will not last. Foundations are usually the hardest parts to build because they require much effort and discipline in building, yet they are the most important part of the whole building. Holiness must be a foundational principle for every Christian: the very essence of Christian character. Many men and women came into the faith, but were never taught this sweet discipline; hence they grew with a missing component in their Christian walk and failed to maintain a constant love fellowship with God. In order to build a foundation of Holiness, one must understand what Holiness is: He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 I n this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. -1st J ohn 3:8-10 (KJ V) Holiness is the attitude of separation from sin; to live according to Gods way of being: distinct and clean without impurity of thought, words and deed. This was impossible under the covenant of the law; because they had no indwelling power to overcome sin, but Holiness is possible in this covenant of grace; because we have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.Maxims of Holiness. 5 I once ministered to a lady who was convinced and wouldnt be shaken, she believed as many do that it was impossible for anyone to live holy; and it is because of this mindset that many never get any further than a certain point with God. But I asked her a question, have you ever noticed that God the Father is not referred to as Holy Father of Holy Jehovah, yet He indeed is holy. Or how Jesus is not referred to as Holy Son or Holy Jesus, yet He too is holy. But when it comes to the third person of the Godhead; He is called Holy Spirit, and this is because whatever the Holy Spirit comes upon is sanctified and conformed to His nature -Holiness. And guess what? He dwells within every born again Christian. My response to her staunch belief seemed to have sparked up a transformation within her mind; which brought down that stronghold (thought pattern). Saints, the bible tells us that the weapons of our warfare are mighty enough to pull down strongholds, and that conversation taught me that the very words we speak are weapons of warfare; They proceed from our mouths as though from the very mouth of God Himself, as long as His word abides in us. Therefore, a life of Holiness is made possible by the presence of the Holy Spirit within us. GUARD YOUR FOUNDATIONS. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? -Psalm 11:3 (KJ V) If the foundations set were not strong, they will be vulnerable to attack and if the foundations are destroyed, ones walk with the Lord could completely shut down. Well in this case, my main foundational focus in on Holiness. The strength of your foundation in Holiness determines your resistance toward sin; and yes saints, we can be so rooted in Godly character that sin can be but a memory so down under our feet. But it is lamentable how believers make the grace and presence of God within us of no relevance toward Holiness and major on trivial self-made beliefs that sin is able to overwhelm and overcome us. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. -Romans 6:14 (KJ V) We are liberated from sin, and now can walk in Holiness, because grace is the power to overcome sin. Set your foundation on Holiness, and revisit it to reinforce it. Maxims of Holiness. 6 A LIFE OF CONVERSATION. Pray without ceasing. -1st Thessalonians 5:20 (KJ V) This was a simple spiritual maxim that Paul gave to the Church, for us to always be in constant prayer and conversation with God. I have come to learn that when this scripture is taken literally, it causes one to have a continual sense of Gods presence and also causes one to have such great awareness of divine companionship; such that any sinful act would be extremely shameful because of the ever manifest presence of God.The more we converse with God, we learn His personality; to the point we can actually identify His voice and distinguish His presence from emotional upheavals. And because we grow to know Him more, we turn to depend on His grace the more; we realize that on our own we are nothing and that in our strength we can do nothing. The greater the dependence on Gods grace, the greater our response to His invitations of love; because grace is an active force that makes us so passively engulfed in His love; but once we are established within His love, Holiness is our response to that love of God, because we dont want to hurt Him or offend Him and so we walk as He did on this earth. No wonder John in his first epistle connects love with holiness. How great a force love is; the greatest actually, so beautifully expressed in Holiness. No wonder Jesus died on the cross as the love of God, paying ransom to the holiness of God; that love and holiness may unite and become one. Maxims of Holiness. 7 TRANSFORMATION OF MIND. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. -Romans 12:2 (KJ V) There are patterns in this world: it seems normal for the world to do certain things and live a certain way. But it is not so with us; we are the children of God. We must set our minds to a new standard of Holiness. And this comes by the renewal of the mind, the very transformation of ones mental and emotional faculties which in turn affect the will of an individual. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, -Ephesians 5:25-26 (KJ V) The word of God washes our minds clean like water, and sanctifies (makes holy) us. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

-2nd Corinthians 3:18 (KJ V) As we behold the word of God, we are transformed into the same image, virtues, strengths and mind. Holiness is more than character development; it is about making a conscious decision to walk like Jesus did. Maxims of Holiness. 8 A CONTAINER FOR THE GLORY. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: -John 17:22 (KJV)

Jesus gave us the glory that He received from the Father; this glory makes the Father and the Son to be one, and for the same purpose we were given the glory that we may also be made one. The glory of God surrounds Gods throne, and we are able to manifest the happenings of the throne room here on earth by the enablement of the Glory, who/which is the manifested Spirit of God. Now the Spirit of God may manifest as the anointing, or as the Spirit of faith, or as the Glory of God who raised Jesus from the dead. And the word of God marks a striking connection between the Glory of God and the Spirit of Holiness. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. -Romans 6:4 (KJ V) And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: -Romans 1:4 (KJ V) The above two scriptures show us the relationship between the Spirit of Holiness and the Glory of God: they are one. And so we see how Holiness is an important aspect in our functioning in the realms of God; whether by the anointing, it is the same Spirit; by faith, it is the same Spirit and by the glory, it is still the same Spirit. Holiness is more than a discipline; it is an attraction to God; it is incense sent out to Him. The bridegroom desires an equally yoked bride; one who would walk even as He did whilst on earth. Maxims of Holiness. 9 DEVELOP A BACK-BONE. Do you walk in Holiness? Are you experiencing Gods reality and knowing the secrets of heavenly things? The fear of the Lord is the root of Holiness: The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. -Proverbs 8:13 (KJ V) The man that fears the Lord walks uprightly before Him and fears the very sight of sin. And such men are open to the secrets of heaven and the mysteries of Godliness. God Himself draws us near and initiates a life of secrecy.The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. -Psalm 25:14 (KJ V) I personally found this way of life beneficial and necessary to attaining high levels of perfection in intimacy and daily encounter with God; and that is why I see it necessary to recommend it to others. When I speak of developing a backbone, I speak of strength within character. Most people fail to walk in Holiness, because there is no strength in their character. They lack the wisdom of will enforcement. I believe one of the reasons we have a free will, is so that we can use it as an expression of love to God each time we decide to abstain from evil and each time we choose Him over the people we have affection for. And God is able to put our will to the test. It is so lamentable and heartbreaking to see the Christian use their will and choose sin; where is the sacrifice of love in all that? We must come into higher desires of pleasing God through our holy living. One day, I was talking with some of my acquaintances, and one of them; a lady touched me on my shoulder and she felt really comfortable there evidently. But in the presence of them all, I had a firm realization of how uncomfortable God was (because He is always and ever with me). And my mind wasnt willing, neither was my flesh -and this is why our mind needs daily renewal-, but I said to her, remove your hand from my shoulder, and dont touch me like that. Everyone was surprised; but deep inside, I felt a peace that is able to rest a grieving soul. Maxims of Holiness. 10 It wasnt easy to walk in Holiness at first, but I developed a backbone that helped me stand and conform to God. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. -2nd Corinthians 7:1 (KJ V) Ibeseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. -Romans 12:1 (KJ V) It is your role and responsibility to get rid of filthiness of flesh and spirit, and to offer your body as a living sacrifice; holy and acceptable to God. Yet it comes through submission to the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. Maxims of Holiness. 11 SIMPLICITY. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. -Psalm 119:130 (KJ V) There is great understanding in simplicity, and Holiness is manifest in simplicity. For it is the simple whos eyes God opens to understand and He entrusts them with secrets. Simplicity is a product of maturity; theres no complexity or boastfulness in maturity. Holiness rejoices in simplicity, just as love rejoices in the truth. Maxims of Holiness. 12 THE ART OF SUBMISSION. Finally, Holiness requires submission to God. The tempter is afraid of a soul that is perfectly resigned and submitted to God; and he flees from such. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. -J ames 4:7 (KJ V) Temptation is not an excuse to sin, because submission is the strength that works against temptation. Jesus was tempted, but He submitted to God, by relying on His word. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. -Romans 6:12-13 (KJ V) When you submit to God, you will walk holy and separate from sin. Maxims of Holiness. 13 MEDITATION. As long as I have walked with God; I have not seen any man successfully walk in Holiness without the presence of the word in Him. And I have seen men who have grown in Holiness and conversation with God, due to the time they spent meditating on Gods word. Meditation is a lost art that must be restored; and only a select few have realized the importance of meditation. God told Joshua to meditate on His word, that it would make him successful in all he does. I know of a man who lived in the 1960s; a man who had grown in conversation with God. This man named Brother Lawrence of the resurrection was said to have meditated on the love of God so much; it made Him levitate. I also know of men and women like Madam guyone, Evelyn Underhill, Henry Suso, and many other men and women of old; who made a mark in the earth due to their perpetual desire to feed their souls with high notions of God through meditation. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. -J oshua 1:8 (KJ V) Meditation trains the body, soul and spirit to behave according to what you meditate on. There are generally three kinds (or) levels of meditation: in the first, the soul (mind, will and emotions) is passively involved as faith is actively moulded within the soul. In the second, the soul is still passive, as love whirls up from within the depth of ones spirit, to influence the soul. And in the third level, the soul is very actively involved, and responds with a high sense of Holiness and reverence for God. I wish I could I could explain more on this, but for the sake of those readers still young in the faith. I will put it this way; meditation ascendancy is: -Faith -Love-A response of Holiness. Maxims of Holiness. 14 WORSHIP. Worship is at the Centre of heaven. And God desires people who will worship Him from the depth of their being; in spirit and in truth. When we worship in Spirit and in truth, we do it by the leading of the Spirit (truth) and by the guidance of the word (truth): because the Spirit and the Word are one. And when we obey the word in worship, through the Spirit, we purify our souls. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: -1st Peter 1:22 (KJ V) Worship purifies our souls, and love for one another purifies our hearts. Holiness is the purity of heart and soul; for the body is governed by these two entities. Worship is the heart of every Christian; it must be a daily practice Maxims of Holiness. 15 FAST AND PRAY. A life of fasting and prayer trains ones spirit to become dominant over the flesh. It is a discipline that Jesus expects from us. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; -Matthew 6:17 (KJ V) Jesus evidently expects us to fast and pray, because His instruction says, When you fast. Maxims of Holiness. 16 A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT. Beloved saints, do not be discouraged when you get tempted and when you fall into actual sin; for the blood of Jesus is more than able to cleanse you. The bible tells us that God is well able to keep us from falling and to present us before His presence spotless with Joy. You may not have been walking in holiness before you read this book, or you might have been struggling with a sin that kept you in bondage and robbed you of confidence before God; but cheer up, those chains are broken by the Spirit behind this book. Holiness is a delight unto the Lord. Bahatram Dan, under the inspiration of the Spirit of Holiness. Be blessed!


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