IS ANYONE POINTING A FINGER AT YOU?

We should not finger-point, unless we are using that finger to point out scripture. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works"  2 Tim. 3:16-17.

Or, to point the way to salvation, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me" John 14:6.


Finger pointing is also useful when giving directions; or if your turn signals do not work (like on that very new Lincoln in front of me the other day). Some people use their finger to scold (their) children; and some women use it to scold (their) husbands, probably with little effect in either case. If anyone has any more positive uses for finger-pointing, please interject here __________________________.

However, if people are not pointing fingers at you and saying, 
"Surely, you are one of them" Mark 14:70, 
then you might not be! Poor Peter. He had the greatest recognition bestowed on him by three different people and he denied it. Feigning ignorance, he said "I do not know what you are talking about". Nevertheless, it was obvious.



Is it obvious in our lives?
Do those people who do not see us pulling in or out of the church parking lot recognize that SURELY, you (or me) are one of them… one of His? Does our light shine? "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven"  Matt. 5:16.
Our "Light" is Christ in us, "In him was life (eternal); and the life was the light of men" John 1:4.
If we abide in Him, this light can not be hid.
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house" Matt. 5:14-15.
This Light must shine, that they may "see your good works"… your fruit…
"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth)" EPH. 5:8-9.
Good works come of faith in God… of walking in the Spirit, in obedience, in truth.

1 Thess. 2 says, "For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus".

The commandments of God by the authority of Lord Jesus. What might these commandments have been? Oh, we know the obvious, but from within this very letter (1 Thess.), where might we find reference to this verse (2)? Perhaps chapter 1 vss. 9-10? "For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come".
I can imagine Paul preaching with the authority of an apostle…"TURN now to God from idols - SERVE the Living and True God - WAIT for His Son Who has delivered us". Furthermore, we can be sure that Paul instructed the Thessalonians while with them as to Christian conduct, behavior and morality… in other words, the Holiness of the walk. So he reminds them (us) and reinforces the commandments which he gave them, as from the Lord Himself. This is followed by verse 3...

"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication"

Here now is the Will of God, and not just for the church, 2 Pet. 3:9. But in that God knew who would come and receive, He "set apart" them that should be sanctified, Rom. 8:29; Heb. 10:14. So much more humbling should this be to us, who have been "called apart"… chosen into this holy realm, even as the Hebrews were chosen, but so many of them would not humble themselves in worship and service toward the Almighty God who loved them. God Is Holy. There is nothing in His Realm that is not Holy. Pause here a moment and define Holy to yourself.

Go to the concordance and look up the word "holy". In the Hebrew the word is, Xdq - Qodesh  (ko'-desh) used 468 times, and Xwdq - Qadowsh  (kaw-doshe') used 116 times. In the Greek, the word is primarily, a&gioß - Hagios (hag'-ee-os). What I am trying to illustrate by going to the concordance or Interlinear, or even Vine's Dictionary, is that (in my opinion) there is no definition (and you must read the definitions wherever you may find them) which truly describes the profound meaning of this word. Why do I say that? Why do I suggest all the meanings we read do not do the "concept" justice? Because all we have is an  ABSTRACT . It is difficult to define Holiness. We have no idea what "Holy" truly means. One would have to stand before The Almighty Holy God to fully comprehend Holiness (and we will!). If we do not attempt to truly and fully understand and KNOW this word, then that goal which we seek is far lower than it should be… or that which we wish to attain is more worldly than heavenly.

We've got some major concepts, doctrines and truths here… Sanctification, Holiness, fornication?
"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body" 1 Cor. 6:18.
Fornication (which is not even considered a sin anymore, by the world) is not just mere sex. It is the "joining" of yourself (the believer) together with anything which is unholy. It is what the "moneychangers" were guilty of (love of money, idolatry) in the temple (of God). Vine's describes it as, "the association of pagan idolatry with doctrines of, and professed adherence to, the Christian faith" . We better read that again. This Describes The Ecumenical Church Today! No wonder Revelations describes that ecclesiastical Babylon as "the great whore".

This cannot be in our lives. Why? Because the Will of God for our lives is to be sanctified… so that people can point fingers at you.