Remarkable – Part 2

Continuing Michael’s “remarkable” message, he writes that “holiness” is defined as the state of being holy; purity or integrity of moral character; freedom from sin; sanctity. Applied to human beings, holiness is purity of heart or dispositions; sanctified affections; piety; moral goodness, but not perfect. But, carries the privilege of that which is separated to the service of God. To be separated according to the designer’s design. We’re separated from the world when we’re called to holiness, separated unto the Lord God Almighty. We’re separated with a regenerated spirit and a new nature. Therefore, be not drunk with wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit. 

The indwelling Holy Spirit in us is Christ in us, the hope of glory. In the spirit of Christ, we’re remarkable because we have the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We’re born again, born from above, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible. We’re remarkable because we’re uncommon or extraordinary, having what the unregenerate, natural man and woman do not have in the spirit and the Spirit. Remarkable is easily noticed as outside of the world’s norm. Remarkable makes others want to investigate the reason for what makes us unique. The diseased sheep in the bad shepherd’s pasture look at the good shepherd’s pasture and say to themselves, “I want to be in that shepherd’s flock.” The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He restores my soul. There is a strong family resemblance between fathers and their children. Those outside of the family notice something special, something remarkable about those who belong to their Heavenly Father. 

Remarkable is what the multitude at the temple in Acts 2 noticed about the Apostle Peter at the day of Pentecost. They noticed that Jesus’ disciples spoke with power and authority even though they were lowly Galileans. For God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Remarkable goes beyond what is required or necessary. Remarkable men and women show integrity in their workmanship for God’s glory. They exceed in excellence and hold themselves to higher standards of the kingdom of Heaven. Remarkable men and women separate themselves from the God-rejecting world’s norms. They are unusual in a welcoming way. God said, Don’t touch what’s unclean (unclean by God’s definition) and I will welcome you in the way of the Lord. 

When you look unto Jesus, people who love darkness instead of light will say you’re illogical, foolish, crazy and bizarre. In Acts 2, Peter said to the leaders of the temple on the day of Pentecost, “Him (Jesus Christ,) being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.”

What was remarkable on the Day of Pentecost remains remarkable in 2020: The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection was the power of God unto salvation made manifest. This is the gospel message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone: That if you shall confess with thy mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and shall believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved (made alive and whole.) God has called us to plant and water the seed of His word, the gospel message, in the mission field to which He’s called us. In due season, we shall reap a harvest  of souls if we faint not. Therefore, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

As we continue in 2020 with God’s remarkable holy calling, may we ever live to the praise for the glory of His grace.
Your brother in Christ, Michael