The Rector of Pentecost University College (PUC) and Executive Council Member of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr Daniel Okyere Walker, has indicated that God has called the Church to holy living and that He demands holiness from Christians.
Presenting a paper at the 2019 Heads’ Prayer Meeting of The Church of Pentecost on Monday, November 11, at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh on the topic, “The Church Called To A Holy Living,” Apostle Dr Walker asserted that holiness is one of the fundamental doctrines of Pentecostalism.
He defined holiness or holy living as being sanctified, consecrated, dedicated or purified. It is also to be morally blameless, separated from sin and consecrated to God.
“The Church called to holy living, therefore, is a church, or a people of God, set apart or set aside from the rest of the people. They are meant to be different from the others in lifestyle; a people of God who remember that they have been called and set apart to keep themselves holy,” he noted.
According to him, Jesus, on the ‘Sermon on the Mount,’ pointed out that life in the Kingdom of God demanded a higher order of living. He, therefore, said that the Church is called to live a holy life, a Christ-like life in speech, actions, thoughts and walk.
Apostle Dr Walker charged believers to demonstrate holiness in character since holiness is expected to be exhibited outwardly.
“Christians are expected to demonstrate Christ’s character of holiness because He is holy. The Bible clearly states that, the Christian or the Church is called to holy living, because it is written in 1 Peter 1:15-16 that, ‘But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’
“2 Timothy 1:9 adds that Christians are saved and called to holy living. The desire of God is that holiness would reflect in everything that we do as imitators of Christ,” he stressed.
He entreated Christians to develop holiness in thought to help them remain holy at all times, because there are so many things that go through the human mind everyday which can be good or bad. “As Christians, we need to think about good things that can shape our conduct to be like Christ who is holy,” he indicated.
He further asked believers to be holy in conscience. He stated that demonstrating Christ’s holiness is not limited to Sunday within the church premises, but it rather goes beyond the pulpit.
“Clear conscience produces boldness and helps the Christian to live a holy life before God (1 Cor. 4:3-4). We are therefore to hold on to faith and a good conscience (1 Tim. 1:19; 3:9); serve God with a clear conscience like our fathers did (2 Tim. 1:3), and keep a clear conscience to be blameless (1 Pet. 3:16),” he said.
On deeds, the PUC Rector stated: “Whatever we do, we must know that our deeds are unto the Lord who is holy (Col. 3:17). The Church that is called to a holy living will do well if every action is measured by the word of God.
“As the church lives to obey every word of God, holiness is revealed in her daily living. This should affect how the Christian transact business (Lev. 19:35-36; Deut. 25:13-16; Pro. 11:1) and portray Christ at the workplace.”
Touching on marriage, Apostle Dr Walker advised Christians to demonstrate holiness in their marriages, saying, “Marriage and the marital home is one practical area that holy living can be practised to the fullest. Parents have a duty of living holy lives to show God’s way to their children whilst children have a duty to obey their parents as they obey the word of God.”
Concluding his presentation, Apostle Dr Daniel Okyere Walker indicated that the world has consistently become difficult to live holy lives. He, however, said that if the people of old were able to live holy lives in the midst of corruption at their time, the church of today has no excuse but to live holy lives without which no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14).
PENTECOST NEWS.
