Holiness in Which to View

Michael E. Wood

October 10, 2014

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

“Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in scripture. It is the habit of agreeing in God’s judgment – hating what He hates – loving what He loves – and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word.” (p. 64, Holiness, J.C. Ryle)

“… true holiness is a great reality. It is something in a man that can be seen, and known, and marked, and felt by all around him. It is light: if it exists, it will show itself. It is salt: if it exists, its savour will be perceived. It is precious ointment: if it exists, its presence can not be hid.” (p. 69, Holiness, J.C. Ryle)

“Habitual lively faith in Christ’s presence and readiness to help is the secret of the Christian soldier fighting successfully.

  It must never be forgotten that faith admits of degrees. All men do not believe alike, and even the same person has his ebbs and flows of faith, and believes more heartily at one time than another.” (p. 91, Holiness, J.C. Ryle)

I am often amazed at the provision of God in meeting us as His children right in the place of our need. Recently I had the privilege of attending one session of a men’s conference focusing on “godliness” at Grace Bible Church in Fair Oaks, California. I was given the choice of four books to take with me. If you have never read “Holiness” by J.C. Ryle, I would highly recommend it. You can find it here http://www.epbooks.org/index.php?app=gbu0&ns=prodshow&ref=9781783970162

Oh, help me now, as I pursue

The holiness in which to view

The face of Him who took my place

And died to save me by Your grace.

So freely now I come to You

Who raised me up to walk anew

And ask that You would make me know

Each step that You would have me go.

For as I think and contemplate

Of all You’ve spoken here of late,

It seems I have so far to go

To honor You by how I grow.

And though I know it makes You smile

When I just sit with You awhile

And listen to all You have said.

Oh, Christ, my living, worthy head

Help me show forth by righteous deeds

That others see that grace proceeds

To change us for Your glory now

By each degree until we bow

Before Your throne and give the praise

For all You’ve done through all our days

And see in perfect love, Your face,

Oh God of glory; God of grace.

Jesus Only, Be My Portion

Michael E. Wood

February 20, 2014

When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Psalm 73:23-26

And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.   Ezekiel 11:19-20

Thankfully God does not save us through the sacrifice of Christ and then leave us to our own devices. He has given to us a new heart by the work of His Spirit and leads us into all truth as revealed through the scriptures. A part of the truth that He teaches us is that though our objective position before Him is secure in Christ, the struggle with remaining sin is a reality we must take responsibility for. We are freely given all things that pertain to life and godliness both for our own personal sanctification and for the furtherance of His kingdom.

Not the heart that You have given

But the flesh that yet remains

Gives me fits and blinds my vision

To the truth that Jesus reigns.

Help me walk then circumspectly

With discernment knowing then

You uphold me by the power

Of Your loving own right hand.

Jesus only, be my portion

Who sustains with confidence

To draw near You, God our Father

And to rest in His defense.

For all judgment You committed

Unto Him, who is my peace

And gives guidance by the Spirit

That Your kingdom may increase.

So with joy we sing Your praises

As we sojourn in the way

Which is best and to You pleasing

Till with You at end of day.

Eye to Eye

Michael E. Wood

January 21, 2014

  For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.  Romans 2:28-29

As the great apostle Paul was carried along by the Spirit to pen these words, a number of principles were set forth. It is not enough to say a prayer, profess Christianity and live according to the dictates of scripture in an outward display for the praise of men: i.e., baptism, church membership, attendance, etc. There must be the work of the Spirit, translating us out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy, He has saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, to the praise of His glory!

Because of the redemption that is found through the sacrifice of Christ alone we are made to be the children of God, and though it does not yet appear what we shall be, we know that when we see Him; that is Jesus, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Thus we give up ourselves in total dependence upon God’s free grace to empower us to continue in the work of sanctification that we might hear from Him, “Well done, though good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!”

Oh to hear, “Well done” from You

That day you bring all things to view,

As by Your Spirit, made anew

We bow in awe and reverence to

The One through whom You did supply

The energy to thus rely

On all He is to draw us nigh,

Till then we see Him, eye to eye.

He Lifts me by His Word

Michael E. Wood

August 8, 2014

Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:1, 25-26

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

What an encouraging word that our Great God, and Savior Jesus Christ speaks to the hearts He has made new through the sacrifice of Himself. What a wonder it is that God takes that which by nature is deceitful and desperately wicked and replaces it with a heart that is receptive and responsive to the purity that comes through Christ alone. And though it does not yet appear what we shall be, we know that when we see Jesus, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is!

Do you find the encouragement He gives, as He speaks through the Word by His Spirit to your own heart?

He lifts me by His Word within

This frame of dust I live

And brings such great delight in

Knowing he alone doth give

The passion for His excellence

So others will then see

Reflections of His glory

Emanating then through me.

And Oh, what expectations He

Doth build as we resign

Together for the gospel He has

Shown by His design,

To show Himself all glorious

Within the church He bought

With Christ’s own blood, as angels

Watch o’er all that He has sought.

So cry to Him, Oh pure in heart,

Add quickness to the pace,

Endure with joy and patience till

We see His smiling face.

And as that day approaches,

Holy Father, God, and Friend,

Fulfill our one desire to see

Your glory as our end.

Remembering All You Are (New Song)

Michael E. Wood

July 26, 2014

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Luke 22:19-20

Partaking of the Lord’s Table is not only a command given by Christ to the church until He comes, it is likewise a privilege. On an individual basis, we are admonished that if we would draw close to God then He will draw close to us. How much more true, as we gather together as a body of believers to proclaim our Lord’s death until He comes.

On that day when you had borne

Our sins amidst those shouts of scorn

The wrath of God came crashing down upon You.

And yet in anguish bearing pain,

You looked beyond that cross of shame;

For judgment brought forth peace there. Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Bless, Lord Jesus, as we feast

Upon the bread, both great and least,

Remembering all You are and honor due You.

For what we need, You did provide,

The righteousness in which we hide,

Til all we are is like You. Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Your blood now cleanses every stain.

Your Spirit sent, brings every gain

To grow in grace and humbly bow before You.

Receiving all through what You teach,

The words You gave until we reach

That place prepared to see You. Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

On that day we’re glorified

With every nation, tongue, and tribe

Our praise perfected will bring honor through You

Unto the Father of the host,

Empowered by the Holy Ghost,

Eternal for all time then. Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Clothed Now I with Righteousness

Michael E. Wood

March 30, 2014

Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake yourself from the dust and arise; be seated, O Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For thus says the Lord: “You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.” Isaiah 52:1-3

One of the ways of which we awake and shake ourselves is by learning to preach the gospel to ourselves on a regular basis. The boldness to approach the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need comes from God the Father, through Christ the Son, as we are enabled by the Holy Spirit to see with ever increasing clarity that we have been clothed with the righteousness of Christ and thereby empowered to glorify Him both now and forevermore. Amen!

He heard my cry for mercy

When undone in my distress.

Twas His grace that taught me

I was lost in sin and nakedness.

In need of clothing, I could

Not obtain by works I do,

And yet He bid me come and buy

Through Christ who paid my due.

So clothed now I with righteousness

Though wretched yet within,

I now approach with confidence

He will save to this end;

That Christ alone be magnified

And glorified at last

When all will see, from east to west

Our sins through Him were cast.

Oh, Happy Day

Michael E. Wood

March 30, 2014

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
  Psalm 66:16

What a wonderful thing it is to be able to look back on the day that we as individuals were brought into a saving relationship with Christ by the Spirit of the living God. As adopted children of God the Father, ransomed from the slave market of sin, we grow in our understanding of what He has done for our souls and rejoice in the opportunities He gives to articulate those truths to others whether it be by spoken word or written word. Our Lord Jesus Christ is indeed the Savior of the world and especially to those that believe.

In songs of praise I lift my voice

And join with all who have by choice

Cried out to Him who has revealed

Our pardon through the cross was sealed.

Oh, Happy Day, when God the Son

Arose to show what God had done,

As Father when by His decree

The blood of Christ would ransom me.

The Spirit came and opened eyes

By grace through faith to see the Prize

Of Christ, our Hope, to earth was sent;

God’s love in us is now present.

Oh, more than words could ever tell

That God in us has come to dwell,

Whose faithfulness and love shall keep,

His called and chosen, human sheep.

So help us, Father, now to gain

The ground You give to thus proclaim

The glory that in You is found

To be the joy for which we’re bound!