The 4Way Test Of A Holy Life

Words In Season:
"Easy as what God has a hand in, difficult as what God has no hand in"
Nigerian Ethnic proverb

Bearing:
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31

Bottomline:
Rotary International call their own is the 4 way test.
But since theirs is of this terresial plane and ours involved the celestial from God's dwelling, we would call ours the 4point agenda of personal holiness
. 1). Is it right or wrong?
Jimmy Cliff sang:
"You can't be right and be wrong No matter how hard you may try...."
Our own Bongos Ikwe here, chorused along with Cliff and sang:
"What's wrong is wrong
What's right is right...."
Like a member of Sahendrin, you don't need to memorise the five Pentanteuchs in the Bible where we understand there are over 200 mosaic rules to know, teach or practice what is wrong or right.

But just as the difference is clear between day and night, so the difference is clear between righteousness and wrongdoings, be they wickeness or iniquities.
Religious doctrine cannot be used to cover up what's wrong or right.
In one of our Bibles studies in our fellowship, someone spoke about the Righteousness of Christ being credited into a believer's account like a bank alert the day he believed. I was so blessed by this nuggets that I went home for a further study of the book of Romans and found it to be so, like Berian Christian.
But The Holy Spirit The Chief Banker Himself took me further to the book of Romans 12. And what He revealed will nearly write a book.
But in summary He made you and I to understand that when your account is credited, you don't leave the money there sweating away, but cash it out either by ATM or cheque and begin to both spend and invest it.
Same goes for the righteousness credited to our account at Calvary was cashed out in Romans 12, and then we start spending and investing it the market place and stock exchange of the world as we manifest righteous and upright deeds!

The way somebody with $100,000 in his account will live and spend will be different from the way one with $500 in his account. So is what is credited into our account at calvary as believers far far higher than that of unbelievers!
Therefore must we spend and live differently as sons and daughters of A Righteous King in righteous ways of life lifestyles.
2). Is it allowed or forbidden by God?
God told Adam in the Garden of Eden "of the trees of the garden thou mayest FREELY eat" Genesis 2:16. What an adjective! FREELY eat. Not to just eat but FREELY eat. One is not surprised Paul said in Timothy of God Who gave us something FREELY to enjoy. But again unto Adam He said "....but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shall not...." Genesis 2:17.
Therefore before any man put in you in a straightjacket of dos and don'ts, let your acid test of anything that come across your way, or thoughts that come across your mind be "is it allowed or forbidden by God?"

If God does not categorically condemn and declare judgement on an act or a man's state of affairs as wickedness and inquity in His word, you too don't. Even if your church doctrine forbids it.
But if it is forbidden by God, as the East is far from the West run as fast as leg can carry you away from it and separate yourself from and stay off it! But again if it is allowed by God, let your conscience be FREE as you enjoy it and enjoy doing it.
And what is the acid test of what is forbidden and allowed?
God's word and God's Spirit. Not the doctrine of a church claiming to be the only church of God, while other churches are synagogues of belial.

3). Does it pleases or displeases God?
After David committed the sacrilegious with Bathsheba, God's word made us to understand that "the thing David did was displeasing in the sight of God..."
2Samuel 11:27. What you are doing or about doing, is it pleasing or displeasing in the sight of God? Again The Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures are the acid tests. If the chemical reactions are different, run as fast as your legs can carry you away from it! 4). Does is it give glory and honour to God?
In his book "The Pursuit of God" A.W. Tozer, interpreted that passage of God's word to mean that everthing we do in life from the mundane of eating and drinking to any other thing should be a priestly ministration unto God.
When you dress up be you male or female check up yourself in the mirror....does the way you look give glory and honour to God or not.

Does partially exposing sensitive parts of your body give glory to God or not? Or does wearing your trousers the way American prisoners send signals to their mates that they are homosexuals and torn on the knees joints and other parts give glory and honour to God or not?
That is my own dress code for holiness. Along with: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40.
Again check the mirror before stepping out! Is your appearance decent and in order?
Finally brethren, if by convition of the Holy Spirit and the two edged sword of God's word that cut deep any found him or herself come short of these 4 acid tests, it is never too late to repent. No man and no man is beyond redemption.
You can still consider your ways and make a "U" turn. You need not let anyman condemn you. Not even your pastor. Let it be between you and your God Who gives grace to any who is humble enough to acknowledge and repent. And then work in them both to will and do unto His good pleasure. Phillipians 2:13.

And if you are yet to have a taste of what The Lord has to FREELY offer you in life among many of which is a change nature and a change of status from kingdom of darkness to God's Kingdom, from condemnation to justification, when you repent from your sins and believe on Jesus Christ as Lord and get saved. Then shall ye be forgiven and be freed from your sins and experience a total change of life. Time to take that crucial step of faith is now.

#IstandforTheGospelofChrist