Today, we want to continue our discussions on “GOD’S STANDARD FOR MAKING HEAVEN!” Yes, God has a standard for making Heaven. In order words, not everyone can enter Heaven. You must qualify before you can enter Heaven. The last gate before the gate of Heaven is called the gate of Holiness.
Hebrews 12:14 says, “Follow peace with all men, and HOLINESS, without which no man shall see the Lord.”
Romans 12:18 says, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
On this gate is boldly written, “Welcome to the City of the King of Glory.” In this Hall of Holiness, if any sin still appears on your screen, you’ll go straight to hell.
As soon as your name is mentioned and you answer, a voice will come from Heaven saying, “You were saved in so and so year, in so and so month, in so and so week, in so and so minute, and in so and so second.”
Then the angel will say, “Your sins shall be revisited before you can continue.”
The angel will look at this screen, and immediately all the sins you committed from the time you got Born Again till the time you died, which you did not repent of, will appear on that screen. And once your sins appear on the screen, all the angels will shout and the ground will vibrate.
This angel will now ask you, “Why were you not cleansed in the blood of the Lamb before you got here?” If you start pleading at this point, the angel will shake his head and tell you, “It is too late.”
And immediately the angel says that it is too late, a sudden sound will come from above like a thunder saying, “DEPART…...!!!” Then a storm will lift that person up and fling him/her into hell fire. The next person will be called and once sin is discovered in that life, the angels will shout “DEPART!” and that person is off to hell fire forever.
For instance: A certain man of God, a General Overseer of a certain church that has been serving the LORD for 36 years, missed heaven this way. When the angel looked at the TV screen, only a bit of anger was what condemned this man to hell.
And the angel shouted and said, “Oh servant of God, upon all your suffering for the Gospel, why did you not deliver yourself from this anger; why didn’t you wash yourself free from this anger with the blood of Jesus before you got here?”
Listen beloved, if any character of the flesh as stated in Galatians 5:19-21 is found in your life, that will disqualify you from entering Heaven.
“Now the works of the flesh (the characteristics of those going to hell) are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21 KJV).
Revelations 21:8 says, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Look at a clearer explanation of the characteristics of the flesh:
1. Adultery: Voluntary carnal relationship between a married person and a person who is not his spouse (husband or wife).
You might say “I have never committed adultery.” This may be true, but are you an adulterer at heart? The truth is that your heart could be seduced (enticed, captivated) by a woman; you could lust after the opposite sex even your neighbor’s wife.
Jesus said, “…Anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt 5:27-28).
To be seduced means to be persuaded to go away from the will of God. It means to lure you into disobeying God by getting you to do things in a way that is contrary to the will of God. It means to lure you to become disloyal to God.
2. Fornication: This is a carnal relationship between unmarried persons.
3. Uncleanness: a) This is talking about unclean practices such as masturbation, pornography, sexual fantasies.
These things defile people. So, there are young persons who would say they are virgins but are defiled by these unclean practices.
b) Unclean environment. You are dirty inside but appear clean on the outside – whited sepulcher.
4. Lasciviousness: It is showing a desire for, or a very strong interest in sex. It is also provoking lust through your appearance or the things you do or say. It is also called lustful pleasure.
How does it manifest itself? It shows itself in your manner of dressing, dancing etc. Just take a look at the way even the so-called Christians (married or unmarried) dress today. The impression you would get is that decency in dressing is old-fashioned. No, it is not, it is the spirit of lasciviousness that has caught hold of this generation.
5. Idolatry: Idolatry is anything that takes the place of God in your heart. This could be your business, your studies, your career, your spouse, your children, father, mother, brothers, sisters, even your own life.
Jesus first, is an essential requirement for those who are planning to go to Heaven. Jesus must be your priority in everything. Idolatry is to worship anything else apart from the God of Heaven and earth.
Whatsoever you give the first place in your life is your god. Whatsoever you give the first place in your life is your god. But if you give anything else the first place in your life apart from the God of Heaven, it is idolatry.
“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts” (1 Jn. 5:21).
Jesus said, “If you want to be My disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison - your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be My disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow Me, you cannot be My disciple” (Lk. 14:26-27).
6. Witchcraft: Witchcraft is the control of other people through intimidation, manipulation or domination. There is classical witchcraft, in which a person influences and controls another person through amulets, spells, and potions etc. with the aid of evil spirits.
Amulet (talisman or fetish) are objects worn or hung over the door of a home, which are supposed to bring protection and / or good fortune to the owner. Talismans are often for the purpose of bringing “good luck.” Amulets and fetishes are frequently made to protect a person from a particular enemy, such as another witch.
In this case, something from the enemy (usually hair) is incorporated into the amulet or fetish. The power involved here is demons!
Potion is a liquid with healing, magical, or poisonous properties – a healing potion. A love potion is a magical potion believed to arouse love or sexual passion toward a specified person, especially the person offering it. Any Christian who accepts or uses such things is directly using demons.
Classical witchcraft is defined as sorcery, or the use of drugs and spells, often accompanied by appeal to occult powers (demons or evil spirits), in order to influence and control other people.
Witchcraft draws upon fleshy evil forces like lust, hate, envy, fear, and strife that are released out of the human heart to influence and control others.
The presence of these forces can actually be sensed. If you are a husband and you are seeking to bring your wife to a place of submission by intimidation, you are practicing witchcraft.
If you are a wife and you are seeking to get your husband to do what you want by manipulation, you are a practicing witch.
If you are a Pastor and you are seeking to gain control over your congregation by manipulation and intimidation, you are into charismatic witchcraft.
7. Hatred: This means to intense dislike somebody or something. To intensely dislike anybody for whom Christ died is a serious crime from heaven’s viewpoint. There are so-called Christian husbands who hate their wives with passion and vice-versa. There are Christians (so called) who hate Muslims. But Jesus instructed us to love even our enemies (Mat. 5:44).
8. Variance: This is a state of disagreement. It is the result of deviating from the Truth. If we all have the same mindset as God and are pursuing the same purpose – to become like Jesus, where would variance come from?
It is difference of opinion or attitude. Are you at variance with God’s Word?
9. Emulations: This is to rival or equal. Every attempt to become like someone else other than becoming like Jesus is a work of the flesh and it is the root of ungodly jealousy (Rom. 8:29).
10. Wrath: This is to boil or seethe with anger. It is extreme or strong anger, often with a desire for revenge. This kind of anger seeks harm and revenge; it seeks to destroy.
Thus, it can lead to bitterness and hatred, emotions that can cause violent behavior and obliterate compassion and forgiveness.
Anger is passion. Of all emotions, it may well be the most passionate, for it has the power to fuel hatred and smother love.
Anger itself is not bad because God himself gets angry. What we need to look at are the object of our anger, our motive for anger, and the outcome of our anger.
What we need to look at is the object of our anger, our motive for anger, and the outcome of our anger. Anger that is self-righteous, protects our pride, is self-centered, or demands its own way is dangerous. If allowed to continue unchecked, it consumes us.
What is anger? Anger is a strong feeling of grievance and displeasure.
Proverbs 27:4 says, “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?”
Psalms 37:8 says, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”
Colossians 3:8 says, “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”
Why? James 1:20 says, “For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
“Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools” (Eccl. 7:9).
11. Strife: This is angry or bitter disagreement. The root of strife is selfish ambition. Most homes and churches are strife-filled. And this opens the door for the devil to work.
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each person esteem the other better than themselves” (Phil 2:3, KJV).
“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (Jam. 3:14-16, KJV).
12. Seditions: Conduct or speech inciting rebellion against the authority of the state or monarch, or the delegated authority in the church. Conduct or speech inciting rebellion against the authority of the state or monarch, or the delegated authority in the church.
It is rebellion or incitement against a constituted authority. It is actions or words intended to provoke or incite rebellion against government authority, or actual rebellion against government authority. What are you doing or saying that is inciting rebellion against our King – Jesus and hindering His cause?
13. Heresy: This is a belief or opinion that is contrary to the Truth. Are you basing your thought and belief on the words of the Lord Jesus or the words of men?
14. Envying: This is discontented or resentful longing aroused by another’s possessions, qualities, blessings etc. The spirit of envy seeks to deprive someone of something God has blessed him/her with.
15. Murders: This is the unlawful premeditated killing of one person by another. You might be quick to say I have never committed any murder. Have you ever murdered someone with your mouth through slander? Have you murdered little babies in the womb through abortion? Have you ever murdered people in your heart by wishing them evil?
“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!” (Matt. 5:21-22).
“Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them” (1 Jn 3:15).
16. Drunkenness: This is a state of being influenced by alcohol. Many people say they can drink alcohol and not get drunk. My question to them is “why play with fire? What are you looking for?”
“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Eph 5:18).
17. Reveling: This is a lively and noisy festivity; a wild party.
The list goes on: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (unmanly, a man having characteristics regarded as typical of a woman), nor abusers of themselves with mankind (practice homosexuality), 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous (greedy people), nor drunkards, nor revilers (someone who speaks abusively to another person), nor extortioners (cheaters of people), shall inherit the Kingdom of God” (KJV).
“Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, He abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 32 They know God's justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too” (Rom. 1:28-32, NLT).
Revelation 21:8 says, “But cowards (a person who is contemptibly lacking in the courage to do or endure dangerous or unpleasant things), unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars - their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death” (NLT).
They which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God – do you believe this? Do you believe that you can do any of these things and inherit the Kingdom of God? If you believe that you can do these things and still enter heaven, that would be self-deception.
In Revelation 21:27 the Scripture says, “And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.”
Sinners must come to the Lord to be saved, and backsliders must return to the Lord Jesus to be restored. Believers must abide in Him and constantly watch as the coming of the Lord in the air for the saints (RAPTURE) can happen even right now!
“Be careful not to let yourself become occupied (weighed down) with too much feasting and drinking, and with the worries of this life, or that Day may suddenly catch you” (Lk. 21:34-36; GNV).
A certain woman earnestly pleaded for mercy before she died, and she received mercy when she arrived at the hall of holiness. It was when she was told on her hospital bed that all medical efforts have failed that she started asking God for mercy before her death.
Praying for mercy after you have died does not work. Mercy works before death. Can you now understand that all those prayers we pray at the burial ground or put on the posters (example: “Rest in Peace”), are all in vain. Once a person dies, that is the end. It is here on earth that grace, mercy, favour, the love of God can work for you. But immediately you depart from here, it is time for judgment, and it is judgment without mercy (Heb. 9:27).
As you pass the gate of Holiness, a door will open unto you and you`ll see the Shekinah Glory of God flashing into the place. No matter how powerful you are, you must close your eyes. Suddenly a power will push you out.
Already a very tall angel with white garment will be standing there waiting for you. He will shake your hand and will speak English to you saying, “Son of the Most High God, you are welcome.”
You'll discover that where you are standing right now is full of bright shining gold. You will see a long pillar and some flowers planted by the side of it. This is the bush in heaven. From here the angel will take you into Heaven.
Conclusion: Without holiness, no one can see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). Therefore, do the needful to keep your garment of righteousness unspotted by sin.
Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit!
- Your friend, I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor, HOG). 30.10.2022 @ HQs
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