Today we want to look at the second key to escaping the Tribulation: "WALKING IN TRUE HOLINESS.”
“Watch ye therefore, and pray always (1 Thess. 5:17), that ye may be accounted worthy to ESCAPE all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Lk. 21:36).
Every Christian that wants to escape the Tribulation must walk in true holiness while on earth.
2 Corinthians 7:1 says, “Having therefore these promises (which promises? 2 Cor. 6:16-18), dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of (1) the flesh and (2) spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
What does it mean to perfect holiness? To perfect holiness is to maintain your holiness. How? By ensuring that there is no spot or wrinkle on your garment of righteousness.
God said, “Let your garments always be white…” (Eccl. 9:8).
There are two types of holiness: 1) Fake holiness, and 2) True holiness. What is fake holiness? Fake holiness is when you talk or dress like a Christian, but you live in ways that are contrary to the Word of God (Gal. 5:19-21).
Jesus told us how we can recognize fake holiness. He said, “…by their fruits ye shall know them (Matt. 7:20).
What then is true holiness? It means that nothing has corrupted your life or record since the last time you repented of your sins (Ps. 119:1). True holiness is being totally free from spots, wrinkles or blemishes. (Eph. 5:26-27).
The question is: How can one ensure that his garment of righteousness is ALWAYS white? To ensure that your garment of righteousness is ALWAYS white, follow these steps:
1. Quickly repent and get restored: If any stain happens to come on your garment of righteousness, quickly ask God for forgiveness and plead the blood of Jesus Christ (Isa. 1:18; 1 Jn. 1:9).
Colossians 1:14 says, ``In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.``
In Isaiah 1:18 God said, “Come now, and let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
In 1 John 1:9 Jesus said, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALLunrighteousness.”
In Proverbs 28:13 God said, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso (1) confesseth and (2) forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil” (Prov. 16:6).
2. You must guard your heart. Avoid situations that will defile your heart [subconscious mind]. You must stay away from situations that can stimulate you to think wrongly thereby providing easy occasions of sin.
Depart from iniquity and flee youthful lusts (1 Tim. 2:19-26). Joseph fled from youthful lust when Potiphar’s wife wanted to gun him down.
Don’t read bad novels. Don’t look at pornographic pictures. Don’t watch bad movies. Rather let your focus be on the Word of God (Isa 26:3; Prov. 4:20-22).
In Proverbs 4:23 the bible says, “Keep thy heart [subconscious mind] with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
What does it mean to guard your heart? To guard your heart means to protect it against danger.
How do you protect your heart [subconscious mind]? You protect your mind by minding (1) what you see, and (2) what you hear.
The Psalmist said, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me” (Ps. 101:3).
Examples: a) The case of David and Beersheba, and b) The case of Samson and Delilah.
What you see or what you hear will determine the picture that will be painted in your mind. That very picture is what you will think about. What your think about will determine your feeling. How you feel will determine the decision you’ll take concerning the issue at stake. The decision you take will determine what you will do [your action]. Your action, if repeated a number of times, will become your habit. And a collection of your various habits is your character.
You need to guard this mind diligently so that it does not get corrupted (Col. 3:16; 2 Tim. 2:15; Josh. 1:8; Ps. 1:1-3; Ps. 119:9; Ps 119:11).
Except you guard your heart with all diligence, you’ll have so much information that is contrary to the Word of God. This kind of negative information will cause you to walk in the flesh instead of walking in the Spirit. The negative information will not allow you to see yourself the way God sees you. And unless you see yourself the way God sees you, it is impossible to walk in the Spirit. If you don’t walk in the Spirit, you cannot maintain your holiness.
How can one guard his heart? (Col. 3:16; 2 Tim. 2:15; Josh. 1:8; Ps. 119:9, Ps. 119:11). To effectively guard your heart, you must diligently attend to the Word of God. The Word of God is the thought of God written down on the pages of the Scripture. When the very thoughts you have in your sub-conscious mind are replaced with the thoughts of God, then you can say that the mind of that person has been renewed. A renewed mind is a sound mind.
3. Renew your mind with the Word of God (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23), and continually fill your mind with the Word of God (Col. 3:16; Isa. 26:3).
4. Meditate on the Word of God continually (Josh. 1:8; Ps. 1:1-3; Ps. 119:9, 11, 105, 130; Jn. 15:3).
5. Cultivate spiritual thinking. You must ensure that you are the one in control of your thoughts. Intentionally occupy your mind with wholesome things (Phil 4:8). Spirit-controlled thinking or spiritual thinking can lift your thoughts, stabilize your emotions and bless your entire life.
You must put on the new man. Ephesians 4:24 says, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Colossians 3:10 says, “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him:”
Holiness will exalt you and position you to escape the tribulation. You can make it! All it takes is making up your mind.
Watch out for the next edition of Good news from the Pulpit!
· Your friend: I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor) 20.09.2026 @ the HQs
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