Date: May 13, 2024

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, power, and dominion forever and ever, and to the Holy Ghost, who still abides in us. This week, we delve into a crucial topic, “Holiness.” This message will expound on biblical teachings concerning the Highway of Holiness, guiding our spiritual journey. 

Let’s explore the concept of holiness. It’s not just a word but a powerful idea that can transform our lives. Holiness is the opposite of sin, characterized by goodness, love, and wisdom. It’s a path we all can walk, but one often misunderstood and overlooked by human nature.

To illustrate the concept of holiness, God chose the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to be a holy nation. This was a title and a responsibility to show the world what it meant to live for God. He gave them the law, a guide to right and wrong, to help them stay pure. He said, “For I am the Lord your God: you shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall you defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” (Leviticus 11:44).

Of course, Jesus later clarified that what someone brings into their body does not defile them and make them unrighteous; instead, it is what comes out of the mouth and the heart. Today, striving for holiness means having a relationship with God defined by obedience to His will and being shaped to have His character. “For God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:7). Being holy sets the believer apart from the world’s evils and is valid for God’s Kingdom.

In closing, the Highway of Holiness is only for the clean. The unclean can’t go on it. Jesus says in John 15:1-3, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” The Greek word for prune means clean. Therefore, the Father cleans those already clean, which is the Highway of Holiness. He makes those who are already clean even cleaner because God’s word has been spoken to them.

Until next week, remember, “…with God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop

Date: May 6, 2024

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, power, and dominion forever and ever, and to the Holy Ghost, who still abides in us. The keyword for May is “Holiness.” 

Isaiah 35:8 says, “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it…” This week’s message is about the external journey of sanctification, of progressive holiness. 

We, the redeemed, the ones rescued by Jesus Christ, are blessed with the Highway of Holiness. This Highway, this Way of Holiness, is our beacon of hope and inspiration. Therefore, the highway is a movement away from uncleanness and all sins, internal and external, and going to be in the presence of a holy and pure God. Verse 8 says wicked fools and the unclean will not be permitted on the Highway of Holiness.

My dear brothers and sisters, this highway is exclusive, and only those redeemed by Jesus Christ may travel on it. This Highway of Holiness represents the way of salvation that is available to us through faith in Christ. Salvation is a process that happens in stages, beginning with justification. When we are justified, all our sins are forgiven, Christ’s righteousness is credited to us, and we become part of God’s family. However, this is only the beginning of our salvation journey. After justification comes sanctification, a lifelong process that every believer begins. Some people struggle with this idea, but it is essential to our spiritual growth. Philippians 2:12-13 says, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” It tells us to work out our salvation. We have a journey to travel, and that’s the way of holiness. 

In closing, early in church history, Christianity was known as “the way.” It was a way of life that followed Jesus Christ. He is the Highway of Holiness, and after we have completed our challenging journey on this path, we will appear before God in Zion. It wasn’t because of our righteousness or works, but because of Jesus Christ’s work and righteousness that we can make it. There will be no more suffering, pain, or sin in Heaven. We will be free at last, and like the Apostle Paul, we can say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” For those who have longed for His return, there is a crown of righteousness that the Lord will award. 

Until next week, remember, “…with God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop