Proverbs 31 holds up before us a wonderful picture of a virtuous woman. Among other desirable qualities, she is a woman of faithfulness, diligence, kindness, generosity and strength.

Webster's dictionary defines "virtue" as moral excellence; right action and thinking; goodness. That sounds a lot like holiness, doesn't it? That's what we're going to talk about in this final chapter of Proverbs: the call to holiness coming from the very throne of God. Jesus is making ready His Church.

The Last Great Frontier
Today the Church is standing at the edge of a great frontier. I believe it is the final frontier that stands between us and the fullness of God's glory. On the other side lie the greatest manifestations of God's power this earth has ever seen.

What is this last, great spiritual frontier? Holiness. And we will cross it before Jesus comes to catch us away. I know we will because the Bible says He is coming for a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle (Eph. 5:27). In other words, Jesus is coming for a Church that is holy.

The word "holiness" simply means "separation to God or conduct befitting those so separated." To separate means to set apart; to disunite; to disconnect; to go a different direction.

If we want to be holy, we must disconnect ourselves from the world and its ways and become connected to God and His ways.

"But we're just human," you may say. "Is it really possible for us to be holy?"

Yes, it is because we've been born of God. Our new spirit is made in His image. We were separated to God when we made Jesus our Lord and Savior. He has put Himself in us by His Spirit.

As we yield to and are taught and guided by His Spirit, our spiritual birth and separation to God are manifested in the natural part of our makeup. We begin to act and talk like God lives in us. We walk in Him and He walks in us (2 Cor. 6:16).

Led Into Holiness
Holiness is not a special calling that only a few people have. Holiness is a quality to which every person in the Body of Christ is called. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness (1 Thess. 4:7). We've been given the robe of righteousness, but we must maintain it.

The Holy Spirit lives inside us just for that purpose - to direct us in holiness and wisdom. And we do our part by choosing to hearken to and obey Him (Heb. 8:10-12).

When you fellowship with God and stay in living, vital contact with Him, the Holy Spirit will lead you into holiness. For example, He will say to you, "Don't use profane language. You don't need that. Use words that glorify the Lord." Or He'll say, "You don't have time for those worldly novels. Read more of the Word."

You don't have to change in your own strength. Whatever the Holy Spirit asks you to do, He also empowers you to do. The Bible says that He gives us the strength to overcome every temptation (1 Cor. 10:13). God is not being dictatorial. He just wants you to be free.

Wisdom for Today: Disconnect yourself from the world and its ways and connect yourself to God and His ways. Stay in living contact with the Holy Spirit so He can lead you into holiness and into His purpose for your life. Get the slack out of your life and become absolutely focused on God! Expect His glory to be revealed in you and to you.

Excerpt permission granted by
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka:  Kenneth Copeland Ministries