Stand Your Ground

By Brian Cassady

Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5)

Our first calling before God is to holiness. Holiness is the high ground before God and others that we cannot afford to lose or substitute for personal convenience, cultural relevance or social acceptance before a watching world.

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)

A Fresh Encounter

All effective ministry must stem from a fresh encounter with the Living Lord that leaves us more like the Savior we are called to show others; that begins with an upward vision of God.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:1–3)

A true revelation of God will lead to a subsequent inward vision of our own sinful condition.

So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5)

By the Lord’s own mercy and grace, we have the ability to become what we behold.

“A true revelation of God will lead to a subsequent inward vision of our own sinful condition.”

Cleaned to Be Commissioned

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is purged.” (Isaiah 6:6–7)

Consequently, we are cleaned to be commissioned with an outward vision for the world.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall we send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, Here am I! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)

The same pattern can be seen in the calling of Peter.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” … And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” (Luke 5:8, 10)

“Consequently, we are cleaned to be commissioned with an outward vision for the world.”

The Gift of Holiness

Ultimately, holiness is a gift from our gracious God to be cherished in the lives of those who have been called to be a people of God’s presence, fully devoted to knowing Christ Jesus and to making Him known to a watching world, through the power and person of the Holy Spirit, so that others may live eternally in God’s everlasting kingdom.

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.” (Psalm 24:3–4)

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22)

“Ultimately, holiness is a gift from our gracious God to be cherished in the lives of those who have been called to be a people of God’s presence.”

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)

Stand your ground, my friends.

Brian Cassady is the pastor of Compass Point Church — a Free Methodist congregation in Turlock, California. Following an extended season of redefinement as a minister coupled with his own personal “Aldersgate experience,” he carries a strong conviction that all effective ministry must flow from a fresh encounter with the Holy Spirit resulting in renewed passion for God’s presence and His people. This article originally appeared in the News of Undeniable Blessing and is reprinted with permission.