Wednesday, April 29, 2020

The Doctrine of Holiness -- Some Words of Witness 

"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." ‭‭I Timothy‬ ‭2:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification... ‭‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭4:3‬a ‭NKJV‬‬ "It is God’s will for you to be holy..." 1 Thessalonians 4:3a NLT

When it comes to The Doctrine of Holiness, i realize, even rejoice in the reality that i am more of a practitioner of holiness than a theologian. Still i have some thoughts, maybe more like a testimony, about our inheritance as Jesus-believers, yes, to be saved and sanctified. That is, to be pardoned for our acts of sinning and to be purified of the attitude of Sin itself. We can be forgiven of our deeds of sinning and delivered from our dispositions of Sin -- our carnal, self-centered egos. It’s Good News to my never-dying soul. 

On my first day of class for "The Doctrine of Holiness" in 1993, at Nazarene Bible College, Colorado Springs, Colorado, our professor, Dr. Charles Baldwin, gave each student the gift of a light blue, writing pen. Embossed in gold letters on the pen were these words: "Jesus Saved You So He Could Sanctify You!" The words are written wonderfully in my mind to this day. Brother Baldwin would go on in that quarter of classwork to explain Biblical Holiness as well as it can be explained. It’s really too great to fully comprehend. I like to say: "The Best definition of Holiness is Jesus Himself."

Today, even this week, i have been swimming in the wonder-filled writings on holiness by Oswald Chambers. It’s been some deep and delightful water to swim in. And as a result of all this sanctified saturation, i have written down a few thoughts of my own, a testimony, as i said earlier. I share them with you now, not for debate but just to be a witness. 

Total surrender -- of my right to my own life to God -- is my part in the sanctification crisis that allows the Holy Spirit to purify my motives by faith. Then continued surrender and trust becomes a sanctification lifestyle permitting the Holy Spirit to form completely within me the mind of Christ as i journey towards the grand goal of glorification -- seeing and being with Christ, Himself. This is Scriptural Holiness to me. 

My humble, yet desperate prayer of initial and ongoing surrender: Lord, eradicate within me any impurity that would threaten to dominate or validate the disposition i was born with. Let Your holy presence be my only essence. In the Name of Jesus, my Savior and Sanctifier, Amen. 

Side-bar: Theologians who don’t prefer the word "eradicate" usually do not know what the framers of the holiness doctrine, mostly farmers, understood about the word. It’s a farming term that means, yes, a one-time cleansing of the soil followed by an on-going cleansing of the soil. I love explaining that. (i am a debtor to the elderly statesman, Dr. Floyd Perkins, my Bible College Theologian, who grew up as a farmer’s son in the Dakotas and knew what the framers meant by the doctrinal language, especially "eradication.")

With all of that said, "Holiness is Christ in me!"

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

"A Gentle Whisper" and My Daddy’s Voice

Today, i posted these next two paragraphs on my Facebook page: 

Our Lord still speaks. Trouble is we often have too little faith to believe some of the seemingly little things He actually says. Let’s not forget how Elijah finally heard God speak in 1 Kings 9:12b -- "...a gentle whisper..."

Lord, Your voice is my reward. So far today I’ve heard you say three things: 1. Mail handwritten cards to pastors. 2. Write a hopeful letter to someone behind bars. 3. Surprise the two trash men by blessing them.

When i came to write my blog, i sensed that i wanted to share those two paragraphs here, however i want to also add just a little more to it.

Since my dad went to be present with the Lord in 2014, the thing i miss most is his voice. i am a debtor to Verizon, my phone company, in that i still have a voice-mail recording of my Dad’s voice from December 9, 2012. i wish i could play it for you. But then you would see me cry tears of joy, because i know and i love my Daddy’s voice and i know i will hear it again -- not recorded -- but more alive than i have ever heard it before.

Until then, i am so glad i know my Lord’s voice, most often heard in "a gentle whisper."

HERE! Presence Matters Most! 

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis



Monday, April 27, 2020

“The Unwavering Presence” 

i am always totally humbled to be invited to speak about the Presence of my Lord, yes, my Life Savior, Jesus.

This YouTube link was filmed in partnership with Pastor Steve Vaughn and his dedicated staff at our Milton, Pennsylvania Crossroads Church of the Nazarene for their daily “10@10” devotional vignettes. The local church is in a wonderful Sunday message series on “The Unwavering Presence of God.”

One Side Note: My Dad, Capt. Billy, actually went to be with The Lord in 2014, not 2016, like i said incorrectly in the video. i miss him every day. ⚓️

i hope you’ll be encouraged: 

https://youtu.be/ZjQwSuzgSlU

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis 


Sunday, April 26, 2020

“895” SOULS 

This was my email to our Philadelphia District Church of the Nazarene email list of pastors, leaders and laity on Sunday, April 26, 2020. i could not contain the joy in my soul any longer. 

i am due to give my 2nd report as District service by video this Friday Evening, May 1, 2020, nevertheless, i just had to share this now instead of in the video. i hope it blesses you, too:

Dear Pastors, Leaders and Laity of the Philadelphia District Church of the Nazarene. 

i pray God’s best to you all.

i wanted to send out this “preview“ email to each of you before our Friday, May 1, 7pm, District Assembly and Conventions YouTube Celebration Link comes your way. 

[In fact, just to get the celebration party started, i will only share this piece of good news in this precise email, not even in the link — actually, this piece of Best News.]

Before i share the Best News, let me say: 

We will be sending out two links Friday: 

One link will be the celebration link with announcements, opening prayers, a message from our General Superintendent, Dr. Carla Sunberg, and my report as your district servant. 

A second link will have videoed messages from our auxiliary presidents of SDMI, NYI, and NMI. It’s gonna be good 

Now to the “preview” and the Best News...

Drum roll please... 

THE PREVIEW: “895” CONVERSIONS WERE REPORTED ON OUR DISTRICT FOR THE 2019-2020 CHURCH YEAR!!! YES, EIGHT-HUNDRED AND NINETY-FIVE SOULS OFFICIALLY CAME TO JESUS ACROSS OUR MISSION FIELD OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY. “895!” 

[And i suspect some were not even counted, but they still count as well.]

In this new church year let’s get more serious than ever about inviting lost souls to Christ in anyway and every way the Holy Spirit gives us favor to do so. Then, let’s be guilty of counting these once-lost but now-found souls so our district celebration and Heaven’s celebration will keep rising in rejoicing. 

After all, Jesus said in Luke 15, “Heaven rejoices when ‘one’ lost soul is found!“

i must say it once more: “895” my friends and partners, yes, “895” souls were saved on our watch in one year. Even Dr. Sunberg was ecstatic when i told her. “895” is a lovely number. Nevertheless, as long as there is still one more lost soul, we will not let up on the plow handle. 

Let’s Be light. Let’s Go shine. 

Let’s “let the lower lights be burning.”

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Let’s Not Make Love Disappear 

Late last evening and into this morning i sensed the Lord inviting me to send -- by snail mail -- three separate and sincere financial blessings in handwritten prayer cards. 

i invite all who are able and willing, to pray about doing the same. No intimidation, only invitation. If you can’t send financial gifts, not to worry; the prayer card is more essential anyway. Just send a hand-written card. 

We are all in the same COVID-19 storm, but we are not all in the same boat. We will each give an account for our brotherly and sisterly love or lack there of. 

Yesterday, I read a post by our general superintendent, Dr. Sunberg. I paraphrase: "While some of us are mainly concerned about our retirement accounts, others are deeply concerned about their next meal." 

This passage below affirms my perosnal obedience and bold request, today: 

"This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear." ‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭MSG‬‬ 

HERE Presence Matters Most! 

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Friday, April 24, 2020

Profound Simplicity -- "Take Grace By Faith!"

In John 4, Jesus lovingly offered the soul-thirsty Woman at the Well of Samaria Living Water. It was free, if she’d only believe. i call it free grace. -kww

"May God prevent anyone from being tripped by the profound simplicity of Christ! It is easy to be saved and sanctified -- these [works of God’s grace on our behalf] are to be taken, not gained. Nobody but an abject spiritual pauper can get saved or sanctified. Both are gifts of God provided through the atonement of Jesus Christ." -- Oswald Chambers remix

"Let us take grace by faith, my friends. For God’s grace, while incredibly expensive to Him, is free grace for us. -kww

"For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;" ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:8‬ ‭AMP‬‬

"Oh, God deliver us from thinking that the energy of the flesh can save or sanctify us." O.C.

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Thursday, April 23, 2020

A Crying Declaration from the Psalmist

As we read the Psalms, the words there often become our own deep prayers. Often my own heart finds a friend at the end of the Psalm writer’s pen. 

Early this morning, i read what i would call, "A Cry from the Psalmist." It truly is his cry, but also beyond intercession, it is also a loud declaration:

"Lord, I cry out to you for help: "You are my place of safety. You are all I need in life." Psalms‬ ‭142:5‬ ‭ERV‬‬

Honestly, does your heart cry out to the Lord words of abandon like, "You are all i need in life?" The New Living Translation renders the cry of declaration even more intimately:

"Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, "You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life." Psalms‬ ‭142:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s true, the Lord is all we need, but do we cry and declare, The Lord is all we really want?!

This song will help us to meditate on the question I’ve asked...

https://youtu.be/RdCOGwkhieg

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis



Wednesday, April 22, 2020

We Surely Do Need The Holy Spirit

My heart overflows with gratitude to the Lord for when He ascended back to The Right Hand of the Father, He didn’t abandon us or leave us as orphans. No! He gave His Spirit of Truth to be with us, even within us, until He returns. Yes!

This morning as i was reading, these thoughts from what Jesus said overwhelmed my mind so beautifully. These wonderful words of Jesus recorded for our benefit in John 16:13, tell us two reasons why “we surely do need the Holy Spirit.”

[i like it in this old translation of the Bible that Brother Oswald Chambers often quoted...]

“Howbeit, when He, The Spirit of Truth, is come...

1. He will guide you into all truth;

...for He shall not speak for Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and...

2. He will show you everything to come.”

Let us welcome the Precious Holy Spirit. The Indescribable Gift of All Comfort and Awesome Counsel is our inheritance as Jesus-believers. 

https://youtu.be/eFByOX8Fb0M

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Christ Remains 

COVID-19 is not the only hardship happening these days. For example, i have a dear friend struggling with cancer. It’s very tender to my heart, mind, soul and strength. He’s such a tender, Jesus-loving man -- a true servant leader and his health news seems to get harder and harder. 

Late the other night, i had a song come to mind and though i knew my friend may be in bed already, i texted him the link. Moments later he replied saying something like: "What an encouraging song to hear right before going to sleep."

Here’s the song of Hope now for you. "Christ Remains" by Phil Driscoll:

https://youtu.be/ZfFt8QJkjIY

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis 


Monday, April 20, 2020

Sharing Spring Selections

Today, i am sharing Spring selections from my recent camera roll. Consider it kind of a refresh encore of our Lord’s Resurrection celebration we remembered recently. After all, He is The Resurrection and The Life! Indeed, He is Our Hope of Everlasting Existence with our Loving Creator God!































































HERE! Presence Matters Most! 

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis