Sanctification
I don't know about you, but it wasn't until I was in my late twenties when I heard the term "sanctified." At the time, I thought, what in the world does that mean? You see, I grew up in a Lutheran church. Now before I say this, I want you to know that, it does not matter what religion you are, as long as the word of God is preached and the belief within the church is that Jesus is The Truth, The Way and The Life. Apart, from Him, we cannot be reconciled to a Holy God. This is not "me" saying this, it is God's word-it is what He says. In the book of John, Jesus tells us, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6
I never heard that preached in the church I grew up in. I first heard about Jesus at a Christian camp I went to when I was about twelve years old. It was then, that I knew deep within, I wanted to know more about Jesus. Little did I know, the Holy Spirit was drawing me back then. As I got older, I went to different churches trying to find my way. I am so thankful that God does not give up on us. For years, I chose to live to please myself. But even during some dark times in my life, God was still drawing me.I was blind spiritually speaking. I didn't really understand the things I read in His word, but I continued to be drawn back to His word and to godly people who just had a glow about them that I could not explain. It is only by His grace that I am here today and that He so tenderly and lovingly removed the veil that had been over my eyes for years. God removed the blinders off of my eyes four and a half years ago and I have not been the same since.
You see, when we get to the place where we are desperate and see ourselves as filthy rags in comparison to a Holy God, and we cry out to Him for mercy and forgiveness for all the sin we have done, that is when the healing begins. As we confess Jesus as Lord of all and believe that He died on the cross for every sin we have ever committed or ever will commit and that He will raise us up again with Him as He was raised up from the dead, God places His Holy Spirit in us to stay until Jesus comes back for us. We begin a process termed as "sanctification." What exactly does this mean? The word sanctify is defined as "to set apart for sacred use; to make holy, purify." God begins to cleanse us from the inside out. He "purifies" us from the sins we once committed. As He cleanses us, we no longer want to do the things we once did. This is because His Holy Spirit is now living inside of us and we cannot continue to habitually sin. Yes, we will sin because we are not yet perfected, but we will feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Jesus breaks all of the chains that once held us down-whether it is an addiction, selfish desires, worldly lusts, lies or deception.
The process of sanctification continues in us until the day Jesus returns. As a follower of Christ, you should be growing in Him....If you look back on your life, you should be able to see the change and how you are continuing to grow in Him. Sure, you may have days where you fall down, but you get back up and you continue to press on. We should have a desire to fellowship with other believers and read God's word and live like Jesus. A lot of people think the day they get saved, that is it, but friend, that is only the beginning. Life with God is so exciting. As you trust Him more and become obedient to His word and His voice, you will have joy unspeakable. You are never alone, for He is always with you! That same power that raised Christ from the dead lives inside of you!!!! I want what Paul wrote in Philippians, " I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." 3:10-11 Friend, God has left you and me here for a reason and that is to give Him glory in all that we say and do. One day, we will see Him face to face and will want to hear Him say, "well done, My good and faithful servant!"
I am praying for each person reading this today, to know the love of Christ, to know they are His and to know they never walk alone. I am praying that you will become sensitive to the Holy Spirit in a way that you have never experienced and I am praying that you grow in the knowledge of Him as you hide His word in your heart! Be blessed and take courage, for the Lord your God is with you!
I never heard that preached in the church I grew up in. I first heard about Jesus at a Christian camp I went to when I was about twelve years old. It was then, that I knew deep within, I wanted to know more about Jesus. Little did I know, the Holy Spirit was drawing me back then. As I got older, I went to different churches trying to find my way. I am so thankful that God does not give up on us. For years, I chose to live to please myself. But even during some dark times in my life, God was still drawing me.I was blind spiritually speaking. I didn't really understand the things I read in His word, but I continued to be drawn back to His word and to godly people who just had a glow about them that I could not explain. It is only by His grace that I am here today and that He so tenderly and lovingly removed the veil that had been over my eyes for years. God removed the blinders off of my eyes four and a half years ago and I have not been the same since.
You see, when we get to the place where we are desperate and see ourselves as filthy rags in comparison to a Holy God, and we cry out to Him for mercy and forgiveness for all the sin we have done, that is when the healing begins. As we confess Jesus as Lord of all and believe that He died on the cross for every sin we have ever committed or ever will commit and that He will raise us up again with Him as He was raised up from the dead, God places His Holy Spirit in us to stay until Jesus comes back for us. We begin a process termed as "sanctification." What exactly does this mean? The word sanctify is defined as "to set apart for sacred use; to make holy, purify." God begins to cleanse us from the inside out. He "purifies" us from the sins we once committed. As He cleanses us, we no longer want to do the things we once did. This is because His Holy Spirit is now living inside of us and we cannot continue to habitually sin. Yes, we will sin because we are not yet perfected, but we will feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Jesus breaks all of the chains that once held us down-whether it is an addiction, selfish desires, worldly lusts, lies or deception.
The process of sanctification continues in us until the day Jesus returns. As a follower of Christ, you should be growing in Him....If you look back on your life, you should be able to see the change and how you are continuing to grow in Him. Sure, you may have days where you fall down, but you get back up and you continue to press on. We should have a desire to fellowship with other believers and read God's word and live like Jesus. A lot of people think the day they get saved, that is it, but friend, that is only the beginning. Life with God is so exciting. As you trust Him more and become obedient to His word and His voice, you will have joy unspeakable. You are never alone, for He is always with you! That same power that raised Christ from the dead lives inside of you!!!! I want what Paul wrote in Philippians, " I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." 3:10-11 Friend, God has left you and me here for a reason and that is to give Him glory in all that we say and do. One day, we will see Him face to face and will want to hear Him say, "well done, My good and faithful servant!"
I am praying for each person reading this today, to know the love of Christ, to know they are His and to know they never walk alone. I am praying that you will become sensitive to the Holy Spirit in a way that you have never experienced and I am praying that you grow in the knowledge of Him as you hide His word in your heart! Be blessed and take courage, for the Lord your God is with you!
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