Tag: sanctify
God’s sanctifying work
Scripture reading for September 18: 1Thessalonians 5
“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:12-23
As Paul concludes his letter, he gives some very basic instructions on being prepared for the return of Jesus Christ. We have a part in this preparation and the progressive nature of sanctification taking place as we submit to Jesus and live lives of increasing holiness and separation from the world and our old nature. Our part is to respect God’s authority and gift to us in the form of pastors and elders and apostles. It is not a matter of personal preference, but honoring them for their work done in loving obedience to our Lord. Each person should seek to live in peace and admonish those disrupting that peace. We must be patient, kind, and loving towards one another. The fruits of God’s Spirit should be evident and the gifts of the Spirit allowed and tested against the Word of God and Spirit of Christ. Evil must be avoided and confronted.
But God also does His part in the process of sanctification. He gives us His Holy Spirit to convict us when in sin, to encourage us when weak, to guide us in obedience and prepare us for Christ’s return. Paul’s prayer is that each believer would be brought to completion in spirit, soul, and body and presented blameless in Christ to our Lord. Amen!
As you survey your own walk in relation to this passage of God’s Word, how would you rate your progress in applying God’s Word to your own life and relationships? Are you listening to those who are over you in the Lord and respecting them for their work? Are you listening to the Holy Spirit as He prepares you?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for those over me in the Lord and their labor of love. Thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit in leading me and guiding me into truth and repentance where needed. I am trusting You for my complete sanctification in spirit, soul and body at Christ’s soon return. Amen.
Holiness and joy fulfilled!
Scripture reading for November 7th: John 17, Psalm 72, Proverbs 5
John 17:13-19 “But now I am coming to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your Word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the Truth; Your Word is Truth. As You sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate Myself, that they also may be sanctified in Truth.”
Jesus closed His time with His disciples in the upper room with His longest recorded prayer. He had shared with them the truths of the coming Holy Spirit and of the coming sorrow of His own death and the joy of His resurrection. He had given them instructions concerning their mission to reach a lost world with the Good News and warned them of the world’s hatred of Him and them and now prayed for their protection. He asked His Father to set them apart and make them holy through His Word. He proclaimed His Word as Truth! It was absolute Truth that would not change or be altered by time, culture or the whims of fallen man. In His Name and through His Word, they would be blessed forever and they would bless all nations with the Gospel! In holiness, Christ’s joy of seeing all saved would be fulfilled!
Psalm 72:16-17 “May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! May His Name endure forever, His fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in Him, all nations call Him blessed!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Jesus’ prayer for His disciples and for us who through their message now believe the Good News and are being sanctified in the Truth, God’s Word. We say ‘Amen!” to His prayer and that of the psalmist! May Your Name endure forever and Your joy be fulfilled through us! May all people receive the blessing that comes through faith in Jesus Christ and bless Him forever!
Proverbs 5:18-19 “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.”