You might have seen that another thread ended with some comments about sanctification and the question:
"And how, in your view, is that achieved?"
Because it is an important topic I thought it is best to start a new thread and see if others also want to join the discussions. Will try and comment later on.
Markus,
You said in that other thread:
To be sanctified is to become more dedicated to God and separated from sin It’s to live out the deep principles of salvation. In sanctification, believers become more like their Savior.
So how, in your view, is that achieved?
I see several stages
First we need to be sure that we are truly born again, that we are out of Egypt.
Then we need to realise that out of Egypt is not the goal, it is only the beginning of a journey.
Only God could bring the Israelites into the Promised Land.
But they had to be willing, they had to learn to trust and obey God and stop complaining etc.
Therefore I wouldn't say that we can "achieve" Sanctification, ie. i wouldn't say that we can get there just by our own achievements with some kind of a formula.
It is the work of the HS, but we need to be willing and obedient.
In practical terms:
We need to spend time with God, pray and read His Word.
We also need a Bible teaching fellowship, learn from each other and encourage each other.
Paul wrote to Timothy:
All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for
training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately””behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage] so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16 (Ampl)
Sanctification is a process and not a one time occurrence, a life long process. The things that tripped me up 40 years ago, no longer trip me now. The things that tripped me up 20 years ago, no longer trip me now, and so forth.
We are called to be in relationship with Father, His son and the Holy Spirit! Carving out time from our day and spending it with Him in prayer, worship and Bible study brings us into His presence.
God knowingly created fallible human beings and none will be perfect on this earth but we are headed that way if we follow on to know the Lord!! Because He is worth it all!!
Lisa
From Vines:
"Sanctification is that relationship with God into which men enter by faith in Christ, Acts 26:18; 1 Cor. 6:11, and to which their sole title is the death of Christ, Eph. 5:25,26: Col. 1:22; Heb. 10:10,29; 13:12.
"Sanctification is also used in NT of the separation of the believer from evil things and ways. This sanctification is God’s will for the believer, 1 Thess. 4:3, and His purpose in calling him by the gospel, 1 Thess. 4:7; it must be learned from God, 1 Thess. 4:4, as He teaches it by His Word, John 17:17,19; cp. Ps. 17:4; 119:9, and it must be pursued by the believer, earnestly and undeviatingly, 1 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 12:14. For the holy character, hagiosune, 1 Thess. 3:13, is not vicarious, i.e., it cannot be transferred or imputed, it is an individual possession, built up, little by little, as the result of obedience to the Word of God, and of following the example of Christ, Matt. 11:29; John 13:15; Eph. 4:20; Phil. 2:5, in the power of the Holy Spirit, Rom. 8:13; Eph. 3:16.
"The Holy Spirit is the Agent in sanctification, Rom. 15:16; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:2; cp. 1 Cor. 6:11. Â See Holiness.
Markus,
A rich young ruler came to Jesus and said:
Luke 18:8 ”“
"Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus said to him:
v. 20 ”“
"You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”
The rich young ruler said:
v.21 ”“
"All these things I have kept from my youth.”
Jesus said:
v.22 ”“
"You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
----------
You said:
In practical terms:
We need to spend time with God, pray and read His Word.
We also need a Bible teaching fellowship, learn from each other and encourage each other.
Someone may say, "All these things I have done.”
Is that enough?
Certainly not. One thing is still lacking.
The Lord Jesus says:
Luke 9:23 ”“
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
Comment:
As the rich young ruler must give away all his riches, so we must give up all the riches of "self” ”“ self-will, self-righteousness, self-sufficiency, self-exaltation, self-reasoning, self-wisdom, self-works, self-power, etc. etc. etc.
It is only when we are no longer the master of ourselves and become slaves of God that we can have fruits to holiness.
Rom. 6:22 ”“
But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
We must be in Christ and He in us. This is the only way by which we can bear much fruit (John 15:5) and prove that we are Christ’s disciples (v.8).
John 15:6 ”“
If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
The Lord Jesus who commands:
Luke 9:23 ”“
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
Has Himself provided the way:
Gal. 2:20””
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
How can this be?
2 Cor. 1:20 ”“
For as many as the promises of God are, in Him they are yes; therefore through Him also is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
Our Part:
Mark 9:23-24 ”“
All things are possible to him who believes …………I do believe; help my unbelief.
Jer.33:3 ”“
‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
Hab. 2:3-4 ”“
…………Though it tarries, wait for it;
For it will certainly come, it will not delay.
…………the righteous will live by his faith.
Also, Rom. 1:17.
Ps. 27:13-14 --
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD.
Ps. 25:3 --
Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed;
God's Part:
The indwelling Holy Spirit will make the truth of our co-crucifixion with Christ and our new resurrected and holy life in Christ the living reality in us.
John 14:20 ”“
In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
Note:
"In that day” is the day the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us re: John 14:16-17.
Sanctification
A very important subject, I see people have different answers like self-denial, that it’s some say it’s becoming more dedicated to God and separated from sin and that it’s a process and not a one of event.
However if you carefully study the subject and look at what teachers of Holiness teach you find that there is great wealth of information on this subject.
Word of warning ”“ like all things the enemy, our enemy does try and counterfeit this wonderful deeper work of this Spirit of God. I find the false usually involves "the mystics” and specific prayer (contemplative prayer or in modern words soaking prayer).
Over the years of digging I will try and sum up sanctification this wonderful deeper work of the Holy Spirit in a few words ”“ "heart purity”
Now for scripture evidence I will use the words of Peter taken from the Jerusalem Council; where he stands up
Acts 15:8-9 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Sanctification is a deeper work of the Holy Spirit and it part of the promise of salvation.
Here is a verse from a song we should know.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save me from its guilt and power.
The double cure - saved from the guilt of sin and it’s power.
We may be forgiven of sins; but the power of sin remains in the heart, and it must be removed. An example of an Old Testament is found in Psalm 51.
Psalm 51:7-9 is clearly asking to be freed from the guilt of sin, however in verse 10 its something different.
Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
It is what we are told that the new covenant is and what was promised.
Ezekiel 36 :15:25-27 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
God intends to rescue us from sin in every dimension. By Jesus’ sinless life and atoning death, God saves us from sin’s penalty and delivers us from its power.
Guest have arrived so stopping here.
Good comments from everyone.
Most would define sanctification as a process.
"Progressive” or "experiential” sanctification, as it is sometimes called, is the effect of obedience to the Word of God in ones life.
It is the same as growing in the Lord (2 Peter 3:18) or spiritual maturity.
God started the work of making us like Christ, and He is continuing it (Philippians 1:6). This type of sanctification is to be pursued by the believer earnestly (1 Peter 1:15; Hebrews 12:14) and is effected by the application of the Word (John 17:17). (got questions.org)
I wrote: "We need to spend time with God, pray and read His Word.
We also need a Bible teaching fellowship, learn from each other and encourage each other."
Because it is an ongoing process nobody could say: "All these things I have done.”
Just as nobody can take enough food for the body and then stop eating.
We need to eat daily till we die.
The more we spend time with God the more we mature as believers.
As we mature we begin to comprehend more and more those passages that all of you mentioned
I would say that in this life we never come to a point where we can say, now we are 100% holy and sanctified, now we are just like Jesus.
John 3:30:"He must increase; I must decrease.
31 The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth.
Here's the entry for sanctification from Torrey's Topical Textbook, it might be helpful in your studies on this topic;
Sanctification
Is separation to the service of God
Psalm 4:3; 2Â Corinthians 6:17
EFFECTED BY
God
Ezekiel 37:28; 1Â Thessalonians 5:23; Jude 1:1
Christ
Hebrews 2:11; 13:12
The Holy Spirit
Romans 15:16; 1Â Corinthians 6:11
In Christ
1Â Corinthians 1:2
Through the atonement of Christ
Hebrews 10:10; 13:12
Through the word of God
John 17:17,19; Ephesians 5:26
Christ made, of God, to us
1Â Corinthians 1:30
Saints elected to salvation through
2Â Thessalonians 2:13; 1Â Peter 1:2
All saints are in a state of
Acts 20:32; 26:18; 1Â Corinthians 6:11
The Church made glorious by
Ephesians 5:26,27
SHOULD LEAD TO
Mortification of sin
1Â Thessalonians 4:3,4
Holiness
Romans 6:22; Ephesians 5:7-9
Offering up of saints acceptable through
Romans 15:16
Saints fitted for the service of God by
2Â Timothy 2:21
God wills all saints to have
1Â Thessalonians 4:3
MINISTERS
Set apart to God's service by
Jeremiah 1:5
Should pray that their people may enjoy complete
1Â Thessalonians 5:23
Should exhort their people to walk in
1Â Thessalonians 4:1,3
None can inherit the kingdom of God without
1Â Corinthians 6:9-11
Typified
Genesis 2:3; Exodus 13:2; 19:14; 40:9-15; Leviticus 27:14-16
Quote: Most would define sanctification as a process.
I agree most would say that, however if you have a revelation on the subject it changes the way you think.
Here is a testimony from Derek Prince.
You see, there’s a lot of difference between having your sins forgiven which is wonderful and having the rebel executed. For instance, when I grew up in church as a boy, every Sunday morning we went to church and we confessed our sins. We really didn’t have any option, everybody did it. And I somehow walked out of the church wondering or hoping maybe something would happen. But I knew full well that during the next week I would be committing the same sins that I’d already confessed. And I came to wonder whether it was better to confess them and go on doing them or not confess them. But you see, that’s just a form of religion. That’s not the message of the gospel because God not merely deals with the past. That’s wonderful to have your past forgiven, it’s tremendous. But it still doesn’t solve your problem if there’s a rebel living inside you. Why? Because the rebel will cause you to go on doing rebellious acts. So the provision of God is not merely to forgive us of the past, but it’s the execution of the rebel inside me.
Now God made this vivid to me personally many years ago now. I was for about eight years the pastor of a small Pentecostal congregation in the center of London, England. And some people who know me today would find it hard to believe this, but we conducted open air services three times every week in the center of London at a place that’s known as Speaker’s Corner, Marble Arch. And that was where we got our fish. We went out and fished for sinners, brought them in. And we saw over the years hundreds of sinners saved through those meetings at Speaker’s Corner.
But one night during this period I had a very vivid dream. And in my dream I saw a typical open air meeting. A circle of people standing around and a man in the middle preaching. And as I watched the man and listened to him I said to myself, "What he’s preaching is pretty good.” But there was something I didn’t like about the man. It was like he was hunchbacked and he had a club foot and altogether he looked crooked. So I woke up and I thought, "I wonder what that meant,” and dismissed it. But about two weeks later I had the same dream again. So this time I said to myself, "God must be trying to tell me something. I wonder who the man is?” And it was like the Holy Spirit said to me what Nathan said to David, "thou art the man.”
And it opened up to me a completely new aspect of salvation. I was soundly saved by most standards, baptized in the Spirit, serving the Lord, but there was something in me that was crooked and unacceptable to God. It was the old man. I didn’t have any gospel understanding of God’s program for the old man. I had to find my way through these things.
Well, about the same time Easter was coming on and because of the Easter season somehow I had in my mind a mental image of the hill of Golgotha [or Calvary] and the three crosses on it. But the middle cross was much taller than the other two. And it was like the Holy Spirit put me through an examination. He said, "Now tell me, for whom was the middle cross made?” But it was as if he said, "Be careful before you answer.” So I stopped and thought and I said, "It was made for Barabbas.” And he said, "That’s right.” Because it really was not made for Jesus. Do you understand? Barabbas was due to be executed. But he was released at the last moment, Jesus took his place. So then he said, "But Jesus took the place of Barabbas.” I said, "That’s right.” Then the Holy Spirit said, "But I thought Jesus took your place?” I said, "Yes, that’s right.” Then he said, "You must be Barabbas.”
And at that point I saw it. I never try to argue with people about that, it’s a revelation. But I saw that I was the criminal for whom the cross was made. It was exactly to my measure. It was appropriate for me. But Jesus took my place.
That made it so vivid to me, God’s program for dealing with the old man. This is quite distinct from the forgiveness of sin. The forgiveness of sins is wonderful but you’re never going to have a life of victory or real fruitfulness as long as that old rebel is still alive inside you. God’s provision is the execution of the rebel. God’s mercy is the execution took place when Jesus died. Our old man was crucified with him. The Old King James says "is crucified” which is the perfect tense. But the more correct translation is "was crucified.” It’s a simple past tense, it’s an actual, historical fact that took place.
This doesn’t matter whether we know it or believe it, it’s true. But knowing it and believing it is going to change you and me. So that’s the negative side. "Our old man was crucified that the new man might come to life in us.” That’s the exchange from the old man to the new man.
Good testimony from Derek Prince.
Thank you, Colin, for posting.
ADD:
I am not familiar with Derek Prince’s teaching so I would like to ask a question.
"Our old man was crucified that the new man might come to life in us.” That’s the exchange from the old man to the new man.
How does this new man come to life in us according to Derek Prince?
Markus,
"Progressive” or "experiential” sanctification, as it is sometimes called, is the effect of obedience to the Word of God in ones life.
……………
John 3:30:"He must increase; I must decrease.
31 The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth.
Scripture says:
Rom. 6:6-7 ”“
knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.
v. 11 --
Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
What is the effect of obedience to this Word of God?
If the old self has been crucified with Christ, it is no more. How then is it to be decreased?
John the Baptist, when he spoke these words, was not yet a new creation in Christ.
2 Cor. 5:17 ”“
Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
The obedience that both Paul and John preached is the obedience of faith (Rom. 1:5; 1 John 3:23).
Jade,
I'm not sure if I understand you correctly.
Can you explain in a very simple way what a Christian still should do after conversion ?
Has God already accomplished everything for us ?
Markus,
Can you explain in a very simple way what a Christian still should do after conversion ?
Very briefly:
Eph. 3:14-21 ”“
………I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Comment: The fullness of God includes the holiness of God.
Phil. 3:7-14 ”“
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
2 Cor. 3:18 ”“
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
1 Tim. 6:12 ”“
Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called……
1 Tim. 5:23-24””
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
1 Cor. 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
2 Cor. 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
In the Old Covenant, man was commanded to sanctify himself, to ritually purify himself, so that he was prepared to go into the presence of God or by used by God for some purpose. But this has changed under the New Covenant. We are sanctified, set apart as Holy unto God, through Jesus Christ. He is our sanctification. And the result of this sanctification is that we will naturally begin to bear the fruit of holiness in our lives. It is from face to face intimacy with Him that we are changed into His image (to look and act like Him).
So, it is an ongoing process of transformation that is rooted in our relationship with God through Christ.
Hi Jade if your still interested here is link to the full article.
He explains it a bit more in depth.
*edit for spelling.
Thank you, Colin.
I will read the article when free.
Travis
It is from face to face intimacy with Him that we are changed into His image (to look and act like Him).So, it is an ongoing process of transformation that is rooted in our relationship with God through Christ.
Just some thoughts.
Being conformed to the image of Christ is, of course, not just an outward imitation of Christ.
May what the Lord Jesus said about the scribes and Pharisees be not also said about us.
Matt. 23:25-28 ”“
25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.
27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
To be in the image of Christ is to be the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, just as Christ is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature (Heb. 1:3).
Only by Christ Himself dwelling in the heart by faith can the true image of Christ be manifested on the outside.
Dead things cannot grow. Growth can only take place in life.
There can be no spiritual growth if Christ’s own life is not in us.
1 John 5:11-12 ”“
…………God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
We have eternal life by beholding Jesus and have faith in His name.
John 6:40 ”“
For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.
John 20:31 ”“
but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
Ps.89:15-16 ”“
How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!
O Lord, they walk in the light of Your countenance.
In Your name they rejoice all the day,
And by Your righteousness they are exalted.
It is in Christ Himself that we must be rooted.
Col. 2:6-7 ”“
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
Rom. 11:16 ”“
……if the root is holy, the branches are too.
Whatever grows out of the holy root of Christ is holy.
Quote ……if the root is holy, the branches are too.
After fasting for over 30 days, my only request I as humbled myself before God, was God you do as you will in my life.
After the fast I had a question in my mind what makes a great man of God great?
I went searching for testimonies and stumbled across Duncan Campbell testimony on the site.
The link below
http://ia802802.us.archive.org/9/items/SERMONINDEX_SID0560/SID0560.mp3
I decided as I was flying to Africa the next day to listen to it on the plane. On the plane 55,000 feet over the earth, God broke through with the words "go for God whatever it takes"
I got up and ran to the toilet and broke down weeping and crying "Father I will do it, just help me"
I spent a month in Africa all that I could do every time I went to pray was to weep in deep sobs. It was during this time that I became actually aware of the Sin that remains. I saw it wrapped around the very core of my being. I saw that Sin deceives it gets us to believe that this what we are like.
O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
That my dear brother/sisters is the place where Gods brings you to.
We can see it through scripture, take for example Isaiah .
Isa 1:1 The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
From that vision Isaiah goes and starts to confront the nation for there rebellion.
So God had clearly done a work in this man, would you agree?
However when he saw the thrice Holy God he cries Isa 6:5 "Woe to me!” I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”
It like the cry of Job, lets remind ourselves Job 1:1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.
God says it: Job was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.
Yet after the dealings of God this is how Job replies.
Job 42:5-6 "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
What did Jesus tell us about seeing God? Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God. Matt 5:8
Isiah and Job heart was purified; in Isiah's cases it was a part of his commissioning by God.
Now let run forward in time to the disciples.
John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
So the disciples received ye the Holy Ghost prior to Acts 2.
Prior to that Jesus says as the Father sent me, I am sending you.
If want a bit more in depth Luke 24:36-43, in those verses:
"I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high"
So they receive the Spirit; but are told to tarry until ye be endued with power from on hig.
1. I send the promise of my Father upon you.
2. Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued
with power from on high"
I think the Song by the Salvation Army explains why we need this - promised Holy Ghost
God of Elijah, hear our cry:
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
To make us fit to live or die
To burn up every trace of sin,
To bring the light and glory in,
The revolution now begin,
The fire will meet our every need,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
For strength to ever do the right,
For grace to conquer in the fight,
For pow’r to walk the world in white,
To make our weak hearts strong and brave,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
To live a dying world to save,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
There is a trend that I am seeing here; and it started I was reading Praying Hyde testimony
http://hcf-india.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Praying-Hyde.pdf
1892 was a time of heart-searching and prayer. He received a letter to which he afterwards makes reference in an Indian publication. He says, "My father had a friend who greatly desired to be a foreign missionary, but was not permitted to go. This man wrote me a letter directed in care of the ship. I received it a few hours out of New York harbor. He urged me to seek for the baptism of the Holy Spirit as the great qualification for mission work. When I had read the letter I
crumpled it up in anger and threw it on the deck.
Did this friend think that I had not received the baptism of the Spirit, or that I would think of going to India without this equipment? I was angry. But by and by better judgment prevailed and I picked up the letter and read it again. Possibly I did need something which I had not yet received.
The result was that during the rest of that voyage I gave myself much to prayer that I might indeed be filled with the Spirit and know by an actual experience what Jesus meant when he said, "Ye shall receive power, when the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts I :8 R. V.).
These prayers on shipboard were finally answered in a marvelous way.
If God has called you: don't go running out and try to it in your own strength. Pray and wait for God to send you full of the Holy Ghost.
Sanctification "to set apart for special use or purpose"
God will take you clean you up, as we have seen in example of men being able to see God, God will purify the heart and endue you with power.
He will make us fit to live or die,
He will burn up every trace of sin,
He will give you strength to ever do the right,
He will give grace to conquer in the fight,
He will give you the pow’r to walk the world in white.
He will give you the desire to live for a dying world to save.
Sorry if it's a bit long.
John 17:17 -- Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
Comment:
We are not sanctified by the written Word. We are sanctified by the Truth. The Lord Jesus Himself is the Truth (John 14:6). He Himself is our sanctification (1 Cor. 1:30). God’s written Word is Truth because it reveals Christ who is the Truth.
God’s written Word is Truth because it contains the Word of Christ who is the Truth.
The Lord Jesus said to the Jews:
John 5:39-47 ”“
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.
Similarly, we may search the scriptures because we think in them we have the Truth. But the scriptures testify of Christ. He is the Truth. But we will not come to Him that we may have Truth.
The Old Testament scriptures contain the Word of Christ. They point to Christ. They told of Christ.
The Lord Jesus said that the OT scriptures testified about Him (John 5:39). He said that Moses wrote about Him (John 5:46).
He said to His disciples:
Luke 24:44 ”“
"These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
Paul said to Timothy:
2 Tim. 3:15 ”“
and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The sacred writings Timothy knew were the Old Testament scriptures.
The New Testament is all about Christ.
The Gospel is the Gospel of Christ.
Mark began his Gospel account with:
Mark 1:1 -- The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Paul’s letters comprise a huge section of the New Testament.
Paul preached the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 28:30-31).
Paul said:
Col. 3:16 -- Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you……
Peter said:
1 Pet. 2:25 ”“
like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
He also said:
2 Pet. 3:18-19 ”“
but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Comment:
The milk of the word that enables us to grow in respect to salvation is the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
John wrote his Gospel with this main objective:
John 20:31 ”“
………these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
John called the Lord Jesus the Word of Life:
1 John 1:1-3 ”“
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life”” and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us”” what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Therefore, Christ is the substance and the Truth in the written Word of God. We are sanctified by Truth, Christ Himself, the Living Word, revealed to us in the written Word.
Rom. 10:4 ”“
For Christ is the end (or goal) of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
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In the Book of Psalms, it is written:
Ps. 119:105 ”“
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
It is also written:
Ps. 27:1 ”“
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Ps. 18:28 ”“
For You light my lamp;
The Lord my God illumines my darkness.
The Prophet Micah said: "Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me (Micah 7:8).
The Lord Jesus is the true lamp to my feet and the true light to my path.
John 8:12 ”“
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
In the eternal city of God, which is the church, the glory of God is its light and its lamp is the Lamb.
Rev. 21:23 ”“
And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
2 Cor. 4:6 ”“
For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
The substance is Christ.
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