Our God is Holy and He called us to live a Holy life. Without holiness no one sees God. In God’s kingdom nothing unclean and no one who tells lies will ever enter it.
The Holy Spirit sanctifies us. He sanctifies the shortcomings in our life and makes us perfect. God expects holy men to become more holy and to receive glory upon glory and to put on His image.
Jos 3: 5 “And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
Sanctification means setting us apart from the worldly lusts and to live for God more jealousy. God didn’t call us to live unholy, but to be holy.
In heavens, angels praise God continually, saying The Lord of hosts is holy, holy. God justifies who he called and chose.
1.Justification – God doesn’t see us directly, but sees through the blood of Jesus. By the blood of Jesus we have been made righteous.
2.Sanctification – After justification we must be sanctified – Through the tests and trials God sanctifies the righteous man.
3.Glorification – The sanctified people will be glorified. God crowns them with glory and honor and makes them a vessel of honor.
When we refer to Romans 8:30, it says, And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Sanctification
Once God’s children have been saved, God gives them some relaxation. In this life of wilderness, He calls us by showing some kindness. Lovingly embrace us and make us cheerful by giving all goodness. Answer prayers immediately.
But in the experience of sanctification, He purifies, tests and disciplines us until we become in His son’s image and mold us in the furnace of affliction. Prayers will not be answered immediately. In order to be delivered from tradition, cast bindings, fasting and prayer is required.
Joel 2:15 “Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.”
In the sanctification all three Godheads – The father, the son and the Holy spirit have their role same as how the triune God operates together while a sinner is repented, saved and baptized.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 says,
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Also in Hebrews 2:11
“Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family…..” and in 1 Corinthians 6 : 11 we read “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
4.We have been sanctified by the word of God.
In John 17:17 we read,
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. Also in Ephesians 5:26 it is mentioned “to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,”. God’s spirit sanctifies the church with the word of God.
5.Joel 2:15
“Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.”
He says, the church fasts and repents in God’s presence with tears, weepings and mournings. He says gather people and sanctify t he congregation.
Prayer, fasting and waiting in God’s presence and praying will sanctify the church. Finally God sanctifies us with His blood. In Hebrews 9:14 we read, How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! And also in Hebrews 13:12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.
In the old testament a devotee called Job, says in Job 1:5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.”
It’s possible to get defiled in a feast. There will be more talking. Father, mother are you fasting and praying in God’s presence for your children and Holy life?
Why should be sanctified or why should live a holy life?
- Sanctification needed for victorious living
Joshua 3: 5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.”
Though in the beginning of our salvation and chrisitan living, God answers all our prayers and gives many blessings and relaxations, we need to prepare to inherit heaven and to received many eternal blessings.
Let’s receive the power and perfect the holiness in the fear of God. Divine healing is the bread of children. Children’s birth right. Need to inherit it. Overcoming the enemy, is the condition of holy living. God will prepare the table for us and anoint with oil.
Joshua 7:13 Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them. To oppose the enemy and to overcome holy living is a must. - Sancitification needed to remove curses
Though the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sins and curses, when we go back to the old sinful life, the curse will come again. According to Heb 6:4-8,those who backslide are crucifying Christ again. The land is set to be cursed and burnt which produces thorns and thistles. Curse and holiness can’t go together. If we live a holy life, there will not be a curse in us. - Sanctification needed for miracles to happen
“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” When we humble ourselves and pray God will do greater things and miracles. - Sancitification needed to hear God’s voice and to see God’s glory
In Exodus 19:10,11 the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. With fear we must sanctify the outer life and inner life. Since Prophets Moses and Aron were holy, they hear God’s speaking. People saw the glory of God. - Sanctification needed to receive God’s blessing
In Genesis 32:28,Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
Jacob, as a deceiver, cheated his father and brother. Though born in a chosen family and son of holy parents, he is not holy. He went far away from the Lord. Before sending him back into Canaan God wanted to sanctify him and rectify the shortcomings. Only after changing Jacob into Israel, God allowed him to enter into Cannan. In order to receive blessings, we must confess our sins in the presence of God and forsake them. - Sanctification needed to do good work
2Timothy 2:21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
Many desire to do good work, but are unable to do so. Because unclean deeds in life, sins, sensual desires defiling their life. People who live holy life can be used by God as a vessel of honor. - Sanctification needed to become life Christ
When we see 1 John 3:2,3 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Also in 2 corinthians 6:18, And,“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” and in 2 Corinthians 7:1 “…..dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
We believe while He comes, we will be like Him. Since we have such confidence, let us sanctify and prepare for His coming.
Beloved reader!
The coming of Jesus is very near. While he comes, we should become like Him and see Him. Only those who are changed in His image will be taken with Him. So let us sanctify ourselves in order to overcome satan-our enemy, to be freed from curses and to receive God’s blessings, To do good work and to become vessels of honor.
Hallelujah! Maranatha!
