THE BELIEVER'S SANCTIFICATION Pt.5
1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.
WORKING OUT YOUR SANTIFICATION(C)
Most believers do not know the benefit of staying in fellowship with God in prayer and the word. Oftentimes, I do my best to teach and preach this because I know that living the Christian life is impossible without it. In matters of sanctification, a virile fellowship with God( In prayer and the word) is one of the ways to be sanctified and to live a sanctified life. Apostle John confirms this in 1John 1:7 saying, "But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have FELLOWSHIP with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, CLEANSES us from all sin"(1 John 1:7 NLT). According to the scripture, "fellowship" is a precursor to cleansing(sanctification). As we are in fellowship with God, we become cleansed. That's something to grasp.
Another scripture that buttresses this truth is can be found in John 15:3, "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you"(John15:3 NIV). Jesus himself said this. The spoken word or the written word studied meditatively has a cleansing/sanctifying power. In the old testament, the Psalmist said, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word"(Psalm119:9). There's a nexus between cleansing (sanctification) and the word of God likewise prayer. In fact, Paul spoke about sanctifying food with prayer: "For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer"(1 Timothy 4:4-5 KJV).
Devote quality time to prayer and the word daily. As you do this, you will be cleansed. The power released in prayer weakens the flesh and the cleansing power in the word makes clean. Since sanctification is progressive, you have to do this on daily basis. Our transformation into Christ likeness won't happen in a day. It takes a life time. That's why Paul said: "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 by the Spirit of the Lord"(2Cor3:28). We become like Jesus as we behold him in the place of fellowship. That's how to be cleansed.
Father, I receive the grace to fellowship with you on daily basis in Jesus name.