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. Living
Hope Fellowship Church...Sermons
by the Pastor
SANCTIFICATION
by Danny
Greer,
associate pastor
Romans
12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but
be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will
of God.”
The instant you
are saved, God starts a sanctification process that draws
you away from sin as He pulls you toward Him.
SANCTIFICATION DOES TWO THINGS
Sanctification is
a process of God’s grace by which (1) a believer is
separated from sin (2) and becomes dedicated to God’s
righteousness.
The term
“Christian” means Christ likeness, and in this process you
move toward Christ. 1 Peter 1:16 says, “Because it is
written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” God says that you can
be perfect, and perfection comes through the
sanctification process!
We stumble
occasionally, but we keep it under the blood of Christ.
Staying in the will of God is where perfection comes from.
Learn not to worry, because God is building you up toward
the bigger day.
SANCTIFICATION HAS THREE STEPS
The first step is
positional. That is when you are born again,
forgiven of sin. The second step is progressive.
You advance as you pray and read God’s Word. Progressively
you are set apart from the world by grace through God’s Word
and prayer. The more you seek Him, the more He will draw
you to Him, and thus you get closer to Him.
The third and last
step is the complete state. Your sanctification
becomes complete at death or the rapture. You will be
incorruptible. There will be no more pain or sorrow. There
will be no more tears or sickness. There will be nothing
but pureness, holiness, righteousness, and an eternity to
enjoy! However, remember that you can’t be sanctified unto
God unless you belong to Him.
Sanctification is
God’s work. We are sanctified by God, the Father
(see Jude 1:1), we are sanctified by God’s Son,
Jesus (Hebrews 2:11), and we are sanctified by the
Holy Spirit (see 2 Thessalonians 2:13 and 1 Peter
1:2). When God created man, He already had a plan to bring
you into perfection and holiness. We have some
responsibility for this. We need to believe in Jesus and
put to death the evil deeds of the body. We must separate
ourselves and learn to walk in the Spirit.
Part of the
sanctification process is to lead you into knowledge and
ability, and a big part of it is for you to receive the
baptism of the Holy Ghost that will give you power over the
enemy and help you to witness for God.
SANCTIFICATION HAS FOUR STAGES
You start out as a
new Christian in the BABY STAGE. 1 Corinthians 3:1-2
says, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto
spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in
Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for
hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye
able.”
Listed are some
characteristics of a new convert, a baby Christian. They
think only of themselves. A baby has only one thing in
mind, his needs and wants. If you deny him, he will raise a
rumpus. God has a lot of babies.
A baby’s
feelings are easily hurt. He’s often jealous. The baby
lives to be served; he never serves. He drinks milk and
cannot eat strong meat. He cries but never sings. A baby
tries to talk, but he never makes sense. Some baby
Christians jabber about the scriptures, but they don’t know
what they are saying. These characteristics are
prominent in the lives of many church people, and some
stay babies their entire lives! Where are you with
God?
The second stage
is the CHILD STAGE. They are often untruthful,
envious, and cruel. Immature Christians are given to
emotional outbursts. They are talebearers, they are easily
puffed up, and they love praise.
1 Corinthians
13:11 says, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I
understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I
became a man, I put away childish things.” We should be
helping and serving others instead of ourselves! We need to
grow up and become like Christ! To love your neighbor is a
commandment.
The YOUNG ADULT
STAGE is the third stage. Read these characteristics
and you see if you are there yet. His strong character
makes him well able to overcome the enemy. He has a vision
for the future and the faith and the courage to tackle it.
He is preparing for his productive years. He has put away
childish things. He is strong in the Lord, and when he
feels that he can’t go any further, he stands! If you are
old enough to be eating meat, but you are still on milk, you
are double minded.
Not many reach the
fourth stage, the MATURE ADULT STAGE. 1 John 2:13
says, “I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him
that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men,
because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you,
little children, because ye have known the Father.”
When you get to
really know Christ, you communicate with Him - He hears your
voice, and you hear His voice. When you pray you see things
happen. This is the mature adult Christian. Your life is
dedicated to serving God! Someone can gossip or tell lies
about you, and it doesn’t shake you. Your foundation is on
the rock Jesus Christ, and you are unmovable.
A mature Christian
has peace with God. They don’t wait until the battle is
almost lost before they seek God. Why take all those beats
and bruises when you don’t have to?
You will never see
abundant living until you reach maturity in Jesus Christ.
Paul got to the place where it didn’t matter to him where he
was, what his circumstances were, whether he was warm or
cold, wet or dry, hungry or full. He had peace with God at
all times.
In Philippians
4:11 Paul said, “. . . for I have learned, in whatsoever
state I am, therewith to be content.” He knew the only
source of true strength. Do you rely on Jesus, or do you
rely on your checkbook, your paycheck, or your doctor? Do
you look to your family? Man will fail you.
Be renewed by the
Holy Spirit every single day. Philippians 4:13 says, “I
can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
If you will allow Him to do it, He will bring you to full
maturity in Christ Jesus so that you will partake of the
more abundant life Jesus spoke of in John 10:10!
©
Living Hope Fellowship, Inc.
E-mail
livinghope@hughes.net,
Phone#
618-634-2541
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