Saturday, 11 December 2021
SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT
…God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
Sanctification is part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Even though you’re born again and your spirit is alive to God, your mind still needs to be purified of all the garbage recorded therein. It’s the reason for the renewal of the mind the Bible talks about in Romans 12:2.
The more you study and receive God’s Word, the more the wrong thoughts, ideas and relics of the old nature in your mind are removed and replaced with God’s holy thoughts, His holy words and the manifestation of His kingdom. That’s why the Bible says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” (Colossians 3:16).
That desire to do the wrong things, to go in the way of the world, to make the wrong choice, only the Word of God can get rid of it. So, Romans 12:1 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.” Notice that He’s addressing God’s people and not the people of the world. Don’t yield your mind to sin; don’t yield it as an instrument of unrighteousness. You’re a sanctified person.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Notice our underlined portion! You’ve been sanctified by the Spirit to serve the living God. He’s purged your conscience of dead works through the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ in your behalf. No wonder He says, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Blessed be God!
PRAYER: Blessed Lord, you’ve made me a vessel unto honour, sanctified and fit for your use and prepared unto every good work. I’m fully yielded to your Word to mould my life and character. Thank you for granting me the ability to lead a life of righteousness and true holiness. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Peter 1:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:21; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Revelation 3:7-22 & Hosea 7-10
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 19:23-37 & 2 Chronicles 23-24