The Word of God brings joy to our lives, purity to our souls and love
to our hearts. This entire process is true sanctification; it's what consecrates
us and imparts unto us the power for holy living to the glory of God!
And isn't it amazing that such spiritual growth can take place in our
lives while living in the midst of this wicked world?? Many Christians
mistakenly think that total isolation is the way to becoming more holy,
but this is not so! It is through the ministry of the Word of God in our
lives that we are sanctified and set apart and meet for the Master's use!
Ladies, we must realize that sanctification is not for our own selfish
purposes, it is not for us to be able to brag on ourselves, but rather
it is for the sake of others as Christ tells us in verse 19 of our continued
study in John chapter 17…
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified
through the truth.
"I sanctify myself...." What an immense responsibility we have in making
ourselves holy! Why don't you give up trying to make your husband holy
(or somebody else) and take on a real project called SELF! I hope you're
serious about this aspect of your Christianity, dear lady, because we
will never have a powerful impact on the lives of others until our lives
are what they ought to be in the sight of God! In fact, if you and I are
going to sanctify ourselves as Christ did, that means we are going to
have to line our views up with God the Father, just as the Son did. We
better not use anybody else's definition of sanctification. We are not
to align our views with this world or even what the traditions and doctrines
of men might be. Again, the Word of God is to be our ruler with which
we measure our lives. Let the Word speak to your heart, line you up, and
clean you up!
John 15:3 (KJV)
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Why did Jesus set Himself apart for God's use? Why do you?? Or better
yet - why don't you?? The Bible tells us in our main passage today that
Christ sanctified himself for the sake of others. Are you willing to set
yourself apart for those whom God has given you to minister, or are there
areas of your life that you still want all to yourself? How far into the
process of setting yourself apart for God's use would you say you are?
Let's consider some basic issues of life… Do you battle with your flesh
over the issue of wearing or not wearing pants? Do you battle with your
flesh over the issue of going or not going to movies? Do you battle with
your flesh over whether or not it's all right to have a glass of wine
once in a while? Do you battle with your flesh over whether or not it's
alright to listen to the music you prefer or watch the television shows
you enjoy? You see, ladies, there comes a time in your Christian life
where you'll be faced with making these decisions as a part of your personal
sanctification process, of making yourself holy. Every Christian will
come to this place of choosing whether or not to wholly dedicate, to totally
consecrate self to the cause of Christ. Sanctification is an ongoing process,
an act of both giving and giving up that which is dear to us for God's
sake and for man's sake. This carries on for the rest of our Christian
lives as we repeatedly lay aside self so that Christ can be lifted up
and then work through us to draw all men unto Him. We serve a holy God
and we must be holy people…
Leviticus 20:7 (KJV)
Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your
God.
1 Peter 1:15-16 (KJV)
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Yes, God has commanded us to take responsibility for our personal holiness
- in all matters of life. So, how holy would you say you are today?? How
strong is your desire to increase in holiness? Ladies, if you and I choose
not the way of holiness, we have chosen to place self above others - even
above the Lord Jesus Christ who out of love set Himself completely apart
for us! We have chosen disobedience… We prove the selfishness that inhabits
our hearts through our lack of love for God by flaunting our indifference
to His commandment to be holy. And we prove our lack of love for others
as well…
John 15:13 (KJV)
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends.
You see ladies; the proof of our love is not in our feelings but in our
actions, even to the extent of laying down our lives for Christ and for
one another. As a matter of fact, Jesus laid down His life even for His
enemies! Is your love that strong?? As sanctified ones, you and I need
to treat others the way God treats us; we need to make some personal sacrifices
for one another and prove our hearts…
2 Corinthians 8:8-9 (KJV)
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others,
and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became
poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
I'll be honest with you ladies, there are some things I'd still like to
do that I have the liberty in Christ to do - but I choose not to do them!
I won't choose them for myself anymore because the Lord has become sweeter
to me over the years. I want to please Him, I want to be used by Him,
I want His Word to illuminate my heart each time I read it, I want to
have close fellowship with God, I want to have a powerful prayer life,
I want to have a strong influence over others for righteousness sake.
Ladies, I can't have a relationship like that with my heavenly Father
if I'm still clinging to things that hinder my heart from total dedication
to God! Holiness isn't cheap. If I want a strong walk like that I've got
to prepare myself for such a relationship with my heavenly Father, I can't
just "want" it into existence! I certainly can't remain dedicated to pleasing
myself; I'm going to have to be willing to die daily - and so are you!
Therefore, I've purposed in my heart to purge myself of anything that
would prevent my entire consecration from developing. Through taking responsibility
to become more holy, I've decided to forsake certain things because the
cause of Christ is my primary focus…
2 Timothy 2:21 (KJV)
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto
honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every
good work.
By being properly related to Christ, other people have also become more
important to me - even more important than myself! My love for others
has grown and my sacrifices made easy because of the love of God. And
so it can be for anyone who will purge himself. That word "IF" in the
verse above is the fork in the road for most Christians. "If a man therefore
purge himself," means that not all will… Are you at that junction in your
heart today, dear lady? Are you faced with the decision of how far you
really want to go in your dedication to Christ? What can you do today
to set yourself apart to God's use? What have you been clinging to that
you know the Lord is prodding you to let go of in order to become more
holy? Let's make every effort to soberly and diligently sanctify ourselves
as Christ did, that others might then be sanctified and all prepared for
the good work of God!
I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed,
That thou mightest ransomed be and quickened from the dead!
I gave, I gave My life for thee - what hast thou given for Me?
My Father's house of light, My glory circled throne,
I left, for earthly night, for wanderings sad and lone.
I left, I left it all for thee - hast thou left ought for Me?
I suffered much for thee, more than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitterest agony, to rescue thee from hell!
I've borne, I've borne it all for thee - what hast thou borne for Me?
And I have brought to thee, down from My home above,
Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love!
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee - what hast thou brought to Me?
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003
