Growing In Christ. The Process Of Sanctification Colossians 1

Growing in Christ: The Process of Sanctification

Good Morning

Stand with me and lift your bible and repeat after me.

This is my Bible.

I am what it says I am.

I can do what it says I can do.

I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be.

Today I will learn more of the word of God.

The indestructible, never ending, living word Of God.

I will never be the same.

I will never be the same.

In Jesus Name

Amen?

Before you sit down, say good morning to your brothers and sisters.

Growing in Christ: The Process of Sanctification

Open your Bible and go to the book of Colossians and say, "Amen". when you are there.

Let's read it together.

Colossians 1:9-12

What is Sanctification?

Now, sanctification might sound like a big, theological word, but at its heart, it’s about becoming more like Christ.

It’s the lifelong journey of being transformed into His image.

Just as a baby grows into an adult, a Christian grows into the likeness of Jesus.

And just like any process of growth, it takes time, patience, and a willingness to change.

I want to start by sharing a powerful story about Sarah, a woman who had experienced incredible pain and hurt. Sarah had gone through a painful divorce that left her feeling broken and betrayed. She felt she could never trust again and often had trouble forgiving herself for the mistakes she made in the marriage.

But one day, as she sat in her quiet time with the Lord, reading Romans 8:28, something shifted. The verse says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

Tears filled her eyes, but they were tears of hope. She realized that God was not done with her. He could take her brokenness and turn it into something beautiful. Over time, as she surrendered her wounds to Jesus, Sarah experienced healing. She began to forgive herself, and eventually, God used her to minister to other women who were walking through similar struggles.

What began as a painful process of sanctification became a story of redemption. It didn’t happen overnight, but step by step, God worked in her heart and life, and today, Sarah stands as a testimony to the fact that God’s grace is greater than our past, and His power can transform us into something we never thought possible.

Sanctification is that journey—being transformed by God’s grace, one step at a time. So today, I want to talk about how we can grow in Christ through this powerful process.

Let’s turn to Colossians 1:9-12, where Paul speaks about growing in Christ through knowledge, strength, and fruitfulness.

1: Sanctification is a Lifelong Process of Growth

In Colossians 1:9-10, Paul prays that the believers would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and live a life worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.

This growth is not just about information; it’s about transformation. Sanctification is a process, and like any good process, it requires patience and persistence.

Think of it like the growth of a tree.

A tree doesn’t grow overnight—it takes years to develop deep roots, strong branches, and a full canopy.

But with time, care, and nourishment, it becomes something beautiful and strong. In the same way, sanctification takes time.

You don’t go from being a new believer to being Christ-like overnight. It’s a lifelong journey.

I want to share another story—this one is about Jake, a man I know who struggled for years with his temper. Jake had a good job, a loving family, and he had been a Christian for many years. But there was one area of his life that he couldn’t seem to get under control—his anger. It would flare up at work, at home, and in his relationships. And even though he prayed about it and read the Bible, he felt like he was stuck in the same pattern.

One day, Jake decided to go on a retreat with some other men from church. The first night, the leader talked about how God uses our weaknesses to bring about transformation. The next morning, Jake woke up early, sat outside, and prayed like he had never prayed before. “God, I don’t want to be like this. I want to change. I need You to change me.”

And in that moment, God didn’t just fix Jake’s anger—He began a process in him. Over the next months, Jake started to see progress. He realized that when he felt anger rising up, he could pray, take a deep breath, and choose a different response.

Jake didn’t become perfect overnight, but he began to grow. Slowly, the deep roots of Christ’s love started to take hold in his heart, and the branches of self-control began to sprout. Today, Jake is a living example that sanctification is a process, and though we may falter, God’s grace is more than enough to help us grow.