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.
- If you feel stuck in a particular area of your life, don’t give up. God is still at work in you.
- Growth is often slow, but it is sure. Trust the process and continue to submit to God’s will. The growth you long for is happening, even when it feels invisible.
2: The Holy Spirit Empowers Us in Sanctification
In Colossians 1:11, Paul prays that the believers would be strengthened with all power according to God’s glorious might. Sanctification is not something we can do on our own. We cannot grow in Christ by sheer willpower or self-discipline. It is the Holy Spirit who strengthens us, empowers us, and enables us to become more like Jesus.
Think of the example of Paul. Before his conversion, Paul was a man of strength, ambition, and fervor.
He was a Pharisee, and he had a heart of zeal for his religion—but it was a zeal that led him to persecute Christians. However, on the road to Damascus, when he encountered the risen Jesus, everything changed.
The Holy Spirit came upon him, and Paul was transformed from a persecutor of Christians into one of the greatest apostles the world has ever known.
This was not Paul’s doing—it was the Holy Spirit at work in him. And the same Spirit that empowered Paul is the same Spirit available to us today. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to overcome sin, to live in victory, and to grow into the likeness of Christ.
- Are you trying to grow in your own strength? If you are, you’ll find yourself exhausted and frustrated. But when you rely on the Holy Spirit, He empowers you to do what you cannot do on your own.
- Surrender your efforts to Him and allow Him to strengthen you.
The Evidence of Sanctification - Bearing Fruit
In Colossians 1:10, Paul encourages the believers to live a life worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. The fruit of sanctification is evident in the way we live—in our actions, our relationships, and our attitudes.
I want to share the story of Beth, a woman who had struggled for years with feelings of inadequacy. She felt like she could never be good enough for God or for others. But through Bible study, prayer, and community, Beth began to see that her worth wasn’t in her performance—it was in Christ. As she began to believe this, she noticed something amazing happening in her life. She started to serve others more freely, not out of guilt or fear, but out of love. She began to bear the fruit of kindness, humility, and patience. Her relationships grew deeper, and she became a source of encouragement to everyone around her.
Sanctification, at its core, is about bearing the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And as we grow in these areas, the world around us will see Christ in us.
- Ask yourself: What fruit is growing in my life?
- Are you more loving, more patient, more kind than you were a year ago? That’s the evidence of God’s sanctifying work in you!
Sanctification is a lifelong journey.
It’s not always easy, but it’s the beautiful process of becoming more like Christ.
And God has not left us to do it alone. He has given us His Holy Spirit to empower us, His Word to guide us, and His grace to sustain us.
You may be thinking that you cannot do this.
You think you are not good enough.
You have done to many things wrong in life.
Congratulations, you are not alone.
But today can be a new day as every day is.
The past cannot be changed, but the future can.
Today, I want to invite you to respond to the Lord.
Maybe you’ve been feeling discouraged by the slow pace of your growth, or you’ve been trying to change in your own strength.
The Holy Spirit is here to empower you.
Maybe you’ve never fully surrendered a particular area of your life to Christ, and today you want to say, “God, I want to grow. I need Your help.”
- If you’ve been struggling with an area of growth and need God’s strength, come forward and ask for His empowerment.
- If you want to surrender your life to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, I invite you to come forward and say, “God, I am yours. Transform me.”
- If you are ready to bear fruit for His kingdom, come and ask for fresh filling of the Holy Spirit to live a life worthy of the calling.
Come forward now and take the next step in your life.
Let’s pray together:
“Lord, we thank You for Your work in our lives. We ask that you continue the work of sanctification in us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, give us the strength to grow, and help us bear fruit that glorifies Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
As the worship team leads, I invite you to come forward and respond to God’s call for transformation.
