SANCTIFY US LORD
I want to briefly define Christ like character.
1 Thess 5:11-27
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit. (Let God have His way)
20 Despise not prophesyings. (Respect spiritual gifts)
21 Prove all things; (Substantiate with the Word of God) hold fast that which is good. (Adhere to the truth)
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
Phil 2:5
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Phil 2:5
that we are to make the Lord Jesus our model, and are in all respects to frame our lives, as far as possible, in accordance with this great example.
(from Barnes’ Notes,
Phil 2:1-11
Christians must be of Christ’s mind. We must bear a resemblance to his life, if we would have the benefit of his death. If we have not the Spirit of Christ, we are none of his, Rom 8:9. Now what was the mind of Christ? He was eminently humble, and this is what we are peculiarly to learn of him. Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, Matt 11:29. If we were lowly-minded, we should be like-minded; and, if we were like Christ, we should be lowly-minded. We must walk in the same spirit and in the same steps with the Lord Jesus, who humbled himself to sufferings and death for us; not only to satisfy God’s justice, and pay the price of our redemption, but to set us an example, and that we might follow his steps.
From Matthew Henry’s
What God desires to do in your life between the altar of repentance and the rapture is called sanctification.
There is two aspect of sanctification:
1. Development of Holiness (Christ likeness)
A. Be ye holy for I am holy.
B. Its so important because “without it no man shall see the Lord.”
C. If you are not willing to participate in the development of holiness in your life, you can not have the relationship with God that He wants you to have. That process is called sanctification.
2. Fulfilling His purpose in you (Being set apart for service)
Get familiar with what conviction feels like and respond immediately in obedience.
The Holy Spirit is going to play the primary part in your sanctification. He will be relentless in perusing your perfection.
When you discover truth in the Bible and apply it to your life, (it not only gives you power over sin), you are experiencing sanctification.
All the characteristics of Christ are developed only through applying God’s Word our lives.
You can love because you have applied. (Agape love)
You forgive because you have applied.
You give because you have applied.
You serve because you have applied.
This is got to be our ultimate goal.
Applying truth makes us Christ like. (Not church attendance, doing good works)
Discovery enlightens, but application brings change.
Many people are marking their Bibles, but are their Bibles marking them?
It is a dangerous thing to know more than you are applying to your life.
The truth not only sets you free as it is applied, it also build Christ like character.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (not in the world) but in your life.
He does that as we apply His principles of holiness (righteousness) and purity to our lives.
We are not called to uncleanness, but unto holiness.
Let’s look at some applications that brings about the process.
1. Study to show ourselves approved…
2. Obeying the Word of God at all cost, even in the face of mockery and opposition. The better you know Him, and the closer you are to Him in a relationship, the more you will delight in keeping yourself pure and holy.
3. Pray without ceasing (seeking His kingdom and righteousness, hungering and thirsting…)
Let’s look at the evidence of sanctification working in our lives.
1. I was hungry and you feed me…
2. Loving your enemies and doing good to them…
3. Forgiving one another…
4. Giving…
5. Serving the Lord with gladness…
Sanctified- 1. To set apart for sacred use; consecrate. 2. To make holy; purify.
In a prayer for those that followed Him, He prayed
John 17:17
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
(Let the truth set them apart for service unto me)
Let the truth set you apart for transformation and service to Christ.
