Sanctify Yourselves Series

"Becuase you belong to God, CHRISTIANS. You have already won a victory over those addictions, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world" according to 1 John 4:4

God wouldn’t call us to be Holy if it was impossible. Jesus made a way. God calls us to be Holy because then we can do the impossible.

That’s right, God wouldn’t call you to be Holy if it was impossible. And when you live holy for God you can do the impossible. We can be used by God to do miracles, and pray for the sick, and cast out demons, and shape cities and nations. Because we can be Holy and our lives can count for God.

Romans 12 says that living a Holy Life is REASONABLE. It is not too big to ask of somebody, it is not too hard, it is reasonable because you have the HOLY SPIRIT.

And so, friends who are a part of the family of God, I plead with you this morning to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy--the ONLY kind he can accept.

Don’t offer up your life and try to hang on to some sick pleasure. Don’t be like Annanias and Saphira who thought that they could trick God. There sacrifice was not pleasing and it was not accepted.

When you think of what Jesus has done for you, is this too much to ask?

When you think of his torture, of the whips that he took in your name, when you think of the nails being driven through his hands and his feet for your sins, when you think of the love that he personified so that you could be made holy, is this too much to ask. To live your life as an offering for God.

It’s not to much, in fact it’s reasonable. It is expected. Anything less would be an insult to God.

We have spent far too long living under our potential because of a lack of holiness in our lives. It is well time to put that behind us. It is time to consecrate our lives for God’s glory, to purify our heart.

When you present your life before God it means that you make some clear decisions and choices in your life.

You make a choice that you will not sin.

You make a choice that if you are addicted that you will get help.

You make a choice to not entertain temptation.

Do you need help with that? Of course you do. You’ve got a helper promised to you by Jesus Christ Himself, you’ve got the Holy Spirit.

But you also must discipline yourself.

Speak to your mind, read the word of God out loud until the HOLY WORD moves inside of your life and beings to transform you. His word is alive, it changes you, it renews your mind. And if you are under temptation then read it out loud to the devil. The Word of God is so powerful; it is more powerful than your addiction and it more powerful than any temptation.

Some people look at God’s expectation for their life, to be Holy, and they think that they are boxed in. Some people may not see certain benefits to living within the structure that the Bible gives us.

I would like to tell you a story about a Pastor who bought some sheep.

When he bought the small flock, a few goats were thrown in by seller as a kind gesture. At the time the pastor thought this was kindness but he soon realized why the goats were free.