Transcript: Sanctification Through Righteous Living: A Christian Perspective

Music We have been coursing through God's Word learning about the importance of sanctification. Other messages which teach about this subject are called, Jesus, my sanctifier, true sanctification, heal and cleanse my soul, O God. And this message today called, self-sanctification is impossible, will be a fourth one in the series. We cannot make it through self-effort, church. We cannot achieve a successful Holy Spirit life by our own efforts. None of us can. Too many Christians make the mistake of trusting in their own power to make themselves holy before God and for God. And it doesn't matter how many promises you make to God or yourself if you are trusting in your own power. All of your promises to God will not keep you from sinning. Jesus said in John 15, 5, I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing. It is not just a matter of deciding, that's it, from now on, I sin no more. But of course, you must desire to stop sinning or you will not. The person who does not want to stop sinning is not saved. Oh, I know that was strong, but it's true. Because there is no longer a heart of repentance in their life. And I want to say that just deciding to stop sinning doesn't guarantee you success either. The key to overcoming sin is not trying harder, and it is also not imposing strict and painful treatment of the body on oneself. Colossians 2.20, please. Colossians 2.20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belong to it, do you submit to its rules? Verse 21 Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch. These are all destined to perish with use because they're based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body. But they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgences. also dear church we are not to run away from the world and hide but we're called to go into all the world as mature ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ even though we live in the world we're not a part of it that is a part of or partakers of its sinful pleasures and delights that it continually is offering Jesus told us to be salt and light in the world wherever we live and wherever we go Matthew 5 verse 13 Matthew 5 verse 13 You are the salt of the earth but if the salt loses its saltiness how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by man Verse 14 You are the light of the world A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bushel. Instead, they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. Verse 16. In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your heavenly Father. Mark 16, 16. he said to them Jesus said to them go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation well you need to know also regarding our subject today that is regarding self-sanctification is impossible that there are people who are in the habit of criticizing themselves or condemning themselves thinking this is capable of producing holiness in their lives. There's a great difference between the terms criticizing and judging. Criticizing means to condemn, denounce, to find fault or severe rebuking of self or others. And judging means to weigh the evidence with fairness and equity. Jesus is our righteous judge, And he is our plumb line of perfection. And we're told in scripture, it is important to judge ourselves at times. 1 Corinthians 11.31 But if we judge ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 2 Corinthians 13.5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless, of course, you fail the test. See, God's word tells us in Romans 8.1, in Romans 8.1, being free from indwelling sin, that there is therefore now no condemnation. Listen to this. Listen close. to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. If we know that we have sinned, we should confess it, repent of it, and look to God and not meditate on our sinfulness. If we don't know where we have sinned, then we should humble ourselves and ask God to make things clear to us or heed the counsel when it is given to obey it, to practice it. And we should resist Satan's condemnation and accusations. We should resist. if we don't know where we have sinned then we should humble ourselves and ask God to make it clearer then you see we should resist Satan's condemnation and accusations if we truly truly truly are desirous to live in this way you see you learn the difference between the conviction of the Holy Spirit working in your life to convict you, to convince you that sin is not okay, and the difference from the devil's onslaught of condemnation and accusation because you willingly stepped in and willingly made your own decision to sin, be it through presumption or compromising the truth in God's word. Many people use what I call cheap grace and justify themselves by saying, Oh, God knows my heart, or I'm so special to God that he will excuse me for this moment while I do what I want to, to satisfy this carnal urge or desire, or nobody's looking, so I'm safe in this moment. I want to stress again, trying to keep the laws of God does not make us holy. And trying to keep the law which is based in our own efforts either makes us feel like we fail or we just fail to keep the law. Or it will make us self-righteous. so we see in the gospel of Luke 18 11 the Pharisee who stood up and he prayed about himself God I thank you that I'm not like other men robbers and evildoers and adulterers or even like this tax collector over here see in all this we can see it as pride in what we have done through our own power, and this is called sin. In 1 John 2.16, 1 John 2.16, For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh craving for sensual gratification, and lust of the eyes, greedy longings of the mind, and the pride of life, assurance in one's own resources, or in the stability of earthly things. These things do not come from the Father, but are from the world itself. Verse 17, and the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings, the passionate desires, the lusts of it. But he who does the will of God and carries out his purposes in his life abides, remains forever. In other words, will live forever. You see, worse than trying to be holy through keeping God's laws in our own power is trying to be holy by keeping man-made rules which have been added to the commandments of God. and such rules, typically special rules for what we eat and how we dress or rules on how we should have or hold or conduct church service or meetings or what Bible translation is right or correct. When we start dictating these rules to people, we really show that we are far from God. Matthew 15, 7 says, You hypocrites, Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you. Verse 8, These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me. They worship me in vain. Their teachings are but rules by men. And Jesus called the crowd out to him, and he said, Listen and understand. Verse 11, What goes into a man's mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth is that which makes him unclean. We become like the Pharisees, who were very proud of their efforts to keep the traditions of their elders. None of this will lead to the holiness of heart and mind which God desires. God wants mercy and not sacrifice. And we can see in the scripture we've just read in verse 11, what goes into a man's mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean. And listen to this scripture in the book of Hebrews 13.7. Hebrews 13.7. Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you, Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Verse 8. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not ceremonial foods which are of no value to those who eat them. Listen to what our apostle tells us in Romans 14, 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by man Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Verse 20. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that will cause your brother to stumble. Verse 22. So whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves, but the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats because his eating is not from faith, and everything that does not come from faith is sin. Precious church, these scriptures make it very clear. rules about food are not the key to sanctification or maturity in Christ. Instead, they become an obsessive distraction. Apostle Paul described it very well as a man who was trying to overcome sin and be sanctified through his own will and power. He spoke it so well in Romans 7.18. Romans 7, 18 I know that nothing good lives in me. That is in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do, the evil I do not want to do. This I keep on doing. Verse 20 Now, if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work. When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being, I delight in God's law. But I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. Verse 24. What a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I myself in my mind am a slave to God law but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin All of the I indicate personal will here And the phrase, I will, is showing the battle Paul had in his inner being before he was saved and came into the truth. Paul was a sincere man and showing that he of and by himself was unable to do anything in the way of having power over his sin. He wanted to do what was right, but without Christ, he was doomed to constant inner battle. In our flesh dwells no good thing, precious church. And it is hard for the new babe in Christ to comprehend. It is very hard. We thought we were just okay, thank you, before the spirit of truth through the word began to do its cleansing work of conviction and convincing of our sin. And it takes a life lived in Christ, in his power and in his grace to overcome sin. It is so very clear that sanctification requires more than simply an act of the will. Our wills are involved. But, as you will see, not directly with our efforts to keep the law. Dear one, your will must be used to keep your focus on Jesus. Your will must surrender to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Keeping focused on Jesus will enable the Spirit of the Lord to transform you. Me too. 2 Corinthians 3.17 In 2 Corinthians 3.17 Now, the Lord is the Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Hallelujah. And we do with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with an ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Can I give you a key here? The best way to keep focused on Jesus is to focus on his word. Sanctification is a part of our salvation, which we must receive. And this precious work of God in us makes us more like his son, Jesus Christ. It is a work of his spirit in us to cleanse us from all sin in our lives. We learn it is a separation, precious ones, from all evil. You who love the Lord hate evil. And sanctification, dear one, is by faith in Christ Jesus. A wonderful example of this truth is found in the apprehension of Saul, whose name was changed to Paul, which means little one. Paul was giving the testimony of his apprehension to King Agrippa in Acts 26. 26. Let's look at this in Acts 26, 13. About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, And I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads. Verse 15. Then I ask, who are you, Lord? I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, the Lord replied. Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. Verse 17. And I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I'm sending you to them. Verse 18, to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. Hallelujah. Jesus said, and those who are sanctified by faith in me. Jesus personally spoke this. who are sanctified by faith in me. You can see that faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is the key to our sanctification. It is through faith by which every gift and every other means by which God's grace is received and made effective in our lives. Romans 14, 23. Romans 14, 23. But the man who has doubts, misgivings, and uneasy conscience about eating and then perhaps because of you stands condemned before God. Because he is not true to his convictions and he does not act from faith. Or whatever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin. Whatever is done without a conviction of its approval by God is sinful. Oh, sanctification is by the blood of Jesus. Let us never forget that. Let me remind you again of our main scripture in this word today in Hebrews 10, 26. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of truth, no sacrifice for sin is left, verse 27, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Verse 28, anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Verse 29, how much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him and who has insulted the spirit of grace. God's word teaches us that the blood of Jesus sanctifies us. We read that in verse 29. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated such an unholy thing, the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the spirit of grace. The blood of Jesus, precious one, sanctifies us. And not only that, it justifies us or makes us right with God. It sanctifies us, meaning it changes us. And the first step for any person coming to God is to believe in the power of the blood of Jesus. This precious blood of the Lamb represents the payment for our sin. It takes our sin away and washes us clean. We must believe that through the blood of Jesus we are forgiven. I aim that at someone's heart right now by the blood of Jesus you are forgiven by the blood of Jesus you are forgiven I aim that arrow at your heart right now in the name of Jesus by his blood you are forgiven hallelujah thank you Lord thank you Lord the freedom and a victory a freedom and a victory Lord God and there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Hear it. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8.1. We're not going there for your edification, for you to chew on that and enjoy that in your victory. Knowing that we are forgiven and freed from guilt, we can serve God with a clear conscience and without fear, and we can move forward in our walk with God. I want to tell you that the precious blood of Jesus means more than forgiveness. Again, it involves sanctification. It is the blood of the covenant. A true Christian, son or daughter of God, is in a blood covenant relationship with God, then it's time you realize what it means. Blood covenants are still being practiced in some parts of the world today and are the most serious types of agreement between two men. Their blood is actually mixed or mingled together. Being in blood covenant with someone means all that I have is yours, and all that you have is mine. Dear church, we must realize that this is our relationship to God. All that you have is his. 1 Corinthians 6.19. 1 Corinthians 6.19. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God. You are not your own. Verse 20. But you were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your body. Yes. Honor God with our body means every member, every part of our body will bring him glory. We'll honor him with that. with our mouth, with our eyes, with our ears, with our tongue, with our feet, with our hands, what we think, our mind most of all. And yet, all that he has is ours in Christ in Romans 8, 17. All that God has is ours. And all that we have is his. And we'll see this, Romans 8, 17. Now, if we are his children, if we are his children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. If indeed we share in his sufferings, in order that we may also share in his glory. Please drop down to verse 32. And since God did not spare even his own son, but he gave him up for us all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything? Hallelujah. Since God did not spare his own son, but gave him up for all of us, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else? the way this works in practice is detailed in the New Testament or called the New Covenant this is another reason why it is important to study the New Testament because it is your contract with God when we come to realize that the blood of Jesus means that God bought us and all that we have and are belongs to him this has a powerful effect on our lives if we truly believe it you come to realize that you are no longer your own to go off and do whatever you choose to do but you must now listen to God and the knowledge of the covenant can change you and will change you and the knowledge of the blood covenant you are now in as a child of God as a Christian calls for a conscious acknowledgement and consecration and dedication of yourselves to God. Paul writes in Romans 12.1, in Romans 12.1, dedicated service, therefore I urge you brethren by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. We are called to consciously dedicate our bodies completely to God. And this is something we must do. But it must be a faith response towards God. It means that you are totally available for whatever God wants you to do. And it means that your eyes, as I said earlier, your ears, your hands, your feet, your mouth, your brain, or your mind, are giving willingly over to God's purposes. And it means that your sexuality is given over to God's control. It means that your eating will be for the glory of God only. 1 Corinthians 10.31 So whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. So we see here even our appetites will be balanced and reasonable. The truth is that your body, soul, and spirit form a unity and are linked together in agreement in so many ways. Dedicating your body to God completely will affect also your mind, your will, and your emotions. And God will transform you in every way, in your thinking, in your behavior, your words, and your actions. This will be also if you have truly and voluntarily given the keys to your life back to him. so the renewing of the mind which we have been covering in scripture Romans 12 2 can only truly take place in the life of someone who has dedicated and offered his or her body to God this truly can take place only in the ones who have dedicated and offered his or her body to God Romans 12 2 Do not be conformed to this world, this age, fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs, but be transformed, changed by the entire renewing or renewal of your mind, by its new ideals and its new attitudes, so that you may prove for yourselves what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect in his sight for you. God is truly interested and desires to renew our minds And much of our thinking may still be influenced by Satan through worldly values which we have received in the past There are so many worldly principles in our lives which must be abandoned if if if we are going to think with the mind of Christ in order to grow up in our new understanding and put on Christ, that is having the mind of our Lord. There are certain and basic and main principles which we must base our new thinking, our growing, in the mind of Christ. I'm going to give you a few of these today. One of them, the first one, is God's word must be loved and sought daily. It is the final authority and the voice of all truth for our lives. God's word can be trusted and it should be acted upon. It should be practiced as soon as we hear it. The truth in God's word, we should by choice begin to practice the truth. Proverbs 30 verse 5 declares, every word of God is pure, and he is a shield unto them who put their trust in him. Proverbs 12, verse 6, and the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. And just a little insight or symbolic meaning here in this word, The furnace of clay is we, the people of God, who hear the word over and over until it is made pure and real in our hearts. That is why we're going to listen to the word of God over and over and should never set ourselves up to say, I heard that. Don't dismiss the word of God when it comes. Set yourself up to receive it, to internalize it, to eat on it and feed on it. It becomes our very way of life. In the book of Psalms, Psalms 18, verse 30. As for God, his way is perfect, and the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. And he enables me to stand on the heights. And he trains my hands for the battle. My arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory. And your right hand sustains me. And you swoop down to make me great. Verse 36. And you broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not turn. If we do not know the word of God. Have faith in the word of God. then we have no defense against the enemy or trouble that rolls upon our banks, precious ones. Psalms 19, 8 declares, The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart, and the commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes, and the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous, They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold. They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. Verse 11, by them your servant is warned. In keeping them there is a great reward. Romans 7, 12 declares, so then the law is holy and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. And James 3.17 says, Matthew 24.35 1 Peter 1.25 But the word of the Lord stands forever. And this is the word that was preached to you. See, we are talking right now of our first point. And we are discussing that first point that God's word must be loved and sought after daily. Because it's the final authority and the voice of all truth for our lives. And so we see in these few scriptures that I'm giving you in building on this point. that this is God's word will never pass away. Let that sink into our hearts. In Matthew 24, 35, heaven and earth will pass away. But God declares, my words will never pass away. We see where the real importance lies, don't we? 1 Peter 1.25, but the word of the Lord stands forever. And this is the word that was preached to you. Hebrews 6.13, when God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, I will surely bless you and give you many descendants. Verse 15. And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all arguments. Verse 17. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purposes very clear to the air of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. Hallelujah. Well, again, the point I'm making is by the interweaving of these scriptures here is to show you why you should love to grow daily in God's word and why it must be trusted, loved, and obeyed. And put into practice when you hear it. When you hear it, begin to practice it. You see, it is the final authority. It is the voice of truth for your life, my life. And not only should you learn to trust in God's word, but you should learn to act upon it as soon as you hear it. I couldn't stress that anymore than what I've already said. Act upon it. Practice the knowledge of God when you hear it. The two main points in this last scripture point out that God was faithful to his promises and nothing has changed because God does not change. He is unchangeable. And God's nature is always the same. He is God of love. We belong to the family of love. And this should bring some great encouragement and hope to our hearts. Should be a subtle peace within us that God is always the same. And these two unchangeable attributes of God are his promises that he is faithful and trustworthy. And secondly, that he has given his promises or his oath confirming these promises. He's given his promise or his oath confirming these promises. We can see this by looking back on the promise and see the fulfillment of the promise that Abraham saw only in the expectation of it. That is by faith. And another of these certain basic main principles, we could call them, on which we must base our new thinking that's growing in the mind of Christ, is I am now a child of love, and I am to walk in love. It's our second point. Every departure from the principle of love is betrayal to God. Our beloved Apostle John declares to the church in 2 John 5, in 2 John 5, And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command, but the one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. Verse 6. And this is love, that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you've heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. I know that hit somebody right now. I know that hit somebody right now. This is love. That we walk in obedience to his commands. Jesus declares in John 14, 21, Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. John 15.10 declares, If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. And dropping down, please, a few scriptures in John 15.14, You are my friends if, if, if you do what I command. another point point three of our main principles on which we must base our new thinking or growing in the mind of christ in this sanctification process is god is a good father to me god is a good father to me he really loves me and he accepts me in christ and i can safely depend on him to meet all of my needs spiritually, emotionally, financially, and in every area of my life. I can find total fulfillment in my relationship with God and in doing his will. And as you grow in your faith, your trust, and confidence in God's word, to you this truth becomes a solid rock on which you stand. Philippians 4.12 declares, I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty, and I have learned the secret of being content in every way, in every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Verse 13, I can do everything through him who gives me strength. And point four of our principles which we're speaking on, that we base our new thinking, growing in the mind of Christ, or calling it sanctification or maturity. All voices, point four, all voices which promise help or happiness to philosophies or ways contrary to principles of God's word have their roots and their foundings in the evil one, and lead to death if followed. They worship me in vain. Their teachings are but rules taught by men, Jesus declared. 1 Corinthians 5.14 And if Christ has not been raised, if Christ has not been raised, Paul said, Our preaching is useless and so is your faith. Titus 3.9 Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law because these are unprofitable and useless. Acts 5.28 We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name. He said, yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teachings and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood. 29. Peter and the other apostles replied, we must obey God rather than man. They were told, do not preach in Christ's name. Do not mention that name. But the apostles came back and they said, we must obey God rather than man. Point five is everything which does not glorify God or meet people's real needs is worthless and a waste of time. 1 Peter 4.11 In 1 Peter 4.11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides him. And so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. Verse 12. Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. And if you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed. For the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. Hallelujah. Point six. Money and worldly influence, education and talents are not to be trusted in, but to be used for the glory of God. The Gospel of Matthew 25, 14-30 speaks of the talents of money which were given to different men when the master was going away. Two were productive and brought increase in what they were given, and one was not. One hid the money because he had fear, and he accused his master of being cruel and mean. he was arrogant and he did not care to know the ways of God and the scripture shows he was thrown into outer darkness because of his wickedness the parable in Matthew 25, 14 shows us that all that is entrusted to us is to be used for the glory of God and the good of those around us God's word shows us also that those who use their abundance to bless others will have abundance for themselves. Please understand, please understand that this abundance is what God chooses for each of us. He knows what's best for us. Amen. He's a good father, the best father. And this promised abundance may be just enough to provide the comfort of living in the way God chooses for us. But the miser might be considered as destitute of what he has as well of what he has not, and it shall all be taken away. Proverbs 11.24. Proverbs 11 There are those who generously scatter abroad and yet increase more And there are those who generously scatter a broth and yet increase more And there are those who withhold more than is fitting or what is justly due But it results only in want. Verse 25. The liberal person shall be enriched and he who waters shall himself be watered. God has always tested his people in their giving attitudes. 2 Corinthians 9.6 says, remember this, Paul speaking, he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly. And he who sows generously, that is, blessings may come to someone, will also reap generously with the blessings. God pays attention and records our attitudes in our times of giving. And sometimes in the providence of God, he strangely transfers estates from those who do no good with them to those that do because they take care of the poor. And can I tell you here that feeding the poor is also and mostly feeding the word of God to those who are in need of being nurtured in the truth in order to be edified, equipped and strengthened in their faith and salvation. Ecclesiastes 2.26 declares To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness. But to the sinner, he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to someone who pleases God. Proverbs 28.8 declares He who by charging excessive interest and who by unjust efforts to gain increases his material possessions, gathers it for himself to spend, who is kind and generous to the poor. Point seven of our principles in which we must base our new thinking or sanctification process again, which is growing in the mind of Christ, is everything good I have or am is because God's grace, his goodness, his love and his power in my life. Everything good that I am or I have is because of his grace. You see, contrary to this, all thought or action independent of God is rooted in pride, and it will only hinder the flow of God's blessings in our lives. Genesis 18, 27 says, Then Abraham spoke up again. Now, and he's speaking to God, let me remind you, Now that I've been so bold to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes. He put it in the right light before God as he was interceding and making intercession before the Lord. Isaiah 57, 12 I will expose your righteousness and your works and they will not benefit you. In other words, God's going to expose self-righteousness and works. Dead works because he says they will not benefit you. It's not in faith by God's grace in our lives. Titus 3.3. At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. Verse 4. But when the kindness and the love of God, our Savior, appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of the rebirth and the renewal of the Holy Spirit. Verse 6, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ, our Savior, so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Our last point to remember in our maturing is point A. Jesus Christ is the center of my life in every area and every aspect. Jesus Christ is my center. he is the one whom my eyes are focused on like the dove her eyes in song of songs were focused on one see a dove can only focus in one direction that is why God uses the analogy of the dove so often in scripture the dove can only focus on one thing at a time where all other birds see many things and look every different way, but a dove focuses on one thing. And this is in scripture talks about, oh, your eyes are like a dove. You have dove eyes. It's not because they're big and huge. It's because they focus on one thing. And in Song of Songs, she focuses on her lover. You've just heard the main points of the basic principles on which we must base our new thinking and our new actions if we are to think with the mind of Christ. And with these points of dedication, there is also a main principle to consider. That is constant spirit-led prayer. The Bible exhorts us to pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5.17 And to continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4.2 And to be praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all of the saints. Ephesians 6.18 You see, this is prayer intimacy with God. This is something he really desires of our new life in him now. And let me say here that this kind of prayer is only possible by the power and the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We should always aim for it. With depending on the Holy Spirit, the power of the cross and every other revelation God gives us, especially through his word in the Bible. You cannot achieve it simply through self-effort. But you can and should ask God to work it in you to produce this kind of prayer life. So, in summary, and in a nutshell, what does this total consecration or the total sanctification mean in practice? First, it means that you will grow in sincere, honest, and pure faith and love in God, the Father, Son, and in your willingness to obey God always, always, always, and live for him in everything. It does not mean punishing yourself or inflicting yourself with duties that you imagine God might be pleased with. God far prefers your wholehearted obedience rather than to man-inspired sacrifices. 1 Samuel 15, 22 declares, But Samuel replied, Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice. And to heed is better than the fat of rams. Secondly, this consecration means self-denial and taking up your cross daily. Listen to what Jesus says in Luke 9, 23. Luke 9, 23. Then he, Jesus, said to them all, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. Verse 25. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the angels, the holy angels. You see, we cannot be totally consecrated to God without coming after Jesus. This means, precious ones, that we become God hungry. And this is the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. As you prefer God's ways for your life and learn to submit out of love to him. Jesus is telling us that coming after him is the necessary part and process of our consecration or maturity in him. Look at, please, and pay attention to the three points Jesus spoke in these words. One is we must deny ourselves. This means saying no to the demands of self. It means saying no to selfish desires, the ease that we like and the comfort that our flesh wants for itself, and the right to indulge the sinful nature and to violate God's law of love. It means saying no to pleasures which don't come from God and don't lead us to God. and Jesus declares secondly here that we must take up our cross daily every day we will have the opportunity to die to ourselves God will bring test after test for us to pass Apostle Paul said taking up your cross or taking up our cross means surrendering to God's will when it is different to our own will Yes, even when the path of God's will means passing through pain and suffering. However, however, we know that the suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Hallelujah. Romans 8.31 And the more you consent to be united with Jesus in the likeness of his death, the more you will share in his resurrection power. Hallelujah. Romans 6, 5. Yes, this is true. Even in this life right now. I'm talking about right now. Third point Jesus made is that we must follow him. This means seeking to be in his presence always. Through fellowship, prayer, and the word of God. This means modeling your life and your way after the one your heart is now longing for in your newfound life in Christ. This means identifying yourself with his nature and his purposes and gladly obeying his commands. This means not looking back and longing to once had in the world. That is, old friends or associations who had no interest in a godly life in Christ or even in material possessions. Remember, sin is contagious. This is now your lifelong commitment. your conscientious and verbal commitment to your new and living life in Jesus Christ who died for you and offers you a better life than the way you were going. He offers you true love and peace and joy for eternity. Jesus offers you and me eternal life and he has redeemed us from the grave and hell which is where we were all going before we accepted his offer of redemption and consecration or sanctification. Remember, in our flesh dwells no good thing. It takes a life lived in Christ, in Christ, in Christ. If you abide in me and my word lives in you, you live in me. Words of Jesus spoken to us, vital, being grafted in. vitally connected to him. It takes our lives lived in Christ, in his power, and in his grace to overcome sin. It's so very clear that sanctification, also called consecration, requires more than simply an act of our will. Your will is involved, and now as you have seen, not directly in your efforts to keep the law. Your will must be used to keep your focus on Jesus, and your will must surrender to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Keeping focused on Jesus will enable the Spirit of the Lord to transform you. As you have seen today, precious ones, you cannot do anything on your own. Self-sanclification is impossible. And as you surrender your will to Christ Jesus, you will become alive in him through the power of the Holy Spirit. And sin does not now have dominion over you, for you're not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6.12, I leave you with this word. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. And do not offer the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. Verse 14, for sin shall not be your master because you're not under the law, but under grace. And I say to you, learn to live in the beautiful grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And he will, through his spirit who lives in you, complete the good work he has begun until he takes you home. .