Gift #7 Sanctification

When you choose to receive the free gift of salvation, you are given automatically at least seven more free gifts. The free gift of salvation is the only one you must choose. All the others are given freely to you when you choose salvation.

Sanctify = to consecrate and set apart; to render legitimate; to make productive

You and I are legitimately saved from the penalty of our sins; justified before God; reconciled to our Creator, redeemed from slavery to sin; regenerated with a new nature and spiritual birth by the propitiation Jesus Christ gave for us.

There should be an obvious difference in our lives demonstrated by the choices you and I make.

Jesus Christ is actively involved in making you and me more like Himself and more useful to Him and the advancement of His kingdom.

1 Thessalonians 4:

³For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

⁴That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

⁵Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

⁶That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in anymatter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

⁷For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

Help for possessing yourself in honor includes:

Study the Bible daily

Pray always about everything

Fellowship with other Christians

Remember your enemy wants to steal your earthly inheritance, ruin your testimony and take down others with you. His weapon is always lies.

John gives this instruction for living in this fallen creation -1 John 3:

¹Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

²Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

³And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Are you hoping Jesus Christ will appear?

Do you desire to be like Him?

What steps are you taking to live purely in His sight?

Paul gives more information about the process in Romans 5:

¹Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

²By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

³And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

⁴And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

⁵And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Where would you say your current circumstances put you in this process?

Are you in tribulation?

Do you know peace?

Are you developing patience?

Are you feeling no shame?

Do you know God’s love?

Tell it to Jesus! He loves you and cares!

Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed  and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will  accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti