Are you Sanctified?

Sunday, April 20th 2014

Let's start with this scenario:

You woke up this morning. You could have felt better, but you praised God non the less. Read a quick verse on your Bible app, prayed a little prayer and went about your day. Oh! And today it seems like every single person and situation wants to push your  buttons so in turn they all get on your nerves! A car passes you by, you don't curse but you start thinking evil things, when you tell your friend later it's when a curse word slips out. Later you realize your sibling or roommate may have taken something you needed, you totally blow UP just for the small thing that you'll probably eventually get back later. On facebook, instagram, twitter you post an encouraging verse but yet you are so discouraged, have extreme disbelief and ready to punch the next person that comes at you wrong.

Are you sanctified?

The above situation speaks about a brother or sister who may have given their life to Jesus Christ, but they are babies in Christ and are not yet Sanctified.

Sanctification is an experience, a gift given by God after one has received Salvation. Salvation is simply explained in Mark 16:16 which states:

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved

Salvation is receiving, believing in Jesus and then putting on a new man by becoming Born Again. Jesus explains salvation is just the beginning of a journey that is to be ran steadily till ones physical death or His return to earth. 

Sanctification is an act where ones heart is purified and made holy. God takes your filthy heart that you've given to Christ at salvation and replaces it with a new heart to not have you continue to struggle with pleasing God and spitting out the customs you've adopted from family or the world. Salvation gives you entrance into God's family but Sanctification brings you to the table of holiness.

Sanctification gives you an undeniable peace, that will hold you together in situations when it seems the world will end, but because of God's grace you stand. If you have purposed in your heart to follow the Lord but it seems sins like anger and sins against your body like sexual sin and blasphemy keep rising, sanctification is an experience that will help rid those sins forever.

In Scripture we find many explanations of sanctification. Here are some:

1 Thessalonians 5:22,23,24

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.

1 Thessalonians 4:3

3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:26

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Hebrews 13:12

12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

1 John 1:7

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Yes alot of scripture, but from reading you'll see God yearns and desires for each and everyone of his followers to be sanctified. Salvation is not enough to keep you in this now sin saturated world you've had your eyes open up to. We need God's increased grace and our hearts to be changed

Towards the end of the scriptures stated above, what's described is the after effect of sanctification. Temptations that may not have been so hard to roll and walk away from are now incredibly easy to leave when sanctified.  You have increased power to now walk in the light and stay in the light. Sanctification also helps you be separate from the things of the world. You see as a changed person, a new man there must be a clear difference.At Salvation you may still go to the club,bar, sports games and maybe not partake in the drinking with no real heavy conviction. But it reads in

1 Peter 1:14-16

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 

That taste to go to these places will be removed. Secret sins that protrude even after you've poured your heart out unto God in church like lying, stealing,porn watching masturbation, homosexuality, and keeping a fictitious husband or wife from novels movies or TV shows will be no more! For females and men the dressing that you start getting convicted off to not wear, you'll be given the grace to truly let it go and really embrace modesty..a very lost virtue!

Sanctification is essential to receive. Due to it's result of bringing holiness of life and purity of heart these makes for the center of Christian living. 

A key difference to note is salvation is a one time experience! Yes one can receive Christ and backslide, but they just come to God for forgiveness not re-receive salvation. Sanctification is also a one time experience however it's   an experience that deepens and grows. So if you are dealing with anger and you've received sanctification by God's grace,and still lash out, don't feel condemned, go before the name of the Lord, pray and he'll give you more wisdom and self control for the next time.

By God's grace I prayed and sought the Lord and was sanctified in 2013. Believe me, I didn't know I had it because it seemed the littlest things would get on my nerves. The undeniable peace that comes with sanctification wasn't consistent. When I knew I received it, I felt an overwhelming peace. I could tell you my life right now and you would say why aren't you far away somewhere, it is because the peace of God resides in my heart. I am sanctified and lean totally on our Lord and savior Jesus Christ and know everything will work out for good. 

When you grow spiritually everything else encompassing your life improves for the better!

God is calling you to this experience if you've received him into your life. If you have't received him, he is calling you home. Just seek him, wait upon the Lord for him and by God's grace sanctification will be yours too.I am praying for you. I love you.

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So, I ask you to share your comments below are you sanctified?

From your Sister in Christ with a Heart of Friend,

Janet Adeola Songonuga

P.S When you come into faith it's very important that you stay faithful to what God has asked you to do. For me it was to start this blog and upkeep it. I sincerely apologize for how long it has taken for a new blog to come out. By God's grace I will go back to being more consistent. May God bless you as you read and share it <3

(There is a new Name Written down in Glory! Me and my newly Born Again cousin that just gave her life to Jesus< 3 SO excited for her journey. I love you!)

(Each year my Church has an annual Easter Retreat on Easter Weekend.
Since you missed it you can check out some messages HERE)