HOLINESS WHERE DID IT GO?
John 17:17-19 (KJV) 17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Before we go any further stop and read John chapter 17 verses 1-19. Ok! Now we are ready to proceed. The Greek for the word Sanctify means to make pure or holy. The base word means blameless most Holy thing. Hum? Sadly this does not sound like most modern Christians. I could spend pages and pages on the doctrine of sanctification but I am just going to focus on the words of Jesus. I think all that know me, know how I feel about doctrines. Most are of men and not God. So lets just focus on Where the Rubber meets the Road the words of Jesus.
Here Jesus says very simply "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth". Seems simple to me. How do we become sanctified in God's eyes. Through truth and where do we find the truth? Read it again, I know this goes against most of your thoughts but Jesus said "thy word is truth!" Now, I could be wrong but the picture here is Jesus with his most intimate friends and disciples. Jesus is praying to His Father in Heaven. So Jesus is not telling the disciples that they can be sanctified by their word of truth. There are no pastors, ministers, priests, bishops, elders, deacons, district superintendents, presbyters etc. Nope! imagine that, Jesus did not have the whole staff there. Therefore, we can come to only one conclusion. Jesus was referring to the pure, true and whole Word Of God! Not religious thinking. Not man's doctrines. I can tell you that if you follow your religious thinking on how to become sanctified you will never get there. God's pure and holy word is the only way to holiness in your life my friend.
We need nothing more than the Word of God and then following it to be made holy. My eyes do not see much holiness in the body of Christ anymore. Mary and I are considered crazy, radical, too extreme, because we will not watch any movie that has a higher rating than PG. Why? what does the word say? Philippians 4:8 (KJV) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Just the other day Mary and I started to watch a PG movie from 1987 and within 5 minutes there were two curse words. Needless to say we turned off the television. But, we are considered "extremists" because we believe the Word of God! I may be old fashion but I cannot see how watching an "R" rated movie with curse words, the Lords name in vain, violence and sexual interludes is following God's word. Read the verse above again. Now compare it to your life. An old pastor friend of mine (yes I have lots) once said to me as a young Christian " Jay learn early garbage in means garbage out!" As usual Jesus said it better. Matthew 15: 16-18 (TLB) "Don't you understand?" Jesus asked him. "Don't you see that anything you eat passes through the digestive tract and out again? But evil words come from an evil heart and defile the man who says them. It does not matter what you eat it is going to come back out the other side. It is what you feed you heart and soul.
Do you want God's holiness in your life? WAIT!! Before you answer that question. Because, seeking God's holiness will change your way of life. God does expect us to strive to reach a higher plain. Jesus said it. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. You truly want holiness in your life then be prepared to be taken through the fires of refinement. Jesus said "And for their sakes I sanctify myself." Remember Jesus hung on a cross for you my friend. Paul's prayer in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NLT) 23Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Gives us an idea of what is required. Notice to be holy in every way, you MUST be blameless in spirit, soul, and body until the end. Are you ready to give up self and selfish desires for this? My friend you cannot watch your soap operas, you cannot listen to your worldly music, you cannot watch television programs with immoral subjects, you cannot watch R rated or worse movies, you cannot leave behind hurt and damaged souls because of your pride, you cannot appoint yourself as the corrector of all false religions, your cannot become a self appointed prophet, you cannot think you are anyone or anything special, etc and find true holiness. Isaiah 57:15 (NLT) 15The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this: "I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts. Holiness is only found in a personal relationship with My Lord and Savior Jesus and His Fathers words.
I have learned one thing about my Lord that if something is very important to our relationship with God. It can be found in the Bible three times. Check it out, my friends. Leviticus 19:2 (NLT) 2"Say this to the entire community of Israel: You must be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. This is in the Word of God three times. Lev 11:44, Lev. 11:45 and Lev. 19:2. I think the Lord was trying to get His point across.
God's Word is the only way for you to reach a sanctified (holy) state before God. So I ask you how much time do you personally spend in that word each day. If I had to venture I would say very little. I would say that you my friends spend more time on other things. Most of us spend at least eight hours a day working to earn a living to pay for the things we need. Nope, most of us work to pay for the things we want. As the old song said we work for the weekend. Wyoming is particularly bad at this. The average garage for the toys is bigger than the average house. The average person now spends 3 to 4 hours a day in front of the television or the computer. But think about it, I mean really put it into prospective. We spend at least eight hours a day working to get the things we need and want in this world. How many hours a day do you spend in the only thing that will prepare you for what you need and want in the eternal world? "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth!!" All the time you spend on other interests will not bring you to holiness. So I am not going to be impressed if you tell me "Oh, pastor I study my Bible every morning. I spend an hour in prayer and study each day." If this is you then put the numbers to it. If you spend an hour each day studying the word you are ahead of most Christians but that is only 4% of your whole day. Isn't the one who was tortured and hung on a cross for your sins worth more than 4% of your time?
We are approaching the end rapidly. All the signs of the times are there. Are you ready? Are you holy as HE is holy?
Get ready my friends!
God Bless
