POSSESSING YOUR OWN VESSEL IN SANCTIFICATION!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY MARCH 31, 2021.

SUBJECT: POSSESSING YOUR OWN VESSEL IN SANCTIFICATION!

Memory verse: "That each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,” (First Thessalonians 4 vs 4.)

READ: First Thessalonians 4 vs 1 - 4 & 7:

4:1: Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, 

4:2: for you know what commandments we gave through the Lord Jesus.

4:3: For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

4:4: that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor;

4:7: For God did not call us unto uncleanness, but in holiness.

INTIMATION:

 Sanctification—a separation to God—is the will of God for the believer, and the purpose of calling the believer by the gospel. It’s the separation of the believer from evil things and ways, and leading the life befitting of those so separated. Sanctification is that relationship with God into which one enters by faith in Christ, and in which their sole title is the death of Christ.

Sanctification before the coming of Christ was done by washing themselves and their clothing in a special ceremony (Numbers 8 vs 5. - 8). While we are not required to carry out such ceremonies today, we can purify ourselves by reading God’s Word, thoughtfully applying it to our lives, and preparing our hearts to participate in worship through anticipation, self-examination, and meditation. Just as we “set apart” time for worship, we also “set apart” ourselves to be in God’s presence.

Since we know that sanctification is a basic requirement in our relationship with God, we are duty bound to possess our own vessels in sanctification. We should “set apart” ourselves to find out what areas in our lives we are not pleasing God—not walking in accordance with His precepts. We can only do this through self-examination, and meditation on the Word of God to discern ourselves the ways we are individually falling short of separation to God in Christ. 

Sanctification must be learned from God, and He teaches it by His Word. We are members of Christ Body—the church, and the Scripture says, “Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.”(Ephesians 5 vs 25 - 26.) In studying and meditating on the Word each of us should identify in our lives how to possess our own vessel in sanctification (First Thessalonians 4 vs 4). Our acts of sinfulness defer, and it takes “the washing of water by the Word” to reveal our respective areas of sin against God. The Scripture points out sin, motivates us to confess, leading to renewal our relationship with Christ, and guides us back to right path.

In John 17 vs 17, Jesus said to the Father, “Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth.” A follower of Christ becomes sanctified through believing and obeying the Word of God. The believer has already accepted forgiveness through Christ’s sacrificial death. But daily application of God’s Word has a purifying effect on our minds and hearts. David gave the insight thus, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” (Psalm 119 vs 9). Sanctification must be pursued by the believers, earnestly and undeviatingly 

Jesus, our Master and Savior, said that He sanctified Himself during His earth walk by the truth of God’s Word, so as to be model for us, “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. (John 17 vs 19.) He led a life of humility and obedience to God the Father, even with His status as equal to God. The Scripture stated thus: 

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2 vs 5 - 8.)

We are living in a world that is dominated by sin and evil. The question then is, “How do we stay pure in a contaminating environment?” We cannot do this on our own, but must have counsel and strength more dynamic than the tempting influences around us. That counsel or wisdom and strength is in the Word of God; reading and doing what it says, with the Holy Spirit helping us in our weaknesses or infirmities.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of studying and meditation on Your Word, and that I may find grace to do all that is contained there in, in Jesus’ Name ai have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!