Sanctification in the Holy Spirit.. Craig Denison Ministries

 Sanctification in the Holy Spirit

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

As believers, we’ve been given the Holy Spirit as a Helper, Teacher, Friend, and seal for the promised inheritance of eternal life with God. His presence, guidance, and wisdom in our lives are our greatest gifts while here on earth. Through him we have access to direct connection with our heavenly Father. Through him we receive spiritual gifts to empower us. And through him we are able to bear the incredible fruit of abundant life. Open your heart and mind to all that the Holy Spirit would give you, show you, and lead you to this week.

Scripture:“According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.” 1 Peter 1:2

Devotional:    

The word “sanctification” typically renders images of fire, struggle, pain, and toil in my mind. It makes me think of my own sin and wonder how I could ever be transformed into a sanctified child of God. I believe sanctification is one of those words commonly used within the church but often misunderstood. We might understand the definition of sanctification (the process of being made or becoming holy), but I don’t know if we have fully grasped God’s plan for the process. I don’t know if we’ve been taught on sanctification in light of God’s grace.

1 Peter 1 gives us wonderful insight into God’s heart for the process of sanctification:

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:1-9).

The first thing we see in 1 Peter 1:2 is that sanctification is “of the Spirit.” Sanctification comes from God working in us, not from our own strength. In fact, Scripture is clear that righteousness is ours as the result of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:11 says, “You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” And 2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.” Sanctification comes from God’s work and power. In our own strength we can’t produce anything like sanctification because we have no holiness within ourselves. But in the Holy Spirit we have access to a vast, deep well of righteousness and godliness. Through Christ we’ve been made clean, and through the work of the Holy Spirit we are growing up into a life of holiness.

1 Peter 1 is most definitely clear that sanctification is a tough process. Dealing with our sin will never be easy. But it is a process full of the work of our merciful God (1 Peter 1:3), and it always results in rejoicing (1 Peter 1:8).

If you desire holiness, righteousness, and godliness, seek out relationship with the Holy Spirit. Open your heart and mind to his work. Allow him to reveal to you the dark places of your heart that have yet to be touched by the capable, loving hands of the God who formed you and knows you. Allow him to heal the wounds and brokenness that have tied you to the world, which you’ve been set free from through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Sanctification is ours by God’s grace and mercy. Spend time in prayer allowing God to deal with your sin and lead you to a life of rejoicing and joy where only sin and sorrow dwelled before.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire to produce holiness in you by his grace, love, and mercy.

“According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.” 1 Peter 1:2

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3

“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11

2. Open your life up to the Holy Spirit. Ask him to reveal areas that are keeping you from a life of holiness and godliness. Ask him to show you past wounds that are still hurting you today. Confess your sin to him and receive his forgiveness.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

3. Now ask the Holy Spirit to come and heal you. Ask him to show you where he was at times when you were wounded. Ask him to reveal to you truth that has the power to cover the damaging lies the enemy has spoken to you. Live your life healed, set free, and delivered by the power of the Spirit.

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

May you experience the joy and freedom that comes from receiving God’s forgiveness and healing. When we give our sins over to him and receive his forgiveness, the chains that entangled us to the cares of the world are shattered. Our portion in God is love, peace, and joy. Jesus died to set us free from the burden of sin. May you be a child of God marked by the holiness of your heavenly Father that is available in the Holy Spirit who dwells within you.

Extended Reading: 2 Peter 1

Surrendering Isn’t the Same as Giving Up..MEGAN EVANS

 Surrendering Isn’t the Same as Giving Up

MEGAN EVANS, COMPEL Training Member

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)

With no solution to my problem in sight, I uttered the frustrated phrase “I give up!”

Cradling my head in my hands, I sank into a chair at my kitchen table. Resting there on my elbows, I declared defeat. I didn’t really want to quit, but it seemed my options had run out.

I’m not sure how many times in my life I’ve said “I give up,” but it’s been plenty. I’m guessing you’ve said it, too.

Still, one thing is certain for every follower of Christ: Just because we feel defeated doesn’t mean we are left for dead. Quite the opposite! From the depths of our heart, a little signal pings and fires a rescue flare called hope. That’s the difference between us and the world. Our hope is never lost.

In my kitchen that day, hope began to bubble to the surface. Instead of giving up, I found my lips praying a different set of words: Jesus, I surrender.

Nobody likes to raise a white flag. We’ve been taught that more is better, and failure is not an option. The world tells us, “You can do it all!” In reality, we can’t, nor do we need to. But we try. We overextend our time, overextend our abilities and overextend our resources. Yet all of this overreaching just leaves us gripping the end of our rope.

I’ve learned that in these moments swelling with frustration, we have a choice. We can choose to sit with the enemy in defeat or surrender to the Lord in victory. As we surrender to the Lord, our giving up is replaced by His lifting up, as our key verse says:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).

As we raise our white flag and cry out to Jesus, He rescues us from the depths. When we humble ourselves before the Lord, we begin to see His mighty hand at work. While we rest safely under God’s care, He will lift us up in due time … and His timing is always perfect.

Surrendering isn’t the same thing as giving up — not when God is involved. Submitting to God means humbly placing ourselves at His feet. Then we give up our desire for control and our pride. Under the care of God’s mighty hand, we release the need to know when, why and how. Faith finds us resting in His power, peace and provision. This different surrender is a dying of self, and in it we begin to walk in fresh, new life with Christ.

Are details of this day causing your head to droop? Help is on the way. Hope is bubbling to the surface even now. When we find ourselves at the end of our rope, let’s instead cast our anxiety on the Lord. Nestle under the protection of God’s mighty hand because He cares for you. Rest there.

Don’t give up in defeat today; surrender to the Lord.

Dear Lord, You are my steadfast hope and rescue. Thank You for lifting me out of my frustration and into the tender care of Your mighty hand. I surrender all worry and anxiety of this day to You, Jesus, and rest in Your victory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Dying to Be a Servant: A Parable.. Dr. Charles Stanley

 Dying to Be a Servant: A Parable

Dr. Charles Stanley

John 12:23-26

Once upon a time there were two grains of wheat lying on the floor of a warm and cozy barn. But one day, the farmer came in and told them, "I want to take you out of this comfortable barn and plant you in the earth. I'm going to place you in the cold ground and cover you with soil. It will be dark, and you will die. But I promise that you will multiply and become very fruitful."

The first grain of wheat turned down the suggestion. "No way!" he said. "Count me out. I like my comfort, and I don't want to die." But the second one, after carefully considering the pain and discomfort of dying, decided the promise of a future harvest was worth the sacrifice. So the farmer took him outside and planted him in the ground, while allowing the first grain of wheat to remain inside the barn.

A few days later, a small green sprout appeared over where the seed had been planted. Then it grew and became a tall stalk of wheat that produced one hundred more grains. For the next forty years, the farmer planted all the seeds that had originated from that first grain of wheat, and year after year, the harvest multiplied. However, the grain of wheat that stayed in the barn remained there by itself, never multiplying--but he was very comfortable.

Which grain of wheat are you? Are you playing it safe, or have you let Christ plant you in the world? The only way you'll ever become useful and fruitful in God's kingdom is to abandon your own selfish desires, get out of your comfort zone, and serve the Lord by serving others.

How to Have Hope in Difficult Circumstances..By: Kia Stephens

 How to Have Hope in Difficult Circumstances

By: Kia Stephens

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13

Like seasons, we will all eventually find ourselves in a valley, a season of despondency. Sometimes we are able to rebound quickly, sometimes we are left with the lingering feelings of despair. And when the circumstances of our lives prompt discouragement to link arms with the past, it can feel impossible to overcome.

Thus, we may find ourselves plunging deep into hopelessness. This was the place I found myself. I was discouraged. I had been here before, but this time was different. I had prayed the same prayer for years. Though I longed for resolution my prayers went unanswered.

Then I discovered Romans 15:13. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The words of this verse captivated my attention. God was the giver of hope! He was the answer to hopelessness.

In the Greek, the meaning of hope is expectation of what is sure. This meant that God was the God of what we can be sure of. He is not peddling false hope and shallow words of encouragement. Whereas life, people, and outcomes are all unpredictable, God can be trusted. He offers words of life when we are in despair.

Paul prayed that the God of hope would fill us with joy and peace that would never cease. This joy and peace flows in and through our lives, seeping into every area.

Paul also says that God is able to fill us with joy and peace as we trust in Him. God is not dishing out this overflowing joy and peace to anyone who wants it. God has reserved this tangible evidence of His love for those who are trusting and believing in Him. Those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ can cling to Paul’s prayer with anticipation. What an encouragement!

It would be a tragedy to have the promise of overflowing joy and peace and not take hold to it because of a refusal to trust in God. By placing our trust in him we have the privilege of engaging in an uneven exchange. We give Him our discouragement, and he offers us overflowing joy, peace and hope.

We do not have to live discouraged. We do not have to be perpetually stuck in a place of despair or hopelessness. We can know hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not have to try and make ourselves hopeful or conjure up joy where it does not exist. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God can impart hope to us.

It is important to note that this impartation of hope requires the power of the Holy Spirit. The third person of the Godhead makes this hope transfer possible. We experience the Holy Spirit as Christ described Him in Acts 1:4 (NIV). The Holy Spirit is a gift and He enables us to overflow with hope.

What difficult circumstances are you currently facing? Do you believe the truth of Romans 15:13? God has the gift of hope for you in the midst of your season of despondency. Trust in him and ask the Spirit to fill you with hope as you trust in him.

A Prayer for Boldness for Christ beyond Our Screens..By Emily Rose Massey

 A Prayer for Boldness for Christ beyond Our Screens

By Emily Rose Massey

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV).

Dear Christian social media users, do we delight in making Christian content more than we delight in making disciples? As a blogger myself, this is a question that has been on my heart lately, followed up with am I too intimidated to evangelize for Christ outside of social media and face to face with those around me? Perhaps I am hiding behind my screen when God is calling me to step out of my comfort zone and reach those He has physically (not just virtually) put in my path.  

I know that the Lord can use our online content to evangelize and disciple others, especially if we are sharing His truth with others, but if we are not careful, our eyes (and time) can become so fixated on “pumping out good content” that we lose the focus of investing in others’ lives to truly take spiritual responsibility for each other as followers of Christ. This happens primarily in our day-to-day relationships with the people physically around us but can also be fruitful online if we make the time to build relationships that way. 

We must remember that we don’t want to be a part of creating information consumers, but truth pursuers who long to follow Jesus. God can use your content that you post on social media to help others learn about the Lord and His Word, absolutely. We just need to be careful that we are not giving our heart and time to the disciplines of social media content curation more than the dedication of true evangelism and disciple making. Let us not become distracted by a good thing that might lead us to forsake the main thing that Jesus has called us to do.

Jesus gives us an important command to His disciples in “Great Commission” in Matthew 28:

“…“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV). 

God cares more about souls, not about “the squares” or even what strategy may increase the numbers of “followers,” “likes,” “shares,” or video views on your platform…and we should too. So much good can come from what we share online, but we must make sure it has its proper place in our life. This means that we must guard our time on social media so that we can prioritize time for in-depth Bible study and prayer too. We can be a light for Christ on social media, but if we are neglecting spiritual disciplines such as prayer and Bible study, we will quickly become dry spiritually, and soon evangelism and discipleship will not be a priority in our life either. Let us ask the Father for boldness to share truth with others and be able to balance our virtual connections and face-to-face relationships so that we can grow closer to God and so that others may know Jesus in a more life-changing way.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of technology that allows us to reach others with Your gospel both far and wide, all over the globe. The connections we make online can be so fruitful and impactful, but often, it becomes so much easier to get swept away by the virtual world and neglect the people truly in front of our nose. I ask that You would help me prioritize my time spent on social media. I want to share Your truth with everyone both online and in person, but I don’t want to allow my screen to keep me from reaching out to those who are physically around me. I ask for Your boldness when I feel intimated or embarrassed. I trust Your Spirit will empower me to share the gospel with those who need it. Thank You for the believers You have placed in my life. May I take discipleship more seriously so that I can grow closer to You with others as we continue to learn more about You and Your Word, which will fuel our passion to evangelize to those who need the hope that only exists in Christ.
In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Jesus Wants Your Tonka Truck..By Kyle Norman

 Jesus Wants Your Tonka Truck

By Kyle Norman

“While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him, and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him.”  (Luke 15:20)

When I was five, I tried to run away from home. I forget what offended me at the time. I gathered my treasured possession, put on my shoes and jacket, and opened the front door. With my bright, yellow, metal, Tonka truck in my arms, I declared to my father that I was running away and that he would not see me again. 

As I walked down our driveway, I heard the door slam behind me. Instantly I was worried that I had been cast out, shunned by the parent I had had just defied. Yet as I looked behind me, I saw that my father had put on his shoes and jacket and had begun to follow me down the laneway. He said nothing to me; he simply followed along as I tried to run away from him.

I had probably gone no farther than a couple of blocks when my Tonka truck began to weigh heavy upon my tiny arms. I turned to my father and asked, “can you carry this for me?” My father responded firmly, yet lovingly, “not if you are running away,” he said. Even at five years old I couldn’t fault his logic. So, I kept walking, each step getting harder and harder. My arms hurt; my legs hurt. Running away wasn’t’ the delight I had thought it would be. In fact, I felt more weighed down, more trapped, than I had while under in my father’s house. 

Running away from the Lord never works out the way we want. The spiritual baggage we hold has nowhere to go. It digs into us, weighs us down, and saps our strength. The very things we believed would bring us freedom and independence becomes heavily laden keeping us bound. 

Jesus tells a parable about this very thing. An impetuous son demands his inheritance from his father. He wants to break free from his father’s rules; he wishes to be his own man and make his own decisions. As if his demand wasn’t enough, the son then sells off his birthright and leaves his family. He takes his Tonka Truck and runs away to a distant land. Of course, things don’t work out as he had hoped. His freedom quickly became his slavery. His riches turned into emptiness. And as he longed for home, he feared he would never be welcome. The son believed that the father he rejected would reject him. After all, he had done too much and gone too far.

Do you feel this way today? Are you struggling with a weight that you do not want to carry?   

Eventually, my Tonka Truck burden became far too much for me to handle. I swallowed my five-year-old pride, turned to my father, and confessed: “I want to go home.” My father wasn’t angry. He wasn’t vengeful. The words “I told you so”, or “how could you” were never found on his lips. Upon my repentance, he smiled. “Good”, he replied. He then took the Tonka truck from me, held my hand, and led me home.

The father in Jesus’ parable does the same. Jesus describes the father as continually looking out for his son. Each new day was met with the hope that the son would return. And when that day finally came, the father picked up his robes and ran to meet him. Symbols of redemption and sonship were placed on the wayward child, as the father rejoiced in his presence. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Forgiveness is a reality upon which we can be assured. Jesus tells this parable to describe how he is waiting to receive us. Jesus treats our waywardness in love and grace, not in anger or punishment. Jesus delights in our presence and longs for us to return to him. Nothing we have done will cause him to reject us, and there is no distance we can run for which he will not be with us. This is the good news.

So, if you feel lost and alone, or if you feel exhausted from carrying your burdens, simply turn around and face your Lord. Even though you ran from him, Jesus has never left you. He has been with you each step of your life. Furthermore, the Lord is infinite in mercy and resolute in compassion. Like the father in the parable, Jesus promises to throw his arms around you, kiss your wounds with healing, and lead you home. Don’t you think it’s about time?