Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers sounds extremely hard to do, BUT, when we read this in the knowledgeable light of our New Covenant with God, we find a TRUTH that causes it all to make sense!
Sanctification
This is the will of God, your sanctification… — 1
Thessalonians 4:3
The Death Side. In sanctification God has to deal with us on
the death side as well as on the life side. Sanctification requires our coming
to the place of death, but many of us spend so much time there that we become
morbid. There is always a tremendous battle before sanctification is realized—
something within us pushing with resentment against the demands of Christ. When
the Holy Spirit begins to show us what sanctification means, the struggle
starts immediately. Jesus said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate…his
own life…he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26).
In the process of sanctification, the Spirit of God will
strip me down until there is nothing left but myself, and that is the place of
death. Am I willing to be myself and nothing more? Am I willing to have no
friends, no father, no brother, and no self-interest— simply to be ready for
death? That is the condition required for sanctification. No wonder Jesus said,
“I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). This is where the
battle comes, and where so many of us falter. We refuse to be identified with
the death of Jesus Christ on this point. We say, “But this is so strict. Surely
He does not require that of me.” Our Lord is strict, and He does require
that of us.
Am I willing to reduce myself down to simply “me”? Am I
determined enough to strip myself of all that my friends think of me, and all
that I think of myself? Am I willing and determined to hand over my simple
naked self to God? Once I am, He will immediately sanctify me completely, and
my life will be free from being determined and persistent toward anything
except God (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
When I pray, “Lord, show me what sanctification means for
me,” He will show me. It means being made one with Jesus. Sanctification is not
something Jesus puts in me— it is Himself in me (see 1
Corinthians 1:30).
The New Birth that comes at the very moment when we receive JESUS as our Lord and personal Saviour, is instantaneous! Receiving our resurrection bodies at the appearing of JESUS for the church will be instantaneous! Sanctification, however, is NOT! Sanctification happens in our souls daily as we continue in prayer, praise & worship, study & meditation of the Word of God and in intimate fellowship with HIM! it DOES require the 'dying' to our own selfish plans and purposes and a readiness to be DOERS of the instructions that we receive from the Word of God and the Spirit of God Who lives IN us! One very important TRUTH to remember as you grow up daily IN HIM is that we can NEVER out give God! If He calls us to do something that seems hard at the moment, the rewards of obedience will be far beyond all that we can even imagine! Let's learn to REALLY trust HIM and surrender ALL to His perfect will! Blessings await and abound! Are you READY? Here is Hillsong UNITED asking that very same questions!Shalom in Him!
