The Local Church & Your Sanctification

The Local Church & Your Sanctification

We should all be well aware that the Christian life is to be one of continual sanctification (Matthew 3:8).  Christ has, by His sovereign grace, purchased us to be a people for His own possession.  The beauty of grace is seen, in part, in the fact that Christ pulls us out of the mire and death of our sin and makes us a new creation in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13).  Being that “new creation” implies change in our life.  To be clear, the Gospel is not about life-change as so many like to portray it these days.  The Gospel is about our desperate need for forgiveness of our numerous transgressions against a Holy God and the incredible sacrifice that has been made on our behalf by Jesus Christ so that that sin debt can be settled once and for all(Romans 3:21-26).  Even so, the pardoning of our sin sets us free from more than just God’s wrath for those sins, it also frees us to serve the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:1-8).  The product of our salvation is change.  When Christ saves us we receive a new heart and new desires (Ezekiel 36:26).  The Holy Spirit works in us to change the old man into the one that God has created us to be (Ephesians 4:22-24).

While it is true that we are all individually responsible for our own sanctification, meaning that if I fail to pursue holiness as I’ve been called to do it is on me for that failure and no one else, but God has not left us alone in this quest.  Let me elaborate,  Just as we are saved by grace, we are sanctified by grace as well.  But God has not called us to merely sit stagnant in our sanctification.  As He works in us, grows us and conforms us more to Christ we are called to respond.  Even our desire to respond and obey and all our striving is given by the Spirit working in us.  To unfold this part of His plan God has placed the local church in our life as a means of our sanctification.  I would like us to consider 3 ways that the local church plays a vital role in our sanctification.

God sanctifies us by His power working in us through His Holy Spirit that we receive solely because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

1.) The church is God's method for the formative and corrective discipline of the body.

The failure of the individual affects the whole body.  1 Corinthians 12:1-30 teaches us that the church functions best when it functions as a single unit.  Each person exercising their spiritual gifts for the benefit for the other person and through that God is glorified in the unity of the Body.  Just as no part of the human body is without purpose, so it is with each part of the Body of Christ.  Each person in the local church plays a significant role in the sanctification of the other members.  One person’s sanctification is helped as other members exercise their gifts in service towards that person to help them grow in vast areas of their walk with Christ.  Conversely, that person’s gifts being exercised help them to sharpen themselves and they grow through their useful service to their brethren. As we serve others in the Body of Christ and are served by them as well, we grow spiritually to look more like Christ.

2.) The church is God's method for the watch care for the soul – Hebrews 13:17

God has ordained Elders and Deacons to watch over their flocks not for the purpose of commanding them or ruling with an iron fist as though a regime.  Rather, they are there for your benefit.  They are there to unfold God’s Word for you and lead you towards conformity to Christ.  Paul said in Romans 12 that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds; our minds are renewed by the Holy Spirit through engaging them with God’s Word, and faithful Pastors are one of the means God uses of applying the Word to your mind. So we are to be plugged in to a local church and we are to be submissive to our leaders, as they submit to the Lord, for they are caring for us and watching over us.  Rightly engaged this relationship will bring joy to both parties.  As the Pastor leads a believer away from sin’s dangerous snares that person is more sanctified and as the person submits to their Pastor’s leadership that Pastor’s joy is refreshed.  A Pastor with joy for his ministry will be a Pastor who lovingly guides his flock towards Christ.

3.) The church is God's method for the practical sanctification of His children. -  Hebrews 10:24-25

The church is God's method for the practical sanctification of His children.  The way believers grow in the practical ins and outs of Christianity is through the local church.  One purpose of our gathering for corporate worship and Biblical fellowship is so that we can “consider how to stir one another up to love and good works”.  Are not those two things directly connected to Christ conformity?  We learn to fulfill the greatest commandments by knowing how to both love and serve the Lord our God and our neighbor in a Biblical and Christ-like manner (Psalm 27:8,11) As we grow as a body and an individual and are thereby further sanctified, we display Christ to the world.  They see us reacting to success with humility, worship with reverence, temptations with resolves for righteousness over fleshly indulgence, persecution with an increased zeal for Gospel proclamation, and trials with unshakable trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is the heart of what is meant by shining our light in such a way that men see our good works and glorify our Lord (Matthew 5:16).

Pastor's Bookshelf: "Blood Work" by Anthony Carter

Over Spring Break I had the opportunity to catch up on much of the reading I have been putting off due to a busy schedule.  One of the books I read was Anthony Carter's "Blood Work".  As Christians we talk about the blood of Christ, we sing about the blood of Christ, and we use Biblical phrases that mention being made clean and pure of our sin by the blood of Christ.  But have we thought deeply on the blood of Christ?  Have we spent time pondering all that the Bible says about blood and specifically its necessity in atoning for sin?

Carter has thought very deeply on this very subject to give an in-depth and engaging explanation about the multifaceted benefits of Christ's blood shed for us.  I was exhorted to great joy many times over what Christ has done for me by washing me in His blood.  I believe you will be as well.  He explores everything from the obvious sin cleansing benefits to the implications that this should have on our every day lives.

This book is available from Ligonier.org and Amazon.com.  I highly encourage you to pick it up today!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Reformation Trust Publishing through their Blog for a Free Book Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

5 Things I Learned By Staying Away From Facebook

When my family and I decided to take a vacation this Spring Break I also felt convicted to put all social media (such as Facebook and twitter) away for the entire time. Don't get me wrong. I think Facebook can be a very handy tool for Christians. 

As a Pastor I use it to post great quotes I come across, books worth reading, articles worth a look, warn about wolves, encourage/exhort brethren near me or in other countries. 

I post A LOT; albeit when I post an article I'm typically not on Facebook, I'm on a blog or news site and posting from there... even still.

I had to know whether my usage of Facebook had become an addiction/possible idol in my life.

The first couple of days, anytime I found myself in a moment where nothing was going on (waiting for my kids to finish eating... Standing in a line... Driving to our destination) I would grab my phone and reach my thumb towards the FB icon stopping just shy of pressing it.

I wasn't doing it from an obsessed desire to see what people were doing or to show all my friends what I was having for lunch... I was doing it because I wanted to fill the time.

By the end of day 2 it had become way easier. The urge was gone and I couldn't care less.  Day 3-5 I began noticing the things that I will detail below.  Sufficing to say here that by day 3 of no facebook or other social media it was actually quite easy to stay away.

Will I keep my facebook? Most likely. Will I continue to post so often?  Possibly on occasions but not nearly so much as before

This has helped me break the need to feel I have to check Facebook every 10 minutes (or less!!!).  

In fact, today being my first real day back online in the world of social media I have only felt compelled to log in to facebook just a couple of times and none during lunch rather than my usual every 3-5 minutes.

I HIGHLY encourage all of you to ask yourself: 'Just how dependent have I become on Facebook (or other social media)?'  Does the thought of giving it up even for a week sound like something you couldn't stand?

How about giving it up for good?  Yes or no?  I'm not saying you should deactivate your account, but if in your mind your thinking, 'I could never do that!'  My friend, you may have found an idol in your heart. Without further ado...

Things I learned from my Facebook Hiatus:

1.) Prayer time came much more frequently. I found out I was filling the free time with mindless facebooking which led to mass time consumption which equaled far less time spent praying and communicating with God.

2.) The time I spent in the Word was much more meaningful as I was not so distracted wondering who'd 'liked' my posts or who had done what that day.  It sneaks up to slowly, the desire to receive approval from others I mean. 

3.) I enjoyed more fully my time with my family. When I constantly check Facebook in the boredom time I sometimes miss my kids saying something to me the first time.  I also noticed I had far more patience in general. Don't get me wrong, I don't get upset at an interruption from Facebook, but I think the extra patience came from my brain not constantly being bombarded with my surroundings AND the Facebook world

4.) It isn't as much addiction as it is a constant effort to avoid boredom. Why do I feel I must constantly be entertained. A sound theology of rest is vital to my spiritual & physical health.   Rest

can also just be not filling my every short moment with something as much as it is taking an extended rest period such as a vacation.

5.) I fit in reading 2 books start to finish, each had at least 200pgs, and I retained more of what I read (no Facebook quote posting).  Two whole books!  Now I love to read, but absorbing two books in a week (after the kids went to bed and on our trip to and from our destination) is incredible for me.

Is it important to seek Spiritual Wisdom?

Ephesians 1:15-23 – 15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,  16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;  17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.  18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,  19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might  20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,  21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
 

Why does it matter that we have spiritual wisdom and where does that come from?  Why is it important?

Paul says that he continually prays for the Church at Ephesus that they be granted spiritual wisdom and knowledge.  His desire was to see them develop a character that held to Godly standards.  To see them seek to have God grant them knowledge and insight in a way that only a Christian is capable of receiving.  In a way that only a sanctified mind can do.

A sanctified mind.  A mind that has been set apart for the purposes of God.  Someone who is truly devoted to God and has given their mind to Him.  He prayed that for them because to have that gift from God.  To have that spiritual wisdom, allows us to fully grasp the greatness of the hope and the inheritance that is our in Christ Jesus.
Go back just a little to Ephesians 1:3-14  - 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,  4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love  5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight  9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him  10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him  11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,  12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.  13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,  14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus! BLESSED BE!!!!  HE IS BLESSED!  The word used for Blessed here is made up of a greek phrase that means to praise or to commend.  Praising God.  It is the supreme duty of all creation.  To praise Him.  And how do we attain an understanding of that?  How do we get our lives so focused on Him that all we want to do is honor and praise Him?  By praying for this spiritual wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and insight.  Once we begin to see a picture of who God really is then we can’t help but to praise Him.

Jeremiah received his calling from God and he began to preach and he began to get discouraged by the naysayers and his so called friends.  But Jeremiah’s walk with God was such that his desire was to please God and not the world.  So much so that he said this of discouragement in Jeremiah 20:9.

Jeremiah 20:9 – But if I say, “I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name,” Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it.

Even when he suffered and was persecuted Jeremiah said he could not keep from praising God.  A walk like that folks isn’t developed by going to church 2 days a week.  A relationship with God like that one isn’t built by going on every church trip.  It’s built by prayer… prayer to God that He would grant you a spiritual knowledge and wisdom.  So that you can walk in obedience to the calling you have received in HIM!

Why is that important?  Why have a spiritual wisdom?  Why have a view of who God is?  The easy answer is of course that we would know His will more and that we would be able to better avoid sinful behavior.  While those are very true things, I want to suggest to you tonight that we need to seek God not to provide some benefit to our lives, but we seek Him so that we might better praise Him with our lives.  That we would find more ways to praise Him.  He consumes more of our life and we eliminate more of the things that hold us back and we praise Him for the freedom.

There are times in my life when I find myself in such a desperate need for the hold of a loving God that I cry out to Him and the tighter He holds me the more freedom I feel.

It is a process of sanctification.  The word sanctify comes from Hebrew and Greek words that mean “set apart.”  So to be sanctified is to be set apart from sin. When you put your faith in Christ, you are released from sin’s penalty and set apart unto God. Yet the process of separation from the power of sin in your life has just begun. As you grow in Christ, you become further separated from the influence of sin and more consecrated to God. The sanctification that takes place at conversion initiates a lifelong process of distancing yourself further and further from sin and coming gradually and steadily more into conformity with Christlike righteousness.

The more you become like Christ, the more sensitive you are to the remaining corruptions of the flesh. As you mature in godliness, your sins become both more painful and more obvious. The more you put away sin, the more you will notice sinful tendencies you need to eliminate. That is the paradox of sanctification: the holier you become, the more frustrated you will be by the stubborn remnants of your sin