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Inspiration Message

What is Sanctification? | Part One | by Rev. Vipul Kharat

As a believer we would like to know the ‘will of God’. We can know the will of God in most areas of  our life through applying the established biblical principles, whereas in some areas the will of God is so perfect and straight forward without a shadow of doubt.

Sanctification is one of the important issues where the word of God clearly states that “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor. (1 These 4; 3-4). The word of God gives us ample information about the significance of sanctification in a Christian life.

In order to understand the concept of sanctification better, it is vital to know what sanctification means. Sanctification relates to being set apart for a specific use or to be cleansed from the sinful nature. In the Old Testament times several utensils, places and articles were kept exclusively for the purpose of rendering the services to God. The consequences of using these for general purposes would mean the user have to pay a heavy penalty. For instance, during the reign of King Belshazzar the sanctified vessels were brought into the King’s party. The King Belshazzar and others drank wine in those sanctified vessels and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. The very night, King Belshazzar of the Chaldeans were slain.

According to the New Testament, we are the sanctified vessels. We are the temple of God and the most Holy God almighty wants to reside in us. Because the Christ is the head of the Church and we all belong to the body of the Christ. Each part of the body plays unique role in communion with the other parts of the body. The Spirit of God wants to dwell alone in our hearts. When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour the Spirit of God regenerates our spirit and we experience the new life from the above. (Born-again experience) In this new life, we have rejected our old ways of life which contradicts to the Word of God and we welcomed the Holy Spirit into our lives.

Sanctification is the act of God and we cannot sanctify ourselves since our nature itself is corrupt. Our efforts will not help us to become sanctified and since  it is a subsequent to our regeneration. Sanctification is an ongoing process and it is an incessant work of God in believers’ life. The sanctification plays an important role in submitting ones mind and body in subjection to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The old nature always constantly wants to prevail in believers’ life and there is always a contradiction between the flesh and the spirit.

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Message by Rev. James Ananda Kumar

Last week Rev. James Ananda Kumar spoke about the significance of prayer for an individual as well as for fellowship to grow in spiritually. He reminded us that, when we pray in one accord with one heart we can see the miracles.

Colossians 4:2 tells us “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;” when we pray If we follow these three ways we see the miracles of God. Colossians 4:12; Thessalonians 5:16-18; Luke 18:1 tells us to pray fervently, without ceasing or grieving, for this is the will of God. Hence prayer is a communion between God and man. It brings victory, making us more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). Prayer changes our lives and situations. The first Church was born after praying( On Pentecost)).. Apostle Paul describes in Hebrew 4:14-16 that we have a great high priest Jesus, the son of God and we need to boldly pray at his throne of grace. Through prayer God reveals many things (Acts 22:17). And he is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (psalm 46:1)…Continue Reading

Pastor gave the example of Daniel, who prayed not for himself but for Jerusalem (Daniel 9:20). He was presenting all the supplications by confessing sins on behalf of his people.Then the angel of God came to him in swift flight to give him wisdom and understanding . Our God is a prayer answering God and His grace is beyond our understanding. In a church we can see three kinds of people. 1. Carnal. 2.Natural. 3. Spiritual. Carnal and natural people pray but they do not believe. Spiritual people pray and believe.

Finally, Pastor has ended his sermon by giving Jacob’s example from Genesis 32:24 -31. He showed us five things that Jacob brought before God at Penile.

1. V/s 22-23 says, Jacob came before God by emptying himself. He became zero before God. (Mark 10:28-31)-emptiness

2. V/s 24 says, he came alone to his presence. He was left alone. A lonely heart. (Isaiah 51:2)- loneliness

3. V/s 25 says, he came with a broken heart and pleads the god to bless him. God struck him on his thigh (the strongest part of the body) and all his pride and selfishness has gone. -brokenness

4. V/s 26 says, he came with a great repentance. He wrestled with God for blessings as he knew that blessing would only come from Him. (Hosea 12:3-4)- repentance

5. V/s 27-28 says, God asked his name and he answered “Jacob” (deceitful). He did not lie and then God gave him a new name Israel and through him the entire nation received blessings. –truthfulness

In v/s 31, it is described as “then the Sun rose”, a new beginning to his new life in truth with God.

So we need to realize this is the time to bow down our knees at the feet of Jesus and pray for a change for our lives and welcome him, the Holy Spirit into our hearts.

Finally, appeal was made to introspect ourselves and challenged us with a question “How much time are we spending with God?”