Sanctification—Separation from God?

”Sanctification—Separation from God?”

I Thessalonians 5:23-24

Seventh in a Series on Prayer—Oswald Chambers

            God separates people in the Bible stories and within those separated groups of people there are those who separate themselves to God’s service.—set apart to be set ourselves apart for God’s service, But what does this mean?

God calls people to Him and after responding to this call we have to separate our holiness to God. We are not made for ourselves but for God. But many of us do not follow Paul’s instructions to the church at Thessalonica, and be sin free—we are human and apt to sin against God. But because of God’s grace we can be forgiven.

What is the cost of this sanctification? It will cost an intense narrowing of all our interests on earth and an immense broadening of our interest in God. This means there is an intense concentration of God’s point of view- every power of spirit, soul and body for God’s purpose—becoming one with God.  

            Becoming one with God is a life-long journey of gained experiences guided by the Holy Spirit. God is filled with peace and to be separated by God/ for God means to have God giving to us his peace. And this takes time as we strive to pray through our struggles after sanctification takes place. These struggles include doubt, fear and wonder of what life focused on God is all about. As we grow with God this peace enters and enables us to truly feel God’s mercy and grace.

            Once we get calm before God and are willing to let Him do what He chooses, He gives us an outline of some of His massive truths. Most of us never even think about these truths but it is a wholly likeness to Christ which is mystical moral and material.

Mystical- in the work of the Holy Spirit where we cannot go but can imagine –Psalm 139.

Moral-letting the Spirit come into our spirit, our thinking and in our reasoning.; our rational selves -- Isaiah 60:19

Material-our body is preserved as we come into contact with all the different relationships of life.—I Corinthians 6:19

            Sanctification is a doctrine of faith and a relationship of separateness from others by God and with God.. It is instantaneous but also a continuous work of God.

PRAYER:

God of love, you have called me to serve you in many ways. You call me to follow and in doing so I separate myself from those who do not see you as I do. Instill your peace within so I may know that I am yours. Enable me to come to you in peace.  Amen

Quotes from  Oswald Chambers “If You Will Ask: ch 8 Paul’s Prayer for Sanctification”

BLOG QUESTION:

The doctrine of sanctification is a church teaching, biblically based and yet not always understood. God called His people and still calls people to be separate from others in the world. His people are those who live and love others as Jesus taught. Within these followers there is also another separation—of those who continue to grow closer to God and are intensely focused on who He is and what God does and continues to do in the world.

Would you describe yourself as ‘sanctified’= separated from others because of your faith in God? How do you seek to understand God in your life? What does it mean when Paul writes, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely?” Will one really ever be completely sanctified?