TEXT: Acts 13:2
PREACHER: Pastor Bodunrin Timothy
Act 13:2
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Sanctification is the process of becoming like Jesus Christ. It’s a life long journey of transformation, where believers are made holy and conform to God’s will.
Sanctified Christians are not born. They evolve from the stage of salvation experience. That is, a self-acclaim Christian who has not experienced salvation cannot be sanctified because there is no link up with the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:16)
Romans 15:16
16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
The work of sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit and He operates only through Jesus.
Sanctification involves:
-Separation from sin and its influence.
-Growth in holiness and Christ like character.
-Increasing conformity to God’s will and standard.
WHY DO WE NEED SANCTIFICATION?
It is Commanded (1 Peter 1: 15-16)
1Peter 1:15-16
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
We Cannot Make it to the Promise Land Without it (1 Corinthians 10: 10-13)
1 Cor 10: 10-13
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
It Enhances Health and Vitality (John 5: 14-19)
John 5: 14-19
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.