John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Yesterday I reintroduced a word into our conversation that is very important, sanctification. In Sanka I only mentioned that it happens. As we grow in Christ our understandings become deeper, so let us revisit this issue in greater depth.

Sanctification happens on two levels, the heavenly realm and in each of us who believe. It can be a complicated conversation on how and why God sanctifies. In my effort to simplify I think it best to explain things on our own personal level.

Here in John 17:17 is our basic training in sanctification. The Word of God is Truth. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Truth is our defense against Satan who we know from John 10:10 is out to kill, steal and destroy. All we have to do is look at the temptations of Christ to see how truth works.

Every temptation Satan placed at the feet of Jesus was refuted with scripture. “It is said, it is written” refers back to the proper quoting and context of the Word of God to push aside the lies of the enemy. The Word of God is the standard for our separation from sin.

Sanctification is a sorting process. From God’s point of view, it is separating holiness from sin. From our point of view, it is separating truth from lies. Is this of God or is this of Satan? The Word of God, His word of truth, is our standard for determining what is truth and what are lies.

We who have been walking in faith for decades will always encourage you to read your bibles daily. We cannot rely on Sunday sermons as being enough spiritual source of truth to get us through another day much less a week. Getting the Word of God into your memory banks allows the Spirit of Truth to help you combat the lies of the enemy when you hear them and see them.

2 Peter 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

Establish yourself in truth.

Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Job said this as a man of full age, with decades of experience with the Lord. Those of you that are just now beginning to walk with the Lord might not understand what this means.

Ephesians 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Men of God are here to assist you with understanding, to foster your growth in Christ. We will help you understand what you are going through but we cannot go through it for you. You will find yourselves going through the refiner’s fire. Dross in your life will be sin, separated from you, through the process of sanctification. It is removed a little more each time but purity is difficult to obtain without intense heat.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

You will need the character of patience walking in the spirit, growing in Christ. Patience is not a gift that can be given, it is a character trait of Christ which must be developed. Yes, God gives good gifts but the gifts given do not develop character. The ultimate object in growing in Christ is to develop His character in you. That means you have to understand His character without defect less you strive for the wrong thing.