Winning in the Game of Life Series
THE RIGHT STUFF – SANCTIFICATION
This morning, I want to begin a new sermon series for the entire month of March entitled, "Winning in the Game of Life"
And the reason I want to do this is because this is the time of the year we have "March Madness" and there's a lot going on with the ACC Tournament and the NCAA road to the final four and championship
And in light of all that's happening in the sports world, I want to talk to you about WINNING IN THE GAME OF LIFE concerning your spiritual walk with God
You see, over and over in the Word of God, the Christian journey is related to *****sports***** and often likened to a game
•Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
•1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (The Message) You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.
We're told in…
Hebrews 12:1 (KJV) "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"
And they are cheering us on – why? So that we can win in the GAME OF LIFE
And all through this month, every service, we're going to be talking about this contest that we're in
We're going to be talking about…
--Defining Moments
--Motivation
--Are You Coachable
--several others
But first of all, this morning and tonight, we're going to be talking THE RIGHT STUFF
Because if you're going to have any chance at winning in any game, you've got to have what it takes – you've to have THE RIGHT STUFF!
And so, the first message in this series, I want us to look at THE RIGHT STUFF – SANCTIFICATION
Because if you're going to live a victorious Christian life, then you're going to need this thing called SANCTIFICATION
Now, this message this morning is for…
--those struggling with habits
--those who may have addictions
--those who feel the weight of guilt in your life because of sin and failure
--those who are captive
And I say like Jesus my Lord –
Luke 4:18 (KJV) "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach…deliverance to the captives, and…to set at liberty them that are bruised,"
How can we be free this morning? How can we win in the game of life?
We need the RIGHT STUFF!!
Let's read…
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 (KJV) "Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. (2) For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. (3) For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: (4) That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; (5) Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: (6) That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. (7) For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. (8) He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit."
INTRODUCTION
Paul, in our text this morning, is addressing the believers at Thessalonica
Several times already in this little epistle, he mentions their faith
In (1:8, 3:2, 3:5, 3:6, 3:7, 3:10) he mentions the words "YOUR FAITH"
However, in chapter 4:3, he mentions YOUR SANCTIFICATION, making it clear that salvation and sanctification, are two definite yet distinct works of grace in the heart of the believer
Now, it did not hit me until my studies this week, that our text is found in the 4th Chapter of 1 Thessalonians which during the last part of this chapter, you find Paul revealing the subject of the rapture
I had never put the two together – because what we really have here is Paul talking about living a life of sanctification and then he talks about the rapture
And the reason that he preaches on sanctification before the rapture is quite simple: IF YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE THE VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIFE BEFORE THE COMING OF THE LORD
Because we know that…
--in the last days, perilous times will come
--in the last days, there will be seducing spirits
--in the last days, there will come a falling away
--in the last days, Satan will be loosed
And if you're going to live a victorious Christian life in these last days – if you're going to be victorious in the game of life – YOU NEED THE RIGHT STUFF
You need this thing called SANCTIFICATION
Now, I want to start out my message this morning by giving you a definition of what sanctification is…
Sanctification is a work of grace, that the believer receives, after salvation, --notice it is after salvation – whereby the sin nature is rendered powerless and virtually ineffective in the life of a born again believer
Our Church [The International Pentecostal Holiness Church, or IPHC] teaches that…
We believe in sanctification. While sanctification is initiated in regeneration and consummated in glorification, we believe that it includes a definite, instantaneous work of grace achieved by faith subsequent to regeneration (Acts 26:18; 1 John 1:9). Sanctification delivers from the power and dominion of sin. It is followed by life-long growth in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:16; 2 Peter 3:18). --Articles of Faith, IPHC Manual*****
And there's been no other doctrine that has been more…
--misunderstood
--fought
--neglected
--repudiated
Than this wonderful doctrine called SANCTIFICAITON
And the reason is quite clear: IF SATAN CAN KEEP YOU FROM THIS TRUTH, THEN HE HAS THE ADVANTAGE
And I want you to understand that in sports there's something called "The Home Court Advantage."
This is when you are a visiting team, and the home team has an advantage psychologically, and with the location (they didn't have to travel) and with the fans
And Satan is…
--the prince and the power of the air
--the roaring lion seeking whom he may devour
And we're on HIS TURF in this world
He has the HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
And if we're going to win on the opposing team's floor, then we'd better have the RIGHT STUFF
We better have this thing called SANCTIFICATION
Now, there are three things I want to mention to you about sanctification
First of all, I want you to understand…
1. THE UNDENIABLE PROBLEM
For without question, when a Christian gets saved, there's still a problem
This is undeniable – it is a fact
Why? Because understand that when a person gets saved, God erases all their sins
He removes their sins as far as the EAST IS FROM THE WEST
But even though the new convert has a…
--new heart
--new spirit
--new name written down in glory
They have everything new except this: A NEW BODY!!!
And what always happens is that not long after a person is converted, the battle with sin, they find out, continues on
And many get confused
They think, "I'm supposed to be saved, and why am I having these struggles."
Then the devil comes in and says "You're not saved, or else you would have these sins."
And before long, the saved soul is in a crises
On one hand, there is…
--joy/anguish
--certainty/doubt
--peace/trouble
It's very much like the old Indian said after he was saved…
"I find two Indians in one. A good Indian and a bad Indian."
And too many times, the new convert will slip back into the world, not realizing that this problem isn't a sign of something wrong, but a sign of something right!
Think about it – if you weren't saved…
--you wouldn't feel guilt over sin
--a lie wouldn't bother you
--lust wouldn't bother you
--a curse word wouldn't bother you
--a dirty joke wouldn't bother you
But a sure sign that you are saved is the minuite that you do these things, you feel the weight and guilt of sin
And so the struggle only verifies that there's been true salvation
But here's the key: IN ORDER TO MOVE ON WITH THE LORD, THAT SIN NATURE HAS TO BE DEALT WITH
And that's called SANCTIFICATION
And some of you may say, "I don't believe that!"
Well, what about Paul
Paul was a Christian
In fact, there was and has been no other person converted as dramatically as the Apostle Paul
He said…Romans 7:22 (KJV) "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:"
But then he mentions…
•Romans 7:21 (KJV) "I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."
•Romans 7:23-24 (KJV) "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"
He's talking about the UNDENIABLE PROBLEM of the sin nature after conversion
What was the answer? HE GOES BACK TO JESUS
Romans 7:25 (KJV) "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord…"
And it's found in God's gracious gift of sanctification!
First of all, understand that there is the UNDENIABLE PROBLEM
But then, secondly, understand…
2. THE UNDENIABLE PROMISE
Now only is there an undeniable problem, thank God there is an undeniable promise because the good news is that you can come to a place in your life when the sin nature is cleansed and is rendered powerless by faith!!
Over and over in the Word of God, we have promise after promise that He will sanctify us
•2 Corinthians 6:17-18 (KJV) "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."
•2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV) "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
And there will be some who will say…
--didn't we get sanctification at conversion?
--didn't we get the baptism at conversion?
AND THE ANSWER IS YES!!! We did get it all at conversion
When we got saved, we got…
--sanctification
--justification
--the baptism in the Holy Spirit
But you say, "Brother Ricky, why come back again after conversion if we got it all at conversion."
Because you can HAVE something and yet not POSSESS IT!!!
I have…
--a mansion in glory, but I don't possess it
--peace, but I need more peace
--the Word of God, but I don't possess all its knowledge
And that's the way it is with sanctification – you have it, it's yours, but you have to come by faith again to receive this wonderful promise
Thank God for this promise, because never before do we see the need of it in this hour…
--drug addiction
--alcoholism
--sexual promiscuity is everywhere
And when you get saved, it washes your sins away, but there's still a nature and for this UNDENIABLE NEED, there is an UNDENIABLE PROMISE that he will sanctify you holy unto God
The courtroom was hushed with deadly silence. Before the bench stood a youthful prisoner, under twenty. He was about to be sentenced for a terrible crime. Time and again he had been in the reformatory and each time he got out he committed another crime and was shuttled from freedom to stripes with the regularity of the tides. This time the judge tried to reason with him about being good. But the prisoner answered with a helpless look.
"If," the judge began, "if we let you go, will you be a good boy?"
"I'm tired of wearing stripes. I've tried to do better each time but I just can't make it. There's something inside me that won't let me do good. I'm helpless, Judge, you'd just as well go ahead and break my neck."
There is in the human heart that something which inclines toward evil, and man alone is unable to break the spell which it throws over the mental inclinations. It pulls toward evil. It lures after lust. It drags with unbreakable chains toward the pit. Bit by bit it wears away all resistance until the soul is given over to evil doing. It knows no inhibitory powers. It will not be ruled by law, nor bow to custom, nor will it surrender to the claim of right doing.
It is the carnal nature in man; an inward something that bends and warps the personality beyond human repair. The only hope for its control is its complete removal by the sanctifying power of God.
THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD EVEN YOUR SANCTIFICATION
It's THE RIGHT STUFF needed to win in the game of life!!!
Not only do we see…
--the UNDENIABLE PROBLEM
--the UNDENIABLE PROMISE
But finally, let's consider…
3. THE UNDENIABLE PROVISION
Because not only to we have the problem, thank God, we have the provision!
Hebrews 13:12 (KJV) "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate."
How do you get sanctified, through the blood of Jesus Christ!
Jesus died and suffered for your sanctification so that you don't have to be saved and satisfied and miserable
He died so that you could win in the game of life
You say, "Pastor Ricky, how can I be sanctified today?"
First of all…
A. Recognize the need
Paul said…
Romans 7:24 (KJV) "O wretched man that I am!"
•Bishop McKendree, past Bishop of the Methodist Church, wrote not long after his conversion, "I heard Mr. Gibson preach on sanctification. I examined my heart and found remaining corruption."
•John Wesley said of new converts, "These feel a heart bent to backsliding, a prone-ness to wander from God. They are sensible to sin remaining in the heart, pride, self-will, unbelief; and sin cleaving to all they think and do."
You've got to be convinced that there's something missing in your life
And by they way – if you're comfortable with sin, then sanctification is not for you
And there are some that teach, "O, don't worry about sin"
You better worry about sin
That's like falling in a hole with a snake and somebody says, "Oh, don't worry about that moccasin!" You better worry about him!
To not worry about sin is to accept it
If you don't meet the devil, that means you're walking along side of him
You've got to first of all, recognize the need
B. Respond by Faith
For everything from God comes by faith
You've got to be absolutely convinced that God…
--doesn't want you defeated
--doesn't want you to struggle with the sinful nature the rest of your life
--has a plan for you
--you can be free
You have to come to God BY FAITH
Acts 15:9 (KJV) "And put no difference between us and them, purifying [sanctifying] their hearts by faith."
That word "purifying" is the same word used "sanctify" in 1 Thessalonians
In other words, if you want sanctification, you have to receive it by faith
It's already yours, you just have to claim it and receive it
You come to this altar and you lay your entire body soul and spirit unto God
And you say, "Father, I can't handle this sin nature. I need your sanctifying touch. By faith I receive it.!"
And that's as simple as it is
Recognize the Need
Respond by Faith
And then, finally,
C. RECEIVE THE PROMISE RIGHT NOW
You can receive it instantaneously right now!! This moment
Does this mean that you won't be tempted again?
No – because as long as we're in this world, the saved and sanctified man will be tempted
You have to
2 Peter 3:18 (KJV) "…grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…"
But I will tell you what you will receive – power like never before to deal with the problems hindering your Christian life
IN CLOSING
This is a true story that a missionary heard overseas in the country of Haiti. He heard pastor tell this true story…
He told of a certain man who wanted to sell his house for $2,000. Another man badly wanted it, but couldn’t afford the full price. After much haggling, the owner agreed to sell the house for half the asking price with just one stipulation: he would retain ownership of one small nail protruding from just over the door.
After several years, the original owner wanted the house back, but the new owner was unwilling to sell. So the first owner went out, found the carcass of a dead dog, and hung it from the single nail he still owned. Soon the house became uninhabitable, and the family was forced to sell the house to the owner of the nail.
The Haitian pastor’s conclusion: “If we leave the devil with even one small peg in our life, he will return to hang his rotting garbage on it, making it unfit for Christ’s habitation.”
You know what sanctification does? IT PULLS THE NAIL OUT
Do you want to WIN IN THE GAME OF LIFE
And this is all about life here, because we wouldn't need sanctification up there
But if you're planning to live a little while, get to this altar and let God sanctify you holy unto Himself today!
