SANCTIFICATION: NEWBORN IN CHRIST TO MATURE DICIPLE
I remember that Sunday morning in November of 2008 when I was born again, that from that day an overwhelming peace came upon me. Apart from this peace, I still carry today; I was also miraculously healed from asthma and all sorts of addictions since that day. However, what you have to realize is that this sanctification process in the Lord will not occur overnight.
God will now sanctify you slowly and progressively over the course of your entire life.
As such, we have to have patience with the way God will want to work out this new part of our walk with Him. Each of us is unique in the way God created us all. God has a different call and purpose for each of us in His Body and His Kingdom in this world. But Praise God that everything will fall into place and make sense as we progress in Him.
Galatians 5:1 We have freedom now, because Christ made us free. So stand strong in that freedom. Don't go back into slavery again.
Romans 6:22 But now having been freed from sin, and having become enslaved to God, you have your fruit resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.
1Peter 1:14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."
God’s highest and ultimate aim for all of us is to make us into a better and more holy people. He wants to transform us into the express image of His Son Jesus. He wants to set us apart and consecrate us to Himself so He can make us into more holy instruments of righteousness for His use. This is not so people can see us, but so people can give the Glory to God.
However, before God will allow this sanctification process to really kick into full gear through the Holy Spirit – He wants you to fully understand exactly what He is doing and why He is doing it. You have to have the knowledge as to what God is doing and exactly why He is doing it. God loves to transmit knowledge to His children.
As such, we have to learn how to have patience with the Lord in this area and not get too frustrated when we are not changing and transforming as fast as we would like in Him. The Apostle Paul also called upon children of God, not to lose hope and faith in Christ during a storm.
There may be days that you will feel like your ship is sinking, but in fact your helper is coming! All storms eventually come to an end so the question is how it will affect your faith, and keeping your faith will determine the victory.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self- control; against such things there is no law.
You also have God’s supernatural power available to you to help transform and sanctify you. Another incredible benefit that you will get as a result of having the Holy Spirit now residing on the inside of you is that you will now be given a brand new heart. In Ezekiel, God says that He will take out your heart of stone, which is a hard type of heart, and replace it with a heart of flesh, which is tender type of heart that is now capable of feeling compassion and empathy for other people. This is so we can go out and sow the Love of God in us, out to others. A person who truly fellowships with God, who has truly repented and experienced the atoning work of Jesus, reaches out in compassion to others.
Most newborns cannot completely understand the entire Bible the first time or two they read it. They need immediate help after they are saved and are trying to learn more about God and all of His ways, but most importantly what happens now!