martyr or murderer

someone was comparing me to another in the Body of Christ
                           whose anointing & gifting is similar to mine
they compared our responses to the things of life
our "reactions" as pastors to the people around us

he commented to me that if push came to shove
if times got tough, situations perilous, our very lives were threatened
that by her past behavior she would probably be a murderer
where I would probably be the martyred one...

interesting perspective I thought...
what can we learn from those around us?
if we consider what they say in light of the Word...
if we were emotionally free to grow up in God to full maturity....
free from self preservation of the masks that we wear
the persona's that we contrive
the "fig leaves" that we fashion
...of protecting ourselves
...of protecting our false images
...of facing ourselves

I remember when I was much younger, in my 20's
the call of God on my life was openly proclaimed by a multitude of prophets
there were many men and women who were called before me
they could have mentored me, but fell away
they are now long gone, choosing to follow their flesh in the folly of life
they were the first ones called to be and to do what I now do...
....to build His Kingdom in Providence...

after so many falls, after so many fumbles
after seeing so many lives go shipwreck along the way
someone said to me, looking deep into my eyes
"you will do great things for God, if you can stay sanctified"

“Sanctify them through Thy truth.”--John 17.

“This is the will of God, even your sanctification.”--1 Thessalonians  3.

"If the Bible be true, it is certain that unless we are “sanctified,” we shall not be saved. There are three things which, according to the Bible, are absolutely necessary to the salvation of every man and woman in Christendom. These three are, justification, regeneration, and sanctification. He that lacks any one of these three things, will never find himself in heaven when he dies. Where, then, is the harm of asking, “Are we sanctified?” Where is the wisdom of disliking and rejecting the inquiry?"

"Sanctification is that inward spiritual work which the Lord Jesus Christ works in a man by the Holy Ghost, when He calls him to be a true believer, separates him from his natural love of sin and the world, puts a new principle in his heart, and makes him practically godly in life. The instrument by which  His Spirit effects this work is generally the Word of ‘God, though He sometimes uses afflictions and providential visitations’ “without the Word too.” The subject of this work of Christ by His Spirit, is called in Scripture a “sanctified” man."  ~JOHN OWEN

    The Lord Jesus has undertaken everything that His people’s souls require; not only to deliver them from the guilt of their Sins by His atoning death, but from the dominion of their sins, by placing in their hearts the Holy Spirit; not only to justify them, but also to sanctify them. He is, thus, not only their “righteousness,” but their “sanctification.” (1 Cor. i. 30.)
     Hear what the Bible says: “For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified.”--“Christ loved the Church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it.”--“Christ gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”--“Christ bore our sins in His own, body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, shou1d live unto righteousness.”--“Christ hath reconciled (you) in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight.” (John xvii. 19; Ephes. v. 25; Titus ii. 14; 1 Peter ii. 24; Coloss. i. 22.)
      Let the meaning of these five texts be carefully considered. If words mean anything, they teach that Christ undertakes the sanctification, no less than the justification, of His believing people. Both are alike provided for in that “everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure,” of which the Mediator is Christ. In fact, Christ in one place is called “He that sanctifieth,” and His people, “they who are sanctified.” (Heb. ii. 11.)"  

     Sanctification: is the invariable result of that vital union with Christ which true faith gives to a Christian.
     -is the outcome and inseparable consequence of regeneration.
     -is the only certain evidence of thatindwelling of the Holy Spirit which is essential to salvation.
     -is the only sure mark of God’s election.
     -is a thing that will always be seen. Like the Great Head of the Church, from whom it springs, it “cannot be hid.” “Every tree is known by his own fruit.”
    - is a thing for which every believer is responsible. In saying this I would not be mistaken. I hold as strongly as any one that every man on earth is accountable to God, and that all the lost will be speechless and without excuse at the last day. Every man has power to “lose his own soul.”  ...believers are eminently and peculiarly responsible, and under a special obligation to live holy lives. They are not as others, dead, and blind, and unrenewed: they are alive unto God, and have light and knowledge, and a new principle within them.
      -is a thing which admits of growth and degrees. A man may climb from one step to another in holiness, and be far more sanctified at one period of his life than another...because every grace in his new character maybe strengthened, enlarged, and deepened.
      -is a thing which depends greatly on a diligent use of Scriptural means...I have in view Bible-reading, private prayer, regular attendance on public worship, regular hearing of God’s Word, and regular reception of the Lord’s Supper.... no one who is careless about such things must ever expect to make much progress in sanctification. They are appointed channels through which the Holy Spirit conveys fresh supplies of grace to the soul, and strengthens the work which He has begun in the inward man...there are no “spiritual gains without pains.”
      -is a thing which does not prevent a man having a great deal of inward spiritual conflict. By conflict I mean a struggle within the heart between the old nature and the new, the flesh and the spirit, which are to be found together in every believer. (Gal. v. 17.) A deep sense of that struggle, and a vast amount of mental discomfort from it, are no proof that a man is not sanctified. Nay: rather, I believe, they are healthy symptoms of our condition, and prove that we are not dead, but alive. A true Christian is one who has not only peace of conscience, but war within. He may be known by his warfare as well as by his peace.
     -is a thing which cannot justify a man, and yet it pleases God.
     -is a thing which will be found absolutely necessary as a witness to our character in the great day of judgment.
     -is absolutely necessary, in order to train and prepare us for heaven. We need the work of the Holy Spirit as well as the work of Christ; we need renewal of heart as well as the atoning blood; we need to be sanctified as well as to be justified. ~JC RYLE

     And so dear Christian it is plainly seen
     that we must consecrate our lives to Him in all devotion
     that we must give ourselves freely to Holy Spirit's rule
             that we may grow into full maturity
             that we may be purified in the fire of His love
             that we may stand strong in these last days
                                                        in order to be and to do ...


Eph 1:9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,

Phil 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

2 Thess 1:11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power...

                                                                                              ~selah
    

Tags: sanctification * be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Tim 2