Bible Reading: Leviticus 11&12; Psalm 13&14; Proverbs 26; 1 Thessalonians 5
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
In the closing of this letter to the Thessalonians, the apostle Paul offers a prayer for them that ought to be our prayer for believers. He calls God, the God of peace. It is a peace that passes all understanding that God gives to us as we pray (Philippians 4:6-7) and you can hear the apostle's confidence in God sanctifying these believers. Paul prayed for a whole holiness for these believers. He was asking God to sanctify them. To sanctify means to make holy or consecrate for God's purposes. Paul was asking God for a complete consecration to God.
Here we see the makeup of a person – spirit, soul and body. Paul wanted God to preserve each of them blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. A holiness of spirit would be that God's Spirit has complete control over you.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
This would lead to a holiness of soul which would direct your thoughts, your will and your emotions.
1 Corinthians 2:15-16 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
When you are thinking, doing and feeling as God directs you it will lead to you presenting your body a living sacrifice to God.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
As you can see this process begins with salvation. When you trust in Christ and the Holy Spirit takes up residence in you. Your spirit directs your soul. Your soul directs your body. God starts on the inside and works his way out. If you are experiencing the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in your life, you will experience life change! Let this prayer be for you! Give God's Spirit free reign in your life. Do this by getting his Word into you daily. Then THINK about what his word says and let the Holy Spirit lead you. This will lead to your DOING what God wants.
God is faithful! He called you and he will do this. Trust him!
In Christ,
Rody
