What Is Not Sanctified Will Be The Affliction

Study: #747 – Church in the Houses From: October 23 – 29, 2012

Mega Zoe Christian Church Pastor: Edith Cruz

TOPIC: “What Is Not Sanctified Will Be The Affliction” 2 Corinthians 7:1

The prophet Isaiah describes the suffering of the Servant of Jehovah, our Jesus (Isaiah 53: 3 –7, 12). We see that the He was experienced in affliction. He is the male of sorrows, He was despised, oppressed and afflicted; with all this Jehovah wanted to oppress him subjecting him to suffering to put His life in expiation for men’s sin. But, the prophet tells us that He will see the fruit of the affliction of his soul and will be satisfied. Paul tells the brothers of Corinthia, "As God said: I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from them (the wicked) and stay away from them, touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:16-18) We see that there are many promises on God’s behalf. But, to obtain the promises one has to be purified of contamination, of all contamination of our flesh and spirit. The Word says, PERFECTING THE HOLINESS IN GOD’S FEAR! 2 Corinthians 7: 1 “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." In order for God to be our Father we have to be and remain holy by not touching what is worldly. At the view of the marvelous promises from God and to take possession of them we should cleanse ourselves of all contamination of the flesh and the spirit. The contamination of the flesh includes all forms of physical impurity, impurities of the body. The contamination of the spirit covers the interior life that includes the motives and thoughts. Our motives are responsible for our conduct. For example, something can be done that appears to be good, but, if behind the act there is a morbid motive, that is where the great danger is. When a person lacks holiness it is because the person is not worried about what Jesus thinks about his bad acts. And you? Does it not worry you everything that Jesus lived and suffered for you? When one does not seek holiness and doesn’t care that he touched the unclean, he underestimates the greatness of the Lord, whom sacrificed so much for our lives. There are those who have not sanctified their spirit even if they are not exposed to physical impurity. They have many thoughts without holiness. They have not sanctified the thoughts. Have you thought that the external, which is your flesh, can be controlled by you before everyone and for that reason you do not sin? But, don’t you realize that your thoughts can seize you and lead you to ruin and disdain. Will you forget that Jesus was crushed and destroyed for you? How can one conquer? We can do it perfecting holiness out of fear for God. Not only are we told to leave aside all that contaminates us, but rather we should go a little further adjusting to the Lord Jesus Christ in our daily lives. Even if it would have been a mortal who had done so much suffering for me, I would live grateful, I would be faithful to His thoughts and His conduct. But, it wasn’t like that, but it rather was: Someone who was pure, holy and lived thru many pains so that I could make a new life of holiness in Him.

Hebrews 12:14 says “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." The practical or progressive sanctification is something that involves our obedience and cooperation; we should cultivate this sanctity in our lives continually. The fact that the Word says we should "follow" is clear proof that we do not reach it abundantly in this life. There will be practical sanctity as proof of a new interior life. If one does not grow in sanctity, one is not saved. When the Holy Spirit dwells in a person, he manifests His presence with a life in separation. It’s a matter of cause and effect, if Christ has been received, streams of living water will flow! Therefore, it should be clear who is truly convicted and who is a fake, just an “image”. It also says in 2 Timothy 2:20, 21 "... if a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” If we are cleansed from sin we will be instruments for honor. If you are sanctified you will not harm anyone. You cannot be an “article of clay and wood" in the house of God because you will be discarded after some time, well such attitudes (or utensils) are for vile uses. Whereas if you are a “utensil of gold and silver”, which are for honorable uses, then you will be preserved and considered as someone valuable. Therefore, let us sanctify ourselves for the Lord; let us not touch the unclean considering Jesus, who gave Himself and everything out of love for us. Amen.