The word has has many interpretations, I realize.

But essentially (for the Christian) it means “to be made holy.” Or “to be consecrated, dedicated, set apart” (from the world.)

It’s almost easier to tell what it does not mean (impure, careless living) rather than what it does mean (loving God so much you try to live for him hour by hour)!

But look, sanctification is the Work of …

Jude Verse 1 … “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by GOD THE FATHER.”

Then Hebrews 10:10 … “We are sanctified through the offering of the body of JESUS CHRIST once for all.

Now let’s consider 1 Peter 1:2 … “Through sanctification of the SPIRIT.” This too … “But ye are sanctified by the SPIRIT OF OUR GOD.” 1 Corinthians 6:11.

See the Reality here?

The Work of Sanctification is so important, so essential that the Godhead Totally participates in it!

The Father!

The Son!

The Holy Spirit!

Living clean lives for Jesus!

Yielding ourselves to the Lord constantly!

This thought too …

Sanctification is both a past and a present Situation!

You were sanctified back when you were saved, positionally “in Christ Jesus.”

You are still being sanctified day by day as you commune with the Holy Spirit, obey God’s Word, and adore the Lord Jesus! This is practical (as compared to positional) sanctification, something we seek for our lives!

Lastly, it is GOD’S WILL that we live sanctified lives!

Paul writing in 1 Thessalonians 4:3 … “For this is the WILL OF GOD, even your SANCTIFICATION, that ye should abstain from fornication” … and from every other form of sin as the Apostle continues to explain in this Text, his Letter to the Church at Thessalonica.

Wow!

We used to sing an old Church Song, “Take Time to be Holy!” Wonder where that went?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Our Text today is from Psalm 28:1 … “O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.”

I think this holy writer of old just told the Lord of heaven and earth that he so depends on Him, on the God of Abraham, on the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … that the poor psalmist would die if God ever became silent!

Yes, “to go down into the pit” is synonymous with the grave, physical death. Down into a hole in the ground. Into a “dungeon,” at least 11 times in the Old Testament!

He simply MUST live in communion with the Lord!

Should not the same be true of us Christians today?

And here’s some good news, real good.

God is not silent … when you read His Word! (“Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying …” Jeremiah 2:1)

God is not silent when you “live” in “communion” with the Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit! (“The communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.” Paul praying in 2 Corinthians 13:14!)

Of course you can’t grieve the Holy Spirit, or quench Him … and live in sweet communion with Him every day, every hour.

God is not silent when we listen for His “still small voice.” (1 Kings 19:12) I think this may be referring to God’s leadership of us through the daily events of life. (As in “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD.” Psalm 37:23)

In a way, God is not silent when I talk a walk on a beautiful day. Recently I preached outdoors on top of a mountain. I heard God a hundred times that day, through his breeze, His clouds, His rocks and trees and valleys below! (“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” Psalm 98:4)

And if you’re reading here today saying “None of the above” … you’re in trouble, spiritually.

That’s because of this truth … “My sheep HEAR my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

Then the saddest thing of all … many live (sinners and some professing Christians too) their days and weeks without hearing a single word form God!

And don’t even care!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

When is the last time YOU heard from the Lord?

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“And God divided the light from the darkness.” Genesis 1:4

God made both, light and darkness, of course. But He “separated” them on the “First Day” of Creation Week.

And that is God’s Plan yet!

So … even in our lives as Christians this principle of God still holds true, should hold sway.

“And God divided the light from the darkness.”

So, while it is “day” in our journey, our pilgrimage Heavenward … we had best be busy. Listen to Jesus as He teaches in John 9:4 … “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” See the distinction, day and night … or … light and darkness?

And particularly in the arena of holy living … Paul succinctly wrote: “Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13:12) An ever clearer line of demarcation!

I think I might even say that for the Christin … that whole idea of a “gray area” (Is this thing/activity acceptable or not?) … might not be valid!

I am not saying God is color blind, His Grace is “manifold” (a Greek word meaning “many-colored”) … but I am forcefully saying God believes in “separation!”

Separation from sin, from the world, the works of iniquity, and a whole lot more! As we Christians are probably going to increasingly learn in any future time God gives us on earth.

But then this stipulation …

It’s not just separation “from” … as in “from the darkness!

It is also separation “unto” … as in “unto the light, walking in the light!

For example … “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Just a little Bible Thought to ponder this cool Tuesday in November.

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Jeremiah the Prophet thinks not!

“Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.” Jeremiah 32:17

See that last Clause?

“THERE IS NOTHING TOO HARD FOR THEE.”

The substantive “nothing” translates the noun “dabar” in Hebrew. It means “thing” 231 times in the King James Bible. It means “matter” 63 times. And “acts” 51 times.

No thing!

No matter!

No act, or deed!

Yes, God can do anything He pleases, omnipotence being one of His magnificent Attributes.

The question now answers itself … “NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR THE LORD!”

Even the adjective “hard” is interesting. “Pala” in Hebrew means not only “hard” (5 times), but also “wondrous, wonderful” (20 times)! And “marvellous” 2 times!

Sounds just like the Lord: “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS, which thou knowest not.” (Jeremiah again, 33:3 this time!)

I just thought this verse might be encouraging to someone this morning. Someone facing a hard week. A difficult battle. A trying time. A sorrowful time.

We thank Thee, O Lord that … “THERE IS NOTHING TOO HARD FOR THEE!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Jesus promised … “WHATSOEVER ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22

And God can do it … “whatsoever!”

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Just a quick thought!

6:30 AM, Saturday Morning

I was in bed a while ago, reading. Just a book catalogue, but reading nonetheless.

And the editor recommended a certain volume (William Gurnall’s Tome on “The Christian in Complete Armour”) concerning which he said … “It’s the best ‘THOUGHT BREEDER’ in my library!

Now THAT’S why we read!

Godly Books are thought provokers!

“Thought breeders,” I wish I’d coined that term!

No wonder they say, “Readers are leaders!”

Yes … finish your chapter, lay it down, and you have implanted in your mind a dozen good thoughts for the day!

Thoughts which might even conceive and bring forth a Sermon, a Testimony, a Sunday School Class Topic some day! And certainly they make for good conversation!

Yes, the Bible is that personal … even telling us what to think!

Philippians 4:8 … “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS.”

Just a “thought” today …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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