Mature Class Study, teacher Edith Tolbert.
Sanctification is the second definite word of grace. Paul said to not make provision for the flesh. To make provision is to allow or prepare for it. If you go to the store, you make a list. If you go camping, you have to prepare supplies. Adam and Eve were made in the image of God but after they sinned, they had a carnal nature. Their children were born with a carnal nature. Until children realize what sin is or that something isn’t right, they are not accountable. When Edith was 5 years old, she and her sister took turns washing and drying the dishes. One day Edith wanted to wash instead of dry and chased her sister with a frying pan. She hit her on the head in front of their parents. Edith’s dad made her wash and dry dishes that night and the next week because she hit her sister. Edith did know it was sin against God because she didn’t understand. When Edith was 8 years old, there was a revival and she saw what sin was. She went to the altar and repented of all her known sins so she was saved. God deals with children and everyone to show that they are a sinner. God does not want us to make provision or be catering to ourselves but to completely give ourselves over to him.
Romans 13:13-14 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Lust: a longing, a craving, eagerness to enjoy, delight, pleasure, or desire. Any pleasure, delight, or desire that draws us away from God, makes us forget God, or places God in second place is worldlness. Any business, pleasure, conduct, dress, activity, education, culture, possessions, or anything that comes before God, diminishes spiritual fervency, lessens soul burden or work for God are of the world. They need to be crucified and on the altar. We need a fervent desire to see souls save.
I John 2:15-16 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Edith’s neighbor cut down a tree but now there are about 75 shoots coming up in the stump. The tree didn’t die. If we don’t get the carnal nature rooted out of our life, it will send up shoots sometimes because of the carnality that’s there. The apostles were saved but argued about who was the greatest. Arguing about who is the greatest comes from the carnal nature and God doesn’t want us doing that. The tree of sin was cut down but the carnal nature was still inside.
Luke 9:46-48 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, And said…Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
The apostles didn’t know what kind of spirit they had but it was a get even or vengeful spirit.
Luke 9:51-56…when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, And sent messengers…into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he…rebuked them…Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them…
Envy, strife, arguing, and division come from a carnal nature. There’s always a war going on inside when the carnal nature is still there. God wants that carnal nature out of us so we can work together without strife and division.
I Corinthians 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Jesus told the disciples that the Spirit was with them but would be in them.
John 14:15-17 If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Jesus prayed for the disciples to be sanctified. Sanctification is a new testament doctrine. Some in the Old Testament were filled with the Spirit but it was unusual. If we’re not sanctified, we’ll do things often that we have to ask God to forgive us. We’ll be saying, I shouldn’t have said that, or I shouldn’t have acted that way. Little sprigs of carnality will come up.
John 15:15-19 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
When God sanctifies us, it isn’t just part of us but all of us – our whole spirit, soul, and body.
I 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. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
After Jesus was crucified and resurrected, he told the disciples to wait for the Holy Ghost. Many religions teach there is only one work and get everything when you’re justified. The Bible says that 120 disciples were saved and waited 10 days in the upper room to seek the Holy Spirit. There was no quarreling, division, or arguing about who was the greatest. We have to get everything on the altar so things don’t have to be “our way” but we just want what God wants. A lot of things we just have to leave. If we don’t leave the past in the past, it will destroy the future. Paul said to forget those things which are behind and reach forward (Philippians 3:13). He lost everything and counted it but dung (Philippians 3:8) so he could win Christ. If we put a lot of importance on what we think or our possessions, we’re going to miss it. We need to live for what today has to offer, not for what was taken away yesterday. Paul could be a testimony while he was shackled in prison 2 years because he forgave what was behind and lived for what he could do for that day.
Acts 1:4-5 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Jesus sent the disciples two by two and told them to go to the Jews, not to the Gentiles or the Samaritans.
Matthew 10:5-6 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
After Jesus arose and the apostles were going to receive the Holy Ghost, he sent them to the Gentiles and Samaria.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
When Saul made trouble and persecuted the Church, they were scattered and went everywhere preaching the gospel. God used the situation to spread the Word. Those who Jesus went to refused him but to those who received him, he gave power to become the sons of God. Because of Pentecost, everyone is able to have the gospel. Samaria heard and received the word. The woman of Samaria at the well was surprised Jesus spoke to her but received the gospel (John 4:7-15).
Acts 8:3-8 As for Saul, he made havock of the church…haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to…Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed…hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits …came out of many that were possessed…and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city.
The Samaritans who were saved heard about the Holy Ghost and received the second definite work of sanctification.
Acts 8:14-17 Now when the apostles…at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent…Peter and John: Who, when…come down, prayed…that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then…they received the Holy Ghost.
The disciples at Ephesus were saved. When they heard about the Holy Ghost, they gladly received the Holy Ghost and were sanctified. It’s not hard to receive the Holy Ghost if someone is doing all God has asked. If people aren’t obedient in justification, they won’t receive the Holy Ghost. Not being obedient (sinning) cuts off the relationship with God.
Acts 19:1-7…while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul…came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said…Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying…they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard…were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all…were about twelve.
Everything has to be on the altar. One thing that’s hard for some people is to get their thoughts on the altar. God wants us to control our thoughts – “casting down imaginations…and bringing into captivity every thought” (II Corinthians 10:5). We have to learn temperance and self control of our thoughts so things don’t come out of our mouth. Before we say things, we need to THINK – is it Thoughtful, is it Hurtful, Important, Necessary, and Kind? Day by day we have to crucify the flesh with everything on the altar by being sanctified so we can live a consistent, holy life. Cornelius was devoted to God, righteous, and prayed continually. God told him when he prayed to send for Peter who would tell him what to do. God is faithful to tell us what to do. It’s our choice if we’re willing to do what God asks. Sanctification takes the war out of the heart. God gives us victory and power over the carnal nature by the renewing of the mind when we’re sanctified.
Romans 12:1-2 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. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.