GOD’S ORACLE
Date: Saturday, 26th August, 2023
Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan
Text: 1 Peter 1:1-2
Exhortation:
Pollution is said to be the introduction of harmful materials into the physical environment. We live in a world full of pollution be it in the air, on land, in the water or noise pollution. Bodily, it is required that we wash ourselves regularly to keep it clean.
As important as it is to keep physically pure, God is more concerned about the purity of the spirit. Jesus said, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” Matthew 15:18-20
The Water of the Holy Spirit sanctifies the heart. The word, “Sanctification” comes from two Latin words: sanctus which means ‘holy’, and facere which means, ‘to make’; so to sanctify means ‘to make holy’. The purpose of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit is to make us obedient to Christ (1 Peter 1:2). The more obedient you are to Christ, the more sanctified you have become. Anyone living in disobedience is not sanctified yet.
Paul declares, “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13). It is the Christian’s responsibility to deliberately work out his salvation with fear and trembling by engaging the regular washing of the Water of Life.
Again Paul says to the Thessalonians, “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess 5:23). May this be your portion in Jesus name.
Prayer Nugget: By the Holy Spirit, I put to death every misdeed of my body in Jesus name.