HereÕs a question, are you listening? Is your heart listening?

  -God wants to teach you something today – are you ready to hear him?

  -Pray 

 

How would you fill in the following blankÉ

  -It is GodÕs will that you should be ______________.

 

1 Thess 4:1-3a "Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified.Ó

  -notice how Paul filled in the blank? It is GodÕs will that you should be sanctified.

 

Can anyone give me a simple explanation of what Sanctification is?

  -sanctification is consistently growing more and more into thinking, feeling, and acting the

   way Jesus did until we see him face to face

 

Word Holy leads into and shows up through our whole passage todayÉ

  -end of chp. 3 ended withÉÒmay he (X) strengthen you so you can be blameless and holyÓ

     -v.4 tells us, we need to live in a way that is holy and honourable

     -v.7 says, Òlive a holy lifeÓ

     -Jesus Matt 5:48 Òbe holy as your heavenly father is holy

     -so you could say, sanctification is the process by which we are made holy

     -so what does this word holy mean? Anyone? (completely set apart for God)

 

When you become a follower of Jesus Christ

  -when you recognize your sin, ask forgiveness & hand the control of your life over to him

  -in that moment God gives you H.S. & he sets you apart (makes holy) for GodÕs purposes

 

So being sanctified carries two ideasÉ

  -first we are made holy moment we become a Christian (God chooses to see you through X)

  -but secondly we are being made holy all through our lives until we see Jesus

 

So, sanctification is being set apart for GodÕs purposes (holy) the moment we become a Christian and  it is also consistently growing more and more into thinking, feeling, and acting the way Jesus did until we see him face to face.

 

Paul says in chapter 4, verse 1, "Finally brothers we instructed you how to live, in order to please God." That word live...literally means walk.

  -The spiritual life is about walking

  -and the most important thing about walking is that itÕs a step by step process

  -this is not a one day a week thing, how to live, is about the regular everyday stuff

 

Paul tells Thess. there were 3 crucial elements in their step by step journey of sanctification

  -are these the only/most important steps of sanctification? (donÕt think so)

  -these were central issues going on in Thessalonian church (peopleÕs lives)

  -thereÕs no question they are relevant to us today (even though not to all of us here)

  -so if one or more of these are not an issue for you ask yourselfÉ

       -what is an issue that I need to work on in my spiritual growth/development?

Read 1 Thess. 4:3-8

 

First thing that Paul says is key to their sanctification is to avoid sexual immorality

  -it was a huge problem in early church/ huge problem in our society/ churches

  -maybe itÕs not a problem for you personally, thatÕs great, but might be a problem others

 

So Paul says, in our very sexually oriented society/ livesÉ

  -as his children/followers our lives should show a different and better way

     -need to control our own body in a way that is holy and honorable (GodÕs way!)

     -not in passionate lust (donÕt just give yourself to any/all sexual cravings)

     -that we should never wrong/take advantage of someone else in this way (esp. Xian)

 

He says that the Lord will punish us for any such sins (few points here)

  -there are major consequences to sexual sin (punishment is the consequences)

  -asking for forgiveness will not keep the consequences of our sin away (David)

   -you canÕt keep growing if you keep ignoring GodÕs instruction on this

 

Then to show us how serious sexual sin is, God saysÉ                                

  -anyone who rejects this instruction, does not reject man, but God, who gives us H.S.

  -reason Paul says, God, who gives us the Holy SpiritÓ

  -is because through the Holy Spirit

     -God comes to us and nudges us, and tells us way weÕre going is wrong

     -he comes to us and calls us to turn around and go the other way

     -when we knowingly refuse to hear him we are therefore rejecting him

     -we are saying, in this I will not follow you, in this youÕre not my God

 

Next Paul says – 1Thess. 4:9-10

 

Next Key to their sanctification - take steps to grow in your love for one anotherÉ

  -we talked about this last week, weÕll talk about this again

  -can this really happen in a church? It was happening among the Thessalonians

  -Paul tells them, we donÕt even need to write to you about this

  -he says they were taught by God

    -I think that means they listened & obeyed as God prompted them to love others

     -the only advice Paul gives them is, youÕre doing a good job, do it more and more

     -that means we can never stop – we can never say, I love enough

     -by way, this doesnÕt mean that youÕre supposed to be w/Christians all the time

       -some of you need lots of alone time - thatÕs fine

       -as long as that doesnÕt leave you completely disconnected & not growing

       -this does mean in our relationships we live out JesusÕ words Òlove one another asÉÓ

 

Nothing else will slow down our growth more than if weÉ

  -donÕt love = ignore people, mistreat people, hold grudges, withhold forgiveness,

  -the more we love the more we grow into X

  -the more we grow the more others can see Jesus in/through us

 

Last, Paul saysÉread 1Thess. 4:11-12

 

Because the Thessalonians believed Jesus was returning soonÉ

  -many of them stopped working & began abusing kindness of others

  -and by the sounds of it, seemed to be getting in each otherÕs lives in unhealthy ways

  -so Paul says, in order for you to keep growing in your sanctificationÉ

 

Lead a quiet life / mind your own business / work with your hands

  -this is not three different things – this is a call to a responsible life

  -life that doesnÕt give anyone else ammunition against you/against God

  -when we abuse system / abuse others kindness / borrow donÕt pay /

  -when we do anything that gives us & God a bad reputation

  -it halts our own growth & halts others ability to see Christ in/through us

 

Paul doesnÕt say this here, but Jesus makes this point

  -if you know youÕve done something to hurt GodÕs reputation through your actions

  -if something youÕve done/are doing is standing in the way of others relationship w/God

  -if thereÕs something you can do about it thatÕs most important step of faith you can take

  -Jesus said, if youÕre standing at the altar offering a gift to God and rememberÉ

 

And as Christians thatÕs the point of our lives, itÕs what weÕve been set apart forÉ

  -so that your life will win the respect of everybody (as much as is possible/not alwaysÉ)

  -if people respect you and see that God really is your reason for being

  -that opens up the opportunity for others to see God in you & find God through you

 

Wrap all that up and Paul is saying thisÉ

  -Moral integrity, self-giving love, a humble responsible life

  -these are all keys to your sanctification, keys to you becoming just like Jesus

  -and this is what God wants to give you strength for through the Holy Spirit

  -but theyÕre things you have to join him in, you have to say yes to them & step out in faith

  -so whatÕs your next step of sanctification?

 

Maybe your next step is the first step of faithÉ

  -to say God I realize my way of doing things is not in line with your way of doing things

  -I realize IÕm a sinner, forgive my sin, I need your help/power to follow you

  -come into my life and begin the work of sanctification in my life

  -hereÕs the thing, you canÕt take any of the other steps without taking this first step

  -you can do religious things in your own strength – but it has no eternal value

  -the work of sanctification is initiated, and maintained in your life through power of H.S.

     -we join in step by step, but itÕs His power that sees us through

 

Some of you may just need another step of renewal / obedience (baptism)É

  -maybe a step of recommitment / maybe youÕve been standing in the sidelines for a while

 

Some of you may be thinking, "IÕll never get this right. IÕm always falling down/messing upÓ

  -maybe you need some discipleship in your life/learning & growing

  -maybe you need some accountability in a specific area or even some counseling

 

So, what is God saying is your next step?