August 13, 2002
THE LORD WILL SANCTIFY HIS CHURCH. He will have a church of holiness, totally separated unto Him. Cleansed by the Word and in absolute obedience to the Word. Fulfilling the teachings of the Word in every aspect. A people in whom the Word dwells and who live in the Word. Eph. 5:26This is according to the prayer of the Lord Jesus. He prayed for the sanctification of His followers through the truth, or the Word of God. Jn. 17:17 The ultimate of the salvation provided for us in the giving of Christ for us is a people who are released from all iniquity. He will have a church that He has purified for His own purpose. They are called a peculiar people which does not mean a < group of oddballs > but rather a people who are very special, particularly His. Be assured that they are a people of righteous works, having great zeal in fulfilling His will in all things. Titus 2:14
THE WORD IS THE INSPIRATION OF THE LORD. Men of holiness spoke the Word into existence by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Conveying to the church the will and purposes of the Lord. He is revealing Himself in and through His Word. That Word was God-breathed {NIV} and is still a living communication from the Lord to His church. The revelation of the Word, by the Spirit has never ceased. Everything that He wants to show of Himself to us is in the Word. The Word is inexhaustible, always fresh and exciting, alive with the very passion of the living God. As it motivated those who were involved in its composition, so it is a constant source of encouragement for we who love it and read it today. 1 Pet. 1:21
THE LORD HAS A GOAL FOR YOUR LIFE. As one called by the Lord to be one of His very own He has destined you to partake of His perfection. The call is to be like God in His completeness, to grow up, become a man of standing and stature. Be in the likeness and status as your heavenly Father. What a tremendous goal for us, which was established by the Lord Jesus. Mt. 5:48 While the disciple does not exceed his Master, provision has been made for him to be like his Master, completed, perfected and joined together. Luke 6:40 Mind you, these are the words of the Lord Jesus Himself. As we approach the end of the age it is a necessity that we grow and advance in the Lord. The perfection or the maturity of love in us will enable us to have boldness, assurance and peace in the day of judgment. John 4:17 John made a terrific statement here, proclaiming that < as He is, so are we IN THIS WORLD >. What He is, we are showing forth to this present world. If He is in us and we are in Him, it is His life that is made manifest, in us. All that He is, is ours. We are complete in Him. We come to maturity in Christ. He will withhold no good thing from them that walk in His ways and after the pattern that He has established. He will have a church that bears His likeness and personality.