Sanctification
JESUS CALLS US TO BE SANCTIFIED, YET MOST CHRISTIANS WILL TELL YOU THE PURSUIT OF SANCTIFICATION CAN LAST A LIFETIME. Perfection - or even our humble attempt at it - doesn’t happen overnight, and often our lives can take many detours on the way. It’s easy to lose sight of the goal and get sidetracked.
There are three areas that tend to cause problems: our experience, belief and will. When we choose to place more confidence in our experience, belief or will than we place in the will of God, we are very quickly engaged in a struggle of authority. Two garden scenarios in the Bible are great examples of this struggle.
In the first garden experience, Adam and Eve had desires and created beliefs that were influenced both by internal and external factors rather than believing in and acting on God’s will for them. Their choice created separation from God instead of a sense of being set apart for God.
In another garden experience, Jesus was faced with the choice between His will and His Father’s will when He approached the cross. He was set apart for His Father’s glory and was willing to set aside self for this purpose. Because of His willingness, we are saved by grace through our faith, and the finished work of His life, death and resurrection allows us to be set apart for God’s will and purpose.
Unfortunately, we often find ourselves in the first garden longing to experience the glorifying outcomes of the second. It is not possible to live an unsanctified life and glorify God.
The good news is that the same concepts that sidetrack us in our pursuit of sanctification can be transformed into the pathways to sanctification. For example, experience, belief and will perpetuated the power of sin in the first garden, yet the same concepts ignited sanctification in the second garden.
We may face temptations or seemingly insurmountable mountains, but our choice in
perception determines how they will affect us. Do we see our circumstances as hopeless, impossible and unnecessary? Or do we see them as opportunities to be free, set apart and growing closer to our Creator?
EMOTIONS
Many times sanctification is hindered by our emotions. Our will is driven by our belief and experience and often what we will depends upon our belief and emotion derived from experience. Maybe we’re angry, prideful, bitter, unforgiving, or a host of other emotions. We know what we’re supposed to do, yet we’re unwilling and choose not to because we don’t feel like it.
BURDENS AND UNFORGIVENESS
We may carry burdens from past experiences that paralyze the sanctification process—loss, injustices, hurt, unmet expectations, etc. If the circumstances still burden us, this hinders our freedom to live for Him. Perhaps we haven’t learned from the situation or gained the understanding God intended for us to receive.
We need to be willing to ask God to take the burdens from us—“I’m tired of being sad about _____. God, take this hurt from me.” We need to search for understanding through His Word, prayer, and the help of a pastor or counselor. We need to be willing to receive the truth, and through the Word and prayer we can be set free.
Often the burden is complicated by our own unforgiveness. Sometimes we don’t receive God’s teaching until we are willing to forgive or until He’s lifted the burden. He said, “Come to me and I will give you rest…learn from me…my yoke is easy and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:28–30, NIV).
SELFISHNESS
We may be too absorbed in self that we don’t allow ourselves to see a situation with an accurate perception. We may not take into account what others think about us—or that our own belief and will may be the real problem.
In the gardens, choices were made that had to do with a willingness to suffer. “I know if I eat the fruit I’m going to suffer because that is what I was told. But I believe I’ll do it anyway because if I don’t I’m going to suffer because I want it. I’ll suffer and I won’t get what I want and I’ll miss out—I, I, I, I, I.”
On the other hand, Jesus knew He was going to suffer—blood-saturated perspiration was only the beginning. But just imagine what would have happened if He were unwilling. What if He chose to evade suffering and the cross? The repercussions would be devastating, unnecessary, and there would have been no end to the pain—no forgiveness, no reconciliation, no resurrection! (1 Peter 2:24) His self-abandon is our greatest example.
RESISTING CHANGE
Change can be uncomfortable, awkward and cumbersome. It is often difficult for some to determine when change is healthy, resulting from constructive suffering. To give a simple illustration, think about a time when you were injured. You may have cut yourself, sprained an ankle, or broken a bone. When it happened, there was suffering. Even weeks later the affected area can be painful; however, if you’re taking care of it, there is a healthy type of pain and suffering.
The injury is healing—that is suffering with a purpose and is constructive and necessary toward being restored. It’s important for us to recognize and be open to the changes that will help us in our pursuit of sanctification even if the initial reaction is discomfort.
ACCOUNTABILITY
The stumbling blocks can be transformed in several ways: through His Word, spiritual disciplines (meditation, fasting, prayer, worship, etc.), counseling, fellowship, suffering (for the right reasons) and releasing burdens. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” This is more than logical truth—it is a knowledge to be grasped by both the mind and heart. We need the encouragement, support and direction from others. God desires for us to be accountable and get together to talk, pray, bear burdens, worship, and know Him and experience Him through relationships. This helps to get us out of self and the isolated perceptions and emotional battles that can hinder sanctification.
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING
This fellowship and accountability may occur through family, friends or your pastor—yet sometimes specific help may be needed through professional counseling. Christian counseling can provide a safe environment that allows new insights, truths and healing to occur. New questions are asked, options are explored, and new perceptions are embraced either through discussion or healing prayer. This exploration of thoughts and feelings may not be possible outside of the counseling relationship. Often we may not sense that there are others we can trust and depend on regarding our struggles. Competent Christian counselors can help us learn how to experience God one on one, which can be awkward or new to us whether new or old in our walk with God.
SOLITUDE WITH GOD
Sanctification also happens one on one with God. Many times Jesus would leave the crowds and those closest to Him to be alone with his Father. Too often we spend a little while with God and we’re either doing all the talking or we give up too soon thinking surely we’ve given Him enough time to respond. God communes and communicates through our seeing, sensing, realizing, hearing and acting on truth. Our communication with God is only effective if we are willing to believe and receive truth from Him (Jeremiah 29:13). We can all become better listeners as we spend time with Him. Also, we need never forget that Jesus asked the Father to give us a helper—the Holy Spirit that is always with us (John 14:16).
Whether through fellowship with others, worship, counseling, His Word, or prayer, the stumbling blocks in life can be transformed. God wants us to believe what is true, live according to His will (reflect His image and likeness), and experience a life progressively freed from the power of sin—the sanctified life!
This article is the orginal work of Dan Pugel, MA, LPCC and was first printed in the Summer '06 issue of The Asbury Herald
Printed with permission by The Asbury Herald, Asbury Theological Seminary
There are three areas that tend to cause problems: our experience, belief and will. When we choose to place more confidence in our experience, belief or will than we place in the will of God, we are very quickly engaged in a struggle of authority. Two garden scenarios in the Bible are great examples of this struggle.In the first garden experience, Adam and Eve had desires and created beliefs that were influenced both by internal and external factors rather than believing in and acting on God’s will for them. Their choice created separation from God instead of a sense of being set apart for God.
In another garden experience, Jesus was faced with the choice between His will and His Father’s will when He approached the cross. He was set apart for His Father’s glory and was willing to set aside self for this purpose. Because of His willingness, we are saved by grace through our faith, and the finished work of His life, death and resurrection allows us to be set apart for God’s will and purpose.
Unfortunately, we often find ourselves in the first garden longing to experience the glorifying outcomes of the second. It is not possible to live an unsanctified life and glorify God.
The good news is that the same concepts that sidetrack us in our pursuit of sanctification can be transformed into the pathways to sanctification. For example, experience, belief and will perpetuated the power of sin in the first garden, yet the same concepts ignited sanctification in the second garden.
We may face temptations or seemingly insurmountable mountains, but our choice in
perception determines how they will affect us. Do we see our circumstances as hopeless, impossible and unnecessary? Or do we see them as opportunities to be free, set apart and growing closer to our Creator?
EMOTIONS
Many times sanctification is hindered by our emotions. Our will is driven by our belief and experience and often what we will depends upon our belief and emotion derived from experience. Maybe we’re angry, prideful, bitter, unforgiving, or a host of other emotions. We know what we’re supposed to do, yet we’re unwilling and choose not to because we don’t feel like it.
BURDENS AND UNFORGIVENESS
We may carry burdens from past experiences that paralyze the sanctification process—loss, injustices, hurt, unmet expectations, etc. If the circumstances still burden us, this hinders our freedom to live for Him. Perhaps we haven’t learned from the situation or gained the understanding God intended for us to receive.
We need to be willing to ask God to take the burdens from us—“I’m tired of being sad about _____. God, take this hurt from me.” We need to search for understanding through His Word, prayer, and the help of a pastor or counselor. We need to be willing to receive the truth, and through the Word and prayer we can be set free.
Often the burden is complicated by our own unforgiveness. Sometimes we don’t receive God’s teaching until we are willing to forgive or until He’s lifted the burden. He said, “Come to me and I will give you rest…learn from me…my yoke is easy and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:28–30, NIV).
SELFISHNESS
We may be too absorbed in self that we don’t allow ourselves to see a situation with an accurate perception. We may not take into account what others think about us—or that our own belief and will may be the real problem.
In the gardens, choices were made that had to do with a willingness to suffer. “I know if I eat the fruit I’m going to suffer because that is what I was told. But I believe I’ll do it anyway because if I don’t I’m going to suffer because I want it. I’ll suffer and I won’t get what I want and I’ll miss out—I, I, I, I, I.”
On the other hand, Jesus knew He was going to suffer—blood-saturated perspiration was only the beginning. But just imagine what would have happened if He were unwilling. What if He chose to evade suffering and the cross? The repercussions would be devastating, unnecessary, and there would have been no end to the pain—no forgiveness, no reconciliation, no resurrection! (1 Peter 2:24) His self-abandon is our greatest example.
RESISTING CHANGE
Change can be uncomfortable, awkward and cumbersome. It is often difficult for some to determine when change is healthy, resulting from constructive suffering. To give a simple illustration, think about a time when you were injured. You may have cut yourself, sprained an ankle, or broken a bone. When it happened, there was suffering. Even weeks later the affected area can be painful; however, if you’re taking care of it, there is a healthy type of pain and suffering.
The injury is healing—that is suffering with a purpose and is constructive and necessary toward being restored. It’s important for us to recognize and be open to the changes that will help us in our pursuit of sanctification even if the initial reaction is discomfort.
ACCOUNTABILITY
The stumbling blocks can be transformed in several ways: through His Word, spiritual disciplines (meditation, fasting, prayer, worship, etc.), counseling, fellowship, suffering (for the right reasons) and releasing burdens. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” This is more than logical truth—it is a knowledge to be grasped by both the mind and heart. We need the encouragement, support and direction from others. God desires for us to be accountable and get together to talk, pray, bear burdens, worship, and know Him and experience Him through relationships. This helps to get us out of self and the isolated perceptions and emotional battles that can hinder sanctification.
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING
This fellowship and accountability may occur through family, friends or your pastor—yet sometimes specific help may be needed through professional counseling. Christian counseling can provide a safe environment that allows new insights, truths and healing to occur. New questions are asked, options are explored, and new perceptions are embraced either through discussion or healing prayer. This exploration of thoughts and feelings may not be possible outside of the counseling relationship. Often we may not sense that there are others we can trust and depend on regarding our struggles. Competent Christian counselors can help us learn how to experience God one on one, which can be awkward or new to us whether new or old in our walk with God.
SOLITUDE WITH GOD
Sanctification also happens one on one with God. Many times Jesus would leave the crowds and those closest to Him to be alone with his Father. Too often we spend a little while with God and we’re either doing all the talking or we give up too soon thinking surely we’ve given Him enough time to respond. God communes and communicates through our seeing, sensing, realizing, hearing and acting on truth. Our communication with God is only effective if we are willing to believe and receive truth from Him (Jeremiah 29:13). We can all become better listeners as we spend time with Him. Also, we need never forget that Jesus asked the Father to give us a helper—the Holy Spirit that is always with us (John 14:16).
Whether through fellowship with others, worship, counseling, His Word, or prayer, the stumbling blocks in life can be transformed. God wants us to believe what is true, live according to His will (reflect His image and likeness), and experience a life progressively freed from the power of sin—the sanctified life!
This article is the orginal work of Dan Pugel, MA, LPCC and was first printed in the Summer '06 issue of The Asbury Herald
Printed with permission by The Asbury Herald, Asbury Theological Seminary
