Sanctification Pt. 2 Running the Race

The apostle Paul compares this purification/sanctification process to running a race. Being saved is just the beginning of the race.  It is the thing that qualifies us to run this race. This is a marathon, not a sprint, with obstacles and trials along the way. Sometimes it may feel like you can't take it anymore. Hang in there. God sees that. He is fully aware of what you are capable of handling and what you aren't. There is a reason for everything we go through. He's in charge of this process and we aren't, so he decides when your tests and trials are over. What we need to focus on most is passing the tests, so they can end and so we don't have to take them again. Any tests we don't pass must be retaken in different ways until we pass.

So how do we pass these tests and move on in this process of maturity? There are five actions you can take to further yourself along in the sanctification process.

Before I list these actions I want to make the distinction: "there is a difference between trying and training" like John Ortberg said in his excellent book "The Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People".  

We are in training here, people!  How rigorous your training is, well that's up to you.  How much eternal reward do you want? What are you willing to give up?  How important is this race to you?  How badly do you want to win?  You can't walk the pace of a snail in your Christian walk and have a chance at winning.  This is a race!  Deep down you know this is the race you are called to run. This is what you were born for.  Go for the gold!  Let "Chariots of Fire" be your theme song.

This is a competition for eternal reward. This reward is priceless beyond comprehension. This is the most important thing in life.  It's the only thing that matters!  Everything else is temporal and will pass away.  This is the only one that matters for the rest of eternity, so listen up!  Anyone can be qualified to enter this race.  The only requirement is you must be saved by faith in Christ.  We as believers are competing for the prize.  Do you want to win this race? Become a spiritual overachiever!  Let your competitive side come out and be determined to win this race.  You can do this!  

Here are some things you can do to accelerate your progress in this spiritual race:  

1. You must LISTEN and OBEY the Holy Spirit's teaching and guidance. Let the Holy Spirit lead you into purity of mind and body.  Listen and obey right away.  This is called being "quickened" by the Holy Spirit which is accelerated spiritual progress in this race.  You can make up for lost time by being an A+ student of the Holy Spirit's teaching.  Absorb everything you can from Him and learn every day.  Try your hardest to pass your tests that life brings you.  These will show your progress.  When you pass a test you are given a brief rest period and then your training goes on.  You are being actively trained and prepared for your calling by the Holy Spirit.  God has a purpose and a calling for every believer that He has saved.  You may not know your full calling, but follow God anyway and He will reveal your purpose to you in due time.  When you want answers from God to your questions you can achieve this through prayer and fasting.  Strip yourself bare of all filth of the world to help you run better and run faster.  Keep on purifying your whole life and being until there is nothing unclean left to pollute your mind, body or life in any way. Sometimes this takes a radical restructuring of your life.  The reward is worth it.  Whatever you must do, the reward far outweighs any price that you pay.  Once you remove things that pollute your life you won't even miss them and will revel in the benefits you receive.  You will wonder why you didn't give these things up sooner.  The rewards start right here on earth and these are priceless rewards that can't even be measured for value.  I promise you will begin to see rewards right away when you purify your life, body and mind.  This is a process.  It needs to be gradual because you are making huge changes.  Do not give up everything at one time because we are going for permanent change, not slipping back into old habits and patterns.  Prayer, God's Word and the Holy Spirit are all a guide and source of support for you in making these lasting changes.  You must be holy before God.  It's not impossible!  With God, all things are possible. 

Leviticus 11:44-45

"For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy."

This is Old Testament but this is still for today.  God wants holiness from His people today more than ever!  Yes we are saved by grace, but we are saved to be perfected in holiness!  

As Paul said in the New Testament: 2 Corinthians 7:1
"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

We are to work out our sanctification and purification process right here on earth.  This is our responsibility once we are saved.  This is one of the Holy Spirit's functions who lives in us.  He guides us into the way of holiness!  

2. PRAY for a steadfast spirit to remain faithful to God and endure this race to the end. Pray for faith that will not be shaken by whatever trials come our way.  Pray for single-mindedness, a single-minded pursuit to live for God and for God alone with no fear of man.

Psalm 51:10

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me."

3. BE actively engaged in this purification process and WILLING to lay anything and everything aside. Be willing to separate yourself from the world and run ahead of the rest of the pack. Have the courage to separate yourself from the world and not go where they're going and do what they're doing.  Pray for courage to run alone.  Consecrate yourself to God.  That means solemnly devote yourself everyday to God's purpose for your life.  

Jesus said:

Matthew 6:9

"In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name."

Hallowed means sacred.  It also means to be consecrated to.  Consecrated means to be solemnly devoted to.  We are to pray this way daily to our Father in heaven.  We are to solemnly devote ourselves daily to God and for His purpose for us.  This is our purpose we were created for.  Every person's purpose is different.  Be a person who is actively set aside for God, for holiness and for purity of mind and body.  Strive for excellence in your run.

Hebrews 12:1 The Race of Faith

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,"

4. TRANSFORM your mind by reading God's Word daily.  This will help you in running this race in every single way.  Every action we do originates in the mind, so you must transform your mind first.  When your mind is transformed your whole life will change for the better. Your life will be transformed.  It will be better than you ever thought possible.  This is what no self help book or life coach can do for you.  Only God's Holy living Word can do this for you.

Ephesians 5:26

“that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,”

Romans 12:2

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

5.  Finally, DO NOT GIVE UP, no matter what!  Keep your faith in God.  Keep on believing in God's goodness through it all, whether you understand or not.  Keep pressing forward towards the prize.  Keep your eye on the prize!  Do NOT allow trials to make you bitter or give up on God.  Do NOT give up on God.  Endure until the end, and then you will receive the eternal salvation of your soul and your eternal reward!  This is priceless eternal treasure whose worth can't be measured.  As children of God we are co-heirs with Christ in the coming Kingdom of God.  If this doesn't make you more excited than anything you have ever heard in your life you better check your spiritual temperature because this is the best news you have ever heard or ever will hear!  We have the chance to inherit riches beyond comprehension.  Don't build up your treasure here on earth where it will disappear.  Build up your treasure in heaven!

  

Matthew 6:19-22

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Keep your eye on the prize!  Our prize is in heaven.  You will be rewarded in heaven according to your works on earth.  

Revelation 22:12

Jesus Testifies to the Churches

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work."

Always keep your eyes on the eternal destination, which is heaven.  If you always have the hope of eternity in heaven you can get through any circumstance.  Keep on going! Let's be champions of the faith like the Apostle Paul. This quote from him so elegantly sums it up:

Philippians 3:14

" I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."