Wednesday May 25, 2022

Today is Wednesday, May 25 and we are exploring what the bible says about entire sanctification.

As I enter this time of prayer, I pause to make room for God in the cramped quarters of my heart and mind. I deepen my breathing and quiet my wandering thoughts. I focus my entire being on God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Pause and Pray

Loving Lord, I have come to this place to meet you and experience the joy of your abiding presence. Teach me your truth about sanctifying grace. Speak the words you have for me this morning, show me how to listen with the ears of my heart and comprehend your promises. Amen.

I rejoice in the Lord’s perfect holiness and praise him with the words of Psalm 19.

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Psalm 19:7-8

Pause and Pray

John Wesley, the eighteenth century spiritual leader and founder of Methodism, taught that salvation includes both justification and sanctification. He considered faith to be the only condition necessary for sanctification, exactly the same as it is for justification. We are justified (set right) and sanctified (made holy) by faith in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Wesley believed that it was possible for a person to be entirely sanctified in this lifetime. He described this state as full salvation from all sins, from pride, self-will, anger and unbelief. He explained perfection as perfect love – “love filling the heart and taking up the entire capacity of the soul.” (John Wesley, Scripture Way of Salvation) Perfect holiness is defined by the apostle Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians.

For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1

God is holy and calls me to be holy. I am a temple in which a living and holy God chooses to dwell. God promises to live in me and walk beside me. I am invited to experience a loving, intimate relationship as God’s beloved son/daughter. God is mine and I am his. Sanctification is God’s ultimate will and desire for me and I cannot attain it on my own. However, I can desire this gift, earnestly seek it and ask God to provide it. I intentionally separate myself from that which is unclean or unholy, steer clear of that which contaminates my mind, pollutes my body or mars my spirit. My body is a temple for God to dwell, a sanctuary for his presence to abide and God’s grace can perfect holiness in me.

Ask: What can I do to respect God’s sanctuary that is my body, mind and spirit?Do I earnestly seek sanctification, holiness and perfect love?

Pause and Pray

God, you are holy, you are mighty, you are God. Thank you for never abandoning me – I am so grateful for your constant and steadfast love. I am grateful for your promises, the presence of your Holy Spirit living in me and walking beside me. Raise my awareness to discern the unclean and impure; separate me from what seeks to contaminate mind, soul and body. Purify me and perfect me in your love. I read the words from Second Corinthians again and listen for the message you have for me.

For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage?What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

God speaks to me as I search the holy scriptures. God wants to teach me his truth about entire sanctification and perfect love. I meditate on this passage and consider carefully what God chooses to reveal. What words most resonate with my spirit?Words like unclean, impure, or contaminated. Words like separate, clean, pure, or holy. I imagine that my physical body, mind and soul are a sanctuary – a space I can make ready for God to dwell. I evaluate what needs to be abolished, expunged or removed from this space. What needs to be cleansed and purified?What is the sanctuary of my heart lacking in order for the presence of a holy God to abide?

Pause and Pray

Come, Holy Spirit, teach me the truth of sanctification and reveal God’s promise of perfect love. Cleanse me, all of me – I surrender myself completely to your good work and will in me. Remove the barriers that prevent me from making spiritual progress and enable me to cooperate fully with what you desire for me. Amen.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Leviticus 11:44a

I leave this time of prayer abiding in the presence of almighty God, seeking to grow in holiness, loving others and serving them in the name of Jesus.

Amen