Lord, It’s Me Again!

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-5-2026

Psalm 143

 

Introduction:

A.  This Psalm reminds me of the pastor who called on a farmer in his church to open the service in prayer.  The old farmer began his prayer in a way that all of us should be familiar with: “Lord, it’s me again!”

 

B.  The Psalms may seem repetitive at times, and my preaching keyed in on the same subjects.  My work is to preach it, but herein lies the problem: it is our work to apply it and adhere to it.

 

C.  Here, we find a man after God’s heart, overwhelmed, and his heart desolate.  If King David had a problem with his heart and mind, we are certainly subject to these same conditions!  One of my favorite songs on our subject for tonight is “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”  Listen to the third verse:

 

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily, I'm constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

 

D.  Why such repetition in the Psalms?  David wrote 73 of the psalms, many of which 12 or so begin by questioning God.  Because, though our hearts pant after God, we live in a fragile condition because of circumstances, our flesh, our enemies, and a short-term memory!  “Old folks' disease!”

 

E.  With these thoughts in mind, let us break down the Psalm into its parts,

 

1.  Verses 1-2. 

Psalms 143:1-2  A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.  (2)  And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

 

a.  In the first 2 verses of the Psalm, David asked God not to enter into judgment with him at this particular time because no living man can be justified with God.  He realizes he's a sinner, but sinners love God too, and he's turning to God for help. God remains his refuge and strength in times of need.

 

Hebrews 4:14-16  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  (15)  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  (16)  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

b.  In verse one, David wants God to hear his prayer.  It pleases God when His children turn to Him in times of need instead of relying on themselves.   I thank the Lord for hearing the prayers of His people. Even in our sinful condition, we are still sinners saved by the grace of God.   God hears them when they pray.

 

c.  Secondly, David said I want you to give ear to my supplications.  He had things that he needed to ask God for. He had things that he needed God to do in his life.  He had things he needed the grace of God for to maintain his spirit.  Most of the time, our need is more spiritual than physical!

 

d.  David appeals to the faithfulness of God.  Aren't you glad that when we're not faithful, God still is faithful!  He cannot, He will not deny Himself! In his appeal, he said, Lord, you've always been there for me. I don't see why you won't be there for me now and in the days to come.

 

e.  David appeals to the righteousness of God.  Bowing to the righteous answers that God gives, not just what he wants done.  I find that interesting, as we want answers, and we never say Lord, you do what you know is right. I don't know the end from the beginning, but He does.  I don't know what I'll need tomorrow. God does know what I don't need tomorrow. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow; I just want God, in his faithfulness, to righteously lead me, even if it's against my will. Our Lord bowed to the will of God in the garden!

 

2.  Verses 3-4. 

 

Psalms 143:3-4  For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.  (4)  Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

 

a.  Verse 3.  In verses 3 and 4, we find that David's condition is both outward and inward.  I will deal with the outward first. 

 

1)  David’s enemies have persecuted his soul well.  They will never give up!  They never give up because Satan never gives up. 

 

2)  If you think there's going to be a day in your life when everything is going to be absolutely wonderful, I think you're living in a dream world, not reality. 

 

3)  Though we cannot control either our enemies or circumstances, we cannot allow them to control us.

 

b.  Verse 4.  Inwardly is the problem.  David said, “ For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness.”  

 

1)  I thought about that, that's something you have to allow him to do.  He might persecute our souls, but our lives are in our hands.

 

2)  David is not seeing his plight right.  His spirit is overwhelmed, and his heart is desolate because of his spiritual condition. God does not want us overwhelmed or our hearts desolate.

 

3.  Verses 5-6. 

 

Psalms 143:5-6  I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.  (6)  I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

 

a.  Three things that go together in a progressive manner: remember, meditate, and muse.

 

1)  “I remember the days of old” is a good thing!  Now, David is beginning on the road to spiritual recovery!  In past trials, God had not let him down.  Hindsight is normally 20/20 and changes our perspective on the present.

 

2)  “I meditate on all thy works” speaks of a deliberate, focused reflection about something.  It is both active and purposeful.  David is choosing to think about God’s past faithfulness.  Considering, reviewing, or weighing.

 

3)  “I muse on the work of thy hands” is similar to meditate, but distinctly different at the same time.  Muse means to internalize. Murmuring to oneself.

 

b.  Though they sound similar, they carry distinct shades of meaning that deepen the verse rather than repeat it.  Remember, David recalls, meditates.   David thinks carefully or assesses what he remembers.  Muses, David allows them to sink into his soul.

 

c.  “I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.”  Now, David is on the right road. 

 

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 

4.  Verses 7-11. 

 

a.  Notice the progression that takes place when David gets his persecuted soul, smitten life, overwhelmed spirit, and desolate heart in “his rearview mirror,” and his eyes are focused on the God of all comfort. Hear me.  Cause me.  Lift me.  Deliver me.  Hide me.  Teach me.  Lead me.  Quicken me.

 

b.  These are all things that God does, not what David does.  When David got his eyes off himself and on God, he found help that was always available.  God is still able to do!

 

Ephesians 3:20-21  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,  (21)  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

 

5.  Verse 12.  Psalms 143:12  And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

LORD, Teach Us To Pray

 Temple Baptist Church - 9-21-2025

Psalm 86

 

A.  “A Prayer of David” is the only key to understanding what this Psalm is about. The Bible, which is the Word of God, provides us with a pattern of prayer. I believe that our prayer life should include specific aspects that, although they are to be repeated often, are not merely vain repetitions as the Lord alluded to in the Sermon on the Mount.

 

Matthew 6:7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

 

B.  This is a simple Davidic! It provides a personal glimpse into the prayer closet of this great man of God. A king who had everything knew that everything came from God. 

 

1.  I think that this is essential to the prayer life of each of us.  The Book of James teaches us that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of Lights, how has no variableness nor shadow of turning. 

 

James 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

 

2.  As the moon shows us only its lighted side, God has no dark side, so He is the Father of Lights to us. God also does not vary “one degree” as is alluded to in “shadow of turning.”

 

3.  God only gives us good things.

 

C.  In the New Testament, our Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples to pray, which the world calls “The Lord’s Prayer.”  It is not “The Lord’s Prayer,” as that is taught in John chapter 17, but rather “The Model Prayer.”  The Lord established for His disciples a pattern of praying that is good to follow. 

 

Luke 11:1  And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

 

D.  King David gave no specifics about the time of life when he prayed this prayer or the circumstances surrounding it, only that he was communing with God.

 

E.  Here is a brief outline that I believe is key to both this prayer and Psalm, and should also be central to our prayers.

 

1.  O LORD, Hear Me!  Verse 1.  “Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.” 

 

David was a poor, needy man, though the greatest, most powerful King that ever lived.  Here, we find no pride in this man after God’s own heart!

 

2.  O LORD, Preserve My Soul!  Verse 2.  “Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.” 

 

David was doing his best to be right with God and trusting Him with the affairs of life.

 

3.  O LORD, Be Merciful To Me!  Verse 3.  “Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily” 

 

David understood that cleansing came through daily confession of sinfulness.

 

4.  O LORD, Rejoice My Soul!  Verse 4.  “Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul” 

 

David understood the spiritual wealth of rejoicing always.  Mind over matter!

 

5.  O LORD, Forgive Me!  Verse 5.  “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” 

 

David was well acquainted with the weakness of his flesh (weights and sins that so easily beset each of us.  Confession, repentance, and restoration in righteousness are a way of life for the believer.

 

6.  O LORD, Be Not Silent!  Verses 6-7.  “Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.” 

 

I think it is right to ask God to answer prayers. We have not because we ask not, therefore, we ask and must receive.   Jeremiah 33:3

 

7.  O LORD, Allow Me To Praise Thee!  Verses 8-10.  “Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.”

Let everything that hath breath, praise the LORD!  Quit praising, quit breathing!

 

8.  O LORD, Teach Me!  Verses 11-12.  “Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.  I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.”

 

Please help me to be a learner before I become a teacher.  Here we find a continual search for the truths of God openly hidden in the Bible.

 

9.  O LORD, Be Merciful To Me!  Verses 13-15.  “For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.  O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.  But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”

 

I need Thee every hour, most precious LORD!  Help me to see myself in the light of God’s Word and in honesty confess and forsake the sin in my life.

 

10.  O LORD, Turn Me!  Verse 16.  “O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.”

 

Wilt thou no revive ME again and again and again.

 

11.  O LORD, Shew Me!  Verse 17.  “Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.”

 

LORD, I know your love for me but show me your love for me. 

Imprecatory Praying

 Temple Baptist Church - 8-31-2025

Psalm 35

Introduction:

 

A.  Psalm 35 is another of the Psalms of David, the greatest king who ever lived, and a man after God’s own heart. David wrote 73 of the 150 Psalms, almost half, as he was a musician, singer, songwriter, and also the most feared king alive.

 

B.  These things may seem contradictory, but they are not. We see both “sides of the coin” in King David: a hardness when needed, as he “killed his ten thousands” in battle, and also compassion.

 

C.  Imprecatory - he word “imprecatory” comes from imprecate, meaning to invoke a curse or to call down judgment.

 

D. An imprecatory prayer (or psalm) is a Spirit-inspired petition calling upon the Lord to execute judgment, bring down vengeance, and uphold His righteousness against those who oppose Him and His people instead of taking personal vengeance out of spite.

 

E.  Imprecatory in a Biblical sense:

 

1.  To call on God to judge the wicked according to His righteousness.

 

“Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.” (Psalm 35:4)

 

2.  To ask God to vindicate the righteous.

 

“Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.” (Psalm 10:15)

 

3.  To appeal to God’s justice rather than taking personal revenge.

 

Psalms 58:6  Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.

 

“Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.” (Psalm 69:24)

 

F.  I said all that to express this: imprecatory prayer is both correct and Scriptural! There is a time for kindness, but there is also a time for righteous indignation and anger.

 

Ephesians 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

 

G.  Now, to the breakdown of Psalm 35.

 

1. Verses 1-10 – David’s Plea for Divine Intervention.

 

a.  Verses 1–3 – David appeals to God as a warrior.  There is a time for peace and a time for war.  God’s people are not to be pacifists nor weaklings!  David was a man of War as a man of God!  Strong men, strong women who are willing to stand for right and justice.

 

b.  Verses 4-8 – David prays for the shame and destruction of his enemies.  If the wicked will not get right and continue in their wickedness, then the ultimate price must be paid!  Let them fall into the trap they have laid for the righteous.

 

c.  Verses 9-10 – David’s promise of glory and praise to God for His intervention.  “Let all be done to the glory of God!”  “In everything give thanks!” 

 

2.  Verses 11-18 – David’s Complaint of False Accusation.  Here, we find that the battle becomes psychological rather than physical.  Psychological abuse is, in many cases, worse than physical abuse. 

 

a.  Verses 11-12 – His enemies rise as false witnesses.  David is slandered.  He is repaid evil for good.

 

b.  Verses 13-14 – David’s Compassion Upon His Enemies.  I find this portion of the Psalm fascinating and essential.  David differentiated between the wickedness of his enemies and their condition.  As God hates the sin but loves the sinner, David fasted and mourned for them as if they were his brethren!  Some have greatly hurt our family over the years, and I have them on my prayer list.  I cannot hate them, nor do I wish them harm of any kind.  Justice, yes, but harm no!  Our Lord said this in the Sermon on the Mount.

 

Matthew 5:43-48  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  (44)  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  (45)  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  (46)  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  (47)  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?  (48)  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

 

c.  Verses 14-16 – The Cruelty of David’s Enemies.  They rejoiced over David’s misfortune and mocked at his calamity!  People can be so cruel to one another, and we see "so much the more" as the day of the Lord approaches.

 

d.  Verses 17-18 – David’s Confusion.  David did not understand God’s seemingly delayed promise, but he promised to trust God throughout the trial.  God’s silences are God’s business and we are prone to try and hurry God up at times.    I love these verses in Ecclesiastes chapter 3: 

 

Ecclesiastes 3:11  He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:14  I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

 

3.  Verses 19-28 – David’s Prayer for Vindication and Final Judgment.

 

a.  Verses 19-21 – Don’t let them rejoice over me. 

 

Isaiah 59:19  So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

 

b.  Verses 22-25 – Don’t let the prevail over me.

 

c.  Verse 26 – Let them be brought to confusion.

 

d.  Verses 27-28 – David’s Vow.  Thanksgiving: Every section of this Psalm ends with a vow to praise God.

 

Psalms 35:9-10  And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.  (10)  All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

 

Psalms 35:18  I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

 

Psalms 35:27-28  Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.  (28)  And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

Conclusion: 

 

Pray for those who choose to be our enemies in a spirit of forgiveness and compassion.

 

Be thankful to God in both the good and the hard times of life, as He must allow all things to happen for our good.

 

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The Lord’s Prayer - Part 9 - Unity

Temple Baptist Church - 8-7-2024

John 17:21

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Tonight, we will look at the 5^th Petition in the Lord’s Prayer.  A prayer for the unity of the believers.  Tonight, we will look at the importance of rightful division and unrightful division as both are used in your Bible.

 

1.  Notice the wording of verse 21.  “That they MAY be one.”  There is a double meaning found here.  “May be” means that they may be or the may not be unified!

 

2.  We live in divided days where churches are divided against each other and saved people are divided against each other.

 

3. The will of our Lord Jesus Christ was that believers and churches be unified.  Therefore, His petition. 

 

B.  The word “divided” is used 69 times in your King James Bible; divide is used 129 times; and division or divisions is used 23 times making a total of 221 times in one form of the other.

 

C.  The word “unity” is only found 6 times in your King James Bible.  The massive differentiation in numbers is because often in the Bible, the Word of God gives more warning than encouragement.  A great example of this is that our Lord Jesus said more about hell than He did about heaven.

 

D.  The opposite of unity is division, and each one has its proper place as BOTH are essential to the purity of our unity and our service in unity.

 

E.  In the First Mention of Divided (Genesis 1:4), we find that the first division was an act of God.

 

1.  God divided Light from Darkness.  Genesis 1:4  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.  God said that light was good and the opposite of that is darkness is not good.

 

2.  God divided sin from holiness.  Genesis 3:7-8  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.  (8)  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

 

3.  Sin divided the sinner from the Lord.  Genesis 3:7-8  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.  (8)  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

 

4.  God has divided the believer from the unbeliever.  Genesis 4:8  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

 

5.  In the Nes Testament, God has divided sound doctrine from false doctrine.  Romans 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

 

6.  God has divided the ones walking orderly from those who walk disorderly.  2 Thessalonians 3:6  Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

 

7.  I will stop with these as the subject tonight is unity rather than division.  But division is, in such cases, God ordained and therefore good.

 

F.  Therefore, there is a division that is right and a division that is wrong.  Watching over the unity of the local church is a valuable part of the pastor’s work.

 

G.  Christ prayed for unity through the ages.  John 17:20-21  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;  (21)  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

 

1 Corinthians 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

2 Corinthians 13:11  Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

 

H. “That they all may be one!”  Who is “they all?”  Every believer in every place in every time.  From Christ until the Rapture of His Church.

 

1.  Unity comes through Love.  Romans 12:9-10  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.  (10)  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

 

2.  Unity comes through Forgiveness.  Ephesians 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

 

3.  Unity comes through SoundDoctrine.  Romans 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

 

4.  Unity comes through Direction.  Jeremiah 6:16  Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

 

5.  Unity comes through Purpose.  Ephesians 4:11-13  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  (12)  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  (13)  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

 

6.  Unity comes through Diversity.  Galatians 3:26-28  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  (27)  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  (28)  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

 

a.  Diversity in People.  Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  (Red, yellow, brown, black or white—they are precious in His sight and have a perfect right to assemble together!  Period!!!)

 

b.  Diversity in Personal Separation.  Romans 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.  (God hates Phariseeism!)

The Lord’s Prayer - Part 6 - Sanctification

Temple Baptist Church - 7-31-2024

John 17:17; Colossians 3:1-4

 

Introduction:

 

A. Verse 17 is the Lord’s Fourth Petition. The Petition for Sanctification of the Believer.

 

B. Sanctification is a Landmark in Doctrine and also an essential part of the salvation of the believer. God did not save us to go back into the world or allow the world to get into us! He saved us from our sin, not in our sin. But:

 

1. In todays version of Christianity, sanctification has become something to be both feared and denied. Sanctification is an act of God, a continuing act of the child of God, and a blessing to be looked forward to in eternity. Here we find the importance of sanctification to our Lord!

 

2. There are three aspects of sanctification that need to be expressed so that the believer has a good “handle” on what it is and what it is not.

 

3. God’s people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge and this is a basic foundation of truth that religion hides from its followers.

 

4. I want to begin this message by saying, “Thank God for sanctification!” It has to do with our position in Christ, our practice in Christ, and our eternal security in Christ.

 

5. Notice that I mention Christ in all three aspects of sanctification because it is by Christ, through Christ, and to Christ! Sanctification is all about Christ!

 

C. Sanctification - ἁγιάζω hagiazō hag-ee-ad'-zo defined: to make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: - hallow, be holy, sanctify. Simplified - to set apart.

 

D. Sanctification is a GOOD word, not a BAD word. It perfectly describes the division of the believer from the unbeliever.

 

E. There are three aspects of Biblical Sanctification and are best explained in **Colossians 3:1-4. Please turn there:

 

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

 

1. Positional Sanctification. Positional Sanctification is something that God does! “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

 

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (“Of Him” tells us that salvation is an act of God, not an act of the believer. The believer brings a “bankrupt sinner” to God in repentance and faith and God saves the believer.)

 

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (At the moment of salvation, the believer is emersed completely into Christ. Something that God does, not the believer. This is not water baptism! It is the baptism of the Holy Ghost.)

 

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

At the moment of salvation, the believer is set apart from the world positionally through Jesus Christ. “In Christ” is the believer’s sanctification. We are baptized into Christ who is both perfect and eternal and therefore remain secure!

 

Nothing or nobody can find us nor touch us. We are His and He is ours!

 

2. There is Permanent or Perpetual Sanctification. “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

 

John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (30) I and my Father are one.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

1 John 3:1-2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

I am not going to spend a lot of time on the Security of the Believer because I believe that everyone here is biblically settled on the fact that salvation, an act of God, is forever.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

 

3. Practical Sanctification. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” This is both an act of God and an act of the believer. This aspect of sanctification is what our Lord asked of God in verse 17 of the Lord’s Prayer.

 

a. Our Partner against Sin. Our Lord wanted the Father to help us to remain in a state of holiness through sanctification!

 

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

 

b. Our Problem with Sin. As long as we live in this wicked flesh with an Adamic nature, the battle rages.

 

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

 

c. Our Propensity to Sin. When you get saved, you are as full of the Holy Ghost as you can get but, as He directs our lives, we often make bad choices that cause us to begin to fill back up with the world and less by the Holy Ghost.

 

Romans 7:21-25 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

 

d. Our Protection from Sin. It is the Truth who died for us; it is the Truth of the Word of God that we hold in our hands; it is the Spirit of Truth who indwells us. WE HAVE ALL THAT WE NEED FOR BOTH LIFE AND GODLINESS.

 

2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

 

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

 

e. Our Prerogative concerning Sin. Choose ye this day whom ye will serve. Free or not to be Free? God has given to us all the tools necessary to life a consistent, not perfect, life for Christ Jesus.