Sanctification is a commandment of scripture to every believer 1Ths. 4:3,7. God will not demand from us what He has not endowed with grace or empowered us for Jdg. 6:14; 1Jn. 5:3. This means that sanctification is a choice not a gift Deu. 30:19; Mat. 5:6. The sanctified life will remain an impossibility without faith Heb. 11:6; Mk. 9:23; 11:24.

Pathways to Sanctification.

These are some of the scriptural requirements for a sanctified life.

1. Purpose to Live a Sanctified Life.

Purpose here connotes a choice backed up with commitment, or decision with determination Dan. 1:8; 6:5,28. Our choice is a force that is respected by the forces of life Deu. 30:19.

2. Watch and Pray to Stay Sanctified.

Watch here means setting boundaries to prevent falling into temptation, while prayer is the altar of fire where impurities are burnt off Mat. 6:13; Mal. 3:2-3; 1Kgs. 18:37-38. Every believer who desires a sanctified life must adopt the lifestyle of watching and praying Mat. 26:41; 17:19-21.

3. Engage the Cleansing Power of the Word.

God’s word is a ‘spiritual water’ that washes all impurities, defilement, and sin from believer’s lives Eph. 5:26; Jn. 153; Psa. 119:9-11. For the life of sanctification, a believer must give himself to word study, meditation, and practice.

4. Crave for the Enduement of the Spirit of Holiness.

The Spirit of holiness is the Holy Spirit specifically empowering believers above sin to live a holy life Rms. 1:4; 8:13. We must continually crave this empowerment to stay free from sin Mat. 5:6.

Cost of Ungodliness.

The practice of sin and ungodly life is costly! Some of these are:

1. Blocks Access to Help in Times of Trouble.

Scripture is emphatic that God is a present help in the times of trouble Psa. 46:1. Sin cuts an individual off that help, subjecting the individual to avoidable suffering and torture Hos. 7:1; Isa. 59:1-3; Pro. 1:23-26; Psa. 33:18-19.

2. Destroys Destiny.

Sin is a destroyer; it destroys glorious destinies Ezk. 18:4; Rms. 3:23. It destroyed Samson Jdg. 16:19-21; Gehazi 2Kgs. 5:20-27; Herod Acts 12:21-24, and many more.

3. Blocks Access to Divine Secrets.

Divine secrets are key to greatness on the earth Job 1:3; 29:4; Dan. 2:19,30,46. Sin blocks people’s access to divine secrets, thereby ruining their lives Psa. 25:4.

4. Opens the Doors to Sickness and Disease.

Man, never experienced sickness or disease until sin came into his life; sin is the doorway for sickness and disease Jms. 5:14-15; 1COr. 3:16-17; Mk. 2:5-11.

Understand the Place of the Mind in Gaining Victory Over Sin.

Sin starts from the thoughts and imaginations of individuals Jms. 1:13-16. These are both products of knowledge, and are domiciled in the mind; this makes the mind the stronghold of life 2Cor. 10:4-5. When we succeed in handling our thoughts and imaginations, we will silence sin without sweat Acts 7:21-23. We do this by subjecting every knowledge to God’s word; this way every thought and imagination is made to align with the word Psa. 19:4; Jn. 8:32; Rms. 3:4; 1Tim. 6:20.

Conclusion.

Sanctification is a possibility, but only for those who will give themselves to the demand 2Tim. 2:20-21. When this is done, glory becomes the experience of that believer Exo. 15:11.

Salvation Prayer.

To anyone reading this who desires to give their life to Christ, pray this prayer out loud with me from your heart:

“Lord Jesus, I surrender my life to you today. Forgive me my sins; wash me with your blood. I believe you died for me; on the third day you rose again that I may be justified. Right now, I believe that my sins are forgiven; I’m justified by your blood; I’m born-again; I’m saved; I’m a child of God; I’m free from the power of sin to serve the living God. Thank you, Jesus, for receiving me; thank you Jesus for restoring me; thank you Jesus for saving me. Amen!”

Prayer.

1. Father, let there be a repeat of the manifestation of your exceeding great power in my life today Mal. 3:6.
2. Father, by the power of His resurrection, I walk out of every grave this moment Mat. 28:2-5.