Sanctify yourselves!

Joshua 3:5 And Joshua said to the people, Sanctify yourselves [that is, separate yourselves for a special holy purpose], for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.

Joshua 7:13 Up, sanctify (set apart for a holy purpose) the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: There are accursed things in the midst of you, O Israel. You can not stand before your enemies until you take away from among you the things devoted [to destruction].

One thing many Christians have failed to do is to sanctify themselves. Sanctification is part of our salvation process. The bible commands us to work out our salvation with trembling and fear. Yet, so many professing Christians have yet to set themselves apart from the world and of their old life. Many Christians are led into deception.

We expect God to perform wonders and miracles in our lives. After all, this is what is told to us by most religious establishments and other Christians. Many cry out to God for help but are they really crying out to God of the bible or their own golden calf? Remember, the molded golden calf represents our own image of who God should be to us.

But why are there very few wondrous works from the Lord? The problem is not God but HIS people. HE is faithful. HE has always been faithful. Many of God's people have yet to sanctify themselves before the Lord so that HE may do wonders among us. We must be cleansed from our idols, sin, and flesh.

Does God not desire to heal HIS people? When HIS people are healed, they will give HIM thanksgiving and praise. When HIS people give HIM thanksgiving, it gives HIM glory. But many of us are defeated because we have accursed things in our midst. This is why we can not stand before our enemies. Satan is to be our footstool but many Christians are his footstool. We must destroy and put down our idols and sin. Grace was never meant to allow us to continue in our sin or shortcomings. Grace is there to empower us and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us to overcome and be victorious. Nothing is impossible with God. Yes, we may go through a season of suffering or pain but at the end we are to have victory having learned obedience.

When we feel like we are in the belly of the whale as Jonah was, we must know what is required to get out and achieve victory. Jonah was running from God. Many Christians are running from God as they are not doing what HE desires. They are not in HIS Will. In order to get out of the dark defeated situation, Jonah had to give sacrifices of thanksgiving and fulfill his vow. These are the requirements for God to rescue us.

Psalms 50:14-15 Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. 15 Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”

We ask ourselves, "what vow have I made to God?" Yes, some have made personal vows to God. But this week God gave me the revelation to this meaning. When we first believed and are saved, we enter into a covenant with God. A covenant is a contract or agreement. A covenant is a promise but it requires two sides to fulfill their requirements. When people enter into contract, they are required to read the terms and conditions of the contract and what is required so there is no breach of contract. The bible or God's Word is our covenant agreement or contract. Many Christians have yet to know what they are believing in. They have yet to read the vow they have committed too. When Christians first believed and are saved, we are in a sense vowing to fulfill our part of what is in the bible. This is to believe. But if we do not know what is written in the bible, then we may be breaching the covenant thus allowing the enemy to overcome us when we are to overcome the enemy and the world.

You are called to fulfill your vow. You are a people to be a people of prayer. You are a people called to always give HIM thanksgiving. You are a people who is to know HIS Word so you may share the gospel so more may be saved and HE may receive more the glory. You are a people who are worshipers. You are a people to be set apart from the world. You are to be a people sanctified before HIM having sin and idols removed. You must be cleansed! Pray to have the unforgivness, the hurt, the abuse, the lust, the coveting, the selfishness, rebellion, and other idols removed!

There is no such thing as a two minute praying Christians. Most are just Sunday Christians. We are to grow in HIS Grace moving from Glory to Glory daily. Your life must be God. Everyday must be God. You must spend time with HIM each day. Otherwise, there will be no victory. You must know what this means. Repent and return to your First Love.

Acts 14:22 Establishing and strengthening the souls and the hearts of the disciples, urging and warning and encouraging them to stand firm in the faith, and [telling them] that it is through many hardships and tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

In order to receive a harvest so that we may eat and survive is to take the steps to till the harden soil, sow the seeds, and watch and protect the harvest as it grows to the end of the season. We must wait out seasons for the harvest. You are the harvest. Jesus came for the lost sheep of Israel. HE still comes for the lost sheep of HIS people as many are wandering lost and confused. You will find HIM as you spend real time with HIM.

Fire of God Church
An International Holy Fire Ministry
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Fremont, CA USA