LESSON FIVE (5): THE SANCTIFIED LIFE [OCTOBER 1ST, 2017]

OPENING PRAYER: Father, let my whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

BIBLE PASSAGE: JOHN 17:9-23 KJV

9: I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

10: And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

11: And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

12: While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

13: And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

14: I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15: I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

16: They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

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

18: As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

19: And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

20: 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.

22: And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

23: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

MEMORY VERSE: 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

LESSON INTRODUCTION – In the Old Testament, sanctification frequently denotes the ceremonial or ritual consecration of any person or thing to God. Thus the Hebrews as a people were holy unto the Lord, through the covenant with its rites and atoning sacrifices(Exo 31:13).

Sanctification is the second work of grace after salvation that every believer must experience. The understanding of the concept, process and practice of sanctification shall be dealt with in this lesson with the help of the Holy Spirit.

LESSON OUTLINE 1- SANCTIFICATION- CONCEPT AND PROCESS

i. To sanctify means to make holy or set apart for God. Genesis 2:3; Exo 19:23

ii. Sanctification is making truly and perfectly what was defiled and sinful.

iii. It is a progressive work of divine grace upon the soul justified by the love of Christ

iv. It is gradual cleansing from the corrupt nature to a spotless nature with exceeding joy. John 15:3; Jude 1:24

v. The Holy Spirit does the work of sanctification in conjunction with the word of God. John14:26; 17:17; 2Thessalonians 2:13; 1Pet 1:2

vi. Every Christian should be holy as God is holy. 1Pet 1:15-16

vii. The blood of Jesus sanctifies believers from all sin. 1John 1:17

viii. Through the same process of the death on the cross, the Lord Jesus saved us from penalty of sin and prepared us spotless for Heaven.

LESSON OUTLINE 2:- PRACTICES AND BENEFITS OF SANCTIFICATION

i. It is the progressive work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer from the moment of salvation to perfection.

Romans 6:13; Col 3:10; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1John 4:7; 1Corinthians 6:11

ii. Faith in the Lord Jesus is an important ingredient in the work of sanctification. Galatians 2:20

iii. The truth of the word of God also plays dominant role in the process of liberation of the believers from bondage to liberty and from all sorts of spots to spotlessness. John 8:32

iv. A sanctified believer is a holy believer. A holy believer is humble. He/She abhors evil and denounces self

v. Sanctified believers are very sensitive to spiritual things and are bonded to Christ. Galatians 2;20; 1Corinthians 2:13-16

SUMMARY – Sanctification and truth are inseparable. Those who love to be sanctified must love the truth which is the word of God. John 17:17

CONCLUSION – Jesus sanctified Himself for the sake of the believers. Believers too must live a sanctified life for the sake of Heaven to behold the glory of Christ at last. John 17:19,24

CLOSING PRAYER

i. Father, let me be with Christ in glory at last.

Topic: The Mercy & Grace of God— Sunday 1, October 2017.

Memorise: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:16

Read: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 (KJV)

1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Bible in One Year: Romans 4-6, Daniel 2:1-16, Hymn: Sing Hymn 8 – Great Is Thy Faithfulness

MESSAGE:

Over the years, I have observed that the more powerful some people become, the more wicked they turn out to be. When they are not yet in a position of authority, they will appear humble, but once they have a little taste of power, they act as if they are God. This is what makes my Father very different: He is a merciful God. In spite of all His power and majesty, He remains merciful. Having experienced God’s mercy, David thus wrote in Psalm 40:1-2:

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”

Coming up next: Open Heavens 2 October 2017: Monday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – The Most Needful Thing

God is so full of mercy, and there is no one who cannot benefit from His mercy. When powerful people know that no one can query them, they do whatever they like. God is however different even though He is the Almighty God and He is all powerful, yet His mercy endures forever. Every time you call upon Him, you can be sure His grace will speak for you. Ephesians 2:4 says

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,”

God’s grace grants us access to the things we don’t deserve. There are many of us who are what we are only by His grace. If not for His grace, some of us would not be alive today. If not for His grace, some of us would have no roof over our heads. If not for His grace, how would some of us have anyone willing to help us? There are many opportunities we have misused in the past, and yet we have not lived to regret this because of His grace. If not for His mercy, some of us wouldn’t have recovered from the consequences of our past life.

Can you imagine a person like Saul, who persecuted the Church of God, becoming a mighty apostle of the gospel? If I were God, I would not have saved his soul, especially when I think of the extent of the damage he single-handedly caused the Body of Christ. I then suddenly realise that I also was once in sin like him. When grace and mercy are at work in a person’s life, he will begin to make his boast in the Lord. Can you imagine Paul saying he had wronged no one (2 Corinthians 7:2)? He could say this because the grace and mercy of God had washed away all his past misdeeds. When mercy is at work, every sinner has a future, and when grace is speaking, every saint has no past. God is telling you today that He can have mercy on you. All you need to do is to make up your mind that all the days of your life, you will continue to fear Him and walk in His ways.

Prayer Point: Father, let Your mercy and grace never depart from my life.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

LESSON FIVE (5): THE SANCTIFIED LIFE [SUNDAY OCTOBER 1ST, 2017]

MEMORY VERSE: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:23

BIBLE PASSAGE: John 17:9-23

INTRODUCTION:

In the Old Testament, sanctification frequently denotes the ceremonial or ritual consecration of any person or thing to God. Thus, the Hebrews as a people were holy unto the Lord, through the covenant with its rites and atoning sacrifices (Exodus 31:13). Sanctification is the second work of grace after salvation that every believer must experience. The understanding of the concept, process and practice of sanctification shall be dealt with in this lesson with the help of the Holy Spirit.

LESSON OUTLINES

1. Sanctification: concept and process

2. Practices and benefits of sanctification

SANCTIFICATION: CONCEPT AND PROCESS

To sanctify means to make holy, or to set apart for God (Genesis 2:3; Exodus 19:23). In a doctrinal sense, sanctification is the making, truly and perfectly, holy what was before defiled and sinful. It is a progressive work of divine grace upon the soul justified by the love of Christ. The believer is gradually cleansed from the corruption of his nature (John 15:3), and is at length presented “unspotted before the throne of God with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). The Holy Spirit performs this work in connection with the providence and word of God (John 14:26; 17:17; 2Thessalonians 2:13; 1Peter 1:2). Every Christian should seek to be holy even as God is holy (1Peter 1:15-16). The ultimate sanctification of every believer in Christ is a covenant mercy purchased on the cross. He, who saves us from the penalty of sin, also saves us from its power and to prepare for Heaven every willing and yielding believer.

PRACTICES AND BENEFITS OF SANCTIFICATION

Sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Romans 6:13; 2Corinthians 4:6; Colossians 3:10; 1John 4:7; 1Corinthians 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1Corinthians 6:11; 2Thessalonians 2:13). Faith is instrumental in securing sanctification, inasmuch as it secures union to Christ (Galatians 2:20), and brings the believer into living contact with the truth (John 8:32).

The more holy a man is, the more humble, self-renouncing, self-abhorring, and the more sensitive to every sin he becomes, and the more closely he clings to Christ.

CONCLUSION:

Are you sanctified? Are you ready for sanctification? Can you pay the price? We pray that you answer these questions correctly. The choice is yours.

QUESTIONS

1. What is sanctification?
2. How can it be experienced?

Topic: Grace, Not Disgrace [Saturday 30, September 2017]

Memorise: “As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” – Romans 9:33

Read: Psalms 23:1-6

1 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Bible In One Year: Zechariah 6-10. Hymn: Sing Hymn 11 – Standing On The Promises Of Christ

MESSAGE:

Grace is the favour of God to human beings. It is the demonstration of God’s goodwill towards humankind in the person of Jesus Christ, and the effects of that goodwill in human lives. God’s grace compensates for human weaknesses in that God shows Himself gracious in His dealings with human beings.

God’s grace is abundant. This grace is not only abundant but can be exceeding in one’s life (2 Corinthians 9:14). Grace is one way God makes up for our shortcomings. Grace covers our human frailties. Through grace, God uses our very limited strength and resources to do the impossible. He does this by adding His own strength and resources to ours. With grace, your lack, limitations, and defects are fully covered. When you have prayed, fasted and tried without measuring up to standard, then it is time to fall back on His grace. God wants us to be progressive in grace. God wants us to share His grace with others for them to taste and see that the Lord is good. May His glory fill the earth, that His Name may be praised forever more.

Prayer Point: Father, please let Your grace be sufficient for me.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

Topic: Compassion in Action [Saturday September 30, 2017]

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. – Matthew 9:36

Compassion. That’s the one thing people need more than anything else in this world. They need someone to reach out to them with the compassion of God.

Compassion is a deep yearning that responds to the needs of people. It’s much deeper than sympathy. Sympathy can just sit around feeling sorry for people. Compassion has to do something for them.

Compassion is what motivates God, and Jesus’ life on earth was a picture of that compassion in action. His whole ministry was driven by it. It was compassion that caused Him to multiply the loaves and fishes, heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead. It was compassion that compelled Him to go to the Cross. And it’s that same compassion that He now longs to pour out through you.

That’s a staggering thought, isn’t it?

It’s staggering to realize that we believers are the only body Jesus has on this earth now. His healing must flow through our hands and our faith. His compassion must move us to provide for the hungry. It must compel us to cast out demons and set the captives free.

“But, Brother Copeland, I don’t have that kind of compassion!”

Yes, you do. If you have the Spirit of God dwelling inside you, you do—because He is that kind of love! You simply need to activate it.

How? Just like Jesus did when He walked the earth. Through prayer and fellowship with the Father. Look through the Gospels and notice how much time Jesus spent alone with the Father. That time activated the compassion of God within Him. It caused Him to feel what God feels about the suffering of mankind. It stirred Him so much that whenever He encountered a need, He met it by the power of God.

Follow His example. Spend time in fellowship with your Father. Meditate on His compassion until it rises up strong on the inside of you. Stir it up until the desire to see others set free becomes paramount in your thinking.

Jesus has sent you to reach out and touch a love-starved world with His compassion.

If you don’t do it, who will?

Scripture Reading: Mark 6:32-46

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

Topic: Our Greatest Need [Saturday September 30, 2017]

I stretch forth my hands unto thee; my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land… — Psalm 143:6

Not long ago I visited the dean of a great American university. We looked out the window of his office and watched hundreds of students walking to their classes. I asked the dean, “What is the greatest problem at this university?” He thought a moment and answered, “Emptiness.” So many people today are bored, lonely, searching for something. You can see it in their faces.

One girl home from college told her wealthy father, “Father, I want something but I don’t know what it is.” That’s true of many people; we want something to meet the deepest problems of our lives, but we haven’t found it. David said, “I have found it. I shall not want.” The Apostle Paul expressed it, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.”

You don’t have to give up on life, to throw up your hands and cry, “It’s no use.” . . . You can have God’s peace, God’s joy, God’s happiness, God’s security; and yours can become the most thrilling life in the world.

Prayer for the day: Lord Jesus, You quench the thirst and longing of my soul. Praise Your blessed name.

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

Topic: God Recognizes Our Sacrifices – Saturday September 30, 2017.

Mark 12:41-42 “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.”

Text: Mark 12:41-44

The treasury that is spoken of here is a place located in the Women’s Court that was in the temple complex but was not part of the temple itself. Women were not allowed in the temple, so the fact that this widow was casting her offering into the treasury verifies the location of the treasury.

Jesus used this instance to teach His disciples a very important lesson. He did not say these things to this widow personally. God’s promises concerning giving give us an assurance that this offering was blessed back to this woman in this life, but the widow did not hear His commendation. There is no indication that this poor widow ever knew that anyone recognized the extent of her sacrifice.

Likewise, there are times when we may feel that no one knows or appreciates our sacrifices. However, just as surely as Jesus saw this woman’s giving and knew of the sacrifice involved, God takes note of our smallest deeds and one day, will reward us openly.

The Lord does not judge the size of our gifts by how much we give, but rather by how much we have left over after we give. Men tend to compare themselves with each other but the Lord doesn’t judge our giving by what others give. He judges our gifts by what we have to give. The Lord looks at the heart of the giver more than at the gift. The Lord weighs the giver more than the gift.

When we stand before the Lord, all of our works, not only our giving, will be tried to determine what sort – not what size they are.

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).

Topic: Receive What God Has Already Given — Saturday September 30, 2017.

“He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of miry clay, and set my foot upon a rock, and established my goings.” (Psalms 40:2 KJV)

I was in the depth of sin, I was in the pit of death but he came there and raised me up and planted my feet in high places. He reached out to me and showed me mercy. Who am I? The Psalmist says: “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalms 8:4 KJV) Who is this man? This man that you have so planned for, what is he?  What really is it, that you care so much about him? He spat on your face. He is not living right, he is not doing well, and yet you love him.

The more I study the scriptures, the more I see the love of God. And it makes me cry. We have not fathomed it at all. God’s desire has always been to do all for you and for you to just rest. All you need to do is understand what he has done. Believe it and receive it. That is your own assignment. This should be the basis of our prayers in the month of October, locate the promises of God concerning whatever it is you are trusting him for, and just thank him for it because it is already done.

Somebody said ‘I am waiting for God to move’. The day Jesus said, “it is finished”. That was the end. He is no more moving. He has moved already. The next move is yours. And that move is called faith. Faith is not trying to get God to move. No! That is not what it is. Faith is receiving what God has already given by grace. Faith receives what God has already given. He has given it by grace and all you need to do is to receive it. It is not about your performance. Enough of struggle! Abundant provision has been made for you. That is why this period of fast is very crucial, to enable you to position yourself to receive what God has already provided. Therefore don’t joke with this period. Be at the different prayer sessions, because they have been specially packaged for you. This season, there shall be outstanding testimonies in your life.

Further Reading: Ephesians 1:3-23, 2:4-9

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Isaiah 9-10; Evening- Ephesians 3

Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.

Topic: Forget Not His Benefits — Saturday September 30, 2017.

Text: Psalm 103:1-22

Key Verse: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

The story was told of a young boy who was given writing materials to write everything God and Satan had done for him within an hour. He set out to write about the blessings he received from God. He kept on remembering new things to write about the goodness of God in his life, and by the time he was done with that, the entire time was taken. So he wrote at the bottom of his script “NO TIME FOR SATAN”.

It is difficult to itemize all benefits we receive from God as His children. David, in the text, listed several of them, but the list is endless: He forgives all our sins, heals all our diseases, redeems our lives from destruction, satisfies our mouths with good things, provides justice for the oppressed, shows mercy to people, and retains not His anger forever. Attention was then shifted to His throne in heaven, where the angels worship Him and do all His commandments.

His dominion is universal and His Kingdom rules over all. David, the psalmist, wrote this psalm from his wealth of experience as Israel’s king. He could tell and sing of God’s mercies because he experienced it. He spoke from personal experience when God took him from following the sheep as a shepherd to set him up as king in Israel. He saved him from the many battles he had to fight to maintain as well as expand the nation’s territory. And when he fell into sin, with the devastating consequences on his family and kingship, he cried to God in penitence and received forgiveness. David knew that God’s kingdom is not like that of man. He reigns and rules over the entire universe. Like David, we should sit down and count our blessings, naming them one by one.

We must deliberately focus our attention on the wonderful things He has done for us and stop worrying over the unresolved problems in our lives. As we praise God for His past mercies and blessings, we can be sure that He will arise and do more in our lives.

Thought for the day: Don’t count your loses, count your blessings.

Bible Reading in one Year: 2 & 3 John

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.