KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:19 KJV” And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

In our previous study we looked at how the Lord Jesus sought to see His disciples sanctified as a result of Him   being a role model to them in sanctification. In today’s study we would consider the practical lessons of how the Lord stayed sanctified. Firstly, I wish to state that, the Lord was not focused on overcoming sin, but His desire and longings was to please the father. To be occupied with overcoming sin can really get you living a very frustrated life, but to be occupied with pleasing the Father, makes sinning an issue not to consider in the first place, and so there comes no contention with sin, but doing the positive things that exhort the name of the Father.

With the desire to please the Father, it took away the consciousness of sin, making the mind dwell on more glorious things that honour the Father. John 8:29 KJV” And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” When the mind of a man is freed from mundane matters unto doing things that are of pleasure to the Father, the flesh is also freed of the hang overs of sinful ways. (This does not mean the desire to sin may not come, but its compulsive strength over you will not be there).

Let’s consider the temptation of the Lord Jesus. Satan came to Him, at a time when He had fasted and was really hungry. Satan knew that food was not readily available. He asked Him to turn stones into bread and eat. His mind was on the wavelength of pleasing the Father and so He quickly answered the devil saying, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Matt 4:4. He was not torn between pleasing the Father or satisfying His hunger. He had settled it once and for all that, God is the one who must always be pleased and not man, or the flesh. A decided mind cannot be tempted.

The next thing He did to keep Him sanctified was that He was very spiritual. To be spiritual is to be dominated by the scriptures. In another sense to be spiritual is to be controlled by the scriptures. During His temptations, Satan asked Him to bow to Him, so he the devil would give Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. The Lord quickly answered, “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Throughout the temptations He kept saying, ‘ it is written’ He was not just filled with the scriptures, He was yielded to the scriptures. Spirituality is when the mind and the heart are all controlled by the scriptures. Having the scriptures in your memory does not make you spiritual, but when your heart is surrendered to the scriptures then are you spiritual.

THOUGHT: REAL VICTORY IN LIFE IS WHEN A MAN TRULY LOVES GOD.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 4:34 KJV” Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”

Rom 12:2 KJV” And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”.