Pastor and 1st Lady Mims

Mims Chapel Church

Week 8, April 20

LESSON 8

The Sanctifying Power of the Holy
Spirit Enables Believers to Live
Holy and Separated.

(Note: There is a doctrinal lesson in this quarterly on the Holy Ghost, which will supplement this lesson.)

Lesson Text:

1 Peter 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:14-23

Memory Verse
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father; through sanctification of the Spirit; unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied"
1 Peter 1:2

Key Terms
Holy • Dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred.
Separate • Set apart for exclusive use.
This is an ongoing and continuous act of the will. When an individual works on themselves, "the very God of peace will sanctify you wholly" (1 Thessalonians 5:14-23).

Suggested Emphasis

Sanctification is the process of
being cleansed and set apart
for use by God.

We are called to come out and be separate, which means that Christ is now the very axis of our lives and the choices that we make. Living forthe glory of God, ever in His presence, seeking Him and His will alone, is true separation. The initial act of salvation yields changes. That is, the confession of one's faith, leading the mind to be "made new." Motives, plans, desires, and behaviors change. Sanctification means, the action of making or declaring something Holy or the action or process of being freed from sin or purified. The presence and role of the Holy Spirit as a teacher and a guide will help individuals lay aside and put off behavior that is contrary to sanctification. The continuous act of personal sanctification, that is, all those things that you know and come to know are wrong, you quit them.

Emphasis 1:

Sanctifying Power of the Holy Spirit

When you accept Jesus as your personal Savior, the Holy Spirit abides or dwells in you even if you have not been baptized and filled. The Holy Spirit's attributes include teacher and guide, supported by John 14:26: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 16:13 says, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." The Holy Spirit aides in one's sanctification as long as the individual constantly works on themselves. Notice that Paul warns the church at Ephesus about carnality (Ephesians 4:1730). In verse 31, he specifically states, "Grieve not the Holy Spirit." In other words, when you do not allow the Holy Spirit to guide and teach you in all those areas of sanctification, the Holy Spirit is grieved. Sanctifying power is that power of God to assist you in personal correction, which you would have normally never been able to do (F.E. Butler, Bible Study, 2005).

Emphasis 2:

By whose indwelling "The Christian is enabled"

1 John 3:23 says, "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwel-leth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us." When believers love God and sanctify ourselves, we become a sanctuary of God. Jesus is taber-nacled in us. 1 Corinthians 3:16 says, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" Enabling refers to the practice that makes it easy for people to do what they do. The Holy Spirit is part of the all-powerful Godhead: God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit. There is no limit to His power. The name of the Holy Spirit, Comforter, derives from the Greek word paraclete which also means "Helper" or "one who walks alongside to help." Therefore, anybody who truly means business for God can live for God and continuously sanctify themselves to please God.

Emphasis 3:

To Live a Holy and Separated Life
in this Present World

The sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit is so awesome that you can be living or working in a very challenging environment and still remain saved and sanctified, as Isaiah 43:2 tells us. Hebrews 13:5-6 say, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper,
and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Believers in Jesus Christ are simply in the world—physically present—but not of it. They are not a part of its values (John 17:14-15). As believers, we should be set apart from the world. To be set apart is to be Holy and to live a Holy, righteous life. We are not to engage in the sinful activities the world promotes, nor are we to retain the insipid, corrupt mind that the world creates. Rather, we are to conform ourselves, and our minds, to that of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1-2). This is a daily activity and commitment. We must also understand that being in the world, but not of it, is necessary if we are to be a light to those who are in spiritual darkness. We are to live in such a way that those outside the faith see our good deeds and our manner and know that there is something different about us. Christians who make every effort to live, think, and act like those who do not know Christ do Him a great disservice. Even the heathen knows that "by their fruits you shall know them," so as Christians, we should exhibit the fruit of the Spirit within us (Matthew 7:16). Being in the world also means we can enjoy the things of the world, such as the beautiful creations God has given us; however, we are not to immerse ourselves in what the world values, nor are we to chase after worldly pleasures. Pleasure is no longer our calling in life, as it once was, but rather the worship of God (https://www.gotquestions.org/ in-but-not-of-world.htm1,2024).

Missions Application Questions

Why is the process of sanctification necessary?
Describe how a "Holy and separated" life looks for you.

World Missions Prayer Points

Let us pray that we all continue to sanctify ourselves wholly.
Pray that we remain shining lights full of the Holy Ghost in this dark world.