“…and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Dear Ones:
God’s works and possibilities begin where ours cease. What do we mean by this? If there is one thing that the word “prayer” declares to us, it is that there IS a God. The second evident thing to consider is that this God HEARS prayer, the call of the heart to Him. Thirdly, this God ANSWERS prayer by intervening in the very life of the individual who prays. Since this is true, to what extent then does God answer the prayer of an individual, with regard to others, and himself? The Apostle Paul clearly answers that question: “And the very God of peace sanctify you WHOLLY…” (v.23) What is he declaring here? Again, there IS a God. Paul specifies that He is the “very God of peace.” What a wonderful description of the Eternal God, Creator, and Redeemer…that comes to us as the God of peace! This little phrase reveals to us the gracious desire and dealings of God with us, in His love, ever waiting to further His work in us. Also, as He is declared to be, so is His work, a work of peace. We do not see Him with a whip, driving His sheep. That would be the one who would be taking them to the slaughter. Christ came to save, and thus deals with us very graciously, even tenderly, confirming His word and work to us by the peace that He gives. But let us return to our question: To what extent does He desire to work in the heart? In using the phrase, “sanctify you wholly,” Paul reveals that this God of peace comes to the heart, and addresses the entirety of our existence, and being. What then does it mean to be sanctified by God?
The word “sanctify” has its root meaning in the holiness of God. To grasp its meaning we begin with seeing God as being holy, separate from all that is not OF Him, distinct by existence, character, and purpose. When it comes to sinful men, we see that God “sanctifies” them, by placing them IN Jesus Christ, thus separating them unto Himself, as they are “…no longer of this world.” Born of the Spirit, they are now distinguished in the eyes of God as being as Christ IS, holy, distinct, separate from that which is not of God, and separated unto a Divine purpose. Jesus was holy, and sanctified by His nature, ministry, and work. The disciple of Christ, with his new nature, is also separate, having been given a new purpose and mission in life. The meaning of sanctification has a very profound aspect to it, in that it is a work that has been done by God, and is in the process of being revealed by the Spirit in the heart and life. In addition, it is also an attitude of heart, a daily choice of faith, to BE what one already IS by the finished work of Christ.
The extent of this work of sanctification touches every aspect of life. Paul uses the term “wholly” to express this. But then he goes on to specifically write: “….and I PRAY GOD your WHOLE spirit and soul and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.” What does he mean? When Jesus finished His perfect work on the cross, He declared: “It is finished.” In that moment, all who subsequently came to Him in faith to be saved, would be perfected in the eyes of God. They were made perfect in Christ. From the moment of the new birth, by the Spirit, they were to daily become what they already were, perfect in Christ. This transforming prayer is for the very real and present intervention, and work, of God by the Spirit, in the life, to accomplish this. Paul concludes this subject by declaring: “Faithful is He who calls you, who also WILL do it.” (v.24)
Dear Father, Teach us to pray, and to trust Thee fully, so that by the Spirit, we should become what we ARE…in Christ, and this, in every aspect of our being and living, In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad
Love this…