Category: SANCTIFICATION

Scriptural Readings:

Ephesians 5:15-18, Psalms 14:1, I Timothy 4:1-2
I Peter 1:16.

Believing is essential for everyone. Believe it or not, deciding is the most time-consuming part of our lives. We base our decisions on what is true. It is challenging for us to trust specific things easily. It is okay to disagree with what our eyes have seen, but not everyone. Life is loaded and packed with doubts. Facts and evidence are the only things that bridge doubt and unbelief.


Ephesians 5:15-18

King James Version

V.15 See then, that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

New Living Translation

V.15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.

We live with truth and lies. We have to know these concepts. But for Christians, we are told to conduct ourselves wisely. How can we live wisely? And how can we keep ourselves sensible if we do not know the distinction between truth and lies? By not being a fool. We need to understand and differentiate between these two. But how do we know we are behaving foolishly?

The answer is straightforward: Total dependence on God should always be our answer. We only know some things. Without God’s will, we are more likely to make foolish decisions since we lack the proper foundation to make wise decisions.

King James Version

V.16 Redeeming the time because the days are evil.

V.17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding the will of the Lord [is]

V.18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

New Living Translation

V.16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

V.17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

V.18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,

Foolish conclusions are always available whenever and anywhere. There is a wide variety to choose from if we continue to sin. There are ways to avoid ridiculous conduct, and one is by learning and studying the word of God. When we know what God says with particular things, we can make wise decisions based on His truth. We can live sensibly and avoid unreasonable decisions and actions if we consider these God-given guidelines and follow them. Our understanding of His will differs from ours. We must inspect ourselves and evaluate our actions and decisions. It can help us improve our own lives and the lives of others. We also need to think critically and examine how we live spiritually. The Holy Spirit will confirm specifically what our Father wants, and we work on it without questions.

I Timothy 4:1-2

King James Version

V.1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

V.2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

New Living Translation

V.1
Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.

V.2
These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.

Most of us who profess to be believers in Jesus Christ don’t admit that we are not entirely putting our trust and faith in Him. We might profess our faith in God but rarely accept that we ultimately rely on Him. On this basis, few of us continue to sin willfully. It is the same as living without the comforting presence of God. Making Jesus’ death and suffering on our behalf meaningless is a sad truth that is becoming more and more visible with each passing day.


Psalms 14:1

King James Version

To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David.
The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good.

New Living Translation

Only fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
not one of them does good!

Faith. It connects our body, soul, and spirit. Without it, we cannot see God and develop a relationship with Him. By expressing our faithfulness and trust in Him, our spiritual needs are given and taken care of by God as we enter the spiritual realm.
Having no faith in God is evil in its entirety. Evil begins in the heart, and when our minds agree, it leads to corruption. Corruption is nothing but faithlessness in God and only produces wickedness.

When we sin or commit immoral acts, we are saying God does not exist, and there is no condemnation of what will happen. In this condition, it is crystal clear that we are foolish. Can this happen to a Christian? Yes. It is clear from scripture that none doeth right. Nothing can change this. The devil will not stop until we backslide to a point where we even blame God. Or question the existence of Jesus as Lord and Savior, or, more dangerously, turn our backs on Him.

I Peter 1:16

King James Version

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

New Living Translation

For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

It is where we, as Christians and unbelievers, differ. We have the Holy Spirit convicting us. God will use anything and everything to get us back on track with Him. God wants us to be holy. Some might think that to be holy is to be like God has a character of being impossible to sin. His holiness is entirely different from ours. For us to remain holy, we must remain unspotted, as we are prone to sin.

God made it easy for us to be in the realm of being holy by requiring forgiveness through Jesus. It will be identical to being sacred. If we sin, we confess, and He is faithful and fair to forgive our sins. In this way, we enter a spiritual realm of holiness wherein we are privileged to be forgiven and enjoy a holy place.

In Conclusion,

It is inevitable for us to seek always in our fallen nature. It is the reason we get frustrated and weary. We will forever be desirous of perfection and contentment because of our sinful disposition. Leaving us only hopeless to be found. The only remedy in our fallen nature is to face the truth that we need God.

We want to explore the vastness of space, but it is endless. So, God installed a small brain to advance us in understanding its immenseness. We want to go deeper into the depths of the oceans, but what is in the shallows is yet to be learned. And finally, the ultimate question. Will there be answers to all our questions? Believe and trust in Jesus Christ (John 4:1, 6-7). We are foolish. We need salvation (John 3:3). As we continue to have this relationship with God through our Lord Jesus, all our needs and questions will be met and answered in due time.

Scriptural Readings: I Corinthians 9:19, Galatians 5:1, Romans 15:3

Despite what most of humanity assumes, time isn’t what we pay attention to, as it shows and tells in its purest form. It’s not only taking a quick look at a watch or clocks mounted in our homes or jobs, reminding ourselves of what to do next. Within are messages sent by God. It affirms something profound, even if we aren’t aware. 

I Corinthians 9:19

King James Version

For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

New Living Translation

Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.

Physical presence binds humanity to its entirety on this planet. We measure lives in seconds, minutes, and years, which leaves men and women wondering what the consequences of their decisions are. Working for 8 hours, six days a week, in a closed-in environment inside an enormous building is stressful, or asking a question of when housework becomes effortless. Whatever our occupation or who we are, we are servants.

As we strive to disconnect from dissatisfaction, the exact opposite of this status is what we find.  We are trapped and enslaved in the cycle of uncertainties. We cannot break loose from this bond. The justification for our existence is to suffer the grueling day. There is nothing more than a dream when it comes to liberty.

The gift of free will. Yes, today’s highlight. What is its role? We ask why? The reason is we must separate our wishes from our needs. It is the bridge connecting His wants for each follower of the Son of God. The counterfeit is exposed, and the truth is unlocked. We can draw the line between what we lack from what we claim. 

Galatians 5:1

King James Version

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

New Living Translation

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

In this status, we are trapped and enslaved in a cycle of uncertainties. Many factors cloud our minds. We cannot break loose from this bond. The justification for our existence is to suffer the grueling day. Liberty is just a dream. We wish to wake up from this nightmare. What are we to do? And so, we come to His throne of grace to discuss this problem. 

Freedom, in its literal effect, is unattainable and complicated. Consuming and ending the eight-hour work in our offices or the ever-tiring housekeeping, we still demand other matters to complete the unknown that we believe is an obligation. It is an undeniable, overwhelming feeling of disgust as soon as we hit the ceiling. As we strive to disconnect from dissatisfaction, the exact opposite is what we find. 

A believer in Jesus has an advanced understanding of a godly lifestyle. Christianity opened our eyes to a unique perspective that changes the condition we think, affects the sense we are passing through, and elevates our relationship with our Father. Problems are complicated because we view them as only one possibility. But it freed each Christians from a single bit of known lie the enemy offers.

“…that I might gain more ..”

Our Creator has a sacred task to achieve in everybody. He presents the believers with the best to meet full divine maturity to carry out the specific instructions and perfect cause for being a part of a Christian to fulfill. This bonding produces the satisfaction we have been desirous. And if this doesn’t happen, a total loss on our side.

Romans 15:13

King James Version

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

New Living Translation

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Time in our lives has an explicit purpose. We are now precise because we know beyond more. To realize what we undertake, we desire heavenly implications. We are to experience the true meaning of spiritual development. As we take in our daily directives from Him, He shall fill each individual with the overflowing power of the Holy Spirit because we trust the Almighty, the source of hope.

The newness of presence in Christ showed us the ultimate essence of godlike life. Our whole being today differs from when we were in bondage to sin because we are dead in spirit. The sense of God in our lifetime will separate our wants from needs and govern every second we live. 

Scriptural Readings: Genesis 3:9, Matthew 18:20, Matthew 6:6

Can it be that one day our Heavenly Father tells us He needed help? Will this be possible? A Supreme Being whose attributes are omniscient, omnipotent, and infinite might seek sinners of whom we are for support, but why? Isn’t it odd? We now speculate why the Almighty, who created everything with nothing but His words, demands that we complete an impossible challenge. Do we say no to our God?

Genesis 3:9

King James Version

And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where [art] thou?

New Living Translation

Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”


Where art thou?

It is fascinating to notice that even after our early parents sinned, our heavenly Father still interacted with them. They had spiritual death and yet the Almighty never abandoned them. At first, He reached out to them. “Where are you?” These are the words our Creator used to bring the original man to attention. Omnipresent God knows where he is hiding. He can’t keep His location a secret from Him. Muchmore, He listened to Adam’s lies and wretched excuses. He loves us so much.

His inquiry is a revelation.

Identifying an audible or direct response from God is close to impossible. He always makes us aware of something. When God shows something to us, there will be a spiritual essence. There are amazing things He wants for us to unravel. It isn’t just that we are receiving God into our spirit at this moment; it is also that we are accepting the true purpose of life we all long for, which is to be in His presence. To be in the spirit of our Father is the ultimate purpose.

Matthew 18:20

King James Version

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

New Living Translation

For where two or three gather together as my followers, “I am there among them.”


What is it to be in God’s presence? During prayer, have we known who God is? Being with His Holy Spirit is more meaningful than being demanding on our part. In reality, we are at the right moment for whatever we may imagine. Until we come into existence with the Almighty, we are dead in the spirit.

Fulfillment comes from being in the spirit of the Almighty. It is the purpose of living. Today, being in the company of our Creator is a privilege. Why? We understand that iniquity separates sinners from their Holy Father. It could lead to arguments that our Lord is omnipresent. That is true. It is to highlight God’s attributes. Sin draws the line, and we cannot approach Him. He will get us to bend lower on our knees and draw our attention. Is being in Glorious Father’s presence more significant than having prayers answered? First, we need to be with God. Only then can we pray. Now, we ask ourselves? Which is more essential?

Why humble ourselves?

Our Maker deserves more of our concern. This is the only plan. We should know He will never leave. We may seek for nothing more than to be with our Creator. To be with our Maker is our ultimate purpose. Today, existing with God is a privilege. Why? We know that sin separates us from the Almighty. There are those who may argue that God is omnipresent. That is true. The purpose is to prove His attributes. Sin still divides us, and we cannot approach Him. Only He can grab our attention, making our inflated egos inferior to His holiness, so we have to bow on our knees and pray. Which is more significant, our prayers answered or being in God’s existence? God’s presence is foremost. Only then can we pray. Now, we ask ourselves? Which is more meaningful? Now, we seek ourselves? Which is more essential?

When we meet our Creator in prayer, our desires rush along with our spirits. We need to unite with God’s spirit. We cannot stop ourselves from pouring ourselves into Him. The most significant thing to realize is that our Maker knows everything. If we stay fixed on our passions, we cannot comprehend our God. We have to humble ourselves in His presence. He instructed us to be still and know He’s Almighty. His Holiness should be above even the smallest things. As we pray, resentments should fall at their proper time and place.

Matthew 6:6

King James Version

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

New Living Translation

But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.



A missed opportunity.

Isn’t it true we always look for an opportunity? Opportunity knocks only once, as the old saying says. Are we blind to the opportunities God has given? Problems won’t go away, but our Creator uses the time to work through them. This is happening.
We do not have enough time. This is what we always say. But we find ourselves on our knees when problems keep creeping. Right? As a result, we realized the opportunity we missed.



Close the door behind you, and talk to your father in heaven.

Blaming ourselves is the only reason we missed the opportunities the Almighty has given. Why? Our God listens, wherever we are, and for whatever reasons we are having. We have plenty of time for Him. This is a fact, but we refuse to acknowledge it. Our creator is behind the door. It is never too late. Again, our Father in heaven is always ready to hear from His children.

We are now living the end times, as our Lord Jesus was saying. Time is of the essence. Are we giving more of our quality moments to Him? Obedience is not just carrying out orders, as we see. A reward or blessing accompanies it. This opens the door to God’s kindness. Comforting us for a while in His presence. We live by His grace and mercy. It is where favor from our Maker, His blessings, shows.

The revelation does not end here. He has more to show. We know our Omniscient Architect is imparting knowledge and is part of His blueprint. Every challenge has an answer, regardless of how complex or simple it may be. His children will be enabled to do for His glory. That is spiritual sanctification in its purest form. God designed us to enjoy a holy relationship with Him.

Scriptural readings: James 4:6-8; Revelations 3:15-16; Ephesians 6:10-18.

King James Version

James 4:6-8 

V.6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

V.7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

V.8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double-minded.

New Living Translation

V.6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.”

V.7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

V.8  Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty, is divided between God and the world.

Have we honestly been thinking about conviction and conscience lately? It might not be interesting to talk about, but one thing for sure is that we dealt lightly with these things, or we never tried to reach the point of reflecting on it seriously. A lot of us may probably respond to this question by relying on human reasoning. And currently, these words are a subject of controversy. And there are so many things about these terms to be accepted. However, we might have possibly failed or overlooked the terminology moral or morality. And for Christians, what should be our response?        

What are we thinking?

We are sinners. It is a reality that no matter what we think or do, we cannot escape from this reality. No matter what arguments we have, we will always sin against God. Whatever we should think, it has to be of spiritual significance. We have to put in our minds the power of God, not anything else. When we accept Jesus in our lives, our spiritual lives must be our priority. Our relationship with our Father, Jesus, His Son, and the Holy Spirit has to be the most significant part of our lives. It is the truth that we have to address first. The truth is not in us. We think we are doing the will of God, but in reality, we do not.  

The bottom line to this is that we will have second thoughts. And we will choose from a lot of options. The Holy Spirit can live in us. And this is the only way we can have victory.

King James Version

Revelations 3:15-16

V.15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

V.16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

New Living Translation

V.15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!“

V.16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

What are we doing?

We have to have God at the end of every second that passes in our lives. Why? The moment that we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, everything will change. Of the many things that we are going to experience is a powerful conviction from the Lord. Aside from this conviction, we will also experience the enemy’s presence. Yes, the enemy will be both inside and outside of us. The old fellow inside us entices us to bow down to the external evil influences that this sinful world offers. Unless we reckon death to the aged fellow inside us, we will have difficulties dealing with our sinful nature. God knows how we think and our every move.

God’s way 

We have to make choices in life. Since there is no other way but to choose, our decisions must be unmistakable. Morality will always be a part of our decisions. It will separate confusion from confirmation. Once there has been a conviction, morality takes action. It is the one that God never lifted or took out from us when our first parents sinned against God. When Adam and Eve died spiritually, they separated from God. As a result, we can presume that our morals died as well. God could have taken the volition out of us, leaving the situation of nothing left but having only the worst things until we die. But it did not happen that way. God left morality because He wants us to know that goodness exists and we can find it through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

King James Version

Ephesians 6:10-18

V.10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

V.11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

V.12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].

V.13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

V.14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

V.15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

V.16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

V.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

V.18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

New Living Translation

V.10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

V.11  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

V.12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

V.13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then, after the battle, you will still stand firm. 

V.14  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.

V.15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

V.16  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

V.17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

V.18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

The enemy is always busy. We are always under attack constantly. The enemy is spreading lies every second that passes by. But we have conviction. Conviction is an audible voice of God heard by our spiritual senses. We do not have to face this battle alone. It points out our mistakes, and it also instructs us on what God wants us to do. It is why God left these convictions that either way; we are going to be alarmed or face the enemy with the Holy Spirit.  

We cannot handle ourselves. Anything can easily control us, and we cannot guarantee all that we believe in had better be for our advantage. The enemy is always busy. We can be under the influence of evil any second from now. We have to hand over our lives to Jesus Christ. There is no other way we can have a righteous and contented life unless we are under the control of the Holy Spirit who will produce in us the fruits.

Scriptural Readings: Matthew 11:28-30

King James Version

V.28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

V.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

V.30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.

New Living Translation

V.28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

V.29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

V.30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

“Take up and carry your cross.” A commandment from our Lord that may seem an impossible thing to fulfill for us Christians. One thing for sure is that it might show an unpleasant picture, and we have this impression of nothing but difficulties. But faith tells us more than we can expect. And there are spiritual outcomes that are more necessary in our spiritual lives than we can have. Remember, it is a commandment from our Lord Jesus. It also includes having blessings.

In this world, we are living in, every second counts. For each second that passes by, it is of the highest quality to benefit, not only for our daily needs but also for our spiritual needs. As we go over with our lives living in harmony with state-of-the-art technology, uncertainty should not be a part of our day-to-day lives. However, because of the complexity of the world we are living in, mistakes are inevitable.  

“Come unto me…”.

The word “come” in Greek is “deute” (dyoo’- teh), coming from the word “deuro” (dyoo’-ro), an imperative meaning come here and follow; hitherto. Hitherto means describing a state or circumstance that existed until now. Followed by the Greek word “pros”: a preposition of direction, meaning towards, or forward. Now, let us connect the dots. God knows all of us will reach a point that we will need His help, and this is where we might miss the point. When Jesus said come, He means we must go directly to Him. He knows what we look for exactly. There should be no alternatives. What is wrong with us at present is that we have a lot of options. Jesus has become the alternative. We insist on working hard more on the things that we think are the best for us instead of coming straight to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is plain, and it is simple. Come.

“Take my yoke…”.

What comes up to your mind when you hear the word yoke? It is not a common word we hear every day. Is this word relevant today? Does it make sense to anyone, even in our spiritual lives? This word may seem irrelevant, but it infuses us with the most significant consequences in our spiritual lives. 

One dictionary defines a yoke as a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull; during ancient Rome, it is an arch of three spears under which it made a defeated army march. 

For these animals, this crosspiece is a thing that would help lighten the load and guide them with their purpose, and that is to help humans. As for some Christians, we might look at the crosspiece as burdensome for us. However, in its genuine sense is a connection for us to deepen our relationship to our God. 

“…and learn of me…”.

Learning is a must for our way of life, most especially in our spiritual lives. The problem is that we sometimes presume challenges as troubles to us. A burden that makes our lives miserable. We think that there are more essential things that we have to attend to than to accept these challenges that will improve our lives. For some, this may be true. But for our spiritual lives, it is entirely different. We have to respond to what the Holy Spirit is telling and instructing us.

Just how are you going to react if someone asked you to drive a massive 18-wheeler truck for the first time? What feelings are there for a first-timer pilot to fly an Airbus A380? Danger might be the first word to pop out of one’s mind. Lack of self-trust can also be in us. The size of what is in front of us is terrifying, especially when we talk about and face an insurmountable problem. It is the reason Jesus told us to come. To learn. And not to be dismayed. The word “learn” in Greek is man-than’-o. Prolongation from a primary verb, another form of which, Matheo, is used as an alternate in certain tenses; to learn (in any way):–learn, understand. Jesus would not let us reach out to Him to suffer. He requires us to come to Him in prayer and surely will learn. To learn from Him will cause finding rest, the opposite of what we presume to have difficulties because of yokes.

For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.

If you can see another angle of the meaning of this word, it has the same predicament Jesus experienced. The wooden cross was weighty for our Lord Jesus, true indeed, but in its spiritual essence, it created the road map for us to travel the spiritual realm that God prepared us with ease to cope up with living in this unbearable world. He picked up His cross (piece), guided, and marched like a leader of a defeated army, but in the end, of course, is the beginning of everlasting life with our God.

God knows we are heading to rough and confusing times. Looking, picking up, and carrying our cross is an activity done every day for us to acknowledge and resolve the truth from lies guiding us where He wants us to be. It is where our lives cross with God’s plan. From the time being that we carry on our crosses, Our Father, through the Holy Spirit, instructs us of the things we need as we undergo with our everyday living. The moment that we carry our crosses, we will feel the power of the Holy Spirit defeating the body, taking control of our souls and spirit. We might bear our crosses every day, but tell us where we are heading, eliminating confusion and uncertainties, placing us in the right direction towards His will.