Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Encouragement

Sanctified

Encouragement

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
John 17:17

Keeping today’s verse in context, Jesus was praying the most profound prayer known to man. With suffering and death on His mind, He prayed to the Father for His disciples who He loved so dearly. He prayed that they would be sanctified in the truth, set apart and made holy unto Him.

Sanctification is a specific act of the Holy Spirit. Once a sinner is saved by grace, the ongoing process of becoming holy takes place in the heart of the believer. It’s an ongoing process that won’t be completed until we are in the presence of God in Heaven. Until then we are increasingly conformed in the likeness of Jesus Christ. It’s a life long process.

Everyone who trusts in the Lord for salvation is sanctified the moment they receive the Holy Spirit into their heart. But every believer must go through the process of maturing in their faith. Day by day we progress into the image of Jesus Christ Himself.

We are enriched with truth through the power of the Word of God. The truth of God sanctifies us and separates us from evil. As we meditate and on the Word of God and study its powerful promises, the truth is planted in our hearts. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we trust our heavenly Father to complete a good work that He started in us on the day of salvation. 

Have you allowed the Word of God to work in you? The work we do for Jesus is because of our faith in Him. We steadily and boldly work towards being the person God has called us to be. It’s not an easy to be a Christian but it is rewarding. Set yourself apart from the world today and proclaim the goodness of our Lord in your words and actions. 

Pray

Lord, thank You for choosing me. You loved me before I loved You. You have set me apart for Your good work and I am up for the challenge.

Controlling Your Emotions

Encouragement

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
Mark 12:30

Expressing feelings is a part of life that must be controlled. People let their emotions control their actions. We must keep ourselves holy and righteous.

Your soul manifests your emotions, feelings, attitudes and actions. How you process your emotions is vital.

God says that we are to love Him with all our soul. Our primary reason for existence is to glorify God with who we are and what we have. That means we should express our emotions toward God so that others may know Him and believe in Him.

Sadly, we see people, Christians as well, expressing personal emotions toward political and social issues and but not so much spiritual. God wants us to express our emotions and feelings about the things that matter in our relationship with Christ. 

In the Scriptures we see political and social groups that rose up against Christ. The Pharisees and the Sadducees hated Jesus. They even tried to stone Him and kill Him before He went to the cross. 

They viewed Jesus as a threat in their political agenda. Jesus confronted the issues many times with them and called them out on their unrighteous behavior. 

As Christians, we must be the light in the darkness. Our love for God must be put on display for the whole world to see. How will unsaved people come to know Christ if they never witness the love of God?

We are called to be witnesses of Christ. Let’s express our love to God through a passionate relationship with Christ. Let’s glorify God with our soul today. He deserves it!

Pray

Lord, I praise Your holy name and give You honor and glory. Give me a heart and soul for the things that matter to You. Help me to express my love in a way that glorifies You.

You Are Family

Encouragement

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Ephesians 2:19

Have you ever felt like you were a stranger living in a foreign land? Have you ever had to relocate to a different community, new job or a new school and felt like you were out of place? It takes a little time before you actually feel like it’s home. 

In today’s verse, Paul wants us to consider what it feels like to become a member of God’s household; to be part of the family of God, to be a child of God, and to have a place where you are welcomed.

Maybe you have sung the hymn, “I’m so glad… I’m a part… of the family of God.” Sing it right now! “I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood.” Now it’s stuck in your head!

In reality, faith is not just believing but belonging. As a believer in Jesus, you belong to God’s family and His household. The moment you put your trust in Jesus you are no longer a stranger to God but a friend or a child. Even though you are living on earth, your real citizenship is in heaven!

The moment you say, “Lord Jesus, I believe in you, forgive me of my sins and save me,” instantaneously and miraculously, you belong to God. Have you experienced that blessing of belonging to God? 

Our home is in heaven and one day we will be in the presence of our Lord and Savior. Can you imagine what it will be like? Heaven awaits us and we long to see Jesus face to face. Let the hope of eternal glory fill your heart with everlasting joy.

Pray

Lord, thank You for saving my soul and accepting me into the family of God. Fill my heart with joy and give me a song in my mouth. Until I’m in Your presence, let Your light shine bright in me so others will know You as well.