Sanctify Yourselves

Greetings in the matchless Name of Jesus!

Sunday Evening, worship, prayer, testimonies...I love it! Things are never the same when you're in the Presence of the One Who never changes. Odd, isn't it? He says, "I am the LORD and I change not". Yet He is continually working, molding, shaping, correcting, loving... us, who need plenty of changing.

Tonight, in His Presence, there were a few different things touching my spirit. Some of the things began earlier in the evening as I was seeking the Lord and praying for the night. I will share with you one of the main things; and that is what I believe the Lord is specifically doing and how it should affect us, the Body of Christ.

Throughout the Word of God we see that whenever the Lord was about to "move", or do something that hadn't been done before ( i.e. deliver the children of Israel from Egypt, God meeting the children of Israel at the Mountain, Joshua leading the people across the Jordan River, etc.) He told them to "sanctify" themselves and then told them the time in which He would come. The God Who sanctified them (set them apart for His purposes and glory) told them to cleanse themselves, sanctify themselves, so they'd be prepared to meet Him.

Several verses should be looked at as we relate this to our walk.
Joshua 3:5 - And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.''

Exodus 19:10,11 - Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. "

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 - Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.'' Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.''
"I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.'' Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Timothy 2:19-22 - Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His,'' and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.'' But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful s; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Malachi 3:1-3 - 1. "Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. behold, He is coming,'' says the Lord of hosts. "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like fuller's soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness."

The Lord is about to do something He has never done before. Yes, He has saved people, He has healed people, and all of those things. But He has never had the Body of Christ, His people, at this particular time before. He has never had His people AT THE END OF THE AGE. This is the most critical time! This is also the time we can't take anything for granted. This is the time to sanctify ourselves from the world's way of doing things and run after what God is doing.

In Joshua 3 we see where the Ark of God was about to go before the Israelites. The Lord told Joshua to "go after the Ark". Go after what God is doing and where He's going. Don't stay back, run right after it. If you don't you'll find yourself on the wrong side of the river. Be ready to step right in when the river parts!

Something else to take note of, though. Right after He said "go after it", the Lord said to make sure you don't follow too close. Why? Because we are so good at getting ahead of God. We are great at "knowing" what the Lord is doing. We get a glimpse and then run on ahead. We need to remember what the Lord told Joshua: "you haven't been this way before".

Folks, there isn't a person alive that has been THIS way before. God is preparing something never shown before. He is in the process of building His people so that the manifold wisdom of God will be demonstrated by the Church to ALL the host of darkness. He is going to make His Church the people to demonstrate to the WORLD who this Jesus REALLY is! It will be an end time showdown!

I love to quote Joel 2:28 about God pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh. But there are some things that come first. The people of God repenting, crying out to God for their impurities and self-centeredness. THEN it will come to pass...! The Lord also says that He will take away the reproach of His people. Before this is all over, THE CHURCH will be known, though maybe not followed, as GOD's VOICE TO THE WORLD!

One more thing; Malachi 3. The verses teach that Jesus (God's Messenger) is coming TO His people as a Refiner BEFORE He comes FOR them. I'll let you chew on that one...

Brethren, this is the time to "sanctify ourselves" for the purpose God has sanctified us: revealing His glory through our lives. This is the time to "go after what God's doing". And, this is the time to keep Him is sight and keep presumption out of our lives for "we've never passed this way before".

May we find ourselves running after the Lord more and more. May we become more and more desperate for ONLY HIM.

Blessed are the pursuers, for they shall catch...

Pastor Jan