Sanctifying Life: 6 More Stepping Stones

Sanctification is the topic of the previous article which discussed the first 5 stepping stones.  This article describes 6 more facits of the definition provided by a dictionary definition.             The Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines “sanctify” with the following:  to cleanse, purify, set apart, separate, prepare for divine service, ordain and appoint to the work of redemption, cleanse from corruption, purify from sin, render productive of holiness or piety, make free from guilt, and secure from violation.      

At this point, reading the previous article will help fit this together.  Sanctifying life is like crossing a flowing stream of water.  God gives us stepping stones to navigate, but we need to intentionally take the steps and allow the cleansing process of the water to work out the details.  A decision to follow Jesus is not the final destination.  Salvation of our soul begins the journey of crossing the stream of life to fall into the arms of Father God on the other side.  

As we look at these 6 stepping stones, let’s again ask ourselves the question, “Am I living living a sanctifying life?”   Which of these areas might God have you focus on for change?

6. Ordain and appoint to the work of redemption - (2 Corinthians 5)  To redeem is to purchase back or to deliver.  Our sinful condition from birth made us a prisoner in slarery to the enemy.  Jesus delivered our soul from this condition.  Christ’s deliverance gives us more freedom as we surrender more of our heart to the process.  But it doesn’t stop there.  God makes us part of an army sent out to deliver others.  God sanctifies our life so that our focus does not remain on our own welfare, but the welfare of others.  In the journey of crossing the stream, our duties include helping others prevent drowning and finding the stepping stones to sustain life.  Are you able to explain to someone else what Christ’s  “redemption” means?  Are you growing in your understanding and practice of forgiveness and reconciliation?  Are you able to extend grace to close friends  (in their imperfections), and can you give your trust to God, for Him to do His work, with His timing and methods, in their lives?  

7. Cleanse from corruption - (Proverbs 20:10; 2 Peter 2:17-22)  The Bible says,  “People are  slaves to whatever has mastered them” (2 Peter 2:19).  Sometimes we need deliverance for something that has a particular strong hold on our thinking and behavior.  Addiction would be an example of this.  Or, corrupt activity may be in our family line producing destructive patterns. We may even need outside help to become free.  Is there a bad habit in your life you have tried to kick, but you can’t get victory over it?  What desires (that lead to bad deeds) seem hardest to control?  What undesirable habits exist in your family line, and what is the impact on your life?   

8. Purify from sin - (Mark 7:17-23)  Sin is not about wrong actions, as much as it is about a corrupted condition of heart.   Allowing your heart to be reconditioned and purified by Jesus, removes the desire to sin.  Change from the inside out produces more lasting results.  Turning bitterness and resentment over to God will free the heart of rage leading to an act like murder.  The Bible calls them “bitter roots” (see Hebrews 12:15).  Anger is often a sign of a bitter root.  Bitter roots are created by routine critical judgments we make (so common we are not even aware of them).  This topic of  inner life change is frequently discussed in previous articles on my web site.  What is your anger trying to tell you about your heart condition?  Are you “seeing to it” that no bitter root is given room in your heart (see Hebrews 3:13, 12:15)?  What part of your belief system is causing you to form critical opinions (judgments) of people?  

9. Render productive of holiness or piety - (1 Corinthians 7:1)  God is holy.  No man can be holy in the way God is holy.  However, Christians are to represent God’s holiness as best as is possible for mankind.  We are to give God the “glory due his name” (Psalm 29:2).  Jesus commanded us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).  

What does it mean for God to be holy?  Do you love him with all your being?   Is there an idol that might stand in the way?  What is the next step to removing the ungodliness from your life?  

10. Make free from guilt - (Hebrews 10:22)  Repentance prepares the way for sanctification.  Guilt is a good thing, and should lead us to confession and repentance (turning away from wrong doing).  Don’t confuse guilt with shame. Shame condemns who you are as a person.  God does not condemn people for who they are.  God condemns wrong doing (sin).  God provides forgiveness for wrong doing.  Shame comes from condemning self ( rejecting self) as not worthy of God’s forgiveness.  Along with any actions that offend God, we can repent for the guilt of shaming ourselves, and thus be free of shame as well!  God works forgiveness and sanctification.  Our good works can never take the place of that for which we must rely on God.  Are there sins for which you have not repented and asked God’s forgiveness?  Are you trying to “work off” (perform your way out of) a guilty conscience?   Are you feeling condemnation (shame) that is holding you back from the freedom Christ has provided you?  Are you willing to repent (turn these things over to God) and receive his forgiveness?  Do it right now!

11. Secure from violation - (Psalm 91) “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  ….  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation”  (Psalm 91:1,16).  God is our salvation.  Our “good works” to not save us.  In fact, our attempts to get good enough for God, end up driving us further away.  Going to church, practicing spiritual disciplines, nor progress made (past experiences) in the areas mentioned above, can be relied on for salvation.  We must surrender (hand over) the steering wheel and let God be the Driver for our remaining journey on the sanctifying life.   In the metaphor of crossing the stream, we must hold out our hand and let God’s strong hand-grip  deliver us from the raging, over-powering currents.   Is God the place where your security lies?  To what degree are other people, places, or things in the way of God being a greater  Refuge; Salvation; Sanctifying Life?  Is he your Source (is your full trust in him) for all the good change mentioned above?   

There is a verse in the Bible that people often mis-interpret, and thus rely too much on self-effort for the sanctifying life.  “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12) is to reinforce living out the previous verses  with honor and respect for God. The verse before it summarizes, “every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,  to the glory of God the Fatherj” (Pilippians 2:11).    “Work out your salvation” is not a license to trust in your own efforts to be saved, but an admonishment to cooperate with the work of God in our lives.  This is explicitly stated in the next verse, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).  The work of sanctifying life is merely to surrender to, and cooperate with, the work of God In this world.   

Are there things in your life you want to see improved a year from now? Do you want to be a better person?  Do you want to lead, speak, parent, teach, or work with more authority and influence?  Unfortunately, most people aren’t willing to make the changes necessary for sanctifying life, but, if you are still reading this article, you are likely one of the ones who are.  Thus, I have a challenge for you.  For  each of the next eleven months, take one of the areas above and make it a focus for positive change in your life.  Study the Bible on the topic.  I gave some Scripture references for starters.  Pray about it.  Ask God to show you areas that need changed (sanctified) and allow Him to show you how to make it happen.  He is more than willing to meet you where you are (in the stream) and sanctify your life for the journey (left to navigate).  Take the twelth and final month as an evaluation and planning (rest) month the next year.  Evaluate with questions like the following.  Am I now more comfortable with the process of change?   What is the hardest part?  In what areas do I see the greatest improvements?  How can I help others and join with others in sanctifying life?  

One more question ..  Does this article ask enough questions?  <smile>  Please write to me and whare with me any new questions  that come to your mind.  Share your answers too.  I trust God has all the answers!  

by Ed Hersh, Blue Rock BnB Healing Ministry

Religious Barriers

            Could it be possible that religion is a barrier to finding God? Can religion hinder a deeper or more meaningful relationship with God? 

            This is part 2 of a discussion on barriers to better living. The previous blog post talked about sin, unmet legitimate needs, psychological pain, and false beliefs as barriers to a better quality of life.  In some ways it may seem like religion is an answer to overcoming these barriers, but I'll unpack here, a statement I made.  "God is not accessed through religion, but through relationship.  Religion can become a barrier of its own  that hinders a relationship with God.  Religion can encapsulate all four of the barriers listed above." 

            Religion tends to direct more focus on the human than on the divine.  Religion is about human effort.  Religious practice is based on self-effort to achieve a self-imaged perception of the divine.  It's about becoming good enough, strong enough, or worthy enough to please God.  No matter how well we perform, however, our human limitations cause us to eventually "miss the mark."  The mark is placed  higher and longer with every tryout or race on life's journey. 

            Take "good enough" as an example.  Relationship of any kind is based on trust.  Although many point to evil things in the world and blame God for allowing them, God is not responsible for bad things that happen.  God has proved himself trustworthy.  Everything God thinks and does is for the good of people.  Anything bad has nothing to do with God.  Reframing our perceptions of God toward his goodness is part of trusting God more and improving relationship.  God is good, all the time.

            Somehow we think that in order for God to accept us, we must attain a certain level of goodness to qualify.  Some err by giving up on God completely, and others (calling themselves religious people) try way too hard.   If we try to "relate up" to God's goodness, we will fail every time because his goodness is inexhaustible.  The bar will always go higher and we will get more and more frustrated with trying harder to be good.  Religion does not see this deficiency, and tries to produce good rather than surrendering (yielding) to it. 

            Jesus came to solve this dilemma and tear down barriers that keep people from relationship with God.  Isaiah the prophet spoke of Jesus the Messiah's mission,

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners" (Isaiah 61:1).

            Christ's earthly life, crucifixion, and resurrection restored the path to Father God. 

Our sin produces guilt that leaves our heart broken and wounded.

Our unmet needs may leave us in poor condition.
Our psychological pain holds us captive to inner turmoil.

Our false beliefs filter out the light of truth leaving us in a dark prison.

Believing in Jesus (not religion) is the Way through all the barriers. 

            Church background, family practices, and cultural norms may all factor in to our filtered perceptions of who God really is.  Some of our views may line up with what the Bible tells us about God's ways, and some may not.  Although a Christian since boyhood, my own personal journey is sprinkled with sin, unmet needs, pain, and mis-beliefs.  For example, I recently encountered a different interpretation of a Bible story I had known since childhood. 

            The classic Bible story of David and Goliath highlights a small shepherd boy defeating a heavily armed, giant of a man taunting the armies of ancient Israel.   A common interpretation is that  God strengthened the underdog David to battle Goliath;  God can strengthen us to defeat giants in our lives.  While it is true that God strengthens his people to do great things, that is not the point of this story.   In the story (see 1 Samuel 17), David is to be interpreted as a type of the Messiah Jesus.  Jesus came as the Savior.  Jesus has conquered the giants.  Jesus defeated the enemy of our soul and all evil.  Now we (as representative of the armies of Israel in the story)  battle from a position of the final outcome having been determined.  But fight we must.  And the cleanup of conquered territory must continue.  I recently discovered this insight about the story by watching a sermon online called "Goliath Must Fall"  by Louie Giglio at: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUkGDn4HnqI

            By inserting ourselves into the story as David, we reinforce the idea that somehow we can become good enough, strong enough or worthy enough to conquer bad things in our lives.  We can add religion into the mix and say, "God wants me to conquer _____" (fill in the blank with your personal struggle).  But the truth is, by surrendering to Jesus as our Savior/ Messiah, our relationship  with God and access to his power is restored.  Our giants are not conquered by our own efforts (religion), but through the relationship Jesus made possible.  

            The largest giants in our personal stories are not the financial struggles, relational struggles, or health concerns.  The big giants are inner person issues like anger, fear, guilt, shame, and rejection.  These giants are too big.  Jesus is the one who conquers giants.  I've been following Jesus for about a half a century now, and I still need reminded of that truth!   I'm dependent more than ever on my relationship with God to repeal and replace the sins, needs, pain, and falsehood for the righteousness, abundance, peace, and truth for better living.  God is the one who initiated removing the barriers and he accomplished barrier removal.  Our part is not to try harder to remove barriers on our own, but to surrender to what God has done.

            The gospel of John records the details of the intimate fellowship the Son Jesus demonstrated with Father God.  At the very end of John, the very last words he recorded as spoken by Jesus, are "follow me."  Becoming a follower of Jesus means you commit to grow your relationship with him as life moves on.  Following Jesus is not just a concept, principle, prayer, going to church, remembering a stained-glass picture on a wall, or relying on a deeply spiritual experience in the past.  Following Jesus is an active pursuit of discovering more of the person of God and putting your whole trust in him. 

            I'm not encouraging anyone to sever all ties to religious practices and traditions.  My hope is for people to discern between religion and relationship with God.  One more thing to point out is mankind's vulnerability to false religion.  We must recognize that some people in our  would hold to ideologies which pose as religion, but are more aligned with forces of evil than good.   False religion can become  extremely dangerous.  Blaise Pascal has stated, “Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from a religious conviction.”   Without naming them here, I'm sure we can all think of examples of this in our world today.  May God deal with this kind of giant as well.  

            My prayer is that everyone reading this will see through barriers of religion,  to find the authentic relationship with God that fulfills their true purpose and destiny.

            I end once again by returning to my roots in Jesus Music.  I couldn't decide on one, so I mention two songs that helped me overcome religious barriers.  These songs are about four decades old, but the message still rings true today.  John Michael Talbot "Would You Crucify Him?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKvfk4Su9LU,  and Scott Wesley Brown  "I'm Not Religious Anymore"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7aTVzW2kFA . 

by Ed Hersh, Blue Rock BnB Healing Ministry

May God Be Made Great, in America, Again!

         For decades some history writers have been trying to minimize the religious heritage of the founders of the United States of America. The truth is, America's success (or failure) is directly connected to it's citizens' view of God, and their actions based on relationship with (or without) God.

         An individual doesn't have to be a God-follower to reap the benefit from freedoms guaranteed by the founders' intent in the Constitution. The privileges we enjoy as a "free society" are evident in all areas of life including family, commerce, church, education, entertainment, and government.

         The founders based their view of government on principles found in the Bible. When these principles are honored, things go well. When God is dishonored by not granting supremacy to his ways over human ingenuity, things fall apart. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 33:12). It doesn't take long to make a huge list of problems in America today. Each problem on our list can somehow be traced to a further distance from the original design (although not perfect) for our government. We are paying huge consequences for forsaking godly principles.

         The solution to America's problems is not in finding a "perfect" political leader. America could be made stronger by shrinking the size of bureaucracy, wiping out our national debt, and re-empowering our military to accurately identify and fight our enemies, Putting our hopes in one person to achieve even the most noblest of goals is futility. America can only become great again if the hearts of its people honor God's greatness. John Adams (2nd President of the USA) once said, "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion . . . Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

         If you are a person of moral and/or religious conviction, it is imperative you participate in our system of government wherever possible. At the very least, make sure you vote in the upcoming election. There is absolutely no reason not to vote. "I don't like any of the candidates," "They're all corrupt," "Both parties are equally at fault for our problems," and other similar comments are all lame excuses. There maybe some elements of truth these statements, but our system is designed to work, one vote at a time. America needs your vote.

         You're not just voting for one person. Yes, the "office" of President is held by one person. But, our system of electing that person includes that person belonging to a larger organization of like-minded individuals called a party. The candidate who wins the office of President selects a "cabinet" of key persons who also hold offices of top leadership in the government. This cabinet also selects key persons to serve in leadership to carry out the mission of its respective function of government. Generally all these top positions of the government are filled by people from the same political party as the top office of President. A vote for a presidential candidate therefore, is a vote for what is called the party platform.

         The party platform is the formal statement of values and beliefs held by the members of the organization. The two main parties in the US (Democratic and Republican), have each adopted a platform at their respective conventions last month. These two platforms have never been more divergent in our history as a nation. Since all the top leaders of our government will come from one of these two parties, it becomes very important to understand the contents of each platform in order to make an intelligent vote in the election. A vote in the Presidential election coming in November, is more a vote for a set of values in the platform than it is about voting for one person whose name happens to represent their party on the ballot.

         The platforms are quite different on social issues, friendliness towards Israel, free enterprise, religious liberties, and morality. The people helping the President to select the next few Supreme Court justices will be representing one of these two platforms as well. The choice is very clear, although watching the “mainstream media” you would never obtain enough truth to make a good decision.

         So for at least three months, turn off the television. TV has become a propaganda tool promoting ideologies very destructive to Americans.  Even so-called "news" broadcasts,

often defy standards of common sense.  The aim of propaganda is to distract you from thinking for yourself. Don't fall for it. You can think. You can make good choices. And if you allow God (who designed your personhood) to influence your decisions, you can make “God” honoring (godly) choices. That's really how God can be made great in America, again!

         If you like living in America, whether you believe in God or not, your best hope for America to thrive is for God to be made great in America, again.

Note: A book I authored Escaping the Pain of Offense: Empowered to Forgive from the Heart discusses truth for dealing with disappointments, offense and finding freedom through forgiveness (from a Christian perspective). See more about the book by clicking here: http://bluerockbnb.com/healing/book_main.htm .

 by Ed Hersh, Blue Rock BnB Healing Ministry

Forgiveness

            Last month the world mourned the death of Nelson Mandela, a man known for his understanding and practice of forgiveness in the face of injustice.  

            In 2010 I finished a three year dissertation research project on the topic of forgiveness.  I subsequently authored a book (including much of that research) on the topic (see Escaping the Pain of Offense: Empowered to Forgive from the Heart).  In addition to these academic pursuits I have wrestled with this topic in my personal experiences both on the offending side and as one who has been offended.  Through counseling ministry I have also walked with many other people on their personal journeys of being victimized and having been in a victimizing role.  Having said this, even with my extensive knowledge of the topic, I still consider myself a learner in the midst of an inexhaustible subject.  In my estimation dealing with offense and forgiveness is one of the most misunderstood and mal-practiced of human experiences.

            How can forgiveness be so frequently talked about, read about, studied, and attempted while at the same time the actual fruit of forgiveness (joy and peace of heart) so often seems to slip out of reach?  I'll share a few thoughts here about why this is true, but my book does a more thorough job helping readers discover paths to true peace and joy in their lives.

            Racial equality advocate Nelson Mandela was a political prisoner over 2 decades in South Africa.  His heart attitude led to actions which made a huge difference not only for him but numerous people following his lead. He is quoted as saying, “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.”  He understood how bitter roots are formed from the seed of nursing wounds and grudges that grow in the human heart.  Left unchecked, bitterness will inevitably turn to resentment.  Mandela also says, “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”  That is very true in a figurative sense, but it also holds true literally.  Research points to the connection between unforgiving emotions and the development and spread of bodily diseases like cancer. 

            Furthermore, resentment often moves down the slippery slope to create an atmosphere of revenge. Josh Billings turns this around when he says, "There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness."  When someone intentionally tries to cause harm but is answered with forgiveness instead of retaliation, a cycle of hurt and harm is immediately broken.  Abraham Lincoln once asked, " Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?"   Oscar Wilde remarks, " Always forgive your enemies--nothing annoys them so much." 

            So you genuinely want to forgive someone for the hurt they have caused you in the past.  Maybe you've already tried to forgive but it doesn't seem to work.  Lack of results is usually not caused by failure of forgiveness, but failure to understand what forgiveness really is.  Contrary to what many believe, forgiveness is not simply a choice.  It is not simply forgetting.  Author Louis Smedes writes, "Forgiving does not erase the bitter past. A healed memory is not a deleted memory. Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future."  Forgiveness is not an exercise of the mind using willpower to shut off the emotions.   The lasting fruit of forgiveness requires a person's heart to be involved. 

            Forgiveness begins with love.  Love is more than having feelings toward another.  It is more than making a decision to care.  Love is an action.  True love is acting in the best interest of the other person.   "Forgiveness is choosing to love. It is the first skill of self-giving love," says Mahatma Gandhi.  In a book called Sonship: A Journey into Father's Heart, James Jordan writes a chapter entitled "Forgiving from the Heart."  I highly recommend his book for further reading.  Jordan explains how human beings are "wired" by their Creator for love and forgiveness.  Jordan writes, " He wants us to progress from choosing to forgive, to forgiving with love, and then to the place where we love to forgive. Moving far beyond forgiving as an act of the will, to forgiving endlessly from a heart that loves to forgive." 

            If you believe in God and you want a deeper relationship with Father, surrendering your heart to His love and forgiveness is essential.  Father God is the source of all truth. The fact of the matter is, no human being will ever fully be able to grasp how huge this topic is from God's perspective.  At some point, forgiveness comes down to trusting Father and His ways as totally right and just.  Forgiveness is surrendering to God the ultimate rights of judgment on whatever matter is in question. 

            Many believe they are justified in holding anger against someone who does them wrong.  "After all," they say, "If I forgive him, he would get off too easy," or, "He will just do it over again."  Again, this thinking stems from a misbelief about forgiveness.  Feeling anger is not wrong, but allowing anger to turn into hatred creates the bitterness that causes wrong.  Forgiveness does not mean you are giving up your right to hope for justice to be served, but it means you are giving up your right to be the "executor" of judgment.  

            I believe that a casual attitude towards unfounded anger (bitterness and resentment) is the primary root that keeps most people locked in their prison of unforgiveness.  A person holding unforgiveness in their heart generally falls into one of two categories.  The first is one who recognizes the bitterness or resentment he or she feels and knows s/he has to decide whether to take forgiving action or try to go on pretending things are okay.  The second is more difficult.  In this case, a person may have no immediate awareness of a wound or wrong done to him or her, but symptoms hint of a problem.  These symptoms may include troublesome moods like nagging frustration, irritation,  annoyance, disappointment, discouragement, or depression.  It may take the form of physical symptoms like persistent sleeplessness, loss of appetite, or body aches and pains.  This second category is quite common and not to be despised or feared.  The sooner you try to discover the root and take action towards forgiveness, the sooner new freedom can be found. 

            If you wish to change the atmosphere of your home, work place, church, and community, dare to lead in the practice of forgiveness and positive results you will see.  The ancient Proverb states,  "A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression" (Proverbs 19:11; NASB).

                Note:   The book Escaping the Pain of Offense: Empowered to Forgive from the Heart discusses themes of dealing with disappointments, offense and finding freedom in forgiveness.  This book is designed to help people (especially in the Christian faith)  to discover and dislodge things in life that lead to defeat. Don't miss out on your chance to use this book as a helpful tool in discovering Refuge in Christ. It can be purchased by clicking here: http://bluerockbnb.com/healing/book_main.htm . If you get anywhere near Pennsylvania for vacation or on business, be sure to look us up for lodging at  http://bluerockbnb.com 

 by Ed Hersh, Blue Rock BnB Healing Ministry