It is important to recognise that God will not tell us to do what He has not engraced us to do because His commandments are not grievous. As it is written: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3). Neither will He tell us to be what He has not empowered us to be. If God says: …Be ye holy; for I am holy (1 Peter 1:16), it means all provisions to be holy are available in redemption. Therefore, sanctification is a choice and not a calling or a gift. As it is written: I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live (Deuteronomy 30:19). Our choice is more powerful than the most wicked devil in hell.
Furthermore, God never holds our past against us, but He will only write it off when we truly repent. When the prodigal son returned, the father had no memory of what he had done; upon return, he was supernaturally restored and decorated (Luke 15:19-24). So, if you truly turn away today from whatever is blocking your access to make heaven, God will completely write it off as if it never happened. As it is written: He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy (Proverbs 28:13; see also 1 John 2:8-9; Ezekiel 18:20). Sanctification is a lifelong race because rapture will only respond positively to those who are current in their walk with God. Also note that it is impossible to live a sanctified life without the hand of God upon your life, and faith is the way to provoke the hand of God (Hebrews 11:5-6; Isaiah 53:1).
Let us examine some pathways to sanctification:
- Purpose to live a sanctified life. Daniel purposed not to defile himself, and that was sustained till the end of his time (Daniel 1:8, 6:4). Jesus said: And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth (John 17:19). For the sake of heaven, commit to a pursuit of personal sanctification.
- Watch and pray. As it is written: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). The above admonition seems simple, but according to the teachings of Christ on prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, this pattern is a daily requirement.
- Continue to engage the cleansing power of the Word. There are so many materials on the cleansing power of the Blood; there is also the cleansing power of the Word. As it is written: Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you (John 15:3; see also John 17:17; Ephesians 5:26). God’s Word cleanses. Therefore, we must commit to a daily Word shower to keep us sane in the journey of life (Psalm 119:9-11). You cannot be living by the Word and be dragged into the world.
- Crave the enduement of the Spirit of holiness. As it is written: And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4; see also Romans 8:11). The Power of His resurrection is defined as the Spirit of holiness. The exceeding greatness of His power was demonstrated at His resurrection, so when you crave that, it quickens your mortal body, and it quickens your mind not to accommodate evil thoughts (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Please understand that ungodliness blocks access to help in times of trouble (Isaiah 59:1-2). When you are challenged, you call for help, and God will not hear when sin is present. It blocks access to divine secrets, which are behind the making of stars in the kingdom (Psalm 25:14). Nothing in the knowledge market can ever compare with access to divine secrets; it is the highest currency with the capacity to set you on high above all nations of the earth. Sin also opens the door to sickness and disease. Concerning the man sick of palsy, Jesus said: …Son, thy sins be forgiven thee (Mark 2:5). Sin was a diagnosis. Yes, not every sickness is a result of sin; some are a direct assault of the devil, but many are. For instance, if someone is addicted to smoking, they are unknowingly dealing with their liver, and suddenly, the liver breaks down.
Furthermore, the mind is the battlefield against sin. Jesus said: …All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth (Mathew 28:18). Satan was stripped naked of power, but he has this nature of subtlety, devices, tricks and deception, and all these take place in the mind. Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind so you don’t derail (1 Peter 1:13; Mark 7:21-23; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5). You cannot stop the acts until you succeed in stopping the thoughts. The stronghold of the devil is the mind, which travels through imagination, and we are to cast them down. Sanctification is a lifelong race, and in the name of Jesus, you will not drop on the way!