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Open Heaven 8 September 2023 Topic: The Works Of Grace III
Memory Verse: And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11)
Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:2-7 (WEB)
2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality,
4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor,
5 not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God,
6 that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.
7 For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification.
Also see; rccg-71st-annual-convention-2023-day-4-evening-session-deliverance-service
Open Heaven 8 September 2023 Message:
We looked at the first two works of grace over the past two days and would be discussing the third work of grace today.
The third work of grace happens after we have become children of God through the blood of Jesus cleansing us of all sins.
The Lord at this stage, brings closer to Himself a select group. Matthew 22:14 says: “For many are called, but few are chosen’. This chosen few become what I would like to call the favorites of the Almighty God.
In the olden days, a king could have as many wives as he wanted, but there would still be one who would be his favourite. After salvation, there is always a select group of people who are just closer to God than everyone else.
They are not like everyone else – they love God more; they serve Him more committedly. These are the ones who don’t come for what they can get; they serve Him whatever the cost.
We call these people the Sanctified – people who are set apart for God. Now, these people who are sanctified are given a new heart.
Ezekiel 36:26 says: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will 1 put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh”. Many Christians never get to this level before they die and that is a pity.
This is why we have so many Christians, yet, only a few are actually living holy. The one that the Almighty God is going to set apart for Himself must be completely dead to the world.
He must be put to sleep so soundly that there is nothing anybody can do that will distract his attention from God. These are the ones who will say like Paul in Galatians 2:20:
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not 1, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which 1 now live in the flesh 1 live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
In the past, one of the ways by which we identified these sanctified people is that they are difficult to annoy. They are so occupied with their Groom – the Lord Jesus Christ, that there is very little you can do to offend them.
Sanctified people are those who will suffer any wrong and take it calmly, rather than allow an unbeliever to say, ‘And you call yourself a child of God’.
Also see; rccg-71st-annual-convention-2023-day-1-morning-session-bible-college-graduation-service
Open Heaven 8 September 2023
Points: Pray to God to sanctify you, your household and every member of your local assembly.
Hymn: I Am Thine O Lord
Bible in one year: Ezekiel 44, Ezekiel 45, Ezekiel 46
