Worship accelerates sanctification

 Have you ever considered that you can choose to be a willing and active participant in your spiritual sanctification?  "How long this process takes depends on our willingness to engage with the Word of God, accept it as absolute truth in our lives, and apply it to all of our circumstances." (Freedom pg 37)

Are there circumstances in your life that you want to hold on to?  Maybe out of self-pity, you think you are justified to mourn something or someone  that you lost.  Maybe it's a physical pain that you can't get past feeling.  Maybe it's an accomplishment that you want to sit in and you think gives you value.  Wow, this is really meddling... but have you ever considered that what you say of your self, your circumstance, what gives you value or what doesn't, what someone else said over you, or what you think you heard and are holding on to, the things of the past, the trajectory of your future, all these are either praising God or not?  And if you're not praising God; who are you praising?  I know this is hard to hear, and offense and denial is likely to be the first response, but take a deep breath, and consider this:  

    When you are wallowing in pain (physical, emotional, spiritual, relational), you are coming into agreement with Satan's powers and giving him authority.  You are worshiping him.

That may seem extreme.  But consider the other side.  

    When you are rejecting fear, pain, destruction, and instead believing for life, health, and peace, all the things God promises, you are giving God authority to do His will.  You are worshiping Him.  

Read Ephesians 4:17-5:2 with me.  The whole book is about transformation: sanctification, and I would encourage you to read it over and over again.  God wants to do a work in each one of us.  Holy Spirit wants to move in and restore you to the perfect plans of God.  Jesus life was given for your redemption.  Don't waste another moment or another day!  Choose to live in Him.  Worship Him, and the glory will follow!

But I....(fill in the blank).... Come out of agreement with that!  What would that look like?  Don't point at someone else and say, "but they don't, and we _____ the same!" Instead, ask God how He created you and what His plan is for you.  You don't know how God created the other person, whether or not they are in alignment with Him, and what they are actually doing.  Don't judge someone else or compare yourself to someone else.  God has a story for you, and you need to come in alignment with Him.  So, instead, say, "I am seeking God's way for my physical, mental, and spiritual health, and He is daily revealing to me how to live in His blessing."  Then pursue it!  What does the Bible say about how you should live, what your relationships with others should look like?  What is the Holy Spirit bringing to your attention and confirming through your research, and what do you need to surrender?  Beginning the journey of research and digging in His Word is opening up to Holy Spirit, and God will bless you for every step.  Are there saints who have gone before you who would cheer you on?  Connect, read those books!  And put into practice what you're learning!  There are plenty of people who have gone before you and with the willingness to change, have experienced restoration in their life and health, and would love to encourage you.

Sanctification is a process.  When you accept Christ and Submit to God, you've taken that first step.   I rejoice with you and the saints for your choice.  Luke 15:7 says there is more joy in heaven over one child who repents and turns to God.   Ask God in each day for His wisdom and guidance.  Learn to hear His voice and be led by the Spirit.  Take the next step, don't stop there! Keep going!  There are many more ahead.   Keep seeking God's glory in your life, to truly live in His glory is to continue to seek Him.  In the same way, to continue to submit every area of your life to Him will make you an overcomer!

Are you excited to be sanctified and transformed?  Are you willing? Eager?   So sure you are actively pursuing and engaging in the process?  Or are you passively enduring?  Not sure of the Great Surgeon, or the need for surgery?  Don't be afraid of giving up the parts of you you thought, or think, are part of who you are, your life.  There is nothing he would give or take away that is greater than what He has in store.  Stop defending those things He wants to transform or remove, and experience true freedom!  You are a spiritual being, though your physical may seem more prominent and like "reality", the truth is, that when you start living in the spirit, you will truly start living!  

Gal 4:3 "When we were Children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.  But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.  Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."  So you are no longer a slave (of this world), but a son(daughter of the King); and since you are a son (daughter), you are an heir (of all His blessings)!

Colossians 2:13-14  "when you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision (accept the surgery) of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.  (He transferred His delight in the righteousness of Christ to you!)  He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.  And having disarmed the powers and authorities (we are no longer under the power of the circumstances of Satan's hold on this world), he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

Keep reading about the victory you have in Christ!!  

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.  He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.  God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.  As God's fellow workers, we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.  For He says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. (Isaiah 49:8)"  I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation!"

Yes, God's grace is sufficient for your situation, your circumstances, your life!  Live in that grace, not in shame, self-pity or self-glorification.  Choose to live with the fullness of life He offers you!  Therefore, as Christ's ambassadors, go!

Accept your sonship!  Live as a truly blessed child, because you are in Him!  You have hope!  You have a covenant promise, an opportunity to live as children who are blessed.  2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness, with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."  We are created to be glory bearers in every way!