Sanctification Is Profitable - Day 3: Week Of Spiritual Emphasis by Bishop David Oyedepo: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Spiritual Breakthrough Is the Mother of All Breakthroughs

Spiritual breakthrough is the mother of all breakthroughs. To be spiritually minded is life and peace. To be carnally minded is death. Every breakthrough has its root in the spiritual life.

The theme of the month is Sanctified to Be Glorified, taken from 2 Timothy 2:19-21: Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal: the Lord knows them that are his. And let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but of wood and of earth - some to honour and some to dishonour. But if any man purges himself, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, made for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

Sanctification is a requirement for glorification.

The teaching series in view is Sanctification Is Profitable unto All Things, from 1 Timothy 4:8: Exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profits little, but godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come. Sanctification is the only virtue that answers in both worlds - the present and the one to come.

The Foundation: Christ's Redemptive Work

Christ came to save humanity from sin, and he accomplished his mission. Matthew 1:21: His name shall be called Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. On the cross he declared, It is finished (John 19:30) - mission accomplished, the work of salvation settled.

He spoiled principalities and powers, making a show of them openly, triumphing over them (Colossians 2:8-10). He delivered us from the kingdom of darkness so that we are no longer under the authority of the powers of darkness, which is the realm of sin (Colossians 1:13). 1 John 3:7-8 confirms: he that does righteousness is righteous. The Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil - and he did. Hebrews 2:14-15 confirms he destroyed him that had the power of death, setting humanity free from its bondage.

The power of sin has been destroyed. The authority of sin has been taken away. When Jesus rose from the dead, he declared: All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Why Does Sin Still Have Sway Over Believers?

There is a natural law of gravity, but we engage the law of upthrust to subdue it. In the same way, there is a law of sin and death - and only those who engage the law of the spirit can overcome it.

Romans 8:1-2: There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

What is the law of the spirit of life? John 6:63: The flesh profits nothing. The spirit quickens. The words I have spoken to you - they are spirit and they are life. The law of the spirit of life is the law of the word. When the law contained in the word is engaged, the law of sin and death is subdued. Failing to engage the law of the spirit means remaining subject to the law of sin and death.

Man is the number one tempter of his own life. Mark 7:21-23: From within, out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts - adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. These come from the thought within and defile the man. If the thought is not stopped, the act cannot be stopped.

Isaiah 52:1-2 speaks prophetically: Awake, awake, put on strength, O Zion... loose thyself from the bands of thy neck. Zion - the church of Christ - has the power to loose herself from the bands of her neck. The redeemed has the power to loose himself.

Exercise Yourself in Holiness

Excellence in sport does not come by luck. It comes by engaging in rigorous required exercises. 1 Timothy 4:7-8: Exercise thyself rather unto godliness. Paul declared in Acts 24:16: Herein do I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27: Every man that strives for mastery is temperate in all things. Athletes do this to obtain a corruptible crown - believers pursue an incorruptible one using the same process of rigorous engagement. I therefore so fight not as one that beats the air, but I keep under my body and bring it into subjection.

1 John 3:3: And everyone that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

Benefits of Sanctification

1. Sanctification Empowers for Exploit

   Sanctification is the covenant access to the secrets of God. Deuteronomy 29:29: The secret things belong to God, but those revealed belong to us. Psalm 25:14: The secret of God is with them that fear him, and he will show them his covenant.

   Everyone who gained access to divine secrets in scripture commanded exploit. Concerning Joseph, Pharaoh declared: In as much as God has shown you all these things, there is none as wise and discreet as you - take over. Joseph took the throne at thirty and held authority until one hundred and ten. Job said in Job 29:4: As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle - and Job was said to be the greatest man of all men in the east.

2. Sanctification Secures Supernatural Deliverance

   The angel of the Lord encamps about them that fear him and delivers them. God sends deliverance to those that fear him whenever they come under attack. 1 Peter 3:13: Who is he that will harm you if you follow that which is good?

   Psalm 125:1-3: They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion - the Lord is round about his people from this time forward even forever. He will not allow the rod of the wicked to rest upon the lot of the righteous. God defends the righteous against the wicked. Walking in the fear of God shields against satanic assaults.

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3. Sanctification Guarantees Generational Blessing

   Psalm 112:1-3: Blessed is the man that fears the Lord. His seed shall be mighty upon earth. The generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house.

   Job 22:21-25: Acquaint now thyself with God and be at peace. Receive the law from his mouth. If you return to the Almighty you shall be built up. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust and the Almighty shall be thy defence.

   Isaiah 3:10: Say to the righteous, it shall be well with him, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. It is always well when standing right with God.

4. Sanctification Guarantees Eternity with Christ

   Heaven is real and hell is real. Jesus spoke of both without ambiguity. Matthew 25:41: Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

   Matthew 7:21-23: Not everyone that says to me Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father. Many will say Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And then I will profess unto them: I never knew you - depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

   One capital qualifier for eternity is sanctification. The simple question every believer must honestly answer is: Am I heading for heaven? And are the things I am doing going to get me there?

Demands of Sanctification

• Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers. Freedom from sin is impossible while hanging around those who practice it. The man who walks with the wise shall be wise (Proverbs 13:20). But a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Walking with wrong people makes living a right life impossible.
• Delight in keeping God's commandments. John 14:21: He that has my commandments and keeps them, the same is he that loves me - and I will love him and manifest myself to him. Take joy in doing what the Lord commands. He will manifest himself against any external aggression.
• Keep pressing toward heaven. Philippians 2:12: Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Luke 16:16: The kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it. Keep pressing. Heaven is real. Refuse to sell off.

Do Not Sell Your Place

Judas had a throne. Jesus declared to his disciples: I appoint unto you a kingdom - that you may eat and drink at my table, sitting on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. At that time, Judas had a seat. He lost it to covetousness and stealing, and ended as a son of perdition.

There is a mansion being built with your name on it. Whether or not a room is owned in this life, a mansion waits in eternity. God hates waste - he will not build what he will not use. He is building because people are going to get there. Some must enter. The rest that remains for those who believe is an eternal rest.