STRESS, STRENGTH, AND SANCTIFICATION

WHAT IS THE MARK OF A STRONG CHRISTIAN?


Is a strong Christian someone who believes God’s Word is true? 
Absolutely! But there is more.


Is a strong Christian someone who wants to know God’s Word? 
You can be sure of that!  Yet there’s more.


Is a strong Christian someone who believes God’s Word applies to them? 
Without a doubt! But it must be more. 


Is a strong Christian someone who believes God’s Word is their first priority?  
This is closer to the measure of a strong Christian, and yet there is one further.


Is a strong Christian someone who believes God’s will is not only their first priority but their first concern in every other priority of life? 
It is this that is the true measure of a person’s spiritual strength.


It is our observation that when God’s Will is truly our first priority, and when God’s Will is integrated into every aspect of our living, it is then that we stand “strong in the Lord.”  When God’s Will is our first, our second, our third, as well as our last priority; when His will is our every time and every where and every circumstance  priority; then “His strength is made perfect in our weakness.”


It is in the daily living of our lives, and in those moments of deep spiritual introspection, that our true priorities are revealed.   Just as physical strength can only be increased through the stress of pushing and pulling, so spiritual strength is revealed in the hour of crisis—will we choose God’s priority over our own?  And even more specifically—will we gladly choose God’s will over our own will?


For Example:  When a professing Christian who believes that God’s Word is right, relevant, and first in her life is offered a high-paying position that requires shady dealing, or a job that would keep her away from God’s House, what will she do?


Example Two:  If a Christian was excluded and mistreated by someone who he thought was a friend, should he assume the best and reach out to the one who was apparently thoughtless, or should he avoid that person until they come seeking forgiveness?  Is he obligated to forgive if the offender comes forward? Is he obligated to pursue peace with the offender? How many times should he offer forgiveness?  The Bible has specific instructions for these situations.


Another Example:  Think of a professing Christian who is trying to decide what to do for entertainment.  There are shows that will incite lust. There are choices that may make him feel good, but they are not good for him. There are great places to go but supporting them with his money enables the business owners to pursue a godless agenda. There are ways we might put ourselves forward, or earn the admiration of others, but they too are not Christ-like.  What should the Christian do?


Each of these examples represents a crisis point.  There are many others that we might have listed.  But those who are “strong in the Lord,” hear Christ saying, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” (Luke 9:23,24). 


We have heard the invitation that Dietrich Bonhoeffer so powerfully wrote of in “The Cost of Discipleship,”


“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die…—death in Jesus Christ, the death of the old man at his call.”


In her book “Total Truth,” Nancy Pearcey challenges Christians to love God and acknowledge His Lordship over every aspect of our lives:


"Genuine [Christian] worldview thinking is far more than a mental strategy or a new spin on current events. At the core, it is a deepening of our spiritual character and the character of our lives. It begins with the submission of our minds to the Lord of the universe - a willingness to be taught by Him. The driving force in worldview studies should be a commitment to 'love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.' (see Luke 10:27).


That's why the crucial condition for intellectual growth is spiritual growth, asking God for the grace to "take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). God is not just the Savior of souls, He is also the Lord of creation. One way we acknowledge His Lordship is by interpreting every aspect of creation in the light of His truth. God's Word becomes a set of glasses offering a new perspective on all our thoughts and actions.


As with every aspect of sanctification, the renewal of the mind may be painful and difficult. It requires hard work and discipline, inspired by a sacrificial love for Christ and a burning desire to build up His Body, the Church. In order to have the mind of Christ, we must be willing to be crucified with Christ, following wherever He might lead - whatever the cost. "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). As we undergo refining in the fires of suffering, our desires are purified and we find ourselves wanting nothing more than to bend every fiber of our being, including our mental powers, to fulfill the Lord's Prayer: "Thy Kingdom come." We yearn to lay all our talents and gifts at His feet in order to advance His purposes in the world. Developing a Christian worldview means submitting our entire self to God, in an act of devotion and service to Him.


While Pearcey rightly ascertains the Christian’s ultimate aim, her theological bias restrains her from believing that Christians could in this life truly realize such “entire devotement to God.” 

Her call to holiness is as breath-taking in its reach, as it is Biblical in its basis.  Yet she, like so many others, cannot believe that God is able to sanctify wholly in this life. 


But hear the Word of God:


“God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13)


“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3)


“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)


“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)


“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1,2)


“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:8)


“God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:16-18)


“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” (Galatians 2:20)

These Scriptures do not tantalize converts by holding up an impossible attainment.  Rather they exalt the power of God’s redeeming, transforming, and sanctifying grace—a grace that is greater than all our sin! “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.”