Daily Bread – August 17, 2023 (The Fifth Day – Genesis 1:20-23) John 17:16-17 – They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in Your truth; Your Word is truth. The Proper Response To Father’s Sanctifying Work The Greek word ‘agiazo’ means “make Holy, consecrate, sanctify”. The Authorized Version renders it as “sanctify” 26 times, “hallow” 2 times, and “be holy” 1 time. It occurs in the Septuagint 320 times, and its Hebrew equivalent is ‘qadash’. It first occurs in the Old Testament in Genesis 2:3, and in the New Testament in Matthew 6:9. God, in His great love, has sanctified us by His own power. We are sanctified by the Word of God, and remain sanctified in obedience to it (John 17:17; Ephesians 5:26). We are sanctified in Jesus, Who paid our debt of sin by setting Himself apart to a death on a cross (John 17:19; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Hebrews 2:11, 10:10). Our sanctification is in His blood and in His life imparted into us (Hebrews 10:29, 13:12). We are sanctified by the Holy Spirit and by God the Father, too (1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Peter 1:2; Jude 1:1). Our sanctification includes our spirit, soul, and body – for Jesus purchased it all (1 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Corinthians 6:20). That which God sanctifies is Holy, and He demands it remain holy (Leviticus 11:44-45, 20:7; 1 Peter 1:15-16) That which is sanctified is dedicated – paid for with a ransom payment and a purchase price, and it belongs to God. That which belongs to God, which He has bought and paid for, cannot be used for profane things or polluted with sin. It is a consecrated thing, a holy thing – God’s exclusive property (Numbers 8:17). Those who have been redeemed were bought with a price and no longer belong to themselves – they are the property of God (1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23; 1 Peter 1:18; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5). The Father put a value upon the soul of man, and then He paid the price in full. Someone said, “What was I worth?” He did not value us in terms of silver or gold – He set the price exceedingly higher. Our ransom payment was paid in the blood of His only Begotten Son. Jesus has the right to demand we no longer live to our own will, but instead, wholly follow Him (John 1:12-13; 1 Peter 4:1-2). We are His vessels of righteousness, His children of honor, and we are to remain and abide in Him. We are His witnesses in the Earth, and we are to sanctify His Name. We are the example of His will and ways, and they must not be polluted. We have been purified from all the contaminants of a wicked and perverse world and given the glorious honor to abide in Him! Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Daily Bread 8/17/2023
