Sanctification of the Whole Man

The truth must sanctify the whole man–his mind, his thoughts, his heart, his strength. His vital powers will not be consumed upon his own lustful practices. These must be overcome, or they will overcome him. . . . The thoughts need purifying. What might not men and women have been had they realized that the treatment of the body has everything to do with the vigor and purity of mind and heart.
The true Christian obtains an experience which brings holiness. He is without a spot of guilt upon the conscience, or a taint of corruption upon the soul. The spirituality of the law of God, with its limiting principles, is brought into his life. The light of truth irradiates his understanding. A glow of perfect love for the Redeemer clears away the miasma which has interposed between his soul and God. The will of God has become his will, pure, elevated, refined, and sanctified. His countenance reveals the light of heaven. His body is a fit temple for the Holy Spirit. Holiness adorns his character. God can commune with him; for soul and body are in harmony with God. . . . {Mar 230.3}
God would have us realize that He has a right to mind, soul, body, and spirit–to all that we possess. We are His by creation and by redemption. As our Creator, He claims our entire service. As our Redeemer, He has a claim of love as well as of right–of love without a parallel. This claim we should realize every moment of our existence. . . . Our bodies, our souls, our lives, are His, not only because they are His free gift, but because He constantly supplies us with His benefits, and gives us strength to use our faculties. . . . He says, “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”. . .
Those who are sons of God will represent Christ in character. Their works will be perfumed by the infinite tenderness, compassion, love, and purity of the Son of God. And the more completely mind and body are yielded to the Holy Spirit, the greater will be the fragrance of our offering to Him.
Maranatha p. 230
“““““““““““““
Prayer Requests
—–I have several prayer requests.
Father: backed his car over his small son killing him; please pray for this grief stricken family.
Anita: her Mom was feeling faint after supper; her Dad was helping her up when he passed out; both were taken to the hospital and are staying over-night for observation; thank you for your prayers for them.
Gary: is battling cancer, had to have a kidney removed; tumor was large, but the cancer was contained (Praise) and he will not be taking chemo; thank you for your prayers for complete recovery.
Baby: (2) slipped into an irrigation ditch, was carried over 100 feet before his grandpa could jump in and pull him out; his funeral is this week; his mother is expecting their second baby this week also; thank you for your prayers of comfort for this family. Carol
—–Please pray for Jerry who is in a nursing home and for Lesley his wife.
—–update—My mom is declining she is tired & I believe ready to enter into her rest. God is in control and if its His will that she rallies yet 1 more time that would be great but if not we have to accept that as well. Prayers for us as we try to decide the details of how to make the trip back to _____. Please pray that my mom will feel the saviours arms around her and that she will not be all alone. Connie
“““““““““““`
Dear Friends,
When we lived in Washington state, Ronnie Jay spent the afternoon with some friends who loved to collect rocks as much as he did. As they were climbing up a small rock ledge, he found a rock that he thought was a fossil. It looked just like a frilly, black fern was on one side of the rock. He was very happy to have found it. When he got home, I thought it was too. When my friend, Darlene, came to visit, we showed it to her. She was also collected rocks and very knowledgeable about them. She explained that it was not a fern. It was a mineral that is fern-like in its growth. (She told us the name of the mineral, but I have forgotten.) It was very pretty, though, even if it was not what it appeared to be.
It is well to remember this same concept when dealing with our brethren within the church. There are many who look like Christians, act like Christians, and talk like Christians, but their heart is far from our Wonderful Saviour. Jesus, with sadness in His voice, said; “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” Matt 15:8
Again He said, “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” Matt 13:24-30 Sadly, some think they know who the tares are and who is the wheat, but only God knows. “The LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam 16:7
Jesus warns us, “Judge not that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matt 7:1-5 He explains further, “Judge not according to the appearance.” John 7:24 How easy that is for us to do. We judge according to the appearance, but we do not know the heart. We do not know the background of that person, but God takes these things into account when He judges. “The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there.” Ps 87:6
Paul writes, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.” Rom 2:2-11
May we be careful not to judge a man’s motives for only God knows what is in the heart. May we make “our calling and election sure” each day. May we lead others to our Righteous Judge, our Saviour, our King.

Rose