It was during a period of water scarcity at the University of Lagos. Once the taps stopped running, one of the locations that is adversely affected is the toilet in the hostels. As student after student made use of the convenience, it would not be cleaned for the next user.
That was the situation this Christian sister faced. Her bowel was heavy as she rushed to the toilet on her floor in the hostel.
Before now, her persistent prayer to God had been, "God use me", "God, I want to be a vessel of honour in Your hands, use me to Your glory". God did not respond. He neither used her, nor told her why.
On this fateful day, as she entered the first toilet cubicle, she hurriedly closed the door and inspected the next one. That was how she went through all the cubicles without using any; they had all been previously utilized.
Even though her bowel was about to rupture, she held it tight and turned to go out of the toilet.
At that point, God spoke. He spoke clearly to her and she knew that it was God speaking.
"Why did you not use the toilet?", God asked.
"Lord, I cannot; it is unclean", responded the Christian sister.
"That is why I cannot use you, too. You are unclean."
Even though she was born-again, Spirit filled, she was not sanctified.
There is a difference between salvation and sanctification. Salvation takes place when you confess and repent of your sin, and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. That is the first work of grace.
Then commences the second work of grace, sanctification, which also requires your cooperation, as it was in salvation.
Sanctification means "separation from sin and evil and consecration to God and to His ways".
The key work in sanctification is separation. Once you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, Holy Spirit commences the work of sanctification in your life, to separate you from sin, the lusts of the world, the works of the flesh, and sinful association.
You might have encountered people professing Christianity but are liars like an evil spirit. Some live in adultery, pride, fashion vanity, greed, anger, malice etc. It does not mean that they were not born-again. They might have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour but did not take sanctification seriously. Their common language is "it doesn't matter; Christianity is in the heart"
If Christianity is in your heart, it will manifest in your lifestyle. There are outward actions that destroy the soul.
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 1 Peter 2:11
If you claim to be born-again but you are not sanctified, your salvation would soon count for nothing.
To be sanctified, you need to study the Word of God daily. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17
Next, God expects you to change your sinful lifestyle to conform to a Godly pattern. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor. 6:17-18
You cannot claim to be born-again, yet you are living, talking, and behaving like an unbeliever. The change inside of you must manifest outwardly.
Begin to pray today for personal sanctification. The Lord will help you. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 1 Thes. 4:3
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