Sanctification

The word “sanctification” comes from the verb “sanctify” which derives from the Greek word hagiazo, which means to be "separate" or to be "set apart." In the Bible, sanctification generally relates to a sovereign act of God whereby He "sets apart" a person, place, or thing in order that His purposes may be accomplished. This process of setting apart is initiated by God, and it is done by Him supernaturally. In the book of Exodus, God sanctifies a place of worship. “And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory,” says Exodus 29:43. Even a day can be sanctified as seen in Genesis 2:3 where the seventh day is "set apart" as a holy day of rest. “Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made”. Similarly, when a person is sanctified he or she is being set apart by God for a specific divine purpose. The very moment we are saved in Christ we are also immediately sanctified and the process begins to conform us to the image of Christ. As God's children we are "set apart" from that moment to carry out His divine purposes unto eternity. Being sanctified also means being separated or distinct in the moral character of our lives. Holiness arises in the person of God therefore we are to be holy too.
Stanley Grenz, a well known theologian views sanctification as a process of transformation of the one who is saved into Christ likeness which extends through out life time. It is the process whereby we are renewed according to the image of God, conformed to the image of Christ, and enabled to die to ourselves and live to God. Additional to this understanding, Wayne Grudem, another theologian defines sanctification as a work of God and man in cooperation – a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in actual life.

Believers are saved because of what Christ has already done. We can do nothing to earn salvation, it is the gift given to every child of God regardless of race, age, maturity, or merit. Sanctification occurs as a result of salvation. At the moment of conversion, the Holy Spirit enters our life. We are no longer held hostage by death, but are free to live the life God desires for us. We are thus sanctified simply because of our standing as lost souls saved by grace. Hebrews 10:14 says, "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified."

Sanctification is both a matter of position and progression. We are sanctified because Jesus Christ has saved us and yet sanctification continues to work within to transform us unto the likeness of Christ. Sanctification is the responsibility of every believer in Christ either in passive way or an active way. We play the passive role when we solely depend on God to sanctify us through salvation experience, and thereafter we take the active role in striving to obey God and take steps that will increase our sanctification.
When we choose to pursue sanctification in our life, positive growth occurs. The pursuit of it involves the surrender of the body and the will to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It takes time and is a working progress that cannot be hurried. Like a newborn baby that gradually matures unto adulthood, so is the work of sanctification in the life of a new believer. The work of sanctification will ultimately be completed in every believer's life when Jesus Christ returns. However, until Christ returns we are to work our sanctification. Work here does not mean work our ways to be saved but instead work our ways to maintain and grow in the sanctification that comes upon the regeneration. They are the fruits of a regenerate heart – total obedience to God and a sense to Glorify God in the mortal body. They are not only in external conformity with the law of God, but are also done in the conscious obedience o the Will of God – as required by God.

Happy Bithday......

30 years ago, on this day (20th August 1976) a handsome baby boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. David John. The child was dedicated for the glory of God from his birth. Mr. David wanted the son to become a full time worker in God’s service someday in life. Thus he brought up this child in the precept of the Lord. Along the way, when the boy turned 10 years old, Mr. David was called home to be with the Lord. Ever since that, the young boy has lost a great mentor in his life. However, the Lord has been faithful in sustaining this boy. He grew in stature and in his walk with the Lord. Finally at the age of 26, this boy committed his life for full time ministry and currently he is pursuing his theological education in a seminary.

Yes indeed…this is my brief history. I want to thank God for His love and Lordship over my life for the Last 30 years. Today is a very significant day in my life and ministry. This is the first time I have ever preached on my birthday. In fact it was a greater honour to preach in my home church in the presence of my mum, wife and my brothers and their families. At the end of the worship service, my family gave me a surprise by organising a surprise party for the church. I was called to cut the cake and was blessed by the Pastor and its members. What a memorable birthday it is. To add on to my joy, we will be expecting the arrival of our first child in September. I am very happy today, because I was able to celebrate my birthday with my family and friends and most of all preaching the living Word of God to my own people.

Doctors...are they a blessing today??

Doctors are God given gift on this earth to treat the sick and provide medical assistance to those who are in need. It is a stressful profession where most of the time their decisions on the operation bed determine the future of the patient. We may have our own favorite doctors…..for many reasons. As for, ever since I moved to Seremban, I have not found a ‘good’ or ‘suitable’ doctor for consultation. As I mention earlier, we all have our own on preference on doctors base on our own reasons and needs.
I have visited several doctors in the past (in Seremban) and I was not very happy, either because of their treatment or ethics. Sad to say that most of them that I visited were Christian doctor. There was once, I visited a panel doctor (recommended by STM) and he was an Evangelical Christian. Rather than treating my ailment he also preached from the Bible on how I should take care of my health. He was also He was also very proud of his modern medications and latest drugs that he gives his patients. He was also criticizing many other doctors who prescribes the older generation of drugs to their patients. Wow….that was exciting to hear a ‘Godly man’ treating my sickness. Well….my excitement did not last long. I was shocked to see my bill end of the day. Just for a normal cough and cold, I was charged RM 35.00. What shocked me the most was, he knew it well that I am a full time student in STM (that means he knows that I don’t earn a living). But yet I felt being ‘slaughtered’ by this doctor. Anyway, no complaints because the medication came along with a ‘sermon’. However, his medication was nothing great either, I did not recover from my cough and cold after all!!.
Several months later, I was introduced to another Catholic doctor in town (Klinik Samuel). The introducer told me that this doctor would not charge any medical fees to any Pastors. Recently, I was down with a bad sinus and asthma…..hey…you guys know that !! I have an entry on that. Anyway, I visited him for medication. He is such a pleasant gentlemen. He is very polite and I could see a lot of Christian traits in him. I also noticed that his clinic is always packed with patients. I was chatting with a patient before meeting Dr. Bob Samuel, and I was told by him (a Malay guy) that this doctor is the best in town. His medicines are very effective and his charges are very reasonable. I was impressed with those remarks by the fellow patient. When my turn came I went in and the doctor treated me. He asked me where do I work and I told him that I am a full time Seminary student. Not to my surprise he did not charge me for the medication and the injection that he gave. I had no regrets for visiting this doctor…..I paid no bills and my health improved tremendously upon visiting him.
Now that I have recovered from my ailment, I was thinking this morning of the 2 doctors I visited in the recent days. The first one was our panel doctor, an evangelical with some sound doctrine. He also seems to be very ‘charismatic’ person in his approach and speech. Well, the second doctor, was a simple Catholic man, slow in speech and very gentle. Looking at both this doctors, I feel that the second doctor was more successful than the first one looking at the amount of patients that they have waiting outside of their room. I shared this experience with a fellow seminarian and I was told that the second doctor seem to be more blessed in his profession because he knows how to honor the man of God. The issue here is not the bill but the heart of service. Here is a fellow evangelical who makes (too much) out his patient and another simple catholic who treats his patient with love and honor. No wonder why Dr. Bob Samuel is very blessed. Because he is indeed a blessing for many...especially servants of God.

I strongly recommend you guys to visit him if you are sick. His clinic is located right opposite of the Church of Visitation (Catholic Church) in town.

Thanks mate........

Many sites on the internet post great poems and stories about friends. I always wondered whether those experiences and stories are real or solely made up for some commercial purposes. From my personal perspective, friendship is a great thing that can happen to someone.
I am sanguine by character that always prefers company. I just cant sit alone at home!!! Loneliness is the worst enemy for a sanguine. What more when I am on medical leave and have not able to mingle around with my best friends for the last 4 days. Though I have been away from campus, I realized that almost every other day I had my friends visiting me at home.

I want to pay a special tribute to my best friend and brother, Gerard Immanuel. He was there for me all through out this difficult week. In fact, he was the one who drove me to the clinic twice this week. In spite of his studies and other commitments, he made time for me. When I sit back and reflect upon our friendship, I realized that “A friend is someone who is there for you when he’d rather be anywhere else” – Len Wein. He made himself available for me. I think that is what friends are for. Someone who we can rely and count on especially in times of need. Thanks Gerard for being a FRIEND. (The one who is in the photo)

I am also grateful to my other friends in STM who fervently praying for my quick recovery. Special thanks to my Pastoral Group (The Nazarenes), Rev. Tan Jin Huat (My Supervisor), Jacob (for checking on me from time to time), Daniel, Ruth and Lee Yng (for your encouraging messages), Vijay, Gunaraja and Jegan (for visiting me and accompanying me to the clinic) and rest of the gang in STM for all your prayers. God Bless all.

I am sick

The thing that I hate the most is to fall sick. I become unproductive and lethargy whenever I am sick. Well, it has come over me again. I am down with a bad sinus and sudden asthma attack. Visited the doctor twice this week and has been on very strong medication. It all started with a normal flu on Sunday morning. I was sneezing away in the church and came back home and things got worse. Took some medicine and went to bed….skipped the evening service (Thanks to Peter who took over the service). Things got worse on Sunday night, bad cough and cold. First thing on Monday morning visited the doctor. He gave me an injection and told me that I have some viral infection and prescribed some antibiotics and anti histamine medication. Came back home and rested the whole day…but could not sleep because of the cough. Also started wheezing….I knew it…I’m now having asthma attack. Took the necessary medicine. Well, on Tuesday early morning had a high fever…..started shivering at about 2am. Thanks to Jessie who immediately treated me (poor girl she is pregnant and she had to take care of a sick person). Today, is Wednesday and I’m down with a severe head ache due to the intense coughing. I feel like my head is going to burst to pieces whenever I cough. Well, Gerard will take me to see the doctor at 9am. I’m dead drop bored at home. I can’t study or even do my assignments. I am sick……and really tired of the whole thing. I have been missing my lectures for two consecutive days. No matter what happens….i will go for my classes tomorrow. Guys…please pray for me. I want to be healed of my Sinusitis and Asthma.