| Newsletter for Week of November 30th, 2006- Sanctification- Progressive or Instantaneous? |
Good Morning,
I would like to share a thought with you today regarding Progressive versus Instant Sanctification. But first let me
remind you that we will be hosting our bi-weekly ministry time for all that would like to come. This is a time of worship,
teaching and ministry to inspire and set on fire local Christians and local Churches. This is hosted in the Fellowship
Hall at Rainier Assembly of God, but is not a ministry of Rainier Assembly of God, though we appreciate the free use
of their building. We have seen many miracles and healings take place at these meetings and have hopefully inspired
the local Christian community, which is the full goal. This takes place at 6 pm at Rainier Assembly of God in Rainier,
OR. We hope to see you there.
We recently had a pretty good snow fall here in Southwest Washington, which is a little unusual for our area. As I
looked at everything in a beautiful covering of pure white, it reminded me of something that the Lord showed me
regarding sanctification. Having served in a few different fellowships and having preached in more, I have found that
there is a bit of a disagreement regarding whether we are instantly sanctified or whether it is a progressive act. Let me
show you quickly the two different views (this is not meant to be thorough).
Many believe that when we accept Christ and He washes over us with His blood, we are instantly sanctified. While
others believe that this is a progressive, day in and day out work, for us to get to deeper levels in our walk. So which
one is correct? Is it instant or progressive? The Lord recently showed me that it is both!!
Our definition of Sanctification is based on our perspective. When we ask Jesus into our hearts and He washes us
with His blood, He is able to look down on us and see His Son's blood poured over us and we are perfect in His sight.
This is similar to looking out in my yard and not seeing any green of the grass underneath, but I only see the pure
driven snow that covers everything. Where the flower bed is, there is no bark dust or rocks or plants showing through.
Everything is coated in the pure, Heaven sent, pristine covering of snow. What a beautiful sight!! The Lord's view of
these things is without blemish. The blood/snow covers everything that it is applied to. Of course those things that are
unwilling to be covered, still look the same, but that is a salvation message. Let's stick with sanctification for today!
Back to perspective. Many Christians believe that Sanctification is progressive, because their perspective allows
them to know their own thoughts and hearts. Some Christians believe that they are about to step out from under the
covering (blood/snow) at any moment. This isn't necessary. Hopefully, as you walk with Christ and fall further in love
with Him, your failures into sin become further and further apart. We don't have to fail everyday!!!
As I look outside at the snow blanket, I notice that the weather has changed and the dripping rain of this world is
taking a beating on some of the snow coverings. If we allow the things of this world to continue to take their toll on us,
"without seeking more covering or allow our covering to come off in areas of our lives" we will allow our human nature
to show through prematurely. All of us have had situations confront us that we have allowed to "melt our covering" and
out came a dirty, rocky part of us from under our pristine and pure covering. However, if we seek the Lord in these
situations, He can keep us "covered" and help us to not do the wrong things.
In other spots in my yard, the sun (Son) has begun to uncover some things that were not visible when the snow
was there. Children's toys that weren't put away in an appropriate time. Weeds that weren't dealt with when the season
was right. Shrubs that could have been trimmed just a little closer. Just like our lives, when Jesus shows up and we ask
Him (and many times when we don't ask Him) to show us areas of our lives that are not all that they could be. As He
shows us these, it is much better if we deal with them, instead of making somebody else deal with the things in our
lives! (This is a more painful process!!)
So which is it Jeff, instant or progressive?? It is both! From our perspective, it seems progressive and that we
could do better and there are many more levels that we could reach in Him! From His perspective, instant! As we have
the Blood applied to us, God the Father looks down and sees the blood that is so very precious applied to our lives
and smiles at us. It is all about perspective.
As the Father looked at Jesus hanging on the Cross, even though Jesus had taken on the complete form of man
and had led a completely sinless life, the Father still had to look away. Just as the blood is applied to our lives allowing
God the Father to look at us, as the sins of our lives "snowed" down on Jesus, it kept the Father from being able to
look at Him. He was completely perfect. He had come to earth, temporarily leaving His deity behind. This is what made
His sinless life so powerful. The miracles that He did were incredible. His sinless life filled with miracles, healings and
deliverances was only supernatural if He was completely man. If He came down and did those things as God, they
wouldn't be supernatural, they would just be His nature (natural).
As Jesus took on our sin on the cross, He took on our sin making Him unbearable to the Father. Conversely, we
are able to take on Jesus blood allowing us to be bearable before the Father. Thank you Jesus!
Thank you Lord, that you even though we look at ourselves as being progressively more Holy, You have made us
instantly more Holy from the Father's view. What a true gift for any time of the year!!!!!
Working while it is still day,
Pastor Jeff McCracken
Kingdom Power Now Ministry Team
www.kingdompowernow.com
I would like to share a thought with you today regarding Progressive versus Instant Sanctification. But first let me
remind you that we will be hosting our bi-weekly ministry time for all that would like to come. This is a time of worship,
teaching and ministry to inspire and set on fire local Christians and local Churches. This is hosted in the Fellowship
Hall at Rainier Assembly of God, but is not a ministry of Rainier Assembly of God, though we appreciate the free use
of their building. We have seen many miracles and healings take place at these meetings and have hopefully inspired
the local Christian community, which is the full goal. This takes place at 6 pm at Rainier Assembly of God in Rainier,
OR. We hope to see you there.
We recently had a pretty good snow fall here in Southwest Washington, which is a little unusual for our area. As I
looked at everything in a beautiful covering of pure white, it reminded me of something that the Lord showed me
regarding sanctification. Having served in a few different fellowships and having preached in more, I have found that
there is a bit of a disagreement regarding whether we are instantly sanctified or whether it is a progressive act. Let me
show you quickly the two different views (this is not meant to be thorough).
Many believe that when we accept Christ and He washes over us with His blood, we are instantly sanctified. While
others believe that this is a progressive, day in and day out work, for us to get to deeper levels in our walk. So which
one is correct? Is it instant or progressive? The Lord recently showed me that it is both!!
Our definition of Sanctification is based on our perspective. When we ask Jesus into our hearts and He washes us
with His blood, He is able to look down on us and see His Son's blood poured over us and we are perfect in His sight.
This is similar to looking out in my yard and not seeing any green of the grass underneath, but I only see the pure
driven snow that covers everything. Where the flower bed is, there is no bark dust or rocks or plants showing through.
Everything is coated in the pure, Heaven sent, pristine covering of snow. What a beautiful sight!! The Lord's view of
these things is without blemish. The blood/snow covers everything that it is applied to. Of course those things that are
unwilling to be covered, still look the same, but that is a salvation message. Let's stick with sanctification for today!
Back to perspective. Many Christians believe that Sanctification is progressive, because their perspective allows
them to know their own thoughts and hearts. Some Christians believe that they are about to step out from under the
covering (blood/snow) at any moment. This isn't necessary. Hopefully, as you walk with Christ and fall further in love
with Him, your failures into sin become further and further apart. We don't have to fail everyday!!!
As I look outside at the snow blanket, I notice that the weather has changed and the dripping rain of this world is
taking a beating on some of the snow coverings. If we allow the things of this world to continue to take their toll on us,
"without seeking more covering or allow our covering to come off in areas of our lives" we will allow our human nature
to show through prematurely. All of us have had situations confront us that we have allowed to "melt our covering" and
out came a dirty, rocky part of us from under our pristine and pure covering. However, if we seek the Lord in these
situations, He can keep us "covered" and help us to not do the wrong things.
In other spots in my yard, the sun (Son) has begun to uncover some things that were not visible when the snow
was there. Children's toys that weren't put away in an appropriate time. Weeds that weren't dealt with when the season
was right. Shrubs that could have been trimmed just a little closer. Just like our lives, when Jesus shows up and we ask
Him (and many times when we don't ask Him) to show us areas of our lives that are not all that they could be. As He
shows us these, it is much better if we deal with them, instead of making somebody else deal with the things in our
lives! (This is a more painful process!!)
So which is it Jeff, instant or progressive?? It is both! From our perspective, it seems progressive and that we
could do better and there are many more levels that we could reach in Him! From His perspective, instant! As we have
the Blood applied to us, God the Father looks down and sees the blood that is so very precious applied to our lives
and smiles at us. It is all about perspective.
As the Father looked at Jesus hanging on the Cross, even though Jesus had taken on the complete form of man
and had led a completely sinless life, the Father still had to look away. Just as the blood is applied to our lives allowing
God the Father to look at us, as the sins of our lives "snowed" down on Jesus, it kept the Father from being able to
look at Him. He was completely perfect. He had come to earth, temporarily leaving His deity behind. This is what made
His sinless life so powerful. The miracles that He did were incredible. His sinless life filled with miracles, healings and
deliverances was only supernatural if He was completely man. If He came down and did those things as God, they
wouldn't be supernatural, they would just be His nature (natural).
As Jesus took on our sin on the cross, He took on our sin making Him unbearable to the Father. Conversely, we
are able to take on Jesus blood allowing us to be bearable before the Father. Thank you Jesus!
Thank you Lord, that you even though we look at ourselves as being progressively more Holy, You have made us
instantly more Holy from the Father's view. What a true gift for any time of the year!!!!!
Working while it is still day,
Pastor Jeff McCracken
Kingdom Power Now Ministry Team
www.kingdompowernow.com