How do we preserve our whole Spirit, Soul and Body completely sanctified?

I Thessalonians 5: 14 – 22 says - Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

Rejoice always,

pray without ceasing,

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Do not quench the Spirit.

Do not despise prophecies.

Test all things; hold fast what is good.

Abstain from every form of evil.

1.  Rules of Discipline –

I Corinthians 15: 33 - Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

I Corinthians 15: 34, 35, 36 - Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?”

Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies.

We must realize that we must die along with Christ to all sin, worldly passions, lusts, worldly pleasures, worldly desires, customs and traditions ( our old life), iniquity and crucify everything on the cross and be dead to sin and be buried with Christ. We must rise up again with Christ as a new body and we must realize that we are a new creation. So according to that we must lead our daily lives.

Therefore, in John 12: 24 - Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

That is why dearly beloved in John 12: 25 - He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

If we want to keep it for eternal life as in Proverbs 2: 1 – 7 - My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you,

So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;

Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,

If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.

That is what is written in Revelation 22:17 - And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

My dearly beloved, Our Lord Jesus Christ says in Revelation 22: 18,19 - For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;

and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Many a times because we have not received the knowledge of God, we do many things which does not please God and we fail to lead a disciplined life of moral value.

Therefore, in Isaiah 29: 13 - Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,

Colossians 2: 20 -23 - Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—

“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men?

These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Colossians 2: 18 says Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility (telling I am humbling myself only by words) and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Therefore, we have to be to disciplined in such a manner.

Proverbs 11:16 says - A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless men retain riches.

Whose honor is retained?

Isaiah 3: 16, 17 - Moreover the Lord says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, And walk with outstretched necks And wanton eyes, Walking and mincing as they go, Making a jingling with their feet,

Therefore, the Lord will strike with a scab The crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, And the Lord will uncover their secret parts.” (Lord will remove their honor as written in these verses)

Zephaniah 1: 4 – 6 says - “I will stretch out My hand against Judah, And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, The names of the idolatrous priests with the pagan priests—

Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops: Those who worship and swear oaths by the Lord, But who also swear by Milcom;

Those who have turned back from following the Lord, And have not sought the Lord, nor inquired of Him.”

My dearly beloved, children of God all the mistakes that we have done will now be surely returning to our memory. How many of us who have been united with God have done as the Gentiles – according to lust of eyes, lust of flesh and pride of life – and done mistakes against the Lord our God. Let us all think for a minute. Let us realize our mistakes, confess them and beg God for his forgiveness. God will forgive our mistakes.

My dear brothers and sisters, Read Zephaniah 1: 7 – 11 and meditate on these verses. Those who have read it – let us know with a simple “Yes”.

Zephaniah 1: 12 says - “And it shall come to pass at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And punish the men Who are settled in complacency, Who say in their heart, ‘The Lord will not do good, Nor will He do evil.’ (Lamp means God’s laws and God’s words and God’s commandments. God is using his laws, commandments and words to search us if we have Christ’s life in us or not during these days).

Let us analyze ourselves right now. Zephaniah 1: 13 - Therefore their goods shall become booty, And their houses a desolation; They shall build houses, but not inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine.”

Let us just think about this verse. Now what is happening in the world today.

Zephaniah 2: 13 – 15 says - And He will stretch out His hand against the north, Destroy Assyria, And make Nineveh a desolation, As dry as the wilderness.

The herds shall lie down in her midst, Every beast of the nation. Both the pelican and the bittern Shall lodge on the capitals of her pillars; Their voice shall sing in the windows; Desolation shall be at the threshold; For He will lay bare the cedar work.

All these things are happening right now in big cities. We are hearing about it and seeing it.

If we see for whom and where this is happening – in Zephaniah 2: 15 - This is the rejoicing city That dwelt securely, That said in her heart, “I am it, and there is none besides me.” How has she become a desolation, A place for beasts to lie down! Everyone who passes by her Shall hiss and shake his fist.

Let us all together in one mind submit to God and pray, ask for forgiveness for the times we heard God’s word but still lived carelessly.

To preserve our spirit, soul and body completely sanctified and blameless – I Corinthians 3: 18 - Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

I Corinthians 3: 19 - For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; and I Corinthians 3: 20 - and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

We must be careful, that we do not get cheated by the worldly wisdom, at all times.

Let us submit ourselves and pray. May the Lord God bless you all.

-      To be continued