This is God’s Will

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

Christians often wonder what God’s will for their life is. Many Christians say that if God would only make his will clear to them they would surely obey. Many claim that the reason for the lack of obedience is, not so much because of the lack of desire to be obedient, but because the will of God is often so confusing.

If only God would just spell it out for us.

Well, if you are a Christian, let me clear this up for you.

I know without a shadow of doubt what God’s will for you is.

Yup. Without a shadow of doubt.

Our text makes it crystal clear: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

Just in case you missed it, let’s break it down:

• It is God’s will…you see that, God’s word says, “It is God’s will.”
• So, what is God’s will? That you should be sanctified.

Sanctify means becoming holy.

• It is God’s will that we become more like Christ today and everyday.
• It is God’s will that we resemble Christ more today than yesterday.
• It is God’s will that his holiness be more evident in our lives than it was yesterday.

So, then, how do we go about being sanctified?

Great question. Sanctification happens as we submit to the Holy Spirit. This doesn’t mean that the Holy Spirit has 100% control over our lives. That almost never happens. Sanctification happens when the will of the Holy Spirit has even the slightest greater influence over our thoughts and actions than our will.

Sanctification happens when:

• Me – 49.9999999999999999999% control over thoughts and actions
• Holy Spirit – 50.00000000000000001% control over thoughts and actions

As long as we live on this side of eternity, our flesh will constantly battle God’s Holy Spirit. But as long as the Holy Spirit has even the slightest greater influence, sanctification is taking place. We are becoming more like Christ.

This is God’s will – that you be sanctified. Got it?