FOR WHOM THE HEAVENS OPEN – PART 37 (CASE STUDY OF JOSHUA – PART 24) – “THE DOCTRINE OF SANCTIFICATION – PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE – SPECIAL RCCG ONLINE SUNDAY SERVICE:28TH JANUARY 2024

*SPECIAL RCCG ONLINE SUNDAY SERVICE*

TOPIC: *FOR WHOM THE HEAVENS OPEN – PART 37 (CASE STUDY OF JOSHUA – PART 24) – “THE DOCTRINE OF SANCTIFICATION”.*

MINISTERING: *PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE*

DATE: 28TH JANUARY 2024

BIBLE TEXT: *JOSHUA 7: 24-26*

Let Us Pray!

*SONG*

You are Worthy to be Praised

You are Worthy to be Praised

My Redeemer

You are Worthy to be Praised

*OPENING PRAYER*

Almighty God, the Ancient of Days, the Unchangeable Changer – We Worship You.

Thank You because thus far You have helped us – It is of Your Mercy that we are not Consumed. Thank You for renewing Your Mercy everyday in our lives.

We Thank You for Your Patience Lord – Patience while we look at what we should not looked at; Patience when we take what we shouldn’t take; Patience allowing us to Restitute our ways.

Father, we give You all Glory and Honour, Please accept our Thanks in Jesus Name.

Father, as we continue with our Study today, speak to us Lord, teach us the Truth Lord; so that we will know the Truth and the Truth will make us Free.

And Uphold us till the very End.

In Jesus Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen!

Praise the Lord – Hallelujah!

*Now, we want to move on to the next Stage in our Study that we have using Joshua as our illustration – An illustration for whom the Heavens Open!*

*And it is quite a “Good Illustration for Divine Repositioning”.*

*And we have been discussing the case of Achan – And we said that Achan must die because Achan represents that which can hinder us from reaching our Goal.*

*We have looked at Achan and:*

– We have Studied the role of our eyes in this our Journey to Heaven.

– And then we discussed on a “Fairly Deep Level”; the role of our hands in the Journey to Heaven.

So, we want to discuss something – A Doctrine that is not often talked about nowadays today from the case of Achan.

You know like I told you some weeks Past, nowadays People don’t talk about Restitution – Which is unfortunate. But in your own case, you have heard me talk about it.

*But we will be talking about another Doctrine today – Very Deep Doctrine that was commonly taught when People like me got Born Again but we don’t hear “Too Much” about it now.*

And so my Bible Text today will be: Joshua 7: 24-26.

Joshua 7: 24-26

24. And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the Silver, and the Garment, and the wedge of Gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his Asses, and his Sheep, and his Tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the Valley of Achor. 

25. And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? The LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. 

26. And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that Place was called, The Valley of Achor, unto this day.

*Let me start by Praying for you – That the Lord will trouble your trouble (Amen).*

*That everything that is troubling you, in the Name that is above every other name; the Almighty God will trouble them – Amen!*

When I read this Part of the Story, I was shocked.

I was shocked because of the Violence exhibited here upon Achan and everything that Pertains to him.

I. They stoned him to Death.

II. I thought that will be enough but they didn’t stop there – Then they burnt him with fire. That means that they reduced him to ashes.

III. But they didn’t stop there – They heap a Mighty heap of stones on his aches.

*In other words, they are saying as they will say among my People – “Die upon die, upon die”.*

*In Yorubaland, they will say: “ATUNKUTUN RE” – Die so thoroughly that you can never never rise again.*

*Your Achan must die!* 

– It must not just be stoned to Death, it must be burnt by Fire.

– Not just burnt with Fire, after you have buried it, you must heap stones upon the Grave so that it can never Possibly rise again.

Why? You see because 1 Corinthians 10:11 tells us clearly that everything that is written is written to be an Example to us, for whom the end of the world has come.

They didn’t just do these things just for fun; it is to be an Example to those of us coming from behind.

*Why were the People so violent with Achan?*

1. They did it so that it can be an Example to others.

Just in case there are other People in the Camp who may want to think along the same way as  Achan – It says watch and see what will happen.

2. This is the most important reason according to Nahum 1:9 – So that Affliction may not arise the second time.

Many of us had made mistakes in the Past because of the way we used our eyes, because of the way we use our hands and we had suffered the repercussions.

*Achan must die so thoroughly so that we will never, never, never again make the same mistake.*

*Anyone who has been backsliding before and you know what you suffered during the Period of Backsliding; you must do something so thoroughly that, that situation can never repeat itself.*

*That brings us to the Doctrine called: “THE DOCTRINE OF SANCTIFICATION”.*

1. After you are Born Again, the Blood of Jesus Christ wipe away all your sins!

1 John 1:7 says that the Blood of Jesus Cleanses you from all sins.

After you are Born Again according to 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Oh, Old Things are gone, all things are to become New.

2. But the Bible teaches us that after you are Born Again, there is the Possibility of Backsliding.

2 Peter 2: 20-22 says: Hey, after you have tasted the Power of the Kingdom to come; after you have escaped from all the Corruptions of the world; if you should go back, it might be difficult to restore you.

It might be like a case of a dog returning to its vomit – That is what the Bible teaches.

3. The Bible teaches in Galatians 5:4 that there is a Possibility of falling from Grace as you are saved by Grace.

4. In 1 Corinthians 10:12; it says he who thinks he Stand must take heeds lest he fall.

*So, those of you who says that once you are saved, you are saved forever – Maybe they don’t read all the Bible!*

*The Bible says that there is need for you to take heeds lest you fall.*

2 Corinthians 13:5 says: Keep on examining yourself  – Are you still in Faith?

5. The Bible tells us that there is the Possibility of becoming Lukewarm.

Revelation 3: 15-16 – All the Books written in the Book of Revelation were to the Churches and Church Members.

That is where God says that some People are Lukewarm  and He was going to spue them out of His mouth (Revelation 3: 15-16).

6. There is the Possibility of becoming Cold after you are Born Again.

*And some of you listening to me or reading now on the Label of DMC; you know what I’m talking about.*

The Bible says in Matthew 24:12 – It says that because Iniquities will abound, the Love of some People will grow Cold.

*And we are living in an era when Iniquities are really, really abounding.*

I mean the kind of things you never could Dream could happen is happening.

I know in one Nation in the world where we have our Churches, they arrested my Pastor. And what was his offence.

He spoke in a Gathering and he said: Ladies and Gentlemen and then he continued to speak and they arrested him.

Why? Because he said Ladies and Gentlemen. They said what about the others? What of those who are neither Ladies and Gentlemen.

I mean we are living in a world where you can say Ladies and Gentlemen and go to the Prison for that.

*So when Iniquities abound, the Bible says that the Love of some People will grow cold.*

7. And then, there are those who fall back because what they are hoping for they didn’t get it on time.

Proverbs 13:12 says Hope deferred can make the Heart sick.

*My Prayer for you is that whatever that you are hoping for; the Almighty God will give you today – Amen!*

*THIS BRINGS US TO THE ISSUE OF THE HEART.*

*Because when we talk about Sanctification, it has to do with the Heart – Your Heart is very important.*

Proverbs 4:23 says: Hey, take Good care of your Heart because out of it comes the Issues of Life.

Matthew 15: 18-19 says: Out of the Heart comes all manners of things. All kinds of evil thoughts they emanate from the Heart.

Proverbs 23:7 says that it is as a Man thinketh that he is.

*It is your thoughts within your Heart that will determine ultimately how you will end up becoming.*

For Example: Take Peter – A Great Man of God.

In Mark 10: 28-30; Peter said to the Lord Jesus Christ – We have left all and we are following You. What is going to be our Rewards?

And there was no Rewards like he was expecting – To be made Probably the Minister of Fishery.

And so, when in Acts 1: 4-6; when they were gathered together with the risen Jesus Christ; he raised the Question again – Are You going to restore the Kingdom now because we thought that you are going to bring the Kingdom?

I mean that we are already Struggling who will be on the Right Hand side, who will be on the! Left Hand side; who is going to be the Deputy King or whatever.

Now, You died, and then You rose from the Dead – Good! Are You now going to restore the Kingdom?

And the Lord said: No, that is not the way things are going to be.

The Bible tells us in John 21: 1-3 – Peter looked at the rest of the People and said: Well, I don’t know about you but I go Fishing. 

I am going back to my Trade – I had hoped for something Great from this Man but I didn’t get it and so I go back Fishing.

*I Pray for those of you who are on the verge of Backsliding; the Lord who stopped Peter and who restored his Confidence to him will Pay you a visit today – Amen!*

And so Sanctification talks about your Heart – Because the Heart of a Man according to Jeremiah 17:9; the Heart of a Man is desperately wicked.

The Heart of a Man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked and who can know it?

That is why in Ezekiel 36: 24-25; the Bible says that after God has Cleansed you, He has to do something about your Heart – He has to give you a New Heart of Flesh.

He has to remove from your body, the Heart of stone – The Heart of stone must go.

When we talk about dealing with Achan, you need to know in 1 Samuel 17: 45-51 – David just didn’t just kill Goliath, he cut off his head.

*It is not just enough to be saved, you must deal with the Heart so that the Heart does not get back into sinning.*

– It is not enough to kill a Snake, you must cut off its head.

– It is not enough to kill Goliath, you have to cut off his head.

In Matthew 5: 29-30; when the  Lord was giving you the advice that only your best friend can give you.

And he was talking of your eyes – He said that if your Right Eyes is going to cause you to offend, He said you must Pluck it out and throw it away from you – Not just Pluck it out, you must throw it away so that there won’t be any Possibility of the Eyes finding it’s way back.

And then He gave the same Advice concerning your Right Hand – He said if your Right Hand is causing you to offend, cut it off and throw it away from you.

*We have talked about the Eyes, we have talked about Hands and God is saying that it is not just a case of Pluckimg out the eyes or cutting off the hands; it must be thrown away!*

*It is not enough to be saved; you have to get to that Stage you have to Pray so that the Almighty God will deal with your inside or your Heart.*

The Blood will Cleanse you but you must go a step further and cry to God for a Heart of Flesh.

– It is Sanctification that will Prevent you from falling into the trap of Pride because Pride comes from the Heart.

– It is Sanctification that will help you to forgive those who has offended you, so that you don’t harbour Bitterness in your Heart.

*Because if you harbour Bitterness in your Heart, the Bible says that the root of Bitterness will defy you.*

– It is the next step in your Journey to become Christ-Like that that Heart of stone deep within you be replaced with a Heart of Flesh.

– It is Sanctification that will bring you to a Level that will show even the Almighty God that alright, you have reached a “Point of No Return” and that you are going to go with Him all the way,

You need a New Heart – A New Heart of Flesh.

You cannot run this race with the Heart of Stone still within you or you will bsckslide. You need the Heart of Flesh.

*You need what we could call a “Heart Transplant” – And that is the best illustration ever.*

When a Man has a Heart that is sick that the Doctors said that there is Nothing I can do about this Heart – It’s too bad.

Then they will say that he should be Prepared for a Heart Transplant.

How do you get a New Heart to replace the Old Heart?

Well, they will look for a Young Man who dies maybe in a Motor Accident and the Heart still Strong and Healthy.

And very quickly after that boy died, they quickly take the Heart before it is “Too Late” and Prepared it.

And the Fellow who needs a New Heart is already in one Hospital or the other, waiting till when they will find a Good Heart.

As soon as they get a New Heart, they put the Man who needs a New Heart to Sleep, take out the Old Heart and put in the New one. And the Man will wake up and begin to live with a New Heart.

Now, you don’t get a New Heart unless Somebody dies – Somebody has to die in the Prime of Age and then makes the Heart available to you.

*A New Heart became available to you the Day Jesus Christ died on the Cross.*

The Day He said in John 19:30 – It is Finished!

*He was actually saying that there is a New Heart available for anyone who wants to receive it – The Heart of Jesus Christ Himself is an Heart of Flesh.*

*That Heart is still available today for anyone of us who is willing to receive it.*

*But you need to know that the Fellow who is going to receive a New Heart must be put to Sleep.*

The Doctor before beginning the Operation, is going to put the Man who is going to be the Recipient absolutely to Sleep.

He is going to check whether the Fellow is fully asleep by slapping or Pinching to see if he will say: Leave me alone. Then they will know that he is not ready for the Operation.

*Until you are ready for a Life of Total Surrender to the Almighty God, you cannot receive the Heart Transplant!*

So, those of you who are listening to me today or reading now on the Label of DMC; you know that the Topic is not really a small one – We are talking deep to you now.

Are you ready for a Life of “Complete Surrender” to God? Because if you are, He is ready to give you a Heart of Flesh. 

He is ready to take out of your System that terrible Heart that is desperately wicked and give you the Heart of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

And the moment you get that New Heart, you yourself you know that things are different now – And living a Life of Holiness will be easy, living a Life of Compassion will become easy and the ability to Restitute your way will become easy.

But the Choice is yours – I can’t take the Decision for you as you can only take the decision by yourself.

Which means that those of you who are not even Born Again, Step Number 1 is Salvation (The Foundation).

But Sanctification is the Pillar that only Upholds the house that God is about to build for you in your Life.

*ALTAR CALL*

So, if you want to begin to think of getting really, really committed to God, why don’t you start by giving your Life to Him – Let Him save your Soul today and then you can continue from there.

So, those of you who wants to give your Life to Jesus Christ, will you Please bow your Head wherever you are – I will Pray for your Salvation and the Almighty God will continue from there.

And those of you who are already Born Again but we still have our Heart troubling us – Thinking all sorts of Terrible Thoughts, Immoral Thoughts and we want to be fully Sanctified; this is your Day where you can cry to the Almighty God in Total Surrender.

And say: Father, take away the Heart of stone from me and give me a Heart of Flesh.

Let Us Pray!

*PRAYER FOR SALVATION AND CLOSING PRAYER*

My Father and my God, once again I want to Thank You for Your Words – Thank You for taking us Deeper and Deeper everyday.

And I give You Glory and Honour for all those who has made up their Minds that we want to begin this Journey,  we want to be saved and we want to be washed in the Blood of the Lamb.

As many of them that has made up their Mind to do this Lord, Please save their Souls, forgive all their sins, let Your Blood wipe them Completely Clean of all their sins and receive them into the Family of God.

And I am Praying also for all Your Children today, who are asking to be Completely Sanctified – Those who are asking for the Heart of Flesh.

Please Lord, grant their Requests so that from now on my Father and my God, it will become very easy to live a Life of Holiness.

Thank You Almighty God.

For in Jesus Mighty Name we have Prayed – Amen.

Praise the Lord – Hallelujah!

Again, I rejoice with those of you who has given your Life to Jesus Christ.

I advice you to Please go to the nearest Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) near to you.

And ask the Pastor there: What do I do next now that I am Born Again? 

And he will tell you.

God Bless You!

Praise the Lord – Hallelujah!!!

Thank you so much for staying all through to read.

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