Falsely Supported Sanctification: Are We Truly Motivated by Love for Jesus?

Sanctification: Is Your Motive Love?

Hey everyone, Conrad here from ConradRocks.Net, welcoming you back to the blog – kind of like our regular coffee chats, but in written form! You might know me from the Coffee with Conrad podcast, where we delve into what it truly means to walk after the Spirit as Christians. Today, I want to share some thoughts that have been brewing in my heart – a bit of brutal self-examination, if you will, looking at some familiar doctrines with fresh eyes.

You know, I often picture it like this: we have this incredible treasure box sitting in a field – a representation of the deep truths of God. We can fly around it with our Holy Spirit drone, getting different perspectives, seeing it from various angles. But how often do we dare to actually open that box, to really dig in and see what's inside? And let's be honest, there's always that little prayer that it's not Pandora's Box we're opening!

I think a lot of us get comfortable just observing from a distance. Isaac Newton, that brilliant mind, once said that if he had seen further, it was by standing on the shoulders of giants. He probably said that way back in the late 1600s. When I think of that quote, I also think of this treasure box. It’s that principle of precept upon precept, a little here, a little there. That's often how I connect with the spiritual, how I start pondering the precepts of God’s Word. Sometimes a worldly quote sparks a train of thought, but you know, even Newton himself spent his later years deeply studying the Bible, even writing a commentary on Daniel and being fascinated by biblical codes. He was truly digging deeper.

And it strikes me that this "treasure box" we're examining – these deeper understandings – often comes from those who have dug deep before us. Think about figures like Augustine, Calvin, Luther. They were touched by the Spirit of Truth and unearthed revelations that they then shared, leaving a torch for us to carry. We know that it's the Spirit of Truth that guides us into all truth (John 16:13 KJV), and I firmly believe that when the Lord illuminates something for us, we have a responsibility to write it down.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 (KJV) speaks so powerfully to this: "And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." It's amazing to consider what might have been lost if past generations hadn't recorded their prophetic insights. Joseph's bones might never have left Egypt! People might not have recognized the Messiah if Daniel hadn't penned the prophecy of the 70 weeks. The Israelites in Babylonian captivity might have lost hope of their timely release if Daniel hadn't prayed in repentance based on Jeremiah's prophetic words.

So, I want to encourage you, if the Lord gives you a revelation, journal it! Hold onto those insights. They might be for your children, your grandchildren, or even people far off in time and place to pick up and run with. Amen.

Falsely Supported Sanctification: A Deeper Look

Today, the thought I've been wrestling with is something I've titled "falsely supported sanctification." It might sound a bit strange, but stick with me. If we build our house on the rock, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 7:24-27 (KJV), we'll be able to withstand any storm. Sometimes, that means challenging even our own deeply held beliefs.

Over the past few months, I've talked quite a bit about sanctification. Seeing people healed often reinforces this for me – it feels like a crucial kingdom key. But I also consistently emphasize that simply "getting saved" isn't the ultimate goal of Christianity. It's about knowing Jesus, drawing closer and closer to Him. As we do, something transformative happens; we naturally begin to desire the things that please Him.

Let’s revisit a passage in 2 Timothy 2. This is another look through our Holy Spirit drone at that treasure in the field. In 2 Timothy 2:19-21 (KJV), we read: "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."

Notice the distinction between vessels of honor and dishonor. Paul says if we name the name of Christ, we must depart from iniquity. If we cleanse ourselves from sin and wickedness, we become sanctified, fit for the Master's use, prepared for every good work. It logically follows that before sanctification, we're not truly ready for His purposes. So, the desire to be used by the Lord should drive us toward sanctification, right? Amen.

Challenging My Own Perspectives

Here's where I start to challenge my own thought processes. I've seen people who don't necessarily live what I would consider a very sanctified life still operating in the supernatural, seeing miracles. This brings to mind Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV): "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

These individuals were performing mighty works in Jesus' name, yet He says, "I never knew you," and cites their "working iniquity" as a reason to depart. This "iniquity" seems to hinder being "meet for the Master's use," as we saw in 2 Timothy. This leads me to the core of "falsely supported sanctification."

As I've pondered this, seeking guidance from the Spirit of Truth, I've realized that Jesus searches the motives of our hearts. It’s not just about what we do; it’s about why we do it. This isn't about works-based salvation, but about the underlying motivation behind our actions.

A Question of the Heart: What Drives Us?

So, let’s ask ourselves a tough question, and I'm right there with you in this self-examination. What evidence in my life truly shows that I'm motivated by loving Jesus? Seriously, take a moment to think about that. Is what I'm doing right now, recording this blog post, driven by a love for Him? Are my plans and dreams rooted in that love? It's something to really consider. Are my daily decisions submitted to the Lord?

My current working answer to this is that if I am truly motivated by my love for Jesus, then a couple of things should be evident. Firstly, I will strive to stop offending the Lord and abusing the Spirit of grace. Instead, I will actively pursue His will for my life – His will in heaven manifested on earth. As Jesus said in John 4:34 (KJV), "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." Secondly, I won't serve the Lord with a spiteful heart but with a heart that genuinely longs to please Him. My motivation won't be to be seen by others, like the Pharisees Jesus rebuked for their public displays of piety (Matthew 6:1-6 KJV). True love for Jesus should produce a legitimate joy in serving the "least of these" (Matthew 25:40 KJV), knowing that in doing so, we are loving on Him.

The "Dry Drunk" Analogy and David's Example

This brings me to the concept of a "dry drunk." It describes someone who has stopped drinking alcohol but still harbors the desire. They haven't been truly delivered from that craving, which is why support groups like AA exist. Keeping this in mind, let's look at something the Psalmist David said in Psalms 18:21-24 (KJV): "For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me: and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight."

Now, the immediate New Testament reaction might be, "Conrad, Jesus was bruised for our iniquities! We don't have iniquities anymore!" And while it's true that through Jesus we have forgiveness, we still need to appropriate that truth in our lives. Even after the cross, as we see in 2 Timothy, there are people who need to know the truth to be set free from the snare of the devil (2 Timothy 2:24-26 KJV), who uses the iniquity within us as a trap.

David, even with his deep love for the Lord and his powerful spiritual worship (John 4:23-24 KJV), recognized the need to keep himself from his iniquity. Like those in Matthew 7 working iniquity, it wasn't about having iniquity, but actively working in it.

Examining Our Character and Motivations

This leads us to a crucial aspect of examining this falsely supported sanctification: our personal character. Let’s be brutally honest with ourselves. If we knew we could commit a sin without any earthly consequences, would we do it? Our answer to that reveals a lot about who we truly are. I even think about my dream life – if I'm sinning in my dreams, it highlights areas I need to work on with the Lord.

So, the question is: do I avoid certain behaviors simply because of potential consequences, or because my love for Jesus makes the very thought abhorrent? Jesus touched on this in Matthew 5:27-28 (KJV): "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." He was addressing the iniquity at the heart level, not just the outward action.

Job understood this principle when he said in Job 31:1 (KJV), "I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?" He recognized that guarding his thoughts was crucial. Even in a post-cross context, 1 John 2:15-16 (KJV) gives us a stark warning: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." This serves as a kind of litmus test for our relationship with the Lord. If our hearts are clinging to worldly things, we need to examine our motivation.

The Crux of the Matter: Why Do We Strive for Holiness?

This brings us to the very core of falsely supported sanctification. Are we keeping ourselves as clean vessels for the right reasons? Are our efforts rooted in a genuine love for Jesus?

Let me give you some examples. Are we abstaining from drugs this week because we have a drug test coming up for our job? That's not sanctification motivated by love for Jesus, but rather by a love for mammon (Matthew 6:24 KJV). We might avoid drugs for our job but would readily indulge if there were no consequences. Or perhaps we're clean and sober because we love our spouse or children. While those are good motivations, what if we were single? Would we then go out and party?

Any effort towards holiness in our lives needs to be fundamentally rooted in our love for Christ. James 4:7-10 (KJV) sheds further light on this: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

Notice the order here. First, we submit to God – we come under His mission, His plan (the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 KJV). It's not just about stopping sinning; it's about aligning ourselves with His purposes. Chronologically after submitting to God, we are then able to resist the devil. Resisting the devil becomes a byproduct of drawing closer to God and getting on board with His mission. The primary motivation to draw near to God is our love for Him. Remember the prodigal son? He didn't clean himself up before going home; he made the decision to go towards his father, and then he took the steps.

When James talks about turning joy to heaviness and laughter to mourning, he's speaking about humility – taking a sober, serious look at ourselves and examining the motivations of our hearts. Is our motivation for serving the Lord falsely supported?

Final Questions for Reflection

Let's ask ourselves a few more pointed questions:

• Do we serve the Lord to be seen by others? Like the Pharisees who prayed publicly for attention?
•  Do we serve the Lord to get crowns in heaven? While rewards are promised, could this motivation sometimes be rooted in selfishness rather than pure love for Jesus? It's worth pondering.
•  Do we serve the Lord simply because we've fallen into a religious routine? We have commitments to attend church every Sunday, and we assume that's the entirety of God's will, potentially missing what the Spirit might be calling us to do in a particular moment – like reaching out to someone in need outside the four walls of a church.

I recently saw a Snapchat post where someone mentioned "playing hooky" from church to help a neighbor in a real crisis. Amen to that! Sometimes following the Spirit's leading might look unconventional.

Conclusion: Dig Deeper and Go Higher

Well, this has been a longer coffee break than usual, but I pray it's been thought-provoking. My heart is that we all examine our motivations and ensure that our pursuit of sanctification is genuinely rooted in a deep and abiding love for Jesus. Let's not settle for falsely supported holiness but strive for a spiritual life that flows from a heart fully surrendered to Him.

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Until next time, keep digging deeper into God's Word and keep going higher in your walk with Him!