Cultivating a Deeper Prayer Life - A Theology of Prayer

Study 22

Text: John 17

"SANCTIFY THEM BY YOUR TRUTH..." John 17:17

The word "sanctify" is an important word in our theological vocabulary. There are many thoughts in this word that we must take note of. Let us take time to think through what Jesus prayed for His Disciples.

1. To sanctify is to "set apart."

Jesus specifically prayed that His Disciples might be set apart from the world. What Jesus was praying here was a natural follow-through of what He prayed a moment ago.

He Himself was not of the world. His true Disciples were also not of the world, if indeed they were walking in His footsteps.

Jesus now prayed that God would confirm this request. He prayed that the Disciples may indeed be set apart by His Father and made distinct from the rest of the world!

2. To sanctify is also to speak of "holiness."

Jesus was doing more than just asking that His Father would distinguish His Disciples from the world. He was praying that God would actually cause this to happen. This would happen when the Disciples took on a life of holy living, as He sought to live out a holy life.

Sanctification is not simply separation from the world. True sanctification results in holy living. It does not mean that we are sinless. However, it does mean that every bout with sin sees us becoming stronger and more determined to live for the Lord.

It is only through true holiness, a lifestyle patterned after the Lord Jesus that true sanctification takes place.

3. A prayer for God to do the work of sanctifying.

Jesus knew that it would be impossible for anyone to live a truly holy life. We cannot live a life of holiness without God being involved in our life.

Jesus was essentially praying that God would be involved in our life mightily. God's involvement in our life would lead us to living in holiness.

How we need to utter this prayer from our hearts today. Few like to contemplate a life that is sanctified as Jesus exemplified it. Many Christians prefer a lifestyle of fun, wealth, power and influence, etc. Few comprehend that holiness is the true goal of a life that has been redeemed!

4. The work of sanctification done in close association with "truth."

How would God sanctify us? Jesus knew how His Father would go about sanctifying His Disciples.

God's means of sanctification is through truth. The work of sanctification does not come about magically. God will not wave a magic wand over our head and then instantly transform us into holy beings.

The work of sanctification is a slow process. Indeed it is a life-long process. God's means of bringing about sanctification in our life is through truth!

5. The work of sanctification will preserve us from evil.

The world is deadly in his influence on everyone, believers included. How can the believer stop being influenced by the world?

The answer lies in our being sanctified and kept by the Lord Himself. He will keep us sanctified by the Spirit of God, through the Word of God!

"YOUR WORD IS TRUTH..." John 17:17

What is "truth?" Jesus was not talking about "subjective or relative truth" when He offered this prayer to His Father. When He prayed that God would sanctify His Disciples with the truth, He had in mind the Word of God that He had taught His Disciples and the Scriptures that He made reference to time and again.

True sanctification, the work of becoming more and more holy is directly related to the Word of God operating in our life. If the Word of God is given its rightful place in our life, we will see a great work of sanctification taking place.

Here is a glimpse of how the Word of God will sanctify us.

Where there is sin, the Word of God will convict us of sin.
The Word of God will bring about repentance and then a cleansing of the sins that plague us.
The Word of God will then restore us to the Lord and He will instruct us afresh in the way of life.
The truth from God's Word will then be our guide.
The Word of God will also guard us from falling into sin so easily.
The Word of God will continue to strengthen us as we feed on it diligently day by day.

The word of the Lord Jesus may have been simple to read, but the depth of His prayer is truly astounding. Let us pray that the Lord will indeed sanctify us with His truth! May His Word become more and more precious to us with each passing day.

~ Pastor Charlie Tan ~