Read 1 Thessalonians

“Radical obedience to Christ is not easy. It’s not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than enough for us.” —David Platt

In this text Paul “asks” and “urges” that followers of Jesus concentrate on a particular thing.  “You ought to walk and please God…more and more.”   Paul then goes on to provide a supporting statement.  “For this is the will of God, our _________________________.” (verse 3) 

Wow.  Paul literally just revealed something amazing. God’s specific will for your life. And he used one word to do it. SANCTIFICATION. 

That’s a pretty big word.  Oswald Chambers describes it this way, “Are we prepared to pay the cost of sanctification? The cost will be a deep restriction of all our earthly concerns, and an extensive cultivation of all our godly concerns. Sanctification means to be intensely focused on God’s point of view. It means to secure and to keep all the strength of our body, soul, and spirit for God’s purpose alone.”

Paul’s next set of statements supports these claims. For instance, verse 4, “each one of you ought to know how to control his own body in_________________ and ____________________”.  Verse 7, “For God has not called us for ____________________________, but in _______________________”.  

Then in Verse 8, Paul writes something that is really eye opening. He implies there will basically be two types of Christians. One, Christians who “disregard” this call to surrender and holiness, and by doing so, really disregard God and in particular the work of God’s Holy Spirit in their life.  Or, two, those who surrender to the Holy Spirit and see the will of God realized in their life.  More, and more. And more. 

These are the “instructions (the Apostles) gave” the church then, and they are good for us today. 

As you pray this morning, concentrate on surrendering to the will of God in your life. Be prepared to repent if you have disregarded God’s call to holiness in any way.  Ask God to have his way in you.