“SANCTIFY them in YOUR TRUTH; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH. . .” ~ John 17:17
The Word is for Washing and Renewing the mind
In Yahshua Messiah’s (High Priestly) Prayer for His disciples, recorded for us in John 17, He prayed for their sanctification through HIS truth (i.e., Elohim’s ~ God’s Word). Sanctification is the process by which someone/something becomes Holy: exclusively set apart unto YAHWEH Elohim for His service.
Mosaic law instructs that an item or a person must go through a sanctification process that typically involved washing and/or anointing, followed by a dedication ceremony in order to be ready to serve YAHWEH Elohim. Only after sanctification could that item be used in the worship ceremony or that person approach Elohim to serve and/or worship Him.
By His grace, YAHWEH Elohim imputes His Holiness to us to enable us, imperfect as we are, to serve Him. However, Elohim also prepares us for (ever greater) usefulness by cleansing (sanctifying) us with His Word (truth).
… “Husbands, love your wives, even as Messiah also loved the Congregation and gave Himself up on its behalf†, that He might sanctify it, cleansing it by the washing of water and by the Word, that He might present it to Himself as the glorious Congregation, not having stain or wrinkle, or any such things, but that it be holy and without blemish.” ~ Ephesians 5:25b-27
A Believer is washed by The Word of YAHWEH Elohim as he/she studies it. And as the Believer studies HIS Word his/her mind is renewed (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23), into the very mind of Messiah. And this enables the believer to know the very Will of Elohim, which is necessary to effectively do the Work of the Heavenly Father.
Rom 12:2 “And be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is the good and pleasing and perfect will of Elohim.”
Eph 4:23-24 “and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and to put on the new man, who is created by YAHWEH in righteousness and true holiness.”
“By what shall a young man purify his path? To keep it according to Your Word.” Psalm 119:9
Consequently, if we fail to study His word, if we do not avail ourselves (our minds) to be washed clean by it, then our spiritual growth will be stunted. We will struggle through life, spiritually immature and carnal: trapped by the base desires of our sinful nature, not growing into the full stature of the fullness of Messiah (Ephesians 4:13-15).
Eph 4:13-15 “until we all may come to the unity of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of Elohim, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Messiah, so that we may no longer be children, being blown and carried about by every wind of false doctrine of men, who through their craftiness are very skillful in deceiving the people†; but speaking the truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, the Messiah,”
Pro 16:6 Iniquity is covered by mercy and truth, and in the fear of YAHWEH, men turn aside from evil. † ° Proverbs 16:6
Believers must study Elohim’s ~ God’s word; there is no other way: this is the method that He has chosen for us, His disciples/congregation, to grow. It is foolish and futile for us to moan over our lack of spiritual growth if we are unwilling to apply ourselves to the study of HIS Word. We will never be prepared for service without studying HIS word. Just as it would be foolhardy for a hospital to hire doctors who don’t study medicine, we cannot expect YAHWEH Elohim to employ those who don’t study His Word.
Yahshua Messiah had just spent three years teaching His disciples, but without the ongoing sanctification with Elohim’s truth, without the constant washing with the Word, He knew that they would fail in the mission He was about to send them. Certainly, we are no greater than they. Therefore, without the conscientious, careful and constant study of HIS Word we will fail too.
Finally, these words were a part of Yahshua Messiah’s prayers for His disciples. This was not a teaching given to a multitude. Therefore, this message is for those who are committed to working in the Kingdom of YAHWEH Elohim. This message is not intended for Christians “in-name-only”, those who practice their own unique version of faith based on the most convenient parts of the Scripture. This message is not for those who use Christianity as “fire insurance”: who do not feel constrained to work in the Kingdom of YAHWEH Elohim though they (think they) are in it.
Yahshua’s prayer was for those who would “Hunger and thirst after righteousness” (Matthew 5:6), those who are willing to respond to the call to serve in the Kingdom of YAHWEH.
If we indeed intend to heed HIS call to service, let us then commit ourselves to sanctification: to being washed by His Word. Let us determine to study Elohim’s Word that He might set us apart unto Himself, for His use ONLY. For as YAHWEH sanctifies us, as we grow in Him, the devil will not be able to trick us into serving his unholy purposes. Neither will we seek our own agenda. No, we will be available to our Heavenly Father, exclusively, for work in HIS Kingdom.
“You are already pruned because of the Word which I have spoken to you.” ~ John 15:3 [Hebraic Roots Bible, Literal Translation]
“Let everyone naming the name of Messiah depart from unrighteousness. But in a great house not only are there vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
Then if anyone purifies himself from these, he will be a vessel to honor, having been sanctified and made useful to the Master, having been prepared to every good work.
But flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with the ones calling on our Master out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:19b-22 [Hebraic Roots Bible, Literal Translation]
“All Scripture is written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of Elohim may be perfected, and complete for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 [Hebraic Roots Bible, Literal Translation] —
