Sanctification: The Will of God - Stressing the Rails - June 12, 2023, Stressing the Rails with Dr. Michael W. Wesley Sr. - Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church with Dr. Michael W. Wesley Sr.

Sanctification: The Will of God - Stressing the Rails - June 12, 2023

June 12, 2023

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FROM PASTOR WESLEY June 12, 2023

Sanctification: The Will of God

The Lord has set us apart to reflect His excellencies to those who still live in darkness.

Finally, then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgresses and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

God sends each believer through a process the Bible calls sanctification. Though that’s a large, confusing word, the meaning is simple. Sanctify means “to make holy” or “to set apart.” So when something is sanctified, it’s separated from a common use and designated for a sacred one.

In the Old Testament, God sanctified a number of things: He made the seventh day holy, set aside the Levite tribe as priests, and consecrated places like the tabernacle (Genesis 2:3; Numbers 3:1-51). The Lord still sanctifies today. Before salvation, we are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 5:10). But the moment we trust Jesus Christ as our Savior, our sins are wiped away, and we are adopted into God’s family forever. We are set apart as a child of God for a sacred purpose. We aren’t to chase after personal gain; we should serve God and bring Him honor and glory with our life.

Members of God’s family—also known as saints—are called to reflect His glory. The word saint shares its root with sanctification. We are given this moniker, not because we live sinless lives but because the One we belong to is perfectly holy.

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About Dr. Michael W. Wesley Sr.

Dr. Michael W. Wesley Sr. is a native of Birmingham, Alabama where he was educated in the public school system. He graduated from Tennessee State University, Nashville,Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education. He received a Master’s Degree in Music Education; a Class A certification in School Principal ship and the Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. In addition, Dr. Wesley received a Bible Diploma and Bible Certification from Birmingham Baptist Bible College. He completed the Beeson Institute for Advanced Church Leadership Program from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. Dr. Wesley earned the Doctor of Ministry Degree from Louisiana Baptist University and Theological Seminary in Shreveport, Louisiana May 2006.

Dr. Wesley retired in 2003 after a brilliant 26-year career as an educator in the Birmingham Public Schools. He served as a teacher, assistant principal and principal of three different schools (Powderly Elementary; Arrington Middle and was the first African American principal of Woodlawn High School). He served on the Central Office staff as Extended Day Principal and Coordinator of Safe and Drug Free Schools.

Dr. Wesley is regularly sought after to speak in both schools and churches. He has had the privilege of speaking across the nation and in several foreign countries. His spiritual gifts of teaching and preaching are well documented. He is a member of many organizations. His civic and professional associations are too numerous to mention.

Most recent is the evidence of his leadership, occurred with the completion of a multimillion dollar edifice and education facility located in the heart of the West End community.

Dr. Wesley is currently the pastor of the Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in the West End community where he has given thirty years of service. He has a great love for people and for learning.

He is married to the former Venita Burkes, and is the father of two sons, Rev. Michael Wesley Jr. and James Edward, one grandson and two granddaughters.

Dr. Wesley is the author of three books, When God Changes A Church, Everybody Deserves A Good Funeral and Reaching the Unchurched_Pathway to Church Growth.

Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church

Dr. Michael W. Wesley Sr.