Mentor's Tip # 2: The Power of a Sanctified Person

by Michael K. Lake, Th.D., D.R.E.

In our last tip, we dealt with the concept and the need for sanctified time in your life. Have you taken the lesson seriously? Have you been creating blocks of sanctified time in your life that belongs only to the Lord? Remember, this needs to be a part of your spiritual DNA. Place it into your foundation and never allow anyone or anything to remove it!

The second Genesis principle I want to deal with is the next thing God sanctified in His Word: a person (which later became a people.) The individual that I am speaking of is Abraham, the father of us all (Rom. 4:16). God called Abraham to walk with Him and He separated Abraham out for His use in the earth. There are some interesting characteristics about Abraham that parallel our lives:

1.            He answered the call of God.

God called him by name and he responded. We all have done the same thing - twice. First God called us by name to salvation. We asked that call and made Jesus our Lord and Savior. Second God called us by name into the ministry. If you are looking at BLCS as a school or are already a student, you have answered that call.

2.            He believed God.

Not only did he believe God and entered into covenant with Him (i.e. salvation), he believed God about his calling: to become a father of many nations, to be blessed and to be a blessing.

In the same way, you must believe God that He has called you to accomplish something in the Kingdom. This is the call to ministry. Here is an important fact that also applies to you: Abraham could not become the father of many nations without the help of God. He could not do it by himself. Needless to say, he and Sarah had tried for many years to have children, but it proved impossible. If you can do what you think God has called you to do in ministry without the divine help, you don't know what your calling is! God will never call you to do something that you can do without Him. We must daily learn to rely on His power, His leading and His provision.

3.            Abraham had a call to learn and to teach.

One of the reasons God chose Abraham was that he would diligently teach the ways of God to his children (Gen 18:19). How can you teach something you have never been taught yourself? Abraham did not come prepackaged out of the womb with the knowledge of God. He was a citizen of Babylon, had lived there all his life and was involved in the family business. What was the family business? It was professionally making idols for the citizens of Babylon! Abraham was thoroughly versed in how to be an idol worshiping Babylonian, yet God saw in his heart that he would be diligent about learning the ways of the one and only true God. Are you willing to unlearn everything in your life that does not line up with the Word and to diligently learn new ways of living in the Kingdom? If you are, then you are following the faith of our father Abraham.

3.            Abraham loved justice!

In the world of greasy grace and anything goes, Abraham in a stark contrast. God chose him because he loved justice. Abraham had a balanced concept of justice and grace in his life. This is an important concept to that we must grasp. In this area, much of the Church is completely out of balance. The rabbis teach that when God created the heavens and the earth, He called Himself "Yahweh Elohim." "Yahweh" refers to the grace of God and "Elohim" refers to His justice. In the creation of all things, God balanced out grace and justice together. If He hadn't and it was all justice, Adam and Eve would have died in the Garden. If it was all grace, man would have forever stayed in his sinful state. (Cohen, Abraham, Everyman's Talmud: The Major Teachings of the Rabbinic Sages. Schocken Books, New York, NY. © 1995. Page 17). Yet God extended grace to man by creating a plan of salvation. His justice required Him to give His own life on the cross to redeem us.

Back to Sanctification and Getting into Your Studies

Sanctification is both instantaneous and progressive. The moment we make Jesus the Lord and Savior of our lives, we are separated unto the Lord. At the same time, as we progressively bring each part of our lives in line with the Word, it becomes separated to Him as well.

So I am sanctified by the grace of God, but I am also sanctified by what I do (2 Tim 2:20-21). As I give myself fully to the study of God's Word, I am working with the Holy Spirit to sanctify my life for use in the Kingdom. The level of diligence you develop in your study habits will manifest in equal levels of outward ministry! More study, more effectiveness. Little study, little effectiveness.

Using Your Anointing

Anything God sanctifies (or separates) for His use, He also anoints. Anyone called to the ministry has experienced the wonderful anointing of the Holy Spirit as you are ministering: whether in the pulpit or one on one. We love that anointing, we strive to see it increase every time we minister and we are so undone when it is not there. In ministry, we rely so heavily on the anointing that is on our lives.

But did you know that there is an anointing available that few ministers every draw upon or become proficient in flowing with? If you are called to God to be a minister, you are called of God to become a master learner as well (There are no exceptions, just different levels!). To the Hebrews, a master learner was the most honored position within their society. (Another word for master learner is a sage.) The Sages of Israel are respected more than anyone else. Why, you may ask? Hebraically, the highest form of worship is study! One is honored when they dedicate their lives for the purpose of learning how to walking with God. This is a part of your calling. You have an anointing from God to become a master learner. (1 John 2:27)

You need to strive to flow in the anointing you have from the Holy Spirit to become a master learner. It must be as important as flowing in the anointing to minister to people! If you don't, it will forever restrict the level you can achieve in ministry. Paul told the young minister Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:15 (AMP)
15 Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

Why do you think Satan has fought you so hard in either enrolling or getting into your studies? Learning to flow in the anointing to learn will increase your anointing to teach and preach. You need zeal and knowledge. There are times that your zeal will dwindle and seem to dry up. It is your understanding and knowledge of the Word that will bring you through and reignite the zeal within your soul. This is why the writer of Proverbs tells us:

Proverbs 3:13-18 (NKJV)
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; 14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her.
Start seeking the face of God about flowing in your anointing to learn! It is real, it is powerful and it will take you to the next level of effectiveness in ministry!

My Prayer for You

"Father, I lift before you every Biblical Life student. I come against every wall or restraint the enemy has placed in their lives to hold back the anointing to become a master learner. I ask that You would tear down everything the enemy has built! I ask that You would loose the anointing of a Bible student upon them and that Your Holy Spirit would make them master learners so they can fulfill Your calling and purposes in the earth. In Jesus name!"