Uphill versus Downhill ways

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” Matthew 7:13-14 (KJV).

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There are two paths for each individual man to choose in this life. The path recommended by God is His way also known as the narrow or uphill way because it leads to abundant life now and forever. The alternative path is the path of Satan also known as the broad or downhill way because it leads to perdition and destruction in the bottomless pit designed for Satan and his cohorts.

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“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” Proverbs 14:12 (KJV) – repeated in Proverbs 16:25 (KJV). Downhill way is naturally appealing and very attractive to the generality of men because man is born of flesh and flesh is a slave to Satan, being very loyal to his master since the fall of Adam. On the other hand uphill way looks very foolish and unappealing and therefore only a few persons take steps to receive the gift of God through Christ to receive the ability to walk in it. ?

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The table shown below illustrates a comparison of the various characteristics of the uphill and downhill ways. If you find yourself to be in the downhill way then make sure that you repent and believe the gospel of Christ to be born again to start walking in the uphill way. Being born again alone is not sufficient to make a believer to perfectly work in the uphill way. Perfection in uphill way requires the sanctification experience. If you lack sanctification, then prayerfully study the message in Appendix A and pray the prayer contained therein to get instantly sanctified by faith.?

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APPENDIX A – MESSAGES ON SANCTIFICATION

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A1 - SANCTIFICATION BY THE WORD OF TRUTH

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?“Sanctify them through thy truth:?thy word is truth” John 17:17.

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Attaining sanctification experience need not take long after getting born again because it has been made easy by the power of the gospel of Christ which works in believers of the truth that sets free (Romans 1:16). Let us discuss this topic by answering the following three questions:

·??????Why must a believer be sanctified?

·??????How can we obtain the sanctification experience as believers?

·??????Are there examples of saints in the Bible we can learn from?

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WHY A BELIEVER MUST BE SANCTIFIED

The born-again believer who is yet to be sanctified has clean hands but is without a pure heart (being easily provoked) because he is ignorant of the truth that sets free. It is very important for a believer to get sanctified due to the following reasons:

??Sanctification enables a believer to easily, by the power of God, live a holy life without which heaven will be missed (Hebrews 12:14)

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??Sanctification is the minimum level of faith to attain complete and effective victory over sin, Satan, demons, sicknesses, the world and all its threats including the fear of death (Galatians 4:1-3; 1 John 5:4,5; 2:1,12-14; Revelation 12:11).

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??Sanctification is the proof of our full identification with Christ - to be crucified, buried and resurrected with Him by faith so that we no longer live our own personal lives but Christ lives in us (Hebrews 13:12,13; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:1-5; 1 Peter 4:1,2).

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HOW TO GET SANCTIFIED

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All that is needed to get sanctified is to believe the truth in the word of God that sets free (John 17:17; 8:32). To believe means to allow the word of truth to influence our entire life (all our thoughts, all our speeches and all our bodily actions).

The truth that sets free may be summarized as follows:

(1)`???It is mandatory for every believer to suffer persecution to satisfy the wisdom and righteous judgement of God (2 Timothy 3:12; Luke 11:49-51; Hebrews 12:5-11; 1 Peter 4:1,2,17)

(2)????God has provided power for the believer to easily endure persecution and greatly benefit from it, so that persecution is something to rejoice and be exceedingly glad about when it comes (Mathew 5:10-12; 1 Peter 3:14,17; 4:12-14; James 1:12).

(3)????The power of God comes from believing the truth in Matthew 5:10-12 and Luke 17:1,2 which taken together can be stated as follows:

a) persecution is a blessing to the persecuted believer (Matthew 5:10-12)

b) persecution is a curse to the persecutor (Luke 17:1,2).

c) In other words, the persecutor is unknowingly taking a curse upon his or her head to bring great blessings to the persecuted believer.

(4)????A corollary from the truth in point no. 3 above may be stated as follows:

a) a believer can never be hurt by what others do to him (Luke 10:19)

b) a believer can only be hurt by what he does to himself or to others (Galatians 6:7).

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Having known this truth, especially the core truth in point 3a and 3b above, the born-again believer needs to take this word of truth to God in prayers to ask for sanctification and to receive it by faith as advised in Mark 11:24. Thereafter, the believer must not forget this truth but meditate and remind himself when the trial of faith comes. By the time the born-again believer passes the trial of faith in the form of persecution that comes his way, God physically confirms the sanctification upon his life. What is needed to pass the trial of faith is to thank God for His word of truth and the blessings associated with the persecution and then pray for the persecutor that God will forgive him because he does not know the implication of his action. This should be very easy to do because of the truth we now believe that the persecutor is, as a matter of fact, bringing great blessings to the persecuted believer.

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EXAMPLES OF SANCTIFIED SAINTS

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In both the Old and New Testaments, saints have employed this truth to greatly benefit from persecution. Joseph greatly benefitted from the persecution of being sold to Egypt as a slave and being unjustly imprisoned by Potiphar (Genesis 50:15-20, 20). David was blessed from his persecution by Shimei in (2 Samuel 16:5-12; 18:6-8). Stephen was greatly blessed from his persecution by the Jews in (Acts 7:54-60; Philippians 1:21; Revelation 2:10). Paul and Silas were blessed from their persecution by the Philippians in (Acts 16:25-40).

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May God bless this message in the heart of every reader in Jesus name. Amen.

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A2 – PRAYER FOR SANCTIFICATION

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Pray this prayer to receive sanctification by faith instantly.

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“Our Father in heaven, I thank you for your wisdom and wonder demonstrated by Jesus Christ (the Truth) in His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection as a perfect example for us to follow. By this sacrifice you have made every provision for us to fully identify with Christ to be sanctified (Heb. 13:12,13).?

You have made reproaches and persecutions to be great blessings for us (Matthew 5:10-12; Genesis 50:20; 2 Samuel 16:12) and a curse for our persecutors (Luke 17:1,2); to empower us to take pleasure in reproaches and persecutions (2 Corinthians 12:9,10). You have made it very easy for us to gladly carry our cross and fully identify with the sufferings and reproaches of Christ.

Sanctify me with your word of truth as promised (John 17:17), which fulfils your wisdom and righteous judgement to refine us as gold (1 Peter 4:17; 1 Peter 1:7) and chasten us for our profit so that we partake in your holiness (Hebrews 12:5-11, 10). I believe in your word of truth that persecution is a blessing for me and a curse for our persecutors. I believe that reproaches are blessings for us as they are part of the fire to refine us into gold (Hebrews 11:26; 1 Peter 1:7). I believe that all things work together for my good as I continue to love you and your word (Romans 8:28).?

From today I will gladly bear reproaches and persecutions that come my way for the sake of righteousness and the gospel, because I know that it is the chastening, I must partake for my great profit to partake in your holiness. I will also forgive my persecutors from my heart and pray for them and love all my enemies (Luke 6:27,28) to seek their good.??

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I thank you, Father for answering my prayer as I now forgive all my persecutors from my heart (Mark 11:24,25). I now receive sanctification from you. I am now a partaker of your holiness. I am now sanctified. Thank you, Father. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Holy Spirit. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.”

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After prayers, ensure you read through all the Bible references in the prayer (again) to continually believe them and never forget as they will empower you to pass all tests and trials of your faith that must come your way for God to physically confirm your sanctification experience. God bless you. Amen.