Justification & Sanctification

Heavenly Father,
We come to you as humbly as we know-how thanking and praising you for the gift of your precious Son Christ Jesus our Lord. Lord, we have taken in a lot this week and what we have learned we desire to put into practice according to your will.
Lord, we have been studying Justification and Sanctification on this week, we have learned through John Wesley’s analogy of the house, that the porch is prevenience grace (God calling sinful humanity back to himself) we learned that the door (God’s justifying grace) and finally that the house inside(sanctifying grace) God our hearts desire is not to get stuck on the porch because we understand if we get stuck on the porch there is a benefit for no one. We have to respond to this prevenient grace, we have to acknowledge our sinful nature and invite you to do your work in our hearts to get to the front door of justifying grace. Lord, we find in this next level of grace a great benefit. We find that we are made new by the sacrifice of your beloved Son for the race that has been set before us and we are excited and humbled by your grace and mercy upon us. But we also understand that we were not created to live and breathe selfishness that justification was not only given for our benefit. Per your Sons Jesus’ example, we understand that there is a greater calling and a greater level of understanding that is required. Again there is a response required a responsible response that will enable us to set the captive free. Your word says that we are to love our neighbors as we love our selves and how can we love our neighbors if we are consumed with thinking of ourselves. As I look around this congregation I see a congregation that is full of love and compassion towards one another and the only responsible way in which this love can be transferred to another is if we continue to walk according to your will for ourselves and to the community of believers gathered here. I look around and I see a congregation of people who are asking and pleading not only for themselves but for those we love, each one of us is longing to see the salvation of loved ones and family members who remain in a state of bondage and confusion. As we have learned throughout this week is that the only way for us to see this magnificent change in them is if we allow you to effect this change in each one of us. Sanctifying grace or coming into the house as Wesley put it will open up the door for others to follow in our footprints as we follow in yours. Your word says that if you be lifted you will draw all man to yourself. Father, we need you to sanctify us for the work that is ahead of us the work of the gospel. We understand that we have the responsibility of discipleship that will cause the changed hearts and minds of others. We understand that the clarity of our studies is being taught so that we understand our responsibility to our neighbors and our loved ones. We are our brothers /sisters keepers. We understand that we as your body we learn so that we can teach. We follow so that one day we may lead. We learn that justifying and sanctifying grace and the knowledge thereof leads us to a position in you that will be the drawing agent for those we love and desire to see set free in you. Thank you, Jesus, for your justifying grace now sanctify us ole God that we may be a drawing agent to the building of your kingdom and the tearing down of strongholds in those we love and those we minister to in your name every day. In Jesus’ holy name… Amen