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A Crisis Experience of Entire Sanctification |
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By Pastor Kevin Beck Poasttown First Church of God Middletown, OH |
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1Thess 4:3. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication . . .
1Thess 5:23-24. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
First, let’s look at—
I. Is a Crisis Experience Biblical?
The common definition of the word—Crisis: A point in a sequence of events which determines a path for future events. A condition that is reached leading to a decisive change. A dramatic emotional or circumstantial upheaval in a person’s life.
Throughout the Bible we find examples of those having a “Crisis Experience” with God:
A. Jacob’s Wrestling Experience / Genesis 32 God blessed Jacob and he walked differently from that day forth.
B. Moses’ Burning Bush Experience / Exodus 3 God told Moses “put off thy shoes” so he could stand before God.
C. Elijah’s Juniper Tree Experience / 1Kings 19 God came not in the wind, earthquake or fire, but in a “still small voice.”
D. Jeremiah’s Calling Experience / Jeremiah 1 God put forth His hand sending Jeremiah as His mouthpiece.
E. Peter’s Launching Out Experience / Luke 5 Falling down at Jesus’ knees, Christ says, “Fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men.”
F. Paul’s Experiences / Acts 9 Broken and blinded, he asks Jesus, “What will Thou have me to do?” Rom 7:24, “O wretched man that I am!”
We find that “Crisis Experiences” are not uncommon in the Bible. In fact, it appears as though Israel went from one crisis to another on their journey through the wilderness toward the land of Canaan.
Ps 106:44. Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry . . . . Has a Crisis Experience drawn you closer to God?
II. How Does the Holy Spirit Work Through a Crisis Experience?
John 16:7-11. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
A. Crisis Experiences of Salvation:
1. The Crisis of Conviction. The Holy Spirit is the Convictor who convinces men of sin and brings guilt upon the heart of the offender. He prepares hearts for the coming of the Lord.
Jude 1:15. To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
The Philippian jailor experienced the crisis of conviction: Acts 16:29-30, “. . . came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas . . . and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
2. The Crisis of Conversion. The Holy Spirit plays a major role in the conversion of sinners. He is the “agent of change” from the old life of sin to the new life in Christ. He converts us through the Truth of God’s Word (especially the Gospel)’
Eph. 1:13, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise . . . .”
1Pet. 1:25 “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
B. Crisis Experiences of Sanctification:
1. The Crisis of Cleansing. The Holy Spirit not only converts the sinner, He cleanses the saved. He gives us the desire for God to make us clean, pure and holy.
1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Eph 5:26-27, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
“Of this we may be sure, there is a crisis experience in the Holy Spirit beyond initial conversion which makes possible the wholeness of the child of God.”— Arlo F. Newell / Receive the Holy Spirit
2. The Crisis of Consecration. The Holy Spirit brings the believer to that point where we may experience the transforming power of God to serve.
Rom 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Illustration: “Soon after my conversion I began to pray for entire sanctification. I determined never to stop short of a satisfactory experience. The consecration I made was something like this: ‘O God, I here and now dedicate my all to Thee forevermore—my body to be Thy holy temple, and every member to be used to Thy glory: my hands to labor for Thee, my feet to walk in Thy footsteps, my ears to hear Thy voice, my mind to think and meditate upon Thy goodness, and my mouth to speak Thy everlasting praise. Come into this temple and decorate it to suit Thyself. My soul I dedicate to be a receptacle of all Thy rich graces; my heart to be Thy throne. I sign a quit claim to myself. I am, without reserve, Thine for time and eternity.’” — H.M Riggle / Pioneer Evangelism, p. 42
Since Jesus gave His life for me, Should I not give Him mine? I’m consecrated, Lord, to Thee, I shall be wholly Thine.
My life, O Lord, I give to Thee, My talents, time, and all; I’ll serve Thee, Lord, Thine own to be, I’ll hear Thy faintest call.
Mildred E. Howard—“Consecration”/Hymn 162 Hymnal of the Church of God (Anderson: Warner Press, 1953)
R.A. Torrey on Moody’s Crisis Experience in the Holy Spirit
The seventh thing that was the secret of why God used D. L. Moody was that he had a very definite enduement with power from on High, a very clear and definite baptism with the Holy Ghost. Moody knew he had "the baptism with the Holy Ghost"; he had no doubt about it. In his early days he was a great hustler; he had a tremendous desire to do something, but he had no real power. He worked very largely in the energy of the flesh. But there were two humble Free Methodist women who used to come over to his meetings in the Y.M.C.A. One was "Auntie Cook" and the other, Mrs. Snow. These two women would come to Mr. Moody at the close of his meetings and say: "We are praying for you." Finally, Mr. Moody became somewhat nettled and said to them one night: "Why are you praying for me? Why don't you pray for the unsaved?" They replied: "We are praying that you may get the power." Mr. Moody said: "I wish you would tell me what you mean"; and they told him about the definite baptism with the Holy Ghost. Then he asked that he might pray with them and not they merely pray for him.
Not long after, one day on his way to England, he was walking up Wall Street in New York; (Mr. Moody very seldom told this and I almost hesitate to tell it) and in the midst of the bustle and hurry of that city his prayer was answered; the power of God fell upon him as he walked up the street and he had to hurry off to the house of a friend and ask that he might have a room by himself, and in that room he stayed alone for hours; and the Holy Ghost came upon him, filling his soul with such joy that at last he had to ask God to withhold His hand, lest he die on the spot from very joy. He went out from that place with the power of the Holy Ghost upon him, and when he got to London . . . the power of God wrought through him mightily in North London, and hundreds were added to the churches; and that was what led to his being invited over to the wonderful campaign that followed in later years.
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