LAWTON CHURCH OF GOD, LAWTON, OKLAHOMA

 Home  About Us   Holiness Library   History of the Holiness Movement   Early English Bibles   Bible Studies   View Sermons   Links

13 ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION NECESSARY TO ENTIRE SATISFACTION

Man’s normal condition, as God made him, is that of holiness. “God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him.” Sin produces an abnormal condition. Sin in the heart is a foreign substance—something that does not belong there. What a grain of sand would be to the eye, sin is to the heart. Hence it afflicts, and brings unrest and discontent.

This is one reason why a sinner can never know rest and contentment. He scarcely realizes or recognizes the source of his trouble, but he knows there is always something he thinks he wants, which he does not now have. He fondly imagines if he could but have more pleasure, or more prominence, or more wealth, he would be satisfied, and so he presses on in pursuit of these things, only to find that those things simply mock the sad cry of his soul, increase the restlessness and discontent, and ever leave an aching void within. Like the man addicted to the use of strong drink, the more he drinks, the more he wants, and the more intense the craving becomes. God says, “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread; and your labor for that which satisfieth not?” “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God to the wicked.”

Until a man regains holiness, there is always a conscious want or lack. God never intended a man should be satisfied without holiness, and consequently he never can be. Sanctification being the act of grace whereby we are made holy, it is not difficult to see that entire sanctification is necessary to entire satisfaction. As the Psalmist expressed it, “I shall be satisfied when I awake with Thy likeness.” Holiness is the divine likeness. “He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” An experience that does not fully satisfy you, never fully satisfies God.

At times we hear people say, after seeking for a time, “Perhaps I am expecting too much.” Such a one needs to be reminded that the divine resources are unlimited, and inexhaustible, and that God has pledged His word. To fill and satisfy the longing, hungry soul. “They shall be abundantly satisfied.” (Psalm 16)

The difference of the craving and longing of a justified soul and that of a sanctified soul may be illustrated by the person having a craving or appetite for apple dumplings, or some special dish, he may sit up to a table laden with good things, and eat all he may wish; but that one dish he was especially craving is not on the table; although he has had a full meal, he is still craving something not contained in that meal. Thus it is with the justified soul; he may be blessed even to the shouting point, and still crave something not contained in that blessing. But when he is sanctified wholly he gets the apple dumplings, or the very thing he was craving. That special longing having been satisfied, having received not only all he wanted, but the very thing his nature craved—his hungering and thirsting is just as though he had apple dumpling for every meal. Thus it is with the sanctified soul. He is not wanting or desiring something other than what he has, although at the next meal time he will relish some more of the same kind. Because justification does not and cannot satisfy the longing of the heart for holiness, they try so-called “innocent” and “no-harm” amusement” etc., and backslide. Whereas, if they were properly instructed, and would seek entire sanctification, they would find what their heart is craving, and hence have entire satisfaction.