STAND FIRM: HE IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS! JEHOVAH M'KADDESHKEM.
Jehovah M'kaddeshkem – The Lord Who Sanctifies.
As we experience God as Jehovah Nissi, the One who gives us victory, we also experience Him as Jehovah M'kaddeshkem, the Lord who sanctifies us. Sanctification means to be made holy, to be set apart. In Leviticus 20:7-8, God commands Israel to “set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God...I am the Lord who makes you holy.” The same God who fights for us also sanctifies us. He calls us to live distinct, holy lives that reflect His character.
Holiness is not just a one-time event; it’s a process. It’s a daily practice of becoming more like Christ, of allowing God to purify and transform us. Through His death on the cross, Jesus made us holy. He calls us saints, not because of what we have done, but because of what He has done. Colossians 1:22 tells us, “As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.”
Living Under the Banner of Holiness
Knowing that God calls us holy should change how we live. If we truly understood that we are set apart for God, how differently would we act? What if we lived every day with the mindset that we are saints, holy to the Lord? Would our attitudes, actions, and words change? Would we be more intentional about how we live out our faith in the world?
In Leviticus 19, God gives a practical list of ways His people can live distinct, holy lives: honor your parents, don’t steal or cheat, serve the poor, love your neighbor, live sexually pure, and so on. These principles are still relevant for us today. Living a holy life is about aligning our actions with God’s character. When we do, we experience His power, blessing, and victory.
The Connection Between Purity and Power
Joshua, the leader of Israel, understood the connection between purity and power. As the Israelites prepared to cross the Jordan River and face Jericho, Joshua told them to purify themselves, for God was about to do great wonders among them (Joshua 3:5). Purity precedes power. When we consecrate ourselves to God and allow Him to make us holy, we position ourselves to experience His power and victory.
When we live under the banner of Jehovah M'kaddeshkem, the Lord who sanctifies, we open ourselves to His blessings and strength. In that place of purity, Jehovah Nissi leads us into triumph, fighting our battles so we don’t have to.
Questions for Reflection and Application
- In what ways can you practice daily holiness and sanctification? How can you live a life that is distinct and set apart for God?
- What steps can you take to purify yourself in preparation for God’s power to be released in your life, as Joshua urged the Israelites to do before crossing the Jordan?
- How can understanding that you are a saint—holy and blameless in Christ—change the way you see yourself and live out your faith?
Let these questions guide your reflection as you live under the banner of Jehovah Nissi, the Lord who fights for you, and Jehovah M'kaddeshkem, the Lord who sanctifies you.
Jon Baldwin, HOME Church.