OUR INNER SOURCE OF POWER DETERMINES OUR DESTINY, ABILITIES, AND WORTH!
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
The essence of our being can be filled with overcoming power and bring us victories in the battles of life. When we have the continual flow of God’s Spirit within us, we have the power of the Holy Spirit to bring us to “the way, the truth, and the life.” “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves” (John 14:10-11).
The Lord has proven to me over and over again, “All things are possible through Christ!” Through Him we can overcome our flesh, sin, testing, tribulation, and all the fiery darts of satan. Through the Holy Spirit we gain understanding of God’s word and the Holy Spirit will teach us all things, and reveal Christ to us in greater measure. We stay filled with the Spirit through obedience, continual study of God’s word, and prayer. We can be filled with “rivers of living water” simply by asking God. What power, glory, and revelation of God flows from the Spirit!!! “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (Luke 11:13).
Satan is no match for a child of God covered by God’s grace, because his strength, wisdom, and divine protection flows from God. When we are totally committed to God and walking in His light and according to God’s perfect will, all things will ultimately work together for our own good. Many times, I have been overwhelmed by satan and knew there was no way out through my flesh, but in my spirit I knew beyond all doubt: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Through Christ we overcome and press forward to victory…..always.
When we are overcome with problems and everything seems wrong, perhaps the problem is found in our commitment to life itself. In Romans we read: “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father’” (Romans 8:13-15). Total commitment to God brings perfect peace and trust in him. Our knowledge of his perfect love for us and our perfect trust and love for him casts out all fear.
It is natural for us to be weak at times, but He “wills” to be our strength. Most of the time we cannot see the road ahead of us and we do not know which turn to take, but by faith we see the hand of God leading us and His presence going before us. He knows the way through every mine-field. God tests us to strengthen us, confirm our unshakeable position in Him, experience His presence, and to taste His glorious victories through Christ. His love always leads us to victory. Is your life totally in His hands? We will never be able to say to God, “We trusted you and you let us down!” “That the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none”(John 18:9). You cannot “lose” when you are totally given to God.
We can make choices but there are many things in life we cannot overcome in our own strength. We cannot always figure out the strategies that work when satan is against us (he is always our adversary). We cannot provide eternal life for ourselves or please God when we dwell in our own flesh. “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:26). Only in Christ and our heavenly Father are all things possible!
Eternal life requires the regenerating power of the Spirit of Christ to cause our lives to become alive in God. The spirit of man alone is no match for sin. We overcome through the blood of the lamb and with our testimony of “Faith in Christ.” Our corruption can only be washed away through the blood of Christ and a spiritual life born in us through the Spirit of God. We are so blessed! “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
The flesh cries out, “Let me be in charge!” When the flesh is in charge it can only reproduce itself and the works of the flesh. When God, through the spirit of Christ, is in charge of our lives, God reproduces His perfect will in us. The Spirit anoints us, leads us, and produces through us the works of Christ and the Father. Only God’s plan will bring eternal rewards. The true source of eternal power is only resident in God’s Spirit and He propels each of us to the life He has ordained for us. “Letting go of self and letting God have you” will transform your life into the life Christ has ordained for you. God’s blessings and leadings begin the minute you commit “all to Christ.” “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:9-10).
When God’s Spirit rules in us only occasionally, and the spirit of the flesh rules most of the time, the flesh quenches the power of the Spirit to control and change us into God’s image. You cannot have the divine Spirit ruling alongside the spirit of the world; they are contrary to each other. “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (Galatians 5:17).
There is a vast difference between the rivers of living water flowing from the eternal Spirit to feed our being and the stagnation, corruptive influence, and temptations flowing from our flesh to our soul. The eternal soul is the battleground of good and evil in our lives. God will only decorate with honor and bless those that desire to put to death their fleshly desires and actions.
My prayer:
Oh Lord, I want to live an overcoming, victorious life through You and I want Your daily guidance. I know that my flesh can no longer be lord of my life. The flesh blocks Your leadings in my life. I confess that I have been “naming Your name, but not walking Your walk” because I have walked in my flesh. Forgive my sins of being self absorbed and directed. Wash me and cleanse me and give me a new heart and a steadfast spirit. I want to live a life of victory and be Christ centered. Let the world see “Christ in me and the victories You have won in my life.” Today I lose my life for Your sake! Take me, teach me, fill me with Your spirit. I want to overcome the desires of the flesh and live for Your desires and Your “perfect will for my life.” Christ’s being in me and in charge of me is all important and necessary for me to be victorious. Through You, dear Lord, I will overcome the world and be Your child forever. I love You! Make me to know Your will and desires for my life every day. I will begin each day with You and all through the day and night my spirit will worship You and acknowledge You as “Lord.” Amen.