The Word of God
A lot of activity and teaching and works of men are just a bunch of chasing after the tail. So I'm writing this to show the fallacy of all this effort. I want to eliminate all the stress and headache and discouragement. I have good news for you.
It's impossible for you to do the word of God! Jesus said; "of myself I can do nothing." Again "what is IMPOSSIBLE with man, is possible with God." From these and others we learn one lesson. There is nothing with-in the nature of man that can produce one word of God. Not one promise, not one jot or tittle. Nothing. If Jesus said he couldn't then rest assured that you cannot either!
What then does this mean. Abraham is called the father of faith, not of works, not of effort, not of understanding, but of faith. What is this faith? Only this; that what God has said He is also able to perform. Not that we can perform, or can do anything to accomplish one word of God's will. But God Himself will perform it and bring it to pass. This is what God commended Abraham for; he believed God's word and gave glory to God that He was also faithful and able to perform it.
We can read from Genesis to the last word of Revelation. In the whole record, there is not one word that we can do. It has to be God doing all His word. It doesn't matter if you are a new born, or a veteran of many years, every thing is the outcome of the working of God. Yes, we have gained victories, but those by God. Yes, we have grown in understanding and wisdom of God, but that also is by God. Yes, we have obtained calling and gifts, and everyone in these can tell you they are the working of God.
Even more we have begun in the Spirit of God, and now are we trying to perfect this in the flesh. Paul wrote about the foolishness of this. But in our age the efforts of man are placed on a pedestal, and we honor those who strive with great effort of mind and strength after the flesh. This has no place in the work of the word of God.
But there is a striving after the Spirit. A renewing of the believer by the acknowledging of every good thing that is in us in Christ. To make it simple; by honoring God and giving Him the praise and glory for working in us His word by His good pleasure. Not by works we have done or not done, but by His grace and gifts bestowed on us in Christ, for Jesus sake.
So this is the whole duty of the believer; to hear the word of God, and to believe that what He has promised and said; He also will bring it to pass in our life, and in the world, and in the ages to come. That nothing can be added to it or taken from it; and that God will not share His glory.
So let us draw near to God and praise His mighty works that He has accomplish in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us give Him the glory for the great things He has done, and continues to work in His children and in the earth. Let us acknowledge that He alone is our bread of life and we watch and listen for His every word, and yield to His Spirit as He works and moves and accomplishes the Fathers commands in us. With grateful hearts and sincere faith in the goodness and willingness and generousness of our loving Father. He said it; He'll do it. And all will give Him the glory!
It's impossible for you to do the word of God! Jesus said; "of myself I can do nothing." Again "what is IMPOSSIBLE with man, is possible with God." From these and others we learn one lesson. There is nothing with-in the nature of man that can produce one word of God. Not one promise, not one jot or tittle. Nothing. If Jesus said he couldn't then rest assured that you cannot either!
What then does this mean. Abraham is called the father of faith, not of works, not of effort, not of understanding, but of faith. What is this faith? Only this; that what God has said He is also able to perform. Not that we can perform, or can do anything to accomplish one word of God's will. But God Himself will perform it and bring it to pass. This is what God commended Abraham for; he believed God's word and gave glory to God that He was also faithful and able to perform it.
We can read from Genesis to the last word of Revelation. In the whole record, there is not one word that we can do. It has to be God doing all His word. It doesn't matter if you are a new born, or a veteran of many years, every thing is the outcome of the working of God. Yes, we have gained victories, but those by God. Yes, we have grown in understanding and wisdom of God, but that also is by God. Yes, we have obtained calling and gifts, and everyone in these can tell you they are the working of God.
Even more we have begun in the Spirit of God, and now are we trying to perfect this in the flesh. Paul wrote about the foolishness of this. But in our age the efforts of man are placed on a pedestal, and we honor those who strive with great effort of mind and strength after the flesh. This has no place in the work of the word of God.
But there is a striving after the Spirit. A renewing of the believer by the acknowledging of every good thing that is in us in Christ. To make it simple; by honoring God and giving Him the praise and glory for working in us His word by His good pleasure. Not by works we have done or not done, but by His grace and gifts bestowed on us in Christ, for Jesus sake.
So this is the whole duty of the believer; to hear the word of God, and to believe that what He has promised and said; He also will bring it to pass in our life, and in the world, and in the ages to come. That nothing can be added to it or taken from it; and that God will not share His glory.
So let us draw near to God and praise His mighty works that He has accomplish in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us give Him the glory for the great things He has done, and continues to work in His children and in the earth. Let us acknowledge that He alone is our bread of life and we watch and listen for His every word, and yield to His Spirit as He works and moves and accomplishes the Fathers commands in us. With grateful hearts and sincere faith in the goodness and willingness and generousness of our loving Father. He said it; He'll do it. And all will give Him the glory!
posted by pete porter | 7:02 PM
3 Comments:
Mornin' Bryan. :)
We're posting about the same thing but from opposite sides. :) (sort of)
Although I don't think we're that opposite. I believe we can do what God's word commands us to do - only the Holy Spirit is the one who enables us to do it. Is that where you land?
Hi Gayla,
Let's look at this from the God side. When the Holy Spirit prompts us or brings a command before us, we will also find the ability to perform the work as well. As you have noted God is not our puppet, but our Lord. He is the one to lead, and with the power to enable. I think in our eagerness to follow and obey the Lord, we sometimes run off ahead of him because we see a need or a way we can be useful. But that is not the leading of the Spirit, only our zeal lacking knowledge.
We do seem to post on the same issues.
Be Blessed,
And be led by the spirit,
Bryan
Phil,
Thank you for the encouragement, and for stopping by. I is a wonderful thing to flow in God. If the whole of ministrers would yield to the Spirit in all there works, we could be out of here on the next train.
Be Blessed,
Pete
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