DN Striving According to God's Power 1/28/2008
- From: Peter G. Chase <pchase@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:02:37 -0500
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DRAWING NEAR
January 28
Striving According to God's Power
"These are in accordance with the working of the strength of
[God's] might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised
Him from the dead" (Eph. 1:19-20).
In Christ you have all the power you will ever need.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the great hope of believers.
Because He lives, we will live also (John 14:19). Peter said we have
been "born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable
and undefiled and will not fade away" (1 Pet. 1:3-4). We and what we
have are protected by God's power (v. 5).
In Ephesians 1:19-20 Paul draws two comparisons. The first is between
the power God demonstrated in the resurrection and ascension of
Christ, and the power He demonstrates on behalf of every believer.
That power is described as God's "working," "strength," and "might."
Together those synonyms emphasize the greatness of God's power, which
not only secures our salvation, but also enables us to live godly
lives.
The second comparison is between our Lord's resurrection and
ascension, and ours. The grave couldn't hold Him, nor can it hold us
(1 Cor. 15:54-57). Satan himself couldn't prevent Christ's
exaltation, nor can he prevent us from gaining our eternal
inheritance.
In Christ you have all the power you will ever need. For evangelism
you have the gospel itself, which "is the power of God for salvation
to everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16). For difficult times you have
the assurance that the surpassing greatness of God's power is at work
in you (2 Cor. 4:7). For holy living you have God Himself at work in
you "both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13).
No matter how weak or ill-equipped you may at times feel, realize God
"is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that [you] ask or
think, according to the power that works within [you]" (Eph. 3:20).
So keep striving according to that power (Col. 1:29), but do so with
the confidence that ultimately God will accomplish His good in your
life.
Suggestions for Prayer:
1. Thank God that He can and will accomplish His purposes in your
life (Phil. 1:6; 1 Thess. 5:24).
2. Pray for wisdom in how you might best serve Him today.
For Further Study:
Read Psalm 145, noting every mention of God's power David makes.
Allow those examples to fill your heart with confidence and praise.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
John 14:19 (NKJV)
A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will
see Me. Because I live, you will live also.
1 Peter 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not
fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready
to be revealed in the last time.
2 Cor. 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of
the power may be of God and not of us.
Col. 1:29 (NASB)
And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power,
which mightily works within me.
Phil. 1:6
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work
in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
1 Thess. 5:24
Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
Amen. Again, today, I rejoice that my salvation is secure in Jesus
because of His work for me on the cross. There are some who believe
that one can lose his or her salvation, but one must overlook or miss
a lot of verses, some of which have been quoted here in the last
couple of days, which speak of our eternal security. I'll just let
God speak for Himself on the matter:
John 10:27-29
27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no
one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.
If our eternal life was not secure, it would not be eternal, and
"they shall never perish" would be a false statement. The Christian
life would be one of terrible bondage, worrying that we might fall
out of the Father's hand. No one can snatch us out of the Father's
hand. No one. Not even ourselves. Thanks be to God for His perfect
salvation. When He saves someone, His work is perfect. We don't see
that perfection while we are still in the flesh, but nevertheless:
1 Cor. 15:54-57
54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal
has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that
is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
God's power is sufficient to keep us saved. Let's get that one
settled and move on and live the Christian life. He saved us for
freedom not to bondage. Freedom from the penalty, power and in the
future, the presence of sin, and He saved us unto righteousness:
freedom to do what is right with His power that works in us.
2 Cor. 3:5b
our sufficiency is from God
Phil. 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Psalm 145
1 I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name
forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever
and ever.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is
unsearchable.
4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall
declare Your mighty acts.
5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on
Your wondrous works.
6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will
declare Your greatness.
7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing
of Your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and
great in mercy.
9 The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His
works.
10 All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, And Your saints shall
bless You.
11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your
power,
12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the
glorious majesty of His kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures
throughout all generations.
14 The LORD upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed
down.
15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their
food in due season.
16 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works.
18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon
Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will
hear their cry and save them.
20 The LORD preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will
destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh shall
bless His holy name Forever and ever.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
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and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
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NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@xxxxxxxxxx
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/2425
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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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