DN Attaining Spiritual Stability 2/27/2008
- From: Peter G. Chase <pchase@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:02:38 -0500
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DRAWING NEAR
February 27
Attaining Spiritual Stability
"Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might,
for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience" (Col.
1:11).
God always empowers you to do what He commands you to do.
An alarming number of Christians seem to lack spiritual stability.
Many are "carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of
men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming" (Eph. 4:14). Others lack
moral purity. Many are driven by their emotions rather than sound
thinking. Increasingly, therapists and psychologists are replacing
pastors and biblical teachers as the heroes of the faith. While we
still proclaim a sovereign, all-powerful God, our conduct often
belies our creed.
Despite our inconsistencies, the power for spiritual stability is
ours in Christ as we allow the knowledge of His will to control our
lives. Paul describes the working of that power in Colossians 1:11.
There the Greek words translated "strengthened" and "power" speak of
inherent power that gives one the ability to do something.
The phrase "according to" indicates that the power for spiritual
stability is proportional to God's abundant supply--and it is
inexhaustible! The literal Greek says you are being "empowered with
all power according to the might of His glory." That thought is akin
to Philippians 2:12-13, where Paul says that the power for working
out your salvation comes from God, who is at work in you to will and
to work for His good pleasure.
In Colossians 1:11 the result of God's enabling is "the attaining of
all steadfastness and patience." "Steadfastness" speaks of endurance
regarding people; "patience" speaks of endurance regarding things or
circumstances. When you are steadfast and patient, you are
spiritually stable. Your responses are biblical, thoughtful, and
calculated; not worldly, emotional, or uncontrolled. You bear up
under trials because you understand God's purposes and trust His
promises.
Paul said, "Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might"
(Eph. 6:10). That is possible when you trust God and rely on the
infinite power that is yours in Christ.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Perhaps you know someone who is struggling with spiritual
instability. Pray for him or her and ask God to use you as a source
of encouragement.
For Further Study:
Psalm 18 is a psalm of victory that David wrote after God delivered
him from Saul. Read it, then answer these questions:
What characteristics of God did David mention? How might those
characteristics apply to situations you are facing?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Philippians 2:12-13 (NKJV)
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His
good pleasure.
Psalm 18
1 I will love You, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my
strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my
salvation, my stronghold.
3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I
be saved from my enemies.
4 The pangs of death surrounded me, And the floods of ungodliness
made me afraid.
5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted
me.
6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He
heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to
His ears.
7 Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the hills
also quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry.
8 Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His
mouth; Coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down With darkness under His
feet.
10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of
the wind.
11 He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark
waters And thick clouds of the skies.
12 From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with
hailstones and coals of fire.
13 The LORD thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His
voice, Hailstones and coals of fire.
14 He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, Lightnings in
abundance, and He vanquished them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen, The foundations of the
world were uncovered At Your rebuke, O LORD, At the blast of the
breath of Your nostrils.
16 He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my
support.
19 He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me
because He delighted in me.
20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to
the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly
departed from my God.
22 For all His judgments were before me, And I did not put away His
statutes from me.
23 I was also blameless before Him, And I kept myself from my
iniquity.
24 Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my
righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.
25 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a
blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious
You will show Yourself shrewd.
27 For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty
looks.
28 For You will light my lamp; The LORD my God will enlighten my
darkness.
29 For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a
wall.
30 As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
31 For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our
God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high
places.
34 He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow
of bronze.
35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right
hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.
36 You enlarged my path under me, So my feet did not slip.
37 I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; Neither did I turn
back again till they were destroyed.
38 I have wounded them, So that they could not rise; They have
fallen under my feet.
39 For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have
subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40 You have also given me the necks of my enemies, So that I
destroyed those who hated me.
41 They cried out, but there was none to save; Even to the LORD, but
He did not answer them.
42 Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind; I cast them
out like dirt in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people; You have
made me the head of the nations; A people I have not known shall
serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me they obey me; The foreigners submit to
me.
45 The foreigners fade away, And come frightened from their
hideouts.
46 The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation
be exalted.
47 It is God who avenges me, And subdues the peoples under me;
48 He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those
who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man.
49 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your name.
50 Great deliverance He gives to His king, And shows mercy to His
anointed, To David and his descendants forevermore.
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:
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@xxxxxxx
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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