choose to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” And NOT in the work of your hands.
One of Satan’s most subtle strategies
However, Western culture acts as though we live in a creation with no Creator.
Technological hubris and materialistic secularism have relegated God to the realm of superstition and mythology. This is unsurprising–lost people are unable to comprehend spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 2:14).
My point today is that Christians must not make the same mistake.
One of Satan’s most subtle strategies is to tempt God’s people to work for our Lord rather than with him. The enemy knows we cannot convict a single person of a single sin or save a single soul. He knows that nothing we do in human strength–even preaching, evangelizing, or writing Daily Articles–can accomplish eternal significance.
So, if he cannot lead us into sin, he will lead us into self-reliance.
Why do evangelicals have bigger churches than ever before but seem to make less impact on our culture than ever before? It’s not that we are not well-intentioned, theologically orthodox, hard-working, even sacrificial.
Here’s the issue: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).
My resolution for 2019
Francis Chan: “The church becomes irrelevant when it becomes purely a human creation. We are not all we were made to be when everything in our lives and churches can be explained apart from the work and presence of the Spirit of God.”
Are we truly dependent on the Spirit? Are we yielded to his direction every moment of every day? Are we praying earnestly before we preach, seeking God before we serve him, walking with him before we work for him?
The good news is that nothing we face in 2019 is greater than the God who loves us.
If we choose to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10), no attack of the evil one can defeat us (vv. 11-17). If we begin each day by surrendering it to the Spirit and walk through the day seeking his leadership and power, God will do far more through us than we can do for him. And we will be able to testify, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Therefore, if I could make just one New Year’s resolution for God’s people in 2019, it would be this: we will live in the power of the Spirit.
Samuel Chadwick: “Destitute of the Fire of God, nothing else counts; possessing Fire, nothing else matters.”
-Jim Denison
choose to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” And NOT in the work of your hands.
One of Satan’s most subtle strategies
However, Western culture acts as though we live in a creation with no Creator.
Technological hubris and materialistic secularism have relegated God to the realm of superstition and mythology. This is unsurprising–lost people are unable to comprehend spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 2:14).
My point today is that Christians must not make the same mistake.
One of Satan’s most subtle strategies is to tempt God’s people to work for our Lord rather than with him. The enemy knows we cannot convict a single person of a single sin or save a single soul. He knows that nothing we do in human strength–even preaching, evangelizing, or writing Daily Articles–can accomplish eternal significance.
So, if he cannot lead us into sin, he will lead us into self-reliance.
Why do evangelicals have bigger churches than ever before but seem to make less impact on our culture than ever before? It’s not that we are not well-intentioned, theologically orthodox, hard-working, even sacrificial.
Here’s the issue: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).
My resolution for 2019
Francis Chan: “The church becomes irrelevant when it becomes purely a human creation. We are not all we were made to be when everything in our lives and churches can be explained apart from the work and presence of the Spirit of God.”
Are we truly dependent on the Spirit? Are we yielded to his direction every moment of every day? Are we praying earnestly before we preach, seeking God before we serve him, walking with him before we work for him?
The good news is that nothing we face in 2019 is greater than the God who loves us.
If we choose to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10), no attack of the evil one can defeat us (vv. 11-17). If we begin each day by surrendering it to the Spirit and walk through the day seeking his leadership and power, God will do far more through us than we can do for him. And we will be able to testify, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Therefore, if I could make just one New Year’s resolution for God’s people in 2019, it would be this: we will live in the power of the Spirit.
Samuel Chadwick: “Destitute of the Fire of God, nothing else counts; possessing Fire, nothing else matters.”
-Jim Denison