Holiness is the mind that I must seek. To be anything but HOLY defames the GOSPEL and DENIES the grace of God. Grace is not meant for the head and theory but to be LIVED in the every day thought and life (1 Cor 7:34). A holy man practices Christ. All else is LOSS (Eccl 12:13). Without holiness we won’t see God, and by holiness we get the FULLNESS of Christ.
First, we battle in the inner man - “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power by his Spirit in the inner man“ (Eph 3:16). That’s where we war by faith, believing God to the STRENGTHENING of us to do His will, to obey. All battle’s are for SELF-control and obedience - “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city“ (Prov 16:32). The results come our way thereby.
Secondly, faith is the victory - “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith“ (Eph 3:17). We need to believe what we have in God, so that our emptiness is filled by Him. It is not for us to strengthen or even encourage ourselves; it is for us to believe on the Son of God, and He strengthens thereby (1 Sam 30:6). All that I need is FROM trusting Christ as why God does it for me, that it shall happen as He says according to His Son’s blood for me.
Thirdly, the fullness of God, the experience of blessing, and the power of the Spirit whereby we do exploits is GIVEN to us by faith in the Lord’s love for us as sinners and His power to us as helpless rebels - “And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph 3:19). It is by this love revealed that I rise, take up my bed, and walk (John 5:8). If salvation depends upon me DESERVING it or CONTRIBUTING to it, then it is false; it depends only on the Name of Christ and God’s FAITHFULNESS to Him: He is not dealing with us as many, but us as one, joined to Christ. If you have Christ, then God will bless you with the strength you need; it is not a lie, theory, or phantom. Believe His love to enable you to live to His glory.
Lastly, there is actual power that works in us: it is not a story of helplessness but of POWER that we have with God - “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us“ (Eph 3:20). We are tempted, hurt, pained, and every evil of the world afflicts our heart. We must cry, “vanity of vanities; all is vanity”, for we suffer in this world (Eccl 1:2). We have HIGHS followed by tremendous lows. We have victorious times that lead to depression of soul, because we’re lifted so high that to come back to affliction HURTS us. Yet, in all this, the Lord is STRONG inside of His people, and we BELIEVE His love amidst our trouble. Paul writes to the Ephesians from prison, but he says, It’s ok. Don’t worry. The Lord is enough“ (Eph 3:9-16; 6:21-22). Of Paul it says, “The night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so must you bear witness also at Rome” (Acts 23:11). His sin was not mentioned and removed by blood, and now GRACE will be given to serve God. Know His love.
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