His Grace is Sufficient

Posted on May 1, 2019 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

“Much of our inner turmoil and our interpersonal struggles are the direct result of kingdoms in conflict. Sin causes us to live inwardly directed, selfish lives instead of the lives of upward worship and outward love that we were created to live.”  ~ P.D. Tripp

Several events have brought to the forefront of my thinking how we groan in these bodies that are the battle grounds of our self-reliance versus a life of grace. Our groaning comes from a realization that no matter the extent of pleasure in this body we are able to obtain, these worldly gains are nothing… as filthy rags, compared with ‘intimacy with Christ, knowing the power of His Resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead” (Phil 3:10-11); where this mortal body of mine will become ‘perfected’ having been ‘swallowed up’ by life (2 Cor 5:2-4). This realization is what Jesus was referring to when He revealed He was “The Way, The Truth, and ‘The Life’, by which All who call on the name of the Lord, will come to the Father through Him (John 14:6). Paul tells us those who believe have been ‘prepared for this very purpose by God, who gave to us The Spirit as a pledge’ (2Cor 5:5) as to what that all consuming ‘Life’ will be like. “But if Christ is in you (having believed and given His Spirit as a down payment of what is to come), then even though your body is subject to death (groaning) because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness (that He Provides). And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life too (or swallow up) your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” (Romans 8:10-11)

Yes this life is hard because of the clash of the kingdom of your self-relevance and His Kingdom of Grace. But, you can easily escape the battle and find ‘rest’ in Jesus. Let go of your self-reliance and desires for power and control; realize the suffering you are experiencing is the measure by which a ‘trusted way to ‘Life’ with God is revealed; and grasp hold of Jesus’ hand that is outstretched to lead you home. By reading this far, you show you are so close to being home; many have ignored the writings of God’s Way and remain fixated on winning the battle for their soul. Jesus stands at the door of your life and knocks… won’t you release your self-reliance and open the door to let Him in today?

Choose wisely….

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ (Romans 8:15)

Praying you choose Christ today

Written By David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, and grandfather with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is a member of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church.

The Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 9-11, Revelation 18| You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: “Christ’s invitation to the weary and heavy-laden is a call to begin life over again upon a new principle–upon His own principle. ‘Watch My way of doing things,’ He says. ‘Follow Me. Take life as I take it. Be meek and lowly, and you will find Rest.’ – Henry Drummond

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. – 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.