“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13). How few are the Christians who really and truly believe those words! Ask the average believer, “Can Jesus Christ keep you free from all sin throughout this day and the coming week?” Their answer will probably be something like, “Well, yes He could do that, but the flesh is weak and the temptations too strong and too many.” They unwittingly nullify and make void the apostle Paul’s statement.
And these words penned by this same apostle must really throw them into a tailspin: “Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end, Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
There is a distinctive POWER that works in the fully surrendered believer, and that stupendous, mind-boggling power is the Holy Spirit imparted to them by the Lord at the point of their justification. It is the exact same power God manifested and utilized when He raised Jesus Christ from the dead when all the forces of evil were trying their utmost to keep Jesus Christ from being resurrected! It is the power that is instrumental and at work “that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.” (See Ephesians 3:19). God’s power in the fully surrendered believer can do exceedingly abundantly above ALL that we ask or think. Do you think God can keep you free from all sin for the rest of the day? Brethren, He can keep you free from all sin for the rest of your life!!!
Do you know where most believers miss it? They listen to Satan generally manifesting his faithless unfounded arguments through those he has deceived. Their chief argument? So, you think you can keep free from all sin month after month, and year after year for the rest of your life? But that satanic argument ignores our Lord’s warning: “Take no (anxious) thought for tomorrow… …Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (See Matthew 6:34) We are to concern ourselves with today only. We might not have a tomorrow. Our life is a vapor that can pass away at any moment. We need only ask ourselves is God powerful enough to keep me free from all sin for ten to fifteen hours as much of each twenty-four hour day is spent in sleep.
Don’t let Satan take out of context scriptures the defeated believer will use to excuse continued sin in their life. Satan will often use well respected Christian writers and long dead preachers’ erroneous teaching regarding the sanctification of the believer to convince succeeding generations that sin is inevitable in the life of every believer. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). LOOK AT THE CONTEXT. Jesus was talking about His followers being made free FROM SIN! “Of a truth, of a truth, I say unto you, whosoever commits sin is the servant (slave) of sin.” (See verse 34, John 8). Jesus was saying, “I am telling you the truth. I am telling you the truth, whosoever continues to sin is enslaved by sin!”
Brethren, it’s either believe other men or believe your Lord. As for me, I am going to believe our Lord, His prophets and His apostles. That placed me in a rather small group of believers long ago, but it also opened wide the door into the more abundant life, a life full of glory and many added years. I’ll not look back.
Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley