From the recording 77 Lessons of Life #12-22
Lyrics
Lesson 17 of 77
The Place of Perfect Strength
{See Lessons 24, 44, 50, 58}
By Lawrence DeMetrius
Yahweh Worshipers are only to conform to HIS will. Due to the weakness of their carnal nature this cannot be done without divine strength. The OId Testament notes,
Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker? Behold, HE put no trust in HIS servants; and HIS angels HE charged with folly:
How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish forever without any regarding it.
Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? They die, even without wisdom.
[Job 4:17-19]
King Solomon writes,
And moreover, I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
[Eccl 3:16]
Apostle Paul writes,
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but the sin that dwelleth in me.
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man;
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
[Rm 7:18-23]
The Lord Jesus said,
I am the Vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.
[Jn 15:5]
Even upon redemption one must continue to watch and pray due to the weakness of their carnal nature. The Lord Jesus said,
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.
[Mt 26:41]
One’s sin flawed nature is a challenge with which they must contend until they officially transition to immortality. Apostle Paul writes,
…Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.
[Phil 3:21]
The Elect of God are admonished to practice moderation i.e., self-control by subjecting their mind, soul, and body to Yahweh through faith filled obedience to HIS directives. Apostle James writes,
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth HE any man:
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
[Jam 1:13-15]
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw nigh to God, and HE will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the LORD, and HE shall lift you up.
[Jam 4:7-10]
Everyday life experience reiterates the reality of the infirmity of the carnal nature and the need for divine strength. Apostle Paul writes,
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
[Rm 6:19]
Although some carnal passions seem impossible to keep under control, the Elect must keep in mind that nothing is impossible with GOD. The Lord Jesus said,
…with God all things are possible.
[Mt 19:26c]
Maintaining hope in Christ the Word, keeps one pure before Yahweh even as Christ is pure. The Elect of God are instructed to cleave to this Hope, until they transition to immortality, having the Holy Ghost as Witness of their sonship to Yahweh. Apostle John writes,
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He <Christ> is pure.
[I Jn 3:2, 3]
Apostle Paul writes,
O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
[Rm 7:24, 25]
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
The Spirit Itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
[Rm 8:14-16]
One must keep in mind that mortal weakness serves as the place of divine strength. The Lord Jesus said,
My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.
[II Cor 12:9b]
Because the redeemed practice reverent acknowledgement, confession, and repentance of their personal sins, they have the Blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse them from all unrighteousness whenever it is needed. Apostle Paul writes,
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
[Rm 3:23]
Apostle John writes,
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make HIM a liar, and HIS Word is not in us.
[I Jn 1:8-10]
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous:
And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
[I Jn 2:1, 2]
Having this victory, the brethren of Christ are admonished to make a conscience decision to wholly submit themselves to Yahweh on a daily basis. Apostle Paul writes,
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
[Rm 12:1, 2]
Being fully cognizant thereof, Yahweh has declared the place of weakness to be The Place of Perfect Strength in every born-again believer for Christ the Word.
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