Lawrence DeMetrius

Lyrics

Lesson 44 of 77
The Place of Perfect Strength
{See Lessons 17, 24, 35, 50, 50, 58}
By Lawrence DeMetrius

Reverent acknowledgment of mortal weakness is equally important as acknowledgment of divine strength within a born-again spirit. King David writes,

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, THOU desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part THOU shalt make me to know wisdom.
[Ps 51:5, 6]

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 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, 22, 23]

Born-again believers must remain mindful that while they are forever changed within their spirit nature through Christ the Word and the Holy Ghost, their mortal nature is still vulnerable to sin due to the weakness they inherited per Adam’s transgression. Moses writes,

And out of the ground made the LORD GOD to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
[Gen 2:9, 17]
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
[Gen 3:6]

Apostle Paul reiterates this historical fact by writing,

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
[Rm 5:12]

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]

Unfortunately, this inherited weakness remains within every mortal redeemed or not until they transition to immortality. Apostle Paul writes,

For 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 3:20, 21]

Mortal weakness is what causes one to be vulnerable to sin and is therefore why faith filled subjection to Yahweh through Christ is necessary to obtain and maintain spiritual regeneration. Indeed, it is Yahweh WHO in and through Christ restores fallen souls back unto HIMSELF for divine worship and fellowship. 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]


Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
And all things are of God, WHO hath reconciled us to HIMSELF by Jesus Christ…
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto HIMSELF, not imputing their trespasses unto them...
[II Cor 5:17-19]

Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.
[Heb 7:25]

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
[Phil 3:3]

Yahweh has made the weakness of them who are born-again, to be the place where the strength of Christ the Word is made perfect. 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]

My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.
[II Cor 12:9]

For born-again believers, mortal weakness can be considered a curse that has become a blessing and divine infliction, in that it now serves as a constant reminder that only through Christ are they empowered to please Yahweh. It serves as a reminder that only the LORD is best, perfect, beautiful, trust and worship worthy. It clarifies why one should have no other gods before HIM.
Mortal weakness reminds the sons of God why they must remain humble under HIS hand, as HE continues HIS work of perfection in them, preparing them for many exaltations, promotions and eternal glories. Apostle Peter writes,

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that HE may exalt you in due time:
[I Pet 5:6]
Apostle Paul writes,

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose.
For whom HE did foreknow, HE also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of HIS Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover, whom HE did predestinate, them HE also called: and whom HE called, them HE also justified: and whom HE justified, them HE also glorified.
[Rm 8:28-30]

Being confident of this very thing, that HE which hath begun a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ:
[Phil 1:6]

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of HIS good pleasure.
[Phil 2:13]

The New Testament notes,

Make you perfect in every good work to do HIS will, working in you that which is well pleasing in HIS sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
[Heb 13:21]

Ironically, proper acknowledgment of mortal weakness is instrumental in bringing one closer to Yahweh without fearing the condemnation and wrath HE has prepared for Lucifer, sin with its power, and all who willing remain enslaved thereto. The Lord Jesus said,

For God so loved the world, that He gave HIS only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God sent not HIS Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that <Christ the> light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
[St Jn 3:16-21]
Thus, Apostle John reiterates,

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
[St Jn 3:36]

Jesus the Christ offers doors of opportunity and deliverance to all who properly acknowledge mortal weakness saying,

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast my My word, and hast not denied My Name.
Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
[Rev 3:8, 10]

Having these precious promises, the redeemed are admonished to offer sacrifice of praise to Yahweh, for HIS willingness to make their mortal weakness The Place of Perfect Strength.

*********************<Time 7m29s>*********************