by Pastor Afolabi Oladele
Nothing is more ‘unchristian’ than having our obedience to God driven by external pressure rather than by power on the inside. Natural power cannot accomplish what only supernatural power can accomplish. Romans 8:26a says the Holy Spirit helps our infirmities but how? According to the divine instructions in Philippians 2:13 it is God who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure, this notion is echoed in Hebrews 13:20-21 and the often quoted “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Our lives need to be invaded by the Holy Spirit, who creates in us a new desire towards God that prompts godly behavior in the first place, and then we work towards change in us by cooperating with what the Holy Spirit is doing in us. It is a mutual and continuing cooperation with the Holy Spirit in affirming the victory over sin, self and worldliness, and then the production of a holy life. In addition to this dependence upon the Holy Spirit you must say a resounding “NO” to sin, exerting yourself to do the right.
The two latter Scriptures paraphrased (Phil. 2:13; Heb. 13:20-21) – God gives us the desire to ‘CLEAN UP’ and the ‘POWER to CLEAN UP.’ No other Scripture illustrates this combo than those recording the Gethsemane experience in Mark 14:32-39 and Luke 22:40-45. Yes to God’s will, and an earnestness in prayers of dependence and then the strengthening from above to face and overcome the Cross. Beloved this is the grace of resurrection power that has been given to us to freely enjoy in producing the nature and capacity of God in us.
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