“Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” (Col. 1:29)
Can you keep every thought captive for Christ, in everything you do, can you glorify God, do you have the mind of Christ? We are going to be judged according to our works, yet it is Christ which lives within us, we can do nothing without Him, yet we will, at least some will, be rewarded for what we have done for the Lord in this life. I mean no offense by this, but unless you have been blessed by the Lord with Spiritual discernment, these verses and statements offered are possibly the most contrary things you have ever heard of the Scriptures.
If you are indeed filled with the Holy Spirit, why is not your ministry as powerful as Paul’s, or Elijah’s, why are you not being used for His glory as Moses or Daniel was, why are we only given a measure of Faith, (Romans 12:3) but expected to love the Lord with all our soul, mind, strength and heart?
We cannot do what we have not been empowered to do.
Can we equate the faith we are told to have, in fact commanded to have with how we would compare a theoretical mathematician and a dishwasher, is the trash collector a nuclear physicist in the evening? “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5) “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col. 2:3)
How often are we to pray for wisdom, in what way are we to expect it, apparently not all at once, for even King Solomon said, “Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.” (Prov. 24:32) Perhaps over time, in short bursts? Is this how it is to be expected in relation to 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)
If we want more faith are we to adhere consistently, if not constantly to Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” as we in patience posses our souls?
How can I do what I have been commanded to do if I have not been enabled to do it, and how can I be expected to grow if the Holy Spirit does not provide the means for that growth.
Does continued obedience merit more favors, as it were, from the Lord? If we disobey, can we expect what we have to be taken away, and then when we repent, do we need to start all over, do we need to work for what is offered. How can we gain more faith, more trust in the Lord if it is not given to us, what precepts must we adhere to, what tasks must we accomplish to be pleasing in His sight?
Can we serve as we would desire to if He does not bless us with the ability to do so, seeing how all our works are as filthy rags, how none are righteous? How can we be expected to employ our free will when we are to be continuously obedient to the will of the Father, constantly in submission to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, emulating the Lord Jesus Christ in our life while freely, by our own will serving Him?
How can we, as born-again believers, dead to self, crucified with Christ, be expected to perform any task that has been set before us by that free will when we can do nothing of ourselves, and then either be rewarded for those deeds, which in fact we did not do, but the Holy Spirit did through us, or accept the fact that we may only be saved “yet as by fire” (1 Cor. 3:15) because we would not be obedient?
Is Christ working mightily through you, or are you hindering the work of the Holy Spirit through you, how can man stand against the will of God? I fear I will leave you today with no answers, only questions, and as such you will need to contemplate Philippians 2:12 here, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
God is Sovereign and you have free will.
