The Power that Worketh in Us
Pastor A. W. Weckeman – August 2012
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” (Eph.3:20).
Transformation is the result of realization, that is, when we realize that it’s not about us, that we are powerless to love, serve and obey God when we finally learn that we cannot do God’s work by self-effort and self-wisdom, then, and only then, can we, “be strong in the Lord and the power of his might” (Eph.6:10) [Emphasis mine]
“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and do of his good pleasure.” (Phil.2:13) [Emphasis mine]
Notice that it says “work out” not work for; something must be put in before working its way out. Upon trusting Christ for salvation, we receive His power: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col.1:27) “Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature…” (2 Cor. 5:17). Our work is to recognize and “yield” to the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit: “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (Rom.6:13).
Our primary function is receptivity, to be continually attuned to and dependent upon Another. To be sensitive to God’s Spirit: “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” (Isa.30:21); which upon salvation, has permanently joined to our spirit: “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (1 Cor.6:17). The task is to acknowledge our inadequacy and learn to defer to His power and control.
The “new man” within is the One who inspires genuine prayer, praise, worship, and service. He is the One who motivates our minds to right thoughts and enables our hearts to manifest the love of Christ in our lives. In reality, we are His means of expressing Himself, “To reveal his Son in me…” (Gal.1:16). Consider the Apostle Paul’s exhortation in Romans 12:1, “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. (Rom.12:1 ) Also see, (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
“A Christian worker is good, a worker in Christ is better, but the best of all is Christ in a worker doing the living.”
GOD THE ALL
“O God Whose Will Conquers All,
There is no comfort in anything apart from enjoying thee and being engaged in thy service;
Thou art All in all, and all enjoyments are what to me thou makest them, and no more.
I am well pleased with thy will, whatever it is, or should be in all respects,
And if thou bidst me decide for myself in any affair, I would choose to refer all to thee, for thou art infinitely wise and cannot do amiss, as I am in danger of doing.
I rejoice to think that all things are at thy disposal, and it delights me to leave them there.
Then prayer turns wholly into praise, and all I can do is to adore and bless thee.
What shall I give thee for all thy benefits? I am in a strait betwixt two, knowing not what to do;
I long to make some return, but have nothing to offer, and can only rejoice that thou doest all, that none in heaven or on earth shares thy honour;
I can of myself do nothing to glorify thy blessed name, but I can through grace cheerfully surrender soul and body to thee,
I know that thou art the author and finisher of faith, that the whole work of redemption is thine alone, that every good work or thought found in me is the effect of thy power and grace, that thy sole motive in working in me to will and to do is for thy good pleasure.
O God, it is amazing that men can talk so much about man’s creaturely power and goodness, when, if thou didst not hold us back every moment, we should be devils incarnate.
This, by bitter experience, thou hast taught me concerning myself.
The Valley of Vision
A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions