NEVER RELY ON YOUR EFFORTS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY MAY 13, 2021.

SUBJECT: NEVER RELY ON YOUR EFFORTS!

Memory verse: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might not by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4 vs 6.)

READ: Galatians 3 vs 2 - 6:

3:2: This only I want to learn from you; Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of Faith?

3:3: Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 

3:4: Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

3:5: Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3:6: Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 

INTIMATION:

Are you struggling with changes that need to be made in your personality? Do you ever get frustrated and confused, trying to believe and have faith and confess and do all the right things to bring about change in yourself and your life, yet it never seems to happen? You wanted to change everything you saw wrong about yourself and life, but for some reason you just couldn't do it. 

Most believers will blame the devil. They will spend better part of their time binding and casting the devil away, instead of turning to the Lord for help. I have learned that the Lord constantly requires us to turn to Him. Why? Because when we do anything apart from Him, we take the credit and glory that rightfully belonged to Him. For this reason He will frustrate any of our own efforts to do things outside of Him. Jesus said, "...For without Me, you can do nothing." (John 15 vs 5).

Only God could bring about changes that you desire in your life. It is only through God’s Spirit that anything of lasting value is accomplished. But your duty is to ask in faith. Turn to the Lord sincerely on a regular basis and say, "Father, I can't help myself. I am coming to You like a little child. I am totally helpless. I lay this whole situation before You, asking for Your grace. I don't deserve Your help, Father, but You are my only hope. Please do for me what I can't do for myself."

In the passage we read today, the apostle Paul reminded the believers in Galatia that they received the Holy Spirit—the custodian of the power of God (the grace of God) and that power of God was responsible for meeting specific situations in their lives. And this is because they heard the word of God, believed it and it worked in their lives. He made them realize that it was not as a result of obeying the law and doing its works. Therefore, it would be foolish of them, haven begun their new life spiritually with the Holy Spirit, will want to reach perfection by their dependence on their weak human efforts and ability, which is also impossible.

That God who supplies them with His Holy Spirit and works powerfully and miraculously among them, never did that on grounds of their doing what the law demands, but because of their believing in, adhering to, trusting in Him, and relying on the message of Christ they heard. Then finally in verse 5, he concluded by asking them, "Does God supply your every need and work miracles among you because you keep the law perfectly or because you put your entire faith and trust in God, and the message you heard?" They received the Lord by faith, but were trying to perfect themselves by depending on their own flesh, trying to change themselves and their lives by human effort rather than by trusting in Him. 

Now, effort has a place in the Christian life. It does has a part to play. But even then, anything done outside the grace of God will have no real lasting effect. God has not left us alone in our struggles to do His will. He wants to come alongside us and be within us to help. God gives us the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. The secret to a changed life is to submit to God’s control and let Him work. Always ask God to give you the grace to do His will. 

In Philippians 1 vs 6, the Bible says, "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." It is God who has begun this good work in us. He started it, and He is going to finish it. He is working within us right now, developing, perfecting and bringing to completion the good work which He initiated. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12 vs 2).

Since He is the only One who can do that, you and I can relax. The pressure is off us, because the work is the Lord's, not ours. It is for this reason that Jesus urged us thus; “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11 vs 28 - 30). Obviously, His burden is light and His yoke easy. While we relax, we must do our part, and our part is to believe in Him, love Him, and obey His commands! And he who loves Him will be loved by His Father, and He will also love you and manifest Himself to you (John 14 vs 21). 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for Your love and faithfulness upon my life. Give me the grace to rely solely on You in every circumstances of my life, knowing that by my strength I cannot prevail, but by Your strength I can do all things, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!