The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Promise"
"It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).
The Apostle Paul's assurance of God's dynamic presence and activity in born again believers may be one the most under-believed promises in Scripture. We live for the Lord Jesus Christ by living from Him as we "work out" that which He works in (Philippians 2:12).
Find the most fallen believer on the planet in the present moment. Is God working in that brother or sister "to will and to do?" He is. Paul's declaration to the Philippians comes with no strings attached, and is not limited to those responding well to the Lord's presence and working. Certainly, for a believer mired in unbelief and disobedience, a huge portion of the Lord's working involves the "good pleasure" of His child being restored, which, if he responds, will result in the good pleasure of a renewed life of faith and faithfulness. Whatever the case, every believer exists as the scene wherein the Holy Spirit who powerfully moved upon the dark waters of the first creation now moves within the hearts of the new creation, that is, the spirits of God's sons and daughters in Christ (Genesis 1:1-2). "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" (Ephesians 3:20).
Do we believe this about ourselves and our brothers and sister in Christ? We must. Truth demands that we see ourselves as God sees us, and that He faithfully fulfills His promise to work mightily within us. Indeed, failure to believe such assurance actually means we disbelieve our perfectly faithful Father, choosing to act according to appearance, emotion, physical sensation, past experience, and lies of the world, the devil, and the flesh. We can become like those of Capernaum long ago: "He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief" (Matthew 13:58). This constitutes a tragedy as the Lord Jesus dwells and walks within us, but we choose to see ourselves as just ourselves, rather than ourselves as inhabited and empowered by the living God. "Are ye not carnal and walk as men?" chided the Apostle Paul regarding the Corinthians who were walking after the flesh rather than the presence of the dynamic Holy Spirit, who served as the very Life of their lives. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (I Corinthians 3:3; 3:16).
An illustration to conclude our consideration. One of our ministries involves conducting services in retirement communities. Frances and I see many people in difficult and even dire conditions, some who can no longer move about and who may not even be able to communicate. This raises the question: are those who know the Lord Jesus still the scene of His dynamic working to will and to do of His good pleasure? Absolutely they are. These dear ones may no longer be able to walk, or even talk. Their cognitive abilities may not function well, or at least appear not to. However, does the Holy Spirit still dwell within their spirits? Is He still active within those who may appear as did the primordial waters of long ago? "Darkness was upon the face of the deep." He is most certainly still present, and still dynamically active. Indeed, I sometimes wonder about prayers such ones may pray for Frances and me, and for others. Who can say how the Lord may work through intercessions offered from those with stilled hands and feet, but with hearts in whom God continues His work "to will and to do?" Moreover, who knows how the Lord may work in other ways through those who seem the least likely to serve His redemptive purposes? "My strength is made perfect in weakness" (II Corinthians 12:9).
Let us believe a promise that may seem fanciful at times, but which forever abides as fact: "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." These words apply to every believer as factual and actual. What tragedy ensues if we do not believe, and what triumph if we do affirm the faithfulness of God in our brothers and sisters, and in ourselves.
"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
(Hebrews 13:20-21)
Weekly Memory Verse
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
(Hebrews 4:15)
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