Do What is In Your Power

Anyone overwhelmed by the frontal assaults of the enemy on God's standards for life?  

The very foundations of the purpose of life, such as existence of God, His creating everything, the primary call to know and serve God, the authority of God's Word as truth, the role of marriage, sex, and gender that He established, and His command to love one another, etc. are being openly mocked and deliberately overridden by the new "man-made rules."  How clearly Psalm 11 describes this drastic situation, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"  We are seeing a bad tree bearing bad fruit, much like what happened in Judges when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes."  Man's rebellion leaves the world in a desperate condition.

However, God is not mocked.  This degradation of mankind and the rebellion against God's standards did not take the Lord by surprise.  Notice how Jesus addresses this challenge in John 16:33, "These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Not only has Jesus overcome the world, but He has passed the victory torch to us.  This is revealed in 1 John 5:4, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that overcomes the world--our faith."  When we were born again and filled with the Spirit, we literally are "Christian" or "little Christs" that walk in the same overcoming life and power of God as Jesus did.  This awesome gift is completely because of what Jesus has done, and has nothing to do with our being good or holy enough to do this. Just as Paul explained to the Romans that those who "receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ."  The torch of overcoming power has been given to us.  What are we going to do with it? 

Consider two defintie instructions that give direction.  First, fight the good fight of faith.  If you remember Jesus, after sharing the parable about the persistent widow seeking justice in Luke 18, asks the question, "when the Son of Man comes,will He find faith on the earth?"  So clearly there is a definite need to"build yourselves up on your most holy faith" (Jude 1:20).  We live by faith, not by sight; by what Jesus has done instead of how strong we feel.  Faith, of course, comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God. It is not a little thing to take time each day and give attention to the Word of God.  Come to Him with a hunger and thirst for a "rhema" word like you have to have it or you will die.  There is more truth in that comment than our flesh wants to admit.  We must have faith to please God. 

Secondly, there is a principle with God stated in Proverbs 3:27, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so."  In other words, do what is in your power.  We can't do everything may be true, but it is not an acceptable excuse.  We can do something.  

We have been given authority in the name of Jesus to destroy enemy strongholds.  We have the blood of Jesus and the word of testimony that overcomes Satan.  We can declare the Word of God and let God confirm His truth.  We can submit to God and resist the enemy causing him to flee.  We are not helpless, but rather fully equipped to stand and see God "crush Satan under our (your) feet!"   

Often the "something" we can do is to be faithful in the "little" things so God can do the much.  Pray, read the Word and release His power by declaring His truth.  Put on the armor and stand, taking authority in the name of Jesus over the powers of darkness that you see working.  Unite with other Christians.  There is great power in being one in heart and mind "when two or three agree."  Do not let yourself be weary in well doing, but be refreshed in His presence,  Do what is in your power and see the salvation, or overcoming victory, that the Lord desires and deserves.  He is worthy.