9.83 It is the power of God that works in us
We have said that the most important work that God requires is to believe in Jesus who did all the work. That was what Jesus said. We work the works of God by believing in Jesus.
But in our works oriented Christianity, many people would not be satisfied with the answer from Jesus. Many of us have been conditioned to believe that we must do something to do the works of God. To believe is too simple for most of us.
The New Covenant sometimes appears controversial because it involves a paradigm shift from the Old Covenant. But we need to have that paradigm shift in order to fully walk in the New Covenant.
The New Covenant is about ceasing from works and entering into the rest of Jesus. This means to rest by believing in His finished work. In fact, God wants us to be diligent to enter that rest because He knows that it does not come naturally.
(Hebrews 4:10-11)
For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest…
What happens when we enter that rest? What happens when we depend on Jesus’ work instead of our own works? Will we be lazy? Will we slack? Will we be passive? These are the concerns that are often raised by people.
Now pay attention. Something powerful happens. When we rest in Him, He works in us. Take note that the focus is on Christ working IN us and THROUGH us. This is different from us trying to work from our own strength. Using our own strength would not be resting in Christ. But depending on His strength means resting in Him. His power always works in us.
(Eph 3:20-21)
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that WORKS IN US, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Note that when we do not work, He works. When we work, He does not work. We are either walking in the Spirit or in the flesh. When God works in us, we will end up doing so much more than what we can accomplish in our own strength. When God works in us, one miracle is greater than all our laboring in the natural. So let us rest in Him, and experience His power in us.
But in our works oriented Christianity, many people would not be satisfied with the answer from Jesus. Many of us have been conditioned to believe that we must do something to do the works of God. To believe is too simple for most of us.
The New Covenant sometimes appears controversial because it involves a paradigm shift from the Old Covenant. But we need to have that paradigm shift in order to fully walk in the New Covenant.
The New Covenant is about ceasing from works and entering into the rest of Jesus. This means to rest by believing in His finished work. In fact, God wants us to be diligent to enter that rest because He knows that it does not come naturally.
(Hebrews 4:10-11)
For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest…
What happens when we enter that rest? What happens when we depend on Jesus’ work instead of our own works? Will we be lazy? Will we slack? Will we be passive? These are the concerns that are often raised by people.
Now pay attention. Something powerful happens. When we rest in Him, He works in us. Take note that the focus is on Christ working IN us and THROUGH us. This is different from us trying to work from our own strength. Using our own strength would not be resting in Christ. But depending on His strength means resting in Him. His power always works in us.
(Eph 3:20-21)
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that WORKS IN US, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Note that when we do not work, He works. When we work, He does not work. We are either walking in the Spirit or in the flesh. When God works in us, we will end up doing so much more than what we can accomplish in our own strength. When God works in us, one miracle is greater than all our laboring in the natural. So let us rest in Him, and experience His power in us.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 11:49 PM
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