DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT THURSDAY – WE HAVE IT ALL, TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE. The Conclusion.

I used to ask God if He would come and help me. Then I asked if I could come and help Him. Finally I ended by asking God to do His own work through me. - J. Hudson Taylor.

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. - 1Cor 1:4-9. ESV

In this study we realised that the most important thing to understand, in order to live a Godly life, is that in Christ Jesus we have received all we need to live a godly life, and that “God's Grace Is Given To Us In Jesus.” We also realised in Part 2, that “In Him, We (like the Corinthians) Are Enriched In Every Way.” We are enriched in our communication, in our knowledge, and in our material lives, for His glory. Today we acknowledge that…

He Will Keep Us Strong Until The End

Spiritual strength grows out of spiritual gifts… For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. - Rom 1:11-12. The old saying, “Use it, or lose it” comes into play here, the more we use the gifts He has given us, the more we are strengthened.

Spiritual strength is a part of the grace of God… And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. - 1 Pet. 5:10. As we use the gifts, the enemy will oppose us, but we have to rise above this and fight, fight for each other, fight for our families, and fight for souls.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph 4:1-3.

In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push.

After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years.

Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson's astonishment, the engine roared to life.

For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work. – Source Unknown.

It is Father who has done it all, not us; He has called us into fellowship with Jesus… that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. - 1 John 1:3-7.

This communion of believers with the Father and the Son, is begun and kept up by the influences of the Holy Spirit. The benefits Christ bestows, are not like the scanty possessions of the world, causing jealousies in others; but the joy and happiness of communion with God is all-sufficient, so that any number may partake of it; and all who are warranted to say, that truly their fellowship is with the Father, will desire to lead others to partake of the same blessedness. – Matthew Henry Commentary.

He intends that we be blameless… Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. - 1 Thess 5:23-24. Be Assured that He will do it!

After John Wesley had been preaching for some time, someone said to him, "Are you sure, Mr. Wesley, of your salvation?" "Well," he answered, "Jesus Christ died for the whole world." "Yes, we all believe that; but are you sure that you are saved?" Wesley replied that he was sure that provision had been made for his salvation. "But are you sure, Wesley, that you are saved?" It went like an arrow to his heart, and he had no rest or power until that question was settled.

Many men and many women go on month after month, and year after year, without power, because they do not know their standing in Christ; they are not sure of their own footing for eternity. Latimer wrote Ridley once that when he was settled and steadfast about his own salvation he was as bold as a lion, but if that hope became eclipsed he was fearful and afraid and was disqualified for service. Many are disqualified for service because they are continually doubting their own salvation. - Moody's Anecdotes.

WE HAVE RECEIVED EVERYTHING TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE, SO THERE IS NO EXCUSE NOT TO BE GODLY!

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to freely receive your grace, that I may live a Godly life, just as you intended. In the wonderful Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY