By Grace

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17

There is one reason our witness is so often ineffective: our hearts are divided, our affections are split, our loyalties are torn ... "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand." Matt 12:25,26

How then can our kingdom stand, if our hearts are hot one day and cold the next, rejecting sin one hour and reveling in it the next!

Those who mingle and mix with the old man
will never gain the mastery over him.

But, how painful yet true-we really are in a struggle. No one said it would be easy!

The Apostle Peter spoke of "... abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;" 1 Peter 2:11 James spoke of the " lusts that war in your members? James 4:1 Paul counseled Timothy to "...Flee also youthful lusts:... 2 Tim 2:22

It is only when we have "done all, to stand." Eph 6:13. But, how powerful and how gloriously true! We can stand.

There is a place of victory for the children of God!
There is a place of purity!

God's grace is totally sufficient. He can enable us, each and everyone of us, to do His bidding with passion, to pursue His will with joy, to follow Him whole-heartedly.

Christ Jesus has risen from the dead! In Him we are raised too! His life has now become ours. It is "Christ in you" which is the hope of glory. Let's allow Him to live through us!

In the Old Testament, people were clothed with the Spirit and gripped by the Spirit. However we have been immersed in the Spirit and filled with the Spirit. The Holy Spirit now inhabits us!

Clothed, gripped, immersed and filled,
that is the equipping of the LORD for His children.

In the Old Testament, people like Job "was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. Job 1:1 They were called to "...love the LORD, hate evil! Ps 97:10, to "Hate evil, love good; ... " Amos 5:15 and "... to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? Mic 6.8

We are certainly not called to anything less.

We have been given the very armor of God! He has clothed us with His righteousness. The armor we are called to put on is the armor God Himself 'wears.' We put on the helmet of salvation (Eph 6:17) and so does He (Is 59:17). He is the man of war (Ex 15:3) and we are called to “...be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. “ (Eph 6:10). We fight His battles in His strength. We go to war with His arsenal. Yes, the weapons we fight with have ‘divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Cor 10:4)

For everyone born of God overcomes the world.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?1 John 5:4-5

There is a place He is calling us to, a place of refuge and life. We have a divine invitation. He is saying, “Come away from your effort, Come away from your striving, Come away from the filth and the stench and enter the hiding place. Enter the strong tower my fortress divine. Seek my face and ye shall behold Me.”

Then emerge clothed with fire, clothed with power, clothed with authority, clothed with the very nature of Me. Reject the lust and lies and purse my righteousness with the faith and love I have given unto you. Strive for peace with those who call upon my name out of a pure heart.

For it is by grace yea shall stand
and it is my grace that will keep you standing