The concept of powerlessness comes up repeatedly in my sermons and writings. This is more than just secular recovery jargon invading the faith. The concept is scriptural. We have all sinned and fallen short. If we weren't powerless to deny self and control sin, there would've been someone besides Jesus able to pull it off in all these years. There is none good but God. Our righteousness is as filthy rags. I could go on. But the truth that I cannot control myself, that I can't consistently do what's right and live for God and others does not let me off the hook. Neither being powerless to control sin and manage our lives nor the awesome amazing grace of God are excuses to just do our own thing, to sin, to not try. The idea that "I'm going to fail anyway so I might as well just do it now instead of fighting this temptation" is a natural response to being in bondage, but it is not a Godly one.
The point in admitting powerlessness is not to give up hope of freedom or to absolve us of responsibility. "I'm sorry I hurt you, but you know I'm powerless over that sin, so I don't see why you're upset or surprised I did it. We all knew it was just a matter of time." No. That's not it. The reason is so that we will stop trying to do it on our own. That we will see the need for absolute surrender to He who does have all power, trusting in His love and desire to set us free and restore us. The point of my powerlessness is to remind me to use His power. Galatians 5:16 clearly states that if we walk in the power of the Spirit of God, we will not fulfill the lusts, the desires, the selfishness of the flesh, the sinful nature.
Yes, grace covers a multitude of sins. No, we're not yet made perfect. We will fail. We will fall short. Yes. His mercies are new every morning, and His goodness towards us knows no bounds. But if we use the truth that we can't walk with God, that we can't stop being selfish, that we can't be holy on our own combined with the concepts of grace and forgiveness to ease our guilt of just doing what we want, we're not in relationship with God. We've stopped following.
Jesus said if you want to follow me deny yourself and follow me. We may believe in theory, but not in practice. We profess faith with our mouths and our T-shirts and deny Him with our lives and apathy. We don't truly believe in the awesome unearned life changing passionate love of God for us personally. Personally. JESUS LOVES ME! JESUS LOVES YOU! My child I know more about you than you do, and not only do I not hate you, I still love you. Just as you are.
The natural response to that kind of love is to love back. To say thank you for your love, can I stay with You now? I like it here in Your presence. Jesus responds yes. Live in me, and I will live in you. Deny your selfishness, love God and love others, and if you do that you won't ever have to wonder about what is and isn't OK to do. Love me, and I will send you the Holy Spirit, who has power that you don't have, and He will lead, guide and strengthen you so that you don't have to do those things that the new you hates.
Grace and powerlessness do not absolve us of personal responsibility. We are not the victims of sin and impulse. We are victors through and in Christ Jesus who loved us and gave His life for us. With everything we are we throw ourselves on His mercy asking for His help. Then God does the work. He sets the captive areas of our lives free. He heals our wounds and forgives our transgressions so that we no longer act like slaves to sin but free men and women whose very lives give glory to God whose Spirit makes life possible.
Abba, You are my Lord. I belong to You. Help me to take responsibility for my attitudes, thoughts and actions today. I own my failure so that I can give what is mine to You, so that You can heal, deliver and strengthen. I know I don't have the power to walk with You today, so I ask You to fill me with Your power and grace as I seek Your will and not my own. I deny my selfish desires and determine to do what You want me to do today, but even as I say that I know I can't. So, I give You permission to do it. Whenever I have a choice today, I will choose You and rely on Your power and grace to carry out that choice. I love You Lord. Thank you for giving me the ability to walk with You today and for wanting to hang out with me today. I love You. Thank You for loving me.
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