2017 40 Days of Prayer, Day 7
The Abiding Presence of God:
A Life of Complete Dependence
Day 7
“because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,” Romans 8:7
Hostility Toward God
R.C. Sproul describes sin as “cosmic treason.” Treason constitutes a very serious crime against a ruler and a nation. As Creator, God is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe. He created the universe for His own pleasure and establishes the means by which He is most glorified. Human sin assaults the purposes of God. A mind set on sinful desires remains in a state of rebellion against the Creator. Each act of sin under the guidance of the sinful mind represents ongoing cosmic treason. Thus, each individual mind that is set on self-rule denies the sovereign authority of God and resides in this state of hostility against God.
Unable to Submit to the Law of God
The mind set on fulfilling sinful desires rejects God’s law. Instead, the mind of unbelievers subjects itself to fulfilling its own sinful desires. From Paul’s perspective, a mind set on fulfilling the sinful desires of the flesh is incapable of living according to the law of God. Living according to the Law of God is the standard requirement for every person. No one without perfection in the Law of God may dwell with God forever. Any imperfections will bring everlasting banishment from God. For those in Christ, through faith in His life, death and resurrection, "the requirements of the law have been fulfilled" in us. Believers in Christ receive their perfection before God as a gift. God gives the fulfillment of His standard of perfection as a gift to those who believe in Christ. For those outside of Christ, the perfection required by the Law must be met. The problem with this demand of perfection is inability. We understand the concept of inability. If the average person off the street were put in the lineup to face the top pitcher in professional baseball, this would be an unmitigated disaster. At 98 mph, the baseball would not even be seen by the vast majority of Americans. The coach could give an inspiring speech as the batter left the on deck circle. The batter could try as hard as they might, but there is no way that an average person off the street could succeed. When major league hitters succeed at hitting that pitcher less than a third of the time, someone with no baseball acumen and no athleticism would never have a chance. This illustration breaks down because there are a select few individuals, who through natural ability and through hard work, might experience some success. However, God does not require a one out of three success rate with the law, but in order to be righteous before God, we must fulfill every aspect of God's Law from birth until death. From Paul’s perspective, no amount of hard work or natural gifts can bring success for the mind set on fulfilling sinful desires. No moral law can reform the heart of any person. The work of reformation is God’s work. He performs the transformation of the heart by His divine and gracious will. Prior to this work, we could not honor Him no matter how hard they try. Prior to Christ coming into our lives, we were incapable, unable, and powerless to fulfill the purpose of God.
Prayer Focus
God, You alone deserve praise. You alone are the Sovereign Ruler of the universe. You alone deserve my unwavering loyalty. Forgive me for my moments of cosmic treason, when my actions reflect a denial of Your ultimate authority in my life. Forgive me for pursuing my own purposes ahead of Your purposes. Empower me to live for Your glory. I confess that only by Your gracious and divine work am I able to submit myself to Your will for my life. Come, Lord God, and renew the work You have started in me.
From DL Moody's Secret Power
HIS PERSONALITY
I was a Christian a long time before I found out that the Holy Spirit was a person. Now this is something a great many don’t seem to understand, but if you will just take up the Bible and see what Christ had to say about the Holy Spirit, you will find that He always spoke of Him as a person never spoke of Him as an influence. Some people have an idea that the Holy Spirit is an attribute of God, just like mercy - just an influence coming from God. But we find in the fourteenth chapter of John, sixteenth verse, these words:
“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter that He may abide with you forever.”
And again, in the same chapter, seventeenth verse:
“Even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world can not receive, because it see Him not, neither knows Him; but ye know Him; for He dwells with you and shall be in you.”
Again, in the twenty-sixth verse of the same chapter:
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said to you.”
Observe the pronouns “He” and “Him.” I want to call attention to this fact that whenever Christ spoke of the Holy Spirit He spoke of Him as a person, not a mere influence; and if we want to honor the Holy Spirit, let us bear in mind that He is one of the Trinity, a personality of the Godhead.