DRAWING NEAR
October 30
Increasing Your Spiritual Strength
"All Scripture is . . . profitable for . . . correction" (2 Tim.
3:16)
God's Word strengthens the repentant sinner.
If you're a gardening buff, you know that skillful pruning promotes
the overall growth and productivity of a plant. Jesus assumed His
audience knew as much when He said, "I am the true vine, and My
Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear
fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes
it, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the
word which I have spoken to you" (John 15:1-3).
Jesus was comparing believers to branches, which the Father prunes
for maximum productivity. The Word is His pruning shear, which He
applies with skill and precision to remove our imperfections and
promote godliness. He wants to eliminate anything from our lives that
may restrict our spiritual growth.
The word translated "correction" in 2 Timothy 3:16 speaks of the
strengthening work of God's Word. Scripture not only exposes your
sin, but it also strengthens you and restores you to a proper
spiritual posture. It convicts you and then gives you instruction to
build you up again.
Job 17:9 says, "The righteous shall hold to his way, and he who has
clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger." Paul added, "I commend
you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you
up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are
sanctified" (Acts 20:32).
As the Spirit uses Scripture to expose sin in your life, forsake that
sin and follow what Scripture says to do instead. You will be
strengthened in your spiritual walk as a result. To aid in that
process be "constantly nourished on the words of the faith and . . .
sound doctrine" (1 Tim. 4:6).
I firmly believe that any weaknesses you have can become areas of
great strength as you allow God's Word to do its sanctifying work
within you.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Thank God for the strengthening and restoring power of His Word. If
there's an area of your life that is weak and vulnerable to
temptation, confess it to the Lord and begin today to strengthen it
according to the Word.
For Further Study:
Read Ephesians 1:18-23 and 3:14-21.
What did Paul pray for? How did God demonstrate His power toward
believers? Is God's power sufficient for all your spiritual needs?
Explain.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Ephesians 1:18-23
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may
know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the
glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who
believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and
seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and
every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which
is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head
over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 3:14-21
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ,
15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to
be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you,
being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width
and length and depth and height;
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may
be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 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,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations,
forever and ever. Amen.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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