Building up believers and the New Testament church
Fellowship With God
Standing in His Strength
Fellowship with God is moving in union with God in all that He is doing here and now. God is calling out a people to dwell with Him for all eternity. No situation is too hard for Him, and no situation takes less than the almighty power of God. So much today that goes under the name of Christianity is men moving only in their own ability. We are called to move in the power of His might, not in our own power or wisdom. Our glory is not in who we are, but in who God is, and our responsibility is always to move in His strength. This is demanding, because it means that we must continually abide in Him and let Him live His life through us.
The provisions that God has made for this great calling are all spiritual. If we are abiding in Christ, Paul tells us we are actually "a new creation." Old things have passed away and all things have become new. Now all things are of God. (II Cor. 5:17,18) We have a new life, a new purpose for being here, and a new calling. We also have a new provision for fulfilling this calling, and the provision is God himself. His power is the only power that can redeem men and set them free from sin and death. Our ideas cannot do that, no matter how good they seem to us. Our efforts may appear good, but they are powerless to set captives free in this spiritual warfare.
Writing to the church at Ephesus, Paul admonished the believers to put on the whole armor of God, that they may be able to stand against the cunning strategy and devices of the devil. Satan is a defeated foe, but he is still at large until the final day when God will shut him up. He is out to deceive and keep as many as he can under the bondage of sin and their own desires. The admonition is to be strong in the power of God's ability. We can only do this as we truly abide in Christ and live His life.
The elements of God's armor should occupy our attention as we wait on God. Do we know Him who is the truth? Do we stand in His righteousness, not our own? Are we ready to go with the gospel of reconciliation that will bring men into the peace of God? Do we know that without faith it is impossible to please God or move in His life? Is Christ himself our salvation? Do we preach a true salvation from sin and death into the life of God? Is the Word of God himself our food day by day? Does the Holy Spirit have control of us so that we always declare the word of God and not our own wisdom? Does every day find us on our knees before God interceding for the saints according to the will of God?
These are all demanding areas that take our full involvement and God's power to work out in reality. They are God's provision for the church, not just for individuals. Together we must take on the whole armor of God if we are to stand against the deceptive tactics of the enemy. The world has the slogan "United we stand," but in God it is even more true. If we have entered into His life and continue to abide there, we are one and that oneness will be expressed in all of these areas. Any other way will end in defeat, for we are no match for the devil. We must stand in Christ's victory at Calvary, together as His body.
