How do you know you living the Christian life in your own/God's strength?

sermonindex Jul 3, 2007

I've often used this expression myself in the past, but I've been wondering recently what it actually means--or rather whether it means what I've always thought it meant. So, how does/can a believer know when he is living (for the Lord) in his own strength and when he is living in God's strength? What are symptoms that you are walking in the power of your own flesh? And what about when I believe I was led by the Spirit to do something or to a certain realization, and then I start doubting that I might have achieved it all in my own strength? How do I fight those doubts, and find freedom and rest in the truth?

sermonindex Jul 3, 2007

Hey NotMe, this is going to be a good thread. Wow.

I love this subject. It's so important I can't wait to see all the help we'll get here.

Other than Romans 8, I think what you're going through is what most go through when wanting God's will.

I'd rather ere on your side than to live autonomously or independently with the thought that I don't have to depend on His Spirit to work 'through' me.

Bless you and looking forward to seeing what becomes of this. It's a Great subject you've blessed us with. Thank you!

D

death2self Jul 3, 2007

You've asked some great questions and the Holy Spirit is dealing with my heart about some of these same things, so I'll try to focus on what I've been shown (primarily about my own heart) in the hope that it's somewhat beneficial to you.

I don't post often these days but believe this is something very critical, particularly in the West.

So, how does/can a believer know when he is living (for the Lord) in his own strength and when he is living in God's strength?

When I live in your own strength, there's no rest. The focus is oftentimes on performance, even about things the Lord has ordered (i.e. times in the prayer closet, reading the word, witnessing, whatever the Holy Spirit has asked me to do).

There's no pride in simply being a servant and if I have done what the Holy Spirit has ordered, then there's rest, even in the midst of what may appear to be impossible circumstances.

In the modern church, it's quite easy to do it ourselves and then say something like "Thank you Jesus!" when in reality, He didn't deliver us, we delivered ourselves.

If I do what Jesus tells me to do (even if it's somewhat painful to do), let's say confess a sin to a brother or sister or make restitution, then I've found experientially that great joy has risen in my heart. It's quite literally been explosive at times, what a wonderful gift from Jesus...

On the other hand if I do it under my own power, there's no joy but either a fixation on what I've done or an intense desire to move onto the next thing...

What are symptoms that you are walking in the power of your own flesh?

Again, it's primarily a fixation on performance. This can lead to pride, simply because we've been obedient. If I feel pride rising up when I've done something ordered by the Holy Spirit, then that's something I have to take to Jesus. He will purge it if I confess the sin and ask Jesus to take it.

What do you do when you reach an impossible circumstance? Do you prayerfully and joyfully wait on Jesus no matter what happens to deliver you or do you take matters into your own hands? That's a very good barometer of where you're at with Jesus.

And what about when I believe I was led by the Spirit to do something or to a certain realization, and then I start doubting that I might have achieved it all in my own strength?

If there's an absence of joy and a fixation on your performance, it's likely to have been done in your flesh. That's an overly broad generalization but it's something you should take to the prayer closet and lay it out before Jesus. The devil is also a liar as I'm sure you know and he'll often lie. He lies to me all of the time, unless I've chosen not to obey what the Holy Spirit has laid on my heart to do.

If I've done what has been ordered by the Spirit, then I just do it and leave the results to God. I'm accountable to Jesus first and foremost...

How do I fight those doubts, and find freedom and rest in the truth?

Prayer, prayer and more prayer. You're going to need to stand on the promises of God and I would ask you to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to quicken His promises to your heart and then stand on those. As you begin to press the Lord, you're very likely to see some things rise from your heart that you were unaware of, and you're going to have to pray through these. If it's sin, confess it and repent it and throw it aside and move on. If it's a lie, bring that to Jesus as well.

I would encourage you to read and pray over the story of Saul. These "tricks of the flesh" as one of my pastors has phrased it, is readily discernible in the life of Saul.

I pray the Holy Spirit give you discernment when you simply do what He has asked you to do or not to do, which is very important as well. Blessings to you on this pilgrimage...

P

pastorfrin Jul 4, 2007

Hi NotMe,
You have asked some very good questions that can only be answered from God’s Word.
Lets start with:

Philip. 4:6-7
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Do not fret or worry about anything. This seems like an impossible command to follow if you leave it standing alone, but add to it the next part of the verse and it explains itself.
God expects us to depend on Him for everything and everything means everything.
“but in every thing” Now if we stop here we have the command to; “Be careful for nothing; (do not fret or worry about anything) but in every thing”, now so many leave out the next six words and jump to “let your request be made know unto God.” Sounds complete but it is far from complete.
Now we have; Be careful for nothing; but in every thing let your request be made known unto God. What was left out?

In His Love
pastorfrin

R

rowdy2 Jul 4, 2007

Brother Slavyan I have experienced the same dilemma many times.

Never had any peace before I drew close to God and He drew close to me. I begin to lose my peace when I begin to stray away from the straight and narrow and I miss His presence but I thank Him for The Lighthouse that’s high upon the hill that leads me out of storm and away from harm...

(Ps.37:5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.)
(Ps.55:22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.)
(Prov.16:3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.)

Eddie

sermonindex Jul 4, 2007

These are beautiful answers so far.

I feel that "walking in the Spirit" to be nothing different than a child's first steps - "by faith" - as a newborn in Christ, doesn't have the experiential knowledge of walking in things that are only spiritually discerned as yet ... so these bumps and bangs that we experience, as NotMe mentioned are part of the normal Christian life.
We get to that "rest" as we throw caution to the wind and obey what we read and feel as God's leading - that's how we learn to discern His Voice from our own thoughts, the flesh, or whatever. God allows those bumps to teach us the difference. His "sheep" should know His Voice continuously and follow. But the obstacles are great ... lest wise HE wouldn't have given Paul a thorn in his flesh.

Some catch hold faster to letting go to His Word alone ... but most try to use only their minds to discern spiritual things.

It's a Faith walk - Faith in what is Written and I agree with all on here, at the same time.

I liked the word from Spurgeon that Pastorfrin posted today. I woke up to it and it was definitely "the word of the day" , I felt.

LORD Bless us all with Eph 1 again and then take our hands as we learn by Your Word to "walk" in You. Teach us How to read and absorb Your Word, just ~~[u]~~One word at a time[/u]. Help us to respect Your Word, as the Letter from our Most-Beloved and read it 'word by word' ~~[u]~~slowly[/u], as we would read the last letter from a departed Loved One. To learn complete absorption - to our spirits, as we read the Only "living" Word written by You - The Word.
You promised us John 16:13 and we ~~[i]~~LEAN[/i] on that Promise. Amen. Thank You Lord, we love You.

“Sanctify them through thy truth.”
— John 17:17
Sanctification begins in regeneration. The Spirit of God infuses into man that new living principle by which he becomes “a new creature” in Christ Jesus. This work, which begins in the new birth, is carried on in two ways—mortification, whereby the lusts of the flesh are subdued and kept under; and vivification, by which the life which God has put within us is made to be a well of water springing up unto everlasting life. This is carried on every day in what is called “perseverance,” by which the Christian is preserved and continued in a gracious state, and is made to abound in good works unto the praise and glory of God; and it culminates or comes to perfection, in “glory,” when the soul, being thoroughly purged, is caught up to dwell with holy beings at the right hand of the Majesty on high. But while the Spirit of God is thus the author of sanctification, yet there is a visible agency employed which must not be forgotten. “Sanctify them,” said Jesus, “through thy truth: thy word is truth.” The passages of Scripture which prove that the instrument of our sanctification is the Word of God are very many. The Spirit of God brings to our minds the precepts and doctrines of truth, and applies them with power. These are heard in the ear, and being received in the heart, they work in us to will and to do of God’s good pleasure. The truth is the sanctifier, and if we do not hear or read the truth, we shall not grow in sanctification. We only progress in sound living as we progress in sound understanding. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Do not say of any error, “It is a mere matter of opinion.” No man indulges an error of judgment, without sooner or later tolerating an error in practice. Hold fast the truth, for by so holding the truth shall you be sanctified by the Spirit of God.
Spurgeon, C. H.
_________________________________________________
Pastorfrin wrote:
Notice:
"The passages of Scripture which prove that the instrument of our sanctification is the Word of God are very many. The Spirit of God brings to our minds the precepts and doctrines of truth, and applies them with power. These are heard in the ear, and being received in the heart, they work in us to will and to do of God’s good pleasure. The truth is the sanctifier, and if we do not hear or read the truth, we shall not grow in sanctification."
Psalm 119:11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
You must do the hiding for His truth to do the
sanctifying.