TEXT: GEN. 20:6
''And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.''
From start to finish; day by day; hour by hour, a man must count on God to restrain him from evil and sin; he must insist on the power of the world to come to keep him from the power and influence of the present world. This power is known as restraining grace. If this divine restraining cord is removed from even the best of saints, his natural inclination and bent would be toward sin; like Samson, he would become like other men. Inherent in all born of woman, is a potential to fall into and make practice of any form of sins; if God does not lay restrain on any, he can outstrip the Devil in the practice of sin. In looking at others under the dominion of sin, the saints sees what evil he is capable of; what sins he could easily commit: no man is created with a distinct propensity to sin diverse from the rest of humanity. Capacity and the seed to commit any form of sins under heaven, is the common lot of all man; so when I see a drunkard, I see myself--what I could be, but for restraining grace and influence. When I see an immoral person, I can but only fear myself. Sinful men reflect our innate tendency in all born of woman without grace. How this truth should humble us and shut out boasting from our lips. If God had not restrained all the wild beasts from coming into human community, the habitations of humanity would have long turned into jungles. Moreover, I believe God Has restrained many evil tendencies in man, otherwise, we would have seen more evil: as it were, man can properly be called, a 'tamed devil' Beloved, you are an overcomer because a power keeps you: if it is removed from you, you would instantly turn into lucifer. Let us remain humble to the Lord of every motion, bent, inclination and propensity on earth. The least sin a saints overcomes and the tiniest temptation he wins, is due to God's restraining grace. Saints, here is your wisdom: if ever you would be overcoming sin, the flesh and satan, cease not to day by day beg for restraining grace.
Prayer: Dear God of all graces, from me, break not thy bands asunder; and cast not thy cord away from me: but hedge and sequester me within the rule of thy law and precept. Amen