"Oh, for grace to stand in this self-renunciation. Our proud nature is all too apt to fix its trust on the puffed-up and fraudulent power of the creature. Arm of flesh, how dare I trust you? How dare I bring on myself the curse of those who rely on man?" - Charles Spurgeon
In Philippians 3:3, the Apostle Paul made this definitive statement about all Christians - "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."
Does this Scripture typify your walk with the Lord at this time?
Are you walking in the knowledge of being the "circumcision"?
You ask - what does that mean?
It means that you are devoted to the worship of God, making your boast in Jesus, having an utmost interest in Him and His Kingdom, while renouncing anything that has to do with the flesh or the confidence therein.
A man or a woman who understands that they are the "circumcision" will speak like this - "...and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh..."(Philippians 3:3-4).
He or she places no confidence in human honors or accomplishments, uncommon advantages, or special privileges. As a ground for trust, such things are likened to a slippery path. They are valueless and insufficient.
What happens when you are brought to an extremity or great straits through violent and overwhelming troubles and tribulation? Paul referred to it in 2 Corinthians 1:9 as the "sentence of death."
Are you facing the "sentence of death" at this time, O Believer?
Do you feel as though there is no hope of recovery or relief from your circumstances?
Of what good are honors, accomplishments, and privileges?
Can they rescue at such times?
The Apostle argued that only confidence in the God Who can raise even the dead will pull any saint out of dire straits.
In 2 Corinthians 1:9-10, we read his full statement - "But we had the sentence of death in ourselves that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in Whom we trust that He will yet deliver us."
God allows us as believers to experience the "sentence of death" - a time of seeming hopelessness - in order to pull us away from the ungodly reliance on the flesh.
"But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead..."
Can you hear what the Holy Spirit is saying through the Apostle?
The "sentence of death" - so that we "should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead..."
God only knows how His Church nowadays is leaning on the "arm of the Flesh" to get the Kingdom work done. What an abomination it is to the One Who has the Power to even raise the dead!
We - as Christians - cannot and must not trust in our own plans or confide in our own strength. All that we are and have must be placed entirely in the hands of the Almighty.
This "sentence of death" - a circumstance which is absolutely overwhelming at times - is sent on a mission from God to show you Self's total inadequacies and deficiencies for help.
Do you serve the God Who can even raise the dead?
Is He omnipotent?
Or is He - in your thinking - limited in His Power?
Think about it - What greater enemy is there - that we can face in this life - than death itself?
Yet, that is not a problem for our "...God Which raiseth the dead..."
This concept is so important to know - especially when facing Satan in spiritual warfare.
The devil knows wherein your trust lies. He knows just how much you are still leaning on the "arm of the flesh." To the degree that you are - is the measure of frustration, impatience, anger, fear, or confusion that you are encountering at this time. In other words, if your total confidence is in the "God Which raiseth the dead," you will know "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding"(Philippians 4:7) - yes, even in the midst of the "sentence of death" - utter hopelessness.
The Psalmist said it this way, and we will not know lasting Peace until we can say the same - "For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me"(Psalm 44:6).
His only ground for victory was Christ - His Wisdom directing...His Power strengthening, working and enabling...and His Promises securing success. All other reliances were renounced and cast aside.
His "weapons of...warfare"(2 Corinthians 10:4) were not "carnal" - that which the people of the world used, relied on, or derived an advantage from. On the contrary, they were "mighty through God" - divinely powerful through the agency of the One Who "raiseth the dead."
When David - the little Shepherd boy - went up against the Mighty Giant Goliath, his confidence was not in the flesh - though he may have had confidence therein. He boldly declared - "...I come to Thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied"(1 Samuel 17:45).
Goliath's expectation for victory came from his armament; David's, from the indescribable name of the Lord.
In view of these facts, we ask - How are you handling the mighty "strongholds" or obstacles which stand in your way today?
Satan will "take you for a ride" until you renounce all confidence in the flesh - and walk in the revelation that you are the "circumcision" whereby your all in all is in Christ Jesus. He alone is the answer to your dilemma. If there be any boasting, it is to be found in Him "which raiseth the dead..." or can do the impossible.
"Oh, for grace to stand in this self-renunciation. Our proud nature is all too apt to fix its trust on the puffed-up and fraudulent power of the creature. Arm of flesh, how dare I trust you? How dare I bring on myself the curse of those who rely on man?"
Do these statements from Spurgeon reflect your attitude today?
If not, why not stop everything that you are doing and take the time to pray - resolving that - from this moment onward - you are going to trust wholly in Jesus' name for your victory and no longer lean on the "Arm of the Flesh."
Your breakthrough will be guaranteed if you do.
Copyright Connie Giordano
