COV LIFE BLOG

Philippians 2:14-18 – Living The Christian Life By The Word of Life

We are strengthened by the word of life, and we need to mature if we are going to keep living in a blameless and God-pleasing way right in the midst of a crooked and depraved generation, when all the currents flowing around us would discourage us from living like that. But the word of life is a powerful and efficacious word, that is, it achieves its God-given purpose in us. It makes the people of God perfectly mature and complete, and it thoroughly equips them for every good work in a thoroughly bad world. They can stand in an evil day, and having done all they keep standing. They shine as stars in this dark world. In other words there is no secret why there are mature congregations and strong believers. They have committed themselves to ministries that are intent under God of achieving holy change in the lives of God’s elect. Their preachers remorselessly plough the word of life, and sow the word of life, and water and nourish the word of life, and harvest the word of life in their congregations every Lord’s Day. The people who attend to such a word are thus enabled to keep shining as lights in a depraved world.

What are you going to do with this new strength that this mighty word of life gives? We’ve been insisting that as you keep holding the word that you’re in possession of illimitable new resources. Through the word of life you can climb any mountain. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. You can run and not grow weary. You can walk and not faint. You can mount up with wings as an eagle. You can overcome any temptation.

[Remember Isaac Watts] words about the security of the child of God:

“Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure.”

Through the protecting grace of God, under the shadow of his throne, you are able to live a blameless life without grumbling and complaining. Bishop Handley C.G. Moule writes about talking to a young Christian who was preparing for the gospel ministry, and he was meeting some coolness from people who were telling him how impossible he’d find that vocation. He – the young student – said so artlessly and earnestly to the old Dr Moule, “Ah, they all say that it is so hard; no one can really do it; no one can keep it up. But we must speak to them about the indwelling Spirit of God, about the Lord’s power in us; then they will find that it is possible, and is happy.”

Geoff Thomas

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Heart Preparation
Read Philippians 2:14-18. What can you be without the indwelling word of life within you? How do allow that word to get inside of you? And how do you begin even now to live out the word that has been implanted in you?

Song for This Week
To The Cross I Cling by Village Church