The Possibility of Failure (continued)

Beloved, in continuance of our theme, “The Possibility of Failure” - although there is no possibility of failure in our God, at times, if we are not constantly walking “after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1), there is a chance of failure in us, because of our flesh. Even Paul acknowledged this, after some 20 years as a dedicated Christian, when he wrote that it is “possible” for a man or a woman to “fail”. Notice that he included himself when he wrote, “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection (discipline): lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (I Corinthians 9:27). Paul acknowledged that not only himself, but any man or woman may be overcome if he is not everlastingly vigilant.

Precious Ones, all of us who live in this flesh have tendencies within us that are contrary to holiness. However, after acknowledging them, we are not to give in to them. Jesus Christ our Savior did not die for the penalty of our sins to be removed so that we would have an excuse to fail. On the contrary, Beloved, after Christ shed His blood on Calvary, we gained the power, through the releasing of His Spirit, to mortify (kill), restrain and repress those tendencies. To those of us who have the “power of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 1:8) dwelling in our lives, Paul’s message to us is “walk in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

Chosen Ones, it is unmistakable that “the flesh lusteth after the spirit...so that (we) cannot do the things (we) would (or, cannot fulfill our spiritual desires)” (Galatians 5:17). Beloved, the only remedy for conquering the evil temptations of the flesh is to constantly walk in the Spirit, because we cannot make it by ourselves. Our testimony has to be, “in Him we live, and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). It is impossible for our God (whose Name is Jesus) to fail, and as long as we walk in Him, we will not fail.

I will write more on this subject next week.

I love you all SO very much!
In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy