Vessels for God’s Victory

How often do we call to mind that God has a purpose toward us? Because each time we face a situation, there is God in it to work through us for the world and for us. When we are faith oriented and trust God for everything that has come up in our life, He then is executing His purpose through us for His kingdom. We are called not only to become His sons, but heirs who receive an inheritance so that His purpose is fulfilled in us. We inherit the nature and blessings of Christ and thereby become just as Christ is to God. So then with this in mind Paul said, “This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:11).

God purposed long ago that we should become vessels for His victory over sin and Satan. This has come to our attention when we were saved by grace. Grace has made us realize God’s profound calling wherein we accurately distinguish between the life of the flesh and life in the flesh. The former is realized as sin leading to death. The latter is of God’s purpose. It is righteousness executing God’s will. When each one’s purpose is brought together by the power of God, God attains victory. As many are His callings so are His purposes. All were carried out in Jesus and we are living them out. In other words, God has already seen our purposes fulfilled which He planned according to and for the Person Jesus Christ. So then our confidence regarding this life is insurmountable. For as we face countless situations in life we know they are all for eternal victory; every situation presented before us is part of God’s plan whether pain, sacrifice, worry, loss, fear, insult, persecution, perplexity and poverty or riches, gain, joy, power, peace, satisfaction and authority. All were planned long ago in Christ.

There is not a single believer that will escape from executing God’s purpose for him. If he or she belongs to Him, they will fulfill His purpose albeit in varying fashions and amounts. If we have willfully tasted Christ, we have obligated ourselves for His purpose to us. “so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober” (1 Thess. 5:6). Wasting life on the premises that God will somehow rescue us is missing the point. It is true that He rescues us and if it is by discipline, it yields less demonstration of righteousness for Christ and more of God’s righteousness against us. In this fashion God’s purpose for those who waste life is executed. But the one who demonstrates Christ in the flesh gains life and rewards. So then to sleep is to regard each situation as outside of God’s will and to be sober and alert is to regard them for God’s victory.

The apostle Peter put pen to the following words signifying our nature for sobriety and alertness. “According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure” (1 Pet. 1:2). It is God’s foreknowledge that we will individually play our part in His victory. In order that we accomplish this feat He sanctified us with His Spirit so that we can fully understand His purpose to us. For when He sanctified us He made us like Him again that we see life and His kingdom from His perspective. The Spirit that sanctified us and lives in us convicts us to obey Jesus and rid ourselves of any impurities that afflict us along the way. In such process God’s grace and peace will come upon us to the degree that suffices our purpose for Him. As we run to fulfill our purpose or focus on it, everything relating to our life on earth will see satisfaction just as it is said “and all these things will be added to you.”

In taking up the journey of fulfilling God’s purpose we certainly escape the pain that appears due to the wrath of God. God’s wrath falls on all unrighteousness and sin. It is only in His purpose there is the privilege of escaping it. His purpose is the secure way through the tumults of life. Without it men will face wrath. “Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever” (Rev. 15:7). God will punish men for their atrocities from time to time. The seven bowls indicate the various stages of His wrath against men who do not wish to turn away from sin and do not wish to acknowledge His ways. By executing His purpose in us He makes sure we do not fall under it. And when we are actively letting Him work in us, we clearly see and enjoy the result.

So, remember the words of the apostle Paul to which we are called. “Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives?” (Rom. 7:1). By being in God’s purpose His law applies to us and we are governed by it. It is by it that all those who put on Christ are kept, whether by discipline or by obedience. Once we enter His purpose His law has authority over us, and it is a much needed favor. It is such a favor, since it keeps us in Christ and in God’s sight. Hence, we claim His promise to never leave nor forsake us.

Jesus said, “I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away” (Luke 19:26). When we are in God’s sight and with His law, God will provide us more by all that which we do for Him. This verse is a statement to God’s judgment toward those that constantly press forward in His purpose and against those who are outside His law. Do you wish to have more? Apply His purpose to you more. The quickly and often we turn away from the impurities of the flesh the more surety we have for receiving more. Everything we receive will directly affect our life as well as God’s kingdom. We need to start reaping from God’s will to us. Then the perimeters of our life increase to the extent that God becomes unconcerned (fearless) with our way of life.

Those that kept their God-given purpose did not lose their place with God. The former people that lived their purpose for Christ did so with a view to give to God victory and were remembered. “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:” (Matt. 1:1). They escaped the eternal pain and were lauded alongside Jesus. If we who came after Christ too cherish God’s purpose to us so that He receives victory and all the glory that follows, we too will be remembered in a magnificent fashion yet to be revealed.

Posted in 2016, Archives, RECENT ARTICLES.