The Paradox of Power and Weakness – Purity 1779
Purity 1779 10/04/2025 Purity 1779 Audio Podcast
Purity 1779 on YouTube:
Good morning,
Today’s photo my canine pal Harley, a cross like utility pole and the sun lighting up the horizon over an otherwise “dusky road” comes to us from yours truly as I capture this scene while returning to my countryside home last evening.
Well, It’s Saturday and as I am rejoicing once again to be back in the presence of my beloved wife, TammyLyn, and to have properly navigated yesterday’s bought of anxiety. When I mentally reframed my anxiety over going back to work into two equally probable and fully manageable outcomes, and reminded myself of my “safe place” in God’s kingdom, I was able to shake off my anxious feelings and find peace in knowing that no matter what the future holds in store next week, I, with the Lord’s help, will nbe able to handle it.
My life experience and, specifically, my experiences with God’s presence, mercy, grace, love, and favor have taught me that there really is nothing that God and I can’t handle.
With that said please understand that saying that doesn’t mean, I walk through life perfectly. I wouldn’t have to overcome moments of anxiety if I did, right? Beyond momentary bouts with negative mind states, I can fall into “sin” from time to time when I forget about the comfort, peace, and power I have when I live in the Spirit and inexplicably seek comfort from the things of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Satan longs to lead us astray and when we consider alternatives to living by what God’s word says is true, we can easily fall into sin. Even when we know what is right, and want to do what is right, we can still unexplicably do the opposite of what we intend to do. Romans 7 describes the pain of this but like Paul, when we fall down, we have to turn the page and enter into the hope and freedom that is found in Romans 8 – where the law of the Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and death. The paradox of the weakness of our flesh and the power of the Spirit admits to the realities of sin but offers the way of escape to hope and victory. When we submit to God, and resist the devil, we can experience the freedom of the abundant life of Christ and overcome our sins for good.
I have sustained victory over many of the sins of my past to confirm this, but I am not “sin” free because I still have some areas of my life where I struggle to do what its right on a continual and consistent basis. But I also have the hope that God will give me freedom in the areas where I fall down, if I surrender my sin to the Lord and stay with Him where freedom dwells.
Speaking of the struggle with our weakness of the flesh and the strength we have in the power of the Holy Spirit, the In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley devotion for today addresses this paradox, so I am sharing it on the blog to encourage us all to let the Holy Spirit to guide us into the truth of a life of freedom. Dr, Charles Stanley writes:
“Looking for Fruit
The fruit of the Spirit is seen in our character, not just in what we do.
Galatians 5:16-26
All believers want the fruit of the Spirit, but many are unsure if they truly have it. The fruit is not what we do; it’s who we are. Two principles help us recognize these traits, both in fellow Christians and ourselves.
Fruitful believers are not controlled by their environment. Everyone experiences trials and pain, but those who are filled with the Spirit are not controlled by their situation. They keep their joy even when difficulties overwhelm (Romans 5:3-5). Because the Holy Spirit is in control, He is free to produce His fruit no matter what the circumstances are. Though such believers may feel pain or anger, they choose to trust the Lord to protect them and direct the outcome.
Fruitful Christians recover quickly after a fall. These believers are not perfect, but they’re sensitive to the Spirit’s conviction and quick to turn to the Lord in repentance. In fact, they are grateful for correction and praise God, not only for revealing their weakness but also for drawing them back to obedience.
Believers can’t produce these qualities in themselves. Character transformation occurs when we submit to God, giving Him complete control of our life. Only then will the Spirit be free to produce fruit that lasts, even in hardest seasons.” – Charles Stanley
Amen. The truth of Stanley’s words are inspiring, convicting, and encouraging. The principles he gives are oddly contradictory – if fruitful believers are not controlled by their environment, why would they have to recover quickly from a fall? – but they speak of the harsh realities of life (we’re not perfect like Christ so we are not sin free) and the paradox of our faith (if we abide in Christ and walk in the Spirit, we are given the power to overcome that which otherwise so easily would ensnare us).
The two principles may seem contradictory but are true when we surrender our self agency and submit to God.
And don’t get it twisted, we don’t just passively sit and wait on the Lord, we do that to some extent sure, but because of the hostility of the world, the flesh, and the devil against our attempts at repentance, we must “actively surrender” – another paradox – and choose to submit to God’s power every day.
When we are walking in the Spirit, we experience the truth and power of principle #1 – our environment doesn’t control us! In truth, we have the power to say no even to the most enticing temptation. When. we are “in the zone” – walking in the Spirit – nothing could drag us back into sin.
But just like Peter walking on the water, when we take our eyes off of Christ, get fearful, or just “tired” and seek comfort from the things of this world, we can fall and we can fall hard.
Thus the need for principle #2, we recover quickly after a fall.
So if or when you fall, don’t roll around in your sin, don’t beat yourself up for failing, and don’t believe the lie that God has stopped loving you or helping you. God lifts us out of our muck and puts us back on His path when we simply renounce our fallen ways and ask for forgiveness and restoration.
When we recognize our weakness and ask for God’s strength, He is faithful to help us.
So if you are walking tall in the spirit today, rejoice over the truth of how you are not controlled by your environment. Your faith has given you the power to overcome – so thank God, rejoice, and keep on walking.
If you have stumbled and want to live in the power of the Holy Spirit – let today be that start of a new beginning by going to the Lord in prayer. Pray for forgiveness and restoration strength. Acknowledge your weakness and rely on the Lord to pick you up and to carry you to victory and freedom each new day.
God has blessed us with the Holy Spirit and the ability to experience freedom. All we have to do to experience it is to stay close to the Lord with each step of our walk and to ask Him for a helping hand to pick us up when we fall.
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For those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple encouragements provide, I offer apologist, Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/.
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Today’s Bible verse comes to us from “The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling” By John G. Kruis.
(While Bible verses on various topics of Counseling can be found with a quick Google search, we encourage you to purchase this resource to support the late author’s work. (The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling By John G. Kruis on Amazon )
This morning’s meditation verses come from the section on Peacemakers – Peacekeepers.
Proverbs 26:21 (NASB) Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
Today’s verse is the third of four passages of scriptures that fall under the sixteenth point of our counseling reference guide resource section on Peacemakers – Peacekeepers.
16. Be patient. Bear with one another.
Today’s Bible verse discourages our natural tendencies to be contentious by making the analogy that our fighting spirit could erupt into an uncontrollable fire of strife.
The world teaches us that we may have to fight for the things we want in life but beyond friendly competition the Bible warns us that our contentious spirit could lead to strife,
The dictionary tells us that strife is a noun referring to a fierce or violent struggle, conflict, or disagreement, often involving intense antagonism, rivalry, or discord. It can describe a state of bitter argument or a violent clash, such as in armed conflict or political disputes.
If we want peace in our lives, we don’t want strife anywhere nears. So go to the Lord and ask Him to give you peace in your heart and wisdom in your mind to resolve conflicts in ways that wont be so contentious and lead to strife.
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As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.com where I always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today we continue sharing from “Day by Day Along the Way” By Jay E. Adams.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Adams’ books for your own private study and to support the late author’s work. This resource is available online for less than $20 at many sites.
Day 278
… walk! – Acts 3:6
It was one thing for the Lord Jesus to call upon the lame to walk, but here, we see apostles performing miracles—just as their Savior had! We have seen earlier that Jesus was still at work through them. Peter made it absolutely clear that it was not in his own name or power that he could do so; it was in the Name of Jesus Christ and solely by His power (3:16; 4:10). There was power in the “Name,” as Peter kept on saying to those who heard. Indeed, he preached a sermon about the reason for Jesus’ coming, based on the Name He bore (vv. 12–26). Jesus had given His apostles authority to represent Him. That authority included the ability to do miracles in His Name. This power was not only for the benefit of those that they helped, but primarily, to authenticate their apostleship (2 Corinthians 12:12), just as Jesus’ miracles authenticated Him as Messiah. Because Jesus appointed no more apostles after the New Testament era, this need for apostolic authentication ceased, so there are no more miracles performed by His representatives. But Jesus is still at work, saving people through His Name.[1]
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[1] Jay E. Adams, Day by Day along the Way (Cordova, TN: Institute for Nouthetic Studies, 2020), 286.
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