Learning to Depend on the LORD

“For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.” Psalms 38:18

Understanding and declaring our state of spiritual poverty is where it all begins. Victory will ensure when we do things God’s way – the way of the cross.

WE are all imperfect, hopelessly sinful without Christ’s saving and enabling grace, and perfectly in need of HIM! So, we must become dependent – on Him.

The cross is the divine prescription for a holy life which means a life set apart to the LORD (Psalms 4:3). The posture of the true disciple is never to hide behind the sham of self-proclaimed sinless perfection. No, rather to admit any and all sin before God, to surrender afresh, and to depending on the LORD in an abiding relationship (Proverbs 16:18; 28:13; 1 John 1:8-10, etc.). Amen Jesus! YOU are able, YOUR grace (divine enablement) is sufficient in all things that bring You glory (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Holiness is not just staying out of sin, no holiness in the divine definition, is abiding in Christ, being set apart with Him (John 15). One can be abstaining from adultery, fornication, murder, etc., and yet have a heart full of damning self-righteousness and pride. God will not work with us if we harbor pride but rather will resist us and we will “fall” and have “destruction” (James 4:6-10; Proverbs 16:18). Yes, God commands His people to “Be ye holy; for I am holy” and “let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Corinthians 7:1) Your own self-effort is not sufficient but rather the grace of God dispensed to those who walk in the cross life with Jesus (Romans 6). The LORD alone brings this about through the cross life which is His prescription for walking with Him! (2 Corinthians 4:10-12)

“But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.” Psalms 4:3

Seeking the face of the LORD “continually” is essential to and synonymous with abiding in Christ.

“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11

I am not a good person, neither are you – “There is none righteous, no, not one:” (Romans 3:10) Admit it. The sooner we become HONEST with that which is more than obvious, announcing freely and transparently – that there is “NOOOO good thing” in us except CHRIST, the sooner God will begin a new, deeper work in us! (Romans 7:18, 24) The Cross!

EXCUSE ME, what did Jesus say you MUST do “DAILY” to “follow” Him? -deny self, take up the cross, follow him! (Luke 9:23-24)

ANY man not telling you to die to self is 100% a fraud! He’s preaching “another gospel” and is “accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9) He’s talking about blessing, resurrection, without death and burial which MUST precede because he’s selling you down the river as a agent of Satan himself! Run. Jesus says you must die to self, you must lose your life, you must lay down your life: so who’s lying?

“verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.” Psalms 39:5

SIN IS MANKIND’S CORE ISSUE AND DILEMMA AND ONLY JESUS CAN FORGIVE AND SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. “THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.” (ROMANS 6:23)

THE SINLESS PERFECTIONISM sham is not God’s way. No, He wants His people to be honest before Him and His body and cease pretending (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:6-10, etc.). Such honesty, such authenticity is essential to true holiness – that which God alone can grant through an abiding life in Christ, in the cross (Luke 8:15; John 15). Pride undergirds this evil disposition and such self-righteous arrogance is fostered and fed by many today who read the writings of false teachers like Charles Finney instead of Holy Scripture. Please share as there are many in our midst who are misled.

“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20 

Jesus spoke the following parable to teach the evil of self-righteousness and the blessing of truly seeking and trusting God’s righteousness.

“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14 

Not one of us in perfect and yet, we must seek to become perfectly dependent upon God, asking Him to remove all self-righteousness from our lives, and cease wrongly judging others.

“Trust in the LORD (not self) with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7

ASTOUNDINGLY we have the “holier than thou,” I-NEVER-sin crew running around. God says He hates this arrogance. This is not a new thing. Listen to Isaiah the prophet beloved:

“Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.” Isaiah 65:5

There is never an excuse for sin (James 1:13-15). Being honest  concerning our own frailty and need for the LORD, is not about making excuse, but rather, realizing our ever present need for the grace of God in living pleasing before Him.

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

THE BORN AGAIN BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST HAS NEED TO DAILY REPENT AND CONFESS AS NEEDED AND TO REMAIN IN A HUMBLE, TEACHABLE, TENDER POSTURE OF HEART.

“The longer and the deeper I go with the Lord, I realize the imperfections within, and that I absolutely cannot and will not make excuses for them, – even if I wanted to. There is a spiritual mirror held up to my heart that shows me otherwise. But He is leading me in the paths of righteousness. Halleluyah!” Anita Armagnac

WE NEED JESUS AND ARE NOTHING WITHOUT HIM! WITHOUT JESUS WE ARE NOTHING (ROM. 7:18, 24). WE HAVE NO ABILITY TO PLEASE GOD OUTSIDE OF ONENESS WITH CHRIST! HAVE YOU MEMORIZED JOHN 15:5?