Saturday Motivation: Winners and Zero Confidence in the Flesh
25th January 2020
Saturday Motivation! Winners and Zero Confidence in the Flesh! Let`s Glow!
Text: Isaiah 31 v 1 -3
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help; who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord!
Yet he too is wise, and can bring disaster, He does not take back his words. He will rise up against that wicked nation, against those who help evildoers.
But the Egyptians are mortals and not God; and their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, those who help will stumble, those who are helped will fall; all will perish together.
Zero Confidence in the Flesh, what does it mean?
Flesh cannot stand against the fiery assaults of the evil one. It will surely crumble in times of need.
Matthew 26 v 41: says; the flesh is weak;
When a man is operating in the flesh, it often starts with a big bang or enthusiasm but this will wear out after some time because the flesh is weak.
As believers, we start with a mixture of flesh and grace but as we grow and mature, we get built more and more by grace in every area of our lives.
Boasting is a sign of being built by the flesh, because the flesh has contributed to the accomplishment of any deed done in a boastful manner.
On the other hand, a man led by God alone will naturally be humble because he is conscious of the fact that God`s grace made it possible for him to be where he is today. He will therefore give credit to God alone, not only with his lips, but from his heart.
As a person matures in God, boasting is gradually eliminated form every area of the person`s life. When divine energy takes over, such a person develops capacity for every opportunity and can go on and on without being weary because he is constantly energized and propelled by divine energy.
This was Jesus secret when he walked the earth. It was the divine energy he carried that wore the devil out in the end.
Jesus said in; John 14v30: The ruler of this world is coming. He has no hold on me!
The devil tried all his gimmicks on Jesus but could not make a scratch on him. He failed woefully.
This is the energy we should tap into if we want to be built by grace.
Philippians 4 v 13 is the key; it says: I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. I call it divine synergy.
It is better to take baby steps in accomplishing a task than procrastinating and never getting anything done.
So it is with doing God`s Will. We should start with the clarity, divine energy and motivation that He shines on our path. As we move along the way, God will increase the clarity in the next step, our energy will increase, gain momentum and we will begin to operate at the speed fuelled by divine energy.
Points to remember1. Flesh is deceptive and carries no power; If a man wants to learn by experience and suffer disaster, such a man will go ahead and continue to trust in the flesh and in man`s wisdom.
The flesh is futile and unreliable. It carries no power andleads nowhere. Our comfort should always be in the Almighty because the wing of God is more reliable to shield and protect us. It is tender and everlasting than the wings of a bird. We should therefore put our complete trust in God!
It is a contradiction of confidence in God and in his word when we trust in unlawful means to achieve wealth, fame or fortune. God does not need our sinful expedience to care for us. An example of such a scenario is a case where the scripture says; go this way or do things this way and you seek alternative counsel or you do it your own way and not God`s way.
To avoid damning and disheartening consequences, it is better to heed God`s warning of “zero confidence in the flesh”.2. Trusting in Flesh only brings disaster; Not trusting in God often leads to disaster and so is not listening to God or not being able to understand Him when He speaks. We must be able to understand God when He speaks. We should always pray to God to give us the spirit of discernment. Often in life, we meet variety of people. Some would come to us like angels when in actual fact they are not. The devil only comes to steal, to kill and to destroy. The spirit to decipher good from evil is a special gift from God which we all need. Proverbs 14 v 12 says; there is a way that seems right unto man, but the end thereof is destruction. We shall not be destroyed in Jesus Mighty Name! Amen!3. Trusting in Flesh is hostility with God; A man ruled by flesh cannot submit to God`s laws, God`s plan or God`s purpose and he never will. A man ruled by flesh will never submit to Godly wisdom. Only his wisdom will seem right to him but the final result of not trusting in God is a great fall or a gigantic fail.
As believers who operate by divine energy, God is jealous over us. We are His treasure. We do not have to fear anything if we follow Him wholeheartedly. Nothing shall be impossible for us because we serve the impossibility specialist. Nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord! (Romans 8 v 35–38)
When we follow and trust God totally, it gives us confidence and a lasting peace. We are not moved by circumstances around us. We are moved by the power of God which is evident in His Word!
Turning away from God and relying on flesh is declaring open hunting season against oneself. Immediately this happens, the devil gets to work. Ecclesiastes 10 v 11; says: If the snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee. The interpretation of this is that if a man trust in an unfriendly friend, such a friend will bite him secretly like a serpent and give deadly wounds to his character or personality. The babbler`s tongue is an unruly evil full of deadly poison. By rash unprincipled and slanderous talk, he brings open or secret vengeance upon those who trust in him. Remember Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, how they were tricked by the serpent. This led to theirfall and eternal separation from God. So be watchful. Have zero confidence in the flesh. Trust in the Lord! 4. Trusting in Flesh and divine accountability: It is an effort in futility for a man to trust in the flesh, it is an illusion to be led by the flesh and believe the words of a mere mortal. It is a mirage to act on the words uttered by a mere mortal. As believers, our total reliance must be in God. He is a just God and He will bring every deed, acts and utterances we make to judgment. We will all give an account.
It is better to follow God now than to keep following men. It is better to trust in God than to trust in the flesh. There is an everlasting peace that comes with trusting in God and His Word. No hassles at all. No they said, he said, I heard, have you heard etc. God knows the future as much as we know our pasts. And so He is warning us all to repent and return to Him. Someday, there will be no chance to repent and return. It`s better late than never!
John 6 v 63: The spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and life.
You might be thinking, is it not too late for me, will God forgive me, I have done this, I have done that, I have committed this sin and that sin. I tell you, God does not want any soul to perish in hell. He wants us all to come to repentance and be restored back to Him. He is our first love and our last love. He will forgive all if we come to true repentance.
He is saying this to us again today just as He has said it over a trillion times through many that were sent to deliver this same message; Trust me. Have Zero confidence in the flesh. I will answer, I will restore. I love you. You are worth more than Gold!
Will you answer His call today? Give God a chance to glow in you. It`s your time to glow! So let`s glow together with the Lord!
May the Lord bless the reading of His words in our hearts!
Shalom!