October 6
PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE / PART 3
O WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM!
-Romans 7:23,24 states, … But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and
bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me
from the body of this death? …
-THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND STATEMENTS THAT THE APOSTLE PAUL MADE IN ALL OF HIS WRITINGS! When a person
comes to the understanding ( revelation ) that ALL THEIR PROBLEMS ARE TO BE FOUND WITHIN THEM, it is equivalent to a pregnant
woman whose water breaks, for then she knows the baby is sure to come forth. To realize that we are wretched outside of God
does not at first sound like good news. After we get over the initial shock of seeing our total depravity ( the condition
of our hopeless nature ), we are then IN POSITION TO RECEIVE OF GOD’S DIVINE NATURE, WHICH GIVES US ALL THINGS THAT
PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS. It is not until we see ourselves for who we are outside of God that we can see the potential
of WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST.
-This process of seeing ourselves as wretched is not a pity party or false humility, but rather, we are coming
to the place where we are poor in spirit, for Jesus said, … Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven … This could also be referred to as the BADGE OF BROKENNESS. It is an awareness of our inherited spiritual
condition outside of God. After realizing this ( being brought to a realization of this by God ), we are now headed in the
right direction, which causes us to look unto GOD AS OUR POWER SOURCE. We will begin to see Him as the AUTHOR AND FINISHER
OF OUR FAITH. This brings us to a place of total hopelessness in self, but of total victory in Christ. We become totally dependent
on the grace of God, having no confidence in the flesh.
-This is what Jesus was referring to when He explained the process of denying self, taking up our cross, and
following Him. As we enter into this process, we will find that death ( the carnal mind that is in us ) is giving way to the
life of Christ, being swallowed up in victory. This will take our attention off of trying to fight the Devil, which is really
not our problem, for we are not told ( in scripture ) to fight the Devil, but rather, we are told to SUBMIT TO GOD. We must
lose our life for His name’s sake, for then, and only then, will we find life. This is the key to any and all victory
in God. ( Scriptures used: 2nd Peter 1:3-4, Matthew 5:3, Hebrews 12:2, Philippians 3:3, Matthew 16:24-25, 1st
Corinthians 15:54-56, James 4:7. ) Now for some hope from …
-GOD’S DIVINE POWER!-
