An Encouraging Truth For Weak Moments: Standing firm is ultimately not a matter of our strength; God makes us stand firm.
- 2 Corinthians 1:21.
- Certainly it needs to be said that we need to do our part in standing firm. We are instructed at various points in the New Testament to stand firm. A decision would be devastating to give up instead of persevering or pursue temptation instead of pushing it away. God’s part means nothing if we have not done our part.
- Having said that, there is a larger truth here. Even when we are doing all that we can to stand firm, there is a limitation to what we do endure in our own power. Situations, circumstances, and opportunities might be too much for us. This is why we ultimately need God’s power to help us stand firm.
- What that actually looks like, though, is something that we might not have a firm grasp on. This passage helps. It shares three ways that God helps us stand firm. If you’re facing a situation right now where you’re not sure if you have the strength to stand firm, be encouraged by the truths shared here.
Three Ways God Helps Us Stand Firm:
1. God directs and empowers our service mission.
- 2 Corinthians 1:21 – “He anointed us.”
- 2 Samuel 16:13; Luke 4:18.
- When we think of anointing, most of us immediately think of pouring oil on someone. While that is one definition of anointing, it can also mean choosing someone for a particular service mission.
- In this case, the anointing is not by oil but by the Holy Spirit.
- Some examples of this type of “anointing”:
a. 2 Samuel 16:13.
- Here David is anointed by Samuel for the service he will do and the work he is to accomplish.
b. Luke 4:18.
- Here Jesus declares that He has been anointed by the Holy Spirit for the mission God had given Him.
- I don’t want to get too caught up in making this distinction and fail to get to the larger point. The larger point is that we as Christians are not just supposed to do a little something if we can manage it. Rather, we are empowered for our service mission by the very anointing of God. He has directed us in the service mission that He has envisioned for us.
- This is a powerful truth worthy of our attention. God has plans for us and our service. I’m reminded of Ephesians 2:10 that speaks of us being the workmanship of God and that God has “good works” that He “prepared in advance for us to do.”
- As we faithfully attempt to pursue God’s will for our lives, He will guide us into opportunities of service that He has planned out for us because of the unique spiritual gifts and talents that we bring to the table. Our service is not a random selection of “what happens to be available.” God has planned our opportunities for maximum impact. This requires, though, that we are eager to serve and ready to be used.
- We may think of this in terms of extraordinary ministry opportunities or life-changing conversations, but such dramatics aren’t necessary. It can be everyday moments. It can be small acts of service. It can be common courtesies shared at the right time with the right person. It’s a matter of being available for the Holy Spirit to utilize.
- Now, how does this help us “stand firm”?
- That’s simple. We are encouraged along the way to continue by seeing God use us to touch lives. Many Christians get discouraged by believing that they have nothing of worth to offer the Kingdom of God. Sure, the preacher has talent. Sure, that singer has talent. But not me.
- When we grasp the idea that we have been anointed for service, we can begin to see the ways that God desires to use us. We need to begin to see ourselves for what we are: servants anointed for ministry.
2. God has promised that He will not abandon us.
- 2 Corinthians 1:22 – “[He] . . . set His seal of ownership on us . . . .”
- Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30.
- First, what is a seal? We think of the ancient days when a king would put his royal seal on, say, a letter to indicate that it was from his hand. It’s an indication of ownership, of possession.
- Second, let’s ask what the “seal” is. The answer is that it’s the Holy Spirit. We read in Ephesians 1:13 and Ephesians 4:30 that the Spirit is God’s seal on us.
- It’s worth noting that Paul describes it as a “seal of ownership.” What’s that mean? The Holy Spirit is many things to us: a helper, a comforter, a guide, etc. He also is an indication that we are owned by God. That we have given ourselves to Him through what Christ has done for us and that we now belong to Him.
- Some would find comfort in that truth. Others will find it troubling because they want to be saved while retaining the throne in their lives. Those who desire this latter arrangement do not understand what salvation is. Jesus is not only Savior but He also is Lord. And Lord means ownership. It means that God is the CEO of our lives.
- The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives is the indication that we have given ourselves to God.
- That idea is important in itself, but I want to chase down one of the things that idea leads us toward. Knowing we have God’s seal of ownership means that we can be certain that God will never abandon us.
- Why is that? Because we are God’s. And He will not abandon what belongs to Him.
- It’s one thing to say that you’re interested in something or that you find something attractive. It’s another to say that something belongs to you.
- If I am looking at cars in Huntington, I may like what I see but when I get home (90 minutes away), I don’t feel any need to drive all the way back down there to get one. On the other hand, if I leave my car in Huntington, I will drive all the way back down there to get it. Why? Because it belongs to me and therefore is worth the sacrifice of time.
- Knowing that I belong to God allows me to know that He will not abandon me. Why? Because I belong to Him!
- What does this have to do with standing firm?
- We can be confident that God will see to it that we do not reach a place of being disqualified. Why? Because we belong to Him.
3. God will finish what He started.
- 2 Corinthians 1:22 – “[He] . . . put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
- We’ve been talking about the Holy Spirit and that continues with the third statement.
- Here we also see that the Spirit is in our lives as a deposit. What’s that mean? Back when I had my first job many people purchased Coke in glass bottles. The pop companies wanted their bottles back so you had to pay a deposit of ten cents for each glass bottle that you purchased. When you brought the empty bottles back, the store would give you a credit of ten cents per bottle that was taken off your amount.
- The deposit was evidence that you intended to complete what you started.
- God has given us the Holy Spirit for several reasons, as we noted in point 2. One of those reasons is that the Spirit is a deposit to guarantee what is to come.
- What’s that mean – “what is to come”? It means that God intends to complete the work that He has begun in us. He intends to see the work of remaking us into Christ’s image all the way to completion.
- This, of course, is enormously good news. It means that God is not going to give up on us.
- What does this have to do with standing firm?
- God intends to finish what He has begun in me. He’s not going to cast me off halfway through the process. There may be moments when I am not fully standing firm in the abundance that Christ has offered us, but God will always make sure that I do not fail to the point of disqualification.
