What God Is Showing Me…
Part Three of a Three-Part Biblical Teaching Series
By Superintendent Dr. Gary L. Cordon, Sr.
Philippians 2:12–13 (KJV)
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
What if the Problem Is Bigger Than Our Ability?
Let’s return one final time to the kitchen counter. My wife had asked me to open a jar. I took it confidently. I attempted to twist the lid. Nothing happened. I tried again. And again. Still nothing! Eventually, I stopped trying. Then came the realization that inspired this entire series: Because I couldn’t open the jar, I no longer wanted to open the jar.
In our first lesson, we discovered how inability can sometimes influence unwillingness. In our second lesson, we learned that every weakness is not wickedness, every temptation is not sin, and every failure is not necessarily an act of rebellion.
Now we come to the most important question: What happens when we genuinely want to do what God requires, but discover that our own strength is insufficient? That brings us to the heart of the Gospel and the transforming work of the Holy Ghost.
1. God Never Intended for Us to Live the Christian Life Independently of Him
One of the greatest mistakes we can make is believing that Christianity is simply about becoming disciplined enough to do what is right. Discipline matters. Obedience matters. Faithfulness matters. But Christianity is not merely a program for improving human behavior. It is a relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ.
It involves regeneration, a new birth, a transformed heart, a renewed mind, and a life empowered by the Holy Ghost.
John 15:5 (KJV)
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
Jesus is speaking about our dependence upon Him for genuine spiritual fruitfulness. We cannot produce the life of Christ through our flesh alone. We need His life working within us, His grace sustaining us, His Word transforming our thinking, and the Holy Ghost empowering us to walk in obedience.
The solution to spiritual inability is not independence from God. It is deeper dependence upon Him.
2. God Doesn’t Merely Change What We Do; He Changes What We Want
Philippians 2:13 (KJV)
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Notice those two expressions: “To will.” And “To do.” God works in us to desire what pleases Him, and He works in us to accomplish what pleases Him. This is important because many people focus entirely upon outward behavior. They want to stop doing wrong, start doing right, and develop better habits.
But God’s work goes deeper. He deals with the desires of our hearts. He changes our affections. He renews our thinking. He transforms our priorities and teaches us to love what He loves. That is why holiness cannot be reduced to a collection of outward religious practices.
True biblical holiness involves a life increasingly surrendered to God: a heart that desires righteousness, a mind that welcomes truth, and a will that responds to the leadership of the Holy Ghost. God does not simply want us to behave differently. He transforms us so that we increasingly desire to live differently.
3. The Holy Ghost Empowers the Life God Requires
Ezekiel 36:26–27 (KJV)
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
What a remarkable promise! God speaks of giving His people a new heart, a new spirit, and His own Spirit within them. He doesn’t merely announce His righteous requirements and leave His people to accomplish them through unaided human effort. He works within them, transforms them, and leads them toward obedience.
This truth finds its fulfillment in the saving and sanctifying work of Jesus Christ and the ministry of the Holy Ghost.
Galatians 5:16 (KJV)
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Paul doesn’t merely tell believers to resist the flesh. He instructs them to walk in the Spirit. The Christian life must be lived under the influence, leadership, and power of the Holy Ghost. We learn to yield to His direction, respond to His conviction, submit to Scripture, and allow His work to produce the character of Christ within us.
4. Obedience Begins With Surrender
How do we move from willingness to obedience? First, acknowledge what God requires. We cannot obey a Word we refuse to receive. Second, confront our excuses. Stop changing God’s commandments to accommodate our preferences. Third, repent when we have sinned. Repentance is more than feeling badly; it involves turning toward God and away from sin.
Fourth, surrender our will. Stop treating obedience as something we will consider only when it becomes convenient. Fifth, act in dependence upon the grace and power of the Holy Ghost. Faithful obedience involves action. It is not enough to say we believe God’s Word while continually refusing to respond to it.
John 14:15 (KJV)
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Love and obedience belong together. We do not obey Jesus in order to purchase His love. We obey because we love Him and because His grace is transforming our lives.
5. Don’t Confuse Surrender With Passivity
When Paul says that God works in us both to will and to do, he is not teaching that we have no responsibility. Notice the preceding verse.
Philippians 2:12 (KJV)
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
Paul tells believers to work out their salvation, then explains that God is the One working within them. God works within us, and we respond through obedience. The power comes from Him, but we are responsible for yielding to His work.
Spiritual growth requires participation. We pray, study God’s Word, resist temptation, forgive, practice righteousness, remain accountable, worship, fellowship with believers, and keep surrendering ourselves to the Holy Ghost. These practices do not earn our salvation; they are ways we respond to God’s grace and grow in relationship with Him.
Surrender is not doing nothing. Surrender is doing what God requires while depending upon Him for the strength to do it.
6. What If I Struggle Again?
To the person genuinely trying to live for God who has experienced repeated struggles: do not mistake the presence of a struggle for the absence of God’s power. Spiritual growth often involves learning, correction, perseverance, and increasing dependence upon God. We must not become comfortable with sin, but neither should we surrender to hopelessness when we encounter difficulty.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
The weakness described in this passage must not be confused with permission to practice sin. But the principle of dependence is powerful. Our human insufficiency can remind us of our need for God’s strength.
You may be facing something you cannot overcome merely by making another promise. You may be struggling with an attitude that needs transformation or a habit that requires repentance, accountability, and consistent obedience. You may have discovered that good intentions are not enough. But your hope is not limited to your intentions! Your hope is in Jesus Christ, and His grace is sufficient.
7. The Peace of God Follows Our Surrender to God
I have often said: “The peace of God is the reward of the surrender to God.” That does not mean we will never experience opposition or that obedience will always be easy. It does not mean every difficult circumstance will disappear. It means that our hearts can rest in the One to whom we have surrendered.
We no longer need to defend what He is calling us to forsake, justify what His Word has condemned, or depend exclusively upon our own strength. We can trust Him, follow Him, obey Him, and grow in holiness through the power of the Holy Ghost.
What God Is Showing Me…
That simple jar at the kitchen counter helped me see something profound. The problem is not always that we don’t know what needs to be done. Sometimes we know; sometimes we even want to do it. But we discover that our strength is insufficient. When our strength fails, we face a decision: will we change our commitment, change our understanding of what is required, or acknowledge our need for help?
“When your ability fails, don’t allow your willingness to fail with it. Let your weakness become the reason you surrender more completely to God.”
“God does not simply give us commandments to obey; through His grace and Spirit, He transforms us into people who desire to obey Him.”
The Final Lesson From the Kitchen Counter
I wanted to open the jar. I tried. I failed. And eventually, I decided I didn’t want to try anymore. That may be understandable when we’re talking about a stubborn jar lid. But it is dangerous when we’re talking about our relationship with God.
When God requires something of us, we cannot simply abandon obedience because it becomes difficult. Neither can we accomplish His will independently of His grace. We must surrender, believe, and allow Him to work in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. “God is God and I believe God.”
Personal Reflection
- Am I attempting to live the Christian life through human determination rather than dependence upon Jesus Christ?
- Is there an area of my life where God is calling me to surrender my will?
- What practical act of obedience can I take today while depending upon the power of the Holy Ghost?
A Final Word of Encouragement
If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, the beginning of spiritual transformation is not simply trying to become a better person. It is turning from sin and placing your faith in Jesus Christ. He died for our sins. He rose again. Through Him we receive forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and new life.
If you already belong to Christ, continue growing in His grace. Allow His Word to correct you. Allow His Spirit to lead you. Never allow temporary failure to become a permanent excuse for disobedience. The God who requires holiness is the God who provides the grace to pursue it.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, thank You for revealing Your truth through ordinary experiences. Forgive us for allowing inability to become an excuse for unwillingness. Forgive us for resisting Your Word rather than surrendering to Your will. Create in us clean hearts. Renew right spirits within us. Holy Ghost, lead us into truth, strengthen us to resist temptation, and empower us to live holy, obedient lives that glorify Jesus Christ. Help us move beyond merely knowing what is right to faithfully doing what is right. May our lives become living evidence of Your saving and transforming grace. In the wonderful name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Thank you for joining me for this three-part teaching series, A Simple Definition of Sin. I pray these lessons encourage you to think more carefully about sin, human weakness, repentance, obedience, and the transforming power of God’s grace.
Continue Growing With Us
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Superintendent Dr. Gary L. Cordon, Sr.
Senior Pastor, The Evidence Churches — One Church • Two Locations
Superintendent, The Historic Edenton District COGIC
Our Mission: Win Souls, Keep Souls, Train Souls to Win Souls!