“I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”

Monday, June 27th, 2022

by Ken Pullen

A CROOKED PATH

…to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Colossians 1:25b-29 — English Standard Version

The most recent material published here on ACP was this; VIDEO: John Woodhouse – Bible Basics – A CROOKED PATH.

John Woodhouse traveled from Australia in May of this year to speak at the 2022 Basics Conference held at Parkside Church. That conference was primarily for pastors and those that minister in various ways. Although each talk given at that conference was geared to pastors each talk easily can be listened to and applied to every single person professing to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Each true believer that has been transformed by the Spirit of God does not need to be a pastor, a Bible teacher, a missionary in some far-off land, a Christian writer, and so on to apply the same knowledge of God’s Word in our service to the Lord. In our asking for increased spiritual wisdom in this greatest of wars being waged. In increased strength and faith. To never accommodate or appease any sin or evil. To not be partakers of the world but to “toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me,” increasing in spiritual maturity and discernment.

Prepared, equipped for the battle at hand.

To toil as best we can, as measured out by the Holy Spirit, for the sake, the light, the truth, the gospel of the good news which is Jesus Christ.

Christ alone. Christ crucified and resurrected. In Christ to turn to the Lord for our daily strength and direction.

Thus, living in the living Word much more than living in this corrupted and fallen world.

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

1 Peter 2:11-12 — English Standard Version

If we’re true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, true children of God rather than the children of disobedience, the children of darkness? We then know — we know to our core — we are not to attempt to create the kingdom of God here on earth. We are pilgrims here. This is not our home. Not even America. As difficult as that might be for some. Our home is in heaven. We can have very strong views on all political matters but we are to never imagine for a moment that an election, a politician, the government of man, a certain law, or a specific court opinion is going to make the world, shape the world into a “better place” and work towards making things good.

We don’t need to focus on climate change.

We need to focus on spiritual change.

We don’t need to engage in and fight in the culture war.

We need to equip, engage and do battle in the spiritual war.

And, yes, there is a vast difference. The former of those are created of, by, and pushed by the world.

The latter, by our knowledge of, our speaking of, our writing of, our standing firm without capitulation or accommodation of the world on the Word of God!

To make the Word of God fully known. To be a light in the darkness. In a joyous struggle and toil knowing what awaits in eternity…

I pray that you haven’t skipped over the link to the John Woodhouse talk and you take the time to watch and listen to that godly man serving the Lord.