WE come now to the 16th chapter of our study in Principles of Spiritual Growth, titled Help. Just like the idea of “Rest” had a paradoxical element of which we were to labor in, likewise we are going to find something a little odd here as well. This is a short chapter, and to the point.
I RECALL many a year ago a faithful pastor preaching from Eph. 1:3, from the old KJV, (still my favorite) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; saying, “Why do you ask for what you already have, seek what is already yours? God says you have ‘all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ,” why do you ask to be blessed when you possess every blessing already?” He said, “Do you see that little word ‘hath,’ it is spelled ‘got it.’ The blessings are already yours; it is just matter of acknowledging and drawing upon them.” It is funny how that one sermon has stuck with me over the years. He went on and pointed out other scriptures saying the same thing like 2Pet. 1:3, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Really? All things? … It is interesting how Paul and Peter lead off these two letters with these two comments, and similar comments can be found elsewhere.
WHICH bring us to today’s consideration where our author opens with what might appear to a counter-intuitive idea: For most of us, it is time to stop asking God for help. He didn’t help us to be saved, and He doesn’t intend to help us live the Christian life. ..Really? But aren’t we commanded to “ask, seek, and knock” (Matt 7:7)? Yes, but every text has a context, and we need to be ardent students, rightly understanding this living Word (2Tim 2:15). So, we’ve something to chew on, as we look at today’s consideration.
Just one more point before we commence with our reading. Please note that I have made a couple of bracketed edits to the authors following comments for the purpose of clarity.
In the inexorable riches of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa 30:15, Jas. 1:2
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Chapter 16—Help
For most of us, it is time to stop asking God for help. He didn’t help us to be saved, and He doesn’t intend to help us live the Christian life.
Immaturity considers the Lord Jesus a helper. Maturity knows Him to be life itself. Dr. J.E. Conant wrote: “Christian living is not our living with Christ’s help, it is Christ living His life in us. Therefore, that portion of our lives that is not His living is not Christian living; and that portion of our service that is not His doing is not Christian service; for all such life and service have but a human and natural source, and Christian life and service have a supernatural and spiritual source.” Paul insisted, “For to me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21) and, “I can do all things through Christ” (4:13).
It has been said that Satan’s great device is to drive earnest souls back to beseeching God for what God says has already been done! Each of us had to go beyond the “help” stage for our new birth and thank Him for what He had already done on our behalf. God could never answer a prayer for help in the matter of justification. The same principle holds true for the Christian life. Our Lord Jesus waits [for the right moment(s), leading us by the Spirit] to be all in us and do all through us. “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him” (Col. 2:9, 10).
God is not trusted, not honored, in our continually asking Him for help. In the face of “my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19), how can we beg for help? Our responsibility is to see in the Word all that is ours in Christ and then thank and trust Him for that which we need.
Sooner or later, we must face up to what F. J. Huegel declares: “When a Christian’s prayer life springs from a right position (a thorough adjustment to Christ in His death and resurrection), a vast change in procedure follows. Much of the mere begging type (though of course asking is always in order, for the Lord says, ‘Ask, and ye shall receive’ [John 16:24]) gives away to a positive and unspeakably joyous appropriation. …to be continued
