“To…the elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” I Peter 1:2-5
Those of us who are in Christ have this precious promise; we are “kept by the power of God” through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. We are called the “elect of God.” God has “begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” We have been given an “inheritance and all that it contains will be revealed upon our glorification in heaven”. We are being kept through faith in the power and faithfulness of God.
In this position, we are kept by God through temptations, struggles, sin, failures, torments from within, torments from without, from the wiles of the devil, hardships, emotional and physical pain, despair, unknowns, tribulations, the snares of the world, etc. Just think about all that a saint might experience. All of us in Christ have a testimony to tell! You may have lost hope, yet it was not the final word. God intervened and kept you from losing all hope. You may have lost a marriage, but it hasn’t stopped you from living. You were held by God’s power in the palm of his hand. Some have been the victims of other’s doing them harm, but God is caring for us. “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands…” Isaiah 49:16. You may have fallen into bondage through idolatry of pleasures. Some have entered into the door of darkness to some addiction, but you haven’t given up. Your addiction may have accelerated into other dysfunctional dispositions and you are pressing on, weak though you may be. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Even in our weakness, we are being KEPT by the POWER of God.
Many of the failures above have been the result of our own doing. Some have desired to escape reality. Others have ventured outside the will of God into bondage to relieve emotional or physical pain. But God is still with you.
Some have been faithful in their walk with God, but they are not exempt from pain, loss, tribulations, and dark spiritual assaults from the evil one. However, they press on inculcating the grace and joy that the Lord has dispensed on them. “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” I Peter 1:6-7.
And, there are those who are consumed with fear of the unknown. This particular emotion is a deadly assault upon the soul. Having rooted in the soul, fear spreads imaginations, speculations, and anxiety in the soul. Having been deceived and not knowing that the adversary of our souls is the origin of this deadly torrential fear, it is only by the mercy and grace of being KEPT by the POWER of GOD that one is rescued. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a SOUND MIND.” II Timothy 1:7. It is the devil himself who is the enemy of our souls who can take one into a fear that is unnatural, torrential, and demonic. “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” John 10:10. One in this condition needs the wisdom of godly men and women who can counsel and wield the sword of the Spirit to give help to one held captive in this spiritual darkness. The saints are one of the means God uses, working His power through them. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For our weapons of warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds…” II Corinthians 10:3-4. We have ministered to many in torrential torment that God, through his mercy and grace, has delivered. This has been accomplished by the use of warfare prayer. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:17-18. An excellent means of understanding how to use warfare prayer is found in Mark Bubeck’s book, The Adversary. I suggest you read it. It will be a great help to you.
Maybe you are troubled and full of questions. Remember, God has not abandoned you. He cares for you. “…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” Pursue Jesus. He will give you rest. “Come to me, all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” We have much to be thankful for; for in our inadequacies, tribulations, failures, darkness, and victories we are BEING KEPT by the POWER of GOD. We have an AWESOME GOD!
Where the grace blows,
