God’s Preparation for Service, No. 6: Consequences
By Augusta C. Bainbridge
GOD’S PREPARATION FOR SERVICE. NO. 6.
While we have spoken of the last three lessons in order as next, that must not be considered as arbitrary in order of development, for one dear saint may learn them in a very different order from another. Neither can we say there is a certain order in their importance; for as we can not tell God’s rule of rank in these things, neither can we tell what may be of most importance to any individual, as each has his own distinctive disposition, surroundings, and so forth; and hence, his need. But one thing is certain, we must know them all before we can gain the victory of full deliverance; and our deliverance is in proportion to our experimental knowledge of these truths. The moment the eye is upward—I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord that He delivers me—that moment deliverance is found, just as our first gleam of salvation was found, not through self, but through Christ. But before the Spirit unfolds fully the blessed portion of the “not I” but “Christ in you,” He gives us the warning with the promise enfolded in the last sentence of Rom. 7:25. The enemy will never be a friend. Flesh is flesh and Christ is Christ, and knowing this, we learn to watch. By accepting and holding this position, one of the first consequences you will note will be an actual freedom from sin. When temptation comes, you will recognize it, and reckoning yourself dead, it has no power over you. Continuing to do this again and again, each temptation loses its power, and we can sing:— “Victory for me!
Through the blood [life] of Christ my Saviour,
Victory for me!
Through His precious blood [life].” Another consequence you will notice—you become dead to the law by the body of Christ, Rom. 7:4–6. That is, having Christ in you, you do not fear bondage to sin as forbidden by the law, but you delight in the law, and know, by faith, the Christ in you will keep His own law. Another consequence is that you are delivered from the world, crucified unto it. Gal. 6:14. Its true character has been detected and exposed. Viewing its allurements in the light of the cross, we understand James 4:4, and we want none of it. Another blessed consequence is that you lose the fear of man and his religious claims upon you. Once you and I owned it, we acknowledged it, we were alive to it; now, being dead with Christ, we lose sight of man entirely, being subject only to Him. Thus the employee works for his master, carpenter, cook, teacher or whatever his calling, serving the Lord Christ. So every enemy is conquered and Christ is Lord alone. Beloved, let us enter in.