Hope is Power
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ––Hebrews 11:1
Armed with the strong hope of God’s will in his mind, God’s man rises above all temptation. We speak our hope directly at temptation just as Jesus did, saying “It is written. …” During Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness (read Luke 4), the pimp Satan is defeated by the utterance of the will of God under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The boy is no more, and a man arises to take his place and to stand guard in that domain of life forever: A man thinking about His purpose — thinking humbly about his temptations and not borrowing trouble — thinking ahead to remove pressure on himself — ready to run when ambushed by destructive opportunity — suited up for his hour in history.
Paul writes it like this: “It is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep, for now salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. ‘The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness’” (Romans 13:11-12).
God’s men are donning armor, walking in the light, and suffocating the impulses contrary to their hope in Christ. The Holy Spirit is making men out of boys for the Lord Jesus in every age so that the will of God can go forward in every age. Just as it would be ridiculous to see a grown man sucking his thumb in public, slave to a childish behavior, so the enemy has made a mockery of God’s men by enslaving them in the habits of boys.
The great news is that Jesus Himself gave us His personal assurance that if we discipline ourselves in our choices for Him, He will give us the very thing, feeling, comfort, or object we gave up. Specifically, He said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33). Jesus, through His indwelling presence in us through the Holy Spirit, continues to say “seek first his kingdom” to the man of God at the crossroads of temptation. The pimp says the opposite: “Seek self-gratification or else you are going to miss out on all these things. Hurry!” One is the strong hope of the person and promise of Jesus Christ. The other offers the promise of a broken relationship with the Holy Spirit, and inevitable bondage.
Jesus says that God’s will is your power. Self-control is synonymous with the strong hope of the kingdom of God and His will being done in and through you. Self-control is the difference between a willing spirit and weak flesh, good intentions for God and consistent action for God. The difference between impulse reactions and intuition.
Together, with one firm voice, we must speak the words of war to our ancient foe: “It ends here!”
Thank You, Father, for the hope that is provided me through Your Holy Spirit.