By
Pastor Greg Baker
Any Christian knows that there is resistance to walking with God.
Sometimes the resistance comes from without, and sometimes the
resistance comes from within. Sin is less a resistance to walking with
God as it is a breaking of fellowship. But what resists our spiritual
walk with God?
There are several things the Bible speaks of that cause resistance.
THE ILLUSTRATION
First, let me paint an illustration. If you know anything about
electricity, you know that there are several factors that create
resistance to the ability of electrons to flow across a wire. These
factors reduce the amount of power able to reach the object you are
wishing to supply power to.
If God is the source of power, and we are the ones who need that
power and strength, then walking with God is like being plugged into
Him. Our walk with God is the wire, our connection to the source of
power.
It is important that we have a conductor from God to us. But along
that route there is resistance. This resistance reduces the power,
strength, blessings, and joy that we get from God. It is essential that
we reduce as much of the resistance as possible to enjoy as much as
possible from our God.
SATAN
Zechariah 3:1 - And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing
before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to
resist him.
In electricity, the thickness of the wire allows more free electrons
to flow through it. The thinner the wire, the more resistant it is to
power.
Satan wants to restrict you as much as possible. He will resist your
walk with God. He will seek to stem the tide of grace, mercy, power,
and love from God to you. If he can keep your walk with God thin,
stretched out, and weak, we will not enjoy the fullness of God.
Satan will throw things our way that will distract us, reduce our
time with God, and consume what we get from God faster than we can get
it. Satan seeks to resist what you can get from the Lord!
DISTANCE
Acts 7:51 - Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye
do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
2 Timothy 3:8 - Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do
these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning
the faith.
In electricity, the greater the distance to the source of power, the
more resistance there is to the flow of free electrons. There are just
more things that can go wrong. There are more barriers and unexpected
twists.
In our Christian life, distance from God is equal to our acceptance
of Him in our life. The further away from Him we find ourselves the more
resistant we are to Him, His will, and His truth.
Our unwillingness to accept some of the things about God or
Christianity distances us from God. This distance brings more
resistance. We add too many variables that distract us from getting the
power of God. There are too many barriers and things that can go wrong.
PRIDE
Pride is a scary resistance. In this case, it is not Satan resisting
your access to God, nor is it you necessarily distancing yourself from
God, but pride causes God to resist you!
James 4:6 - But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
1 Peter 5:5 - Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the
elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with
humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
You may spend a lot of time in prayer, Bible study, and church. But
if you have pride, God is resisting you! As you can imagine, this is not
good. Pride is a resistor to the power of God. Whereas humility brings a
free flow of grace and power from God, pride will bring resistance from
God Himself!
Often, pride isn't resistance to God or the things of God; it is the
desire to control these things, to dominate them, or to be known for
them. God, however, resists this concept emphatically! A Christian can
serve God in pride. A Pastor can preach in pride. A Sunday School
teacher can teach in pride. Pride is where you love to serve God so that
you might have the preeminence, to have the spotlight shining on you!
God will resist you!
Humility is about submitting to Him. It is not about you. It is not
about what you do. It is about God. It is submitting yourself to the
will of Jesus Christ, not choosing to follow your will in service to
God.
CONCLUSION
These are a few of the Biblical resistors in our life. If we want to
enjoy the fullness of God, we need to reduce or eliminate these
resistors. In electricity, a superconductor is a conductor with a
resistance of zero. That is the goal of every Christian. We want to be
superconductors to the power of God in our life.
Author Resource:-
Greg S. Baker is a Pastor, Counselor, and Author specializing in building and strengthening relationships.
Please visit our website at: fitlyspoken.org
For more books and resources on how to communicate better, express
yourself, and strengthen social skills. Check out our book, 'Fitly
Spoken', a Christian based book that explores the intricacies of human
communication and expression in relationships.
See my article directory for more articles: articles.christianbaptists.com
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