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Calling All Contenders - Mike Muzzerall

Desire Is Not Enough

It’s that time again. It’s a new year. It’s a time to review the previous year and to make plans for the coming year. Traditionally, plans to improve lives are formulated. It’s called a New Year’s resolution. There are some who might be able to quit smoking, lose weight, or gain a better control over spending through sheer willpower. But when it comes to spiritual matters, desire alone is not enough.

DESIRE AND DESPERATION

Don’t get me wrong; desire and desperation go a long way as initiatives for change. Evaluating your life and realizing that things need to change does not in itself mean that permanent changes will ensue. Determination sooner or later comes face to face with the day-to-day struggle of practical change. For many, change then becomes a nagging unfulfilled desire as they realize that willpower alone was not enough.

THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DESIRED TO LIVE FOR GOD

“And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient” (Ex. 24:7).

In Deuteronomy, Moses listed the blessings for serving God and the curses that awaited them if they would not serve God. Joshua likewise listed what was expected of them, the blessings for serving God, and the curses for not serving Him. Israel responded immediately and answered, “God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods” (Josh. 24:16).

YOU CANNOT SERVE THE LORD

Joshua knew the truth. Their desire to serve God would not be enough.

“Joshua said unto the people, You cannot serve the LORD: for He is a holy God” (Josh. 24:19).

God had revealed to Joshua as He had done previously to Moses that Israel’s desire to serve Him would not be good enough. Even in times of desperation, Israel would serve God until the circumstances improved; then they reverted back to their idolatrous ways.

BUT I’M A CHRISTIAN!

Some will argue, “But I’m a Christian. I have the victory. My willpower is greater now that I have accepted Jesus Christ.” Is it? Is it really? There will be times when willpower will suffice, but there will come a time when your willpower will not be enough. The words “I can do this” will soon become “I did it again—I failed God!”

DEAD TO SIN

Victory is never obtained by mental gymnastics in an attempt to strengthen our self-control. Victory comes through joining in on the victory Christ has already procured for us. It’s not in our ability to say no to temptation as it is in saying yes to what Christ has already done at Calvary.

In Romans 6:3-5, Paul stated that we as believers in Christ are to be “dead” to the sin nature. As Brother Swaggart says, “We must remember, dead is dead! If one is dead to something, one doesn’t have any contact with it at all.” The victory—our victory—over the sin nature (what most people make resolutions to change, by the way) occurred 2,000 years ago on an old rugged Cross.

AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH

Jesus is the author and the finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). He’s not just the author. Philippians 1:6 says, “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” He is the one who changes us. It isn’t in our ability to make and keep New Year’s resolutions that works, it is in yielding by faith to the victory Christ offers His children.


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