The Olivet Leadership Institute program has concluded successfully in Europe after three days of intensive Bible studies, workshops, and lectures about the grace and forgiveness of God.
The gathering drew to a close with a closing service on the importance of faith alone. The message was preached from Galatians 3:1-5 in which the Apostle Paul scolds the Galatians for abandoning life in the Spirit and trying to go by their own power in the flesh.
On the path of faith, there is sanctification and the battle against our flesh can feel severe at times, but God never called us to fight it by ourselves and we can never gain victory that way.
We were justified only by faith and the grace of God, and just like that, the path of sanctification can only be walked by faith and grace.
Our own power could not justify us and just like that, our own power cannot sanctify us. When we misunderstand this, we will get stuck in our own level and viewpoint, and fall into despair. Then we will simply want to hide from the cross instead of taking it up every day and overcoming with God.
We are never alone on the path of faith, no matter how difficult things may seem at times. God gave Jesus to justify us and He gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to walk with us every step of the path of sanctification. The fruits we bear are not our own fruits but the fruits of the Spirit. Therefore, we can trust God and let every battle be an opportunity to grow in His love.
When we have this viewpoint, then the path of sanctification and the path of faith are not something to hide from. Rather they become a victory march leading towards the completion of the Kingdom of God and the final celebration where we will all be one with the Lord in eternity.
We are never alone. He is always by our side. When ministers remember this, we can return to mission fields with faith and hope, and walk forward on our victory march, anticipating all the miracles the Holy Spirit will do.