A Present Help — Kept in Christ
One of the blessed benefits of our walk with God is the calm assurance we have in knowing that He is able to keep. We have several examples of God’s keeping power presented throughout the Bible. Each of these demonstrate some facet of God mercy, grace, and power that helps and keeps us. We need to remind ourselves of His keeping power by reviewing how God stepped in and gave the aid that was needed. Each of these testimonies helps us see how God intervenes in our lives. At the same time, we should remind ourselves of the times that the Lord came through for us, how He rescued us, set our feet on solid rock and established our ways. We are not going to review all of the times God kept His people. There are too many of them for us to even list the times, ways and results of God’s intervention.
In a special time of prayer, the Lord Jesus was considering all those who would put their faith and trust in Him.
He knew we would face times of severe attack from unbelievers and from the forces of evil. He warned that perilous times would come. In that time of deep intercessory prayer, Jesus asked the Father in heaven to keep everyone who has been given to Him. Listen to some of the Lord’s prayer for you.
John 17:11 NKJV Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.
Jesus knew His time to die on the cross was near and that He was about to pay the price for our salvation, healing, and redemption. During His prayer Jesus said, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost…” Think about the power that is in the name of God and how we are kept through His name. Jesus prayed that those the Father gave Him would be kept by His name.
Later the Apostle Peter wrote about this keeping power.
1 Peter 1:3 NKJV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:4-5 NKJV to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Notice this fact that everyone who has experienced God’s abundant mercy and grace that brings salvation are being kept by the power of God. Watch how God has brought this keeping power down to each of us. To understand this keeping power, we must see, recognize, and know Christ’s ability to overcome and conquer the powers of evil that He faced. If He cannot conquer Satan and his kingdom of darkness and death, then Jesus cannot help us in the situations that we face. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is a demonstration of His power over Satan and his kingdom.
This keeping power that is being made available to us comes to us through what Jesus did.
We know that the Lord God omnipotent reigns in sovereign and almighty power over everything He has created. Consider the strength and might of His keeping power that maintains and sustains all things. His power to keep us is demonstrated in the victory that Christ achieved when He arose from the dead. Last week we considered the fact that we are earthen vessels. Since we are jars of clay, we are subject to all kinds of things.
Hebrews 2:14 NLT Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.
Hebrews 2:15 NLT Only in this way could He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.
All of Satan’s power and attention was focused on destroying and defeating Jesus Christ our Lord. While the enemy was attempting to destroy our Redeemer, Jesus Christ dealt a fatal blow against Satan and his kingdom and through the cross, Jesus won a decisive victory. So now, by Christ, we have been redeemed and are kept by the power of God.
What is the extent of Christ’s keeping power?
His keeping power is demonstrated in the lives of the redeemed. Every day we live in the victory that overcomes the world and we know that we are kept. We know that we are kept from the power of sin, satan, death, and hell. We rejoice in the result of what God has achieved through Christ’s victory. We may experience Satan’s relentless attack and scheming devices. We may come up against principalities and powers of darkness that attempt to kill, steal and destroy, but we are made to be more than conquerors through Christ.
Hebrews 2:14 tells us “He destroyed him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.”
Isaiah prophesied about the result of the Lord’s intervention for us.
Isaiah 59:19–20 AMP So [as the result of the Messiah’s intervention] they shall [reverently] fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives]. He shall come as a Redeemer… to those …who turn from transgression, says the Lord.
None of us are exempt from the rage, violence and evil of the enemy of our souls. This verse gives us an example of God’s keeping power when the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against him. We were helpless until Jesus Christ spoiled the principalities and powers. He triumphed over all the powers of darkness, sin, Satan, and all his forces. Through the blood of His cross, Christ Jesus completely reconciled and restored us to God. Jesus Christ triumphed over every scheme and device of Satan when He died on the cross and arose from the grave in victory.
Ephesians 1:19–20 NLT I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 1:21–22 NLT Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church.
What does it mean to be kept in Christ?
1 Peter 1:5 NKJV Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Look at this — “We are kept by the power of God.” There is no greater power than God’s power. When we are saved, we are guarded and covered by His keeping power. We are kept in Christ through every situation. Every scheme of the devil is defeated by God’s keeping power.
Isaiah 43:1–2 NKJV Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
You cannot reason this out.
We have a present help because we are kept in Christ.
God knows how to keep you in Christ until the day that we shall be presented to Him in victory. We are kept by the power of the blood of Christ. We are kept from Satan’s domain and power. We are kept in life and we are kept in death. We are kept in sickness and in health.
Do you understand how valuable and important it is for us to remain in Christ Jesus.
- In Christ, no weapon that is formed against us shall prosper.
- In Christ, we have the power to resist every temptation and trial.
- In Christ, He always leads me to victory and triumph.
- In Christ, we can trust and rely on the power of His blood and cross.
- God has made every spiritual blessing available to us in Christ.
- We have redemption, cleansing and comfort in Christ.
- In Christ, we have protection, power, and provision.
- In Christ, there is real joy, peace, and hope.
- In Christ, the power of sin is broken.
- In Christ, sin has no hold on you.
God has planned for your victory.
