February 8

Read: Romans 8:5-7

The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be (Romans 8:7).

Resistance To Light On Holiness

In his book, Perfect Love, J. A. Wood writes “Being so often convicted of my need of perfect love, and failing to obtain it, I, after a while, like many others, became somewhat skeptical in regard to the Wesleyan doctrine of entire sanctification, as a distinct work, subsequent to regeneration… I became somewhat prejudiced against the Bible terms sanctification, holiness and perfection… If a pious brother exhorted the preachers to seek sanctification… I was distressed in spirit, and disposed to find fault.”

Here is an indication of carnality. Antagonism and resistance to the truth of heart holiness is one of the sure evidences that we need the second blessing. God’s Word declares, “The carnal attitude is inevitably opposed to the purpose of God, and neither can nor will follow His laws for living” (Romans 8:7, Phillips).

When God begins to reveal the light of Bible holiness to the unsanctified Christian, the carnal spirit begins to argue, to resist, to reject. If God has begun to talk to us about our need and we find in our hearts such a negative attitude, we must earnestly seek God’s help to destroy that spirit. We must ask Him to take from our hearts all antagonism to His full will for our lives.

My stubborn will at last hath yielded; I would be Thine, and Thine alone; And this the prayer my lips are bringing, “Lord, let in me Thy will be done?”

— Mrs. C. H. Morris