Devotions From the Heart: Keeping Power

by Derek Gitsham

"Who are kept by the power of God, through
faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed
in the last time." I Peter 1:5

Legend has it that the apostle Peter lived all
his life in the power of God from Pentecost to his
death. That in and of itself is remarkable. For
many of us the Christian life is up one minute
and down the next. Peter’s shadow in the early
days would fall on someone and they would be healed.
Peter continued to walk in the power of God until
the end.

Our opening verse is a key to this incredible
ability to stay in the right place with God, and
in a place of power. The apostles were men of power.
God began everything in power and intends it to
continue in power. They were kept by the power
of God throughout. Believing keeps us in the power
of God. This was Peter’s secret. What a wonder!
This word “kept” in Greek means “a military
garrison, to post spies at the gate, to mount
guard as a sentinel.”

John, in his first Epistle (5:18) says, “Whosoever
is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten
of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth
Him not.” Another Greek word is used here meaning
“to prevent escaping, to guard from loss or injury
by keeping your eye upon.”

Being begotten of God is the saint’s regenerative
power, enabling himself to keep himself, and in
turn, God keeping him. The very power of regeneration
has within it the power to separate the saint from sin,
and the wicked one, and by virtue of God’s power,
he cannot touch us. The wicked one not touching us
is in the context of luring us back into sin and the
old habits and ways of the world. Regeneration has
cut the head off that enemy which dwelled in our
hearts and renders him unable to touch us, providing
we walk and abide in Him and His power. He is keeping
us, praise Him; it now behooves us to keep ourselves
for His glory.