The preachers quoted here set the life of dependence against the life of independence, and call dependence the place of power and of renewal. They treat it as a discipline to be embraced and a measure of spiritual health, and say the more a creature depends on God, the more it sees of him.
Dependence on God is the creature's true position. Paul told the Athenians that God "giveth to all life, and breath, and all things", and that "in him we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:25, 28). He asks the Corinthians, "what hast thou that thou didst not receive?" (1 Corinthians 4:7). Andrew Murray wrote, "Humility, the place of entire dependence on God, is, from the very nature of things, the first duty and the highest virtue of the creature."1
Sin is the refusal of that position. Moses warned Israel against saying, "My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth" (Deuteronomy 8:17). Jeremiah pronounces a curse on "the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm" (Jeremiah 17:5).
Jesus lived in dependence on his Father. "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do" (John 5:19). He taught the same to his disciples: "without me ye can do nothing" (15:5), and gave them a prayer that asks for bread one day at a time (Matthew 6:11).
Dependence is not passivity. "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it" (Psalm 127:1): the builders still build. Paul worked harder than any, and said, "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God" (2 Corinthians 3:5). "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).
God often teaches it through weakness. Paul says his affliction in Asia came "that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead" (2 Corinthians 1:9). The answer to his prayer about the thorn was, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness", and his conclusion, "when I am weak, then am I strong" (12:9-10).
Its language is prayer. Jehoshaphat, facing an army, prayed, "neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee" (2 Chronicles 20:12). The psalmist asks where his help comes from and answers, "My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:2). And the word to Zerubbabel covers all of God's work: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).
- Andrew Murray, Humility, "Chapter 1".
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
Now, the life of dependence is the exact opposite of the life of independence.
Phil Beach Jr.
in Overcomers - a Life of Dependance
Listen at 19:10
The place of dependence is the place of power - Christ's power.
John Nelson Darby
in Obedience and Dependence Edinburgh
Read in context
Our dependence upon God is an indicator, it's a barometer.
Jack Hibbs
in The Discipline of Dependence - 7
Listen at 10:10
The greater the creature's dependence is on God's perfections, and the greater concern he has with them, so much the greater occasion has he to take notice of them.
Jonathan Edwards
in God Glorified in Man's Dependence
Read in context
This great discipline of dependence is not something to run away from.
Jack Hibbs
in The Discipline of Dependence - 7
Listen at 17:43
Whether or not we are able to understand the philosophy of this dependence is of no consequence.
Charles Finney
in Dependence on Christ
Read in context
What Scripture says
- John 15:5 without me you can do nothing
- 2 Corinthians 3:5 our sufficiency is of God
- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 my strength is made perfect in weakness
- Psalm 127:1 except the LORD build the house
- 2 Chronicles 20:12 our eyes are upon you
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