And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming (1 John 2:28).
Two classes of believers will stand before Jesus when He returns; the confident, and the ashamed.
The confident are those who loved not their lives to the death. They resisted the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. They kept the world at a distance by bathing themselves daily in the Word of God, and by constant communion with the Father. When they did slip up and sin, it broke their hearts and they cried out to Jesus, confessing their sin, and asking for His power to overcome the weakness
and to walk in the spirit.
The ashamed are those who were born again, but did not take advantage of their rights and privileges as a child of God. They were rarely found bathing in the cleansing lather of the Word. The cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust for other things overpowered their desire for God, and they mostly walked in the flesh. Church attendance was hit and miss since they did not value the power of the spoken Word of God through the ministry gift of a pastor.
For the ashamed a guilt conscience was their constant companion. They knew what to do but rarely did it. They were saved so as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:15). Jesus blazing eyes will look into yours and mine one day. He will look deep into our souls with His piercing gaze and immediately discern the thoughts and motives behind every word and action in our lives!
General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army had a vision of the rewards seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3). He saw multitudes of believers who had arrived in heaven, and Jesus was there, going from person to person. In His hand was a torch. As Jesus approached each person, the flame from the torch would immediately consume all wood hay and stubble their earthly lives had produced (1 Corinthians 3:12). All that was left was gold, silver, and precious stones.
Some people touched by the torch had nothing left when the smoke cleared. No precious stones were found. Others had a pile of beautiful gems at their feet after the fire.
One other notable thing happened in General Booth’s vision. As Jesus approached each person, He heard either guttural sobs of remorse for opportunities not taken, or he heard ecstatic shouts of joy.
A hymn sang in my church as a boy went; must I go and empty handed, must I meet my Savior so, must I go and empty handed, must I empty handed go. We are each day accruing by our actions and motives either gold, silver, precious stones, or wood hay and straw. What will be left at your feet to present to Jesus when the smoke clears?
I want to be in the company of the confident and not be one of the ashamed when I meet Jesus. Come with me on the journey for God’s best today. Let’s consecrate ourselves to the Father. Let’s be the good ground believers found in Mark 4 who acted on the Word with all their hearts. Forget the failures of the past. Reach forward today in repentance and consecration and let’s go for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ!
Monday, July 7, 2008
The Confident and the Ashamed
Posted on Monday, July 7, 2008 at 10:29 AM by Pastor Mitch
Sunday, July 6, 2008
You and God are a Majority
Posted on Sunday, July 6, 2008 at 9:48 AM by Pastor Mitch
Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied (1 Samuel 17:45).
I 1 Samuel 17, you find the Israelite and the Philistine armies facing one another in a valley ready to fight. Mountains surrounded the armies, with the Israelites camped in the mountains on one side of the river valley, and the Philistines camped on the opposite side.
In between the two armies stood a man named Goliath, a Philistine. Goliath was a descendant of the race of giants in the land of Canaan. He was the offspring of fallen angels and men (See Genesis 6). Goliath stood a bit over 13 feet tall. He weighed between 400 and 600 pounds. His body armor weighed around 300 pounds. He ominously taunted the Israelites each morning and night for forty days. No man in the Israelite army dared fight him, for fighting him meant certain death.
David was a shepherd boy who had been sent by his father to deliver some food to his three older brothers who were in the Israeli army. As David gave them the food, Goliath came out to challenge the Israelites as he had for many days.
David became enraged that this giant of a man was holding the entire Israeli army captive. After obtaining permission from King Saul, and after being disdained by his brothers, David went into the valley to challenge the huge hulk of a man. He carried only his shepherd’s rod and his sling with a pouch for stones.
David was only a boy with red hair and freckles. The giant was infuriated that Israel would send a small boy to challenge him. But David was not naïve. As a shepherd, he had killed a lion and bear when they attacked his flock. He had become skilled in the use of the sling.
Some armies of his day would go to battle armed with only slings. A sling was a powerful weapon in trained hands. Some men were so skilled with the use of a sling that they could hit any small target from a great distance. The sling could be used with such force that a stone could pierce heavy armor and easily kill in battle.
David had no doubt honed his skill in using a sling, and had also developed his faith in God. When he approached Goliath, he did so knowing that God’s power and ability was on him as a covenant man with Almighty God. He also knew that with God on his side, this towering giant was defenseless. He remembered how he with his sling had killed a raging lion, and a fierce bear. He believed that if God had protected him from the mouth of the lion and the paw of the bear, then certainly God would be with him in this conflict.
The stone landed in an opening in Goliath’s helmet at his forehead and the giant bit dust. David’s covenant God had come to his aid once again.
As you face your life giants, realize that you have a better covenant with God than David had that is established on better promises! If God can deliver David from what looked like impossible odds of being killed, certainly he can deliver you from what looks like a life disaster.
Feed on God’s Word and develop your faith in His absolute integrity. He will not forsake you in your tough times. Develop your faith by exercising it every day. The Father’s desire is to fight and win the battle for you as you stand in uncompromising faith. What the Father did for David He is willing to do for you. Expect miracles!
I 1 Samuel 17, you find the Israelite and the Philistine armies facing one another in a valley ready to fight. Mountains surrounded the armies, with the Israelites camped in the mountains on one side of the river valley, and the Philistines camped on the opposite side.
In between the two armies stood a man named Goliath, a Philistine. Goliath was a descendant of the race of giants in the land of Canaan. He was the offspring of fallen angels and men (See Genesis 6). Goliath stood a bit over 13 feet tall. He weighed between 400 and 600 pounds. His body armor weighed around 300 pounds. He ominously taunted the Israelites each morning and night for forty days. No man in the Israelite army dared fight him, for fighting him meant certain death.
David was a shepherd boy who had been sent by his father to deliver some food to his three older brothers who were in the Israeli army. As David gave them the food, Goliath came out to challenge the Israelites as he had for many days.
David became enraged that this giant of a man was holding the entire Israeli army captive. After obtaining permission from King Saul, and after being disdained by his brothers, David went into the valley to challenge the huge hulk of a man. He carried only his shepherd’s rod and his sling with a pouch for stones.
David was only a boy with red hair and freckles. The giant was infuriated that Israel would send a small boy to challenge him. But David was not naïve. As a shepherd, he had killed a lion and bear when they attacked his flock. He had become skilled in the use of the sling.
Some armies of his day would go to battle armed with only slings. A sling was a powerful weapon in trained hands. Some men were so skilled with the use of a sling that they could hit any small target from a great distance. The sling could be used with such force that a stone could pierce heavy armor and easily kill in battle.
David had no doubt honed his skill in using a sling, and had also developed his faith in God. When he approached Goliath, he did so knowing that God’s power and ability was on him as a covenant man with Almighty God. He also knew that with God on his side, this towering giant was defenseless. He remembered how he with his sling had killed a raging lion, and a fierce bear. He believed that if God had protected him from the mouth of the lion and the paw of the bear, then certainly God would be with him in this conflict.
The stone landed in an opening in Goliath’s helmet at his forehead and the giant bit dust. David’s covenant God had come to his aid once again.
As you face your life giants, realize that you have a better covenant with God than David had that is established on better promises! If God can deliver David from what looked like impossible odds of being killed, certainly he can deliver you from what looks like a life disaster.
Feed on God’s Word and develop your faith in His absolute integrity. He will not forsake you in your tough times. Develop your faith by exercising it every day. The Father’s desire is to fight and win the battle for you as you stand in uncompromising faith. What the Father did for David He is willing to do for you. Expect miracles!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
The Word Produces Stability
Posted on Saturday, July 5, 2008 at 7:36 PM by Pastor Mitch
Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the LORD is His treasure (Isaiah 33:6).
The only consistent thing in the universe is the Word of God! It is forever settled in heaven. Jesus said heaven and earth would pass away, but His Word would never change.
In a world of increasing instability, we have a rock upon which to stand! Jesus said that practicing the Word is like building your house on rock instead of shifting sand. When difficulties come, you’ll be unmoved!
The more Word you practice, the stronger the foundation of your life will be. All weakness is the results of our leaving the Word in some way. The strength, the life, the wisdom, the rest, the grace, and the power of the Word of God will sustain you in life’s most arduous circumstances.
I had been a believer for just a few years when a spiritual leader rocked my world. He said some things to me in a private meeting that were untrue but very hurtful. The impact on my life was severe. I was only 20 years old, and his words affected my mental and emotional equilibrium.
Day after day his hurtful words ravaged my mind. The enemy used them to bring great condemnation and discouragement. I felt hopeless, alone, and abandoned.
But I was not without help. I decided to ignore my feelings and these aberrant thoughts that ceaselessly attacked my mind. I would spend the entire day forcing a scripture to revolve over and over in my mind. I chose to believe God’s Word over man’s Word. And after a period of time, I regained my mental and emotional balance, and found peace again.
This experience taught me the power of the Word in my life, and how the Word can bring stability. Since then, I have given the Word room in my thoughts and in my life every day. And the stability of the Word has rooted itself into who I am and what I do.
Regardless of how tough the circumstance may be that you’re facing, choose to act on God’s Word. Say it aloud. Let it role over and over in your mind. Refuse to let your emotions rule you. The Father will provided you with needed wisdom, and the Word will produce freedom and liberty. You’ll come through the hard place. And you’ll know that God’s Word produces results.
Give room in your thought life today for the Word to dwell in you richly, and you’ll find the Father’s stability and strength for every situation!
The only consistent thing in the universe is the Word of God! It is forever settled in heaven. Jesus said heaven and earth would pass away, but His Word would never change.
In a world of increasing instability, we have a rock upon which to stand! Jesus said that practicing the Word is like building your house on rock instead of shifting sand. When difficulties come, you’ll be unmoved!
The more Word you practice, the stronger the foundation of your life will be. All weakness is the results of our leaving the Word in some way. The strength, the life, the wisdom, the rest, the grace, and the power of the Word of God will sustain you in life’s most arduous circumstances.
I had been a believer for just a few years when a spiritual leader rocked my world. He said some things to me in a private meeting that were untrue but very hurtful. The impact on my life was severe. I was only 20 years old, and his words affected my mental and emotional equilibrium.
Day after day his hurtful words ravaged my mind. The enemy used them to bring great condemnation and discouragement. I felt hopeless, alone, and abandoned.
But I was not without help. I decided to ignore my feelings and these aberrant thoughts that ceaselessly attacked my mind. I would spend the entire day forcing a scripture to revolve over and over in my mind. I chose to believe God’s Word over man’s Word. And after a period of time, I regained my mental and emotional balance, and found peace again.
This experience taught me the power of the Word in my life, and how the Word can bring stability. Since then, I have given the Word room in my thoughts and in my life every day. And the stability of the Word has rooted itself into who I am and what I do.
Regardless of how tough the circumstance may be that you’re facing, choose to act on God’s Word. Say it aloud. Let it role over and over in your mind. Refuse to let your emotions rule you. The Father will provided you with needed wisdom, and the Word will produce freedom and liberty. You’ll come through the hard place. And you’ll know that God’s Word produces results.
Give room in your thought life today for the Word to dwell in you richly, and you’ll find the Father’s stability and strength for every situation!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Virtue Maintains Freedom
Posted on Friday, July 4, 2008 at 11:22 AM by Pastor Mitch
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. (Proverbs 14:34).
Freedom is an expensive thing. Its cost is blood. Our spiritual freedom was won by Jesus spilling His blood for us. The freedom that we have to worship, to express ourselves, and live as we please has cost many thousands their life. Let’s take moment and thank God today for the privilege we have of living in a free country. And let’s remember that with freedom comes responsibility.
We’re responsible as citizens of a free society to uphold the law and to honor God. No nation can remain free if it does not adhere to moral law, and each citizen be held responsible for his own actions.
Back in 1983, during the cold war, the Christian school in our church had a guest speaker from Russia speak to the high school. He was a former military man in his country. This man was not a Christian, but had a message for America. I will never forget his words. He said, “If you want to remain a free country, you must be a moral people. If you lose your morals, you will one day lose your freedoms!” His words have resonated within me since that day.
I’ll leave you with a few quotes from our civil leaders of the past. Let’s remember to pray for our president and leaders daily.
It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favors. (George Washington - 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation).
We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. (John Adams - 1798 Address to the Military).
The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments. (Benjamin Rush- 1806).
Statesmen my dear sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone, which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand....The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our people, in a great measure, than they have it now, they may change their rulers, and the forms of government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty. (John Adams -1776 letter to Zabdiel Adams)
Freedom is an expensive thing. Its cost is blood. Our spiritual freedom was won by Jesus spilling His blood for us. The freedom that we have to worship, to express ourselves, and live as we please has cost many thousands their life. Let’s take moment and thank God today for the privilege we have of living in a free country. And let’s remember that with freedom comes responsibility.
We’re responsible as citizens of a free society to uphold the law and to honor God. No nation can remain free if it does not adhere to moral law, and each citizen be held responsible for his own actions.
Back in 1983, during the cold war, the Christian school in our church had a guest speaker from Russia speak to the high school. He was a former military man in his country. This man was not a Christian, but had a message for America. I will never forget his words. He said, “If you want to remain a free country, you must be a moral people. If you lose your morals, you will one day lose your freedoms!” His words have resonated within me since that day.
I’ll leave you with a few quotes from our civil leaders of the past. Let’s remember to pray for our president and leaders daily.
It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favors. (George Washington - 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation).
We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. (John Adams - 1798 Address to the Military).
The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments. (Benjamin Rush- 1806).
Statesmen my dear sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone, which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand....The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our people, in a great measure, than they have it now, they may change their rulers, and the forms of government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty. (John Adams -1776 letter to Zabdiel Adams)
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Obedience is Better than Sacrifice
Posted on Thursday, July 3, 2008 at 10:54 AM by Pastor Mitch
So Samuel said: "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king (1 Samuel 15:22-23).
A somber lesson of obedience can be learned from the life of Saul. He was chosen to be Israel’s first king because of his physical attraction and height. He stood head and shoulders above everybody. He was so meek and humble that he didn’t want to be seen and hid himself.
After being anointed king his character flaws came to the surface. Due to his impatience, he intruded into the priest’s office and sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord. Samuel the prophet was delayed and Saul took matters into his own hands, offering sacrifices that by law only priests could offer.
Saul went to battle without consulting the Lord. And then here in 1 Samuel 15, he directly disobeyed the direct command of the Lord.
The Amalekites had oppressed Israel for many years. God told Saul to attack them and kill every living thing; animals, children, and adults. The Amalekites were detestable idol worshippers and were totally depraved and corrupted.
Saul had spared the best of the animals to sacrifice to the Lord, and had kept Agag the Amalekite king alive as his prisoner. When Samuel came to Saul, he heard the bleeding of the sheep and asked Saul if he had completely obeyed the Lord. Brazenly, Saul told Samuel that he had completely obeyed God when he had not.
Samuel told him that God had removed the kingly anointing from his life that day. Saul immediately began to go downhill mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Obedience to God can never be replaced by our personal sacrifices of time, talent, or possessions. Samuel told Saul that rebellion against the known will of God was paramount to witchcraft. Remember that Satan was once the anoint Cherub that protects, having his beginning as one of the angels of God that protected God’s throne in heaven. Through pride and self-will he rebelled against God’s sovereign rule and was removed from his high office and kicked out of heaven.
Rebellion to the known will of God in our lives open us up to demonic influence today just as it did with Saul. Be sure to humble yourself daily under God’s mighty hand. Daily acknowledge your dependence on Him. Practice instant obedience. God judges spiritual sins of pride and self-will more quickly than sins of the flesh. When we do things that hinder God’s people and His plans for them, God doesn’t take it lightly.
Let Saul’s life be a lesson to us all of the great price of disobedience. It may take years to play out in real time, but disobedience will eventual bring ruin to a promising life. Let’s give the Father our best today!
A somber lesson of obedience can be learned from the life of Saul. He was chosen to be Israel’s first king because of his physical attraction and height. He stood head and shoulders above everybody. He was so meek and humble that he didn’t want to be seen and hid himself.
After being anointed king his character flaws came to the surface. Due to his impatience, he intruded into the priest’s office and sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord. Samuel the prophet was delayed and Saul took matters into his own hands, offering sacrifices that by law only priests could offer.
Saul went to battle without consulting the Lord. And then here in 1 Samuel 15, he directly disobeyed the direct command of the Lord.
The Amalekites had oppressed Israel for many years. God told Saul to attack them and kill every living thing; animals, children, and adults. The Amalekites were detestable idol worshippers and were totally depraved and corrupted.
Saul had spared the best of the animals to sacrifice to the Lord, and had kept Agag the Amalekite king alive as his prisoner. When Samuel came to Saul, he heard the bleeding of the sheep and asked Saul if he had completely obeyed the Lord. Brazenly, Saul told Samuel that he had completely obeyed God when he had not.
Samuel told him that God had removed the kingly anointing from his life that day. Saul immediately began to go downhill mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Obedience to God can never be replaced by our personal sacrifices of time, talent, or possessions. Samuel told Saul that rebellion against the known will of God was paramount to witchcraft. Remember that Satan was once the anoint Cherub that protects, having his beginning as one of the angels of God that protected God’s throne in heaven. Through pride and self-will he rebelled against God’s sovereign rule and was removed from his high office and kicked out of heaven.
Rebellion to the known will of God in our lives open us up to demonic influence today just as it did with Saul. Be sure to humble yourself daily under God’s mighty hand. Daily acknowledge your dependence on Him. Practice instant obedience. God judges spiritual sins of pride and self-will more quickly than sins of the flesh. When we do things that hinder God’s people and His plans for them, God doesn’t take it lightly.
Let Saul’s life be a lesson to us all of the great price of disobedience. It may take years to play out in real time, but disobedience will eventual bring ruin to a promising life. Let’s give the Father our best today!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Watch What You Pray For
Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 9:54 AM by Pastor Mitch
And when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the Lord your God was your king. Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired. And take note, the Lord has set a king over you (1 Samuel 12:12-13).
Be very careful about what you ask for in prayer. You just may get it! In the verses above, Israel had asked God for a king to reign over them. They had seen other nations that were led by a king, and that’s what they collectively desired.
But it was never the will of God to have a king reign over His people. God wanted to be their king. He wanted to be close to them all (See Exodus 19:5). But the Israelites persisted in their request for a king, and that’s what they got!
The point here is that God will actually give you something that is not His best if you ask and then persist in your faith. God will honor His Word in your life if you believe it. And that’s the reason that I’m very careful as to what I ask for in faith.
It takes me longer to figure what to pray for than to actually do the literal praying for it! God will honor your faith if you really want something badly enough even though it may not be His best for you. I know this goes cross-grain to most religious thinking, but it’s true.
Jesus said, If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7). So when I am praying about something, I first of all ask the Lord what He wants me to have. Instead of bullishly coming before the throne of God, I step back and humble myself. I ask Him to show Me His highest and best will in the matter I’m praying about. That takes time. I usually pray and wait before God sometimes, days, weeks, and even months for big things I’m praying about. I don’t want to step out into presumption and do what Israel did by asking for what is not His best for me!
Understand that I’m not talking here about praying about being healed from sickness and disease, or about the Lord supplying a real time need, or about someone being born again. The Word is clear about God’s will on these subjects. I’m talking about things like where to purchase land for building a church, or which job to take, or which city to live in. I call these things gray areas, where the Word doesn’t specifically tell you the will of God.
Jesus said again, If you abide in Me, ask...If you’re really abiding in Him you’ll not ask for something that is not His will; you’ll patiently wait in the gray areas of life until you’re sure of the will of God. Then when you pray, you’ll have confidence that you’ll receive God’s best because He is giving you His desires as you pray.
Psalms 37:4 applies so well here: Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. When you spend time with the Lord and put Him first in your life by putting His Word first place, then He will place in you what He wants you to do.
I’ll leave you with Proverbs 16:3 in the Amplified Bible today. Walk cautiously with the Lord and seek His best in the gray areas of life. He will answer prayer if you stand in faith and believe. Just make sure you’re praying for the right thing!
Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed (Proverbs 16:3).
Be very careful about what you ask for in prayer. You just may get it! In the verses above, Israel had asked God for a king to reign over them. They had seen other nations that were led by a king, and that’s what they collectively desired.
But it was never the will of God to have a king reign over His people. God wanted to be their king. He wanted to be close to them all (See Exodus 19:5). But the Israelites persisted in their request for a king, and that’s what they got!
The point here is that God will actually give you something that is not His best if you ask and then persist in your faith. God will honor His Word in your life if you believe it. And that’s the reason that I’m very careful as to what I ask for in faith.
It takes me longer to figure what to pray for than to actually do the literal praying for it! God will honor your faith if you really want something badly enough even though it may not be His best for you. I know this goes cross-grain to most religious thinking, but it’s true.
Jesus said, If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7). So when I am praying about something, I first of all ask the Lord what He wants me to have. Instead of bullishly coming before the throne of God, I step back and humble myself. I ask Him to show Me His highest and best will in the matter I’m praying about. That takes time. I usually pray and wait before God sometimes, days, weeks, and even months for big things I’m praying about. I don’t want to step out into presumption and do what Israel did by asking for what is not His best for me!
Understand that I’m not talking here about praying about being healed from sickness and disease, or about the Lord supplying a real time need, or about someone being born again. The Word is clear about God’s will on these subjects. I’m talking about things like where to purchase land for building a church, or which job to take, or which city to live in. I call these things gray areas, where the Word doesn’t specifically tell you the will of God.
Jesus said again, If you abide in Me, ask...If you’re really abiding in Him you’ll not ask for something that is not His will; you’ll patiently wait in the gray areas of life until you’re sure of the will of God. Then when you pray, you’ll have confidence that you’ll receive God’s best because He is giving you His desires as you pray.
Psalms 37:4 applies so well here: Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. When you spend time with the Lord and put Him first in your life by putting His Word first place, then He will place in you what He wants you to do.
I’ll leave you with Proverbs 16:3 in the Amplified Bible today. Walk cautiously with the Lord and seek His best in the gray areas of life. He will answer prayer if you stand in faith and believe. Just make sure you’re praying for the right thing!
Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed (Proverbs 16:3).
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
God is a Shield
Posted on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 3:09 PM by Pastor Mitch
Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him (Proverbs 30:5).
When the harshness of life settles in like long monsoon rain, it gives hope to know that God your Father is taking good care of you. Some tests are of long duration. These are the times you must be rooted in the fact that God your Father always has His eye on you, and He has made promises to shield you and deliver you from the day of test. Tests and storms may come to your life, but the Father has promised that you’ll come through them every one. We must never forget that underneath us are the everlasting arms.
Years ago, during a particularly grueling trial, it seemed as though I would never see the end of the difficulty I was in. The Lord urged me time and again to go to His Word, and there He met me. What He shared has become very close to me now, and I often reflect on the verses He gave me. I’ll share them with you today the way the Lord gave them to me. If you’re in a tough place, and the test is hard, take my word for it, you will come though this thing on the other side as a better version of you than you are now. As you read the following, know that God keeps His promises!
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock (Psalm 27:5 NIV). The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles (Psalm 34:17 NIV). A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all (Psalm 34:19 NIV).The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him (Psalm 34:22 NIV). The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him (Psalm 37:39-40 NIV) And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me (Psalm50:15 NIV). God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah (Psalm 46:1-3 NIV). Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation" (Psalm 91:14-16 NIV).
When the harshness of life settles in like long monsoon rain, it gives hope to know that God your Father is taking good care of you. Some tests are of long duration. These are the times you must be rooted in the fact that God your Father always has His eye on you, and He has made promises to shield you and deliver you from the day of test. Tests and storms may come to your life, but the Father has promised that you’ll come through them every one. We must never forget that underneath us are the everlasting arms.
Years ago, during a particularly grueling trial, it seemed as though I would never see the end of the difficulty I was in. The Lord urged me time and again to go to His Word, and there He met me. What He shared has become very close to me now, and I often reflect on the verses He gave me. I’ll share them with you today the way the Lord gave them to me. If you’re in a tough place, and the test is hard, take my word for it, you will come though this thing on the other side as a better version of you than you are now. As you read the following, know that God keeps His promises!
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock (Psalm 27:5 NIV). The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles (Psalm 34:17 NIV). A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all (Psalm 34:19 NIV).The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him (Psalm 34:22 NIV). The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him (Psalm 37:39-40 NIV) And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me (Psalm50:15 NIV). God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah (Psalm 46:1-3 NIV). Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation" (Psalm 91:14-16 NIV).
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