Day 25 - Seven Points of Prayer

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (Luk 18:16) Jesus loved when children came to Him. Their faith and trust are so simple and innocent. Children do not need complicated explanations or dissertations about God. They just simply trust - no questions - just action. Is it any wonder that Christ wants us to come to Him like children? God desires to be a Father to us. He desires for us to come to Him like a child - with child-like faith, knowing that our Father loves us and will take care of us. Is this too much to expect from your own child? Of course not! Why, then, do Christians struggle in this area of prayer?

Christ wanted us to have an intimate relationship with God. Christ did not want to leave us without power or empty-handed. Christ is our Shepherd and wanted to lead us in the perfect direction so He taught us how to pray. He gave us the perfect prayer. Since perfection is symbolized in the number seven, why does it not surprise me that the Lord's Prayer would have seven points! The Lord teaches us that we have the most perfect and complete prayer as a pattern for our own prayer life. Some religions teach that you have to repeat this prayer over and over. However, if this were to be so, it would have appeared word-for-word in Luke (Luke 11:2-4) as well but it was worded differently. Christ used this as a pattern to teach us how to pray.

Our pattern has seven points:

(1) Who we are to pray to:

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (Mat 6:9) Recognize who you are praying to. Notice that Christ, from the beginning, tells us that we are able to pray to our Father. My friend, because we are born again, we are now able to go to God like a child to his own earthly father! Does this not amaze you? Three times, the Word uses Abba, Father. The number three symbolizes the Godhead. How appropriate that "Abba, Father" appears three times. I simply stand amazed at the perfection of God's Word!

And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. (Mar 14:36)

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Rom 8:15)

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Gal 4:6)

This verse continues and teaches us to honor our Father in Heaven. This first verse beginning our prayer time with the Lord teaches us to start with Him; recognize Him for who He is, our Abba, Father; and recognize that He is holy. This sets the mood for our spirit to pray. The number one symbolizes "beginning, one" - how appropriate that this first verse of prayer symbolizes the beginning of perfect prayer to the only One we should pray to!

(2) Acknowledge His Kingdom:

Thy kingdom come. (Matt 6:10) As we are looking forward to His Kingdom and being/reigning with Him, we must also remember that we are to work diligently in building that Kingdom through winning souls. Our Shepherd guides us but it is the sheep who make other sheep, my friend. Isn't it interesting that the number two symbolizes witnessing and the second verse of our perfect prayer talks about the Kingdom? Whew! I stand amazed at the spiritual beauties and gold nuggets found in my King James Bible.

(3) Desire God's will:

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Mat 6:10) Why would anyone want anything but God's will for their lives? It is in His will that we can find perfect peace and rest. God's perfect will is found in His perfect Word. What do we know to be the will of God? We know that God's commandments reveal His will. God's will is taught in the Word through His precepts, statutes and His commandments. God did not leave us empty-handed - we can easily find His will - His perfect law - through His Word. He has given us the Word, in flesh, and left us His Spirit to teach us. What a perfect example of the Godhead - the triune God! Amazingly, the number three symbolizes the Godhead and this verse depicts the Godhead in the perfect will of God.

(4) Petition your Father for your needs:

Give us this day our daily bread. (Mat 6:11) I truly do not believe that Christ is teaching us to pray for our daily physical needs here - otherwise He would be contradicting Himself in the following verses: Mat 6:25-26, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (25) Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? (26) Instead, I believe that Christ is teaching us to ask the Father to feed us spiritually. Christ did not want us to worry about food, housing, clothing (earthly, physical needs). So much so, He stressed it again in Mat 6:31-32, Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (31) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (32) I believe the Lord was teaching us to seek after the things of God as He did. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? (Luk 2:49) The number four symbolizes "earth-creation-world" - how appropriate that the Lord would be teaching us not to be concerned about the things of the world but to be concerned about God - about His Kingdom - about His will - about His Word.

(5) Seek forgiveness and forgive:

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (Mat 6:12) How appropriate that the One who gave His life so that we would be forgiven would teach us to seek forgiveness through Him and then forgive others for their transgression. The Provider of forgiveness faithfully goes to the Father seeking forgiveness on our behalf so why should we not follow His pattern? Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luk 23:34a) How can we expect to receive forgiveness and yet not forgive others who have sinned against us or offended us? It was by God's grace that we're sent a Saviour to die for our sin so we could receive His forgiveness. It is by God's grace that we are saved. Nothing we could possibly do would take us even one step closer to Heaven! How appropriate it is that this fifth point of prayer is about receiving God's grace and the number five symbolizes grace! Thank You, Lord!

(6) God's protection:

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: (Mat 6:13) This is such a beautiful request depicting a child asking his Father to protect him from evil's way. This child is asking his Father to show him the path that he should take where he will not be tempted. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (Jam 1:14) But if he is tempted because of his own lusts, he can also ask his Father to deliver him and provide a way out of this temptation. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Cor 10:13) God is so good to us, my friend. Again, how appropriate that the sixth point of prayer deals with man's sinful nature and the number six symbolizes man!

(7) Praising God:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Mat 6:13b) The seventh and final point of prayer teaches us to praise God and acknowledge who He is, that all power is His, and all glory is His, eternally! God's kingdom will be perfect because He is perfect. His power is complete because He is perfect. Our God deserves all the glory because He is the perfect and holy God. The one and the only God! Again, how appropriate that God's perfection is reflected in the seventh verse and the number seven symbolizes perfection!

Does it surprise you that the Lord would teach us this perfect pattern of prayer and have it outlined in such a way that it completely reflects the meanings of the numbers from His Word? It does not to me! I stand amazed each time that I dig my nose into His Word, I find something that brings these Bible numbers out! Thank You, Lord!

A Blessing in Prayer
Eliza E. Hewitt

There is rest, sweet rest, at the Master’s feet,
There is favor now at the mercy seat,
For atoning blood has been sprinkled there;
There is always a blessing, a blessing in prayer.

Refrain:
There’s a blessing in prayer, in believing prayer,
When our Savior’s Name to the throne we bear;
Then a Father’s love will receive us there;
There is always a blessing, a blessing in prayer.

There is grace to help in our time of need,
For our Friend above is a Friend, indeed;
We may cast on Him every grief and care;
There is always a blessing, a blessing in prayer.

Refrain

When our songs are glad with the joy of life,
When our hearts are sad with its ills and strife,
When the powers of sin would the soul ensnare,
There is always a blessing, a blessing in prayer.

Refrain

There is perfect peace tho’ the wild waves roll,
There are gifts of love for the seeking soul,
Till we praise the Lord in His home so fair,
There is always a blessing, a blessing in prayer.

Refrain

Day 24 - Is Your Name Written Down?

Have you ever read a biography of someone that made an impact on their generation? I’m sure it was neat to see their name written down for all to see, neat to learn about the differences they made. It is especially edifying to read about Christians who made a difference in the lives of those around them because they did something for the Lord Jesus Christ and His kingdom - they touched lives for the Saviour's sake.

In Matthew 26:6-13, we have the story of a woman who, grateful for forgiveness and the gift of salvation, sacrificed what could very well have been her most valued possession to honour her Saviour.

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto Him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as He sat at meat. But when His disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, He said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Jesus honoured that woman for her faith. And His statement is very true - every time you read the Gospels, you read the account of her sacrifice. I believe John 12:1-8 is an account of the same event. Both of these accounts mention this event that occurred in Bethany just before Jesus’ final Passover. The book of John gives us this woman’s name: Mary of Bethany (Lazarus’ and Martha’s sister). John 11:2 It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Mary’s name was written down in the eternal Word of God; her name is preserved forever as a memorial to her and an encouragement for others.

In Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18, we have the mention of a book called the book of Jasher, which means upright. Some historians wrote down the names and accounts of some of Israel’s leaders. These books were not inspired of God, and therefore the record of them has been lost over time, but it was important to honour these leaders in future generations, and to remind others of what these godly men did. The names of Joshua, Saul, Jonathan, and others, were written down for all at that time to read or learn about. Later, we have record of the names of David’s mighty and valiant men. (See 1 Chronicles 11-12) Their names are written down for the service they have done for their king. Are our names written down for the service we do for our King?

In the books of Kings and Chronicles, we have mention of several books that recorded the acts, faith, and wisdom of other godly kings, and we have accounts of some less than godly kings! (I wouldn’t want to be remembered for the evil I do!) 1 Kings 11:41 says, And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon? This phrase is one we see over and over in these books: And the rest of the acts of …, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

I love the passage in Malachi 3:16-17 that says Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. When true Christians gather together and fellowship with one another about their Lord and Saviour, He remembers and writes their names down in a special book of remembrance, as those that have honoured Him. Jesus Christ places great value on our sweet meditations of Him. May all our meditations be pleasing to the Lord! Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

In the book of Hebrews (chapter 11), we have the names of many Old Testament saints who honoured the Lord through their acts of faith. We are able to see how these believers lived by faith, and how some even died in faith. Their names were written down in the inspired Word of God, to honour them and exhort others to be likewise faithful. The Lord remembers those who are His!

I believe that the canon of Scripture was closed at the end of the first century, when the Apostle John penned the last line of the book of Revelation. For the sake of this illustration, if the Lord was still writing Scripture, would your name be written down? Hebrews 10:38 says Now the just shall live by faith… Are you living by faith? Are you serving by faith? Are you seeking Him (in prayer) by faith? Would the Lord have something good to say about the way you lived your life in His name? Or would He be sadly disappointed with you as He will be with many at His return? Luke 18:8 …Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?

But more important than having your name written down in a book of remembrance: Is your name written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life? This book is the record of all the names of those that have placed personal faith in the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, and His death on the cross for their sins. Philippians 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

There are seven references to the Lamb's Book of Life in the book of Revelation (3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; 22:19).

Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. This is a promise to believers in the Church Age, that if they overcome through personal faith in Jesus Christ, their names will be written forever in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (See 1 John 5:4-5) This verse teaches eternal security for believers when we consider that it is not a threat, but a promise to keep their names in this book. In the dark ages, the Catholic Church excommunicated true Bible believers and threatened them with removing their names from their church rolls. Because they taught that salvation was found only through “The Church” (meaning the Catholic Church), when someone left the Catholic church (voluntarily or involuntarily), they were threatened with the proclaimed loss of their salvation. But we see here that whether or not someone’s name is written on a church roll, whether their name is written down in Heaven is what is most important! Luke 10:20 …Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Even if the whole world rejects us as believers, we just need to believe 2 Timothy 2:19: Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. Our Heavenly Father will never forget who His children are!

In Revelation 17:8, the Bible teaches that true believers’ names were written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life from before the foundation of the world! Jesus Christ knew before He ever created the world who would respond to His precious gift of eternal salvation.

Revelation 20:11-15 And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

At the end of the Millenium, when all the unsaved are judged at the Great White Throne Judgement, the basis of judgement will be whether someone’s name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life or not. As it turns out, no unsaved person’s name will be written down there. There might be a blank space where their name could have been. Then they will be judged for all the evil acts, words, and thoughts that they have ever committed. All these evil works will be written down in God’s books.

But we need not face this judgement! The Bible teaches that when we turn in repentance and faith toward the Saviour, believing in His death for our sins, in His burial, and His literal physical resurrection, then He wipes out the record of all our sins! They will no longer be written down, but our names will already have been written down in His book of the saved.

Has there ever been a time and place in your life when you realized that you were a sinner before Almighty God? The Bible teaches that All have sinned. (Romans 3:23) Have you ever repented of your sins (which means acknowledge to God that you have sinned against Him, and turned from your sins), and turned toward the only Saviour who paid the complete penalty for your sins? Acts 20:21 says Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is not enough to simply turn from your sins, you need to receive the Saviour and be born again through faith in Him. (See John 1:11-13 and 3:3, 7) The Bible teaches that we cannot earn our way to Heaven through our good works, but we must receive salvation as the free gift of God. It is something that we could never earn. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (See also Titus 3:5) Our righteousness is as filthy rags in God’s sight. (Isaiah 64:6) We need the perfect righteousness of the sinless Son of God, who shed His blood to pay for our sins. (See 1 Peter 1:18-19) When we realize that we cannot earn salvation, but we accept His gift, we are made children of God that very moment. All those that have ever trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation (or those who will ever trust Him), have had their names written down for eternity in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Revelation 21:25-27 And the gates of it (the New Jerusalem) shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Is your name written down?

I sure hope so. I’d love to see you in Heaven someday!

June 22th/02
By Jerry Bouey

Day 23 - The Seven Comforters

It is not a coincidence that the Holy Spirit of God would be depicted as a dove. It's a wonderful picture - gentle in descent - cooing. God's Spirit gently comes on us - He is not forceful, but "lights" on us. His "cooing" is not a blaring noise or a scream - but a gentle coo - a still small voice, which works in our hearts to woo us to Christ. Thoughts like these bring great comfort to me. They still my troubled spirit and create in me a calmness. We can be in the midst of the most tumultuous storm in our lives but the Spirit brings us comfort, reminding us that God is in control of even the worst of storms. God is not the author of confusion - He does not have to resort to such measures to get our attention. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Cor 14:33) Instead, He has left us with the Holy Spirit to draw us to Him. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. (Jam 4:8a)

The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter. Oh joy! God's Word doesn't coincidentally portray Him as such. God meant to show us that although He is a Judge, He is also our Saviour and our Comforter! As I searched for the word comforter, I discovered that it was conveniently used seven times in the King James Bible! The joys that come from God's Word when we but only search through it. How blessed we are!

(1) So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. (Ecc 4:1) Solomon, the wisest except for Christ, said that he observed all those who were oppressed and they had no comforter. We are no longer over powered by the devil and sin. We are no longer over burdened with the load of sin. We have freedom through Christ Jesus! We have the Comforter, given to us at the time of salvation and we are, therefore, sealed unto the day of redemption! And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Eph 4:30) The first mention of the word comforter is applied to mankind being separated from God. There is no comfort outside of God, my friend. Only He can provide a comfort which is lasting - nothing else can bring this kind of comfort to the soul. The Hebrew word for comforter here is:

H5162
נחם
nâcham
naw-kham'
A primitive root; properly to sigh, that is, breathe strongly; by implication to be sorry, that is, (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself): - comfort (self), ease [one’s self], repent (-er, -ing, self).

It is not a coincidence that these definitions describe the Holy Spirit's ministry. I also thought of the verse where Christ breathed upon His disciples so they could receive the Holy Spirit. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: (Joh 20:22) Jesus said and did this right after He told them "Peace be unto you" in the previous verse. The Holy Spirit definitely brings peace to the believer - what a Comforter He is!

(2) Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself. (Lam 1:9) The unsaved do not have this wonderful Comforter as we do. The enemy reigns in their lives and sin rules their bodies. Jeremiah weeped because Zion had defiled the things of God. They did not have the Comforter convicting them of sin as we have Him today.

This is the second appearance of the word comforter. The number two, symbolizing "witness or separation," is evidenced in why the Comforter was not with Zion. They had defiled the things of God - they were no longer separated and a peculiar people unto God! The heathen could not see anything different about God's people.

(3) For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed. (Lam 1:16) Our Blessed Comforter relieves our soul from eternal damnation - from an eternity of burning in hell's fire - from eternal separation from the Saviour! Praise the Lord for the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit who woos us to Christ and brings us to the saving power of the Cross! There is salvation only through God. The number three symbolizes the Godhead. How appropriate that we find this beautiful Triune God in (1 Jo 5:7) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. The Holy Spirit testifies of Christ, draws us to Him and brings to memory what His Word teaches (John 15:26).

(4) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (Joh 14:16) I lost my father in 1993 and I grieved so deeply for him. How I missed his presence and his teasing! When my mother passed away, I felt like an orphan, even though I was almost 50 years old at the time. It is not so with our Heavenly Father! He has left us His Spirit, our Comforter, who promises to abide with us forever! Jesus Himself promised us this! What a glorious promise it is indeed! I am not an orphan at all! I was born into God's family on April 1st, 1980, and His Comforter was given to me to be with me forever! Oh Glory!! This is the I fourth mention of the Comforter. The number four symbolizes "earth, creation, and world." Despite the fact that earth shall pass away, our Comforter is with us forever. He will never leave us (Heb. 13:5b) ... for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

(5) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (Joh 14:26) This same Comforter is not only with us forever, but He also is our Teacher! He wrote the Word of God. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Pe 1:21) Who better to interpret the Word to us than the One Who wrote it? We don't need someone to interpret God's Word for us. If we are diligently seeking the Lord's will in our lives through His Word, He will show us what He desires for us. I did not go to church for three months after I was first saved. During those three months, I was very studious and read my Bible at least three hours a day and soaked it in like a sponge. When I heard my first message preached three months later, everything that the preacher said had been taught to me by the Comforter Himself! I definitely was comforted and elated at that very moment. I knew that God had taught me during my readings and He was the one that had taken care of me spiritually so I would not be drawn to false doctrine! What a blessing this was to me! This was my first experience knowing that I was His child and He would care for me!

This fifth (five symbolizing grace, cross, atonement, life) appearance of the Comforter shows us that the Holy Spirit will bring to mind and teach us from His Word all that we need to know regarding Christ and how to live the Christian life. Coincidence? I doubt it! Can this beautiful pattern of God's numbering be duplicated in any other version than the King James? Nope! Just for the fun of it, I looked up the word in a few other versions and some had more and some had less. God means for us to be blessed by His Words. He means for us to find golden nuggets within the pages of our Kings James Bible, my friend. All we need to do is search them out. Bless His Holy Name!

(6) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (Joh 15:26) Our Comforter is also the One who will reveal Christ to us. He woos us to Christ, He pricks our heart and convicts us of our sin so we see the need of Christ, then He molds us to be like Christ. As He teaches us the truths from the Word, He testifies of Christ and glorifies Him through our yielded lives. What a beautiful portrait! This is the sixth appearance of the word Comforter - six symbolizes man. Man cannot gain entrance to Heaven without Christ. Man is lost and on his way to hell without Christ. How wonderful that God would place the sixth appearance of the Comforter in this light - showing man his need of salvation through the work of the Comforter!

(7) Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (Joh 16:7) Our Saviour did not leave us empty handed upon His departure. He left us in good hands. He left us His Spirit to dwell within us. This Comforter was sent to us by the Good Shepherd who knew exactly what we needed to complete our mission here on earth! Bless God! Glory to the Highest! Our comfort is complete because of the work of the Holy Spirit, our Comforter! God's perfect love for us is shown by leaving His Spirit with us! Perfection, again, in the Trinity is shown here by the seventh use of this blessed word comforter!

Brother Jerry Bouey added these insights - what a blessing!

"First of all, we have the promise of the Comforter. The word 'Comforter' is interesting. It is used to translate a Greek word, Parakletos, which is a compound word meaning, one who comes to the side of another, that is a helper in time of need. In the First Epistle of John (chap. 2:1) we have 'Advocate,' which is exactly the same word in the original.

There is a sweetness and preciousness about that word 'Comforter' that appeals to the heart. After all, we cannot use any other word in our language that would so adequately represent the Greek word, for the Paraklete is in very truth the Comforter. Our English word 'Comforter' is also a compound. 'Comforter' comes from two Latin words - con, and fortis, the one meaning 'to be in company with,' and the other 'to strengthen,' so that actually the Comforter is one who strengthens by companionship. That is one of the great ministries of the Holy Spirit. The Paraclete is one who comes to your side to help, to give aid, and so the word is properly used. An attorney-at-law, or an advocate, is one who comes to help you in your legal difficulties, and the Holy Spirit is all this. He has come from heaven, as promised by our blessed Lord, to assist us in every crisis, in every time of difficulty that may arise in our Christian lives - He strengthens by His companionship." (Quoted from Addresses On The Gospel Of John by H.A. Ironside, pages 622-623)

Jerry's added comment:

A trace of the root words behind Parakletos gives us this definition: "One who is called alongside." With these two definitions (ie. Ironside's and Strong's) taken together, we arrive at the conclusion that the Comforter is "one who comes alongside to strengthen" - in this case, strengthening from the inside. That is a wonderful picture. A believer can come alongside and strengthen someone else with their words of comfort, but the Holy Spirit does His special work of comfort from the inside, using the Word of God as His means of comforting.

This series has truly proven to be quite a blessing! Never did I imagine that we could glean so many "groupings and numbers" in God's Word! The joy that I have received is more than I can contain!

The Comforter

I remember that day like it was yesterday.
I realized I was doomed, pretty hopeless I'll say.
But The Comforter entered and brought me such peace.
I knew I was different, that burden released.

Those tears just kept coming, His Love could it be?
How precious and sacred that time was to me!
He washed me and saved me from sin and despair.
I was heading for hell, it seemed no one cared.

But my Heavenly Father loved a wretch such as me.
That He sent His Dear Son to shed blood on a tree.
He took upon Him all my sin and my shame.
That some day with Him I would be able to reign.

Praise my Wonderful Lord from Whom all Blessings Flow.
How wonderful these words, how they bless my soul.
How wondrous for me is this Act of Great Love.
Provided by my Father from Heaven Above!

Thank you Lord for saving my soul!

Kate Plourde

Day 22 - I Am Thine

While I am certain there are other passages that could be found on this theme, here are ten passages I was able to find a few days ago (the last three are closely related).

1) Psalms 119:94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.

I have been studying out Psalm 119 last week, and one morning before work the first three words of verse 94 leaped out at me:

I am Thine...

How many times over the years have I read that Psalm and never focussed on those specific words? But reading that verse recently caused that phrase to hit my heart with tremendous force. Often we think of the Lord being ours, of our finding Him when we turn to Him for salvation - but here the emphasis is on us being the Lord's. Those three words made an impact on me that, Lord willing, I will never forget.

I am Thine... What comfort and assurance!

2) Acts 27:22-25 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

The Apostle Paul faced shipwreck on the Mediterranean Sea, but the Lord sent an angel to give him courage in the midst of the danger that confronted him. He made a statement of simple fact, simple faith: God, whose I am, and whom I serve... The God whom I serve is able to protect me, and deliver me. The God whose I am loves me enough to look out for me in the midst of any trials or afflictions I may face.

The encouragement here to us is that, if you are a born again child of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the statement Paul made is also true of you. Just put yourself in his place, and apply these words to yourself: the God, whose I am. You are His!

3) John 10:14-15 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Jesus' sheep are those He laid His life down for on Calvary, and who have trusted Him alone for salvation. They are His! He knows each one of them personally!

We love to quote Psalm 23: The Lord is my Shepherd. But how much do we meditate on the fact that we are His sheep?

4) 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

The Lord knows all about us - everything about us - and still calls us His! That is one of the best exhortation we could find to live right. We are children of the King of Kings, so let's live like it. We are Christians, so let's live like ambassadors/representatives of Christ. The world cannot "see" our Lord (ie. physically), but it can see us - let's live in such a manner that they can see our Saviour through us!

1 John 4:10-12 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

It is interesting how verse 12 above starts with the same phrase as John 1:18:

John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

No man hath seen God at any time... Just as no one can see what the Father is like until they see Him manifested through Jesus Christ; even so, no one can see what our Heavenly Father is like until they see Him reflected through us, until they see Christ living in us (see Galatians 2:20).

5) Isaiah 43:1-2 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Thou art Mine...

God has called you by your name, and you are His! He will never leave you, nor forsake you - regardless of what trials may await you in the future. He is always there for you, looking out for His own. As Sis Kate has stated recently, we are His peculiar people - a people for His own possession. We are His!

Whenever I read the passage above and think about its promise for the future (ie. when thou passest through the waters... when thou walkest through the fire), I am always reminded of this verse from the Psalms that give us the same promise from a past perspective:

Psalms 66:12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

God was faithful and kept His promises! He was always with His people through the trials - He stood by His own!

6) Deuteronomy 32:9 For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

The word portion indicates "an allotment, an inheritance." We are what the Lord has set apart for Himself, for His enjoyment, for His inheritance. We are what He looks forward to and takes enjoyment in!

Psalms 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

7) Malachi 3:16-17 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

This is an amazing promise - the Lord will remember and reward true believers when they fellowship together and meditate on Him! He will write it down for a memorial when we fear (ie. reverence) Him and speak to one another about Him, about His name, and what He has done in our lives. Then He states, they shall be Mine! He claims those who claim Him as their Lord and Saviour, and considers them as valuable jewels worth keeping and sparing from harm. Our Lord will delight in and rejoice over us, because we are His!

Isaiah 62:3-5 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

8) Song of Solomon 2:16 My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

This is the first of three similar references in the Song of Solomon. Like most new believers, the Shulamite (picturing believers and their walk with the Lord) rejoices in the fact that she has found the Lord (though, of course, it was the Lord looking for us first), and that Jesus is hers. My Beloved is mine - I have a firm grasp on Him... And I am His too - almost as an afterthought.

9) Song of Solomon 6:3 I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.

Now she is maturing more, having walked with her Saviour a little longer, and she realizes that she is His first and foremost. She is still boasting about her hold upon Him, but that is nowhere near as important as His hold upon her.

10) Song of Solomon 7:10 I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.

Now see the difference in focus: she is no longer boasting about her claim on her Saviour, but rather in His claim on her! If she is anything like me (and she certainly pictures me in all other areas), she understands that she has failed and faltered so many times, and that her hold on the Lord is weak and fragile at times. But His hold on her never falters, never loosens, is never in danger of letting go! The fact that we are our Beloved's is the primary focus - it doesn't matter how weak and frail we may become at times, nothing can separate us from His love (see Romans 8:35, 37-39), nothing can pluck us out of His hand (see John 10:27-29), nothing can prevent our Saviour from keeping us by His power (see 1 Peter 1:5).

Lastly, notice how she focusses on His desire toward her. The word desire here means "in the original sense of stretching out after; a longing." It also comes from a root word meaning "to run after." As a young believer, she rejoiced in her desire towards her, now she just takes comfort and assurance in the knowledge that Jesus is the one delighting in her, that He is the one running after her for fellowship.

Song of Solomon 2:14 O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

Psalms 27:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

I am my Beloved's...

I am His...

I am Thine...

I Am Thine, O Lord
(Words: by Fanny Crosby; Music: W. Howard Doane)

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Chorus:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

Preached on June 22nd/07
Written June 26th/07
Jerry Bouey

Day 21 - Five Peculiar People

Noah Webster defines the word "peculiar" as:

Exclusive property; that which belongs to a person in exclusion of others.

Five times the word "peculiar" is found in the Word of God. God's grace is shown to those who desire to be part of His peculiar people. I wondered just what peculiar meant. It amazes me how definitions in English language has changed over the years. I've always known this word to mean:

1 : characteristic of only one person, group, or thing
2 : different from the usual or normal

This is Merriam Webster's definition. Notice how it lacks in the emphasis which the Word is portraying? Yes, the believer is "characteristic of only one person, group, or thing." However, when you put it in light of Noah's definition, our place in the Body of Christ becomes more meaningful, don't you think? We are the exclusive property of Jesus Christ. He has bought and paid for us with His own blood. "...to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." (Act 20:28b)

Let's look at these five wonderful verses. God's intent for the Jews was to be a peculiar people and it continues to be His intent for the born-again believer. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow - He never changes.

(1) Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: (Exo 19:5) The born-again believer hears the voice of the Shepherd and is a part of His fold. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (Joh 10:27) Notice that this verse says that He knows them! This peculiar people are considered a treasure to God! We are His treasure, my friend! Does that not excite you? Christ paid dearly for our salvation!

(2) For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. (Deu 14:2) We are so blessed. We do not have to look for a high priest to offer sacrifices for us. We no longer need a priest because we have direct contact with the Lord, Himself. Our High Priest is Christ Himself. He sits at the right hand of the Father and His sacrifice is all that is needed. Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; (Heb 8:1) His blood on the altar of sacrifice is all we need to cover our sins. We are a peculiar people which God has chosen for Himself! What a find in God's Word! The Creator of all the universe has chosen us for Himself! These are shoutin' words! We cannot be holy on our own. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isa 64:6) The Father demands punishment for sin because He is holy. But His grace is great and He provided a way for us because He pitied us. There is no way we could get to heaven on our own merits. But praise God that His Son took our sins upon Himself so that the Father sees His Son's righteousness. We would be doomed to eternity burning in hell otherwise. Thank You, Lord!!

(3) And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; (Deu 26:18) Noah Webster defines "avouched" as:

1. To affirm; to declare or assert with positiveness.

I don't know about you, my friend, but the very words of our King James Bible come to life like no other. God says that He has declared or asserted with positiveness that we are His people! Can anyone claim the name of Jesus and live like the devil? Many do but they are not truly saved. One cannot be saved and continue to live in known and unconfessed sin. A peculiar person strives to live a separated life because of what has been done for him. This peculiar people obeys God's Word. They may sin, but they do not desire to continue in sin. There's a difference there - that's the key. Those who claim to be saved but yet live a life that has no change, desire to continue in sin. The true born-again believer does sin, but they do not desire to continue in sin. They are remorseful and seek God's forgiveness. They continually strive toward not sinning but know that when they do, they are forgiven and they work daily at becoming more like Him. True remorse and repentance are the fruit of the born-again believer.

(4) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Tit 2:14) This peculiar people have been redeemed from ALL iniquity. This includes those sins of the future. Notice that He purifies us unto Himself - He cleans us and purges us from sin as we yield to the Holy Spirit. A yielded Christian becomes zealous of good works. I've never met a Christian who was walking close to the Lord and was lazy. Yes, I've met people who claimed to walk close to the Lord who were very active but they were using their works to justify their continuing in sin. How many Christians do you know who faithfully serve in their church but do not live a separated life? However, the Christian who is faithful in his walk with the Lord Jesus will be zealous of good works. Walking with the Lord produces a desire to do more for Him.

(5) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Pe 2:9) A peculiar people praises their God and shows the world what He has done for them. They are a changed people who have gone from living a life of sin to a people who are walking in the light - testimonies to the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Are you living as though you are part of this peculiar generation, friend? We are a chosen generation and a treasure to God. How can one not be excited over being a peculiar Christian? I sure am!

What Raised the Wonderous Thought
George V. Wigram

What raised the wondrous thought,
Or who did it suggest,
That blood-bought saints to glory brought
Should with the Son be blest?

Father, the thought was Thine,
And only Thine could be—
Fruit of the wisdom, love divine,
Peculiar unto Thee.

For, sure, no other mind,
For thoughts so bold, so free,
Greatness or strength, could ever find;
Thine only it could be.

The motives, too, Thine own,
The plan, the counsel, Thine!
Made for Thy Son, bone of His bone,
In glory bright to shine.

O God, with great delight
Thy wondrous thought we see,
Upon His throne, in glory bright
The bride of Christ shall be.

Sealed with the Holy Ghost,
We triumph in that love,
Thy wondrous thought has made our boast
“Glory with Christ above.”

Day 20 - Eight Reasons David Loved The Lord

Psalm 18 was a Psalm that David very likely wrote before he became king. This is the introduction to the Psalm:

Psalms 18:1 (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,) I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

This Psalm was written to proclaim the deliverances the Lord had given to him through the years. Because of all these deliverances and the Lord's care of him through every trial and distress, David loved the Lord his God. It is interesting that verse two gives us David's eightfold reason for loving the Lord.

Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

1) The Lord is my Rock.

Jesus is the Rock. A life built upon faith in Him is a life built upon the Rock (rather than sand. He is the sure and stable foundation that will last through all the storms of life, regardless of how fierce and strong they may blow.

One nugget I gleaned this morning was looking up the Hebrew word behind the word rock. It is "cela or sela." This word is the same as the name of an ancient city in the Bible: Sela, the rock-city of Idumaea, now called Petra. If you have ever seen pictures of this interesting city carved out of the rock walls and cliffs, you would be amazed at its wonder. Taking a look at this ancient city in Edom gives a possible inkling of what David had in mind when using this word in reference to the refuge and safety found in the Lord.

Psalms 18:31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

Psalms 18:46 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

2) The LORD is my fortress.

A stronghold, a place of strength, a place where the enemy cannot enter. Like the previous term, this word also holds some wonder. This Hebrew word for fortress or stronghold is where we get the name Masada from. This was a city built on top of a mountain, that was inaccessible to the enemy. As far as the history of this particular city goes, it is quite sad - however, the picture presented to us in Scripture is a blessing to consider.

Psalms 91:1-2 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

1 Samuel 23:25-29 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them. But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth. And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.

3) The LORD is my deliverer.

The one who rescues from all distress, from all enemies, the one who pulls me out of the muck and the mire that I've fallen into.

Psalms 18:3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Psalms 18:48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

Psalms 18:19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

The Lord delivers us because He delights in us! That statement brings tremendous comfort and assurance to the soul!

4) The LORD is my God.

When pondering on this verse a while ago, I was thinking that David was here just naming his Deliverer, ie. He is God, then giving seven specifics about how personal God was to him. But upon further reflection, I think David was stating that God was his God. God was the one with David's life in His hands, with David's welfare on His mind, and with David's care on His heart.

The Lord's relationship to David (and to us) was an eightfold one, as expressed in this verse. Eight is the number of new beginnings - and if you are saved, all of these eight things are true of you as well - you had a new beginning with the Lord Jesus Christ the moment He became your God, the moment He became your Saviour. With the Lord as your God, with your Heavenly Father in control of all that goes on in your life, there is no need for fear. The word for God here means "the Strong One, the Almighty."

5) The LORD is my strength, in whom I will trust.

The word for strength here is "properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge," from a root meaning "to cramp, i.e. confine." Seeing both this term and rock used in the same verse presents some contrasts:

Rock (sela) means "to be lofty; a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress)"; and speaks of the inaccessability of those hidden in it. Whereas this term strength also refers to a rock, but focusses more on the strength of the rock - ie. consider the strength of a mountain. Your enemies cannot move it! If your strength comes from the Lord, and His strength is as the mountains, nothing will move you (or Him); you are secure in Him. The wind and the waves may come - but the Rock holds firm!

Psalms 18:32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

Psalms 18:39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

David said it was in the Lord he would trust. Knowing that the Lord is watching out for David and working in his life, protecting him, sheltering him, delivering him, David placed his confidence and reliance on the Lord. We can learn from this great lesson and continue to place our day-to-day affairs into His capable hands. We can trust fully in the Lord!

6) The LORD is my buckler.

The Lord is our shield - He is the one that will protect us spiritually and physically in this life. Too many people try to make their own shields - whether a cushion of wealth or being surrounded by bodyguards or an army - but David said the Lord was to be our shield, our Protector. As long as He is watching out for His children, if we are walking closely to Him and striving to do His will, then we don't have to fear men or anything else that comes our way.

Psalms 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Psalms 18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

Like verse 19, this verse is excellent! Truly, it is God's gentleness in reaching down to us that lifts us up and makes us great. His kindness and tenderness reaches out to His children and exalts them in His sight.

Psalms 18:16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

7) The LORD is the horn of my salvation.

Horns in the Bible represent power. Think of an animal fighting with another animal - the horn is what gives one an advantage and helps it to win. It can be used to defeat the enemy and protect itself. Well, it is God's power that defeats our enemies and protects us, that keeps us safe until we are home in Heaven with Him.

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

Psalms 18:17-18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

8) The LORD is my high tower.

Here is another place of refuge and safety. The benefit of a high tower is that you are placed above the battle and can see the enemy coming before they can get to you. But you are also protected and sheltered within it. David knew the Lord was his high tower, his refuge and safety.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Psalms 61:3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

Psalms 144:1-2 (A Psalm of David.) Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

The Lord wasn't just a fortress, wasn't just any high tower or deliverer. He was David's fortress, David's high tower, David's shield and deliverer. Is He yours?

Preached June 21st/07
Written June 22nd/07
Jerry Bouey

(Note: linking to these websites on Petra and Masada does not indicate an endorsement of them. They are provided merely to show pictures and give general information about these two ancient cities. Please use your own discernment as to their content.)

Day 19 - I am the Lord that...

I have truly been enjoying this series of the numbers from the Bible. Everything I read now, I am looking for something to glean in this area! I was in Genesis 15 the other day and read "I am the LORD that..." When I did a search for that phrase in my electronic Bible, I discovered seven beautiful verses! I just stand amazed how these blessings have been hidden from me all these years and are coming out through this series! Let's review the seven things the Lord does.

(1) The Lord that brings us out. (Gen 15:7) And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. The Lord God brings us from of a life without Christ to an eternal inheritance in Heaven. He is the One who brings us out of the world to salvation.

(2) The Lord that heals us. (Exo 15:26) And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. The Lord heals us, not only physically but spiritually. (Isa 53:5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Without Christ's death on the cross, we would not have salvation.

(3) The Lord that sanctifies us. (Exo 31:13) Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. The Lord sanctifies us. (Heb 10:10) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. God sets us apart from the world. He wants us to be a peculiar people. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Pe 2:9) Noah Webster defines peculiar as:

Exclusive property; that which belongs to a person in exclusion of others.

We are the Lord's exclusive property. He has purchased us with His own blood. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Eph 1:14)

(4) The Lord that brings us out of the world. (Lev 11:45) For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. We cannot change ourselves. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (Joh 15:19) It is the Holy Spirit of God that convicts us and molds us into the likeness of Jesus Christ. God does not leave us helpless once we are saved. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 Jo 2:27)

(5) The Lord that knows us. (Isa 44:24) Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; The Creator of all things formed us and knows us intimately. (Col 1:16) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: God outlines His qualifications in Is. 44:24. Who better than the Creator of all to take care of us? Is any detail too intricate for Him? Just meditating on the human body and all of its intricacies should answer this. Look at the inner ear! The smallest bone in the human body abides there! The God who created a planet created this tiny bone!

(6) The Lord that chastens. (Eze 7:9) And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth. Noah Webster defines smiteth as:

4. To afflict; to chasten; to punish. Let us not mistake God's goodness, nor imagine, because he smites us, that we are forsaken by him.

(Heb 12:6) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Praise God that we are His child! He will not allow us to continue in sin, my friend. He will chasten us to mold us and form us into His image. If we ignore His chastening and cause harm to His ministry, He will take us home. Ananias and Sapphira are good examples of this.

(7) The Lord that judges. Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. (Eze 20:12-13) We should not take lightly what the Lord commands us to do as a nation and as a church. He has not only set us apart and sanctified us but He expects us to follow and obey His Word. Many believers today do not view the God of Heaven as a God of fury and judgment. This side of God is taken lightly. But we cannot forget the history found in the Word. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Our country is reaping what it has sown through the years of continuing down the path away from God. God has begun His judgment on our nation. It is evident in the news daily. He is also judging the church. I have often wondered how Christ's words in Luke 18:8 could come to past. I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luk 18:8) But I can clearly see it happening today. Soul winning has changed dramatically since I was first saved 27 years ago. There are more and more people who have not even heard of Jesus Christ. I never thought I would ever see this for myself.

Perfection provides us with all that we need. God tells us that He is the Lord that:

1. Gives us eternal life
2. Heals us spiritually
3. Sanctifies us
4. Brings us out of the world
5. Made all things so He knows us intimately
6. Chastises
7. Judges our country and the church

God is complete - His provisions are complete - His Word is complete - His judgment is complete.

GOD IS WORKING HIS PURPOSE OUT
Ar­thur C. Ain­ger, 1894.

God is working His purpose out
As year succeeds to year;
God is working His purpose out,
And the time is drawing near;
Nearer and nearer draws the time,
The time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled
With the glory of God
As the waters cover the sea.

From utmost east to utmost west,
Where’er man’s foot hath trod,
By the mouth of many messengers
Goes forth the voice of God:
“Give ear to Me, ye continents,
Ye isles, give ear to Me,”
That the earth may be filled
With the glory of God
As the waters cover the sea.

What can we do to work God’s work,
To prosper and increase
The brotherhood of all mankind,
The reign of the Prince of Peace?
What can we do to hasten the time,
The time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled
With the glory of God
As the waters cover the sea.

March we forth in the strength of God,
With the banner of Christ unfurled,
That the light of the glorious Gospel of truth
May shine throughout the world;
Fight we the fight with sorrow and sin
To set their captives free,
That the earth may be filled
With the glory of God
As the waters cover the sea.

All we can do is nothing worth
Unless God blesses the deed;
Vainly we hope for the harvest-tide
Till God gives life to the seed;
Yet near and nearer draws the time,
The time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled
With the glory of God
As the waters cover the sea.

Day 18 - Paul's Final Exhortation To Timothy - Part 4

The Preacher And His Victory

2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

His Fight

The following is quoted from Pilgrim's Progress, an allegory written by John Bunyan. At this point in the story, Christian had just gotten saved and was now in the House of the Interpreter (who represented the Holy Spirit), having various things explained to him. This was the first thing he was shown:

"Then said Interpreter, Come in; I will show thee that which will be profitable to thee. So he commanded his man to light the candle, and bid Christian follow him; so he had him into a private room, and bid his man open a door; the which when he had done, Christian saw the picture a very grave person hang up against the wall; and this was the fashion of it: It had eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, the law of truth was written upon its lips, the world was behind its back; it stood as if it pleaded with men, and a crown of gold did hang over its head.

Then said Christian, What means this?

The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand: he can beget children, 1 Cor. 4:15, travail in birth with children, Gal. 4:19, and nurse them himself when they are born. And whereas thou seest him with his eyes lift up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, and the law of truth writ on his lips: it is to show thee, that his work is to know, and unfold dark things to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand as if he pleaded with men. And whereas thou seest the world as cast behind him, and that a crown hangs over his head; that is to show thee, that slighting and despising the things that are present, for the love that he hath to his Master’s service, he is sure in the world that comes next, to have glory for his reward. Now, said the Interpreter, I have showed thee this picture first, because the man whose picture this is, is the only man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art going hath authorized to be thy guide in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in the way: wherefore take good heed to what I have showed thee, and bear well in thy mind what thou hast seen, lest in thy journey thou meet with some that pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death."

Being a preacher or a pastor after God's own heart takes some effort. Being faithful to the Lord means that the believer cannot take the easy road. We cannot swim downstream with the world and then expect to be blessed and rewarded. I love this passage of Scripture because it shows us both the confident expectation that the faithful believer has, and also reveals the battle that is waged in our spiritual lives.

The good news is that we are more than conquerors through the Lord Jesus Christ - He gives us His victory, and it is up to us to claim those promises and walk accordingly. This is just as much true for the preacher or pastor, as well as for any believer, regardless of age or background. Our victory is in the Saviour, and we receive that victory through faith (ie. trust) and obedience to His Word.

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

Psalms 18:32-35 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

Habakkuk 3:19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

1 John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Our victory is in Jesus.

I have fought a good fight...

Paul fought a good fight - in fact, he fought the best fight, the only worthwhile fight in light of eternity: the fight of faith. He earnestly contended for the faith. He preached it, and he lived it! He exhorted Timothy to follow his own example:

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

And now he states that he did exactly what he set out to do. "Timothy, remember when I encouraged you to fight the good fight of faith? That's what I did. Like a boxer or a wrestler, I fought, and I won the battle - with sin and compromise, with spiritual forces of wickedness, with myself. Oh Timothy, follow my example!"

His Course

I have finished my course...

On his first missionary journey, the Apostle Paul made this comment about John the Baptist:

Acts 13:25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

John Gill makes these comments in his Exposition Of The Entire Bible:

"The life of every Christian is a race, and especially of a minister of the Gospel, and which requires strength, courage, agility, patience, and perseverance; this world is the place in which they run; and this is only the running time; in heaven they will sit down on the throne with Christ; the way in which they run, is the way of their duty, the way of God's commandments; the mark they have in view, which they keep their eye on, and to which they direct their course, is Christ; and glory is the incorruptible crown they run for, and which, when they have finished their course, will be given them by the chief shepherd and righteous judge."

Adam Clarke adds this:

"As John fulfilled his course... It signifies properly his ministry, or life. A man's work, employment, function, etc., is his race, course, or way of life. John had a ministry from God; and he discharged the duties of it with zeal and diligence; bore the fatigues of it with patience and resignation; and was gloriously successful in it, because the hand of the Lord was with him."

Years later, Paul made this statement about himself:

Acts 20:22-25 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

Paul knew that if he persisted in going to Jerusalem, that journey would involve greater hardship and imprisonment, permanent separation from some of his fellow labourers in ministry. At this point in time, I do not think that Paul yet knew that this trip would result in his being taken captive to Rome in chains, brought before Nero, the Roman Emperor, and then just a few more years after that ending in his death. Perhaps he had some fears, perhaps some temptations to take an easier route - but the Apostle was headstrong and determined, and would not be moved from his set plans. Whether he faced life or death, whatever the future held for him, he was determined to finish the race the Lord had laid out for him and to be faithful in the ministry he had been given.

Now at the end of his earthly life, he could victoriously proclaim that he had finished his course! He ran the race of faith, and won the race against himself:

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

The following is from my study on the Patriarch Jacob, Wrestling Until The Day Break:

"Paul says the believer is to strive for the mastery and be temperate (self-controlled) in all things. The word for striveth is agonizomai (from which we get our word agonize) and means 'to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or genitive case (to endeavor to accomplish something).'

The word strive is also used in the following verse:

2 Timothy 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

Here the word used is athleo (where we get athlete from), and means '(a contest in the public lists); to contend in the competitive games.' To wrestle against the devil, to wrestle with God, and to wrestle against ourselves will involve some effort. It will cost us something - there is no such thing as instant spirituality."

From the devotional, Running The Race Of The Christian Life:

"As we can see, winning the race will involve some discipline (temperance) on our part, it will involve agony, it will involve us striving against ourselves and our sinful natures, if we hope to win the prize. We are not competing for a corruptible crown of laurel leaves, but for the victor's crown, one that is eternal and incorruptible. There is a definite aim and discipline involved if we hope to attain the prize...

We cannot win the victor's crown, unless we are striving according to the rules - and the rules for the Christian life are found in the Word of God. If we hope to be rewarded for our service to the Lord, we need to run according to the plan He has for our lives, according to His will as revealed in His Word."

So run, that ye may obtain. The word for obtain means "to take eagerly, i.e. seize, possess, etc. (literally or figuratively)." We are to give it our all, strive according to the rules God has laid down, and reach eagerly for the prize that awaits the faithful runner:

Philippians 3:12-14 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The word apprehended in this passage is the same word in Greek as obtain in 1 Corinthians 9:24. Reaching forth means to "to stretch (oneself) forward upon." Stretching oneself - that takes some effort! Press toward, pursuing, striving after. Just as no Olympic runner can win the prize unless he is striving towards it, unless he gives it his all; we can't win the prize before us unless we set our sights upon it and eagerly pursue after it.

Paul knew the mark, the goal, he was reaching for! He was striving to fulfill the will of God for his life, to be a faithful steward of all that had been entrusted to him, and looking forward to his Master's return and hearing his commendation:

Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

I don't know about you, but being able to enter into the joy of my Lord looks promising to me! It certainly beats looking back over our lives and regretting that we didn't live for our Saviour, that we didn't give Him our all!

...forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before...

Praise the Lord for His mercy and grace - mercy that wipes out our sins, and grace that gives us a new start when we put our eyes firmly back on our Saviour and repent of our waywardness and lukewarmness.

His Faith

I have kept the faith...

Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines the term the faith as "The object of belief; a doctrine or system of doctrines believed; a system of revealed truths received by christians." There are various places in the New Testament where this term is used as a reference to the body of truth that the true Bible-believing Christian clings to and holds dear. Paul says he kept the faith. In an age when so many are departing from the faith, Paul's example stands out so clearly!

The word for kept here (and keep in 1 Timothy 6:14) means "to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon)." Paul exhorted the young preacher, Timothy, and all who would later read these letters, to keep the faith, keep God's Word, keep the commandments He has given to us!

1 Timothy 6:13-16 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

1 Timothy 6:20-21 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

2 Timothy 1:13-14 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

The word for keep in the last two passages means "to watch, i.e. be on guard (literally of figuratively); by implication, to preserve, obey, avoid." Like Timothy, we are to keep the trust the Lord has given to us, we are to hold fast to His Word, we are to guard it in our hearts, we are to avoid anything that would hinder us from doing so - and we are to keep this trust by power of the indwelling Holy Spirit!

Consider these other New Testament references to the faith:

1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

1 Timothy 6:9-10 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Acts 16:5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Ephesians 4:11-16 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Colossians 1:21-23 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Colossians 2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Titus 3:15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

His Reward

2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Looking back over his life since he turned to the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, the Apostle Paul was satisfied that he had been faithful and that there was a crown of righteousness waiting for him as a reward for his faithful service to the Lord. These rewards weren't just for the Apostles or for pastors or preachers, but are available for all the children of God, for all that are faithful in their service to the Lord.

The following is adapted from: Smyrna: The Persecuted (Suffering) Church.

"There are five crowns altogether that are given as rewards to the faithful Christian - five being the number for God's grace. The word for crown in all of the following passages is stephanos, which is the victor's crown.

1. The Incorruptible Crown - 1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. This crown is promised to those Christians who keep themselves in subjection and are temperate (self-controlled), and do not let the flesh dominate in their spiritual walk.

2. The Crown Of Rejoicing - 1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? This crown will actually be those believers we have had a part in leading to the Lord and will one day spend eternity with in Heaven.

Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

No wonder it is called a crown of rejoicing!

3. The Crown Of Righteousness - 2 Timothy 4:8 (quoted above). This crown is the reward for those who faithfully yearn and look for the Lord's appearing.

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

4. The Crown Of Life - James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. This crown is promised to those who endure temptation or are faithful unto death. The word for life in this passage and Revelation 2:10 means 'spiritual life.'

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

5. The Crown Of Glory - 1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. This crown is the one that is promised to faithful Pastors (elders)."

When I was preaching last week on this passage of 2 Timothy, I realized something: These five crowns picture the grace the Lord gives to us. Not only is salvation all by grace - Jesus Christ paid the complete penalty our sins deserve, and there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation, only trust in the Saviour to save us - but these rewards are too. By that I mean, He saves us, He equips us to serve Him, and then He rewards us for doing so! Oh the boundless love of God!

One final point that might be a blessing to you: 1 and 2 Timothy contain so many exhortations to the young preacher, Timothy, to stand strong and be faithful, to follow Paul's example, to cling to and uphold God's Word in his ministry - and when we go to this passage at the end of the book of Hebrews, we find he did just that!

Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

It's possible that Hebrews was written after 2 Timothy, and if so, it is interesting to see that Timothy also endured imprisonment, and was faithful to the Lord as well.

If Paul and Timothy can serve the Lord faithfully, so can we! We have the same indwelling Holy Spirit to empower us, the same Word of God to preach and change lives, the same promises to claim, and the same Saviour to look forward to seeing face to face one day.

Paul fought the good fight, he finished his course, and he kept the faith. Will that be said about you, or I?

June 18th/07
Jerry Bouey

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Day 17 - Eight Ways the Lord Gets Personal

Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. (Psa 77:14)

Being saved is having a personal relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. To many, this is not understandable - they are merely words. God wants us to have a personal relationship with Him. So much so, He has written all about it across the pages of His love letters to us in His Word.

I wondered how many times I would find the phrase, "The Lord is my" in the Bible. To my delight, I discovered that it was used eight different ways. How appropriate is that? Eight is the number of "new beginnings" - how wonderful that our new beginning as born-again Christians is reflected in our personal relationship with Christ! My Pastor stated that everlasting life does not begin at the moment we die and leave this physical body. Everlasting life begins at the moment we are born again. We merely exchange our earthly bodies for a heavenly body at the time of death. This new beginning at the time of salvation had new meaning to me as I meditated on what he preached.

As born-again believers, were are adopted into the family of God and now worship a personal God.

(1) God is my Strength:

(Exo 15:2) The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

(Psa 28:7) The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

(Psa 118:14) The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

There have been so many times in my walk (as I am sure in yours) where I felt as though I could not go on one more minute in my own strength. I felt so weak and discouraged. It is at these times of depression that God ministered to me. It was as if He had sat down beside me and placed His strong arm around me to say He was right there and He would take care of everything. I have relied on the Lord's strength many times. I think of my dear sick friend who battles daily with her physical trials. She battles depression because of it. This friend needs the strength of her God. It reminds me of: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Co 12:9)

(2) God is my Rock:

And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; (2 Sa 22:2)

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. (Psa 18:2)

And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1 Cor 10:4)

When we build our spiritual foundation upon the Rock, Jesus Christ, we are able to claim these verses, my friend! When you look at today's picture, can you imagine this mountain falling apart? I can't, but I know it is possible. The Lord chose a rock to depict His strength, His stability, His power and might. We can run to this Rock and be protected. There are times when nothing else can do what God can do for us. He knows our frailties, He knows our weaknesses and He pities us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. (Psa 103:13) He wants us to be able to run to Him and hide in Him. He is not like the rocks of earth which may crumble and fall. His strength is permanent and unwavering. My favorite times in the Word have been those where I have desperately needed a miracle and hid myself in His Word. The miracle I received was not the one I wanted but it was the spiritual one I needed from the Rock of Ages.

(3) He is my Shepherd:

[A Psalm of David.] The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psa 23:1)

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (Joh 10:14)

In my devotional, The Nine Cares of a Shepherd, the Word taught me just how thoroughly Christ takes care of me. Christ knows His sheep - He knows us by name and each part of us (even down to the number of hairs on our head)! Does this not touch you at the very core of your heart? God, the Creator, knows you by name! Praise His Holy Name! He will guide you, care for you, protect you and love you!

(4) He is my Light:

[A Psalm of David.] The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psa 27:1)

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (Joh 8:12)

When we are saved, God gives us the ability to read and understand His Word. We are no longer stumbling in the dark but we have a new spiritual light within us called the Holy Spirit. He illuminates His Word and reveals to us what He intended for us to learn. Each day the Word is fresh and new. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12) It is here that we will see the light of God. He reveals His will to us within the pages of our Bible. The believer who does not spend time in the Word is walking in spiritual darkness and will stumble. The Lord promises to light our way so that we don't have to stumble. When we do, it is because of our unfaithfulness, not God's. NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psa 119:105) and But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. (Pro 4:18) God is light and promises to shed light on our way so we are not in darkness.

(5) He is my Defence:

But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge. (Psa 94:22)

He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. (Psa 62:6)

Noah Webster defines defence as:

1. To drive from; to thrust back; hence, to deny; to repel a demand, charge, or accusation; to oppose; to resist; the effect of which is to maintain ones own claims.

God stands ready to oppose all our enemies, including ole slew foot himself. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:31)

(6) He is my Portion:

The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. (Lam 3:24)

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. (Psa 73:26)

We have just as much of the Holy Spirit at the time we are saved that we are ever going to get. The key is are we yielded to Him? We grow in Christ and become more like Him because of our yieldedness to the work of the Spirit in our lives. He is our portion - our flesh will fail us but the Holy Spirit is our strength to overcome trial and temptation. He is always with us. Once we are born again, we receive the Holy Spirit of God and the Word says that we are sealed unto the day of redemption. Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Co 1:22) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Eph 4:30) That's a promise! What a portion of God we have!

(7)He is my God:

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. (Zec 13:9)

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (Joh 20:28)

Can the unsaved claim this verse? How can they personalize their god in this way? They cannot. How can a statue of Buddha be personalized? I have never heard or read of a muslim saying that Allah was a personal god to him. But our God meets our needs in a very intimate and personal way. He knows our every need. (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (Mat 6:32)

(8) He is my Helper:

Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me. (Psa 86:17)

(Heb 13:6) So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. God is our helper, my friend. Many times I have found myself in a situation that I just can't fix. I'm going through a trial such as this at the moment. [To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.] God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psa 46:1) Am I in trouble? No, but my trial is one that I personally cannot fix. There is nothing that I can humanly do which will solve this problem. Can God? Absolutely! I have seen the Lord come to my rescue time and time again. I can rest on my past experiences because He has been faithful in helping me. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (Heb 10:23)

I will not waver - I refuse to waver in this area of faith because my God is personal. My personal God is my Strength, my Rock, my Shepherd, my Light, my Defence, my Portion, my God and my Helper! What have I to fear? Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (Deu 31:6)

Dear God...
You are our Abba, Father
You know our every need
There is not one thing hidden
To You we humbly plead.

Day 16 - Paul's Final Exhortation To Timothy - Part Three

The Preacher And His Graduation

The Apostle Paul was a faithful preacher - he was a preacher that fulfilled this nine-fold charge of preaching the Word of God - and he exhorted Timothy and all other men of God to be likewise faithful to this charge.

1) Preach the Word - nothing else is as powerful and lifechanging!
2) be instant in season, out of season - be ready always!
3) reprove - confront and correct the sinner!
4) rebuke - restrain and check their sin!
5) exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine - be patient as you preach the Word!
6) watch thou in all things - be spiritually alert!
7) endure afflictions - be faithful in the midst of the trials and tests!
8) do the work of an evangelist - keep reaching out to the lost!
9) make full proof of thy ministry - fulfill God's will for your life!

2 Timothy was written near the very end of Paul's life, and contains his conclusion (and the Lord's) of Paul's walk with his Saviour. Perhaps Paul's next statements may one day be said of us as well:

2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

His Offering

I am now ready to be offered...

Verse six describes a devoted servant of the Lord who is now ready to depart, and to be with Christ, ready to go home to his Saviour.

I love the way J. Vernon McGee explains this verse:

“'I am now ready to be offered.' If you had gone into that execution room in Rome, you would have seen a bloody spectacle. Very candidly, it would have been sickening to see him put his head on the chopping block, to watch the big, burly, brutal Roman soldier lift that tremendous blade above his head, then with one fell swoop sever the head from the body and see the head drop into a basket on one side and the body fall limp and trembling on the other side. But Paul says if that’s all you saw, you really didn’t see very much. That happened to be an altar, and his life was being poured out as a libation, a drink offering. Paul used that figure of speech before in his letter to the Philippians, when he was arrested for the first time and thought death was before him. He wrote in Philippians 2:17, 'Yea, and if I be offered [poured out as a drink offering] upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.' He wanted his life to be poured out. Now he could say at the end of his life that his life had been poured out like a drink offering.

"What was the drink offering? There were no specific instructions given by God to the Israelites concerning the drink offering. However, it is mentioned again and again in Exodus and Leviticus. The wine was taken and poured over the sacrifice, which, of course, was really hot because it was on a brazen altar with fire underneath it. You know exactly what would happen. The drink offering would go up in steam. It would just evaporate and disappear. That is exactly what Paul is saying here. 'I have just poured out my life as a drink offering on the sacrifice of Christ. It has been nothing for me but everything for Him.' Paul’s life would soon disappear, and all that could be seen was Christ. This is one of the most wonderful figures of speech he has used. So many Christians try to be remembered by having their names chiseled in stone or by having a building named in their memory. Paul was not interested in that type of thing. He says, 'My life is a drink offering poured out; Christ — not Paul — is the One who is to be exalted.' This is a very rich passage of Scripture." (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, [Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers] 2000, c1981.)

The apostle Paul wanted his life to be a sacrifice for the Lord Jesus Christ, an offering poured out in service and worship to the Lord - a life lived in complete dedication to the Lord, so that all who saw him in life or in death would see his Saviour living through him at all times. What a goal to strive for! What an example to emulate, to follow with all our heart!

Dying To Self

Matthew 16:24-25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

John 12:24-26 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

1 Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

A Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Romans 6:5-7 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Romans 6:11-13 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Following Christ

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

1 Corinthians 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Ephesians 5:1-2 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Walking In His Steps

1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

2 Corinthians 12:18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

Romans 4:11-12 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

Steps in the New Testament means "a track," ie. following a path already laid out. The word for walk means "(to range in regular line); to march in (military) rank (keep step), i.e. (figuratively) to conform to virtue and piety." We are to follow the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2; 5:9), the Captain of our salvation (Hebrews 2:10), the Lord Jesus Christ, the Pioneer who blazed the trail for us to follow spiritually - and we are to also follow faithful believers inasmuch as they are closely following the Saviour's example, carefully walking in the Saviour's steps.

Psalms 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

Order means "to set up." Jesus has already set up the path for our lives in His Word - all we have to do is follow.

Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Philippians 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Are you dying daily? The flesh needs to be mortified - nothing good can come of it.
Are you a living sacrifice - willingly placing yourself on the altar in dedicated service to the Lord?
Are you following the Saviour? Following the example of godly believers?
Following in their steps? Following in Jesus' steps?
I truly believe the Apostle Paul was doing all these things - he was walking in the footsteps of faith. Are you?

His Departure

The time of my departure is at hand...

For a wonderful commentary on 2 Timothy, see To My Son by Guy King. The following is taken from chapter 15, At The End Of The Road:

"The Departure - the 'unloosing,' as the word literally means. This is a most interesting word, and most illuminating.

It may be said to have at least five connotations, each of them throwing a flood-light on death.

(i) It is a prisoner's word - meaning his 'release.' What especial comfort that would bring to Paul, shut up as he is in that foul Roman dungeon: he is about to be let loose. It carries that thought also to us who are imprisoned within this mortal body, and who that day will be set free from all its restrictions and disabilities.

(ii) It is a farmer's word - and would signify the 'unyoking' of an ox, when its long hard day's work was done. Paul had ploughed a toilsome furrow all through his life's long day, and now comes rest. A thing that we too shall greatly esteem if our life has been strenuously occupied in God's service.

(iii) It is a warrior's word - the encampment has been pitched here, and a fierce battle joined; now that is victoriously over, he strikes his tent, 'unloosing' its cords and stakes, and is on the march again to the last great conquest of the campaign. How true of the battle-scarred old veteran who pens the words, and of all who follow in his steps.

(iv) It is a seaman's word - and would be used for the 'unmooring' of a ship that has been tied up to the quayside, and which must now put to sea again. In Paul's case, and in ours, it is the setting sail upon the ocean of our last voyage, our vessel Homeward Bound.

(v) It is a philosopher's word - suggesting the 'unraveling' of a knotty problem. How many puzzles have agitated our minds, and disturbed our hearts, while we have pondered upon our life here, and its mysteries; 'but then shall I know even as also I am known,' as Paul himself said in 1 Corinthians 13:12.

How utterly grand to have all our questions satisfyingly answered. Well now, our 'departure' implies all this - and more, much more, besides. It is true, of course, that Death is an intensely solemn thing - that comes out in Paul's first figure of the 'outpouring'; but, looked at in this second way, it is an unimaginably glorious thing."

To use the fourth description found above, Paul's departure was as a ship leaving the harbour and heading out to sea, sailing home at last! This is expressed so eloquently in the the poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson:

Crossing The Bar

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

Like the Apostle Paul, are you ready to see your Pilot face to face? Can you look back on a life of faithful service since you came to know the Lord, or will there be regrets, tears, fears, when you stand before Jesus Christ at His Judgment Seat? If you are still alive and eagerly awaiting the Saviour's return, there is still time to repent and do the first works, there is still time to come back to your first love and serve Him again with all your heart. There is still time to make that choice NOW to glorify the Lord in all that you do.

1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Philippians 1:21-23 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

You may have heard this illustration before, and it certainly captures Paul's life of dedicated service to the Lord:

"A Roman coin was once found with the picture of an ox on it; the ox was facing two things - an altar and a plough; and the inscription read: "Ready for either." The ox had to be ready either for the supreme moment of sacrifice on the altar or the long labor of the plough on the farm."

Are you ready for either? Ready to serve the Lord or ready to give your life for His cause? Paul was ready for either.

2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

June 17th/07
Jerry Bouey

Day 15 - God Gives Perfect Rest

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. (Isa 54:10) Doesn't this verse absolutely bless your socks off? God's promises are not temporary like those of man. His promises are forever, my friend. God's kindness toward us and His covenant of peace with us shall never be removed, even though the mountains and hills disappear! A promise such as this brings peace and rest. No longer does man have to fret or feel alone.

When I was first saved, one of the first passages I read was Matthew 11:28-30. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. A promise of rest to all. (28) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (29) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (30) These verses have been imprinted on my heart and forever on my brain. Many times I have needed encouragement and have been able to encourage myself by reciting them. As I was meditating on what to write next in our series on Numbers of the Bible, these dear friends came to mind - more specifically, the phrase "I will give you (thee) rest." I wondered if God had given us a "number" for this phrase in His Word. I searched my Bible and discovered that this phrase appears three times! Three is the number for the Godhead, the Trinity! The only true rest which can be found is found in the Lord, God.

(1) The first phrase was found in Exo 33:14, And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. God promised rest to Moses and his people for coming out of Egypt. As you know, Egypt is a "type" for the "world." It is only when we "come out of the world and separate ourselves," that we find rest. There is no rest for the unsaved. I remember before salvation feeling a void in my life - there was an emptiness that could not be filled. Coming out of Egypt and being born again, I found complete rest in Jesus Christ. It seemed as though a hundred pounds of burden came off my shoulders! When my eyes fell on Matthew 11:28-30, I was in tears because those words applied to me. God's Word showed me exactly what had happened to me. I came to Christ and He gave me rest. I am overwhelmed each time I think on my salvation day!

(2) Isa 14:3 says, And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve, God's rest was prophesied by Isaiah and a promise was given to Israel that one day they would receive this rest from all their sorrows, fears and bondage. Salvation begins with the Jewish people. Twice Paul stressed this:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Rom 1:16)

But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: (Rom 2:10)

God's plan included all His creation - Jew or Gentile. The Gentile's rest comes from the same Source as the Jew's - the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The old and new covenant were completed in Jesus Christ's work on the cross.

(3) And finally, Mat 11:28 says, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. A promise of rest is made in this verse to all that labour and are heavy laden. Jesus' promise is not just to the Jew. All who come to Him will be given rest.

My friend, the pleasures of this world can promise peace and rest, but they cannot truly do so. The best spa on earth can relax your poor, tired old body but it cannot provide the rest that your spirit needs. The Word says that what is in the heart of man (his spirit) will make its way to the surface (Matt. 12:34) You can be relaxed on the outside but the turmoils and trials of the day are still churning on the inside. Does God remove these turmoils and trials from a Christian's life? No. But He promises rest to those who come to Him. We have rest and comfort knowing that nothing happens to us by chance. God allows these trials to grow us, to teach us, and to bring glory to His Name.

We also have a rest which cannot be found in any other. We no longer have the burden of sin because Jesus has taken on our sin and we are free from sin (Rom. 6:22). We no longer have the penalty hanging over us. Christ paid our sin debt and the Father sees Christ's righteousness, not ours. Praise the Lord! For our righteousness is like filthy rags in God's sight.

There is no true rest for the unsaved. But we, my friend, have a rest promised to us by God Himself. The Triune God has promised complete rest to all who come to Him. God has promised rest three times in His Word. We have the confidence that God does not break His covenant - we are children of the New Covenant through Jesus Christ. Because we are born again, we have a unique relationship with the Father. We are able to come to Him, sit at His feet and turn over all our troubles to Him. It is in Him that we find total solace.

Dear God...
None other can provide such rest
None other is so True
We boldly come because of Christ
To find that rest in You

Day 14 - Five Ways God is With Us

Five times we are promised in the Word of God that He is with us. This number representing God's grace, shows His children that we have nothing to fear because He is ever right by our side. When I first discovered there were five verses stating that God is with us, I never thought I would walk away the one most blessed. I pray today's gleaning will shower peace over you, as it did over me.

Let's look at the five ways God is with us:

(1) When you are afraid. Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. (Jer 42:11) We all have our giants in life: whether they be actual people, physical trials, life problems, etc. God loves us so much that He recognizes our emotions. He knows we will have fears and His desire is to comfort us. I can almost see God putting His arm around Jeremiah and saying, "Don't be afraid, Jeremiah! I'm right here!"

(2) To stir our spirit. Then spake Haggai the LORD'S messenger in the LORD'S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD. (Hag 1:13) Have you ever found yourself dreading a certain task because it seemed overwhelming? This was the case with the people in this chapter. And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, (Hag 1:14) God knew they needed to be encouraged so he stirred their spirit. He has done that for me as well. No task is too great that God calls us to do, my friend. With the task, He provides us with the abilities and the tools. God is not cruel and will never call you to do something and leave you empty handed. He knew that we would feel this way so He included a verse to show us that when we are overwhelmed, He is with us and will stir our spirit within us and encourage us as we complete our task.

(3) To encourage us when we don't quite understand. Hag 2:2-4, Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying, (2) Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? (3) Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts: (4) Some of the people had seen the first temple built by Solomon and remembered its glory. However, this temple was not anything in comparison to the first. God assures them that it is not the building that is important but His presence. How many times have you been in a situation in life that you don't quite understand how God can possibly use it to His glory? I know I have been there many times and will be sure to go through many more. But our compassionate and blessed Heavenly Father loves us so much that He reassures us that He is with us during these times as well. He knows that we will be seeing the circumstances around us and be disheartened. So He encourages us to remember that His presence is ever with us and the circumstances will reveal His glory in end. What a loving God we serve!

(4) To show us that we have nothing to fear when we are doing His work. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Mat 28:20) Oh my, what a blessing! Not only do we have God's Spirit with us, but He has left us His Word to comfort us. These people did not have the Word in their homes yet, as we do. The comfort and encouragement found within the blessed pages of my Bible cannot compare to what man can provide. Jesus knew that His disciples needed to be assured that He would be with them - not only for a period of time but even until the end of the world! God is not a man that He should lie. He keeps His word.

What a comfort to know that while we are out trying to win lost souls to Christ, that He is right there with us. This means that nothing can happen to us unless He has allowed it. I think of the analogy I heard about how God walks beside us. As a father walked along side his daughter, she stumbled on a rock and fell down an embankment, scraping her legs and arms. He ran to her and picked her up, carried her home, soothed her tears and cleaned her scrapes. Although he was right there beside her, he could not prevent the mishap. However, because he was right there, he was able to pick her up and care for her. It is the same with our precious Heavenly Father, my friend. He is right here with us. He is walking along side of us while we are on this path in life. We, too, will stumble and hurt ourselves during our trials and tribulations. But that does not mean that He was not there. What it does mean is that He is there to pick us up and heal our hurts. We have all heard Christians say, "Why did God do this to me?" God did not do anything. He allows us to go through trials so that we may see Him in action as He works in our lives to heal us and mold us into His image.

(5) To give us a promise that one day we will be able to be where He is. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. (Joh 13:33) Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. (Joh 13:36) It's no coincidence that the fifth verse shows God's grace - a promise that we will be going to be with Jesus in the place that He has prepared for us! What encouragement that is to the believer!

Emmanuel (also spelled Immanuel), means "God with us." As I completed the five points, I thought how appropriate that this is one of the names of God. This name for God appears three times the Word:

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isa 7:14)

And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel. (Isa 8:8)

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Mat 1:23)

Three Immanuels/Emmanuel (three standing for Trinity) and five verses with "I am with you" (standing for grace)! Our Three-in-One, our Emmanuel, is with us "even unto the end of the world"!

Dear God...
Ever watchful, ever mindful
Always by my side
As you keep me in Your care
Daily grace provide

Day 13 - Paul's Final Exhortation To Timothy - Part Two

The Preacher And His Living

It is interesting to note that the Apostle Paul gave the young preacher, Timothy, seven charges for himself and for the people he was pastoring in the two letters addressed specifically to Timothy:

A) 1 Timothy 1:3-4 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

B) 1 Timothy 1:18-19 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

C) 1 Timothy 5:7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

D) 1 Timothy 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

E) 1 Timothy 6:13-14 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

F) 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

G) And the seventh charge, which is actually a ninefold one:

2 Timothy 4:1-5 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

The first five points were covered in part one:
1) Preach the word;
2) be instant in season, out of season;
3) reprove,
4) rebuke,
5) exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

6) Watch Thou In All Things.

Webster's 1828 Dictionary gives these are part of his definitions for watch: "1. To be awake; to be or continue without sleep. 2. To be attentive; to look with attention or steadiness. 3. To look with expectation. 4. To keep guard; to act as sentinel; to look for danger. 5. To be attentive; to be vigilant in preparation for an event or trial, the time of whose arrival is uncertain. 6. To be insidiously attentive." Way of Life Encyclopedia defines it as "spiritual alertness." Whether in regards to our Lord's return or in regards to our own spiritual welfare, the theme of watching is one that is repeated throughout the New Testament.

Pastors are shepherds given the duty to watch over their flocks - to protect them from danger and to prevent them from straying:

Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Acts 20:27-31 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Being watchful is a duty for every true believer. It is our lack of spiritual soberness and alertness that gets us into trouble so many times. We need to heed the warnings of Scripture, and prayerfully watch in all things:

Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Matthew 26:38-41 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Mark 13:33-37 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Luke 12:35-40 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Revelation 3:2-3 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Are you watchful? We need to be!

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

7) Endure Afflictions.

The Greek word for the phrase endure afflictions means "to undergo hardship", ie. undergo severe labor, trials or sufferings.

2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Paul is stating that there will be hard times for the man of God, there will be trials, there will be afflictions and times of suffering that he must endure in his ministry. This Christian life is a battlefield after all! You entered it the moment you got saved.

The true preacher or pastor will stick with what God has entrusted him with, and will not run to greener (ie. more lucrative and less challenging) pastures. He will persevere in and plug away at whatever God has called him to. There are too many hirelings today - running after a buck, wanting to run some "easy" ministry, but then running away at the first sign of real trouble - but not so with the preacher or the pastor that God has put in place.

John 10:11-13 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

The hireling neither cares for the sheep, nor for the ministry God has called him to. He is like the false professor of salvation, who turns from the truth at the first sign of real trouble:

Mark 4:16-17 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

The preacher after God's own heart is not like the hireling. He will suffer affliction and patiently endure whatever trials the Lord wills him to undergo in his ministry.

James 5:10-11 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Like Abraham, he knows that the Lord will reward his faithfulness and steadfastness - he just needs to persevere in well doing because the harvest will be reaped in due time:

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Hebrews 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Hebrews 10:32-36 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

The trials are just the stepping stones to greater glory!

1 Peter 5:1-4 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

If you are having a hard time enduring afflictions in your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ, consider the following passage, and learn from the example of Jesus:

Hebrews 12:1-3 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Love compels and constrains (see 2 Corinthians 5:14) true believers to endure hardships for their Saviour and for the sake of the lost they encounter each day:

1 Corinthians 13:7 Charity... Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

8) Do The Work Of An Evangelist.

The word evangelist means "A preacher or publisher of the gospel of Jesus Christ; a messenger of good tidings." Of course the good tidings we are to proclaim is the message of salvation.

It is interesting to note that though not all Christians are called to fulfill the office of an evangelist, all are called to do the work of an evangelist. Our Saviour has commissioned us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature (see The Great Commission). The responsibility to get the message of salvation out to the lost is laid upon every believer. We are all to be ready with the Gospel, taking whatever opportunities come our way.

The word evangelist is used only three times in the New Testament. The first use of this word is found in Acts 21:8 in reference to Philip, one of the seven deacons chosen by the Jerusalem church in Acts 6. By looking at Acts chapter 8, we can note several things about this evangelist:

A) He was busy doing the work that the Lord had already called him to do - verse 5.

B) He went where the Lord told him to go - verses 26-29.

C) He took the opportunity that the Holy Spirit placed in his path - verse 30.

D) He preached Jesus Christ to those he encountered - verse 35.

E) He exhorted this new believer to obey the Lord - verses 36-37.

When you break it down like that, it looks so simple: take the opportunities given to you to get the Gospel out to those you encounter each day; open up the Scriptures and use them in your witnessing to clearly present Christ to the lost; then encourage those who respond to the Gospel and receive Christ to obey the Lord in all things, starting with believer's baptism (see Matthew 28:18-20). (I realize there is much more to the ministry an evangelist does than what I have brought forth, but I wanted to bring out several applications that all believers can easily apply.)

John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

Matthew 9:36-38 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Psalms 126:5-6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Are you being wise? Jesus said, "Follow Me!"

Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

9) Make Full Proof Of Thy Ministry.

To make full proof of means "to carry out fully, entirely accomplish." Jamieson, Fausset and Brown define it as, "fulfil in all its requirements, leaving nothing undone." Matthew Poole gives this explanation, "make a full proof unto others of thy faithfulness in thy ministerial office and employment." Lastly, Matthew Henry provides these comments: "It was a great trust that was reposed in him, and therefore he must answer it, and perform all the parts of his office with diligence and care. Observe, (1.) A minister must expect afflictions in the faithful discharge of his duty. (2.) He must endure them patiently, like a Christian hero. (3.) These must not discourage him in his work, for he must do his work, and fulfil his ministry. (4.) The best way to make full proof of our ministry is to fulfil it, to fill it up in all its parts with proper work."

Whatever the Lord has called you to do in service to Him, that is what you are to fulfill. Don't worry about the ministries of others - you must give account for your own! If you are a God-called pastor or preacher, you have a ministry only you can fulfill - fulfill it in the will of God.

As I read this particular phrase, make full proof of thy ministry, what comes to my mind is the necessity of proving (ie. testing and trying) what is God's will or ministry for each of us, and then fulfilling it so the proof is evident to others that you are called of God to that ministry. Consider the following passages:

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Ephesians 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

2 Corinthians 8:22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

2 Corinthians 13:3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

Galatians 6:4-5 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.

1 Timothy 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

Timothy had already proven himself to the Apostle Paul, and now he was to serve the Lord in such a manner that his ministering was proof to others as well.

Philippians 2:19-22 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

Are you fulfilling the ministry the Lord has called you to do - whatever that ministry is?

Acts 12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

A brother in my church recently made this comment in his preaching: "Whatever God calls you to do is the most spiritual work you can do." We should not be seeking a ministry, we should simply be fulfilling what the Lord has already given us to do! As we walk with Him, He will open the doors He wills in our lives. We each just need to be faithful to what God calls us to do.

Do you think, perhaps, that the Lord has not given you a ministry? We may not all have a position of ministry, but, behold, we have all been given a ministry:

2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

God has called each and every one of His children to do the work of an evangelist and to make full proof of our ministries. Are you being used of the Lord to get the Gospel of Christ out to a lost and dying world?

The following two articles were posted online:

Job or Ministry?

A job is one you choose;
A ministry is one Christ chooses for you.

A job depends on your abilities;
A ministry depends on your availability to God.

In a job you expect to receive;
In a ministry you expect to give.

A job done well brings you self esteem;
A ministry done well brings honor to Jesus Christ.

In a job you give something to get something;
In a ministry you return something that has already been given to you.

A job well done has temporal remuneration;
A ministry well done brings eternal rewards.

~Anonymous~

Do you have a JOB or a MINISTRY?
(Quoted from Standing In The Gap)

Check this perspective. Some people have a JOB in the church; others involve themselves in a MINISTRY. What's the difference?

If you are doing it just because no one else will, it's a JOB.
If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it's a MINISTRY.

If you quit because someone criticizes you, it's a JOB.
If you keep on serving, it's a MINISTRY.

If you'll do it only so long as it does not interfere with other activities, it's a JOB.
If you're committed to staying with it even when it means letting go of other things, it's a MINISTRY.

If you quit because no one praises you, or thanks you, it's a JOB.
If you stay with it even though no one recognizes your efforts, it's a MINISTRY.

If your concern is success, it's a JOB.
If your concern is faithfulness, it's a MINISTRY.

The average church is filled with people doing JOBS.
A great and growing church is filled with people involved in MINISTRY.

Where do you fit in? Where does your church fit in?

If God calls you to a MINISTRY, don't treat it like a JOB.
If you have a JOB in the church, give it up and find a MINISTRY.

God doesn't want us feeling stuck with a JOB,
but excited and faithful to Him in MINISTRY.

~Author Unknown~

June 12th/07
Jerry Bouey

Day 12 - Seven Reasons God Wrote to Believers

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (Joh 1:1) Jesus Christ has many names: Alpha and Omega, King of Kings, Saviour, Messiah, etc. My favorite of His names is "the Word." The very words of God are given through Jesus Christ, the Word! There are seven times (meaning perfection) Jesus is called the Word in the New Testament.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Revelation 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

I also found it very exciting that the perfect Word would state seven times the phrase "I have written unto you"! None of these verses were written to unbelievers. God had seven specific areas He wanted the Christian to focus on.

(1) To warn us to stay away from certain Christians who continue in specific sins. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (1 Cor 5:11) We are to stay away from anyone who is called a "brother." Paul used the word "brother" here instead of "unbeliever" like in 2 Cor. 6:14. Apparently, there was an issue with believers continuing in certain sins. The Lord wants us to separate ourselves from those believers who are not living separated lives. The sins specified here are:

fornicators;

covetous (Noah Webster defines it as: "Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess; directed to money or goods, avaricious.");

idolater (Noah Webster defines it as: "A worshiper of idols; one who pays divine honors to images, statues, or representations of any thing made by hands; one who worships as a deity that which is not God; a pagan");

railer (Noah Webster defines it as: "One who scoffs, insults, censures or reproaches with opprobrious language.");

drunkard;

extortioner (Noah Webster defines it as: "The act of extorting; the act or practice of wresting any thing from a person by force, duress, menaces, authority, or by any undue exercise of power; illegal exaction; illegal compulsion to pay money, or to do some other act. Extortion is an offense punishable at common law.").

We are to separate ourselves from those believers who do not walk in righteousness. Don't let them contaminate you, my friend. Just because they are members of your church, it does not mean you should fellowship with them. This does not mean you are not to be nice, but it does mean you are not to have close fellowship with them. It is very easy to fall into the same sin. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (Gal. 5:9)

(2) To warn us of those who add to salvation and promote false doctrine. Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. (Gal 6:11) Why would Paul throw this verse in the midst of this chapter? Despite his infirmity, Paul was compelled to write. What was so important? I believe the answer can be found in the next two verses: Gal. 6:12-13, As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. (12) For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. (13) Paul was so concerned about false doctrine getting into their church, he had to warn them. Those believers who were not Jewish were being told that they had to be circumcised to be saved. It must have been a common heresy because Paul had to teach this to the Romans as well. For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: (Rom 2:28) But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. (Rom 2:29)

(3) To warn us of false teachers. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (2 Pet 3:15) As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Pet 3:16) Peter warns us against false doctrine and false teachers - changing the Scriptures and wrestling with what they don't understand and twisting it into another gospel. There are many false teachers in our world today. All one has to do is turn on the television set and the stations are filled with false doctrine. Are you able to recognize them? Or do you simply take for granted that they are speaking the truth?

(4) To teach us stand firm on the Word of God. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. (1 Jo 2:14) John writes to us and gave us instructions on how to stand firm as Christians so we can glorify the Lord, Jesus Christ. The Word (Jesus Christ) left us His Word so that we would not be deceived. We have a firm foundation in the Word of God. It is through this Word that we can overcome Satan and his darts in our lives. When the Word of God is firmly planted in our hearts, we cannot be easily deceived.

(5) To teach us to recognize the truth and not believe lies. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. (1 Jo 2:21) God does not want His children to live in darkness but in light. God gave us His Word so that we could recognize a lie when we hear one. His Word is truth so we can rest assured that if we are in the Word, we won't be deceived. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (Joh 17:17) There are believers among us who are deceived by charlatans. These charlatans speak just enough truth but the rest is all lies. How can you recognize lies if you are not in the Word of God? God does not leave us defenseless, my friend. Nothing says it better than: Eph. 6:14-17, Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (14) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (15) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (16) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (17) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Tim 3:16)

(6) To warn us against those who can seduce us away from the truth. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. (1 Jo 2:26) A Christian who is in the Word will be able to recognize what is a lie. However, what about lies which are spoken by those who are found in the midst of us? Are we so comfortable with our brothers and sisters in Christ that we could be seduced? Are you so strong in the Word that even a close family member cannot seduce you away from your beliefs? I believe this is where John was going with this statement. I have seen it happen time and time again where a Christian who did not have a definite and solid stand was seduced into contemporary "Christian" music, the tongues movement, etc. What about the desperate Christian with cancer who is looking for a miraculous healing? If that Christian is not solid in the Word, he will be easily drawn into believing someone who tells him that a certain man has the gift of healing. There are some right in our midst who can deceive the spiritually weak in our own churches. Satan is not stupid - he knows exactly who to attack and he will attack those within the church to divide it.

(7) To teach us that we have eternal life and we do not need to worry about losing it. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 Jo 5:13) How many Christians have you known in your lifetime who have questioned his or her salvation? There are so many who doubt. The devil knows if he can get you to doubt your salvation, your testimony will be powerless - you will be ineffective for the cause of Christ. Do your children question whether or not they are in your family whenever they have done wrong? Of course not! They feel secure knowing that they will remain your child whether they are good or bad. How much more your Heavenly Father?

In these seven writings, we see the Lord speaking to us on:

1. Separation from ungodly Christians
2. Adding to salvation
3. False teachers
4. Standing firm in the Word
5. Recognizing truth
6. Those who can seduce us away from truth
7. Our eternal life is secure

Perfection is found in Jesus - Perfection is found in the Word.

How appropriately named is Jesus Christ when He is referred to as "the Word"! It is the Son of God, the Word, who has left us with an instruction manual, the Bible, so we can live Godly Christian lives.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (Joh 1:1)

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1 Jo 5:7)

Dear God...
How wonderful is Your Word
Each jot and tittle is pure
So Your child is well equipped
Our foundation strong and sure

Day 11 - Paul's Final Exhortation To Timothy - Part One

The Preacher And His Preaching

2 Timothy 4:1-5 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Webster's 1828 Dictionary gives this as one of its definitions of charge, "To lay on, give or communicate, as an order, command or earnest request; to enjoin; to exhort." In the Scriptures, we see various charges given to others.

To Joshua: Deuteronomy 3:28 But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

To Solomon: 1 Kings 2:1-4 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

To the Levites, the priests, and the chief of the fathers of Israel: 2 Chronicles 19:8-9 Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

To Joshua, the High Priest (who here pictures the believer's standing before the Lord): Zechariah 3:6-7 And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.

To the Thessalonian believers: 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

What is often overlooked is the reason behind the charge given to Timothy (and all preachers!) in 2 Timothy 4:1. I charge thee therefore... Whenever we see a therefore, we should always ask what it is there for! In light of his statements made regarding the Scriptures and their ability to save the lost and to equip the man of God in his service (in 3:15-17 - more on verse 16 later), Paul exhorts and encourages Timothy with a ninefold charge:

1) Preach The Word.

Of primary importance was Timothy's charge to preach the Word! Not his opinions, not man's philosophies, not the latest myths, not feel-good sermons or seeker-sensitive massages - but the Word of God itself. THAT is what the Lord will bless and where the preacher will find the power needed for his ministry.

I realize this devotional is geared more toward preachers - called to preach the Word of God - than the other devotionals in this series, but you can make applications of each of these points in your witnessing and in your exhortations to fellow believers. What every preacher - yea, every child of God - needs to stand on is the Word of God alone - not our opinions or traditions or preferences or...

Colossians 1:27-28 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

2 Timothy 1:10-11 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Titus 1:1-3 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

2) Be Instant In Season, Out Of Season.

Be prepared to preach the Word of God at the best of times, at the worst of times; when it is easy, and when it is hard; when it is opportune, and when it is not convenient; when the people are open to hearing from the Bible, and when they are closed to what God has to say. The Bible doesn't say for the man of God to always have a message prepared - but it does teach for the man of God (and the individual believer) to always be prepared.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

The word for beautiful here means "belonging to the right hour or season (timely), i.e. (by implication) flourishing." When the Word of God is preached to a thirsting soul, when it answers the spiritual needs of each person, it is timely and beautiful!

Proverbs 15:23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

When the man of God - and any child of God - brings the Word of God to those seeking the truth on any given subject, it is a word fitly spoken indeed!

3) Reprove.

Webster's 1828 Dictionary gives these as part of his definition for reprove: "1. To blame; to censure. 2. To charge with a fault to the face; to chide; to reprehend. 3. To blame for. 4. To convince of a fault, or to make it manifest."

Reproving is the main ministry of the Holy Spirit to this lost world:

John 16:7-11 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Every believer, and especially every preacher, is to also reprove the wickedness around them:

Ephesians 5:11-13 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Notice, this reproof is to be according to the light of God's Word.

4) Rebuke.

Webster's list these among his definitions of this word: "1. To chide; to reprove; to reprehend for a fault; to check by reproof. 2. To check or restrain. 3. To chasten; to punish; to afflict for correction. 4. To check; to silence." The idea here is to correct and stop the wandering into sin, and to put to silence the doubts or murmurings. While there seems to be some overlap in the meanings of reprove and rebuke, both indicate correction, but rebuke seems to also carry the idea of forbidding and restraining what is wrong (ie. taking the correction one step further).

It is interesting to note that to Biblically love our neighbour means we correct him when necessary:

Leviticus 19:17-18 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Proverbs 27:5-6 Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Proverbs 28:23 He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

5) Exhort With All Longsuffering And Doctrine.

Strong's Concordance states that exhort means "to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation)." Webster's gives these definitions: "to encourage, to embolden, to cheer, to advise. The primary sense seems to be to excite or to give strength, spirit or courage. 1. To incite by words or advice; to animate or urge by arguments to a good deed or to any laudable conduct or course of action. 2. To advise; to warn; to caution. 3. To incite or stimulate to exertion." I believe my primary gift as a believer is exhortation, which the Lord enables me to do through my preaching, witnessing and writing (and like any gifts of the Spirit, I can only use it properly when I am walking in right fellowship with the Lord!). God expects (and equips) His children to call other believers near and encourage them to do what is right, to act upon (apply) God's Word, to give them boldness in their walks with the Lord, and to strengthen and challenge them to fulfill God's will for their lives.

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. (To prophesy means to preach or to witness - ie. to declare the Word of God.)

1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Hebrews 3:12-13 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine...

Webster's defines longsuffering as "Bearing injuries or provocation for a long time; patient; not easily provoked," and Strong's gives forbearance as part of his definition. Forbearance, according to Webster's, means "The exercise of patience; long suffering; indulgence towards those who injure us; lenity; delay of resentment or punishment."

2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Colossians 3:12-13 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

It is the Word of God that we are to use in our reproving, in our rebuking, in our exhorting - not church history, not a book written by brother so-and-so, not what some "Christian" psychologist has to say, but the Word! It is from the Word of God that we are to glean all of our doctrine - not from the creeds of our denomination, not from the "church fathers", not from some popular religious leader, but God's Word alone.

1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Years ago, I wrote this outline of verse 16 in the margin of my Bible:

Doctrine - what is right; reproof - showing what is wrong (or what's not right); correction - how to make it right; instruction in righteousness - how to keep it right.

The name Timothy means "dear to God," and Paul's exhortation to this dear man of God was, "Preach the Word."

All God's children are dear to Him. Timothy - Preach the Word!

June 10th/07
Jerry Bouey

Day Ten - Grace To Fret Not

Psalm 37:1-2 (A Psalm of David.) Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

I found myself in a situation recently where some money that was owed me did not come in when I was expecting it - and when I figured I needed it to pay a bill. Because of that, I started complaining and stewing - I started fretting about the money and the person. Then the Holy Spirit pricked my conscience and showed me exactly what I was doing. He brought Psalm 37 to mind, and there I found five commands to do good instead of fretting. Five is typical of God's grace. Often we think of grace that is necessary for salvation - and forget that grace is so needful for service, for walking with the Lord everyday!

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

The word for teaching means "to train up a child, i.e. educate, or (by implication), discipline (by punishment)." God's grace trains and disciplines me as His child to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. It was certainly ungodly for me to fret. His grace also teaches me to live right - to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Soberly means to be of a "sound mind" - to be thinking right. Righteously means to be doing right - not walking in a manner that would be displeasing to the Lord. Godly means to be like God, Christlike, living in a way that reflects my Saviour living in me.

What we see in Psalm 37:1-11 is a fivefold lesson on how grace teaches us to "fret not," and reasons for not fretting.

First of all, what does it mean to fret?

Strong's Concordance gives this definition: "to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy." Notice also the word range that is given in the King James Bible: "be angry, burn, be displeased, fret self, grieve, be (wax) hot, be incensed, kindle, be wroth." Webster's 1828 Dictionary gives these as some of his definitions of this word: "To rub; to wear away a substance by friction... To agitate; to disturb; to make rough... To tease; to irritate; to vex; to make angry... To wear away; to chafe; to gall... To be agitated; to be in violent commotion... To be vexed; to be chafed or irritated; to be angry; to utter peevish expressions... Agitation of mind; commotion of temper; irritation; as, he keeps his mind in a continual fret." From this word picture, we can clearly see that fretting is not a good thing! It carries the idea of seething or burning within - and brings to my mind the idea of worrying at something, letting it eat at us within, until it wears us out - emotionally, physically, and spiritually!

Proverbs 24:19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;

Proverbs 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

The fear of the Lord teaches us to depart from evil - and it is the grace of God that teaches and enables us to do so.

It is beyond the scope of this present study to cover this, but it is worthwhile to read through Psalms 37 and 73, and see the end of the wicked contrasted with the end of the righteous. I've read the end of the Book and know how it all works out - our temporary troubles that we experience because of the wicked will all eventually be righted.

Psalms 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Those who know the Lord will be rewarded and delivered, and the wicked who refuse to repent and trust the Saviour will be judged for their wickedness. With our eyes on eternity, God will give us the grace to fret not!

1) Trust In The Lord, And Do Good.

Psalm 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

To fret and be envious of the wicked is evil - yet God commands us to counter that with trusting in the Lord - ie. leaving the wicked in His hands, for Him to take care of in His time - and doing good.

The word for trust here means "properly, to hie for refuge; figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure." To run to for refuge. When we are tempted to fret, we need to find a refuge for our hearts and minds - we need to have God's peace within, regardless of what those around us are doing. We need to have that inward assurance and faith-based confidence that the Lord is still in control, and what He has allowed in our lives - even if caused by those same wicked people we are fretting about - He will use and even turn around for our good.

Then we are commanded to do good. Being filled with anger and letting that control our actions is wrong (see Ephesians 4:26) - instead we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit and let His Word control our actions. We need to dig deeper into the Word of God, find promises that fit our situations, claim them and persevere in well doing, so that we will reap a harvest of righteousness, not wickedness in due time. True trust will result in putting feet to that faith - ie. trust and do.

Psalm 37:27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

Psalm 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

When we trust in the Lord and do good, this is God's promise to us: so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

The word for fed here means "to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively)." This is the same word that is translated as shepherd in the Old Testament (for example, Psalm 23:1). As Sister Kate has already covered in her devotional on The Nine Cares Of A Shepherd, it is the caring job of a shepherd (whether the Lord Himself or a faithful pastor) to feed his flock, as the following passages bear out:

John 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Feed means "to tend as a shepherd of (figuratively, superviser)." Not only does the Lord physically feed us, He spiritually feeds our souls. We could never live by bread alone - and our Heavenly Father knows that, so He provides for us spiritually as well - through the indwelling Spirit of God, and through His precious Word.

We don't have to be like Elimelech and his family in the book of Ruth, that ran away foolishly to "greener pasture" when famine came to Bethlehem. The Lord will meet our needs even in the time of famine - if we keep our eyes upon Him. (See Psalm 37:19) We are the sheep of His pasture, and the Lord Jesus Christ promises to meet all our daily needs as we walk in right fellowship with Him. Fret not!

2) Delight Thyself In The Lord.

Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

The word for desires here means "a request; petition." When the Lord is truly our delight – when our affections are set on Him and on sincerely doing His will, then He will give us the desires He Himself has placed in our hearts. We don’t need to fret when we know that all that concerns us has been placed in the loving hands of our Heavenly Father – and He will take care of that concern according to His perfect will.

Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Albert Barnes stated this in his commentary: "What you really "desire" will be granted to you. That is, (a) the fact that you seek your happiness in him will regulate your desires, so that you will be 'disposed' to ask only those things which it will be proper for him to grant; and (b) the fact that you do find your happiness in him will be a reason why he will grant your desires."

Psalms 21:2 Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.

The Holy Spirit puts godly desires within our hearts, helps us pray about those desires - and then fufills them because they are according to the will of God:

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

We can have God’s peace within our hearts and minds when we know that we have poured out our hearts before Him, and by faith have that assurance that He will grant our requests and our godly desires:

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

"A pleasant duty is here rewarded with another pleasure. Men who delight in God desire or ask for nothing but what will please God; hence it is safe to give them carte blanche. Their will is subdued to God's will, and now they may have what they will. Our innermost desires are here meant, not our casual wishes; there are many things which nature might desire which grace would never permit us to ask for; these deep, prayerful, asking desires are those to which the promise is made." (Charles Spurgeon, Treasury Of David)

Matthew Henry proposes this question: "What is the desire of the heart of a good man? It is this, to know, and love, and live to God, to please him and to be pleased in him."

Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

We do not need to fret or be envious of the wicked when they are prospering in their wickedness, because when we are in the center of God's will and seeking Him, our desires are met in Him and by Him. Fret not!

3) Commit Thy Way Unto The Lord.

Psalms 37:5-6 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

The word for commit means “to roll (literally or figuratively).” That is very picturesque. We are to cast our burdens upon the Lord, and roll our way unto Him. The word way means “a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action.” When taken together, this verse is stating we are to give the Lord our whole life, our whole future, and trust Him with it. When we do so, when we leave our plans and goals and dreams firmly in His hands, then we see Him working them out according to His will.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Charles Spurgeon makes this comment, "Roll the whole burden of life upon the Lord. Leave with Jehovah not thy present fretfulness merely, but all thy cares; in fact, submit the whole tenor of thy way to him. Cast away anxiety, resign thy will, submit thy judgment, leave all with the God of all. What a medicine is this for expelling envy!"

Verse six tells us that when we place our lives in the Saviour’s hands, when we are accused wrongly, slandered, or persecuted for doing what is right in His sight, then He Himself will vindicate us – in His timing, He will make manifest to all the truth. There is no need to fret. We only need to persevere in well doing, and trust the Lord to bring forth our judgment as the noon day. It will happen, because God is faithful!

From Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible: "That is, if you are slandered; if your character is assailed, and seems for the thee to be under a cloud; if reproach comes upon you from the devices of wicked people in such a way that you cannot meet it - then, if you will commit the case to God, he will protect your character, and will cause the clouds to disperse, and all to be as clear in reference to your character and the motives of your conduct as the sun without a cloud."

1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Matthew 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Whether in this life or in the life to come, the truth will be made manifest to all; therefore, fret not!

4) Rest In The Lord, And Wait Patiently For Him.

Psalms 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Quit striving and fretting, stop being agitated and unsettled in your mind, stop fighting against the Lord and trying to take back the reigns of your own life! Rest in the Lord. Come before Him and just rest in His presence. Be still and know that He is God, and that He is the one in control of your life - not the wicked person that you are fretting about.

Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

As David has already taught us: trust in the Lord and do good, delight yourself in the Lord, commit your way unto Him, rest in Him, and wait for Him to work out your situation according to His perfect will and timing. Leave it all in His hands. Like Ruth, wait for the Lord to perfect that which concerneth you (see Psalm 138:8):

Ruth 3:18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

Like the people in King Hezekiah's day, rest upon the Word of your King, rest upon His promises:

2 Chronicles 32:8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

James 5:7-9 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

Be longsuffering with the wicked, set your eyes steadfastly on the Lord, don't murmur against one another - the Lord Jesus Christ is coming, and He will right all wrongs when He returns. Fret not!

5) Cease From Anger, And Forsake Wrath.

Psalms 37:8-11 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

To cease means "to slacken," and to forsake means "to loosen, i.e. relinquish." The command the Holy Spirit gives us here is to let go of our anger, let go of our fuming and mental agitation - to turn away from our fretting, and to put it out of our hearts and lives. We can become angry at the sin of the wicked, become angry at their mistreatment of us - but these words in this passage show a spirit that is no longer in control: the word for anger means "to breathe hard, i.e. be enraged" (ie. passionate anger) and the word for wrath means "hot displeasure, furious, heated anger." Together they indicate being out of control emotionally, losing our temperance and sinning towards the wicked ourselves! This is something we are not to do!

Ephesians 4:26-27 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.

It is interesting that David states the meek shall inherit the earth. This is not just a Psalm for the nation of Israel - in fact, Jesus refers to this verse in His sermon on the mount:

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Meek means "mild, i.e. (by implication) humble; gentle."

The solution to turn from our fretting and receive God's grace to overcome this sin in our lives is to humble ourselves (ie. be meek) before Him, and to wait upon the Lord. Vengeance is His after all - and He knows the end from the beginning. He knows the best way to deal with each situation and each sinner in light of eternity.

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

1 Peter 5:5-6 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

What does it mean to inherit the earth? While our inheritance in Christ is a rich subject indeed, I leave you the following passages to consider:

1 Corinthians 3:21-23 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

In light of God's fivefold commands: His grace to enable us to trust in Him and do good, His promise to give us our hearts' desires when we delight ourselves in Him, His faithfulness to bring to pass our way when it is committed to Him, the commands to rest in Him and wait upon Him, and His admonition to forsake our anger and wrath, is it any wonder we are exhorted to fret not?

To God thy way commending, Trust him whose arm of might,
The heavenly circles bending, Guides every star aright:
The winds, and clouds, and lightning, By his sure hand are led;
And he will, dark shades brightening, Show thee what path to tread.

Although to make God falter, The powers of hell combine,
One jot they cannot alter Of his all wise design:
All projects and volition Of his eternal mind,
Despite all opposition, Their due fulfilment find.

No more, then, droop and languish, Thou sorrow stricken soul;
Even from the depths of anguish, Whose billows over thee roll,
Thy Father's hand shall draw thee: In hope and patience stay,
And joy will soon shed o'er thee An ever brightening ray.

All faithless murmurs leaving, Bid them a last good night,
No more thy vexed soul grieving, Because things seem not right;
Wisely his sceptre wielding, God sits in regal state,
No power to mortals yielding, Events to regulate.

Trust with a faith untiring In thine Omniscient King,
And thou shalt see admiring What he to light will bring.
Of all thy griefs, the reason Shall at the last appear:
Why now denied a season, Will shine in letters clear.

Then raise thine eyes to heaven, Thou who canst trust his frown;
Thence shall thy meed be given, The chaplet and the crown:
Thy God the palm victorious In thy right hand shall plant,
Whilst thou, in accents glorious, Melodious hymns shall chant.

(Poem by Paul Gerhard, quoted in Spurgeon's Treasury Of David)

June 7th/07
(Preached June 6th/07)
Jerry Bouey

Day 9 - The Eight Rocks of Scriptures

While I was on the phone with my dear friend, we were discussing the possibilities of doing a 30-day series on the verses containing the word "rock." As I searched out this possibility, the Lord impressed upon my heart to search for each time the word "rock" was capitalized - Rock. When the results surfaced, I began to weep tears of joy along with my dear friend. My eyes rested on seven verses containing the word Rock and the seventh verse had two occurrences, totaling eight! There is no greater feeling in the world than that of finding a nugget in God's Word that will blow your socks off! How perfectly the Eight Rocks of Scriptures fell into this series that Brother Jerry Bouey and I are doing. As I started digging into the eight occurrences, I saw that they all had a common denominator. Let's dig for these golden nuggets together.

(1) He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deu 32:4) This Rock's work is perfect. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (Heb 9:11) All this Rock's ways are judgment. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Rev 19:11) This Rock is truth and is without sin. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (Joh 14:6) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Heb 4:15) Just and right is this Rock. For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. (Psa 33:4) In summary, this Rock is the Word of God - Jesus. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (Joh 1:1) But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. (1 Cor 13:10) This Rock is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

(2) But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. (Deu 32:15) This verse references the Rock of salvation. Acts 4:10-12, Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. (10) This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (11) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (12) (Emphasis mine) In summary, this Rock represents salvation. This Rock is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

(3) Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. (Deu 32:18) This Rock is the one that formed us. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Col 1:16) In summary, this Rock is the Creator. This Rock is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

(4) How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? (Deu 32:30) This Rock chastises those He loves. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Heb 12:6) The born-again believer is now a son/daughter of God. This child now receives chastening so that we can be molded into the image of Christ. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (Joh 1:12) In summary, this Rock chastens us. This Rock is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

(5) For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. (Deu 32:31) There is none other that is like this Rock. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Act 4:12) Allah cannot qualify. Buddha cannot qualify. Joseph Smith cannot qualify. In summary, there is only one Rock. This Rock is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

(6) The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. (2 Sa 23:3) This Rock is God. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1 John 5:7) This Rock speaks to His people. John 10:14-16, I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (14) As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. (15) And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (16) In summary, this Rock is the God who speaks to His people, both the Jew and the Gentile. This Rock is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

(7) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1 Cor 10:4) The beautiful Jesus, the Perfect Sacrifice for all men (the number for man is six) is the Rock of all Rocks. The spiritual Rock referenced here, Jesus Christ, is the seventh time the word "Rock" (capitalized) is mentioned. The seventh (perfect) appearance of the word Rock refers to the perfection of Jesus Christ. There is no other Rock from which we can receive salvation - this is our perfect spiritual drink. Only Christ can give the living water which we need - eternal life. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (Joh 7:38) "That Rock was Christ" is the eighth appearance of the word Rock! Only the Rock of our salvation can give us a new beginning - only Jesus Christ can provide perfect and complete salvation for all mankind! None other!

Dear God...
The living waters flow from You
The Rock that is higher than I
You freely gave, my freedom paid
To the Perfect Rock I draw nigh.

Day 8 - The Lord's Eight Provisions

Psalm 121:1-8, [A Song of degrees.] I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. (1) My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. (2) He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.(3) Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. (4) The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. (5) The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. (6) The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. (7) The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. (8 )

Although I have done a devotional on this Psalm in the past, the Lord laid it on my heart again this morning. As I read through it, I saw it in a different light. I noticed there were eight promises given to us. God is so Good, isn't He? Let's look at the eight promises of Psalm 121.

(1) My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. God promises that our help comes from Him. The Creator of heaven and earth is able to help us - He's wanting to help us! I would imagine that my problems are a cinch for the Creator of the universe, wouldn't you? David knew where to go for his help. He encouraged himself and exhorts us to do the same. Are you running to others to solve your problems? Are you running to your spouse to comfort you? Are you running to your friends so they can help you carry your burdens? The Word says that our help comes from God, who made heaven and earth. I believe David knew who his God was and did not need to state that He was the maker of heaven and earth. I think David was telling us that the Creator of all is the One who will help us. This is not just anyone, my friend. This is the only One who is able to help us perfectly and thoroughly!

(2) He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: God is promising us that despite the dangers and trials in our lives, He will not allow us to be moved. The Word has several verses which state that God "will not suffer":

For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. (Exo 12:23) Surely it's not a coincidence that this is the first occurrence of "will not suffer" - the fact that Christ's blood over us preserves us for all eternity.

The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. (Pro 10:3) The born-again believer will never famish spiritually because God has promised to feed us. We have His living Word to eat from. Brother Jerry's devotional, Fourfold Picture of Water from the Rock yesterday was filled with how God provided for us through the water from the Rock. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Cor 10:13) God is so compassionate that He will never give us more than we can handle.

Our Heavenly Father is the parent who protects His child. He is the Shepherd who watches over His flock and makes sure that we don't slip or go down the wrong path! Our Father will not allow us to be moved spiritually, my friend. The Word does not say maybe - or might - or probably. The Word says that He shall keep us from falling! When we do fall, it is by choice - not because the Father could not stop us.

(3) Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. Don't you feel comforted by these words? We have a God who never sleeps. He is ever vigilant and always watching out for us! Nothing gets pass the Lord. God has promised that He will never sleep, therefore you are protected while on His watch! My son is joining the Marine Corps. He has collected so many "Marine" sayings. One of his favorites is: "Sleep well tonight, the Marines are on watch!" While I am comforted and truly appreciate that the United States Marine Corps is protecting my dear country, I am all the more comforted because my God never sleeps and nothing will happen to me on His watch which He has not permitted!

(4) The LORD is thy keeper: Jehovah also promises to be our Keeper, my friend! Like the Shepherd, God keeps us securely and faithfully. The Hebrew word for keeper is:

H8104
שׁמר
shâmar
shaw-mar'
A primitive root; properly to hedge about (as with thorns), that is, guard; generally to protect, attend to, etc.

The Lord has placed a hedge of protection around us. He protects us and attends to our needs! Job experienced this hedge of protection from God. See Job 1:10. How can we be afraid of anything that comes our way when we are promised that Jehovah God keeps us?

(5) The LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The temperatures in Northern Virginia have been quite high as of late. I can truly appreciate the need for shade! I absolutely love the way David wrote this verse! His God, Jehovah, provided him with shade during the heat of the day! Spiritually speaking, I believe the Lord is showing us that even at the height of our heated trials and tribulations, He provides us with His protection - His shade. We've all been outside on a hot and humid day. How refreshing it was to stand under a tree's shade, where it was a good 10 degrees cooler! We, too, can find rest, comfort and shade from our trials under the Lord's right hand. I also noticed that although we are sitting in the shade, the heat of the day is still out there. So it is true for our pilgrim's walk. The heat of the trial is still there but the Lord provides us shade (comfort and rest) so we can endure the trial.

(6) The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. Do you notice that this is a complete day? God promises to be in everything in the course of our day. There is not any part of the day for which He is not there to protect us. He's not just there in the afternoons or in the dark of night. Jehovah is there all the time. Matt. 28:20b and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

(7) The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The word "preserve" is used twice here. He preserves us from evil and He preserves our soul. I love the definition that Noah Webster used for the word preserve:

1. To keep or save from injury or destruction; to defend from evil.

God did send me before you to preserve life. Gen 45.

O Lord, preserve me from the violent man. Psa 140.

2. To uphold; to sustain.

O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. Psa 36.

5. To keep or defend from corruption; as, to preserve youth from vice.

The Lord promises to keep us from the evil one but He also promises to keep our souls. Our soul is eternal - God has promises to preserve our soul through eternity! From the moment we are born again, we are promised to be kept by God Himself. Our salvation not only was provided by Him but it rests in His care!

( 8 ) The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Here is a blessing within a blessing as far as numbers from the Bible are concerned. My Lord preserves me for all eternity from the moment I am saved. Notice how David pointed out three different times in this verse that Jehovah shall preserve us. The Lord God Almighty shall preserve us as we go out - from the beginning of our Christian walk. He shall preserve us until we come in from our Christian walk - when we die. He also shall preserve us throughout eternity! Three times Jehovah preserves us in this one verse. The number for the Trinity, the total Godhead, will preserve those covered under the number eight - those of the new beginning - the born again believer, for all eternity! I surely do not think it is a coincidence that the God (all three of the Godhead took part in my creation - see Gen. 1:26) who created me is involved in preserving me. He played a part in my earthly creation, my new born-again life and my eternal life. Praise the Lord!

Oh Christian, do you not want to jump for joy when you read these promises - these eight provisions? Our perfect Triune God makes promises He will never break.

Doxology
(Thomas Ken)

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Dear God...
I praise You, Three in One
For all You've done for me
You are the One I seek
From now through eternity!

Day 7 - Fourfold Picture Of Water From The Rock

1 Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

It is interesting to note that this fourfold picture is unfolded in chronological order in the Bible.

1) The Rock Must Be Smitten

Exodus 17:1-7 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

In order for the life-giving (living) water to flow, the rock had to be smitten with the rod of judgment - the same rod that Moses used to judge the nation of Egypt.

This pictured the Lord Jesus Christ being smitten with the rod of men (for our iniquity, not His own - see 2 Samuel 7:14), being smitten of God for our sins, being judged in our place. The Rock had to be struck BEFORE the Living Water could flow forth!

Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

"The Lord Jesus, as one hymn says, is “a Rock in a weary land.” Although this is a marvelous picture of Him as the foundation — the One upon whom we rest and the One upon whom the church is built — a rock is the last place we go for a drink of water... Jesus is a Rock, but His beautiful life and durability will not save you. His teachings will not redeem your soul. His life and teachings are like polished marble which are engraved and, though you apply them to your life with Carborundum or optician’s rouge, they still won’t save you. The application of the principles taught by the Lord Jesus may polish you a little, but He is still that Rock against which you can dash your foot.

You can fall on the Rock Christ Jesus for salvation, but no human effort is able to get water from this Rock. Only when the rock was smitten did it bring forth life-giving waters. Jesus was crucified, and nothing short of believing that He died in your place and bore your sins on that cross will save you. The smitten rock is a picture of the death of Jesus Christ." (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, [Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers] 2000, c1981.)

The rock was smitten and the water flowed forth - plenty to quench the thirst and meet all the daily needs of every single person in the nation of Israel. Life-giving water was now freely available to every man, woman, and child - whosoever would. This Living Water from the Rock is freely available to whosoever will - now that the Rock, Jesus Christ, has been smitten:

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Have you drunk water from the Rock?

2) We Must Be Hid In The Cleft Of The Rock

Exodus 33:12-14 And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

Exodus 33:18-23 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

Moses desired to know the Lord even more than he did already, longed to draw even closer to Him, wanted to experience even more grace in His sight - and petitioned the Lord to let him see God's glory. The only way that was possible was for God to stand Moses upon a rock, and then to put him in the cleft of the rock.

The only way we can see God's glory is to be hid in the cleft of the Rock - the Rock of Ages that was cleft for us on Calvary! We are hidden in the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, when we place our faith in Him alone to save us. From that moment on, we are in Christ. Being "in Christ" is one of the main themes of the book of Ephesians.

But notice one other thing about the passage above: God told Moses that he was to stand upon the rock. What is the foundation of your life - what are you standing on? Have you built your life upon the shifting sands of this world, or upon the steadfast foundation of the solid Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ?

Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the only sure and lasting foundation! If you want to know the Lord God personally - as your own Heavenly Father, if you want to have close, intimate fellowship with Him - you must be hidden in the cleft of the Rock and you must be standing upon the Rock as your foundation.

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

3) Now We Need To Only Speak To The Rock

Numbers 20:7-13 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

Moses was commanded to only speak to the rock and the water would flow forth abundantly out of it. God was continuing the picture here - the rock did not need to be struck again to bless the people. It has already been smitten!

Similarly, our Rock does not need to be struck again to bring blessing to His people. Jesus was already smitten for our sins - the penalty was already paid, judgment was already poured out - and the water is still freely flowing forth!

Consider these passages:

Hebrews 7:25-27 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

Hebrews 9:25-28 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

It is interesting to note that the book of Hebrews mentions seven times that Jesus' sacrifice for our sins was a one-time offering, He only needed to die once (and in fact, we cannot be saved unless we place our faith in His finished work upon the cross of Calvary, place our faith in His complete atonement for our sins). In addition to the three times the word once was quoted above, we see four more references in Hebrews (read surrounding verses for context):

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

The Rock was struck once - it did not need to be struck again. That is where Moses and Aaron sinned in not trusting/believing the Lord in this regard, but in spite of their sin, God was still glorified in the sight of the people - and the water still flowed forth! Praise the Lord for His mercy and grace! The Living Water was still flowing freely. As the great hymnwriter, Philip Bliss, so eloquently expressed in his hymn:

Once for all, O sinner, receive it,
Once for all, O brother, believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.

Life-giving water was available for the asking. All that was needed for the blessing to flow forth from the rock was for someone to speak to it. If you want God's blessing and provision in your life, make sure you are standing on the Rock and hidden in Him, then keep speaking to the Rock in daily fellowship. Living Water is flowing forth, and is ours when we speak to the Rock!

"From the Rock, Christ Jesus, come spiritual blessings today. The waters of blessing gush forth to relieve parched lips. Ephesians 1:3 informs us that, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” The Rock was smitten once and from it flows an abundance of water. The fountain is brimfull. The stream is bank full. The world is not able to contain it." (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, [Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers] 2000, c1981.)

4) Spring Up, O Well

Numbers 21:16-18 And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water. Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it: The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah:

This is the first song we see the nation of Israel singing during their wilderness wanderings. A song of praise and thanksgiving - appreciation at last for the life-giving water that God had provided for their needs.

The word sing in verse 17 means "properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extens. to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce." I think now the nation of Israel was learning the lesson that the Lord was longing to teach them: just ask me, and I will freely give you the Living Water!

John 4:10, 14 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water... But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

In this passage in Numbers 21, we see Israel listening to the Lord, and digging the well according to the direction of the lawgiver, Moses. That presents another valuable lesson for us today: in order for the Lord to spring forth His blessings in our lives, we need to be heeding His Word! They followed the direction of the lawgiver - we need to follow and obey God's Word each day as well.

Notice also, after they dug the well according to God's Word, they went from the wilderness to Mattanah. Mattanah means "a present; specifically (in a good sense), a sacrificial offering, (in a bad sense) a bribe." Have you drunk of the Living Water flowing forth from the Rock? Are you thankful for all the blessings the Lord has poured out upon your life, upon your home, upon your church family? Are you presenting yourself to the Lord as a living sacrifice, as a sacrificial gift? Just something to ponder.

Conclusion:

The death of the Lord Jesus Christ was necessary for our salvation - there would have been no Living Water flowing forth from the Rock if it had not been smitten. The Saviour died upon the cross, shed His precious blood for our sins, was buried, and then physically, gloriously arose three days and three nights later. Jesus is alive forevermore, and able to give His Living Water to all who seek Him!

John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

Romans 4:24-25 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Isaiah 12:2-3 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Song of Solomon 2:14 O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

Are you hidden in the clefts of the Rock? The Lord is longing to hear your voice. Are you speaking to the Rock? Come boldly unto Jesus today.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (See also 10:22)

For more indepth studies that build upon some of the themes presented in this devotion, see: The Rock Of Horeb, Without Blemish In Christ - Part 1 and The Glory Of The New Testament (Covenant) - Part 2.

June 3rd/07
Jerry Bouey

Dear God...
The water from the Rock flows free
We thirst no more, who thrive
Upon Your Word, we long to drink
Without we could not survive!

Day 6 - The Nine Cares of a Shepherd

Psalm 23:1-6, [A Psalm of David.] The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (1) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (2) He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (3) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (4) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (5) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (6)

Why would Christ liken Himself to a Shepherd? I've often wondered why He would pick a "role" such as this one. As I researched the role of a shepherd, I noticed that the shepherd's job was to: provide food and water, find them a place to rest, discipline them when needed, protect them against foes, spoke to them and gave them companionship, directed them in their travels, provided them a peaceful journey, and literally providing them with a worry-free life. The sheep have everything - all they need to do is to follow their shepherd and make more sheep, when you stop to think about it! The sheep never have to hunt their own food or find their own water. The sheep recognize only their shepherd's voice. They do not respond to or follow another shepherd. Isn't that amazing? The sheep are helpless without their shepherd to protect them from going in the wrong direction or from their enemies. I saw that this shepherd's job description had nine areas of care for his sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (Joh 10:14) Do you think it's a coincidence that the Lord Himself used this occupation to describe Himself with us? I surely don't.

The most famous passage in Scriptures dealing with the shepherd is Psalm 23. When I went to it, I saw that it outlines nine areas of care as well! I got on shouting grounds! The number nine is the number for "completeness, finality, and fullness." How complete we are once we are saved! We are made full with the benefits Christ provides for us! Our salvation is final - there is nothing else needed. Praise God that the Shepherd of the Old Testament is also the Gentiles' Shepherd! And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (Joh 10:16) No longer was salvation only for the Jew. Praise God! Salvation is complete - salvation is for all!

The blessing that came with searching out the nine cares of the Shepherd were more than I could take today. My heart was stirred and the tears flowed because of just how much Christ cares for us! Let me share with you just how He cares for you!

Notice that Christ is a personal Saviour. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psa 23:1) (emphasis mine.) We lack nothing because of our position as Christ's sheep. He will provide for every aspect of our lives. All our needs are in His care! He is so personal that even the very hairs on our head are numbered! But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (Mat 10:30) He knows us better than anyone. The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, (Psa 94:11a) He is our own personal Shepherd. Our personal Shepherd has nine beautiful ways He shows us He cares for us!

(1) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: Christ provides us with rest. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Mat 11:28) When I was first saved, I felt as though a hundred pounds had been lifted from my shoulders! The burden of sin had been removed and I felt so "free"! After I read this verse for the first time, I was in tears! My Saviour had freed me from this heavy burden and had given me peaceful rest! I can see why David used the word picture of laying down in a green field, can't you? What a beautiful depiction of the rest that Christ provides through salvation!

(2) He leadeth me beside the still waters.: Christ refreshes the soul. Each day, our time in the Word provides a time of refreshing. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (Joh 4:14) Notice that the waters were not turbulent or even stirred. These waters were still! The Word of God does not produce confusion or conflict. It provides us with peaceful waters - still waters. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Cor 14:33) The devil has managed to cause much confusion through the many versions of the Bible. He has God's children arguing amongst themselves - confused about what the Holy Spirit was "really" communicating. God is not the author of confusion, according to 1 Cor. 14:33, so why would He provide 100 plus versions to confuse us? This is a contradiction, my friend. My Bible says that my Shepherd leads me to still waters. It stands to reason that the devil leads us to turbulent waters since he is the very antithesis of Christ. Christ is the Word of God - the devil will attack the Word to get even with Christ. But our Shepherd promises us that while we are in our blessed King James Bible, we will have still waters - peaceful waters - and no confusion can be found within its pages!

(3) He restoreth my soul: Christ provides reconciliation to the saved. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. (Heb 2:17) When we are trodden down with the cares of this world, He is able to lead His sheep away from that temptation. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (2 Pet 2:9) Notice this verse says that Christ specifically delivers the "godly" out of temptation. Not only has He reconciled us to the Father by redeeming us, He provides a way to deliver us from temptation! However, if we have succumbed to temptation, He restores us to a right relationship with Him. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 Jo 2:1) Thank You, Lord!

(4) He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. The Bible says that Jesus is the Word (John 1:1) - He is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). He left us His Word, through the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we may learn to walk in righteousness as He walked in righteousness. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Tim 3:16) The Shepherd is constantly watching out for us and is ready to help. Everything we need is in the blessed Word of God and provides us with light and direction along the way. NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psa 119:105) He is ever watchful in His leading, making sure that we do not stumble. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. (Pro 3:23)

(5) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; The Shepherd is always with us, my friend. There is no need to fear the trials of this life. He promises us that: I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Heb 13:5b) God is not a man that He should lie (Num. 23:19). He says He will never leave me or forsake me. Never! Period! As He protects us from stumbling, He protects us during those difficult trials in life - even the most difficult trial of all, our physical death. There is no need to even fear death because He will be right there with us. 1 Cor. 15:54-55, So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (54) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (55)

A Youth Pastor I once knew, Pastor Mike Ray, told us of a trip he took his teens on to an actual funeral home. The mortician was a born-again Christian who shared how he was always able to tell when the deceased who was brought to him was a Christian. The Christian's countenance never showed fear or dismay, but had a peaceful look. However, the unsaved person's face was not so. Some would even come in with a horrible look of fear! This story impacted me greatly. It proved to me that my Shepherd's promise of walking with me through the valley of the shadow of death was true!

(6) Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. The Hebrew word used for rod here is:

H7626
שׁבט
shêbet

Meaning: a scion, that is, (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.)

Our Shepherd not only wants to be our Lord, but He will punish us so that we get back on track. The punishment is not so that we become hard with rebellion against Him. His punishment, according to David, brings comfort. If the shepherd had a sheep that continuously ran away from the herd, he would break one of its legs so it would learn to stay close. When we yield to Christ's will as He trains us, the results bring comfort. We draw nigh to Him. As a result, God promises to draw nigh to us. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (Jam 4:8) When you punish your child for doing wrong, you don't punish him with the intent to cause him to rebel further, do you? Of course not! Your goal is to draw him close to you so you can teach him and mold him into a responsible adult. Christ's goal is to be so close to us that He can teach us and mold us into His image. What a wonderful picture!

(7) Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. The staff had a different meaning in this beautiful passage.

H4938
משׁענת משׁענה
mish‛ênâh mish‛eneth

Meaning: walking stick: - staff

Our Shepherd will direct us in our path. If there's a bump in the road, He will alert us through the preaching. Not only does Christ alert us, but He shows us how to deal with that bump in the road through His Word. The Holy Spirit is right there, teaching us, directing us and providing that comfort. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (Joh 15:26) Just as the shepherd uses a walking stick to help him along the way, we have the ultimate walking stick, the Bible, which our Shepherd uses to help us along our pilgrim's journey! This stick is not one of discipline but more a stick used for assistance. What a bless'ed picture of the Word of God assisting us!

(8) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Notice that the Shepherd prepares the table while our enemies are right there at the door. He is laying out the table cloth, setting the place matts, putting out the cloth napkins, laying the cutlery just right, putting out the fine china and rightly placing a glass of cold water beside the plate. Jesus is preparing our table while we have struggles with the enemy. He lets us know that despite the turmoil around us, He is in control - nothing bothers Him. He continues to provide for us and He will give us peace. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (Joh 14:27) A good depiction of this was when He stilled the storm at sea. And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mar 4:39) What comfort this brings the believer. No matter what is going on around us, the Shepherd is busy preparing a table to sup with us - despite the turmoil. He is always there ready to nourish us and encourage us with His Word.

(9) Thou anointest my head with oil; The oil of the Bible usually refers to the Holy Spirit. The oil here was anointed on the head showing me that the Holy Spirit will reveal to our hearts (our minds) what the Shepherd (the Word) is trying to communicate. I looked up Noah Webster's definition of anointing and the definition in this verse was:

communicate the consolations of the Holy Spirit.

I wondered what "consolations of the Holy Spirit" meant here. Noah defines it as:

Comfort; alleviation of misery, or distress of mind

Does this not totally bless you? The Shepherd alleviates our misery and distresses, my friend!

No wonder David was able to pen, "my cup runneth over" in verse 5! You've been there at some point in your Christian walk where you feel that God has just "over blessed" you, haven't you? David was bragging on his God here - Lord, stop! Stop! I can't take any more blessings! My cup is over flowing - any more and I'll burst!

Lastly, David speaks of how his Shepherd's goodness and mercy will follow him, not only in his walk on this earth, but throughout all eternity. He says that he will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever in verse 6. What another beautiful depiction of eternal security. The Shepherd does not leave His sheep - ever! But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. (Joh 10:12) (emphasis mine.) Jesus said that He is the Good Shepherd, not a hireling. The devil would love nothing better than to convince you that you can lose your position in Christ after you have been saved. After all, again he is the very antithesis of Christ. Christ won't leave us when that wolf comes attacking. Thank You, Lord, for this blessing today!

My cup runneth over!

Dear God...
The Shepherd guides those in His care.
He leads them along life's way.
He protects us from the enemy,
And He keeps those wolves at bay.

Day 5 - Sevenfold Praise - Part 2

Psalms 100:1-5 A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100 is a short Psalm, but one of the most powerful. In it we find the psalmist listing seven ways to praise the Lord, then giving seven reasons why God's people should do so.

Seven Reasons to Praise God - these will never change if you are saved (so you can always praise Him!):

1. Know ye that the LORD He is God:
2. it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
3. we are His people,
4. and the sheep of His pasture.
5. For the LORD is good;
6. His mercy is everlasting;
7. and His truth endureth to all generations.

Reasons for rejoicing indeed! If there has been a time and place in your life when you turned from your sin and received the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, then all seven of these reasons are just as true for you as for any other true believer. And the wonderful thing about each of these reasons is that they will never change, regardless of our circumstances.

I really appreciate Matthew Henry's subpoints in his commentary on this chapter, so I will use them here:

1. That the Lord He is God.

He is still your God. There may be times in our lives where we don't let Him hold the reigns to our lives, but that doesn't change the fact that the Lord, the God of the Bible, is the only true and living God. That He is God should have special meaning to each one of us; if we have been adopted as His children and have Him sovereignly working out all things in our lives, there is reason for great rejoicing!

Adam Clarke makes this comment, "Acknowledge in every possible way, both in public and private, that Jehovah, the uncreated self-existent, and eternal Being, is Elohim, the God who is in covenant with man, to instruct, redeem, love, and make him finally happy."

2. That He is our Creator.

The Lord has made us - we didn't make ourselves. As Albert Barnes has stated in his commentary on this verse, "All that we have and are, we owe to him."

John Gill adds this, "It is he that hath made us; as men, without whom nothing is made that was made; in him we live, move, and have our being; and, as new creatures, we are his workmanship, created in him, and by him; regenerated by his Spirit and grace, and formed for himself, his service and glory; and made great and honourable by him..."

3. That therefore He is our rightful owner.

The Lord has bought us with a price; therefore we are to glorify Him in all we do (see 1 Corinthians 6:20 and 10:31).

4. That He is our sovereign Ruler.

We are His people and He is our King; therefore we owe our complete loyalty and devotion to Him each day.

5. That He is our bountiful Benefactor.

We are the sheep of His pasture; therefore it is His job to lead us and to provide for us each day. He is faithful to do that - and it is up to us to walk in right fellowship with Him and do His will.

6. That He is a God of infinite mercy and good.

Matthew Henry also adds this here: "The Lord is good, and therefore does good; his mercy is everlasting; it is a fountain that can never be drawn dry. The saints, who are now the sanctified vessels of mercy, will be, to eternity, the glorified monuments of mercy."

7. That He is a God of inviolable truth and faithfulness.

His truth endures forever! You can always rely on your Saviour to preserve His Word, to keep His promises, and to always be faithful.

If your spirit has been quickened (ie. if you have been born again through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ), these reasons should stir you up - if not, check your pulse or your walk with the Lord, because something is wrong there! If these seven reasons given by the inspired Psalmist are applicable to you, then the trials and afflictions you will experience in your life can never compare to them or cause them to diminish. These are truly reasons for rejoicing, reasons for praising - keep praising the Lord!

To cap off this devotional, here is one of the versions of Psalm 100 in Metre put together by the hymnist, Isaac Watts:

Psalm 100
A plain translation. Praise to our Creator.

1 Ye nations round the earth rejoice
Before the Lord, your sovereign King;
Serve him with cheerful heart and voice,
With all your tongues his glory sing.

2 The Lord is God; 'tis he alone
Doth life, and breath, and being give:
We are his work, and not our own;
The sheep that on his pastures live.

3 Enter his gates with songs of joy,
With praises to his courts repair,
And make it your divine employ
To pay your thanks and honours there.

4 The Lord is good, the Lord is kind;
Great is his grace, his mercy sure;
And the whole race of man shall find
His truth from age to age endure.

May 24th/05
(Preached May 19th/07)
Jerry Bouey