My Rescue is Through Faith

My Rescue is Through Faith 

When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. 

Lord, when I pass through the waters, You will be with me; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow me. When I walk through the fire, I shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch me. For You are the Lord my God, the Holy One of Israel, my Savior. You will bring the blind by a way they did not know; You will lead them in paths they have not known. You will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things You will do for them, and not forsake them. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In You, God (I will praise Your Word), in You I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? You, Lord, are my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? You, Lord, are the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 

Lord God, these truths about You are a source of encouragement, reassurance, strength, and boldness. 

MICAH 7:8; ISAIAH 43:2–3; ISAIAH 42:16; PSALM 23:4; PSALM 56:3–4; PSALM 27:1

Dr. David Jeremiah Life-Changing Moments with God 

Rescue Story by Zach Williams 

There I was empty-handed
Crying out from the pit of my despair
There You were in the shadows
Holding out Your hand, You met me there

And now where would I be without You?
Where would I be, Jesus?

You were the voice in the desert
Calling me out in the dead of night
Fighting my battles for me
You are my rescue story
Lifted me up from the ashes
Carried my soul from death to life
Bringing me from glory to glory
You are my rescue story

You are, You are
You are my rescue story
You are, You are

You were writing the pages
Before I had a name
Before I needed grace, oh
Singing songs of redemption
'Cause every time I ran away
You were louder than my shame

And now, where would I be without You?
Where would I be, Jesus?

You were the voice in the desert
Calling me out in the dead of night
Fighting my battles for me
You are my rescue story
Lifted me up from the ashes
Carried my soul from death to life
Bringing me from glory to glory
You are my rescue story

You never gave up on me
You never gave up on me
You are my testimony, ohh, oh-ohh
You never gave up on me
You never gave up on me
You are my testimony, ohh, oh-ohh
You never gave up on me
Oh, You never gave up on me
Oh, this is my testimony

Oh, You were the voice in the desert
Calling me out in the dead of night
Fighting my battles for me
You are my rescue story
Lifted me up from the ashes
Carried my soul from death to life
Bringing me from glory to glory
'Cause You are my rescue story

You are, You are (You are my rescue story)
Oh, You never gave up on me, never gave up on me
You are, You are
Yeah, You are my rescue story

In the course of my life there's been more times than I can count on when I had been on the precipice of change if only a step of faith would be taken. I would experience the oppression of Spiritual attacks and in my despair God indeed came in.  But had I taken a leap of faith life would have been different. In this life it's impossible to determine how many of those times were Satan backing off and how many were God pointing me in a direction that I was afraid to step towards. 

God indeed has a plan for mankind. He's came to Earth to save sinners. To die for the sins of mankind. In obedience to His Father. But remember well that He began the Father's business, it's up to us to continue it.

There's also the passages that speaks to the times of the end. Jesus wondered if He would find the faith when He returns. We also read of the times quickly approaching that refer to the times of the Gentiles beings fulfilled.  

That time when the cup of iniquity of the world is full. When God's said enough is enough. We can see shadows of that in the Old Testament books of Daniel, Ezekiel and Jeremiah. We see pretty clearly when that enough is enough moment came for Israel with God. 

They too didn't know the day nor the hour when everything was going to come down. 

In my life right now we are in the midst of a leap of faith. Of stepping out regardless of the relenting of the battles going on in our lives.  Soon we will be in a new hometown, living among new and different people.  Soon we will be able to participate in a Church we have wanted to be a part of for a very long time. 

Rescue Story has often played in my mind in recent weeks.  Jesus indeed is clearly showing me that I am His workmanship. That indeed there's more for me to do for Him, but it requires training.  

We who are in Christ are not here in this moment of time, in the physical location where we are, to live for ourselves. We have a responsibility to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. We have a relationship with Jesus that is to be different from the world. 

We have a part to fulfill in the here and now for to point people to Jesus Christ. 

Getting people into a Church building isn't bringing them to Jesus. Getting them into a relationship is more important than warming a seat. The Way is through faith in Christ Jesus. It's not through anything else or through anyone else. 

Nobody needs to be in a building to be saved. The thief on the cross never saw a single Church service. Never sang a song. This shows Jesus meeting people at the point of their need. 

Look at this song by the Ruppes "By the Way of the Cross"

Condemned to die on a cross for crimes he had done
He was guilty- everyone could see.
But his destiny was changed as he looked at Christ and said,
"When Your kingdom comes, remember me."
In Paradise that day, he stood
Just like the Lord had said he would
Surrounded by those who had gone before.
One said, "Friend, how did you come? What are the deeds you have done?"
With tears in his eyes, I can hear him reply,
"There are no merits to my name- no works that I can claim. He Who brought me here told me to say...

(Chorus)
I have come by the way of the cross.
I have come by the way of the cross.
It is nothing I have done.
It's the suffering of God's Son.
I have come by the way of the cross."

I have nothing to claim but my guilt and my shame.
Hopelessly lost, I could not find my way.
Till His glorious light of love shone down on me.
His mercy washed all my sins away!
And what He did for me that day
Was a price I could not pay.
And by His grace, I too can say- forever say...
(Chorus)

Bridge
I see millions gathered 'round the throne
From every kindred and tongue-
Those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!
And as they cast their crowns down at His feet
This will be my story- this will be my song,...
(Chorus "We")

There is no other way.. but the cross!
By the cross! By the cross!

I have no righteousness that I can claim apart from what Jesus has given me from Himself. 

We all have been rescued at some point when we came to Christ for salvation. 

We all like sheep have gone astray. But the Shepherd sought us out to save us. 

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man or woman comes to the Father but through Him.  

There's true stories that can be told of some greats in the faith that attended a church for years that weren't saved by being there. They were saved by the pursuit of the Spirit in their lives.  Were saved because a moment came when they saw the light of truth and couldn't deny it no longer. 

My Rescue Story is all about Jesus saving a wretch like me.  It's about how He never once gave up on me when I was ready to give up on life. It's about His love and compassion in regards to my lowly estate.  It's all about Jesus and His love for me.