by David Brenneman
"The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8.
"Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” Hebrews 13:5.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18.
Panic comes easily in light of the unexpected. Where uncertainty reveals itself we can zero in on the situation rather than who is with us.
Whereas we can have people around us with harm as their intent, Jesus isn't going to allow anything or anyone to come near to us without His consent.
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand." John 10:27-29.
"For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face," Jeremiah 16:17a.
Has anything in history happened that God stopped being God?
Has anyone been able to take the sovereignty of Jesus from Him?
Has a situation ever occurred among all creation that overpowered the Creator of all things?
All who come to Christ for salvation are now aliens in this world. Tourists if you will, visitors, who await the appointed time of their return to their adopted home in Heaven with Jesus.
Situations will occur that can be explained and or expected.
Many more will occur that cannot be explained.
This doesn't mean that God at all stopped being God. It DOES provide a path for Believers to help other Believers. It IS why some Believers are more well off than others...in order for the blessings of God to happen in the lives of His people.
In the opening chapters of the book of Acts we read of how people sold off many things in order to provide freedom and help to others in Christ.
In many times in my life we have experienced great situations that at the time appeared overwhelming. Looking back at them they were overwhelming. Were they to occur in today's world we live in...probably not so overwhelming at all. Why, what changed? Growing in Christ.
When we look at the examples often used by Paul he wrote of soldiers in training. He wrote of putting on the whole armor of God.
Now today I caught something in the book of 1 Samuel 17.
"Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor. David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” And David took them off." 1 Samuel 17:38-39.
We are told in Ephesians 6 to put on this Spiritual Armor of God. We often are taking parts off because they are either uncomfortable or because we think it's safe to do so.
A soldier in training is given what to wear and is put through many grueling tasks in order to become conformed to them and to get experienced in doing life with them on...why? Because their life depends on it.
We are to suit up every moment of every day. To walk with Jesus requires it. He promises to walk with you and you in turn are situated, ready, to walk with Jesus.
You may indeed feel overwhelmed. May feel like you're defeated. May feel hopeless. Did Jesus stop being Jesus?
Have seen many a meme that says to the effect that I tried to throw in the towel and God threw it back at me, told me to wipe off my face and keep going. We're almost there.
We are only going to face whatever adversity in life we're facing for only as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us.
The Spirit is to be our Helper. Most have seen the series of movies surrounding "Rocky". Most people focused on Rocky, Adrian, Mickie, Pauly, Apollo Creed, or whomever Rocky was fighting. Go back and watch them again to look more intently at Mickie and Apollo's trainer. Look at the wisdom of what they put into Rocky and Apollo. Look at how they helped them achieve.
The Spirit of God is to teach us all things. This my Dear Reader means many a trial and many a painful moment to endure until the lesson is learned. Until we become more and more confident and comfortable in the whole armor of God.
Saul, at first, saw the potential of having a man with whom the Spirit of God rested staying by his side. Saw what experience can do.
We are often drawn to Godly men because of how they've lived life with Jesus.
Trainers aren't forever here on Earth. Sometimes we learn from one instructor or professor for a time then are given others to learn from for the next phase of our learning.
Same goes with learned men of God. The important thing is to stay in pace with Jesus. While others will come and go, He isn't going anywhere.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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