The Strong, Victorious Christian Life

John 10:10 "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

I may have posted a similar posting before regarding this subject, but it bears repeating.  I actually was in need of this same subject personally, so I know it is most beneficial.

The verse I quoted at the top tells us how the devil wants to defeat. us.  The battleground is in our minds.  If Satan can get us thinking destructive or damaging thoughts, then he's won half the battle.  Christ, on the other hand, desires for us to be strong and live a victorious Christian life.  It is true, we can be very weak and fearful--in and of ourselves--but with Christ, we can be victorious!!

2 Corinthians 12:9.  "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."

It is good to remember that although Satan's stronghold is fear, God's stronghold is power and strength.  We, as Christians, are on the winning side!  We need to act like it!  We need to rise up in God's strength and live victoriously!

We need to remember, too, God's Word is a major part of the Christian's armor.  We need to use it to give us:

• strength             
• power
• grace 
• hope
• peace
• comfort
• love
• joy
• faith

Jeremiah 17:7-8 "Blessed is the man that trusted in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreaders out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in thee year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

In God's Word, we can be strong, vibrant, productive, confident.

Let me close with this verse:

Romans 12:2 "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."

We need to get into God's Word, and allow it to transform our "stickin' thinkin.'"  Don't let the devil get you down.  Rise up! and live the STRONG, victorious, Christian life God intends for you to live!

That is our "reasonable service!"

 Psalm 23:6b

"...and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."

It is because of all the wondrous things that God does in our lives, and because of all His precious promises, I promise I will dwell in His house forever.  

If you were to go back and review all my posts regarding the 23rd Psalm, you would stand in awe of our wondrous and gracious God!  You cannot help but say, "Yes, dear Lord, I will follow You; I will do whatever it is You desire of me... because you deserve all glory, and You deserve all praise!  I will freely give You all that I am, all that I have."  As it says in Romans 12:1-2, that is our "reasonable service."  

Following and Obeying God

 

Following and Obeying God

Psalm 23:6a

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..."

The Psalmist is able to say this because of the confidence he holds in his Savior!  The whole psalm, for that matter speaks loudly and boldly of his confidence.  Why do you suppose this is true?  ...because the Lord is his Shepherd!  What a precious, precious truth that is!

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" ...that is to say, I know God's goodness and mercy shall follow me because I follow and obey God.  We can have that same confidence simply because we follow and obey God.

This reminds me of a number of my posts, but one in particular is called, "The Abundant Life."  If you'll pardon me, I'd like to quote most of that post.

John 10:10  "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Satan wishes to destroy you.  If you don't know the Lord, he is trying to keep you from making that most important decision; if, on the other hand, you know the Lord, Satan would love to--in the very least--keep you from walking a close walk with the Lord.  Satan would love to "sift you as wheat," and work so that your life, your testimony would not amount to anything for God.  Don't let him do that!

God desires to give us the richest of blessings, and we're the only thing that stands in His way!  We are the only thing that can limit God's blessings.  It's as simple as that.  God's blessings--God's abundant life--is promised to those that follow Him and obey Him.

Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

Proverbs 1:23 "Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you."

flexible       pliable       reprovable       submissive     

1 John 3:22 "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight."

Proverbs 3:9-10 "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase:  So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine."

Romans 8:32 "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

Oh, the blessings of God!  God desires to bless us in so many countless ways, we cannot imagine!  He desires to work in you and through you that not only you are richly blessed, but that others are richly blessed as well.  Only God knows the amount of blessing that is possible to the man or woman that loves and follows God with all their heart, soul, and mind!

Oh, the Blessings of God!

Psalm 23:5c

“…my cup runneth over.”

My, what a long time it’s been since I’ve written!  I am so sorry.  We all tend to get busy with the things of this life, and some things just get put on hold.  I will try to do better!

Last time, I ended with the thought that our cup should be running over…rather a lead in to this next section!  Our cup should be running over; the blessings of God truly abound!

I think for this section, I am just going to recount each promise phrase that is spoken of in this psalm:

(1)     Promise of Shepherding: tending, feeding, and guarding His precious sheep

(2)     Promise of Providing: providing for all our needs

   If we will cast all our cares on Him, He will meet those needs

   A God-centered life brings peace and contentment

(3)      Promise of Rest

  God knows just when we are in need of rest---and He provides it

(4)     Promise of Leading

  God leads—we are to follow!

 We must remember His way is always perfect!  His way is always best!

(5)    Promise of Restoration & Healing

 God heals us of all our heart and soul’s turmoils and hurts

(6)    Promise of Righteous Living

 If we follow Him and His leading, we’re going to live righteously

(7)    Promise of His Presence

 Trust God—He is with you

 God is our strength and confidence

(8)    Promise of His Protection and Comfort

(9)    Promise to Live Triumphantly

 Follow Christ and blessings will abound

(10)  Promise of Sanctification and the Master’s Use

A walk and work with God—working in and through us

There are so many precious promises throughout God's Word.  I do believe these rank right up near the top!

I hope this little review was a blessing to you.  Never forget all His many precious promises!

sanctified, and meet for the Master's use

Let me first apologize for not checking into my blog in a long while.  Not that I’ve ever been very consistent or constant, but I’d like to be.  I know I don’t have thousands of readers; but I do have some…and God seems to be using this blog to some degree, so for that I am thankful.

Let’s see if I can get back to the subject at hand…the 23^rd Psalm!  We had left off at the middle of verse five.  I don’t believe I touched on this last time, so let me first say, at verse five there is a change in relationship:  It changes from a scene of traveling with our Shepherd out in the wilderness and fields, to a scene of hospitality and friendship inside his tent or home.  The change goes from shepherd-and-sheep imagery to one of intimate friendship.  Get this, dear Christian: God desires a close, intimate friendship with us!  That is the greatest scene changer and thought we should capture when reading this psalm!  God desires to walk with us hand in hand, much like you would with a dear friend or spouse.  We can have that relationship…we just must desire to work at it!

Now let’s move on to the next portion of our study: Psalm 23:5b  “…Thou anointest my head with oil.”  This is a continuation of the first phrase of God preparing a table before us.  (always read in the context!)  God has prepared the table, the feast, and now He must anoint our head with oil.  Why?  Well, in answer to that question, let’s first clarify something:  In Bible days, anointing was meant for a priest or king.  It was a symbolic act to show God had chosen that person, or set him apart for a particular job (such as a priest or king).  Next, let us help define the word anoint by offering you some synonyms: consecrate, sanctify, set apart, hallow, honor as holy, ordain, cleanse, dedicate.  Let me remind you of a verse.  I Peter 2:9 says this: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  We are a “royal priesthood,” Christian.  God calls us that…all because of Jesus Christ.  We are holy; we are set apart. 

Okay, so if we are already called a royal priesthood, and are set apart, why do we need to be anointed?  Why, in the text, does God want to anoint our head with oil?  I realize this is getting a little heavy and thought-provoking, but just stick with me; it should become clear. 

It is true, we are sanctified or made holy when we have been born again into God’s family.  That is what is called positional sanctification.  We are made holy by the blood of Jesus Christ.  This term is the same as justification.  But there also is progressive sanctification or experiential:  that is, although we are made clean through the blood of Christ, we know we still sin; we still have a sin nature that must be dealt with daily.  We must go to God daily to confess our sin, that we might be made clean and be a vessel He can use. 

I love the verses in 2 Timothy 2:20-21, which says, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” We could easily throw in Romans 12:1-2, as well.

Those verses in particular should make it very clear.  Yes, we are made holy through the blood of Jesus Christ, but we must daily make sure we have no unconfessed sin in our hearts and lives.  Remember what I said: This portion of the psalm is a scene of relationship.  Yes, God desires to have a close, intimate relationship with us; He desires for us to know Him, to experience Him, to walk with Him.  That is part of it, but it’s more than that.  God has set a wonderful feast before us.  Now, we in our human, finite minds think of a huge Thanksgiving feast.  And it’s true, it’s kind of like that.  But we must learn to change our thinking to God’s way of thinking!  God desires to do so much more!  God desires to do a wondrous, miraculous work in and through us!   First of all, changing us into someone more like Christ, wow! That’s a work in itself!  But then, too, also working through us, giving us a love and compassion for others, seeing the needs of others far beyond our own selves, that is the feast that lies before us: a walk and a work with God!  God desires to do so much in and through us.  I don’t think we can fathom all that is possible with God!

That would be a good place to end right there, but let’s back up for a moment, perhaps even clarify my last posting.  God prepares a table before me in the presence of our enemies.  What are our “enemies”?  Satan, first and foremost, yes!  But ourselves, sin, fear, anxiety, the things we tend to put above God, going our own way (whatever that may mean to each of us).  Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “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.”

If we have truly taken in all that this portion of the psalm means, then you know what? our cup will be running over!  God’s richest blessings are to those who are willing to give up sin and self and the things of this world.  God desires to bless us so much.  That blessing has nothing to do with this world…and everything to do with God and His world!  Question is, are we willing?

Can you see God’s huge banqueting feast?  Can you see all that it entails?  Are you willing to lay aside every sin and weight, and experience God and His wondrous work in and through you?  

Oh, the blessings of God!  …our cup should be running over!

         Merle

Live Triumphantly!

Psalm 23:5a

“Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies…”      

Let’s think of that phrase for just a little bit.  What kind of picture does that conjure up for you?  First of all, to me, the word table makes me think of a banquet or feast… and oh, what a feast that would be!  You did notice God is preparing that table.  When God is in the midst of it, what a grand thing it is!  God doesn’t do things just half-heartedly…no way!  God does things BIG!!  So when blessings are in store, He gets out His BIG shovel!!  Blessings ABOUND!!  You see, dear Christian, God desires the very best for us.  It’s we, ourselves, that limit God’s richest blessings.  But when we’re walking with God, obeying His Word, wow! what blessings are in store for us!! 

Let’s notice, too, God says He’s preparing that table right before us.  He wants us to see everything He has in store for us.  He doesn’t want us to miss out on anything.  His richest blessings are available to us, if we will but follow Him.

Lastly, let’s notice, God says He is preparing that table even in the presence of our enemies.  Hmmm…that should make us think a little bit.  Why does God say that?  Because He wants us to remember that we are on the winning side, Christian!!  One day, God will put all enemies under His feet (1 Cor. 15:25), and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10).  We are on the winning side!!  Nothing causes God to fear, and nothing takes Him by surprise.  God is in control of all things, and knowing that, should cause us to live triumphantly!  That alone should give us confidence and boldness.  He is our God and we are His children…if we have turned from our sin and accepted His death for our sin.  If you have further questions concerning this, please reference any of the numerous postings I have listed for salvation.  Or, you can drop me a message or email…I’d be more than happy to share God’s simple plan of salvation with you!            

But for you, Christian, remember you’re on the winning side…and even in the midst of our enemies, God has prepared a table, a feast, if you will!  He desires that we follow Him and…

            Live triumphantly!  His richest blessings are in store!  

                       Merle

Thy rod and Thy staff

Psalm 23:4c

“…Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”            

       

In studying the Bible, you will find many analogies; but one very popular one is the analogy of the sheep and their Shepherd.  If you have had the chance to read some of my previous postings, you have found how comforting this truly is.  And this phrase—Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me—is equally as comforting.

Think for a minute of a shepherd.  There are many jobs a shepherd must do, but primarily their job is to protect and to guide their sheep.  Sheep, unfortunately, can be very dumb and willful…not a very complimentary thing to say about us, as sheep!  The shepherd must be very protective, as well as being very caring, compassionate and longsuffering.

 First of all, let’s define the rod and the staff.  The rod can be likened to a club.  It is the shepherd’s primary tool for protecting, as well as disciplining his sheep.  Jesus makes use of many different devices to protect us and to discipline us.  His first and most powerful tool is the Word of God; this can be used both defensively and offensively.  We need to use it as well, as it is our most powerful tool.  He also uses people in our lives, whether it be our Pastor, family, friends, or complete strangers.  Lastly, God uses circumstances in our lives to protect us, to discipline us, to mold us into the image of His Son.

Lastly, let’s talk about the staff.  This is the shepherd’s tool you’ve probably seen the most, in regards to a shepherd.  It is that hooked or crooked-end tool associated with a shepherd.  It is used primarily for guiding his sheep.  Again, there are many tools God uses, such as were mentioned above; but the primary tool he uses to guide His sheep is His Word.  That is the reason we must be in His Word daily, and in the House of God whenever possible, that we might read and hear His Word.  Of course, that is really only the beginning; we must be doers of the Word, and not hearers only (James 1:22).

How comforting it is to know The Good Shepherd!  He is truly all, all that we need!  And how comforting, too, to know that our Shepherd provides all that is needed for our protection and guidance.  He truly is most caring and compassionate and longsuffering toward us, His sheep.

            …something to meditate upon!