|
|
« December 2008 |
Home
| February 2009 »
This is the final posting in the series “God Is For You”
God is for you no matter who is against you. If the devil tells you that God is against you, reject the lie and declare the truth, “God is for me, His word declares it, the death of His Son upon the cross demonstrates it, and His mercy and grace affirm it everyday to my heart.”
God is for you, not because you have a nice personality, a great smile, a strong arm, a witty way, a clever disposition, self-discipline, or a lively imagination;
God is for you, not because you go to church, because you have added ten minutes to your prayer time, because you have increased your giving by five percent, or because you are memorizing scripture;
God is for you, not because you try to be good, because you try hard, or because you try to always do your best;
God is for you because He has set His love upon you.
God is for you when you walk through valleys; God is for you when you pass through troubled seas; God is for you when you are weak, when you are wounded, and when you are weary. God is for you when He disciplines and corrects you. God is for you when He molds and shapes you, when He prunes you, and when He purifies you.
God is for you in times of persecution, in times of difficulty, and in times of need. God is for you in low times and high times, in crooked paths and straight paths, in darkness and in the light of dawn’s new day. God is for you when others set you aside, when you have been ignored, when you have been unappreciated, rejected, and when you have been mistreated.
God was for you when He formed you in the womb and gave you the breath of life. He was for you when you were born into this world. He was for you when He pursued you in your sin and rebellion. He was for you when He drew you to His side, to His arms, to His love, and to His heart. God was for you when He covered you with mercy, clothed you with grace, and called you His own.
God (the awesome, glorious, all-powerful, all-wise, majestic, magnificent, holy, eternal, righteous, caring, loving, King of the universe and Lord of all) Is (not has been, not will be, not might be, not one day will be) For (not against, not hostile toward, not contrary to, not indifferent to) You (not just someone else, but you; not just other believers but you; not part of you, but all of you!)
Declare it: (speak out the following and include your first and last name) God is for ______________________.
God gives you strength and power. God is for you. Ps. 68:35
God is your deliverer. God is for you. Ps. 68:20
God daily bears your burden. God is for you. Ps. 68:19
God leads out the prisoners into prosperity. God is for you. Ps. 68:6.
God makes a home for the lonely. God is for you. Ps. 68:6
God will not turn away your prayer. God is for you. Ps. 66:20
God will not turn away His lovingkindness toward you. God is for you. Ps. 66:20
God shelters you under His wings. God is for you. Ps.61:4
God redeems your soul from the battle against you. God is for you. Ps. 55:18
God will deliver you from all trouble. God is for you. Ps. 54:7
God will guide your life. God is for you. Ps. 48:14
God gives you favor. God is for you. Ps. 44:3
God’s song will be with you in the night. God is for you. Ps. 42:8
God holds your hand. God is for you. Ps. 37:24
God’s eyes are upon you. God is for you. Ps. 34:15
God’s ears are open to your cry. God is for you. Ps. 34:15
God will bless you with peace. God is for you. Ps. 29:11
Even when you are old and gray, God will not forsake you. God is for you. Ps. 71:18
God is for you.
God is for you.
God is for you.
God is for you. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:31-32
He did not spare His Son, but delivered Him up for you—God is for you.
Through His Son He will freely give you all things—God is for you.
He will not bring a charge against you—God is for you.
You are His elect—God is for you.
Jesus makes intercession for you—God is for you.
You are more than a conqueror though Him who loves you—God is for you.
Nothing can separate you from His love—God is for you.
-Based on Romans 8
This I know, that God is for me. Psalm 56:9 When David wrote Psalm 56 it was at a time of great difficulty. He was pressed between two enemies. As though in a vise, he was being squeezed by Saul from one side and by the Philistines from the other. At this time, David had no great army to rescue him and he sat on no royal throne. In the midst of this great pressure, David kept his trust in the One who could save him and deliver him from all his fears. We discover the foundation of David’s faith when he declares in verse four, “In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?”
How could David make such a bold and confident statement in the midst of such adversity? The ninth verse of this Psalm gives us the answer. David could trust in God to save him because he knew that God was for him. As we face adversities from the enemy and difficulties in life, it is vital for each of us to know some key things about God’s character and our relationship with Him. One of these vital keys is found in the word “knowing.”
“Knowing” does not mean “I hope so”, “I think so” or “I pray so.” It means far more than knowing something in your head as you would know various facts or trivia. It means to be absolutely, positively, convinced about something with all your mind, all your heart, and all your soul. It means to be so certain of something that you are willing to cast all your care, all your worry, all your fears, and your very life upon it. Thankfully, as God’s children, we don’t have to guess or make up something about God’s true thoughts toward us. One way the enemy can defeat us is to deceive us. He tells us lies with the hope that we will believe them. He will tell you that God is against you. He will try to persuade you that God is not your friend, but your enemy. If you believe this lie you will doubt God’s love and care for you. If you doubt God’s love and care, you will not be able to put your complete trust in Him.
David’s Psalm was familiar to Paul when he wrote, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:28-31
God wants you to know with all certainty that He is for you. When you get up in the morning, He is for you; when you get stuck in traffic, He is for you; when you are under a deadline at work, He is for you; when people misunderstand you or say unkind things about you, He is for you; when the enemy says you’re finished and you’ll never make it, He is for you. When there are problems and when there is pain, God is for you. When things are changing and times are uncertain, God is for you. When needs are pressing and answers are perplexing, God is for you.
God is for you. Count on it! Believe it! Act like it! Live like it! Trust like it! Rejoice like it! Know it…because He really, truly, absolutely, positively, is for you!
For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God's power.
1 Corinthians 4:20 (NLT)
The Kingdom of God makes all the difference in you and in your day because you are a part of it. There is no kingdom, rule, or authority that is greater than God’s Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is all about the reign of Jesus Christ in your life. Jesus is the King of the Kingdom, and every benefit of the Kingdom is yours because you have the King ruling your life.
Jesus reigns and rules over everything that He has overcome, over everything He has defeated, and over everything He has conquered. Jesus is the triumphant King, the mighty Warrior, and the risen Lord. He faced the onslaughts of Satan’s attacks and crushed them; He faced the temptations of sin and overcame them; He faced the grip of death and triumphed over it. Today, Jesus is your authority over the kingdom of darkness, He is your deliverer over the power of sin, and He is your victory over the fear of death.
Jesus’ Kingdom within you is unshakeable, indestructible, and impenetrable. Nothing can come against it and prevail; nothing can challenge it and win; nothing can defy it and overcome. The Kingdom of God means that you do not have to live this day in your own strength, but by Jesus’ power; not in your own efforts, but in Jesus’ finished work; not in your own abilities, but in Jesus’ endless resources.
If you are facing temptation today, resist it and let Jesus’ victory be yours.
If the enemy is trying to pull you down and discourage you, let Jesus’ strength lift you up and cause you to stand firm.
If you are facing fear or worry, let Jesus’ be your confidence, your hope, and your security.
If your life is broken, let Jesus make you whole.
As a young believer in Jesus Christ I was greatly impacted by a sermon given by A.W. Tozer. It was called the Five Spiritual Vows. It is one of the best messages I have ever heard. One of the vows was “Never Own Anything.”
To illustrate his point, Dr. Tozer told the story of a farmer who planted his seed and prayed, “God, please bless my crops.” However, at the time of harvest the farmer’s crops failed. The following year the farmer planted his seed and once again prayed, “God, please bless my crops.” Once again the crops failed.
The next year the farmer did as he had done the previous two years and prayed the same prayer, “God, please bless my crops.” This time, however, the farmer did something different. After praying, he quieted his heart enough to hear God speak these words to him, “Whose crops?”
“God, please bless my crops.” the farmer repeated.
“Whose crops?” God asked the farmer once again.
The farmer paused for a moment and then cried out, “I get it, Lord, I get it!
God, bless your crops.”
That fall the farmer brought in an abundant harvest.
A few years ago I learned the principle of this vow in a different way. I had gotten involved in a hobby that I enjoyed. My interest in my hobby grew and took up more of my time. It soon became apparent that my hobby was beginning to consume me. One day, while driving in my car, I sensed the Lord say to me that I needed to keep the things I possessed from possessing me. In that moment, I knew I needed to release into God’s hands, my hobby and the ownership of it.
The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 4:7, “What do you have that you did not receive?” Everything we have comes from God. We own nothing and should not try to take possession of anything or anyone. It is important for us to hold with an open hand, everything that God has placed into our lives, without seeking to possess it with a closed fist. God will freely give us all things to enjoy, but we cannot enjoy what He gives us if we do not release the ownership of it to Him.
Here are some wise words from Watchman Nee about ownership, “Can we trust God to keep for us what He has given, never laying hold on it ourselves in our natural desire for possession? What God gives, he gives! We need not struggle to retain it. Indeed if we grasp it fearfully and hold on, we may risk losing it. Only what we have let go in committal to Him becomes in fact really ours.”
I recently had an experience that reminded me once again of my dependency upon the Lord. I was sitting near the front of our church, waiting for the time in the service when I was scheduled to speak. During a worship song, I happened to turn my head and look out over the congregation. In that moment I saw the faces of people who had a spiritual hunger and needed to be fed. I began to feel anxious and a sense of pressure came over me as I felt responsible to meet their spiritual hunger. Immediately, I heard the voice of the Lord speak to my heart. His words brought complete peace and lifted all the pressure off of me. Here is what I heard Him say…
“Roy, you are not the meal. I am. You have not prepared the meal. I have. All I am asking you to do is to serve the meal in a caring way. As the server, it is not even important if people like you, it is only important that you place before them what I have prepared. And remember, once you have served them, you cannot force them to eat what has been served.”
To walk in humility before God we must understand our dependency upon God. There are many places in Scripture that illustrate our relationship of dependency upon Him. We are told that He is the True Vine and we are the branches; He is the Potter and we are the clay; He is the Shepherd and we are the sheep; He is the Head and we are the body; He is Giver and we are the receivers; He is the Master and we are His servants.
Without the Vine the branch would shrivel; without the Potter the clay would be without form; without a Shepherd the sheep would be without care; without the Head the body would die; without the Giver we would be empty; without a Master we would be left to our own way.
Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. 1 Peter 5:5 AMP
I trust this quote from C.H. Spurgeon will encourage you today...
Oh, child of suffering, be patient. God has not passed you over in His providence. He who is the feeder of sparrows will also furnish you with what you need. Take up the arms of faith against a sea of trouble. There is One who cares for you. His eye is fixed on you, His heart beats with pity for your woe, and His omnipotent hand will bring you the needed help.
The darkest cloud will scatter itself in showers of mercy. The blackest gloom will give place to the morning. He, if you are one of His family, will bind up your wounds and heal your broken heart. Do not doubt His grace because of your tribulation, but believe that He loves you as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness.
With a little oil in the cruse and a handful of meal in the barrel, Elijah outlived the famine, and you will do the same.
–C. H. Spurgeon
Fret buster #19:
“I will hear what God the Lord will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints;” Psalm 85:8
Fret buster #20:
Worrying about a circumstance won’t change the circumstance, but worry will change you.
Back to Most Recent Posts
|
