God is our object of faith.
So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
Mark 11:22
JLB
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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
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Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
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Depending upon the Holy Spirit for all you do?
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
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How are famous preachers sometimes effected by sin?
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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Your Word for Today
- Thread starter iLOVE
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God is our object of faith.
So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
Mark 11:22
JLB
iLOVE
Member
Your Word for Today
“and the LORD said unto Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go, I will send you to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided Me a king among his sons (I Sam. 16:1).
At the very time that Samuel the Prophet was “mourning” for Saul, i.e., he saw no positive future for Israel, the Lord was planning great things for His People.
Let me say that again:
Whatever the circumstances might be, however the situation may present itself, the Lord is planning great things for us, that is, if we will only believe Him. Look at it again!
At this very moment, and no matter how it may seem to be otherwise, the Lord is planning great things for you. To receive those great things, obedience is demanded, but obedience which we can easily carry out, that is, if we will truly follow the Lord. This means that there is no reason that any Believer should “mourn.”
Concerning Saul, the Lord told the Prophet, “I have rejected him from reigning over Israel.”
There are untold numbers of Godly people who are spending their time and attention on something that God has already rejected. Some of you holding this small book in your hands are still trying to hold on to a Church, or even an entire Denomination, which the Lord has already rejected. Such a Church, even as Saul, may continue right on; however, if the Believer is to truly follow the Lord, he will have to look elsewhere, even as Samuel is here told to look elsewhere.
The Lord told the Prophet to quit his pity-party, and “Fill your horn with oil, and go.”
“Oil” is a Type of the Holy Spirit. We readily see here that the Holy Spirit had departed from Saul. If the Holy Spirit is no longer present, we should find out where the Holy Spirit is moving, and there situate ourselves. Nothing else matters!
The Lord had already chosen another king. He would be in the family of “Jesse the Beth-lehemite.” It was the Lord Who chose a certain member of this family, David; man had no choice in the matter.
The trouble with the modern Church is men appointing men; consequently, they wind up with Saul, whom God has rejected, rather than David, whom God has chosen.
Last of all, the Lord told Samuel, “For I have provided Me a king among his sons.” Whatever we think, God has provided! We, unfortunately, all too often look in the wrong place.
The Lord didn’t tell Samuel which one of the sons He had chosen from the family of Jesse the Bethlehemite.
The reason?
The Lord was looking for faith on the part of Samuel; to be sure, such faith was ultimately found!”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
“and the LORD said unto Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go, I will send you to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided Me a king among his sons (I Sam. 16:1).
At the very time that Samuel the Prophet was “mourning” for Saul, i.e., he saw no positive future for Israel, the Lord was planning great things for His People.
Let me say that again:
Whatever the circumstances might be, however the situation may present itself, the Lord is planning great things for us, that is, if we will only believe Him. Look at it again!
At this very moment, and no matter how it may seem to be otherwise, the Lord is planning great things for you. To receive those great things, obedience is demanded, but obedience which we can easily carry out, that is, if we will truly follow the Lord. This means that there is no reason that any Believer should “mourn.”
Concerning Saul, the Lord told the Prophet, “I have rejected him from reigning over Israel.”
There are untold numbers of Godly people who are spending their time and attention on something that God has already rejected. Some of you holding this small book in your hands are still trying to hold on to a Church, or even an entire Denomination, which the Lord has already rejected. Such a Church, even as Saul, may continue right on; however, if the Believer is to truly follow the Lord, he will have to look elsewhere, even as Samuel is here told to look elsewhere.
The Lord told the Prophet to quit his pity-party, and “Fill your horn with oil, and go.”
“Oil” is a Type of the Holy Spirit. We readily see here that the Holy Spirit had departed from Saul. If the Holy Spirit is no longer present, we should find out where the Holy Spirit is moving, and there situate ourselves. Nothing else matters!
The Lord had already chosen another king. He would be in the family of “Jesse the Beth-lehemite.” It was the Lord Who chose a certain member of this family, David; man had no choice in the matter.
The trouble with the modern Church is men appointing men; consequently, they wind up with Saul, whom God has rejected, rather than David, whom God has chosen.
Last of all, the Lord told Samuel, “For I have provided Me a king among his sons.” Whatever we think, God has provided! We, unfortunately, all too often look in the wrong place.
The Lord didn’t tell Samuel which one of the sons He had chosen from the family of Jesse the Bethlehemite.
The reason?
The Lord was looking for faith on the part of Samuel; to be sure, such faith was ultimately found!”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
iLOVE
Member
The only way to God is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6)...the only way to Jesus Christ is by the Means of the Cross (Luke 14:27). The only way to the Cross is a denial of self (Luke 9:23). If any person tries to come any other way, Jesus says, "they are a thief and a robber" (John 10:1).
1. Jesus Christ is the source of all blessings.
2. The Cross is the means by which all blessings are given.
3. The object of our faith must be Christ and the Cross.
4. That being done, the Holy Spirit will greatly help us.
iLOVE
Member
“10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus (referring to the victory we have through the Cross of Christ), that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. (We live the Resurrection Life by understanding that we have been planted together [Christ and ourselves] in the likeness of His Death [Rom. 6:5].)
11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake (the Holy Spirit delivers us unto the Death of Christ, which guarantees us the benefits of Calvary [Rom. 6:3-5]), that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. (We have victory by exercising Faith in the Cross, which guarantees us the Life of Christ [Gal. 2:20].)”
JSM
iLOVE
Member
Your Word for Today
“then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with the sword, and with the spear, and with the shield: but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, Whom you have defied (I Sam. 17:45).
When David, who was just a young stripling, probably sixteen or seventeen years old, went to the battlefront where his brothers were, he went there to bless them and do them good; however, like Joseph’s brothers, when he was sent to bless them, he was met with envy and hatred. Thus it was with God’s Beloved Son. His brothers, Mary’s Sons, did not believe on Him (Jn. 7:5), and, with her, sought to lay hold upon Him as being beside Himself (Mk. 3:32); His spiritual brethren, Israel, nailed Him to the tree.
When David offered to fight the giant, not for money, nor for the hand of the king’s daughter — every man he spoke to had no higher thought than that — but David knew that the matter was more noble and more serious than this. He was to bring the Philistine giant and the Living God face-to-face. What had a woman and her money to do with that?
Saul tried to get David to use his armor, but David knew that God could not give victories to “the flesh,” nor can faith use it. In the Name of the Lord, David had privately vanquished the “lion” and the “bear.” This is one of the fundamental principles governing the Christian life. Public victories can come only after private victories are won.
Going toward the giant, David chose five smooth stones out of the brook. If the brook, with its living running water, pictures the Holy Spirit, then the five smooth stones picture Grace; to be sure, Grace won the day! The Stone, picturing Christ, smote the giant in the forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
The Scripture then says, “David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith” (I Sam. 17:51). This is the posture for the Child of God. We are to stand as “more than a conqueror” on the head of any giant that may come against us, which we can do in Christ.
The Believer must understand that the terrible forces of darkness facing him are beyond his power and capabilities. As Goliath, Satan can only be defeated by and through Christ and what Christ has done for us at the Cross. To face the giants that come against us in any other fashion is to guarantee defeat. To place one’s Faith in Christ and the Cross guarantees victory, and a total and complete victory, at that (Rom. 6:3-14).”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
“then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with the sword, and with the spear, and with the shield: but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, Whom you have defied (I Sam. 17:45).
When David, who was just a young stripling, probably sixteen or seventeen years old, went to the battlefront where his brothers were, he went there to bless them and do them good; however, like Joseph’s brothers, when he was sent to bless them, he was met with envy and hatred. Thus it was with God’s Beloved Son. His brothers, Mary’s Sons, did not believe on Him (Jn. 7:5), and, with her, sought to lay hold upon Him as being beside Himself (Mk. 3:32); His spiritual brethren, Israel, nailed Him to the tree.
When David offered to fight the giant, not for money, nor for the hand of the king’s daughter — every man he spoke to had no higher thought than that — but David knew that the matter was more noble and more serious than this. He was to bring the Philistine giant and the Living God face-to-face. What had a woman and her money to do with that?
Saul tried to get David to use his armor, but David knew that God could not give victories to “the flesh,” nor can faith use it. In the Name of the Lord, David had privately vanquished the “lion” and the “bear.” This is one of the fundamental principles governing the Christian life. Public victories can come only after private victories are won.
Going toward the giant, David chose five smooth stones out of the brook. If the brook, with its living running water, pictures the Holy Spirit, then the five smooth stones picture Grace; to be sure, Grace won the day! The Stone, picturing Christ, smote the giant in the forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
The Scripture then says, “David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith” (I Sam. 17:51). This is the posture for the Child of God. We are to stand as “more than a conqueror” on the head of any giant that may come against us, which we can do in Christ.
The Believer must understand that the terrible forces of darkness facing him are beyond his power and capabilities. As Goliath, Satan can only be defeated by and through Christ and what Christ has done for us at the Cross. To face the giants that come against us in any other fashion is to guarantee defeat. To place one’s Faith in Christ and the Cross guarantees victory, and a total and complete victory, at that (Rom. 6:3-14).”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
You are adding to God’s word.
Our faith is in God, not a piece of wood, on which Christ was murdered.
Our trust is in God and what He teaches us.
Only those who obey Him: Obey His Commandments and Doctrine, which are the way of truth, righteousness, love and life, with receive eternal salvation.
He dwells in us to lead and guide everyday, by His Spirit.
And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Hebrews 5:9
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Galatians 6:7-8
- he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
JLB
iLOVE
Member
Deny yourself and take up Calvary daily. Simply means to place and maintain your Faith exclusively in Christ and His Finished Work at Calvary where the victory was won (the Blood of Jesus) and receive my benefits what I have accomplished for you.
We live by what Jesus Christ did by Grace through Faith who loved us and gave Himself for us at the Cross of Calvary where the victory was won (Rom. 6:3-5, Philippians 1:21); His Obedience (Philippians 2:8, John 10:18), His Faith (Gal. 2:20-21), and His Love (Faith works by Love -Gal. 5:6). It is not our obedience, not our faith, and not our love, that we live by (Rom. 8:2, Gal. 2:18). We are united with Christ, therefore, God doesn’t rehabilitate us, He eliminates us. The Holy Spirit moves in to give us power to live Holy that causes us to walk in the newness of life (Ezekiel 36:26-37, Romans 8:11). Only by Faith in the Blood of Jesus have we been given eyes to see (John 3:3-5) and only Faith in the Blood of Jesus will you continue be able to see and not go blind again (2 Peter 1:9).
By placing and maintaining your Faith exclusively in Christ and Him Crucified is the same as placing and maintaining your Faith exclusively in Christ and the Blood of Jesus. Why can't you understand this?
Why did the Holy Sprite say through Paul, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2)." Because that is the only way the Holy Sprite will help a Believer.
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iLOVE
Member
“19 And he (Micaiah) said, Hear you therefore the Word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His Throne, and all the Host of Heaven standing by Him on His right Hand and on His left (Micaiah is given a vision of the Throne of God and its happenings there, which he now relates to both Ahab and Jehoshaphat).
20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner (the meaning is that Ahab’s death in battle had been decreed in the counsels of God, and that the Divine Wisdom had devised means for accomplishing God’s purpose — Spence).
21 And there came forth a spirit (an evil spirit), and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. (We learn from this, as well as from Job, Chpt. 1, that spirits of darkness, as well as Satan, at times have access to the Throne of God. During the coming Great Tribulation, Satan and all such will be cast out of Heaven, allowed no more access [Rev. 12:7-9].)
22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And He said, You shall persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. (This “lying spirit” would inspire these false prophets to prophesy the evil that was desired. All of this reveals that God and His Heavenly Hosts, including demons on certain occasions, have conferences concerning the affairs of men on Earth.
The idea is that God permitted such deception to take the place of the rejected truth. If men will not have the truth, they will automatically have a substitute that will be more in harmony with their wicked ways for the time being. Ahab would not have the truth, and would not listen to Jehovah, despite all the attempts made by the Lord to reach this man, but he would believe lies and listen to his false prophets.
“This Passage simply gives an insight into the spirit realm, showing that behind all human acts there are good and bad spirits seeking to carry out the respective wills of their masters. The Lord protects as long as He can and, when there is nothing else He can do to turn men from their wicked ways, error, and harm, at least by righteous means, He then permits demon spirits to deceive. This causes the individual in question to go further astray — and, in this case with Ahab, even unto death.)” 1 Kings 22 NKJV
It doesn’t say Calvary.
Calvary is where Jesus was crucified.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Matthew 16:24
We are to take up up our cross, which is an instrument of death to our desires that conflict with following Him.
We are to take up our cross, not His cross, which was on Calvary.
JLB
The Holy Spirit gives us power to crucify the desires of our flesh, of our desires that hinder us from following and obeying the Lord.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:12-14
- if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live
Crucify = put to death
The Holy Spirit gives us the power to stop the lustful cravings of the flesh from manifesting.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16
Sowing to the Spirit, in which we invest ourselves towards the things the Holy Spirit desires for us to do, rather than fulfilling the desires of our flesh is how we overcome the distractions of this world that hinder us from following Christ and His purpose for our life.
Going to Church meetings and prayer meetings
Reading and meditating and studying God’s word
Praying in the Spirit
Fasting
Sharing our faith
Helping others in need
Interceding for our family, our nation, the lost
Leading others to the Lord
Teaching our family God’s word
Private Devotion: Worship
These are some of the ways we can invest ourselves towards doing things the Holy Spirit desires for us to do.
Spending our time indulging in gratifying the flesh such as going to bars and nightclub, pornography, getting drunk or high, socializing with sinners... are ways we sow or invest out time towards the flesh, to gratify it’s lustful cravings.
JLB
iLOVE
Member
iLOVE
Member
Your Word for Today
“and David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand (I Sam. 27:1).
Once the path of faith is abandoned, all the previous experience with the Lord is put on hold. Not only is there no advancement, but rather a regression! David, at least for a time, forgot the sure Promises of God, and succumbed to the fears of the flesh. Faith had told him, despite the actions of Saul, to dwell in the land of Judah (I Sam. 22:5); however, fear tells him, “I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul.”
Saul, however, could no more have killed David than the idea that the sun is going to rise in the west. So David would go over to the land of Philistines, thinking to escape Saul. Forsaking the path of faith not only causes the loss of past experience, but it also leads into sin and sorrow. We must never forget that there is no halfway house between fellowship with God and fellowship with the Philistine. If the Philistine is made a refuge, then David must dwell in the midst of them, and declare himself ready to fight with them against the people of God (I Sam. 29:8).
In His Love and pity for His Servant, God overruled all for David’s safety, but, at the same time, He also sorely chastened him (I Sam., Chpt. 30). David’s action in joining Achish not only possibly delayed his possession of the Kingdom, but it became the occasion for teaching his 600 men to sin against light and knowledge. Faith does not deny the hindrances and obstacles, as some have been taught to do, but neither does it fear them.
We know what David should have done, but do we know what we ought to do?
We can know, and beyond the shadow of a doubt, if we will firmly anchor our Faith — it’s always by Faith — in Christ and His Substitutionary Work on the Cross. Then the Holy Spirit will be certain and sure to “guide us into all truth” (Jn. 16:13).”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
“and David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand (I Sam. 27:1).
Once the path of faith is abandoned, all the previous experience with the Lord is put on hold. Not only is there no advancement, but rather a regression! David, at least for a time, forgot the sure Promises of God, and succumbed to the fears of the flesh. Faith had told him, despite the actions of Saul, to dwell in the land of Judah (I Sam. 22:5); however, fear tells him, “I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul.”
Saul, however, could no more have killed David than the idea that the sun is going to rise in the west. So David would go over to the land of Philistines, thinking to escape Saul. Forsaking the path of faith not only causes the loss of past experience, but it also leads into sin and sorrow. We must never forget that there is no halfway house between fellowship with God and fellowship with the Philistine. If the Philistine is made a refuge, then David must dwell in the midst of them, and declare himself ready to fight with them against the people of God (I Sam. 29:8).
In His Love and pity for His Servant, God overruled all for David’s safety, but, at the same time, He also sorely chastened him (I Sam., Chpt. 30). David’s action in joining Achish not only possibly delayed his possession of the Kingdom, but it became the occasion for teaching his 600 men to sin against light and knowledge. Faith does not deny the hindrances and obstacles, as some have been taught to do, but neither does it fear them.
We know what David should have done, but do we know what we ought to do?
We can know, and beyond the shadow of a doubt, if we will firmly anchor our Faith — it’s always by Faith — in Christ and His Substitutionary Work on the Cross. Then the Holy Spirit will be certain and sure to “guide us into all truth” (Jn. 16:13).”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16
Walking in the Spirit, whereby we are led by the Spirit is certainly not “law”.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18
As you can see, the scripture and context is in opposition to your theory.
Being led by the Spirit, whereby we live in harmony with the Spirit of Christ, practicing righteousness, love, and the things that please God, manifesting the fruit of the Spirit, are certainly not the works of the flesh ot the law of Moses.
Paul describes the works of the flesh for us in the following verses.
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
As you can see, the works of the flesh is sin.
Those who resist the leading of the Spirit to live in dominion over sin, but rather practice the works of the flesh, will not inherit the kingdom of God.
JLB
iLOVE
Member
Your Word for Today
“is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands? (I Sam. 29:5).
Before coming to the Throne, the Twenty-ninth Chapter of I Samuel records the lowest point of David’s experience with the Lord. He professes himself ready and eager to fight against God’s beloved People, and to help Satan destroy them! All this shows how deeply a Child of God can fall when he leans upon the hand of man and not upon the Hand of God.
Concerning this, Williams says:
“The path of faith is wearying to nature; and there is an ever present temptation to seek ease from the thorns through which that path sometimes leads.
“The persecution of Believers oftentimes has the effect of throwing them into the arms of the enemies of God; just as Saul’s hatred drove David to the Philistines. But this only happens when the Christian follows his own will, and thinks, by doing so, to avoid the very difficulties which, had he walked with God, would have become channels of teaching and refreshment to his soul. The more glorious a work there is for faith, the more sure is nature to weary if faith grows feeble.”
David dwelt in the country of the Philistines “a full year and four months.” For that time, we might quickly say, he was totally out of the Will of God (I Sam. 27:7). To be out of the Will of God is the worst place in which a Believer can find himself. Such a position presents a load too heavy to bear, and a price we cannot afford to pay. Good never comes from such a position; to be sure, God always, and without exception, has a Perfect Will for each one of His Children. We must find that Will, get in that Will, and stay in that Will, no matter the seeming difficulties
(Rom. 12:1-2).”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
“is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands? (I Sam. 29:5).
Before coming to the Throne, the Twenty-ninth Chapter of I Samuel records the lowest point of David’s experience with the Lord. He professes himself ready and eager to fight against God’s beloved People, and to help Satan destroy them! All this shows how deeply a Child of God can fall when he leans upon the hand of man and not upon the Hand of God.
Concerning this, Williams says:
“The path of faith is wearying to nature; and there is an ever present temptation to seek ease from the thorns through which that path sometimes leads.
“The persecution of Believers oftentimes has the effect of throwing them into the arms of the enemies of God; just as Saul’s hatred drove David to the Philistines. But this only happens when the Christian follows his own will, and thinks, by doing so, to avoid the very difficulties which, had he walked with God, would have become channels of teaching and refreshment to his soul. The more glorious a work there is for faith, the more sure is nature to weary if faith grows feeble.”
David dwelt in the country of the Philistines “a full year and four months.” For that time, we might quickly say, he was totally out of the Will of God (I Sam. 27:7). To be out of the Will of God is the worst place in which a Believer can find himself. Such a position presents a load too heavy to bear, and a price we cannot afford to pay. Good never comes from such a position; to be sure, God always, and without exception, has a Perfect Will for each one of His Children. We must find that Will, get in that Will, and stay in that Will, no matter the seeming difficulties
(Rom. 12:1-2).”
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
The Holy Spirit is the means by which we receive the blessings.
Wouldn‘t you agree.
I was His obedience to the Father to die on the cross, that we who believe can benefit from that obedience.
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
Romans 5:19
JLB
iLOVE
Member
Your Word for Today
“and David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God (I Sam. 30:6).
David seeking the aid of the Philistines greatly hinders the Operation of the Holy Spirit in his life, as proven by the Amalekites taking advantage of the situation by invading the land and burning with fire Ziklag, David’s home at that time. How so much we bring upon ourselves bitter troubles because we are out of the Will of God! If such a man as David, a man after God’s own heart, who wrote over half of the Psalms, and, above all, through whose family the Messiah ultimately would come, could miss the Lord, as David obviously did, then we certainly should understand that any of us are also capable of such!
It was a bitter trial for David and his men to come back to Ziklag, where all of the wives and children were, and to see the city burnt with fire, and to find that all of their loved ones had been taken as slaves by the Amalekites. Suffering and loss accompany departure from the Lord; there must be chastisement in order that Restoration be effected. To be sure, chastisement is grievous, but it yields the peaceable fruit of Righteousness (Heb. 12:11).
Even though David had so grievously sinned against the Lord, still, the Lord was to David a present Deliverer and a gracious, forgiving Saviour.
At this time, looking at the ruins of what had been their homes, David’s men grew fiercely angry with him, even threatening to stone him. It was truly the low watermark of David’s life; however, despite the past failures, and despite the present situation, which was bleak indeed, the Scripture says, “David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” He cast his burden upon the Lord, which is the only place for the Believer to go. Regrettably, the modern Church has opted, at times like this, to seek the help of other mere mortals, and I speak of humanistic psychology.
Let it ever be understood:
There is no help from that source. Its wisdom, if it has any at all, is sensual and devilish (James 3:15), while “the wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17).
Let it ever be known:
As God was David’s refuge then, He is our refuge now! Times may change, but the problems are the same; the solution is the same, as well.
Because “David encouraged himself in the LORD,” he was able to recover every single thing he lost, plus much more besides (I Sam. 30:18-20). Let David’s experience be a lesson to all. Whatever the problem, irrespective of the failure, if you will turn to the Lord, despite what others might say, you also can “recover all.”’
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
“and David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God (I Sam. 30:6).
David seeking the aid of the Philistines greatly hinders the Operation of the Holy Spirit in his life, as proven by the Amalekites taking advantage of the situation by invading the land and burning with fire Ziklag, David’s home at that time. How so much we bring upon ourselves bitter troubles because we are out of the Will of God! If such a man as David, a man after God’s own heart, who wrote over half of the Psalms, and, above all, through whose family the Messiah ultimately would come, could miss the Lord, as David obviously did, then we certainly should understand that any of us are also capable of such!
It was a bitter trial for David and his men to come back to Ziklag, where all of the wives and children were, and to see the city burnt with fire, and to find that all of their loved ones had been taken as slaves by the Amalekites. Suffering and loss accompany departure from the Lord; there must be chastisement in order that Restoration be effected. To be sure, chastisement is grievous, but it yields the peaceable fruit of Righteousness (Heb. 12:11).
Even though David had so grievously sinned against the Lord, still, the Lord was to David a present Deliverer and a gracious, forgiving Saviour.
At this time, looking at the ruins of what had been their homes, David’s men grew fiercely angry with him, even threatening to stone him. It was truly the low watermark of David’s life; however, despite the past failures, and despite the present situation, which was bleak indeed, the Scripture says, “David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” He cast his burden upon the Lord, which is the only place for the Believer to go. Regrettably, the modern Church has opted, at times like this, to seek the help of other mere mortals, and I speak of humanistic psychology.
Let it ever be understood:
There is no help from that source. Its wisdom, if it has any at all, is sensual and devilish (James 3:15), while “the wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17).
Let it ever be known:
As God was David’s refuge then, He is our refuge now! Times may change, but the problems are the same; the solution is the same, as well.
Because “David encouraged himself in the LORD,” he was able to recover every single thing he lost, plus much more besides (I Sam. 30:18-20). Let David’s experience be a lesson to all. Whatever the problem, irrespective of the failure, if you will turn to the Lord, despite what others might say, you also can “recover all.”’
—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
iLOVE
Member
“PSALMS CHAPTER 91
PROBABLY WRITTEN BY MOSES: GOD IS A REFUGE AND A FORTRESS
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (The previous Psalm introduced the Wilderness and contrasted the misery and happiness of travelers in it who trust self or God. This Psalm points to the one Man Who passed through it undefiled, unhurt, and trusting and loving God in perfection.
The absence of a superscription suggests that the Psalm was written by Moses, for the previous one was written by him. If this be so, then all the Scriptures quoted in the temptation in the desert [Mat., Chpt. 4] were Mosaic.
That the Messiah is the great figure of this Psalm is decided by Mat. 4:6.)
2 I will say of the LORD, He is My Refuge and My Fortress: My God; in Him will I trust. (As Christ enters the “secret place of the Most High,” the Holy Spirit assures Him that companionship with God will be a safe refuge from Satan’s power and from all the dangers of the way.)
3 Surely He shall deliver You from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. (The “snare of the fowler” was the demon forces of darkness that opposed Christ, either through the evil religious leaders of Jesus’ day, or in their own capacity. They came in such quantity that they were called the “noisome pestilence,” which means a “rushing calamity” — one that sweeps everything before it. Christ had the promise of the Holy Spirit that He would be delivered, and so He was!)
4 He shall cover You with His feathers, and under His wings shall You trust: His truth shall be Your shield and buckler. (This Passage has to do with the Holy of Holies. It speaks of where God dwelt between the Cherubim and the Mercy Seat. He invited Christ to dwell there with Him. In turn, Christ paid the price for us, that the Holy Spirit may dwell in us [I Cor. 3:16].)
5 You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day (the “terror by night” speaks of the spiritual darkness of Satan. The “arrow that flies by day” refers to the deliberate effort by Satan to destroy the soul. The Evil One devises a temptation, oppression, or trap for the Believer, and then shoots it like an “arrow.” The only thing that can stop it is the “Shield and Buckler” of Verse 4);
6 Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday. (“The pestilence that walks in darkness” pertains to every scourge of Satanic darkness. The “destruction that wastes at noonday” refers to Satan’s destroying great multitudes, yet not touching the Child of God, who is dwelling in the “secret place of the Most High.”)
7 A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. (Untold millions are being destroyed by the powers of darkness; but the Believer who puts his trust in God is promised that “it shall not come near you.”)
8 Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked. (The results of living without God are overly obvious!)
9 Because You have made the LORD, Who is My Refuge, even the Most High, Your Habitation (the Holy Spirit here is the Speaker. The Messiah is assured victory by the Holy Spirit only because He “has made the LORD His Refuge.” Since Christ is our Substitute, the Lord can be our “Habitation” as well);
10 There shall no evil befall You, neither shall any plague come near Your dwelling. (Because His “dwelling” is in the “secret place of the Most High,” it is impossible for “evil” to befall you. Verses 11 and 12 were quoted by Satan, and his quoting them showed his intelligence in recognizing that the Psalm applied to Jesus [Mat. 4:6].)
11 For He shall give His Angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. (This shows how much Satan knows the Bible, but yet he still thinks he can circumvent the Word of God. Angels did constantly help Christ [Mat. 4:11; Lk. 4:10–11]. However, Satan corrupted the Scripture by omitting “in all your ways,” and inserting in its place “at any time.” The Messiah’s path through the desert of the Wilderness was one of dependence upon God. Satan’s effort in the temptation was to move Him to independence, but he failed. Christ walked a path of perfect submission, obedience, and dependence; likewise, all those who walk after Him in like dependence and faith can be assured of His Victory.)
12 They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. (Satan attempted to get Christ to commit the sin of presumption, which means to twist the Word of God in order that it mean something that God did not intend.)
13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shall you trample under feet. (Satan quoted Verses 11 through 12 in the temptation of Christ, but he did not dare quote Verse 13, because it promised his defeat [Gen. 3:15].)
14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known My Name. (These are the words of the Father. How amazing that sinful men should be permitted to hear the sweet converse of the Three Persons of the Trinity!)
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. (Christ has been greatly honored for what He did at the Cross by being given a Name that is above every name [Phil. 2:9].)
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my Salvation. (This speaks of Christ, but even more so, it speaks of the man who trusts Christ, and thereby reaps the benefits of what Jesus did at Calvary, all on our behalf.)
JSM
PROBABLY WRITTEN BY MOSES: GOD IS A REFUGE AND A FORTRESS
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (The previous Psalm introduced the Wilderness and contrasted the misery and happiness of travelers in it who trust self or God. This Psalm points to the one Man Who passed through it undefiled, unhurt, and trusting and loving God in perfection.
The absence of a superscription suggests that the Psalm was written by Moses, for the previous one was written by him. If this be so, then all the Scriptures quoted in the temptation in the desert [Mat., Chpt. 4] were Mosaic.
That the Messiah is the great figure of this Psalm is decided by Mat. 4:6.)
2 I will say of the LORD, He is My Refuge and My Fortress: My God; in Him will I trust. (As Christ enters the “secret place of the Most High,” the Holy Spirit assures Him that companionship with God will be a safe refuge from Satan’s power and from all the dangers of the way.)
3 Surely He shall deliver You from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. (The “snare of the fowler” was the demon forces of darkness that opposed Christ, either through the evil religious leaders of Jesus’ day, or in their own capacity. They came in such quantity that they were called the “noisome pestilence,” which means a “rushing calamity” — one that sweeps everything before it. Christ had the promise of the Holy Spirit that He would be delivered, and so He was!)
4 He shall cover You with His feathers, and under His wings shall You trust: His truth shall be Your shield and buckler. (This Passage has to do with the Holy of Holies. It speaks of where God dwelt between the Cherubim and the Mercy Seat. He invited Christ to dwell there with Him. In turn, Christ paid the price for us, that the Holy Spirit may dwell in us [I Cor. 3:16].)
5 You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day (the “terror by night” speaks of the spiritual darkness of Satan. The “arrow that flies by day” refers to the deliberate effort by Satan to destroy the soul. The Evil One devises a temptation, oppression, or trap for the Believer, and then shoots it like an “arrow.” The only thing that can stop it is the “Shield and Buckler” of Verse 4);
6 Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday. (“The pestilence that walks in darkness” pertains to every scourge of Satanic darkness. The “destruction that wastes at noonday” refers to Satan’s destroying great multitudes, yet not touching the Child of God, who is dwelling in the “secret place of the Most High.”)
7 A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. (Untold millions are being destroyed by the powers of darkness; but the Believer who puts his trust in God is promised that “it shall not come near you.”)
8 Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked. (The results of living without God are overly obvious!)
9 Because You have made the LORD, Who is My Refuge, even the Most High, Your Habitation (the Holy Spirit here is the Speaker. The Messiah is assured victory by the Holy Spirit only because He “has made the LORD His Refuge.” Since Christ is our Substitute, the Lord can be our “Habitation” as well);
10 There shall no evil befall You, neither shall any plague come near Your dwelling. (Because His “dwelling” is in the “secret place of the Most High,” it is impossible for “evil” to befall you. Verses 11 and 12 were quoted by Satan, and his quoting them showed his intelligence in recognizing that the Psalm applied to Jesus [Mat. 4:6].)
11 For He shall give His Angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. (This shows how much Satan knows the Bible, but yet he still thinks he can circumvent the Word of God. Angels did constantly help Christ [Mat. 4:11; Lk. 4:10–11]. However, Satan corrupted the Scripture by omitting “in all your ways,” and inserting in its place “at any time.” The Messiah’s path through the desert of the Wilderness was one of dependence upon God. Satan’s effort in the temptation was to move Him to independence, but he failed. Christ walked a path of perfect submission, obedience, and dependence; likewise, all those who walk after Him in like dependence and faith can be assured of His Victory.)
12 They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. (Satan attempted to get Christ to commit the sin of presumption, which means to twist the Word of God in order that it mean something that God did not intend.)
13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shall you trample under feet. (Satan quoted Verses 11 through 12 in the temptation of Christ, but he did not dare quote Verse 13, because it promised his defeat [Gen. 3:15].)
14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known My Name. (These are the words of the Father. How amazing that sinful men should be permitted to hear the sweet converse of the Three Persons of the Trinity!)
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. (Christ has been greatly honored for what He did at the Cross by being given a Name that is above every name [Phil. 2:9].)
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my Salvation. (This speaks of Christ, but even more so, it speaks of the man who trusts Christ, and thereby reaps the benefits of what Jesus did at Calvary, all on our behalf.)
JSM