Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 04 Thankful For HIS Care???
Today I’d like to share a bit of personal testimony as well as God’s Word; sometimes knowing that others are or have been in the same boat as we have been is a help and an encouragement. I pray that we can encourage one another!
“Blessed be God,
even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies,
and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us
in all our tribulation,
that we may be able
to comfort them
which are in any trouble,
by the comfort wherewith
we ourselves are comforted
of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,
so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Paul was sending this second letter to the believers at Corinth to encourage them after his first letter and their response of obedience to his instructions in a most difficult situation. He was also reminding them that he had suffered trials and difficulties himself, and he is reminding them as well as us, that we are to be an encouragement to one another as we all face difficulties in life, and God can and will use all our trials to minister to others along with ourselves. God’s comfort and provision isn’t to be “hoarded” but shared for God’s glory, our growth and good as well as good for others.
I have wrestled with a lot of life changes and challenges of late, and while it is just that “a challenge” to know what, when, where, or how to respond to the issues that we deal with almost daily, and to maintain a godly, kind, and honest demeanor to the things that seem to assail us with a vengeance. Paul reminded the Corinthian believers to remember how God had comforted them, and to realize that our experiences are sent and/or permitted by God for our good and HIS glory! In fact, it brought me to a new understanding of another passage about God’s sovereign work in our lives.
“Likewise the Spirit also
helpeth our infirmities:
for we know not
what we should pray for
as we ought:
but the Spirit itself
maketh intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts
knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,
because he maketh intercession
for the saints
according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things
work together for good
to them that love God,
to them who are the called
according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow,
he also did predestinate
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn
among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate,
them he also called:
and whom he called,
them he also justified:
and whom he justified,
them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things?
If God be for us,
who can be against us?
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?” Romans 8:28-32
Even as Paul states in verse 26, “the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities”, we can have absolute confidence in God’s work in our lives, and the overflow of HIS work into the lives of others, if we will but trust HIM in all things and obey as we see HIS direction and hear HIS Spirit speaking to our heart and mind—and as we feast on HIS Word! Just as it says above, the Holy Spirit is ever working in my life and yours, in fact in the lives of every born-again believer—working in us and helping us to know how to walk “according to the will of God”!
Oh, how grateful I am that I don’t have to depend on my own wisdom, for sometimes it is in pretty short supply, but God is never delinquent to supply HIS wisdom to all who will “ask…seek… (and)… knock”!
“If any of you lack wisdom,
let him ask of God,
that giveth to all men liberally,
and upbraideth not;
and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith,
nothing wavering.
For he that wavereth
is like a wave of the sea
driven with the wind
and tossed.
7 For let not that man think
that he shall receive any thing
of the Lord.” James 1:5-7
Paul also gives us insight into the wisdom that we are to seek. But remember that “godly wisdom” isn’t always welcome, but it is where we must stand by HIS power, grace, and provision—trusting the consequences to our Father and Lord!
“For the preaching of the cross
is to them that perish
foolishness;
but unto us
which are saved
it is the power of God.
19 For it is written,
I will destroy
the wisdom of the wise,
and will bring to nothing
the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise?
where is the scribe?
where is the disputer of this world?
hath not God made foolish
the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God
the world by wisdom
knew not God,
it pleased God
by the foolishness of preaching
to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign,
and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified,
unto the Jews a stumblingblock,
and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called,
both Jews
and Greeks,
Christ the power of God,
and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18-24
Paul goes on to share even more about the difference between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of men. Oh, that we would learn to recognize the difference!
“Let no man deceive himself.
If any man among you
seemeth to be wise in this world,
let him become a fool,
that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world
is foolishness with God.
For it is written,
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again,
The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise,
that they are vain.
21 Therefore let no man glory in men.
For all things are yours;” 1 Corinthians 3:18-21
I want you to know that as I face the difficulties that come my way, my greatest resource is Jesus Christ my Lord! I go to HIM in prayer continually, seeking to know how HE wants me to respond in every situation, and going to HIS WORD as the standard for all things. The Word of God is the standard that God has set, and if we don’t know what it says, we won’t know what God expects. When I know HIS Word, I will find the confidence and power to run to Jesus instead of the world!
“For the word of God
is quick,
and powerful,
and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder
of soul and spirit,
and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner
of the thoughts
and intents
of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature
that is not manifest
in his sight:
but all things
are naked
and opened
unto the eyes of him
with whom we have to do.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest,
that is passed into the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities;
but was in all points
tempted like as we are,
yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help
in time of need.” Hebrews 4:12-16
I pray that this will help you today and encourage your heart to press on with the greatest Lord and friend, Jesus! For remember, we win!
“Let not your heart be troubled:
ye believe in God,
believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house
are many mansions:
if it were not so,
I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go
and prepare a place for you,
I will come again,
and receive you unto myself;
that where I am,
there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go
ye know,
and the way
ye know.” John 14:1-4
And if you don’t know Jesus today, you can come to Him today by repenting of your sin, and trusting to HIS substitutionary (He took our place), atoning sacrifice (He paid our debt) for your sin (The problem we all have and cannot cure.), and receive HIS gift of eternal life.
“For God so loved the world,
that he gave
his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world
to condemn the world;
but that the world through him
might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him
is not condemned:
but he that believeth not
is condemned already,
because he hath not believed
in the name
of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation,
that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness
rather than light,
because their deeds were evil.” John 3:16-19
Amen and Amen!!!
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