Tag Archives: John 14:6

Still In HIS Care??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #462

23 Wednesday May 2018

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #462   Still In HIS Care???

 

I just can’t seem to get past this idea of God’s sovereign care for us—there is so much going on around us, and I know I constantly need to refocus on my Father’s care, and the care of The Son Jesus—because there is so much need about us on every hand.

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him;

for he careth for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished in your brethren

that are in the world.”    1 Peter 5:6-9

I just love this message from Peter—you remember Peter, the fellow that went around with Jesus and had his “foot in his mouth” much of the time!!! Kind of like me! I’ve often told people “I know what the cause of death will be when I die!” And of course, they ask how can I know that, and I respond with a smile, “I’ll die from ‘hoof and mouth’ disease—for that’s where my foot (or sometimes both of them) is much of the time!” But all jokes aside, Peter is such a blessed example of the grace and faithfulness of our God to grow each of us in grace and mercy—no matter how great our faults, and short-comings may be; or even how often we may hop around with our foot in our mouth, instead of standing firm on solid ground. What we must remember is that our ‘adversary’ is ever in pursuit of God’s children—but just remember that when we walk with Jesus, Satan is a “toothless” lion! Jesus gained the victory at Calvary!! Amen and Amen!

Paul gives us a great word of encouragement to help us stand firm on solid ground, not shaky ground. We must keep our confidence sure as we put on that ‘armour of God’ each day to be prepared for the challenges that we each face continually. Paul’s reminder helps us keep our focus on the Lord and not our problems.

“Finally, my brethren,

be strong in the Lord,

and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to stand

against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh

and blood,

but against principalities,

against powers,

against the rulers of the darkness

of this world,

against spiritual wickedness

in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour

of God,

that ye may be able to withstand

in the evil day,

and having done all,

to stand.

14 Stand therefore,

having your loins girt about

with truth,

and having on the breastplate

of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod

with the preparation of the gospel

of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield

of faith,

wherewith ye shall be able to quench

all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet

of salvation,

and the sword

of the Spirit,

which is the word of God:

18 Praying always

with all prayer

and supplication

in the Spirit,

and watching thereunto

with all perseverance

and supplication

for all saints;” Ephesians 6:10-18

Did you notice all the references to “stand”? In Jesus and His strength and power, we can “stand ….withstand ….stand” in the power and truth of who Jesus is! And just so we can make it useable, let’s rehearse what we learn about HIS care and provision for we who belong to HIM! We need to recognize Paul’s clarity in making it clear that we “wrestle”—he didn’t say if, he said, “we wrestle”, not in our own power, but rather the power of God, through Jesus Christ, with the “whole armour of God” about us!

We are called to stand in it, with confidence that with HIS armor on, we will be able to “withstand in the evil day”—and my friends we are there! So suit up and let’s press on with our confidence in our who provides HIS armor to us:

The—

belt of truth—

Jesus IS “the truth”, John 14:6—

breastplate of righteousness—

Jesus’ righteousness imparted to us, 2 Cor. 5:21–

shoes of the Gospel of Peace–

Jesus IS our peace, Romans 5:1-8

shield of faith—

faith in HIS blood, Romans 3:25

helmet of salvation—

Jesus IS our salvation, Acts 4:12

sword of the Spirit/Word of God—

Jesus IS The Word—

The written Word,

The spoken Word,

The living Word, John 1:1-5

So whatever you are facing, my friend, God has you, the problem and the solution in HIS hands! You can rest in Him, trust in Him, and walk in victory with Him, having the “armour of God” as your spiritual wardrobe!!! I pray that this will encourage you today as it does me continually; I also pray God’s wisdom, grace and blessings on your week. Amen and Amen!

 

‘This Is My Story’! What’s Yours? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 14

13 Sunday May 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Faith, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Holy Spirit, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Knowing God's Word, Salvation, The Only Way, The Word, What Voice are You Listening to?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 14 ‘This Is My Story’! What’s Yours?

 

We are celebrating “Mother’s Day” here in the US, but I’d like to look at a different subject today—our confidence in Jesus. And whether you’re a mother or father, a sister or a brother, or just a loner, there is a Savior who cares for you, and what you do about it is crucial and will determine your future and destiny!

Some of you will recognize part of the title as being from an old Fanny Crosby Hymn—and that is where I want us to focus today; ‘Blessed Assurance, Jesus IS Mine’! And that friends, is “my” story! What is your story? Have you come to Jesus, and found Him faithful? We all have a story, because we all get to make choices—but we often forget that each choice has a consequence; and when we choose Jesus, in response to His Holy Spirit’s call to our heart, we become a child of God, and HE becomes our story! Other choices will bring their own consequences, yet while we are free to make our own choices, we are NOT free to set the consequences!!!

“That was the true Light,

which lighteth every man

that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe

on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.” John 1:9-13

God births us as HIS own children by the work of The Holy Spirit, restoring us to relationship with Him!!! All by the blood of Jesus, which ‘cleanseth us from all sin’, for without Jesus there is only hopeless desperation, and that is my story! The story of love, forgiveness and redemption from sin and desperation!!!

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers

of the inheritance

of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom

of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”    Colossians 1:12-14

Jesus has “delivered us from the power of darkness”, because that is where we all are without Him!

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead in trespasses

and sins;

2 Wherein in time past

ye walked

according to the course

of this world,

according to the prince

of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children

of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all

had our conversation

in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires

of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature

the children of wrath,

even as others.

4 But God,

who is rich in mercy,

for his great love

wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead

in sins,

hath quickened us together

with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians 2:1-6

Oh, what a wondrous phrase, “But God”—and I’m so glad that God rewrote my story by His grace and the blood of Jesus. For without the blood of Jesus, we have no hope, but through His blood we have eternal life “in Christ Jesus”, and just as importantly, we also have Christ Jesus in us!

“Whereof I am made a minister,

according to the dispensation of God

which is given to me

for you,

to fulfil the word of God;

26 Even the mystery

which hath been hid

from ages

and from generations,

but now is made manifest

to his saints:

27 To whom God would make known

what is the riches

of the glory

of this mystery

among the Gentiles;

which is Christ in you,

the hope of glory:”    Colossians 1:25-27

“Christ in you, the hope of glory” is the New Covenant, which Jesus affected at Calvary:

“Behold, the days come,

saith the LORD,

that I will make a new covenant

with the house of Israel,

and with the house of Judah:

32 Not according to the covenant

that I made with their fathers

in the day that I took them

by the hand

to bring them out of the land

of Egypt;

which my covenant they brake,

although I was an husband unto them,

saith the LORD:

33 But this shall be the covenant

that I will make with the house of Israel;

After those days,

saith the LORD,

I will put my law in their inward parts,

and write it in their hearts;

and will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

34 And they shall teach no more

every man his neighbour,

and every man his brother, saying,

Know the LORD:

for they shall all know me,

from the least of them

unto the greatest of them,

saith the LORD:

for I will forgive their iniquity,

and I will remember their sin no more.”   Jeremiah 31:31-34

And that my friends, is what Jesus did for me, and He will do the same for you also. He forgives our sin and remembers them no more, all because of the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice that HE made for “my” sin and “yours” when Jesus went to Calvary for all who will receive HIM!

“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said,

Take this,

and divide it among yourselves:

18 For I say unto you,

I will not drink of the fruit of the vine,

until the kingdom of God shall come.

19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying,

This is my body

which is given for you:

this do

in remembrance of me.

20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying,

This cup is the new testament

in my blood,

which is shed for you.”   Luke 22:17-20

Jesus Himself revealed His work at the cross, as “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you”

the price due from all for sin—

the debt every person owes—

the penalty due for missing the mark—

the only way to God!!!

Yet Jesus made the way for us willingly, at the cost of His sinless, perfect life—that friend, is ‘my’ story! How about you?

“Thomas saith unto him,

Lord, we know not whither thou goest;

and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.” John 14:6

The Apostle John wrote even more about this “way”!

“This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship

one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have

no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth

is not in us.”   1 John 1:5-8

So my question for us today is simple, what is your “assurance” based on? Do you know the love and forgiveness of Jesus, or are you depending on yourself, or something else to bring fulfillment to your life. It’s only Jesus that gives life—abundant life—and He gives it by the sacrifice of His life for you and me at Calvary!

“I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in

and out,

and find pasture.

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.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.” John 10:9-11

Do you know the “good shepherd”? He is waiting for you today, if you will but hear His voice and respond to Him in repentance and faith! He is calling—will you respond?

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.” Revelation 3:20 

And I can’t close without sharing the great message that Fanny Crosby penned so long ago. And it’s as true today as it was then!

Blessed Assurance     By Fanny J. Crosby

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Amen and Amen! May your assurance rest in JESUS!

God Is Still God!!! Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 02

04 Sunday Feb 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Follow Me, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Salvation, The Only Way, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No.02 God Is Still God!!!

 

“I will love thee,

O LORD,

my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock,

and my fortress,

and my deliverer;

my God,

my strength,

in whom I will trust;

my buckler,

and the horn of my salvation,

and my high tower.

3 I will call upon the LORD,

who is worthy to be praised:

so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”   Psalm 18:1-3

We could stop right here with an Amen and Amen! God is still God, and the rules haven’t changed. God is The One who created us, and he delivers those who will come to Him in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ His Son. And Jesus is The One who will Judge every man, woman, boy and girl! Jesus IS “The Word”—and “The Word” will ever stand as the plumb line of God’s truth—for He IS truth!

“There is a way

that seemeth right

unto a man,

but the end thereof

are the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:25

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”    Matthew 7:13-15

Every person is given a free will with which to choose to respond to God’s call, or to reject God, yet while we have the privilege to choose, we do not have the right or the ability to choose the consequences of our choices, for the consequences have been set by God! We can choose to hear God’s call, and respond in repentance and faith to Jesus, or we can follow that “broad is the way” to destruction! There is only One way—One truth—and One giver of ‘life’!

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.” John 14:6

Not only is Jesus “the way…the truth…and the life…” He is the very essence of God, HE IS God.

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him;

and without him was not any thing made

that was made.

4 In him was life;

and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness;

and the darkness comprehended it not.”  John 1:1-5

Just as Jesus was rejected by those to whom He came in His physical presence, men and women are still rejecting Him today!!! But every choice has a consequence—either the life that Jesus gives, by His own blood that He shed on the cross—or the destruction that is at the end of that “broad…way”! Have you chosen God’s way or your own? God hasn’t changed, He hasn’t moved, and His Way hasn’t been altered! Only The Son can give you life—eternal life today into forever!

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”   Hebrews 13:8

And He is “the same”—the same Son of God who came to save us and to deliver those who will come to Him by faith!

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe

on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.” John 1:10-13 Amen!

Jesus came that we might be “born again” into life with Him!

“That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 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.” John 3:15-16

And Jesus can give us life, because HE IS life—HE IS God—then, now, and forever! Will you accept His gift of love for you? This God-Man came that you could have His life within YOU! That we could know Him and walk in confidence of what He is doing in HIS own!

“But ye believe not,

because ye are not of my sheep,

as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.

29 My Father,

which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”   John 10:26-30

So in closing, I simply have a few questions for you and me: ‘Are we letting God be God? Or have we taken His throne in our own lives?’ Who is your God? You need to be sure—because God is sure!

“Nevertheless the foundation of God

standeth sure,

having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one

that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.”    2 Timothy 2:19

And don’t forget, there is a judgment day coming—and Jesus is the standard—no exceptions!

“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.”    Hebrews 4:12-13

Remember God is still God. Always was—ever shall be!!!

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”   Hebrews 13:8   Amen and Amen!!!

It’s Not Optional??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 17

05 Sunday Nov 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Changed Lives, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Made like Jesus!, Repentance, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.17    It’s Not Optional???

 

I’d like us to take some time today to consider Who we belong to. Even we who follow Jesus, often spend so much time thinking about ‘self’ that we fall into the trap of the world and order our lives without due consideration of what God and His Son Jesus are calling us to “be” and ‘do’! We often forget that we have given our life to Jesus! We also seem to forget that we belong to Jesus when we choose to trust Him, believing in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin, and His saving grace that we have received.

“What?

know ye not that your body

is the temple

of the Holy Ghost

which is in you,

which ye have of God,

and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price:

therefore glorify God

in your body,

and in your spirit,

which are God’s.”    1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Jesus makes it clear that we are either His children or we are the children of the enemy of mankind; and when we belong to Jesus, we are called to “take up our cross and follow” Him! He calls us to die to self and live unto HIM in all our ways, and that is not optional. Let’s consider the commands of Jesus and what He both calls us to be and do, as well as what He warns us about in our future when we do! What “god” are you sacrificing yourself to? (See Eph.2)

“This is my commandment,

That ye love one another,

as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this,

that a man lay down his life

for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends,

if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants;

for the servant knoweth not

what his lord doeth:

but I have called you friends;

for all things that I have heard

of my Father

I have made known unto you.

16 Ye have not chosen me,

but I have chosen you,

and ordained you,

that ye should go

and bring forth fruit,

and that your fruit should remain:

that whatsoever ye shall ask

of the Father

in my name,

he may give it you.

17 These things I command you,

that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me

before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you

out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater

than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him

that sent me.”   John 15:12-21

This is a message that we don’t hear much about these days! When we hear about persecution of believers, we often consider it optional, or inconceivable that Christians should suffer for their faith. But Jesus Himself told us that it would come. He wanted to prepare us for the truth that when we choose to follow Him, to trust in Him as our Lord and Savior, we could expect to be treated as HE was—when we act as HE did. Speaking the truth of God to a lost and dying world. Speaking HIS truth in love! The love of God that enables us to recognize truth, and reject the lies of the enemy—and we do have an enemy.

“Jesus said unto them,

If God were your Father,

ye would love me:

for I proceeded forth and came from God;

neither came I of myself,

but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech?

even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil,

and the lusts of your father

ye will do.

He was a murderer

from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar,

and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

ye believe me not.” John 8:42-45

Truth is spiritually discerned, and only God can reveal Himself and His truth to each of us!

“But as it is written,

Eye hath not seen,

nor ear heard,

neither have entered into the heart of man,

the things which God hath prepared

for them that love him.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us

by his Spirit:

for the Spirit searcheth all things,

yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man,

save the spirit of man

which is in him?

even so the things of God

knoweth no man,

but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received,

not the spirit of the world,

but the spirit

which is of God;

that we might know the things

that are freely given to us

of God.

13 Which things also we speak,

not in the words

which man’s wisdom teacheth,

but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;

comparing spiritual things

with spiritual.

14 But the natural man

receiveth not the things

of the Spirit of God:

for they are foolishness unto him:

neither can he know them,

because they are spiritually

discerned.”   1 Corinthians 2:9-14

I simply want to call each of us to consider that serving Jesus with our whole being isn’t optional—it is the call of God on every child of HIS!

“But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe

on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.” John 1:12-13

Are you and I behaving like “sons of God”, or have we allowed the tarnish of the world to dim His glory in us? Have you come to Jesus, and received His life-transforming new birth? Have you heard the voice of God calling you to Himself? If you have heard His voice, I pray that you will receive Him today! You can only come when HIS Spirit draws and calls to repentance and faith—that revealing of truth to lost and darkened hearts! Or do you have ears that don’t hear and eyes that won’t see?

“And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.” Isaiah 6:9

“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” Isaiah 64:4

Only God can open blinded eyes, and stopped up ears! But He will open them for those who will respond to His call.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.” John 14:6

“No man can come to me,

except the Father which hath sent me

draw him:

and I will raise him up at the last day.

45 It is written in the prophets,

And they shall be all taught of God.

Every man therefore that hath heard,

and hath learned of the Father,

cometh unto me.” John 6:44-45

Jesus is growing His own into His image, and He works tirelessly accomplishing His work in us (See Ro. 8:28-29)! Do you have eyes and ears that are open to the Savior? If so, yield to His work in your heart, mind and life today, if you know Him. Won’t you renew your devotion and commitment to Jesus, and walk in His ways, reflecting His Glory and His Word!!! . If you don’t know Him, you can!

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

Only one cause—SIN!!! Only One cure—JESUS!!!

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

The choice is optional—the consequence is NOT!!! The choice is yours! Choose wisely, there is a test!

I’m Under His Wings!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #403

18 Wednesday Oct 2017

Posted by in Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, I Will Never Leave You, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Perseverance, Safe In The Storm!, The Only Way, The Word, Trials, Troubles, Under His Wings, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #403       I’m Under His Wings!!!

 

“He that dwelleth in the secret place

of the most High

shall abide under

the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD,

He is my refuge

and my fortress:

my God;

in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee

from the snare of the fowler,

and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee

with his feathers,

and under his wings

shalt thou trust:

his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”     Psalm 91:1-4

Just a word of encouragement this morning that we might remember that we have a God who cares. He loves us, provides for us, and ever knows where we are and we are never out of His care! I take such comfort and hope in that assurance, and the Psalmist expressed that same confidence in God Almighty, and you can take heart in its truth today!

As the Psalmist says here, others may question, but when we belong to Jesus, and His Father God Almighty, there is a secret place that others have no understanding of. It is a place where we ‘abide’ not matter ‘where’ we may be physically—in trouble, in trial, in suffering, in pain, in alarm, or fear, in physical confusion or uncertainty: as we look at our circumstances we can know that God has us in His hand, and under His wings. The Psalmist paints such a marvelous picture of the care of God, and in that \truth we can be confident of HIS perfect provision. We can know that God is “my refuge” and “my fortress”; that He will “deliver thee” (although not always in the way that we expect!), and “cover thee with his feathers”, resting assured that we can trust ourselves to HIS care! HIS truth will be our defense—and what is HIS truth? Well, let me tell you:

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.” John 14:6

Jesus IS truth, the very essence and reality of truth! Praise God the truth is the One who gave Himself for us—and that IS the truth, and HE has given to us HIS indwelling Holy Spirit to walk with us all the way. There is also another Psalm that refers to God’s care in the terms of ‘wings’, and that Psalm inspired one of my favorite songs.

“Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,” Psalm 17:8

This verse so spoke to Stephen Manders that he composed a wonderful hymn to express his confidence in this God who saves, delivers and keeps HIS own.

Under His Wings

By Stephen Manders

Under His wings I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me, and I am His child.

Refrain
Under His wings, under His wings,
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.

Refrain

Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.

Refrain

I pray that this precious song and the power of The Word will comfort and encourage you today, no matter where you may be walking. Remember:

“Being confident

of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work

in you

will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:”    Philippians 1:6