I Am Not Afraid

A woman tells evangelist D.L. Moody, “I’ve found a promise that helps me when I’m afraid.  Psalm 56:3 – ‘What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.’”

Mr. Moody replies. “I have a better promise. Isaiah 12:2 – ‘I will trust and not be afraid.’”

Both promises are true and each has its own application. The important thing is that we know Jesus Christ as our Lord and helper.

My precious promise rescued me from fears and pains bent on swallowing me last year.  

Psalm 46:1-2  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Don't be afraid. Trust the Lord. He will carry you through your fears.

An Appetite For God's Word

In the autumn years of my life it seems more and more people of my generation are dying. The Bible says man’s flesh and glory will wither, but God’s Word endures forever.

1 Peter 1:24-25  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

For new Christians, God’s Word is like milk to growing babies, but it becomes strong meat as believers mature. We should develop an appetite for the Word of God.

Peter warned his readers to “lay aside” wrong attitudes that would hinder their appetite for the Word and for spiritual growth. When we lose our appetite for the Word of God, we stop growing in the Lord. We stop enjoying the “grace” that we find in the spirit filled life.

Growing in the Word promotes peacemakers, unity, joy, an intimate relationship with God the Father and God the Son.

Faith Overcomes

The Christian is “born of God”.  He or she has the divine nature within. It’s impossible for the divine nature to disobey God.

1 John 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

If the old nature is in control of us, we disobey God, but if the new nature is in control, we obey God.

Our victory is a result of faith in God. We grow in faith as we grow in love. The more our love for Christ is perfected, the more our faith in Christ is perfected too, because faith and love mature together.

The Fourth Man

Though Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t know for certain if they would survive the fire, they did know that God was  able to save them, and they knew that they would never bow to the ninety foot tall golden image.

Daniel 3:24-25 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

God allowed these three Hebrew guys to go through the fiery furnace to being glory to Himself and to speak to the hearts of a few heathen.

The Lord is still walking in your fire, and He’ll bring you out in such a fashion that He gets the glory. He may be using the fire in your life to spread His message.

Look To Jesus

Hebrews 12:2-3  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Always look to Jesus, our Redeemer. In the good and the bad, look to Jesus. Abide in Jesus.

This life is not the place of rest for the servants of the Lord. It’s the place of labor and faithful service. So don’t grow weary, Gal. 6:9.

One day, we will join Him by the River of Life in glory, and there we will rest in His presence from our burdens.

Brokenness

Pastor Jerry Locke gives an excellent definition of “brokenness”:  “Brokenness is the condition whereby our will is brought into full submission to God’s will so that when He speaks we put up no argument, make no rationalizations, offer no excuses, and register no blame; but instead, instantly obey the leading of the Holy Spirit as He guides us.”

No one advances without brokenness.

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

If you feel the task God is calling you to is so great that you want to say, “I could never do that,” then you are in a position to see what God can do through you.   Jerry Locke – Brokenness ---  The Postscript

No Matter What -- Trust God

God wants believers to come to the place that when our troubles abound, we merely trust Him.

Psalm 46:1  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

• No matter how hard the winds blow, God is Ruler of the winds
• No matter how rough the sea becomes, He is Master of the sea
• No matter how dark the valley, never stop praying
• No matter how you feel, never stop believing

Our strength is in The Lord.