Salvation – Page 6 – Praying Pint

6.z. “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

During the Tribulation period when the church is gone and the seals are open and the anger and wrath of God are upon the earth, we see God in grace and mercy reaching out. He seals the 144,000 who are His witnesses and these who are clothed in white robes are those who have believed and been saved and died because of and during the tribulation period. “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” I still have to wonder how many have died during this time without believing, and in so doing, sealed their eternal destiny in hell. Isn’t it the same today? Rejection of Christ and finding their pleasure, satisfaction, and hope in things of this world instead of the Creator of it. Today, the Holy Spirit of God is still present. God’s Holy Spirit, to guide, direct, encourage open ears, open eyes, soften hearts and proclaim truth to our hearts is present. And even though His Spirit is present we still resist and close our eyes and ears, harden our hearts, and stiffen our necks. We resist His active presence in our lives and intentionally choose to follow what seems right in our own eyes. We neglect His Word and desire things of this world more than humbly serving, honoring, following, obeying, and trusting in Him. Notice how those who come through the tribulations and worship Him day and night. They serve Him. We do well to grow in His Word, and desire and seek to live, act, think and speak in ways that honor and glorify Him every moment of every day.

6.g. People who have not soiled their garments,

Revelation 3:4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Isaiah 52:1    Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean.

Isaiah 59:6   Their webs will not serve as clothing; men will not cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands.

Isaiah 61:10   I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 64:6     We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Jude 1:23    save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Luke 21:36    But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

We read of those who have not soiled their garments. They walk in a way worthy of Jesus Christ and what He has done and is doing. They conquered any fleshly desire to follow others in false teaching. Do you ever wonder if your garments (your works, faith, thoughts, and words) are soiled? Do you wonder if you have adopted what is culturally acceptable and are living in filthy garments before the Lord? Do you think about what is clean and acceptable? Do you think about doing what is worthy of the price that was paid for your sins?

Soft living, comfortable living, self-centered self-reliant living, and neglecting God’s Word are no help in keeping your garments unsoiled. We would do well to be less influenced by the world and what it has to offer and be ever seeking and desiring to walk worthy of Jesus Christ. Who would want your bride to come to the wedding in a dirty and messed up wedding dress? The church (each of us) is the bride and we should want our garments to reflect our love and devotion to Jesus Christ the groom.

5.z. I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Revelation 1:18 I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Psalms 68:20     Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.

Isaiah 22:22    And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

Matthew 16:19     I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Revelation 9:1    And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.

Revelation 20:1-2     Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain.

Revelation 20:14     Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

Romans 14:8-9     For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.  For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Death has a finality to it and Christ has been all authority over it. To some, this will be death to eternal life. For others, it will be death to eternal torment. The difference is between those who trust in, cling to, and rely on Jesus Christ redemption and forgiveness of sin, and those who choose to reject salvation through Jesus Christ is their eternal destiny. Many live like and eternal destiny does not matter or even exist. This still does not negate what God’s word promises to both. Rejecting Jesus Christ, the one who went to the cross to suffer and die once and for all for our sin seals their eternal death and torment forever and ever. Likewise, those who believe in by faith trust in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for their sin seals their eternal life and forevermore with Jesus Christ.

God has revealed this mystery throughout scripture. Sin always has consequences and obedience always has a reward. Self-centered Christ-rejecting people do not believe in Jesus Christ, the need for Jesus Christ, judgment, wrath, and anger of God. They reject the idea of judgment and eternal torment. Yet those whose hearts have softened to the call of Jesus Christ sought forgiveness of sin, and chose to believe His sacrifice and promise that it forever cleanses them. To them will be a time of rejoicing at the second coming of Jesus Christ for they will forever be with Him in eternity.

The time for this choice is while we are alive this side of eternity. There is no chance after death to choose. At the time of death, our eternity is sealed forever. Choose faith in the sacrifice and redemption found in Jesus Christ.

4.l. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Revelation 12:9-10 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Satan the deceiver and accuser. The false one. The liar. The tempter. How many have never seen the love of Jesus Christ because of this liar? How many have been tempted away by his lies? How many have believed his accusations? Satan will try to deceive us. He will show us the tempting shining lights of health, wealth, prosperity, and fame. He will accuse us and tell us we are unworthy of the Love of Jesus Christ. He will tell us we are a failure. He will tell us we are not or cannot be forgiven. He will tell us God can’t help us or won’t help us. Satan is very real. He knows are weaknesses, pride, jealousy, envy, greed, and hatred. He will prowl looking for the opportunity to attack us with lies and temptations for he knows our sinful nature much better than us. How are we to stand against this foe?

Are we worthy of the grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ? No. Are we good enough to warrant forgiveness? No. Have we done anything that Jesus Christ should grant us eternity with Him? No. Have we sinned? Yes. Do we sin? Yes. Does Jesus Christ know all of our sins past and present? Yes. Satan will use questions like these and offer answers that seem to proper and true, but they are lies intended to confuse, intimidate, worry, pleasure, gratify, and delight self-worth, self-esteem, self-regard, self-respect, self-love, self-importance, self-satisfaction, and self-reliance. He does this to get us to reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to live self-centered lives that are blind and deaf to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the awesome power, might, strength, and love of God.

Jesus went to the cross while we were yet unworthy sinners. He did this for us as we were and are. He did this because He loved us. He did this to give us hope. He did this to give us purpose. He did this to give us opportunity of forgiveness, joy, peace, strength, grace, mercy, and love in and through His redemption made possible and perfect through His sacrifice on the cross and the promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit to all those who believe in Him, confess their sin, repent, and by faith cling to, rely on, and trust in Him. “Greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world!”

John 3:16-21 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

3.g. But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud.

2 Chronicles 32:24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels; storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions. This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

Deuteronomy 32:6    Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?

Luke 17:17-18    Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

1 Peter 5:5-6     Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

Daniel 5:20    But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him.

Ezekiel 28:5    by your great wisdom in your trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth

Psalms 116:12-13   What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?  I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,

Sections from Compelling Truth on pride; In 1 John it says; “For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–comes not from the Father but from the world.” Pride is a sinful, arrogant, haughty, insolent, self-reliant attitude or spirit that causes a person to have an inflated or puffed up view of themselves. In this pride, the proud do not have a correct or sober estimation of themselves, their abilities or their positions. Proverbs says; “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Conversion (born again) and baptism are not a guarantee against the temptation to pride. Even the apostle Paul was given a mysterious thorn in his side to keep him from becoming proud. We must be reliant and dependent on God for our strength if we are to keep from falling into this ever enticing trap. As we grow in knowledge, understanding, and yielding to God’s leading resulting in good deeds, we can be tempted to glory in ourselves. Likewise, when God blesses us with health, prosperity, and wisdom there is tempting to claim this as if our own working and effort accomplished it. In times of blessings, we need awareness that only the Holy Spirit can give to keep us from yielding to the temptation of pride. We must be constantly alert and on guard against the temptation to pride, self-reliance, and self-righteousness. It is not by our own strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us that we are able to imitate Christ’s humility and thereby love and serve God, our neighbors, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and even our enemies. Pride is focused inward on loving and serving oneself, Spirit-filled love is directed outward toward loving and serving God and others.

2.u. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart.

2 Chronicles 25:1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart. And as soon as the royal power was firmly his, he killed his servants who had struck down the king his father. But he did not put their children to death, according to what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, “Fathers shall not die because of their children, nor children die because of their fathers, but each one shall die for his own sin.” Then Amaziah assembled the men of Judah and set them by fathers’ houses under commanders of thousands and of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He mustered those twenty years old and upward, and found that they were 300,000 choice men, fit for war, able to handle spear and shield. He hired also 100,000 mighty men of valor from Israel for 100 talents of silver. But a man of God came to him and said, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel, with all these Ephraimites. But go, act, be strong for the battle. Why should you suppose that God will cast you down before the enemy? For God has power to help or to cast down.” And Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.” Then Amaziah discharged the army that had come to him from Ephraim to go home again. And they became very angry with Judah and returned home in fierce anger. But Amaziah took courage and led out his people and went to the Valley of Salt and struck down 10,000 men of Seir. The men of Judah captured another 10,000 alive and took them to the top of a rock and threw them down from the top of the rock, and they were all dashed to pieces.

Psalms 33:16-20    The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.  The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.  Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,  that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.  Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.

Job 5:18    For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal.

Psalms 20:7     Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Proverbs 10:22     The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

Philippians 4:19     And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Amaziah did right in the eyes of the Lord but not with his whole heart. I wonder how we would live now if we knew this is what the Holy Spirit would inspire people to write about us. Would we commit to living differently or be content with knowing we were not giving to God or serving God with all our heart, mind, and soul? Would we confess it once we became aware of our divided heart? Would we turn away from how we think and act? Would we make an intentional choice and commitment with our whole heart, mind, and soul? Would we listen? Would we act? Would people see a change? Would His Word be all-important to us? Would we hunger and thirst for it? Would our days seem dark and without purpose without it? Would our ears be tuned to hearing His leading? Would our faith, trust, and reliance be different? Would our peace, joy, and love be visible?

We can pretend quite well, can’t we? We tell ourselves that we are good enough and we serve God enough and we give Him enough of our time and we do enough right things to be ok. We allow self to rule our heart in such a way that we are never able to find the peace and joy that comes from an intentional choice to yield our whole heart, mind, and soul.

It is very easy to live pretending you are giving it your all, just neglect His word and convince yourself that attending church is giving it your all. We can all yield more, die to self more, listen, follow, and obey more but that would mean we give all our heart, mind, and soul to humbly serving, honoring, following, trusting, obeying, and relying on God every moment of every day.

1.d. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Chronicles 16:35 “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!” Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord.

Psalms 105:45    that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the LORD!

Psalms 79:9-10    Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!

Psalms 105:45    that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the LORD!

1 Peter 2:9     But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Chronicles 16:9-10    Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!  Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

A chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that WE, YOU, I, may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called US, ME, YOU out of darkness into His marvelous light. We are to be set aside and conform to His word. We are to meditate on His word. We are to proclaim His word. We are to rejoice in His word. We are to obey His word. We are to listen to His word. We are to give thanks for His word. We are to trust His word. His word is Jesus Christ and in Him, we find salvation and deliverance for our souls. We have much to praise Jesus Christ for but none more worthy than His love demonstrated in being a willing sacrifice for our/my sin. He did this while I was yet a sinner and when the time was right, and my heart was softened, and I was aware of my sin and His redemption, and He called me to Himself, and I asked for forgiveness, repented and turned away from my self-centered sinful ways, and trusted in His redeeming blood, for this is the reason for eternal hope, everlasting joy, and Jesus honoring, and obeying lives.

173. It is not light thing

2 Kings 3:4 Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he had to deliver to the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. So King Jehoram marched out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel. And he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to battle against Moab?” And he said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” Then he said, “By which way shall we march?” Jehoram answered, “By the way of the wilderness of Edom.”

So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them. Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! The Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” Then one of the king of Israel’s servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.” And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

And Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No; it is the Lord who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you. But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him. And he said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I will make this dry streambed full of pools.’ For thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.’ This is a light thing in the sight of the Lord. He will also give the Moabites into your hand, and you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree and stop up all springs of water and ruin every good piece of land with stones.” The next morning, about the time of offering the sacrifice, behold, water came from the direction of Edom, till the country was filled with water.

Isaiah 49:6     he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Isaiah 42:6     “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,

Isaiah 60:3   And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Luke 2:32   a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

John 1:4-9    In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.  He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.  The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

Acts 26:18    to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

The miracles of God which seem hard are not for God. They are a light thing. Think about it. God created all there was from the voice of His mouth. Universes, galaxies, light, every living thing, and mankind. God creator, our Heavenly Father, our Redeemer Jesus Christ, and our helper the Holy Spirit, are all of God. It is a light thing for Him to do what we think impossible. It is not something we should think a light thing for us to honor Him, worship Him, glorify Him, follow Him, obey Him, rely on Him, and trust in Him. This is our purpose in life. What is not light for God should not be thought of light by us. Forgiveness, repentance, and humble service to Jesus Christ require us to see this as a BIG THING from God to us. Pray that God will open your heart and mind to the depth and width of His love demonstrated in and through Jesus Christ.

129. My stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge

2Samuel 22:1 And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

Deuteronomy 32:4     “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

1 Samuel 2:2   “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.

Psalms 31:3     For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;

Psalms 71:3     Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

Psalms 91:2     I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalms 144:2    he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge

I wonder what we have to go through in order to see God as our refuge, rock, stronghold, shield, deliverer, savior, and fortress. I think it comes down to how we see God in our heart, mind, and soul. If we have a desire to know Him more, longingly spending time in His word, expecting to find a refreshing and strengthening of our faith, and seeking to do that which honors and glorifies Him will set us on a path that we see God’s hand in everything and in control of His creation. When our understanding of God is continually fueled by His word we begin to see the awesome power, strength, might, and unlimitedness of God. At his voice, the utterance of a word from His mouth universes and galaxies were made. At his command the Red Sea parted, the Jordan River stopped, walls of Jericho fell, armies defeated, dead brought back to life, deaf given to hear, blind able to see, and so much more. How do we call on someone who is not active in our life – we don’t?

Our ability to see God as rock, refuge, and fortress comes from faith and our faith grows as we deny more and more of self-interest and we spend more time in His word (conscious intentional choice), seeking to humbly serve, honor, follow, obey, cling to, rely on, and trust in Him. Don’t limit God for He is able to do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine. Though we wait, we trust. Though we have moments of anxiousness we renew our trust. Though we do not see the end of our trial we trust and know God is in control and all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Though I do not see Him I know He is there and in His hands I find peace. Though I don’t know when my trial will end I will not carry this burden for He is my refuge, rock, stronghold, shield, deliverer, savior, and fortress

117. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God

1 Samuel 30:1 Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.” So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor.

Job 13:15   Though he slay me, I will hope in him;

Psalms 18:6   In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

Psalms 26:1-2    Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

Isaiah 25:4     For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,

Proverbs 18:10     The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Jeremiah 16:19   O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: “Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit.

Habakkuk 3:17-18    Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,  yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

Romans 8:31    What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

2 Corinthians 1:9-10    Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

Hebrews 13:6   So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

In the Bible, strength is often linked to God’s power. Believers are to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power”. The unlimited power of Christ is the source of strength for those who belong to Him. According to the Bible, what strength we have is not our own. It ultimately comes from God. “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength . . . but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord”.

Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker – No matter how strong we think we are, “the flesh is weak”. Left to our own devices, we will fall into temptation and fail in any worthy endeavor. The weakness inherent in human nature is why the Bible commends us to the strength of the Lord. Christ’s “power is made perfect in weakness”. As we learn to rely on God’s strength instead of our own, we gain new heights: “The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights”. Our strength is found in Christ—in our having a vibrant, dynamic relationship with Him. It is Christ who empowers us to do whatever is necessary to accomplish God’s will: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. There is no other source that gives man the strength to overcome the world with its trials and temptations.

The Bible says that our strength is, paradoxically, related to surrender: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”. We align ourselves with the strength of God through our total submission to Him; then we are able to withstand the wiles of the evil one. “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes”

Those who rely on God’s strength from day to day will find in Him a never-ending spring of energy: “Blessed are those whose strength is in you. . . . They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God. Many around us may grow weary and faint, but “those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”