AUGUST 5

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

PSALM 7:23

“Yet I am always with you.”

CHARLES SPURGEON:

“Yet” as if to say, in spite of all the foolishness and ignorance that David had been confessing to God (in Ps 73:22) he was not at all less certain he was saved and accepted, and that the blessings of being constantly in God’s presence were undoubtedly his.  Fully aware of his own sinful condition and the deceitfulness and vileness of his nature, he nevertheless sings through a glorious outburst of faith:

“Yet, I am always with you.”

Do you agree with this confession and acknowledgment of sin and, in the same spirit, say “Yet, since I belong to Christ I am continually with God”?  By saying “I am always with you,” he meant, I am continually on His mind and He is always thinking of my welfare.

****  ****

This month we will continue the book, “Whatever Happens – How to Stand Firm in Your Faith When the World is Falling Apart.”  By a contemporary author of many best-selling Christian books, Robert J. Morgan.  He took care of his wife when she had MS, until she went home to her Savior.  “He knows of which he speaks.”  I pray that this book blesses you.

WHATEVER HAPPENS…..PRESS ON

CALLED HEAVENWARD IN CHRIST

Philippians 3:12-14

“12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

As the years pass and we find Him (Jesus) faithful to us in every situation, we come to trust Him more.  Our relationship with Christ should become deeper, more enjoyable, and ore fulfilling as long as we live.  We are never too old to grow in Him.  But we have one enormous hindrance that keeps us from knowing Him as perfectly as we would like.

We are separated form him by realm.  Right now we cannot see His face.

1Peter 1:8 says,

 “though you have not seen Him, yet you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.”

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 says:

“As long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.  For we live by faith, not by sight.  We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

We know Him now through the blessing of salvation, through the Scriptures, and through the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives.

In the Old Testament, God the Father dwelled among His people Israel as a cloud of glory in the Holy of Holies.  He also represented the Son and the Spirit.

In the Gospels, God the Son dwelled among His people in His flesh.  He also represented the Father and the Spirit.

On the day of Pentecost, God the Spirit came to dwell among His people, and here He remains, representing the Father and the Son.  Paul referred to the Holy Spirit 145 times in his 13 letters.

The Holy Spirit dwells in and around us. He seals us, fills us and empowers us.  He strengthens us in our inner being.  He cultivates the character of Jesus within us.  The Love of God is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  We are led by the Spirit, and we overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit within us who is accomplishing the results.

Ephesians 1:17 says, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Holy Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know Him better.”

It’s possible to get to know and fall in love with someone even if you can’t see his or her face.  In the case of Jesus, it’s by the agency of the Holy Spirit and Scripture and prayer.  But one day we will see Him face-to-face!

I believe that’s what Paul was talking about in Philippians 3:14.   The  Amplified Classic Edition of the Bible says, “I press on toward the goal to win the (supreme and heavenly) prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.”

Heavenward, upward, skyward.  The prize is being with Jesus forever!

Paul wanted to be as close to Christ as he could possibly be.  He had gained Him as his Savior.  He was growing in love with Him through the Holy Spirit and getting to know Him better.  He was straining and pressing on – without looking back – for that day when God would call him heavenward, upward.  When that day came, Paul knew he would see Jesus face-to-face.

When Stephen was being stoned to death for his faith, he said, “Look!! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (acts 7:56).

In 1 Corinthians Paul said, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.   Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”

In Philippians 1:23, Paul said, “I am torn between the two:  I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.”

1John 3:2 says, “We know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.”

Revelation 22:3-4 says, “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him.  They will see His face.”

These are the stages of our relationship with Christ.  We gain Him when we receive Him as Savior – that’s justification.

We get to know him better as we walk in the Spirit – that’s sanctification or “Christification”. 

One day we will see Him face-to-face – that’s glorification.

OH!! To see the face of Christ – as bright as sunshine, as wise as He is omniscient, as full of smiles as He is full of grace.  Then we’ll have all eternity to be with Him, to walk with Him, to talk with Him, to dine with Him, and to see the wonders of His majesty.

If you grow weary, think of that.  All the trials of life take on a different perspective we think of that moment when we first see His face.  Your burdens aren’t eternal, but your blessings are.  Your load won’t always be so heavy, but your Lord will be dearer to you as the eons pass.  So run your race until the day when you visibly, literally, wonderfully see His blessed smile!!!

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

View all posts by liveinthelightofourlord