NEVER forget that there are pockets in the blasting winds which often, turn into funnels, like a vacuum, just waiting to suck up, and destroy anything in it's path! Our ONLY HOPE IS THE LORD *GOD* when the world's negatives are culminating! IF we allow ourselves to be extremely distracted, we face great risk of being taken into the funnel, and having NO ONE to protect us as we then, have left THE LORD behind in doing so! *GOD* speaks quite a bit about REMAINING IN HIM, TRUSTING HIM, and WAITING ON HIM, throughout the entire BIBLE, and those who don't, or won't, well, they have chosen...
OF COURSE it is difficult to remain free from the looming storm, but we MUST, because it IS a part of the underhanded works of the evil ruler of this world, AND IF we CLAIM TO BE OF *GOD*, then we KNOW to RELY ON HIM AS OPPOSED to being tripped and trapped by what is of the world, NO MATTER how difficult it might seem, or be! IF we are TRUE TO OUR CALLING, OUR FAITH PREVAILS, it PERSISTS REGARDLESS of the turbulence around us!!!
Asa becomes King, then Ethiopia comes against him with a million Men, and 300 chariots! Asa's instinct, and impulse was to bow down before THE LORD and PRAY, which is absolutely what *GOD* expects of HIS people!
*GOD* answered Asa through Azariah, “Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. “For many days Israel was without the true God and without a teaching priest and without law. “But in their distress they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and they sought Him, and He let them find Him. “In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for many disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. “Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every kind of distress.“But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.”
Asa's piety, He strengthens his kingdom. - Asa aimed at pleasing God, and studied to approve himself to him. Happy those that walk by this rule, not to do that which is right in their own eyes, or in the eye of the world, but which is so in God's sight. We find by experience that it is good to seek the Lord; it gives us rest; while we pursue the world, we meet with nothing but vexation. Asa consulted with his people how to make a good use of the peace they enjoyed; and concluded with them that they must not be idle, nor secure. A formidable army of Ethiopians invaded Asa's kingdom. This evil came upon them, that their faith in God might be tried. Asa's prayer is short, but it is the real language of faith and expectation from God. When we go forth in God's name, we cannot but prosper, and all things work together for the good of those whom he favours.
The people make a solemn covenant with God. - The work of complete reformation appeared so difficult, that Asa had not courage to attempt it, till assured of Divine assistance and acceptance. He and his people offered sacrifices to God; thanksgiving for the favours they had received, and supplication for further favours. Prayers and praises are now our spiritual sacrifices. The people, of their own will, covenanted to seek the Lord, each for himself, with earnestness. What is religion but seeking God, inquiring after him, applying to him upon all occasions? We make nothing of our religion, if we do not make heart-work of it; God will have all the heart, or none. Our devoutness to God our Saviour, should be avowed and shown in the most solemn and public manner. What is done in hypocrisy is a mere drudgery.
There are MANY examples of those who RELIED ON THE LORD *GOD*; great leaders who brought the people into the favour of THE LORD, and away from the dangers of the world, which are designed to shake our FAITH; to cause us so much distress we look inwardly, or to others for answers, and strength, instead of looking to *GOD*; to shift our focus from THE HEAVENS to the world, that we might be snared, and ultimately trapped! In each example we find TOTAL TRUST IN *GOD* by one or more, which then, is used to inspire the people, and encourage them to stand FAITHFULLY strong in the face of ALL adversity, and adversaries!!!
We PRAY, we PRAISE, we WORSHIP, we REJOICE, we give THANKS, we HONOUR our LORD BY REMAINING IN HIM, and HIS WILL, regardless of the storms before us! He who endures until the end IS he who will enter into THE KINGDOM, and we MUST realize that the more awful the storms of this plane, the more people WILL be shaken out of their safety, and away from THE LORD, and so, each time we are hard pressed, we ought to LEARN TO RELY ON THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY ALL THE MORE BECAUSE ONLY HE IS OUR CHAMPION, OUR SAVIOUR, OUR DELIVERER, AS WELL AS THE PROVIDER OF ALL WE NEED TO ENDURE, PERSERVERE, and WITHSTAND what is common to the world; evil, wickedness, and all which is negatively established!!!
ONLY THE LORD *GOD* WILL calm the storms, heal the effects, and lead us through! There is NO OTHER WAY; NO OTHER HOPE; NO OTHER TRUTH; NO OTHER MATTER MORE IMPERATIVE THAN TO KNOW HIM, AND HIS ALMIGHTY POWERS TO SAVE HIS OWN! May we ALWAYS REMAIN IN HIM WHO IS THE LIGHT WHICH SHINES as the world quakes, and darkens!!!
LWINSOR © 2017
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
No comments:
Post a Comment