And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
As difficult as it is at times, let us strain beyond what is of this world, what happens on this Earth, and try to peer into the WILL of *GOD*, concerning that which most disturbs, and confuses us...
ALL THINGS work together for GOOD, according to HIS WILL, even the evil which has been around since Eden. *GOD* says that our weaknesses are made perfect in HIS strength (2 CORINTHIANS 12: 9). Our LORD is PERFECT in bringing good out of evil. HIS KINGDOM IS being increased through what such, as HIS own are being tried, and proven. The trouble which happens on this Earth TEACH us to RELY ON *GOD*, to fear HIM OVER ALL else, and to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, for PRAYER is said to be as a salve for every sore, a balm for the spirit, a remedy for every ill. Let us ponder this a bit: Though God accepts the prayer of faith, yet he does not always give what is asked for: as he sometimes grants in wrath, so he sometimes denies in love. When God does not take away our troubles and temptations, yet, if he gives grace enough for us, we have no reason to complain. Grace signifies the good-will of God towards us, and that is enough to enlighten and enliven us, sufficient to strengthen and comfort in all afflictions and distresses. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Thus his grace is manifested and magnified. When we are weak in ourselves, then we are strong in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; when we feel that we are weak in ourselves, then we go to Christ, receive strength from him, and enjoy most the supplies of Divine strength and grace.
ISAIAH 40: 29...
He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.
The people of God are reproved for their unbelief and distrust of God. Let them remember they took the names Jacob and Israel, from one who found God faithful to him in all his straits. And they bore these names as a people in covenant with Him. Many foolish frets, and foolish fears, would vanish before inquiry into the causes. It is bad to have evil thoughts rise in our minds, but worse to turn them into evil words. What they had known, and had heard, was sufficient to silence all these fears and distrusts.
Where God had begun the work of grace, he will perfect it. He will help those who, in humble dependence on him, help themselves. As the day, so shall the strength be. In the strength of Divine grace their souls shall ascend above the world. They shall run the way of God's commandments cheerfully.
Let us watch against unbelief, pride, and self-confidence. If we go forth in our own strength, we shall faint, and utterly fall; but having our hearts and our hopes in heaven, we shall be carried above all difficulties, and be enabled to lay hold of the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus.
ISAIAH 35: 3...
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
Judea was prosperous in the days of Hezekiah, but the kingdom of Christ is the great subject intended. Converting grace makes the soul that was a wilderness, to rejoice with joy and singing, and to blossom abundantly. The feeble and faint-hearted are encouraged. This is the design of the gospel.
Fear is weakening; the more we strive against it, the stronger we are, both for doing and suffering; and he that says to us, Be strong, has laid help for us upon One who is mighty. Assurance is given of the approach of Messiah, to take vengeance on the powers of darkness, to recompense with abundant comforts those that mourn in Zion; He will come and save. He will come again at the end of time, to punish those who have troubled his people; and to give those who were troubled such rest as will be a full reward for all their troubles.
HEBREWS 12: 12...
Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,
A burden of affliction is apt to make the Christian's hands hang down, and his knees grow feeble, to dispirit him and discourage him; but against this he must strive, that he may better run his spiritual race and course. Faith and patience enable believers to follow peace and holiness, as a man follows his calling constantly, diligently, and with pleasure.
EPHESIANS 6: 12...
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Spiritual strength and courage are needed for our spiritual warfare and suffering. Those who would prove themselves to have true grace, must aim at all grace; and put on the whole armour of God, which he prepares and bestows. The Christian armour is made to be worn; and there is no putting off our armour till we have done our warfare, and finished our course. The combat is not against human enemies, nor against our own corrupt nature only; we have to do with an enemy who has a thousand ways of beguiling unstable souls. The devils assault us in the things that belong to our souls, and labour to deface the heavenly image in our hearts.
We must resolve by God's grace, not to yield to Satan. Resist him, and he will flee. If we give way, he will get ground. If we distrust either our cause, or our Leader, or our armour, we give him advantage.
The different parts of the armour of heavy-armed soldiers, who had to sustain the fiercest assaults of the enemy, are here described.
There is none for the back; nothing to defend those who turn back in the Christian warfare. Truth, or sincerity, is the girdle. This girds on all the other pieces of our armour, and is first mentioned. There can be no religion without sincerity. The righteousness of Christ, imputed to us, is a breastplate against the arrows of Divine wrath. The righteousness of Christ implanted in us, fortifies the heart against the attacks of Satan.
Resolution must be as greaves, or armour to our legs; and to stand their ground or to march forward in rugged paths, the feet must be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Motives to obedience, amidst trials, must be drawn from a clear knowledge of the gospel.
Faith is all in all in an hour of temptation. Faith, as relying on unseen objects, receiving Christ and the benefits of redemption, and so deriving grace from him, is like a shield, a defence every way. The devil is the wicked one. Violent temptations, by which the soul is set on fire of hell, are darts Satan shoots at us. Also, hard thoughts of God, and as to ourselves. Faith applying the word of God and the grace of Christ, quenches the darts of temptation.
Salvation must be our helmet. A good hope of salvation, a Scriptural expectation of victory, will purify the soul, and keep it from being defiled by Satan.
To the Christian armed for defense in battle, the apostle recommends only one weapon of attack; but it is enough, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It subdues and mortifies evil desires and blasphemous thoughts as they rise within; and answers unbelief and error as they assault from without. A single text, well understood, and rightly applied, at once destroys a temptation or an objection, and subdues the most formidable adversary.
Prayer must fasten all the other parts of our Christian armour. There are other duties of religion, and of our stations in the world, but we must keep up times of prayer. Though set and solemn prayer may not be seasonable when other duties are to be done, yet short pious prayers darted out, always are so.
We must use holy thoughts in our ordinary course. A vain heart will be vain in prayer. We must pray with all kinds of prayer, public, private, and secret; social and solitary; solemn and sudden: with all the parts of prayer; confession of sin, petition for mercy, and thanksgiving for favours received. And we must do it by the grace of God the Holy Spirit, in dependence on, and according to, his teaching. We must preserve in particular requests, notwithstanding discouragements. We must pray, not for ourselves only, but for all saints. Our enemies are mighty, and we are without strength, but our Redeemer is almighty, and in the power of his mighty we may overcome. Wherefore we must stir up ourselves. Have not we, when God has called, often neglected to answer? Let us think upon these things, and continue our prayers with patience.
As wickedness sweeps this plane, THE KINGDOM increases, for FAITH has brought HIS people home! The one who stands to the end is the one who will be saved! Those who dwell in the shelter of THE MOST HIGH *GOD* WILL abide in HIS shadow; HE WILL DELIVER us; we will NOT fear the terror of the night, nor the arrows which fly by day, but we WILL take refuge in HE, whose POWER IS GREATER than all which shakes us; HE IS OUR REFUGE, our FORTRESS in whom we TRUST, HE IS FAITHFUL TO THE FAITHFUL! Let us NEVER be shaken from THE TRUTH, from THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, from HIS WILL, from TRUST, and RELIANCE towards HIM, who ALONE CAN pluck us from that which would fully destroy us, body, and soul...
It IS HIS WILL that HIS own be with HIM eternally, yet, as they face the destroyer, IF they are shaken out of belief, trust, FAITH, and reliance, then the enemy has taken them body, and soul; THUS we MUST REMAIN IN THE LORD, and TRUST HIM, and BE STRONG no matter what! HIS PLAN CANNOT FAIL, so let us not fail HIM, hence, ourselves! You know there are lots of supporting verses I could add to all of this, however, the message should have been embraced by now...
EVERY WORD of EVERY MESSAGE exists for our benevolence, for our strength, for our safety, and ultimately HIS GLORY, if only we HEED HIS instruction! BLESS, PRAISE, and WORSHIP THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY! PRAISE HIM, EXALT HIM, EXTOL HIM, and HONOUR HIM in TRUTH and spirit! Let us BELIEVE ALWAYS!!!
REV. LWINSOR © 2015
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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