One of the worse feelings in the world is when we feel that no one understands us or the situation we are facing. There are times when those who are closest to us seem to have no understanding of the pain, anxiety or fears that we have within us. It is this very feeling of being misunderstood that accompanies depression, anxiety and, at the extreme, suicidal thoughts.
What is God’s message to His people who feel so very misunderstood and isolated? You are not alone…Jehovah, the Creator of heaven and earth is a loving, kind and concerned God. He cares about you and He understands you and your situation in life. Listen to what the Bible says about how concerned He is about you…
THE SCRIPTURE:
Eph 2:10 (KJV) 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Gen 16:13 (KJV) And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me…
Luke 12:6-7 (KJV) Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Exod 33:17 (KJV) … for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
Job 31:4 (KJV) Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
Ps 56:8 (KJV) Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: [are they] not in thy book?
2Kgs 20:5 (KJV) …Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears:…
Isa 41:13 (KJV) For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
2Tim 4:17 (KJV) Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me;…
Phil 4:19 (KJV) 19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
THE STUDY:
The Bible, God’s Word that He has given to mankind, reveals to us the following…
God has made you. You are the unique creation of His hands. (Eph 2:10)
God sees you and is watching over you. (Gen 16:13)
God knows you so well that He has counted the very hairs on your head. (Lk 12:6-7)
God knows you by name (Ex 33:17)
God sees the path you are on in life and is watching your very steps. (Job 31:4)
God puts your tears in a bottle. (Psa 56:8)
God hears your prayers and sees your sorrow (2 Kngs 20:5)
God will take your hand and help you (Isa 41:13)
God will stand beside you and strengthen you (2 Tim 4:17)
God will supply all your needs (Phil 4:19)
PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
For those who are saved …
What a glorious message from God’s Word… no matter what you may face, no matter how often you are misunderstood by man… the Lord will always understand, accompany and care for you. You are His, nothing can separate you from His love.
Rom 8:31-39 (KJV)
What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifieth. Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
For those who have yet to be saved...
God’s love was shown to mankind through the sending of His Son to come and die on the cross …
Rom 5:6-11 (KJV)
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Titus 3:4-7 (KJV)
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Won’t you turn to Christ and trust in Him for the forgiveness of your sins? You will never be left alone nor misunderstood by Him.
If you have any questions concerning this blog, or if you have a subject you would like discussed, please feel free to email me at settledinheaven@gmail.com. I will answer all emails via my blog, email, or both.
Follow my Squidoo Instructional Lens “Presenting God’s Grace” “The Solemn Obligation To Present the Doctrines of Grace to the Lost and Saved Alike” http://www.squidoo.com/presenting-gods-grace
May the Lord bless your study of His Word. Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”
Is this song Scriptural? Are there examples in the Bible where God uses the small things to yield great results for Him? Lets take a look at what the Bible says….
THE SCRIPTURES:
Judges 7:1-8, 16-23
THE STUDY:
The Context Of Our Study: Judges 6:…
Vs 1-7 - The Israelites for their sin are oppressed by Midian
Vs 8-10 - A prophet rebukes them
Vs 11-16 - An angel sends Gideon for their deliverance
Vs 17 - 23 - Gideon's present is consumed with fire – The proof of Gideon’s calling
Vs 24 -27 - Gideon destroys Baal's altar, and offers a sacrifice upon the altar Jehovah-shalom
Vs 28 -32 - Joash defends his son, Gideon, and calls him Jerubbaal – “Let Baal Plead (Argue) With Him”
Vs 33 –35 - Gideon's army gathered from Israel
“God Is In It” - Gideon's fleece proof of victory from the Lord: Judges 6:36-40…
36) And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
Gideon asks the Lord for a miracle which would prove that Israel will get the victory over the Midianites. Note the lack of faith on the part of Gideon, but the patience, kindness and grace of Jehovah. Gideon not totally lacking faith, he had been willing to destroy the idols of Baal, placing his life at risk at the hands of the Baal worshippers.
37) Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; [and] if the dew be on the fleece only, and [it be] dry upon all the earth [beside], then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.
38) And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
Jehovah proceeds to do exactly as Gideon asks…. He places dew on the fleece while keeping the floor dry. Proof Israel will get the victory.
39) And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
40) And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
Notice that Gideon is aware of his lack of faith and the Lord’s patience and grace being shown to him. Keep in mind, Gideon ALREADY knew God’s will (Jud 6:14-16, 6:36), he was in doubting if the Lord’s promise was true. This fleece incident is not to DISCERN the Lord’s will, it is to AFFIRM the Lord’s will.
The Lord, once again, acts to ease Gideon’s concerns by working another miracle. This miracle was the exact opposite as the previous miracle. Dew was now on the ground while the fleece was dry.
“The Little” – Gideon’s 300 men: Judges 7:1-8…
1) Then Jerubbaal, who [is] Gideon, and all the people that [were] with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
Gideon is now preparing to go against the Midianites.
2) And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that [are] with thee [are] too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
Why did the Lord desire to decrease the number of Israelites? So that He might be glorified not the military might of Israel. (Zech 4:6, Psa 20:7)
**Principle #1 – The Lord uses the little things to accomplish great acts of service for Him so that He might be glorified
3) Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever [is] fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
**Principle #2 - The Lord uses those of faith to accomplish great things.
4) And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people [are] yet [too] many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, [that] of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
5) So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
6) And the number of them that lapped, [putting] their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.
7) And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the [other] people go every man unto his place.
The Lord divides the remaining group into two groups based upon those who lapped and those who bent down to drink water. We now have 32,000 down to 10,000 down to 300.
Men on knees taking longer drink – concerned about satisfying desires of flesh.
Men lapping taking short drink – ready for war, placing call of God ahead of fleshly satisfaction.
**Principle #3 - The Lord uses those who put Him first and their fleshly desires second to accomplish great things.
What a miracle the Lord was about to perform. He was going to use 300 Israelites to defeat an innumerable army of Midianites and Ammonites (Jud 7:12)
8) So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all [the rest of] Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.
Gideon obeys the Lord and takes the 300, leaving the other Israelites in their tent with sustenance.
“The Much” – A Great Victory Over Midianites: Judg 7:16-23 …
16) And he divided the three hundred men [into] three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.
He now equips his men with a trumpet, a pitcher and a lamp. Note that there was no military weapons used. Gideon understood they stood no chance for a military victory. They would only gain a victory through an absolute miracle from Jehovah.
17) And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be [that], as I do, so shall ye do.
18) When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that [are] with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, [The sword] of the LORD, and of Gideon.
Gideon divides the 300 into 3 groups of 100 each. Gideon’s instructions to His warriors… follow my lead, blow your trumpets and shout “the Sword of the Lord and of Gideon”.
Note: It is not plural “swords” but the Lord’s “sword” being used through Gideon. The desire of the Lord was being fulfilled… the Israelites were understanding that the weapons of this warfare was of God, through His servant. To Him be the glory.
**Principle #4 – The Lord accomplishes great things by working in and through weak sinful human instruments. It is the Lord that accomplishes the work. He simply uses men to do it. Much like a writer uses a pen to place his words on the paper.
19) So Gideon, and the hundred men that [were] with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that [were] in their hands.
20) And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow [withal]: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
Gideon’s plan is put into motion.
Please note that:
1. Gideon placed his plan into action at the beginning of the “middle watch” . It was a time of confusion with the men just getting into their place for their turn at the watch.
2. It was very dark. There were three night watches of equal length. They ran from 6:00pm to 6:00am. Therefore, Gideon made his move at approx 10-11 pm.
21) And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
Through the Lord’s intervention, at the sudden sounding of the trumpets, the breaking of the pitchers and the shining of the light terrified the Midianites; they probably thought that there was a great number of invaders surrounding them and ready to pounce upon the Israelites.
22) And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, [and] to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.
Their confusion is so great they turn on one another and begin to war within their own ranks. They then flee for their lives.
23) And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.
The closest Israelites, then gathered and begin to pursue the defeated Midianites. These would have included those of little faith and those who knelt to drink.
**Principle #5 – Those who are weaker spiritually are strengthen by God when others exhibit faith in their service to Him.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
For those who are saved…
Those who are the smallest and the most unlikely to succeed in their service to Him are the ones most likely to glorify Him through their acts of faithful service to Him. We all have a special privilege and opportunity to serve Him in times of weakness. It is during these times we can glorify Him in the greatest ways.
2Cor 10:2-5
2) But I beseech [you], that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4) (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Cor 3:4-5
4) And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God;
2Cor 4:7
7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
1Cor 1:18-24
18) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19) For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20) Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21) For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22) For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23) But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24) But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1Cor 2
1) And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2) For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3) And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4) And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5) That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
If you have any questions concerning this blog, or if you have a subject you would like discussed, please feel free to email me at settledinheaven@gmail.com. I will answer all emails via my blog, email, or both.
Follow my Squidoo Instructional Lens “Presenting God’s Grace” “The Solemn Obligation To Present the Doctrines of Grace to the Lost and Saved Alike” http://www.squidoo.com/presenting-gods-grace
May the Lord bless your study of His Word. Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”
Today, we are surrounded by messages of “need”. TV commercials consistently say we “need” something… a new car, a new set of clothes, or a new computer. Our government would like us to think that we “need” all of it’s programs and spending; without them we would fall off the face of the planet, we are told.
But the classic example of the message of need is presented to us in the song by America entitled “I Need You” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk-7n1hdK3M). Speaking of one person’s need for another, the song says it is “like the flowers (that) need the rain”. Sounds serious to me, flowers can’t live without rain, you know.
As a young man, my father used to consistently remind me that there was a difference between a “need” and a “want”. Sorry to say, I didn’t see the wisdom in his words back then… it was only as I moved away from home that I began to see what he really meant. In many instances, what we have is a tendency to say something is a “need”, when in actuality it is only a “want”.
But what is even more perplexing is that we have one true need that is often overlooked or devalued.
It is as if our attention is drawn to these other false “needs”, causing us to ignore the most important need of our life…. The Lord Jesus Christ….
THE SCRIPTURE:
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.
(Psalms 68:19 kjv)
THE STUDY:
In the preceding verse we are given two very important reasons why we need Christ in our lives…. “He daily loadeth us with benefits” and “our salvation”.
First, let’s look at his “daily benefits” He gives to us. I can only speak for myself, but in my case, I am CONSTANTLY forgetting all that my Lord does for me on a daily basis. The food I have to eat, the roof over my head, my strength and health, my wonderful wife, even the very breath that I take comes from my Lord. How quickly do I forget these things. In the middle of my day, when I am wrapped up with the daily grind, how easy it is to forget His constant flow of blessings to me.
I may be busy at work and have to eat a late lunch and grumble about it. Next time, I should thank Him that I have food to eat and an appetite which allows me to enjoy the food. Or, how about when I am tired and cranky; I take my frustration out on my poor wife… I’m certainly not appreciating the Lord, or her, like I should be. As our verse said… He is daily LOADING us with His benefits (blessings). Thank you, Lord for all you do for me on a daily basis!
But there is another blessing He gives to us mentioned in our verse…. His salvation. “Salvation from what?”, you may ask. This is a very fair question. To help us answer this question, we need to understand what is meant by the term “salvation”. In this Psalm, the Hebrew word translated “salvation” simply means “to deliver from or to give the victory over”. Here, we are told that our Lord is the One who gives us deliverance from something. That “something” is sin.
Over the years, I have heard more definitions for sin than I can count (or remember). To me, the easy way I understand the meaning of “sin”, and it’s effect on our life, is by thinking of a blind man who stops to ask for directions. He is given a roadmap to guide him…. only one problem, he cannot begin to understand, read, or even see the map. He is in a horrible predicament. He has a set of instructions guiding him on the path he should take, but he cannot begin to follow those directions. Such is the sinfulness of man.
Because we are sinners from conception, we all are unable to please God of our own ability. Just like the blind man, we are in a terrible situation. God has given us His Word which contains His desires for our life, but without His grace, we cannot begin to follow them. For further study on our condition as sinners before God please study (Isa 64:6-7). To sum it up… apart from the Lord we are in horrible straits.
Does this mean we are in a hopeless situation? ABSOLUTELY NOT. This is where faith in our Lord Jesus Christ comes in. Once we understand our inability, our next step is to turn to Him and realize we are totally dependant upon Him to deliver us (or give us the victory over) our sinful condition. In other words WE NEED HIM to save us from our sins. By turning to Him, and trusting in Him, we receive the forgiveness of our sins and the ability to please Him with our lives.
Why is Christ the One we must turn to and place our faith in? It is because He is the One who died for us, taking our sin upon Himself that we might be saved. (please see Roms 4:24-5:2 for more info)
THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
Yep, “just like the flowers need the rain”, we truly need Him, not only for our physical well-being, but for our spiritual salvation as well. We can all agree with these words: “Without me (Christ) ye can do nothing”… but… “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (John 15:5, Phil 4:13). Let’s turn to Him and receive His salvation and forgiveness and then, every day, be thankful and praise Him for all He has done for us!
May the Lord bless your study of His Word. Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”
