Power

His Protection

God will protect those who are His; He will preserve and guard them for Christ’s return. Philippians 1:6 reads, [For I am] confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

“May grace (the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude) and peace (prosperity and quietness) be yours in the fullest measure” 1 Peter 1:2b.

Because –

We are protected by God’s power (v.5)

1Peter 1:5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Who is who? The chosen, those called according to the foreknowledge of God, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, according to His mercy by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord – meaning you live according to His word, and Savior – meaning you recognize your need of Christ’s death on the cross to pay for your sins, then you are not able to claim the security of God’s protection. A personal relationship with Jesus is available to all yet is exclusive to those who humbly accept His grace.

What does it mean to be protected? We are kept, we are watched, we are guarded – in every which way. We are watched in advance and we are guarded from all directions. When looking to God for protection, we will not be overcome by anything that threatens us. Whatever our difficulties, afflictions or sorrows, we are absolutely secure in God. Picture the defense of a castle with turrets pointing in all directions. God’s protection is continuous, not only a defense when danger is seen but born from knowledge of all things that are to come.

Consider how well you are able to protect someone you love. Even with your best efforts, there is absolutely no guarantee you can keep harm from those in your care. I can recount several times that my children got hurt, either physically or by unkind words or actions of others. Bumps, bruises, stitches, broken bones, and broken hearts are part of living in the world. However, nothing is able to change our standing in Christ and the eternal salvation He has granted.

God’s children are protected by the power of God. His power is miraculous in its ability, abundance, intent, strength and wonder.

God’s power is able to accomplish anything. If we understand and believe this, there is never a reason to lose hope. What might seem impossible to us is never beyond the ability of God.

Matthew 19:26 And looking upon [them] Jesus said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Luke 18:27 But He said, "The things impossible with men are possible with God."

God’s power is always more than enough. We might be able to muscle our way through some difficulty barely making it ‘by the skin of our teeth’. God’s power is ample, given in quantities that never run out and never fall short.

Psalm 147:5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.

Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.

God’s power is intentional. God’s power is characterized by purpose. Picture the common fairytale with a wand yielded by an imaginary character. The wand is pointed and sometimes results are what were desired; sometimes the results are a bit of a surprise. This is haphazard power at best. God’s power is given with knowledge; it is deliberate and is performed with a specific intent, His perfect plan.

Romans 8:28 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.

2Tmothy 1:8-9 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with [me] in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

God’s power has no match in its strength. God has the power to save and the power to forgive sins. He has power over nature and the power to uphold all things by His word. Hebrews chapter 11 gives us a list of details how God manifested His power through those who believed in Him.

Hebrews 11:33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed [acts of] righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

Psalm 93:4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. KJV

Nahum 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means leave [the guilty] unpunished. In whirlwind and storm is His way, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

God’s power is full of wonder. Consider His miraculous creation. Consider His marvellous works.

Exodus 15:11 "Who is like Thee among the gods, O LORD? Who is like Thee, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?

Psalm 77:14 Thou art the God who workest wonders; Thou hast made known Thy strength among the peoples.

Daniel 4:3 "How great are His signs, and how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.

We are protected by the power of God through faith. Faith is the persuasion, acceptance, and moral conviction of the truthfulness of God. It is reliance upon Christ alone for salvation, the Gospel, assurance, belief and confidence in God.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of [things] hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Faith in a believer’s heart is bestowed through God’s grace, (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are saved by grace through faith and we can have confidence that God will keep us in His care.

Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary says God “does not keep us by the mere exertion of power, but He excites faith in our hearts, and makes that the means of keeping us. As long as we have faith in God, and in His promises, we are safe”.

Ours is not only a hopeful faith, it is a certain faith wrought by God’s own power.

For what are we protected? A salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. This is our final and ultimate rescue and deliverance. The Teacher’s Commentary states we will see complete victory over the fight in our flesh toward sin and we will witness complete deliverance from trials, persecution and sorrow.

John 10:28-29 and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given [them] to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father's hand.

This is incredible, this is our hope and this is Truth. If you follow Christ, you are secured by His power through faith for salvation.

Are you holding fast to the confidence you have in Christ?
During this time of uncertainty, how is your faith being manifested in your thoughts, actions and words?

“Who are, by the mighty power of God, through the means of their faith wrought in them by the Spirit of God, kept to the full obtaining and fruition of that salvation, which, having been purchased and revealed by Christ, is ready to be consummated in these last days of the world”, Hall’s Explication of Hard Texts.

Read this summary found in Philip Doddridge’s N.T. Commentary, “Who, though now surrounded with many apparent dangers, are not left defenseless, but are guarded as in a strong and impregnable garrison, by the almighty power of God, through the continued exercise of that faith which this almighty power wrought in your hearts; and he will still maintain it unto that blessed hour when you shall receive the complete and eternal salvation which is already prepared, and though now kept as under a veil, is to be revealed in its full radiance of glory, in the last time, the grand period, in which all the mysteries of divine Providence shall beautifully terminate.

Immeasurable Power, Compassion and Protection

Ps 136:13-15 To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, 14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; 15 But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean. It lies between Africa and Asia. It is more than 1,300 miles long and its widest point is 220.6 miles. The average depth of the Red sea is over 1,500 feet with a deep trough running through the center. This information is taken from Wikipedia which also states that approximately 25% of this body of water is considered shallow, being under 164 feet deep.

In these verses we continue to see the power and protection of God towards His children.

Ex 14:21-22 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided. 22 The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

Ps 78:13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, And He made the waters stand up like a heap.

We see God’s power in directing the water. Can anyone you know cause a body of water to part, making a pathway to cross over and forming a wall of water on each side? Consider the scene. The children of Israel, finally being let go under Pharaoh’s rule in Egypt, take off into the desert, basically running for their life. Pharaoh’s army begins the chase and the Israelites come to an impasse – the Red Sea. They were tired, they were scared and now it seemed there was no way to continue their exit.

We see God’s compassion as He performs a miracle causing the deep waters to part. God not only provided a way of escape but, after all the Israelites had crossed, God then caused the waters to flow once again engulfing the entire Egyptian Army.

Read Spurgeon’s comments on this text, “Men deny miracles; but, granted that there is a God, they become easy of belief. Since it requires me to be an atheist that I may logically reject miracles, I prefer the far smaller difficulty of believing in the infinite power of God. He who causes the waters of the sea ordinarily to remain as one mass can with equal readiness divide them”. (Treasury of David)

God also gives His children the faith to walk through difficulties. Can you imagine stepping onto a path surrounded by high walls of water? The path set out for the Israelites was unknown. They were to walk down into the deep center of the great sea and then trek up again as they crossed to the other side. While they were stepping forward in faith, God kept a dark cloud between them and the Egyptian army.

In Christ, we can do whatever He deems necessary for His glory. Our God is great. Our faith needs to be great. We can step forward without fear in the paths set out before us. What we might see as an obstacle, God will use for His glory.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Isaiah 41:10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

Psalm 78:53 He led them safely, so that they did not fear; but the sea engulfed their enemies.

“…and thus the Lord makes his people willing to pass through afflictions, he being with them; and able to bear them, he putting underneath the everlasting arms, even when in the valley of the shadow of death. He carries them safely through them, so that they are not hurt by them; the waters do not overflow them, nor the flames kindle upon them; nor are any suffered to be lost: but all come safe to land.” --John Gill.

When we think of defeating an army, our mind conjures up pictures of a great battle and loss of life on both sides. Battles in the world begin with no guarantee of victory to either party. Strategy and strength and number and weaponry help to overcome the enemy.

Psalm 136:15 says God overthrew Pharaoh and his army, meaning He shook them off or tossed them up and down. Visualize a dog playing with a stuffed toy, shaking it from side to side as if it were nothing! God has no problem subduing His opposition.

Ex 15:4-5 "Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; and the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 "The deeps cover them; they went down into the depths like a stone.

Ex 15:10 "You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

There is never a debate if God will win. Victory is easy for Him. In this specific reminder of His care, not one Israeli life was lost and the entire Egyptian army was eradicated. This is the God I trust. Is this the God you know? Have you placed your complete trust in the one true God of the Bible? Would you, by faith, follow Him through a path that was unknown and made no sense in your human understanding?

Again, each of these three verses ends with the words, “For His lovingkindness is everlasting”. God does shower His mercy upon those who love Him but He is also great in His judgement against those who reject Him.

In Psalm 136:13-15, God’s power is seen in His command over the Red Sea; God’s compassion is seen in giving the Israelites faith and courage to move towards something inexplicable; and His judgement is seen as He renders His sentence over the wicked. Although this account took place in mid-15th century B.C., we see God’s amazing attributes all around us today, working in our lives and the lives of others.

God commands all nature; compassion from God towards sinners is constant; and He will judge sin in complete righteousness. God is all-powerful and His protection is over those who follow Him. He will give to us the faith we need to step forward on the path He leads. Praise His Name!

No Hiding!

Have you ever just wanted to run? With no real purpose in mind, just run like you could outrun a difficulty or a problem that needs your attention.

This is a picture of one of the ancient cliff dwellings of the Sinagua Indians in Sedona Arizona. Sometimes, a cave to retreat to and hide in seems appropriate, right?

Have you ever just wanted to run? With no real purpose in mind, just run like you could outrun a difficulty or a problem that needs your attention. Most of us have had that feeling. Some of us more than once. I’ve walked through a store not really seeing anything, trying to keep tears back, hoping others won’t notice, ‘escaping from reality for a moment’. I’ve gone for a walk nowhere in particular while the tears flow, trying to digest unexpected or difficult circumstances. We react in different ways to the stresses of life but we all seem to want to run at one time or another. Not too far, but far enough so that we can clear our thoughts, get them in line with right thinking and integrate new or disturbing information in a fashion that will honor God. We have such limited understanding. We cannot see into the future. Often we are focused on the things at hand rather than the things of heaven. Everyone encounters suffering in some way. Look at the apostle Paul. Although his situation was different, we read that he struggled with disease and insults and distresses. What was his response?

2Co 12:10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

In the verse preceding, God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness”, 2 Corinthians 12:9a. Consider. Because of God’s promises, His grace towards me, His divine influence in my heart and His work in my life, I am able to choose to think well of, and be a willing recipient of weaknesses, whether in mind or body. No grumbling or ‘it’s not fair’, no wondering if God got it wrong, no stomping the feet and cursing the sky, no refusing or yelling ‘why me?’ Rather, a willing acceptance and peaceful attitude towards difficulty. I whole heartedly want this to be true of my life no matter what. Not that I seek trouble or problems, in fact my initial response is to run as I’ve mentioned above, and then hide and stay in my comfortable place, alone with God, studying His word, contemplating His amazing grace and marveling at His love for someone such as myself. I would be comfortable doing this all day, ignoring the world around me to a large degree. But, He has not called us to be secluded in a hole somewhere. Sure, that time alone with God is sweet. It is necessary and to be sought after and protected and nourished. However, we are to participate in life with others. We are to be lights in the world, encouragers to fellow believers, and to serve in His name. We can’t do this if we’re not engaged with those around us. If we hide in a cave we become ineffective tools for God to use. How can we be light if we’re not out there? A willingness to be exposed to the world and the pressures around us just make us more mindful of the need we have of Christ!

Eph 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light

2Co 1:3-4 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

To take pleasure, in the context of 2 Corinthians 12:10, means to approve of the circumstances God allows in my life knowing it is for His glory and my good. This approval is not in the sense of giving permission or allowing, but in the sense of recognizing God’s sovereignty and direction for my life. It’s being willing to embrace whatever God has deemed necessary. It’s desiring to include all elements of my life that are presented, knowing that they are part of a perfect plan. Any amount of suffering, either in mind or body, is for His glory because He is exalted, and for my good because I have the opportunity to trust even more which proves a faith that is real. So that when I run, I run towards Him, not away. As tears fall, I pray for direction, for peace, for trust, for perseverance. Take a deep breath, dry the tears, and move forward in His grace and strength.

for more click herehttp://thensingsmysoultothee.com/christs-strength/

Misstep

In our walk with God, there is no need to be alone. In fact, there is no need to misstep if we walk with Him all the way.

My Dad used to tell us about how he walked six miles to and from school, uphill both ways!! It’s not so common now to have a child walk to school because safety has become a real concern. Well, I didn’t walk six miles to school and certainly both ways were not uphill , but my brothers and I always walked to school, to friends’ homes, and to a place we called ‘the little store’ which was a convenience store where you would buy penny candy. Sometimes we would meander around the neighborhood which had a radius of a few miles, sometimes we would hurry to our destination if we were running late or it was getting dark. You always had to be home by dark for dinner. Once, I was walking home from school after hanging out with my friends so it was a bit later than usual so I was kind of half walking, half running. I somehow missed my step and rolled my ankle really bad. It swelled up like a baseball within minutes and turned purple pretty quickly. No one would really look for me until dinner time. So I was on my own. I hobbled home with crocodile tears in my eyes all the way!

In our walk with God, there is no need to be alone. In fact, there is no need to misstep if we walk with Him all the way.

Ps 119:133 Establish my footsteps in Thy word, and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.

Consider. What does it mean to establish something?

establish: set up, lay the groundwork, make clear by example or explanation, institute, bring about, place

establish (KJV – order) <kuwn> to be erect; hence to set up, establish, fix, prepare, apply. confirm, direct, order, be stable

order my steps (KJV)

direct my steps (NKJV)

keep steady my steps (RSV)

Ps 17:5 My steps have held fast to Thy paths. My feet have not slipped.

Have you ever been on a hiking trip or taken a long hike in the mountains? How important is it that your steps are carefully placed? What happens if not?

God governs our steps; God guides our steps; God keeps us from losing our step. In other words, we have a map, we have a guide and we have someone holding our hand helping us through the uncertain or difficult areas of our journey!

So why do we falter? We let go, we move ahead without waiting because we’re impatient, we choose not to look at the map and we get lost.

“Ver. 133. Order my steps in thy word. This is one of the Lord's customary mercies to his chosen, -- "He keepeth the feet of his saints." By his grace he enables us to put our feet step by step in the very place which his word ordains. This prayer seeks a very choice favour, namely, that every distinct act, every step, might be arranged and governed by the will of God. This does not stop short of perfect holiness, neither will the believer's desires be satisfied with anything beneath that blessed consummation.” Treasury of David

Read what the next part of Psalm 119:133 says:

Establish my footsteps in Thy word,

word <’imrah> commandment, speech, word

Pretty clear, right. God’s word. His truth. The bible. Think! What does it mean to be ‘in something’? We have common sayings such as, ‘we are in love’. We can be in church, in the store, in the back yard, etc. We are physically there! We are part of whatever we are in. Being in something speaks of our location, or our surroundings. I belong to a quilting group – I am in the quilting group. I am in a growth group. In the summer, we are in the water, meaning we are involved with it, surrounded by it.

Ps 64:10 The righteous man will be glad in the LORD, and will take refuge in Him; and all the upright in heart will glory.

“Steps taken before, or in the presence of God. Steps butted and bounded by a divine rule. These are steps indeed." --John Bunyan, in "Solomon's Temple Spiritualized."

Click here for the complete study…http://thensingsmysoultothee.com/sole-soul-power/

Light(ning)s – Camera – Action!

God directs all things for His ultimate glory. If you are His child, having claimed Him as Lord and accepted the gift of His Son’s death, you are in the mighty, powerful hand of the One who directs all physical and natural phenomena

Lightning. An abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light. Atmospheric electricity. A physical phenomenon associated with the atmosphere. A physical phenomenon is a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energy. A phenomenon is a process known through the senses rather than by intuition or reasoning; a remarkable development.

Here, in the Antelope Valley, we are largely unaware of true weather. It gets hot, it gets windy, and it gets windy and hot. Then it gets cold, it gets windy, and it gets windy and cold. That’s pretty much our weather pattern. If or when we get a sprinkle of water from the sky it is for the most part celebrated and enjoyed for all its worth. If or when we receive real snowflakes or hail is a topic of conversation for days.

But, I like living here, it kinda grows on you. You learn to appreciate fewer bugs because the hot, dry heat is not conducive to their need for moisture. Bugs dry up quickly. And, the dry weather gives you a reason to try out many beautifully scented lotions because your skin cries for moisture as you watch it shriveling before your eyes – hmmm, citrus or floral??

Lately, we’ve had more moisture than in recent years and all of a sudden earthworms are everywhere. The chickens love them, along with the current development of cockroaches – Arrgh! or “Yucky” (in grandchildren language), a fairly gross insect. My better half has become creative in what to do with these new ‘blessings’. One of our grandsons loves digging up worms and feeding them to the chickens and probably the best natural cockroach deterrent are the dozen beaks of hungry hens!

On to the recent weather. We’ve been experiencing beautiful lightning storms. We’ve even had what you might call short downpours of rain with thunder and lightning. Of course, this makes me think of God’s ultimate power over the universe. He paints the picture of lightning bolts in our sky. He controls the sound of thunder we hear. He knows the number of rain drops He sends. He directs the speed of wind.

Thunder is called the voice of God in His word.

Ps 29:1-4 (A Psalm of David.) Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in holy array. 3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD is over many waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful, the voice of the LORD is majestic.

Job 37:2-3 “Listen closely to the thunder of His voice, and the rumbling that goes out from His mouth. 3 “Under the whole heaven He lets it loose, and His lightning to the ends of the earth.

God sets “a limit for the rain, and a course for the thunderbolt”. Job 28:26
See the pictures below that my husband took of a lightning strike last night. First, a course for the direction of lightning is paved by an initial current that comes from the ground. Then the lightning follows that exact path in reverse direction back down to the ground. Look at the direction of the ‘fingers’ in the second photo. Wow! God’s world!

Who are we to doubt His power? Are you able to answer the questions God asked Job of his understanding of God’s ways?
Job 38:24-25 “Where is the way that the light is divided, [Or] the east wind scattered on the earth? 25 “Who has cleft a channel for the flood, or a way for the thunderbolt;
Job 38:35 “Can you send forth lightnings that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’?
God directs all things for His ultimate glory. If you are His child, having claimed Him as Lord and accepted the gift of His Son’s death, you are in the mighty, powerful hand of the One who directs all physical and natural phenomena.
Ps 18:14 And He sent out His arrows, and scattered them, and lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them.
I pray you join me in acknowledging God’s glory and strength, power and majesty (Ps. 29:1-4); His control over all heaven and earth (Job 37:2-3); His direction of all scientific and natural phenomena (Job 28:26; 38:24-25;38:35); and His right to set forth the comings and goings of all things (Ps 18:14).

De 4:35,39 “To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD, He is God; there is no other besides Him. 39 “Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the LORD, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.

Light(ning)s – Camera – Action – Praise!

Tag: Power

His Protection

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Immeasurable Power, Compassion and Protection

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No Hiding!

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Misstep

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Light(ning)s – Camera – Action!

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