Psalm 107: 1-9
September 12, 2022
Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north and from the south. Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
For years in my search for truth on living victories in Christ, I made a habit of reading the Scriptures. But unless I was teaching a class, I read not study to show myself a workman who needs, not to be shamed. It was more of I met a requirement to put God’s word in my heart. If you want to be equipped to stand, it requires so much more than reading the Bible.
To be a seeker of truth requires a person to digest the teaching of the Scriptures, and to ask the Holy Spirit to equip you with both knowledge and wisdom. As a student of the Word of God, a person should be clear that the enemy of your life has a plan to destroy you, your testimony, and your relationship, with your family, and friends. But most of all to make you believe that living out the Christ life is to keep quiet and never tell anyone what Jesus has done for you.
Take a moment to ponder on Ephesians 6:10-12, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Only a very unwise person, or one that has put faith in a religion of self, would ignore Ephesians 6:10-12. We must be equipped and verse 13, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” If you are a truth seeker you will not only read but apply the following verses that teach you how to prepare for the battle and have no doubt my brother and sister in Christ, the days of evil and we need truth, and the Word of God tells us that Truth is found only in Christ, for He is Truth. And when we are instructed to put on the breastplate of righteousness, it does not refer to self-righteousness, but to put on Christ, who lives in you. The shoe of peace, that is only found in letting Christ reign in your life. The shield of faith is one of the great needs of this battle we have entered, as King David said when encountering the giant, found in 1 Samuel 17:45, “Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” Now if you want to see faith in action, it is a young shepherd boy named David who put his trust in the Lord and not in himself. Read verses 46-47, “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.” That is what faith in action looks like. But it requires one to get dressed, for, without these tools that are only found in Christ, you nor I will live in victory, but the defeated life of unbelief, or ignorance of the Scriptures.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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