Established!

Established!

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 KJV

In placing today's extract in the right context, we look at the first 2 verses before this one. Paul asks for prayers for 2 main things: prayer that the Word of God may have free course and be glorified, and that God will deliver him and his team from wicked and faithless men. These 2 prayer points are quite fundamental to the understanding of today's extract. 

In any assignment or task God will give to any man, the Word of God must have prominence. The Word of God must have unfettered access into any life that will profit from it. How does God's Word work wonders in an unsubmitted and unbroken heart? How does the Word of God work in a life that has competing interests going contrary to what the Word of God has clearly laid down as rules? 

The first thing then is to answer the questions of control and access. Who is in control of my life and who has access, or who can access my heart? Does God have free course over my life or am I in total control of my life? The Word of God never lacks the power to make impact, but the effect it can make is subject to my submission to its power and influence. 

Paul then prays for deliverance from wicked, faithless men. Why would this be important? Could it be it is because such men hold the power of influence over men whose hearts have not been brought under the control and influence of the Word of God. You see, there is nothing like an empty heart. There is always a power of influence over a man's heart. Whoever is in charge determines its reaction or reception to the Word of God. 

So, the question that must be answered by each man is this: WHO is in charge of your heart? God does not force Himself on any man. And the 2 prayer points go together; we pray to avoid trials and tough times, but how does God refine me and make me fit to carry His precious Word to lives who need to know Him? Can I avoid trials and still be prepared to be used of God? Paul didn't ask for deliverance so he could walk away from difficult people; his prayer was required so that God's Word could do his Work in the lives of men who needed it. And this is still the situation today. 

Men will oppose and resist whatever seeks to address the issue of sin in their lives, but God's Word has been proven, time and time again, to be sufficient to address this problem, if that life will allow the Word to have free course. And that is the essence of today's extract. All of the above are possible only in Jesus. God is faithful, and He will move heaven and earth, suspend natural laws and 'break' protocol, so His Word can have free course. He is the One who is able to establish a man, get him grounded, and keep him or her from evil. 

Why is the part about 'stablish' so important? When a man is grounded by God, it doesn't matter what the quality and quantity of the opposition is. If the man is not grounded by God, it does not matter what the quality and quantity of the human support system is. He is faithful to His Word, because His Word is the power and agent of change in the lives of all who allow it work. He is faithful because never has he lost any battle with the evil one, and all who trust Him are eternally safe. 

Things will happen on this side of eternity that I may not understand, but there is no doubt in my heart that because God is faithful, I am safe from the power and influence of evil. In these strange times, I need the mercy of God to do its work in me. I cannot help myself; I cannot make it on my own. I ask again: WHO is your support system? Eternity hangs on your response. His time of favour is here.