The Shepherd 4!

The Shepherd 4!

‭Psalm 23:6 KJV‬

[6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Man was created by God to live forever. As you read the story of creation, you find out that there was really no end-game, no limit set to the life of man. He was created to dominate, to fill the earth and subdue it. There was no documented end to man at the time of creation, until sin came into the picture. God said it quite clearly that the day man eats of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is the day man dies. And that is exactly what happened. Man took of what he had been expressly forbidden not to ear, and then began the phase of disobedience and rebellion to God's commands. However bad that situation could have been, it is also a thing of joy that this is not where the story ends. If it did, we would have had no hope, nothing to look forward to, and nothing to keep us grounded and focused on what is eternally relevant. 

With Jesus coming to the world in human form and dying for my sin, He has opened up a new way for me to regain whatever was lost or destroyed. With the Life He has secured for me, I come into a new relationship with God, where I now belong to a new family.i now live by different standards, and hold allegiance to a new order of things. It is no longer business as usual. I belong to the sheepfold of God, which means I have access to the benefits and blessings of citizenship. The verse above makes that clear: goodness and mercy are supplies from the throne of God, and are made available to ALL who are citizens. Are you a citizen, or just content to pass through? Does God know you as His own, or do you have to shout it daily, before people have to question your identity? If goodness and mercy are following me, they leave imprints that cannot be ignored. 

God does not do the earthly alone. He also sorts out the eternal. He does not do the seasonal, and then leaves me to fashion out the rest on my own. If He is allowed to come in, He wants to stay in, so the person can enjoy limitless grace and of course, eternal life at the end of the earthly phase. That is why a life that is totally surrendered to God is the template for the manifestation of His power and grace. A life that has been given over to God wil always enjoy God's goodness and mercy. And it is for a lifetime, both down here and forever. God does not do temporary or seasonal; He is eternal. In response, and in appreciation of what God offers, I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I will also not be content with making it down here; I also want to enjoy all that God offers in eternity. I have to be his sheep, if I will enjoy all He offers. Are you one? God's time of favour is here.

The Shepherd 3!

The Shepherd 3!

‭Psalm 23:5 KJV‬

[5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

It is interesting to note the reference to enemies, in the midst of a chapter that speaks to the benefits and blessings of being part of the sheepfold of God. I would have thought that being a child of God kept you away from all enemies, foreign or domestic. I have also heard messages that seem to imply that being a child of God meant the end of all opposition or resistance, and that having trials or tough times meant one was not fully submitted to God. The verse above clearly says that this position is not true, and that in fact, part of the package of being a Christian is that one will have enemies, the chief enemy being the devil himself, who has now lost a loyal subject. Whilst one was in the world, the devil did not have to fight you, but be sure that one you change allegiance, the devil will not give you up without a fight. Let this be clear in your heart as you look forward to all that is ahead. 

God also has a sense of humour. How can God prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies, if not that He knows that He can keep me safe and secure from all the wiles and schemes of these enemies? Why would God prepare such a table if He was not sure and certain about how He will keep me safe and alive long enough to eat from that table? Why prepare, if He is unable to preserve and protect? Why promise, if He is unable to deliver? I have a God with total and absolute power and authority, whose word cannot be doubted or found to be a lie. I have a God who is called the Almighty God, the Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent. No other person, no matter how powerful or connected, not even the devil, can boast of such credentials. The verse above makes clear that the Shepherd can be trusted, and His work in me cannot be hidden. Men will see and, either by choice or compulsion, they will testify that I am a person that has been blessed by God. 

That is the external; the testimony to men. What of the internal? The verse above also says that God anoints my head with oil, and my cup runs over. God does not just sort out the external; He also touches the internal. He anoints me with his oil, a symbol of His presence, the Holy Spirit. I have Him living inside of me, and I have His life flowing in and through me. I have my cup full of His power and might, and I am able to impact my world with His Word. I have more than enough for what I need for life and Godliness, and I also have enough to be a blessing to other people. He will not just fill me up; He will also flow out of me. How else will the world know God, if my life is not the full expression of His power, grace and mercy? Men have to see, and give glory to God in heaven. Now, you have a choice: would you be an enemy before whom God will display His power, or do you want to be the visible reflection of His presence and power? He will be glorified one way or the other. The choice is yours. God's time of favour is here.

The Shepherd 2!

The Shepherd 2!

‭Psalm 23:4 KJV‬

[4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

As we read yesterday, the shepherd knows what I need, even before I realise what I need. In and by Him, provision for all of life is made available. He determines the journey, and knows all that is needed to bring me home safely. What this means is that there is a guarantee that life will happen at different stages. There may be incidents that I would call "bad' because that is how I see it, but in the hands of the Shepherd, they take on a different outlook. That is the thrust of today's verse. How can I have a good Shepherd, and still have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death? How can I have a loving Father and still have to deal with suffering, pain and loss? These are some of the questions that life brings up, and the answers may not always be what our natural man wants to hear, but that is where a relationship with and knowledge of God makes the difference. 

We have the assurance of God's Presence and promises to help us through the difficult phases of life. It is part of the divine design that God's best work in me is done through the furnace of trials and tough times. It can be difficult to explain sometimes, but how would I know the value of what I hold if it is not tried or tested? How would I know how to make the right choice of who to follow or submit to, if the consequences of the alternatives are not made clear to me? If all of life was rosy, would I have a need to depend on God for anything? If, as soon as I asked for anything, it was given to me, how do the dimensions of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, such as patience and self-control become evident in my life? When Jesus says I should let my light so shine before men, so that they can see my good works and glorify the Father in heaven, it is by my actions that the proof of my light will become evident.

I do not fear, because God is with me. I do not fear because I have the One who has already conquered fear and death living in me. I do not fear because the One with me is greater than the sum of all the situations that may come against me. Do not dare face the world without the Presence of the Holy Spirit. Do not dare face the devil without the sure Word of the One who has already secured eternal life for all who will come to trust Him. The psalmist here was not in any doubt as to the presence of God with him. God's rod and staff are used for discipline, guidance, leading, direction and instruction. I must not fear the dealings of the Lord; if He is my shepherd, He is watching out and working for my eternal good. He cannot put His Spirit in me and then leave me to my own devices. I can face whatever comes, because He is my ever-present help. Do you have Him? God's time of favour is here.

The Shepherd 1!

The Shepherd 1!

‭Psalm 23:1-3 KJV‬

[1] The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 

[3] He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

There is a personal touch that is made clear in the verses above. You cannot speak the right way about an experience you have not personally encountered. You may be greatly encouraged by another person's testimony, but when you have had your own, it stays with you for a lifetime. Thst is where the psalmist was as he wrote the words of the verses above. He was also a shepherd, so he knew what the demands and expectations were. Just as he would ensure that the sheep under his care were protected and nourished, so would the Great Shepherd also protect and nourish those who are under his care. One quick thing to note here: you have to belong to the sheepfold for the care of the Shepherd to extend to you. A shepherd is first concerned about the sheep under his watch, not the ones milling around. Am I one of his sheep, or just one of the many just walking around, claiming independence and self-sufficiency? 

By his leading and guidance, he brings me to a place of rest. He knows that daily living can bring pressure and stress, but he wants me to trust Him enough to leave everything in his care. When life has happened to me, and there is the temptation to just give in or give up, I remember that I have a Father-Shepherd whose love for me knows no limits, and who can bring me to a place of calm and rest. When everyone around seems to be cutting corners and seemingly getting away with it, I know that I cannot do what everyone does. If God does not do it, it will not get done. The verses above state quite clearly that I shall not want. Whatever it is that I need for life and Godliness will be supplied by the shepherd for all who belong to Him. Please do not make an assumption about who you are, or whose you are. Make sure you have resolved the critical question about your ownership and allegiance. 

God does not force Himself on anyone, or go against the exercise of our own freewill. I live or die by the choices that I make on a daily basis. There will also be times when the pressure or stress shows. I may get tired, and it will show in my daily life. I may make some mistakes or get it wrong, yet, if I will stay in the sheepfold, and not claim independence or self-sufficiency, God is able to restore me. No matter how bad things get, I know God is able to bring good out of the worst situations. The devil's work is to steal, kill and destroy but the shepherd wants to offer me true life, the type that never ends and is with him forever. I bear His name, so His name and reputation are on display. I bear His name, so wherever I find myself, I am His ears, eyes, lips, feet and heart. He knows that men will give glory to Him when my life reflects His grace, mercy and favour. Is my life such a platform on which God can be lifted up for the world to see? God's time of favour is here.

Balanced 2!

Balanced 2!

‭1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV‬

[8] Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. [9] Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

A few things come to mind as you read the verses above. I have to recognise the fact that this earthly phase is warfare. The world makes no pretence that it will just hand over all that you ask for without first making a demand from you. Even God, in His Word, has made it clear that in this world, you will have tribulation. This understanding helps my preparation and defines my expectations. I know now what is ahead, and I have been given sufficient information about how to prepare the right way. I cannot turn around and claim ignorance; today's verses are another reminder of what is coming, and how best to prepare. The verse admonishes me to both be alert and of sober mind. There is an awareness of both my environment and my inner state. I do not just focus on the signs of the end times, but I am also watching my life and its pursuits and priorities closely, so that at no time do I lose sight of what is eternally relevant. 

It is also unforgivable and deliberate ignorance to think that there is no enemy, or that the devil does not exist. Events around the world today make it clear that evil exists and is in place. The devil's assignment since his fall from heaven has been to steal, kill and destroy, and anyone under his control and influence is subject to this assignment. How can anyone fight the devil, who has been at his diabolical work since creation, and defeat him without the help of the One who is called the Omnipotent God? How can mortal man dare face up to the devil, unless God helps such a man? That is why resisting the devil can only be done by standing firm in the faith. There is no other provision made by God for the safety, security, protection and victory for His children, except they remain standing in the faith, which means being in Christ,  and totally dependent on His grace. How are you standing? Where are you standing? 

It is also noted that whatever may come my way is not peculiar to me alone, but I share a common experience with all who are of the same faith with me. This faith will be tried and tested in many ways, and the end may not always be as we want it be. However, I have a Father who tells me what to expect, and how to prepare the right This is important to know, so I do not feel abandoned, or think that God has left me to my devices. He will never leave not forsake me, which is His standing promise to all who have come to put their trust in Him. I belong to a family of believers, who know the blood of Jesus is sufficient for all their cares and worries, and whose sins have been forgiven. This is the clear experience I have to be sure about. I must boy be content with another person's story, but I have to get my own. This faith will be tested  but the assurance and confidence to face the tests comes from the sure Word of God that He is with me at all times. Do not dare face the world without His help. You will not survive. God's time of favour is here.

Delivered!

Delivered!

‭Psalms 107:13-14 AMP‬

[13] Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distresses.[14] He brought them out of darkness and the deep (deathly) darknessAnd broke their bonds apart. [Ps 68:6; Acts 12:7; 16:26]

Sin ALWAYS leads to trouble. It does not matter how nice you are, or how much the world and its citizens love you; a life of sin will always provoke God to anger and as His Word has made clear, the wages of sin is death. There is, however, the grace of God at work in the lives of all men. This grace, by the Word of God, is what brings salvation, and it has been made available to ALL men, no matter what the past or present looks like. The verse above is a reflection of this truth, and it is proof that mercy is in play for all men. How do I know this? Just go to the 2 verses just before the above, and you will read the following: ‭"Because they had rebelled against the precepts of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. Therefore He humbled their heart with hard labor; they stumbled and there was no one to help". One cannot afford to toy with sin; the consequences are eternal, if there is no repentance or divine intervention. 

Thank God for mercy. If not for the mercy of God, where would anyone of us be? If not for the grace of forgiveness and redemption, what would be the state of all of us today? We stand where we are today, simply because of the availability of grace. It is grace that allows a sinner call on the Holy God and be heard. The Word of God makes it clear that the Lord will not hear the prayer of a sinner who chooses to remain in that state: Psalms 66:18 says: "If I regard sin and baseness in my heart [that is, if I know it is there and do nothing about it],The Lord will not hear me". But as soon as a man calls on God for help from sin, the Lord is ready to answer and intervene. He knows that there is no provision in the world to deal with the problem of sin. The only way to deal with sin is to address its foundation and power, and that can only be done by the blood of Jesus. He has won victory over sin, and it is only in Him that this victory can be sustained. 

It is grace that made the blood available to deal with the stain and blemish of sin, giving me a clean state to start from. It is grace that then supplies all that I need for life and Godliness, enabling me to live the life that pleases God and points men to the evidence of grace upon my life. It is the blood that brings a man out of the deepest darkness and sets Him up for the life that God intends for him to live. The chains of sin are broken; the bonds of the past do not have power over me anymore. I just have to note that I cannot afford to be comfortable around sin. I cannot afford to seek compromise or a middle ground with sin. The wages of sin have always been death, and no amount of earthly manipulative will change this fact. I have been given a way out, and I note that I will have to live with the consequences of my decision. Call on God for help today, while grace is available. A day comes when grace on earth expires. God's time of favour is here. 

Rest, Again 3!

Rest, Again 3!

‭Hebrews 4:11 KJV‬

[11] Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

God will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied grace for. If He asks me to do anything, it is because information and direction for obedience have been given, and strength for the demands of the assignment has also been supplied. As we have read in the past 2 days, God has instituted rest for all who are His creation as His perfect will, but it will be taken up by those who surrender their lives to Jesus. That surrender is the rest that activates all that God has promised. The other alternative is to trust in my abilities, influence and connections to get me what I want. It means I have to be ready to run faster, jump higher and work harder than every other person in the race with me. This becomes the survival of the fittest, or the strongest, or the most diabolical, where anything is possible and the most shameful compromise is acceptable. 

From the Word of God, we see clearly that it is not God's intention that we labour by our own power to get what He has promised. He wants me to trust Him enough with my life and all. When I have given my life to Him, my life's application then makes sense. All I do is done with the right attitude and mindset, because I know who I am working for, I know why I am working, and I know what I am working for. This is why I can face whatever comes with joy, because I know who I have believed, I know what He can do, and I know where He is taking me. If life was predictable and boring, what is the motivation to work hard? If there was no hope at the end of my labour, why would I put myself under enormous pressure? I do what I do because I know who I have come to surrender to. That understanding is the key to all the verse above offers. I labour to enter into His rest, not by my strength, but by His enablement. 

I do not see the full picture yet, but on a daily journey of faith, I see a glimpse of what He can do with a life that is totally yielded to Him. I may not see the full picture yet, but the examples that are laid out in the Bible make clear the dangers of unbelief. The children of Israel saw the mighty miracles of God, from the parting of the Red Sea, to the amazing provision of manna for 40 years. The bible records that throughout the journey, their clothes did not wear out.  They were preserved, not by physical means, but by the Mighty hand of God, yet at every point of pressure, they would rather return to Egypt, the land of slavery and limitation. It is not a wonder that God got angry with a whole generation and wiped out all who were 20 years old and above, who left Egypt, except Caleb and Joshua. Be careful of unbelief, even in the face of the abundance of evidence around you of what God can do, and has done in the lives of people around you. The same God is still at work, seeking to show Himself strong in the lives of all whose hearts are fully committed to Him. Would you surrender? God's time of favour is here.