God Is In the Battle

"Blessed be the LORD, my rock, Who trains my hands for war, 

And my fingers for battle; 

Psalm 144:1

David's life was often threatened. First by wild animals in the field when he was a shepherd, then by Goliath, then by Saul, and finally even his own son set out to kill him. In each battle David did not rely on his own strength to save him, but trusted the Lord to deliver him from his enemies. God was faithful to do it. However, God saved David in the battle, not from the battle. In our own lives we may face challenges that threaten to undue us. We may ask God to remove the trial and He may oblige. But if He doesn't we can be assured that He will not abandon us. He is the rock who will be in the trial with us. His grace is sufficient. "there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.'” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

The Great Power of God

"Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,"

Jeremiah 32:17

If God could create the world out of nothing, why should we doubt that He can accomplish whatever concerns us today? The great preacher and evangelist Charles Spurgeon wrote: "If we would venture more upon the naked promise of God, we should enter a world of wonders to which as yet we are strangers. Let Jeremiah's place of confidence be ours -- nothing is too hard for the God that created the heavens and the earth." We are four days into a new year. Imagine what the next twelve months could hold if we venture into it with unabashed faith in the great power of our God. What is the impossible thing you want God to do? If Christ is your Savior and what you desire is in line with His word -- if it is not outside of His will -- then you can ask whatever you want and God will do it (John 15:7). This is a bold statement, but I'm just repeating what Christ said. If we are abiding in Him, then our desires will be in line with His desires, and He surely will do the thing He desires to do. Abide in Christ, seek His will, then trust in the great power of God and step forward in confidence. To God be the glory!

Commander In Chief

"For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ 

And to the downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’"

Job 37:6

On Tuesday last week we received 18 inches of snow. It's a little early in the season for such a large amount of snowfall, but that only reminds me of the absolute control our God has over  creation. Man thinks he has power, but only God can command the snow and the rain. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. But always as He has designed it to be.

What's in Your Hand?

"The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

Exodus 4:2

When the Lord called Moses from the burning bush to return to Egypt and free His people, Moses questioned how the Egyptians and Hebrews would receive him. The Lord responded, "What is that in your hand?" All Moses held was a staff. But a common staff committed to God became a tool for miracles that freed the entire Jewish nation. "An elderly widow, restricted in her activities, was eager to serve Christ. After praying about this, she realized that she could bring blessing to others by playing the piano. The next day she placed this small ad in the Oakland Tribune: 'Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent—the service is free.' The notice included the number to dial. When people called, she would ask, 'What hymn would you like to hear?' Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people. Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and she was able to help and encourage them." (Source Unknown.) The simplest things committed to the Almighty can perform wonders. What's in your hand?

The Right Kind of Vessel

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;"

2 Corinthians 4:7

The Gospel of Christ is the greatest treasure we can possess. It is our salvation for the glory of God and is to be shared with those who do not know Him. All the more for His glory! How humbling it is to know that God would entrust us with this powerful message. We are earthen vessels, completely breakable, yet made strong as we depend on God's power. J. Hudson Taylor, the beloved missionary to China, said, "All God's giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on Him being with them." Are you feeling like a weak vessel today? Praise God! You are exactly the kind of vessel God wants to use.

When Storms Come

They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm.

And He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?" 

Luke 8:24-25

Sometimes storms come into our lives through disobedience to God's word. If we fail to follow His instruction, the result can be tumultuous. But far more often storms come so that God can deliver us and increase our trust in Him. The disciples were on the Sea of Galilee because Jesus said, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." He said let's go, and they went. Now do you suppose for a moment that Jesus had no idea a "fierce gale of wind" (v. 23 NASB) was about to rack their boat and threaten to drown them? Of course He knew. He was God in the flesh. He knew that a life-threatening storm was brewing. It's very telling that with this knowledge the Lord then went to sleep. He had no fear of the coming storm, for He had control over it. He would allow it to appear, and He would calm it. This was the first time the disciples lives were in danger. They had seen their master perform many miracles, but this was personal. Their faith had not yet been tested to this extent. They cried out to the Lord in desperation and He immediately saved them. He rebuked the "wind and the surging waves" and they stopped. All became calm. And then He asked His disciples, "Where is your faith?" From the text we don't see them answer His question. Only that they were filled with fear and amazement, and wondered who it was who had that kind of control. I certainly can look at my own life and see how God allowed storms to come and then calmed them. Through these events He taught me more about who He is, and my trust in Him increased. No longer do I ask, "Who is this Jesus, then?" I know who He is.  .  .the all-powerful Living God.

What Do You Want God to Do?

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

Before the resurrection, do you imagine that the disciples could have fully grasped the power God the Father could exert? After having seen their crucified master again walking on earth, do you suppose Christ's followers prayed with greater belief and expectation? Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know the "surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places. . ." (Ephesians 1:19-20).  Surpassing greatness of His power. Resurrection power! If He can do such an unimaginable thing as resurrect His son, what can He not do? When we pray with a desire for His glory, not ours, He will hear us from heaven and use His power -- the very power that resides in believers today --  to accomplish even more than what we ask. Far more. Abundantly far more. Abundantly beyond far more than that which we can think to ask. Have you thought of something extraordinary?  Have you asked God to do it?  If not, why not? God can do more than that. He can do things you haven't even thought about. 

The Blessing of a Trial

"He gives strength to the weary,
         And to him who lacks might He increases power."

Isaiah 40:29

When life knocks us down, our God has the strength we need to get back up again. We don't always believe this. Sometimes it takes a major setback for us to realize the extent of God's power. For it is when we are at our very weakest that we finally cry out to Him in surrender. Up until then we can fool ourselves into thinking that we are providing the strength we possess. Thank God that He doesn't allow us to stay in that state of ignorance. Although a trial never seems like a blessing, it really is. The blessing is in seeing the work of our mighty God when we are broken. It is then that we can say, "He gives strength to the weary and power to the weak."  All to the praise and glory of God.

The Power of One

"Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child."

Luke 2:1-5

Caesar Augustus has commanded that a census be taken of the Roman Empire for the purpose of taxation. The man who has declared himself the emperor no doubt feels quite powerful to have his decree obeyed by the "inhabited earth" without hesitation. But the real power lies in the hands of God Almighty. Joseph and Mary must be in Bethlehem when Jesus is born. This is necessary  to fulfill the prophesy (Micah 5:2) that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. God uses Caesar Augustus to accomplish His purpose. Since Joseph is of the line of David, he is obligated to go to Bethlehem -- an 80 mile journey -- to register. He takes Mary, soon to give birth, with him. The Savior of the world is about to be born in the little town of Bethlehem. God's promise of a Savior will be fulfilled. Prophesy will be fulfilled. All through the Power of One.

He Commands the Morning

"Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place," Job 38:12

In his distress, Job presumes to explain God's ways to his friends. There is much discourse that results and finally God interrupts to question Job, exposing his ignorance and that of his compadres. Job is humbled, as he should be. There is none like the Almighty God. His power is limitless. Even the dawn is subject to His command.