Psalm 91 - Study 32 - Our authority

Psalm 91 - Study 32 - Our Authority

We read in Psalm 91:13, “You will have power to trample on lions and poisonous snakes.” (ERV)

Our studies on Psalm 91 hitherto have described in detail the protection that is available to those who have made the Lord their refuge and dwelling place. Psalm 91 verse 13 makes clear the authority that is available for those who are God’s children, whom the Psalmist says will have power to trample on lions and poisonous snakes. To trample something under our feet implies that it is powerless to stand before us.

A similar verse is also found in the New Testament. These are the words of Jesus as found in

Luke 10:19, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.” (ESV)

The Lord bestows this authority to those who believe in Him. We will study further to understand what this authority means to us.

The authority that Adam and Eve received from God

After Adam and Eve were created the first blessing that God endowed them with this special blessing.

We read in Genesis 1:28, “God blessed them and said to them, "Have many children. Fill the earth and take control of it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the air. Rule over every living thing that moves on the earth." (ERV)

God gave Adam and Eve the authority to rule over all of His creation. As long as Adam lived in submission to God’s authority, he was able to exercise this mastery over all creation. Adam was able to exercise this power over creation with the word of his mouth, until the day he disobeyed the command of God. The day Adam and Eve disobeyed, they lost this authority that God had bestowed on them.

Let me explain this with an example from everyday life. A government employee can exercise his authority as long as he or she remains subject to their higher authority. If they are insubordinate for any reason, they will most certainly forfeit the powers that was vested in them. The word authority is an important term which needs to be understood and also implemented in the proper way.

The centurion who understood this authority

We read in Matthew 8:9, “I know this, because I understand authority. There are people who have authority over me, and I have soldiers under my authority. I tell one soldier, 'Go,' and he goes. I tell another soldier, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and my servant obeys me."” (ERV)

In Matthew chapter 8 we read about a centurion who came to Jesus on behalf of his servant, who was paralyzed and suffering. Being a Roman Centurion he completely understood the true implications of what it meant to be in authority. He explained to Jesus the fact that he was a man under authority, but that he also had a hundred soldiers who were under his authority. This man had clearly understood who Jesus really was, the authority that was apparent in Him and therefore he knew a word from Jesus was enough to heal his servant. As one who exercised authority over his soldiers, the centurion inferred that the words of Jesus were so powerful that there was nothing that could not be accomplished just by His word. This was the reason why he exhibited such unshakable faith in Jesus and in what He could do. The result was that he received the astounding miracle of immediate healing for his ailing servant, who was paralyzed.

Interestingly all through the scriptures we note that those who perceived who God truly was, experienced the wonders of God in their lives. Often we miss out on overcoming the enemy, simply because we have failed to realize the power and authority of God in whom we believe. Many of us have not fully comprehended the power that is there in God and His word. If each of us can fully apprehend the authority that is in God and as to what He has lavished on us, we too can experience those miraculous interventions of God in our lives. If any of you are challenged with circumstances that are too difficult, complex and beyond your control, all you need to do is acknowledge the power and authority of God over that situation. As we speak words of faith over these situations, trusting in the power of God, we will certainly experience speedy deliverance and have victory in every area of our lives.

The authority that God had bestowed on Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was usurped by Satan deceitfully. Satan craftily presented to Adam and Eve things that were not, as though they were and in the process cunningly deceived them into believing his lies. Satan is a liar and he will disillusion us to not see all that we have and will cripple us to believe that we are nothing.

We live in Nilgiris in South India which is a hill station, where we have many wild elephants. Though an elephant has enormous strength, men are able to tame them and keep them shackled with a flimsy chain. The way this is accomplished is that the wild elephant when caught is kept confined to a cage so that it is unable to free itself. After a while the elephant is made to believe that it is weak and has no strength. Once freed, even though it is tied with a feeble chain, the elephant is conditioned to believe that it cannot break free. So also, Satan has filled our minds with his lies and has made man believe that he have no power or authority whatsoever.

The devil tempted Jesus when he offered this authority

We read in Luke 4:6-7, “and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”” (ESV)

In the temptations that Jesus faced in the wilderness, the devil showed him all the splendors of this world, and offered to hand over the authority and glory to Jesus, if He would bow down and worship Satan. Notice how Satan declared that all this authority was now in his hands and that he would choose to give it to whomsoever he wanted to give it to. Jesus did not condemn Satan at this point and call him a liar, but rather He rebuked him and charged him to get behind him. This authority which the devil cunningly grabbed from Adam and Eve, he was now subtly offering to Jesus Himself.

Jesus restored back to us this authority

In order for man to regain back this authority that he forfeited at the Garden of Eden, there was a necessity that another man should come who would help restore this power back to man.

We read in Philippians 2:7-8, “Instead, he gave up everything, even his place with God. He accepted the role of a servant, appearing in human form. During his life as a man, he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross.” (ERV)

This was what Jesus did when He came down from the Father, gave up everything that was duly His, lowered Himself to play the role of a servant and took on human form. Jesus humbled himself to this extent to reclaim this authority from the hands of the enemy and to restore it back to the hands of men. The Lord Jesus was obedient to the Father, even to the point of death on the cross. If we observe the life of Jesus while here on earth, it was a life surrendered to the Father in heaven, in complete dependence and obedience to His will. Jesus was in total submission right to the end, and willingly went to the cross, for it was only through this price He paid by His death, could all of mankind be redeemed from sin and death. It was this redemptive act of Jesus that gave back to man the authority that was his that he had lost in the Garden of Eden.

The authority that is given to Jesus

Just before His ascension, Jesus declared these words to His disciples.

We read in Matthew 28:18, “So he came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me.” (ERV)

These are the words of the risen Lord Jesus, who affirmed to His disciples that all authority both in heaven and on earth were given to Him. This authority Jesus is willing to bestow on all those who walk in obedience to Him.

The authority that is available to us

We read in Ephesians 1:19-22, “And you will know that God's power is very great for us who believe. It is the same as the mighty power he used to raise Christ from death and put him at his right side in the heavenly places. He put Christ over all rulers, authorities, powers, and kings. He gave him authority over everything that has power in this world or in the next world. God put everything under Christ's power and made him head over everything for the church.” (ERV)

Paul writing to the church at Ephesus, explains in detail that the mighty power that God demonstrated to raise Jesus from the dead, is freely available to us who believe in Him. He was praying that the people of God would have their eyes enlightened so that they could comprehend the incomparably great power of God that is available to those who believe in Jesus. This power placed Christ far above all rulers, authorities, powers and kings and subjected everything under His feet. God also gave Jesus the authority to rule over everything both in this world and in the next. The name of Jesus Christ has been exalted far above all other names and everything is under His divine control. Also God has made Christ the head of the church as well.

When surrounded by perils on all sides, we get bewildered and tend to forget this power and authority that God has graciously conferred on us as His children. Irrespective of how complex our circumstances seem, if we can fully fathom that this mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us, we will overcome every hurdle with ease. If we are not aware of this authority that God has entrusted to us, we will continue in our weakness and won’t experience His mighty power that can be demonstrated through each one of us.

As Moses stood before the Red Sea with the Egyptian army in pursuit of them and the Red Sea ahead of them, he was in a dilemma. As he cried out to God, the Lord reminded him that He had already bequeathed His authority to Moses. He reminded Moses to use the rod in his hand and as Moses lifted the rod, the sea parted to make a way for the people of Israel. Like Moses, we need to constantly remind ourselves that God has through Christ restored this authority to us.

Christ, who is the head of the church implies that this authority that is in Christ has been entrusted to all of us who are members of the body of Christ. Let us not lose heart, but with oneness of heart and mind be willing to use this authority that we have received from the Lord.

Let me in conclusion remind us again of Psalm 91:13, “You will have power to trample on lions and poisonous snakes.” (ERV) and also of the words of Jesus as recorded in Luke 10:19, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.” (ESV)

I would like to explain this with an illustration from electricity. There are power plants where electricity is generated which are then distributed to various substations. This electricity is then delivered to our homes through cables. However, if we want to utilize this electricity, we have to turn on the necessary switches or use the suitable plug points in our homes to turn on the lights or other appliances. So also the power of God is available to us, but it is up to us to understand this authority that God has endowed us with, and to exercise this authority over the situations that seem to overwhelm us. Let us be encouraged to know that all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Jesus. Therefore, instead of living in fear let us in future exercise this authority over circumstances that seem to overwhelm us. As obedient children of God, let us walk by faith with the total assurance that nothing will defeat us, but rather that we will execute this authority and come forth triumphant over every trial and hardship.

Pastor Dixon

www.goodnewsfriends.net

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

Psalm 91 - Study 31 - Specially protected

Psalm 91 - Study 31 - Specially Protected

We read in Psalm 91:11-12, “He will command his angels to protect you wherever you go. Their hands will catch you so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.” (ERV)

Those who trust in the Lord are guaranteed an extraordinary protection over their lives. The Lord commands his angels to keep us safe in all our ways. Moreover, the angels will bear us up in their hands, so that even our foot will not be struck by a stone.

We will look at some of the incidents in the bible to understand how this was actualized in the lives of these people.

The angel of God stopped Balaam

In Numbers 22:12, we read, “And God said to Balaam, You are not to go with them, or put a curse on this people, for they have my blessing.” (ERV)

As the people of Israel were journeying towards the promised-land, the king of Moab, whose name was Balak, was apprehensive about the strength of the Israelites. He knew that they were a mighty power to reckon with and that it would be impossible to conquer them through war. He therefore, schemed that he would invite a prophet of God who would curse the Israelites, so that they would be ruined. With this in mind the king of Moab approached the prophet Balaam to do this job and speak a curse on the people of Israel.

When the men from Balak approached Balaam, he enquired of the Lord if he could go along with them. God replied him in the negative as we read in Numbers 22:12. God’s instruction was forthright to Balaam. God forbade him to go and also restrained him to not curse the people of Israel as God’s blessings rested on them. On hearing God’s word of caution, as Balaam sought to pull back, he was pressured by the king of Moab who sent more men and promised him with greater treasures. Balaam was eventually allured by the king’s offers.

The prophets of God were those who had access to God. God spoke to them and revealed His plans to them. Often they did not realize this blessed privilege that was theirs and sought to do their own thing. It is possible that we too can make this mistake. As we grow closer in our relationship with God, we should never forget that God is so great and awesome and never to be taken for granted.

Just like King Balak there are still some people today, who in order to beat down those who are stronger than them, indulge in various concealed evil practices. Whenever the Lord prohibits something in our lives, it is wise for us to obey and let go of it.

Balaam did not give up

We read in Numbers 22:13, “In the morning Balaam got up and said to the chiefs of Balak, Go back to your land, for the Lord will not let me go with you.” (ERV)

Also in Numbers 22:20, “And that night God came to Balaam and said to him, If these men have come for you, go with them: but do only what I say to you.” (ERV)

As Balaam persisted with God that He should be granted permission to go along with the men to Balak, the Lord gave in and allowed him to go to the king of Moab. However, the Lord cautioned Balaam that he was to only say those things that He asked him to say. Balaam was so enticed by the king’s offer that he forgot the fact that nothing that any earthly king offered would suffice when compared to the blessings that came from God above.

God’s anger was roused against Balaam

We read in Numbers 22:22, “And God's anger was kindled because he went.” (AFV)

Though God let Balaam go ahead with his own plan, the Lord was indignant with Him for doing so.

There are Christian young people who when it comes to making a choice of their life-partner, choose an unbeliever. They plead with God to let them marry that person. Often the Lord will counsel them in various ways, but when they keep on persisting the Lord will not hinder them from having what they ask for. They will invariably have to face the consequences of their decisions, and every so often end up living with regret.

The donkey saw what Balaam did not

As Balaam continued on the path of rebellion against God, this is what happened.

We read in Numbers 22:25, “And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed herself into the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall.” (AFV)

Balaam proceeded towards his destination on a donkey, and the angel of the Lord appeared to stop him, and sadly only the donkey recognized the angel. As the donkey walked down a narrow path with a wall on either side, the angel of the Lord appeared before them with a drawn sword in his hand. In fear and alarm the donkey pushed itself into the wall and thereby crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall.

A prophet can be described as on who seeks God resolutely. Nonetheless, Balaam’s willful disobedience to the word of God put him in a predicament where he could not perceive what his donkey could. The call that Balaam received from King Balak was to curse the people of God and instead of rejecting such an offer, Balaam was beguiled by the gifts that the king offered.

As children of God, we must keep in mind that we must have a mind to willingly give up those things that the Lord does not approve of. To go against the will of God and expect His protection over our lives is an impossibility.

Compare Numbers 22:25 and Psalm 91:12. Both describe the work of the angel of the Lord and also speak about the foot. The difference is that the disobedience of Balaam resulted in his foot being hurt, whereas the Lord promises protection to the feet of those who find refuge in Him.

There are so many who are wounded and wearied simply because they have decided to do their own thing and have not given heed to God’s voice or His counsel. Oftentimes when we are going down the wrong path like Balaam, in disobedience to God’s word, we may not be aware of it, but interestingly it will be quite obvious to everyone around us, like in Balaam’s case, even to a donkey.

This is a time to analyze our lives and to let go of those things God does not approve of. If we do not heed his voice, we will lose out on the blessings that are due us. We must realize that God alone knows the end and therefore walking in obedience to His counsel is always the best place to be in. When faced with a dilemma whether to choose the world or God, we should be wise to choose God. He alone knows our past, present and future and hence He is the only one who can guide us aright.

If like Balaam we have been stubborn and chosen the path that God does not approve of, we can still repent and turn back to God. The word of God assures us in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (ESV)

David obeyed God wholeheartedly

Hear the words of David in 1 Chronicles 28:2-3, “And David the king stood up on his feet and said, "Hear me, my brethren and my people. I had in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made preparations for the building. But God said to me, 'You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.'” (AFV)

David was a man who walked with God and rejoiced in the presence of God. David remembered that God had elevated him from being an ordinary shepherd boy to becoming King of Israel. David’s heart was filled with gratitude and he yearned to honor God in a big way. He longed to build a temple for the Lord where he could place the ark-of-the-covenant. David desired a good thing, but still He sought God’s approval before he proceeded with the same.

Though David had made all necessary preparations, God forbade David from building the temple. David joyfully accepted God’s verdict and let God have His way in the matter. David understood that when God disapproved of something, it was always for his good. It was this obedient heart of David that God endorsed and therefore established his throne forever. Though David was the King of Israel, he never failed to give the honor and reverence that was due to God alone.

David and Balaam were both men of God and they even conversed with God. However, what they did was in complete contrast to each other. David willingly accepted God’s counsel and gave up his plans to build the temple, though they were good. The consummation of David’s obedience resulted in his son Solomon building a magnificent temple for the glory of God. Balaam on the other hand, rejected God’s advice and went ahead on the path of disobedience and ended up with much trouble.

The things we want to do may even be good things, but we need to seek the Lord before making every decision. The mistake many of us make is that we first decide and then go to God for approval. Generally when people come to me for counselling, one of the first things I ask them is if they are open to receive advice. The reason for this is that for those who have made up their mind about something and are unwilling for change, there is no point is spending hours together giving them any sort of counsel. At the end of the session, we will realize that we have wasted our time as the person did not budge one bit from the stance that they had taken at the beginning of the conversation. Often we do the same with God too. We go to Him for counsel but have already made up their mind as to what we would do. The consequence is that our lives are crammed with untold misery and heartaches.

The reason for the situation that entire humanity is encountering right now is that we have sought after things that God has withheld from us for our own good. This was the exact same thing that Adam and Eve did when they decided to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God knew the consequences way ahead of time, but Adam and Eve were determined to do their own thing, as they imagined they would be wise and blessed if they did so. Even today, Satan is deceiving many into accepting those things that God has clearly disapproved of. For instance, it is God’s will for a man and woman who are united in marriage to stay together till parted by death. However, people are finding numerous flimsy reasons to be separated or divorced.

This is the time for us to take stock of the decisions that we are making every day. Those that can be changed that are not in line with God’s will, need to be set aside immediately. Children for instance, must understand that God’s word commands that they be obedient to their parents. Nonetheless, the enemy is constantly stirring children’s hearts towards disobedience and rebellion to their parents. We are living in a society where grown up children detest any sort of counsel from their parents. Children are admonished by God to honor the parents whom He has graciously given us. Everything that is taught in the Holy scriptures is entirely for our good and never for our evil.

God’s promise to us as written in Psalm 91:11-12, “He will command his angels to protect you wherever you go. Their hands will catch you so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.” (ERV).

What a joy and privilege we have as those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High God. We are guaranteed that God will command His angels to be our security wherever we go and that they will protect us from all harm and danger.

In the Garden of Eden, as long as Adam and Eve walked in obedience to God, they enjoyed fellowship with God, His presence, peace, oneness and health. The moment they chose to disobey God’s command, they were expelled from the presence of God. God also set up His angel to guard the entrance of that garden, so that Adam and Eve could no longer gain entry into it.

Many people have lost the beautiful presence of the Garden of Eden in their lives. Adam and Eve had no way to get back in and regain what they had forfeited. However, after the Lord Jesus came down and lived on the earth, died for our sins and rose again for us, we who live two thousand years later have the assurance that we can receive forgiveness for our sins from the Lord Jesus if we truly repent. The Lord can restore back to us His presence that we have lost because of the wrong choices or decisions that we made. If we call on the Lord, He is willing to heed our cry and deliver us from our predicament.

There are some who are in ministry too who because of the wrong decisions they made, are in a place of loss of God’s presence and His guidance. Instead of blaming yourself, be reminded that the Lord has promised that He will never leave you nor forsake you. God is able to uphold us with His righteous right hand. To those who started off with huge visions to accomplish great things for God and have faltered along the way, got distracted by things of this world, you can still call unto the Lord, who can make you rise up and shine again for His glory. In Psalm 51, David pleaded with God for a clean heart and if that is our cry, we can be certain that the Lord will answer us and make all things new.

The sole cunning scheme of the enemy is to call good what God calls evil and to call evil all that God calls good. The Devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness and in one of the temptations he quoted from Psalm 91:11-12 and asked Jesus to jump off a highest point of the temple quoting that God had given angels charge over Him, so that He will not strike His foot against a stone. Jesus gave Him the apt response when He said ‘you shall not put the Lord your God to test’.

The Devil is constantly seeking to tempt us into wrong doing. His singular goal is to take us off the narrow way and to confuse us by posing evil as good and good as evil. Once we get on this wayward path, for a while it may seem good, but soon we will realize that everything along this path is topsy-turvy and entirely for our detriment. We must be aware that Satan is a liar and a father of lies.

God requires this of us

We read in Deuteronomy 10:12-13, “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good? (NKJV)

All that the Lord expects of us as mentioned in the verses above, is that we fear the Lord which means that we live a life of reverence to Him. Also that we walk in His ways, love Him, serve Him and keep all of His commandments.

There may be many things that we have chosen for ourselves that the Lord does not approve of. We may have also have encountered numerous consequences for these wrong decisions. The Lord is calling us back and if we get back to Him, He can transform our lives and our circumstances. If we walk in the path that God has ordained for us, surely He will command His angels to guard us and they will keep our ways secure, uphold us with their hands so that our feet are not struck by a rock. The Lord has promised this great security for His children who trust Him and walk in obedience to Him.

Pastor Dixon

www.goodnewsfriends.net

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

Psalm 91 - Study 30 - Under angelic protection

Psalm 91 - Study 30 - Under Angelic Protection 

We read in Psalm 91:11, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” (ESV)

Psalm 91 in its entirety portrays most vividly the protection of God that is available to all those who take refuge in God and make Him their dwelling place. The above mentioned verse describes how God has commanded His angels to guard us in all our ways.

You may have observed the additional security being provided by the government for those who are in high positions, especially if there is a threat to their life. However, as children of God we need to be reminded that our protection comes not from men, but from God Himself. The Lord has given His angels this task or responsibility to take care of His own. Angels are God’s mysterious creation, who are constantly in His presence, worshipping Him. The amazing truth is that these heavenly beings are being sent by God to help human beings who live here on the earth.

In this study we will explore several passages from the Bible where these angels were sent to minister to God’s people under various circumstances. I hope that by the end of this message that all our fears will be replaced with confidence, knowing that God has appointed His angels to watch over us and there is therefore nothing we need to be fearful of.

Lot and his family were saved by angels

We read in Genesis 19:15, “As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” (ESV)

The land of Sodom and Gomorrah where Lot lived was filled with wickedness. It was therefore expected that the judgement of God was to be dealt with justly. Knowing that the cities were going to come under His fierce wrath and judgement, God in His mercy sent His angels to deliver Lot and his family from this great catastrophe. The angels literally dragged Lot and his family out of the city and begged them to flee, before the entire cities were swept away by God’s intense anger.

Our lives are secure in the hands of the Lord. Often we are afraid of all the calamities that surround us. The wrath of God that is being revealed on the world will not come near us, for God will be gracious to us and keep us secure, just like He did for Job and his family.

In Proverbs 11:21 we read, “Though hand join in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished; But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.” (ASV)

Think about those who are evil at heart, they will often find similar minded people to rally along with them, to carry out their wicked schemes. In contrast those who are godly and want to lead a righteous life, will often find themselves all alone. I believe that it is far better to be godly and have God on your side, rather than be evil and have the company of evil men as our support.

Korah rose up against Moses

We read in Numbers 16:2, “And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men.” (ESV)

The people of Israel were delivered from cruel bondage to the Egyptians under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. As the people of Israel journeyed through the wilderness, there was a plot by a man named Korah against Moses and Aaron. If Moses had not obeyed God to stand and plead before Pharaoh, if God had not heard Moses’ plea and decided to deliver the Israelites from slavery, they would still have remained in brutal bondage to the Egyptians. However, God in His mercy used Moses to lead these people out of their distressing situation and granted them a life of freedom. Instead of appreciating all the Moses had done for them, there was an Israelite named Korah who became rebellious and questioned the authority of Moses and Aaron.

This Korah gathered together with him two hundred and fifty men of renown whom he allured to himself. Moses was a righteous man and therefore, God stood on Moses’ side while Korah and his cronies stood on the other side against Moses. When God executed His judgement, Korah and his men had to face a tragic end for their evil act of insurgency against God’s appointed leaders. However, Moses continued to lead the people of Israel onward in their journey towards the promised-land.

Sadly, even today, we have many like Korah who are so unthankful to those who helped them and are ungrateful to God too. Some of us may have had this experience wherein we went out of the way to help someone and they mustered together a group to turn against us. If it happened to Moses, let’s take heart that we too are not exempt from these wicked plots of men, so let us not grow weary. Let us be reminded from Proverbs 11:21 that though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished and if God is on our side no evil scheme can prevail against us. The second part of the same verse encourages us to know that the posterity of the righteous will surely be delivered.

The angel God sent to help Isaac find a wife

If we read the life of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who were the patriarchs, they walked in obedience to God and oftentimes the Lord sent His angels to minister to them.

We read in Genesis 24:7, “He shall send His Angel before you, and you shall take a wife from there for my son.” (LITV)

In this incident God sent an angel before Abraham’s servant, as he went out to find a suitable bride for Abraham’s son Isaac. Isn’t it amazing that God would even be concerned about finding a wife for Isaac and was willing to send His angel to guide Abraham’s servant in the process.

We too are the spiritual children of Abraham because of what Jesus has accomplished for us, and therefore there is no need for us to be fearful, for the Lord will send His angels to guide us through all life’s circumstances.

The angel of God ministered to Elijah

In 1 Kings 19:4, “But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” (ESV)

The prophet Elijah was an extremely zealous man of God. This same Elijah also came to a point of being completely wearied and exhausted. Elijah had challenged the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and won an astounding victory for the Lord. However, soon after this triumph, when Elijah was threatened by Queen Jezebel, that she would take his life at any cost, Elijah was totally distraught. Elijah fled from Jezebel’s presence through the wilderness and in complete exhaustion sat under a broom tree and begged God to take his life. As Elijah slept under that tree alone, wearied and fatigued, the Lord sent His angel to provide bread and water to Elijah. This the angel did twice until Elijah was strengthened to carry on with his journey.

There may be those who have come to the end of the rope and feel you have no strength to carry on. We have a loving God who is willing to change our loneliness and our weariness with His loving presence and divine strength. We can be assured that as long as we fulfill the purposes that God has willed for our lives, He will not leave us or forsake us. We should say along with the apostle Paul in Philippians 4:13, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (NLT)

The angel of the Lord kept Daniel safe

Another issue that most of us are challenged with is envy from those around us. When we are surrounded by these jealous people, the situation may seem overwhelming, especially when there are those plotting our downfall. This is exactly what Daniel faced as he rose in his position in the kingdom of Babylon.

The ones who worked with Daniel were so filled with jealousy that they schemed against him and had the king throw him into the lions’ den. Though the king thought highly of Daniel and did not approve of this, he had to carry out this cruel punishment because of the edict that he has passed. Daniel had to spend an entire night in the den of these savage and hungry lions.

These are the words of Daniel as recorded in Daniel 6:22, “My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” (ESV)

As the king approached the lions’ den the next morning and called out to Daniel, this was the response he heard from Daniel from out of the den of hungry lions. The Lord had sent His angel to shut the mouth of those fierce and hungry lions, so that they would do Daniel no harm. Daniel could boldly testify that the protection he enjoyed was because he had lived a blameless life before God and the king. Though Daniel had led an exemplary life before God and men, he too had to face injustice that was meted out to him by vile men. The good news is that God was with Daniel and He brought him unscathed from that perilous situation.

The angels are mighty ministers of God, but observe the simple tasks that the Lord entrusts them with on behalf of human beings. For Lot and his family it was to save them from destruction, for Isaac it was that he find a suitable wife, for Elijah it was to give him food and water to strengthen him and for Daniel it was the task to shut the mouth of those hungry lions. If we want to experience the same protection that Daniel experienced then it is a necessity that we too live without blame before God and men. All these are recorded to encourage us that as long as we live here on earth there is nothing to fear, for the Lord has promised to send His angels to keep us safe and secure.

The angel Gabriel visited Zechariah

We read in Luke 1:19, “And answering, the angel said to him, I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you the good news of these things.” (LITV)

The angel Gabriel who stands before the Almighty God, was sent to convey a message to Zechariah who was the priest at the temple. Zechariah ministered before the Lord and his wife Elizabeth was barren and they were both well advanced in years. Zechariah must have led a life that so pleased God that God was willing to send His angel to convey the joyful news that he would soon be blessed with a son, who later became John the Baptist. God could have passed on this message through anyone, but God chose to send His angel to Zechariah.

God is still willing and able to send His angel to minister to us in our various situations. However, on our part we must decide to live the life of holiness and integrity that God requires of us, just like Zachariah and Elizabeth did. Oftentimes we expect great things from God, but are not prepared to do our part as God expects of us.

The angel of the Lord delivered Peter

King Herod persecuted those who belonged to the church and when he found that this was met with approval from the Jews, he ordered to have Peter arrested and cast him in prison with the intention to execute him. Herod also had ordered that Peter be guarded with sixteen soldiers. As Peter languished in prison, the church prayed for his release.

We read in Act 12:6-7, “But when Herod was about to bring him out, in that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, being bound with two chains, also guards were keeping the prison before the door. And, behold! An angel of the Lord stood by, and a light shone in the building. And striking Peter's side, he raised him up, saying, Rise up in haste! And the chains fell off from his hands.” (LITV)

In spite of the fact that Peter was in an adverse situation, his life in jeopardy, bound with two chains and lying between two soldiers, he was still fast asleep that night. Peter could sleep peacefully even in prison, because he knew that his life was safe in the hands of God whom he trusted. One angel of the Lord, sent from God’s presence, was more than sufficient, to handle this situation, though there were sixteen Roman soldiers guarding Peter’s cell. The angel came through the prison doors and stood right next to Peter. There was a bright light that shone in the cell, the angel woke Peter up and the chains that bound Peter just fell off from his hands. No prison, no chains or soldiers could prevent the angel of the Lord from bringing deliverance to Peter, for God was in complete control.

Sometimes Satan will carry out his cunning schemes, to put an end to our lives, but we must rest assured that our lives are secure in the hands of God. The evil one can never pluck us out of God’s mighty hands. There are many people who are unable to sleep because their minds are crowded with innumerable anxious thoughts that rid them of peace and rest. The guarantee we have as children of God is that no evil will befall us, without the Lord permitting it and our life is preserved by our Almighty God.

No man or power of men can hinder God’s presence or prevail against His might. God is Almighty and All-powerful. It doesn’t really matter who rises up against us, if the Lord sends one angel on our behalf that is more than enough for us. No matter how complex the situation that we find ourselves in, God’s word from Psalm 91:11, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (ESV), comes to assure us that God will give charge to His angels to protect us wherever we go. We have seen great examples of angelic intervention in the lives of Moses, Abraham and Isaac, Elijah, Daniel, Zachariah and Peter. Let us rest assured that the Lord is with us, and He will certainly protect us from all harm and dangers. He will certainly keep us safe and secure in His loving care.

Pastor Dixon

www.goodnewsfriends.net

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

Psalm 91 - Study 29 - Overcoming fear

Psalm 91 - Study 29 - Overcoming Fear 

We read in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Surely I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (TLV)

There are two phrases in the above mentioned verse that I wish to highlight in this sermon. The first is ‘fear not’ and the other is ‘I will strengthen you.’ There seems to be some connection between fear and weakness and the Lord guarantees such that He would not only strengthen them, but also help and uphold them.

During this season of pandemic, we have studied in depth from Psalm 91 that when the Lord is our dwelling place, no disease will come near us. When challenged with stressful situations, there are a myriad emotions that take over, thereby causing several health issues. It is however, the will of the Lord to take over and bring healing to our bodies and minds during these trying times.

Job’s fears overtake him

We read in Job 3:25-26, “What I fear most overtakes me. What I dread happens to me. I have no peace! I have no quiet! I have no rest! And trouble keeps coming!" (GW)

In the above mentioned verse Job explained how the very things he feared and dreaded overtook him, so that he lost his peace, quiet, rest and ended up with turmoil.

There is an interesting point to note from Job’s experience. Whenever, we keep on pondering on our circumstances and imagine the worst, oftentimes they become a reality. So many are stressed and hard-pressed on every side, simply because they have allowed themselves to be dominated by fear. I hope by the end of this message that God will grant you grace to overcome every one of these fears that may have gripped you.

Necessary and unnecessary fears

Fears can be categorized as those that are necessary and those that are not. For instance, when we are crossing a main road, we exercise caution before we do so and the reason is that we do not want to be run over by a speeding vehicle. This is an essential fear that helps us to be safe and being fearless or careless in such a situation, might be harmful to us. This is the same fear that alerts us to be careful when dealing with fire, warns us to not put our fingers into an electric socket or jump off a tall building. These fears are good as they keep us safe and prevent us from doing things that could be detrimental to us.

However, there are many other fears that grip our hearts that are totally baseless. Generally, these fears begin as worries, which constantly play on our mind. Many parents for instance constantly worry about their children’s future, their jobs, marriage and so many other things.

No Need for worry

These are the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:34, "So don't ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (GW)

Jesus is categorical that we are not to worry about tomorrow. He further emphasized that each day had enough trouble of its own and therefore we should let tomorrow worry about itself. Nevertheless, we as human beings are filled with so many worries. They say some people worry that they have nothing to worry about. Jesus knew that worry when left unchecked would certainly lead to fear and anxiety. When fear takes over, it creates negative thoughts of probable dangers which play on our emotions, which ultimately affects our physical and mental health.

Let me illustrate this with an example. A mother sat sullen, her hands on her chin as she watched her ten year old son at play. Her husband who watched her, inquired as to what was the reason for her being so somber and she replied, ‘Our son is so tall at age ten, so I am wondering how much taller would he be when he is a grown up. If he grows to be so tall, will we be able to find him a girl tall enough to be his wife?’ It may sound hilarious, but most of our fears are truly such baseless fears. These worries and fears that we often entertain, will not change a single situation.

There are two categories of people who worry. Those who are stuck in the past and worry about all the things that they did wrong and the wrong choices they made. There are others who are so worried about the future and concerned about the plausible issues that they could encounter. Both these groups of people will most certainly lose out on the present and on the joys that could be theirs today.

The life that Jesus lived while here on earth was extremely simple and uncomplicated. Early in the morning He spent time with God the Father and then He went about ministering from town to town. Wherever He went, people were healed, lives were transformed and He did wonders and miracles. He Himself had no place to stay or call His own. His disciples were unschooled and ordinary men. Not once do we see Jesus worried or anxious about anything for He knew that the Father was in control of everything. So it is only apt that Jesus’ words to not worry about tomorrow can actually be followed by those of us who are His children. If we could learn to pray about each day, do that which is needful, seek God’s guidance to His will for the day, there will no room for worry in our lives.

Someone said it this way, ‘Every opportunity to worry should be turned into an opportunity to trust in God.’ So for instance, if paying your children’s fees is the issue, instead of worrying, do all you can on your part and depend on God to meet the rest of it.

We need humility to trust God

The one basic quality we need to have this dependence on God is humility. Humility is when one comes to the place of realization that we do not know everything, but that God is all knowing and therefore, we can surrender everything into His hands. A humble person alone will do what is possible for him to do and be ready to submit everything into God’s control.

We read in 1 Peter 5: 6-7, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (ESV)

This is the mandate the word of God has set for us that we should humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God or be in submission to Him. So many are in confusion because they are trying hard to accomplish things on their own and are not willing to seek God’s wisdom or guidance. To submit to God means to implicitly obey His word and to let go of all the things that He does not approve of. God cares for us and those who are willing to acknowledge His Lordship and submit to Him in humility will be free from all their worries and anxieties. Not only does the Lord promise to care for the humble, but He also assures us that they will also be exalted in due time. Most of our worries pertaining to our family, our jobs, our children and future are all valid, but if we are willing to live in humility under submission to the word of God, He will intervene to sort out all those issues that entangle us and cause us to be anxious.

Hannah turned her worry to joy

In 1 Samuel 1 we read about Hannah who was barren and she was totally distraught. She was upset about her situation and realized that no one, not even her husband could help change her predicament. It was in such a state that Hannah decided to take this matter to God, who alone could help her change her plight.

We read in 1 Samuel 1:10, “She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.” (ESV)

And then in 1 Samuel 1:18 … “Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” (ESV)

After Hannah had poured out her heart to the Lord and shared all her grief in His presence at the temple, she rose up and went away with gladness of heart, ate and her face was no longer downcast. God answered the fervent prayers of Hannah and in due time He blessed her with a son. Even before Hannah received her blessing she was willing to give her son back to the Lord for His service and the blessing that she received was many more children from the Lord.

Hannah was so unlike many of us who are so overwhelmed with apprehension about the future that they cannot even enjoy the food that is placed before them today. Anxiety has made them lose their appetite. Like Hannah we must learn to leave at the Lord’s feet all our anxieties and once we have done that, we should go on with complete confidence that the Lord will take over and handle everything. We may go into God’s presence with sorrow and grief, but when we come away from His presence our faces should radiate the joy of the Lord.

The fear of relationships

There are many who have been hurt in relationships by people’s words or actions. As a result of these experiences they shy away from making commitments for close relationships and prefer to live singly.

These are the words of God as we read in Genesis 2:18, “Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone;” (ESV)

God who created the heavens and the earth and everything in them, He found that all of it was good as they were created. However, when God created Adam, He concluded that it was not good for Adam to be alone and therefore created Eve.

Our past experiences and emotions may prompt us to believe that it is better to be alone, but God who created us thinks otherwise. It is good for God’s children to realize that it is not advisable for them to be in isolation, as this is contrary to God’s plan for each one of us.

God heals the broken hearted

We read in Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (ESV)

Our God is one who heals those who are broken hearted and is ever ready to heal all our wounds and hurts. For instance, if we had a fracture in our left hand and it was in a cast, we would be extra cautious in the way we handle it because of the pain and discomfort. Also we will take precaution to see that no one touches that hand by mistake and we will often use our right hand to protect the hurt left hand. In reality there are so many who are still holding on to their hurts and not permitting anyone to come close to them fearing pain of being hurt again. The Lord admonishes such to come to Him, for He is the master healer and the one who can bind our wounds to bring about healing and wholeness to our mind and bodies.

The difference between Peter and Judas Iscariot

Before Jesus chose His twelve disciples, He prayed much about it. He chose them to be with Him. For three and a half years the disciples lived with Jesus and among them were Peter and Judas Iscariot. While Peter denied Jesus, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus. The consequence was that both of their hearts were filled with remorse and there seemed to be a breach in the relationship that they both had with Jesus. Peter was penitent and cried bitter tears for his act of disloyalty, but he allowed Jesus to restore him and heal his wounds. Peter was therefore transformed to be the leader of the early church who lived a life of great fruitfulness for the Lord and the extension of His Kingdom. On the other hand Judas Iscariot decided that it was the end of the road when he betrayed Jesus. He was not humble and willing to get back to Jesus and secluded himself from Jesus and all the other disciples. If you observe the life of Judas Iscariot it began with love for money, which led to murmuring, which later led him to unwanted associations thereby giving room for Satan to take over his life. Judas Iscariot tried to give back the money he collected for his act of betrayal, but the Jewish leaders refused to accept it. He tried desperately to undo his mistakes, but sadly it was far too late. Judas Iscariot chose isolation and instead of turning to Jesus, he sought after those who became responsible for his downfall.

If we were to describe a disciple today we could say it this way. A disciple is one who desires to be with Jesus, longs to do His will and lives a life that is pleasing to Him in every way. A lesson from Judas Iscariot is that when we give the Devil a foothold in our lives, he will use us for his cunning schemes and then conveniently dispose us. There are two important lessons we need to learn from the lives of Peter and Judas Iscariot. Firstly when we are reconciled with God, He will certainly heal us of all our hurts and will restore us back to Himself to be used for His greater purposes. Secondly, we also need to be reconciled with people and when we do so the Lord will help us establish stronger relationships.

Let me conclude with this verse from 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (ESV)

Love is the foundation for all relationships, for perfect love will cast out all fear. There are many who are hesitant to take that step of reconciliation for fear that they will be hurt again and hence are choosing a life of seclusion or solitude. The Lord encourages us to be filled with love instead of fear. Fear will bring untold misery and hardships and to be fearful means we are not perfected in love. Let us permit the Lord to deal with all those unnecessary fears that are lurking inside and release us from all of them. Only when we are rid of all these fears will be able to lead the abundant and wholesome life that God has in store for us. God has called us to live a life of joy and victory. May the love of God enfold us and may all the uncalled for fears be completely removed from our hearts and minds.

Pastor Dixon

www.goodnewsfriends.net

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

Psalm 91 - Study 28 - Forgiveness, its for our benefit

Psalm 91 - Study 28 - Forgiveness – it’s for our benefit 

Shimei had security in Jerusalem

We read in 1 Kings 2:36, “Then the king sent and summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there to any place whatever.” (ESV)

When Solomon was King of Israel, he summoned Shimei and instructed him that he build a house in Jerusalem and live there. Solomon also cautioned Shimei that he should never leave the confines of Jerusalem, no matter what happened. Shimei was guaranteed protection only as long as he continued in Jerusalem, for Solomon warned him of what would transpire if he chose to disobey this command.

In 1 Kings 2:37, we read, “If you ever cross Kidron Valley and leave Jerusalem, you will be killed. And it will be your own fault.” (CEV)

The reason for this restriction on Shimei was that when Solomon’s father Kind David, was king over Israel, Shiemei disrespected David and cursed him. However, David graciously forgave Shimei and did not inflict any sort of punishment on him.

The word of God teaches us to be submissive to those in authority and not to treat them with contempt or disregard. We too have at many times displeased God, but God in His mercy choses to forgive us when we repent and it is His will that we remain in His protective care. Just like Jerusalem was a city of refuge for Shimei, so too the Lord has promised to be our security.

That is the assurance that is detailed out to us in Psalm 91:1, “Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful.” (CEV)

The place of safety for God’s children is in the presence of God, under the shadow of the Almighty and All-Powerful God. As long as we remain under God’s protection, no evil will befall us and no disease will come near our dwelling.

Shimei walked out of the security

Shimei enjoyed this security as long as he stayed within the boundaries of Jerusalem. This is what happened some time later.

We read in 1 Kings 2:39-40, “But it happened at the end of three years that two of Shimei's servants ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. And when it was told Shimei, “Behold, your servants are in Gath,” Shimei arose and saddled a donkey and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants. Shimei went and brought his servants from Gath.” (CEV)

After three years Shimei forgot that he had taken an oath with King Solomon to not depart from Jerusalem, which was his place of security. When Shimei heard that two of his servants had fled to Gath, he saddled his donkey, went in pursuit of them out of the borders of Jerusalem and brought them back.

We are not sure how Shimei treated his servants that made them decide to escape from him. Shimei who had received forgiveness and mercy at the hands of Kind David failed to extend this same grace to his servants who wronged him. When King Solomon was informed that Shimei had disobeyed his orders and left Jerusalem to go to Gath, Solomon called him, inquired of him and put him to death. One can fairly conclude that this calamity which came upon Shimei was a consequence of his willful disobedience and there was nothing wrong on King Solomon’s part, as he only meted out a just judgement.

Oftentimes we are forgetful of the fact that we are truly safe, simply because we are under the care of an Almighty God. Especially when we are caught up with the business of the mundane, we tend to not remember that God’s protection is over us as long as we walk in obedience to His commands and live in His presence. So often under various circumstances we too step out of line of God’s commandments and sometimes we are not even aware of this.

Psalm 91 as a whole is the promise and assurance that God gives to those who are His children, who are willing to walk in obedience to Him and live in His presence. Having walked out of God’s protection by willful disobedience there are those who instead of taking stock of their own lives, blame God for the calamities that befall them. It is good for each one of us to analyze our lives and realize that when we deliberately disobey the commandments of God, we will be liable to face the judgement of God on our lives.

I would like to share about one aspect of God’s commandment that is widely being disobeyed today. This is an important command of God, which many having rejected have heaped many hardships and even several ailments on themselves.

How many times should we forgive?

In Matthew 18:21, we read, “Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”” (ESV)

The case that Peter presented to Jesus was of a brother who sinned against him. Peter knew that forgiveness was a necessity, but he wanted to know as to what was the upper limit one should set for forgiving someone else. To Peter, forgiving someone seven times seemed reasonable enough.

For many people forgiveness is a word that does not even appear in their dictionary. They have no desire to extend forgiveness to anyone. Have you observed how most of the troubles we encounter are from those closest to us? That is why Jesus said in one place that a man’s enemies are members of his own household. This forgiveness must therefore be graciously given to those who are closest to us.

The background to this question

We read in Matthew 18:19, “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” (ESV)

Jesus taught His disciples that if two or three would be in unison about anything that they ask, that it would certainly be ratified by the heavenly Father. We as human beings who live on this earth cannot accomplish everything with our own strength and we need divine intervention from God for many of lives circumstances. In fact we require God’s presence and His guidance every moment of our lives. In order to find favor with God and receive answers to our requests, it is mandatory that we pray together with one accord.

One of the reasons for not having received answers to our prayers is because of the lack of oneness while praying. In many families the husband and wife have been praying for various needs and are yet to receive answers to their prayers. This is only because their hearts are not one. While describing the relationship between a husband and wife, the word of God explains that they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, this the primary relationship where this unity should be displayed. Sadly, however, this is the one relationship where many are in discord and conflict. When we strive for that unity that God desires, only then we can be sure that every prayer will be answered.

How does this materialize?

Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (ESV)

Only Jesus could say this statement because though He took on human form, died and was buried, He rose again the third day. This is the promise of Jesus that will never change and gives us the affirmation that wherever two or more are gathered in His name, He will certainly be there in their midst. When two people come together in agreement to pray, the Lord is there with them as the third person. We read all through the Gospels that wherever Jesus went people were delivered, healed and their needs were met. As Jesus explained this profound truth, Peter was prompted to ask the question in Matthew 18:21. Peter was aware that unity among brothers was such a challenge that he was wondering how this would become a possibility.

Especially in families there is so much of differences of opinions between husband and wife. Oftentimes each blames the other for this predicament. It is natural that there will be differences between spouses and family members, but it is vital that each one should be willing to forgive and forget each other’s wrong doings. Our anger towards those who wronged us may be right and just. However, as those who have received God’s gracious forgiveness, we must be ready to extend that same forgiveness to others, irrespective of the injustice meted out to us. There are many who are harboring unforgiving spirit for many long years and the consequence is that they have missed out on the presence of God and their prayers remain unanswered. If a husband and wife will chose to live in unity, there will be nothing that they cannot accomplish together.

How many times should we forgive?

Jesus replied Peter in Matthew 18:22, “Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (ESV)

Jesus was categorical with Peter when He stated that the forgiveness one should extend was not seven times, but seventy times seven. In other words Jesus was saying that there was no limit one should set to extending forgiveness to others.

This is God’s command to us and if we are stubborn, not willing to forgive those who wronged us and hold on to the hurts, we will miss out on God’s protection and will give Satan a foothold in our lives. This applies to every relationship, beginning with the husband and wife, siblings, parents and children, in the family, in the church and in society as well. If this is not practiced we will without doubt bring untold miseries on ourselves and on our families.

It is God’s desire to bless us but we as His children have certain responsibilities to fulfill. When Jesus went to the marriage at Cana where there was a lack for wine. Jesus did not fill the stone pots with water and then turn them to wine. Instead, He instructed the servants to fill the six stone jars with water and when they obeyed, He did His part to turn that water into wine. When Lazarus died and was placed in the tomb for four days, Jesus commanded that the stone be removed from the entrance of the tomb. It was only when they did their part, did Jesus do His part to raise dead Lazarus back to life. Jesus had the power to roll the stone away as well, but it was only when they were willing to do what they could, did Jesus perform that amazing miracle of raising a dead man to life. So too only when we are willing to obey the word of God implicitly, will we too be able to experience the wonders and deliverance of God in our lives.

The command of God is simple, we have to keep on forgiving others irrespective of how many ever times they offend us. As a wife or husband we must be willing and ready to forgive each other from the heart. We must realize that as human beings we are all prone to making mistakes. Sometimes as parents we hurt our children and we must be willing to repent of them. This forgiveness must be extended by parents to children and by children to their parents too.

What happens when forgiveness is withheld?

In Matthew 18:23-35 Jesus told a parable to explain this point on forgiveness. This parable is about what is expected in the Kingdom of God and the regulations that one needs to follow in order to enter the same.

We read in Matthew 18:23 “So God's kingdom is like a king who decided to collect the money his servants owed him.” (ERV)

The king in this parable calls for accounting from his servants for the money that was entrusted to them. We should not be misled to think that God is gracious and will not hold us accountable for all that He has committed to us. As the king took stock, there was brought before him a servant who owed him a huge sum of money. On finding that he was unable to pay back the king commanded that he be thrown in prison and that his wife and children be sold to repay the debt. However, when the servant fell at his feet and pleaded for mercy to the king, he willingly and graciously forgave the servant to free him of all that he owed.

This servant went out to find a fellow-servant who owed him a very small sum of money. This amount was totally insignificant when compared with what the servant owed the king. The servant asked his fellow-servant to pay back the little amount he owed him. When the fellow-servant expressed his inability to do so, the servant ungraciously handed this man to be thrown into prison until he payed him back what he owed.

When the news of this injustice reached the ears of the king, he was infuriated. These are the words of the king to the servant who was forgiven an enormous debt that he owed.

We read in Matthew 18:32-34, “Then his lord called him and said to him, 'You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you implored me. Were you not also obligated to have compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had compassion on you?' And in anger, his lord delivered him up to the tormentors, until he should pay all that he owed to him.” (AFV)

The king who had previously, graciously forgiven the servant was now angered and condemned him to the tormentors until he paid back everything he owed him.

If we are not willing to forgive others, the matter is taken up to the Lord Himself. All of us are aware that if we were to compare the wrongs that others have done to us with the sins that we have committed against God, they would be inconsequential. We all know for a fact that we have committed innumerable offences against God. If we are still alive it is purely because God in His grace has decided to forgive us and pardon us of all our iniquities. As recipients of such bountiful forgiveness from the Lord, we are certainly obligated to extend the same forgiveness to those who have offended us in any way. There are so many who are undergoing untold misery both in their body and mind and ever so often, this is because of their willingness to forgive those who have offended them.

The promise of God in Psalm 91, that no harm will come near your dwelling, is available only to those who are standing within the security of God’s presence. This cannot be appropriated by those who are living in disobedience and are not willing to forgive others from their hearts.

We read in Matthew 18:35, “Likewise shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother's offenses from the heart." (AFV)

The forgiveness that God expects us to extend to others is not a superficial forgiveness, but one that is truly form the depths of our hearts. It means that we will never bring it up again in any conflict or conversation. Just as God has graciously forgiven us, may we too be willing and ready to forgive everyone who has wronged us, so that there will be true unity amongst us. Only then will we enjoy the presence of God and our prayers will certainly be answered.

Pastor Dixon

www.goodnewsfriends.net

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

Psalm 91 - Study 27 - Can anger be righteous?

Psalm 91 - Study 27 - Can Anger be Righteous? 

We read in Psalm 91:9-10, “You, O LORD, are my refuge! You have made the Most High your home. No harm will come to you. No sickness will come near your house.” (GW)

As we continue to meditate on Psalm 91, we have realized that the word of God promises that no harm or sickness will ensue those who have made God their habitation or dwelling. To make God one’s dwelling implies that we trust God and lean on Him completely through every season of our lives with all its ups and downs.

Researchers have concluded that the major cause of diseases that harm mankind are not so much from bacteria or virus, but rather because of the state of one’s mind. The adverse stress and disturbances to the mind leads to break-down in our health. One of the emotions that many battle with is anger which when left unchecked has resulted in harmful effects on our well-being. There is a widespread belief that anger is sinful, but we will delve into the word of God to comprehend the kinds of anger that can be expressed and the effects of the same.

Do not sin in your anger

We read in Ephesians 4:26-27, “If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day. Don't give the Devil a chance.” (GNB)

From the above mentioned verse we understand that anger is just an emotion and by itself it is not a sin to get angry. However, if this anger is not dealt with in the right way and kept under check, it can lead us into sin.

Righteous Anger

· Moses expressed God’s righteous anger

In Exodus 32:19 we read, “When he came near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing. In a burst of anger Moses threw down the tablets and smashed them at the foot of the mountain.” (GW)

Moses was on the mountain spending time in the presence of God for many days. The Israelites were based at the foot of that mountain. As Moses was enthralled by the presence of God, he also received the commandments of God which he had to deliver to the people of Israel. God Himself wrote these commandments on the tablets of stone and handed them over to Moses. As Moses descended the mountain after this awesome experience with God he was bewildered to behold the most disgraceful sight. The people of Israel had forgotten all about the living God who brought them out of Egypt and had made for themselves a golden calf which they worshipped and danced around. They also attributed their deliverance from the Egyptian bondage to the calf that they had made with their own hands. When Moses beheld this detestable sight, he was so enraged, that he threw the two tablets of stone and smashed them at the foot of that mountain.

Moses’ anger in this incidence was the reflection of the anger of God that engulfed Moses who stood before the Israelites as God’s representative. This is what we can be call righteous anger.

God told Moses in Exodus 32:8, “They've already turned from the way I commanded them to live. They've made a statue of a calf for themselves. They've bowed down to it and offered sacrifices to it. They've said, 'Israel, here are your gods who brought you out of Egypt.'” (GW)

The Israelites turned away from the commands of God by turning away from the living God and turning to the idol that they had made. This made God truly indignant. The one thing that infuriates God and irritates Him is when we depart from worshiping the living God to worship anything that we have made with our hands.

We read in Exodus 32:10, “Now leave me alone. I'm so angry with them I am going to destroy them.” (GW)

God in His wrath was ready to destroy the people who had disobeyed His commands, deserted Him and followed after the idol that they had made. It was this reflection of God’s righteous anger that was evidenced in Moses when he threw and smashed the tablets of stone that he had just received from God. This is a just or righteous anger shown by Moses was a reflection of the anger of God. If God’s anger was to be hurled at men who had displeased God, they would not stand a chance to survive. Moses stood as the in between to soften this anger of God, by expressing it himself and this was a just or righteous anger.

· Eli failed to express a righteous anger

Eli was a priest of God in the temple. However, when Eli’s sons rebelled against God and continued in sin, Eli failed to admonish them. The consequence of Eli’s negligence was that the anger of God was poured out on Eli’s sons and both of them were destroyed in one day.

As children of God, when we witness injustice in any form we can be certain that the judgement of God will come upon it. Nonetheless, if God prompts us, we should be sure to raise our voice against such wrongdoing, for only then will we be the reflection of God’s righteous anger. This will always turn out for the good of many and not for their evil.

As parents, when God has entrusted us with children, it is God’s will that we bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. That is the reason why when our children do wrong, we get angry with them. This is a righteous anger because we love them and desire their wellbeing. On the contrary if we ignore their mistakes, they will grow up to be wayward children who will someday have to be met with the righteous anger of God Himself.

· Jesus expressed this righteous anger at the temple

It is recorded in John 2:13-16, “The Jewish Passover was near, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. He found those who were selling cattle, sheep, and pigeons in the temple courtyard. He also found money changers sitting there. He made a whip from small ropes and threw everyone with their sheep and cattle out of the temple courtyard. He dumped the money changers' coins and knocked over their tables. He told those who sold pigeons, "Pick up this stuff, and get it out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!" (GW)

Jesus entered the temple that day to find that the place of prayer and worship had been converted into a business center. Sadly, both in the days of Jesus and today there are those who will use any and everything for financial gain. This offended Jesus so much that He was furious and sought to cleanse the temple. He wanted the temple to get back to its original purpose, to be a place of prayer and not one for business transactions. Jesus made a whip of small ropes and chased all those who were involved in this business out of the temple. Jesus is portrayed as meek and humble of heart, but when encountered with injustice, He did not hesitate to display the righteous anger of God.

After the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit of God was sent to abide inside each one of us. The word of God refers to our bodies as the temple of God within which the Holy Spirit of God desires to dwell. So our bodies too need to be a place where God is worshiped, praised, glorified and not being used for our own selfish ends. Since our bodies are the temple of the living God, we must yearn for God to be glorified and honored in this body.

As we read in Ephesians 4:26-27, “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” (NKJV)

Both Moses and Jesus did get angry, but their anger was a just and righteous anger. They most certainly did the right thing and did not sin in their anger, for it was simply a reflection of God’s just wrath.

It is always good to analyze our anger to see if it the righteous anger that reflects the justice of God or is it a selfish anger that is expressed as a result of our hurt ego.

Ephesians 4:26 also cautions us that we should not let the anger linger on, but should let is subside before the sun goes down.

God Himself will not be angry forever

We read in Isaiah 57:16, “I will not accuse you forever. I will not be angry with you forever. Otherwise, the spirits, the lives of those I've made, would grow faint in my presence.” (GW)

The above verse portrays most beautifully the loving and compassionate heart of God. God Almighty Himself sets a limit to His anger which is just and righteous. The reason is He understands the frailty and feebleness of human beings.

This is so unlike so many people who are harboring the insults, injustice and hurts caused them by others for many long years. We do not undermine these ill-treatments, but if they are left to linger on, they become unjust anger that eventually harms the one who holds on to these grudges. Sadly, it also affects all other relationships and results in break-down of these relationships as well. That is why we are exhorted in Ephesians 4:26, to let go of this anger and settle scores even before the sun sets. Let us decide to release all those hurts and resentment that continue in our hearts for many long years and be released from the grips of anger that overrules us.

There are some who have turned their anger against God because of some difficult situations and explainable events that have transpired in their lives. They are unable to come to grips with these circumstances and have diverted their annoyance toward God. If we harbor anger against God Almighty, we are hopeless and helpless as none else can save us from our calamities. If that is your state, it is time to repent, get back to God and make Him your refuge and fortress. To the ones who do this, God will intervene to do the miraculous and bring about the deliverance that you sought after for a long time. Anger that is not dealt with as God counsels us to will certainly affect our present and future adversely.

We read in Ephesians 4:27, “Don't give the Devil a chance.” (GNB)

If anger is not managed properly the word of God cautions us that we will be giving the Devil a foothold in our lives. All of us are aware of the numerous consequences of Adam and Eve letting Satan gain entrance into their lives at the Garden of Eden. One can be sure that if the enemy gains access into our lives, it will only be for our ruin and never for our good.

Here is an incident from the Bible on what could transpire when one does not deal with anger and gives room for the enemy to enter in.

Cain’s fury against Abel

In Genesis chapter 4 we read that Cain and Abel brought an offering to the Lord. God respected Abel’s offering and did not respect Cain’s. While Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock, his older brother Cain offered some of the fruits of the soil to God. As God searched the hearts of the two brothers, He accepted Abel’s offering because his heart was right before God. When God did not favor Cain’s offering, instead of repenting, Cain got furious with his brother. These are the words of God to Cain as he pondered on this with anger and resentment.

In Genesis 4:7, “If you do well, won't you be accepted? But if you don't do well, sin is lying outside your door ready to attack.” (GW)

God in His grace warned Cain regards the anger that he festered in his heart. God alerted him that sin was at his doorstep and that if he was not watchful it would overcome him. Cain did not heed God’s voice of caution, but went ahead to slay his own brother in the field.

This was the consequence that Cain had to face as recorded in Genesis 4:16, “And Cain went away from the LORD's presence and lived in a land called "Wandering," which is east of Eden.” (GNB)

This was the aftermath of Cain’s evil act of murdering his own brother. He was shunned from the presence of God and had to live the life of a wanderer.

Whenever, we bring our gifts to the Lord, we must be reminded that God perceives the inmost thoughts and intentions of our hearts. No one should presume that they could earn in unethical ways and bring their offering to the Lord, hoping he would approve. The caution of God comes to those who like Cain continue to hold on to anger in their hearts. The most precious thing we could lose by continuing in anger is that we could miss out on the very presence of God. When we give the enemy the foothold, we will become tools in his hand and miss out on being those who can fulfill the purposes of God in our lives. Let us decide to let go every kind of anger that we have concealed in our hearts, shut the door to the Devil, lay them down at the feet of Jesus and be set free to lead the purpose filled life that God has called us to.

Pastor Dixon

www.goodnewsfriends.net

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

Psalm 91 - Study 26 - Overcome anger to overpower sickness

Psalm 91 -  Study 26 - Overcome anger to Overpower sickness 

We read in Psalm 91:10, “So nothing bad will happen to you. No diseases will come near your home.” (ERV)

We need to ponder on this blessed promise of God that is available to us His children. We studied earlier that this promise is applicable to those who according to Psalm 91:9 have made God their dwelling place. This is God’s assurance to those who are completely dependent on God at all times and in all situations. To such, no evil will befall them and there is the guarantee that no diseases will come near their homes. However, this will only be appropriated in the lives of those who hear the word of God and are willing to trust His word implicitly. 

Researchers on human health have discovered that 75-90% of sicknesses are often related to mental stress. Especially during this season of pandemic, there is a prevalent sense of fear that has gripped the hearts of many people globally. Medical Professionals advice that if people can build up a strong immunity that it is possible to fight off this virus. If this is the case, we will deal with some of these stress issues in this study and try to understand how we can overcome these pressures on the basis of God’s word.

For instance someone who holds a grudge or has hatred against another for a long time and fumes every time they set their eyes on them, should not be surprised if they end up with stomach ulcers. There are those who will be easily offended by the things other’s say and others who are constantly anxious and fearful about various situations. Such people will experience increased heart rate, which will often result in them having hyper tension. The reason I am explaining this in detail is to help us realize that many of the sicknesses that our bodies get inflicted with are frequently related to our own mental and emotional state.

I was chatting with a doctor friend who told me that in recent times many of the patients who come for consultation have strange symptoms. They complain of intense discomfort, but after several medical investigations it is proved that there is nothing apparently wrong with them. The reason for these physical ailments she said was often related to some unresolved issues in their lives. She further told me that a casual talk with them revealed the fact that most of them were challenged with difficulties either in their family or work place which displayed itself in the form of some bodily ailment.

There are several issues that contribute to our maladies and we will consider one which is extremely crucial in this study.

The problem of anger

We read in Proverbs 14:29, “If you stay calm, you are wise, but if you have a hot temper, you only show how stupid you are.” (GNB)

Anger is a serious concern for many who are struggling with the same. Often when anger is intense, they will blurt out things that they never really intended to say. There is a story told of the owner of a huge company who was a hot tempered man, and when he got mad, he would fire anyone who annoyed him ever so slightly. Knowing his temperament most of the staff stayed clear off his path. However, one day as he entered the company, he saw a young man at the entrance who was deeply engrossed with his mobile phone. As staff had been warned to not use their mobiles during working hours, he was infuriated at this sight and asked the young man what his salary was per month. On finding out from the young man that he received a salary of Rupees 8000 per month, the owner sacked him immediately by issuing a check for rupees twenty-four thousand, as a compensation for three months. Unable to get in a word to this angry man, the young man hesitatingly walked out with the check in his hand. A couple of hours later when the owner had cooled down, the manager approached him and explained to him that the young man to whom he had issued the check was just a courier boy who had come to deliver a parcel and he was not an employee in the company. It may sound hilarious, but it is a fact that we will be the losers if we do not keep our temper under control. This sort of a financial loss may be amendable, but there are other consequences to unrestrained anger.

In Job 5:2 we read, “A fool's anger will kill him.” (ERV)

There are some who when they are mad with someone will have no control of their emotions and will fling anything that is in their hands. Someone shared an incident where the husband of the family got so furious one day that he threw down and destroyed their newly purchased television set, which they had taken much effort to buy. Anger as we see can be destructive and if not controlled will certainly result in huge loss. There is always a chance that we can replace material things when they are broken. However, the words that are blurted out in anger can be so hurtful and cause deep hurts that will not be healed easily. When words are used without caution, they have the power to break-down relationships.

Why does one get angry?

1. When treated unfairly

Generally one will get angry when they are treated unjustly or if they in some way sense that that there is injustice meted out to them. In a family for instance, the child is given a mobile these days to join in for on line classes. The parents notice that the child instead of studying is engrossed with games. The parents decide to take the cell phone away from the child to teach discipline. To the child this may seem unfair and he or she may be annoyed with the parents. The child may even consider that their parents are killjoys for doing so. It is a natural response for anyone to be enraged when we are treated unjustly. Nonetheless, the way we express that anger and handle the situation will determine if it is sinful or not.

· The way David handled injustice

We read in 2 Samuel 16:5-7, “When King David arrived at Bahurim, one of Saul's relatives, Shimei son of Gera, came out to meet him, cursing him as he came. Shimei started throwing stones at David and his officials, even though David was surrounded by his men and his bodyguards. Shimei cursed him and said, "Get out! Get out! Murderer! Criminal!” (GNB)

In this incident while David was the King of Israel, still on the throne, his own son Absalom schemed and confiscated the throne of his father. As David fled from Absalom, he is surrounded by valiant men who are his officials. As they are in flight, a man named Shimei, a relative of King Saul cursed King David and threw stones at David and his men. The situation that David found himself in was one of total injustice and David’s warriors suggested that they kill Shimei. But let’s listen to David’s counsel to his men in the verse below.

David said to his men in 2 Samuel 16:10 "This is none of your business," the king said to Abishai and his brother Joab. "If he curses me because the LORD told him to, who has the right to ask why he does it?" (GNB)

David did not permit his men to do any harm to Shimei though it was in their power to do so. As one who always looked to the Lord, David understood that without God’s permission nothing would transpire in his life. David perceived that if God had allowed this kind of insults to be hurled on him, it would at some point turn out for his own good.

Oftentimes we get so outraged by things people have said or done to us. We harbor these bitter feelings in our hearts, it will erupt unexpectedly and instead of affecting the person who did harm this anger will be vented out on the wrong people. The consequence we will face are broken relationships, loss of peace with no bearing whatsoever on the one who actually hurt us. The aftermath of uncontrolled anger will be experienced solely by the one who unleashes it. Over a period of time, such a person will be referred to as an angry person, as every little issue will be a cause for them to lose their cool.

Let’s see what happened to Shimei a few years down the line.

We read in 2 Samuel 19:18-19, “They crossed the river to escort the royal party across and to do whatever the king wanted. As the king was getting ready to cross, Shimei threw himself down in front of him and said, "Your Majesty, please forget the wrong I did that day you left Jerusalem. Don't hold it against me or think about it any more.” (GNB)

As David returned back to regain his kingdom, Shimei met David, payed obeisance and begged for him to have mercy on him.

To those who insult us or treat us improperly, if like David we are willing to let the Lord avenge, in due course they too will approach us with a penitent and submissive heart. That is the justice God will give to us for being willing to bear unfair reproach and acknowledge His Lordship over every difficult situation that we encounter.

2. When we feel powerless and helpless

Sometimes when people are entangled in circumstances that are beyond their control, there is a sense of helplessness that engulfs them and this infuriates them.

· What David did when he felt powerless

We read in 1 Samuel 21:10, “So David left, fleeing from Saul, and went to King Achish of Gath.” (GNB)

In this event recorded in 1 Samuel 21, David fled from King Saul and sought refuge with King Achish of Gath. The people of Gath recognized David to be the mighty man of valor who was next in line to be king of Israel. However, when David was brought before King Achish, he realized that the king when informed of this could put him to death. Here’s what David did.

We read in 1 Samuel 21:13, “So whenever David was around them, he pretended to be insane and acted like a madman when they tried to restrain him; he would scribble on the city gates and let spit drool down his beard.” (GNB)

David feigned himself mad and put on an act like a madman every time he was around the people. King Achish was so convinced that David was indeed insane that he sent him away from his presence and did not bother about him at all. David was not a simple man, he was a man of great fortitude, the one who had killed the mighty Goliath. However, in that situation where he was defenseless, at the mercy of an alien king, he decided to humble himself and acted like a lunatic.

Hear the words of David in Psalm 34:1, “I will always thank the LORD; I will never stop praising him.” (GNB)

In times when we feel vulnerable and incompetent, may we too like David praise the Lord instead of giving room for wrath.

3. When our expectation are not fulfilled

There are those who are resolute that the things they have planned should materialize the exact way they want it to. Often, when there are hindrances to these plans, they will be enraged.

· When things didn’t go as David planned

Here’s another event from the life of David that will encourage us to know how David handled such situations. During the reign of King David, his own son Absalom, plotted and usurped the throne of his father David. David did not get bitter or indignant with his son. As a result of Absalom’s plot, there was a war between David’s men and Absalom’s men. Here’s the plea of David to his mighty men before they waged war, that they should spare his son Absalom and not kill him in battle. Wistfully, in that battle, Absalom was killed by David’s men. Though what David planned and what eventuated were in contradiction, this was David’s response.

We read in 2 Samuel 19:4, “The king covered his face and cried loudly, "O my son! My son Absalom! Absalom, my son!"” (GNB)

David did not get enraged with his men, but instead he grieved for the loss and wept for his son.

There are many who are harboring anger in their hearts over various issues. It may not seem obvious to us, but often it is evident to those who come in contact with us. This anger could be over unfair treatment or those helpless situations or any unfulfilled expectations. No matter what, if we can understand that God is in control over our lives and He can intervene to change every situation, we can definitely be rid of all our anger. If we do not deal with the issues that troubled us and allow them to surface in our memories, we will be giving room for anger in our hearts. This anger will become a habit and people will brand us as an angry person. Generally people avoid those who are irate for fear of confrontation with them.

If anger is our problem, may we plead with the Lord to deal with this and replace it with a spirit of peace and calmness. During this season of pandemic, many are challenged with circumstances that seem to be way beyond our control. There are myriad issues in the family and at work. Many things we planned and hoped for have come crashing to the ground. Instead of suppressing all these feelings inside and harboring anger, let us confess them to the Lord and permit Him to take over. If we can find serenity in the presence of God, we will also find health and healing for many of our physical ailments as well. If anger is our struggle, may God help us to deal with the same, so we can be rid of it. Let us abide in the presence of God and enjoy the peace, tranquility and well-being that He alone can give.

Pastor Dixon

www.goodnewsfriends.net

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins