I want you to notice that with each of the difficult and trying circumstances that My servant Paul mentions that were attended to his ministry, that he also mentions something that involved great blessing, as he says they had nothing and yet possessed everything, that they were unknown and yet well known. How could My servant declare that there was great blessing attendant to every trying circumstance? Is this something that was unique to him, or can it be the same for you or for anyone who would serve Me faithfully no matter what the circumstances hold? Did not My servant Paul declare, “follow me as I follow Messiah”. Did he not consistently present himself as one who modeled the living truth for all of those to whom he ministered? Did he not write these words to My people in Rome, that I work all things together for good to those who love Me and that I predestined to conform them to the image of My Son? So you see that what My servant Paul declares here is surely not only true for him, but for all who would serve Me faithfully. And though here he declares these things in order to verify that he is a true servant and apostle in the face of those who denied that, yet the truth of what he declares here goes beyond merely confirming the authenticity of his ministry. I want you to see and to embrace the truth that in all of your trials and difficulties that you may experience in the course of faithfully serving Me, that with every one no matter how severe, a blessing attends. I want you to see and embrace in your hearts as Paul did that only good and ultimate blessing will come, both for you and for all who will faithfully serve Me, even in the most difficult and painful of circumstances. Paul did not declare these things as a matter of boasting in himself, but rather as a matter of demonstrating that he recognized that in all of his trials I had sustained him and enabled him to perceive the good and the ultimate blessing that was involved, according to My ultimate purpose. This was not a mere item of belief, it was rather a full expression of a heart that was so abandoned to please Me and to fulfill My purposes that nothing which was seemingly evil or destructive could ultimately be valued in that way. It was like the heart of My Son who endured the cross and despised the shame because he held firmly within his heart the glory that was being accomplished through his suffering. I want to bring you and everyone who would faithfully serve Me to possess that heart, so that no matter what you may experience that is difficult and painful, you may recognize as My servant Paul did your true status, your true blessing, your true riches and ultimate reward.
Tags: Blessings, Trials
Posted by: admin in Psalm
My servant David declares here, “O Lord You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup”. I want you to consider the blessings of which David is aware that flow from his recognizing that I am the portion of his inheritance and his cup. The first that he mentions is that I am the one who preserves him. He realizes that because he has put his trust in Me his total wellbeing depends upon Me and is committed to Me. Because of this, he sees that all that is good in his life is from Me. And because I am his portion, those who also regard Me as their portion, even My Saints, are those in whom My servant David takes delight. It must be so for you and for everyone who considers Me as the portion of their inheritance. For how can you not delight in those whom I love and treasure? If I am truly the one in whom you delight, you will surely delight in those in whom I delight. Like David, you will see that there can be no others who will compete for your devotion, for he sees, as he declares here, that sorrows shall be multiplied to those who hasten after another god. If I am truly your portion, then there will be room only for Me in your heart as the one to whom you give full devotion. And you see that since David delights in Me and delights in those in whom I delight, he also looks upon his inheritance and his experience in life as most pleasant and good. Because I am his portion, he is confident that I am the one who gives him counsel and instructs him. In fact he recognizes that I have already done this and he blesses Me for it. Will you not, if I am your portion, trust Me to give you counsel and to actually give to your heart, even in the night season, the instruction that you need? And what is David’s response to these blessings; to his realization of the benefits that have flowed from making Me the portion of his inheritance and his cup? He declares, “I have set the Lord always before Me; because He is at My right hand, I shall not be moved.” Surely if you are always looking to Me for everything and in every circumstance can you not be as confident as David was that you will not be moved, that you are upheld by My hand, that you are maintained upon a firm foundation if your trust is in Me. And you see how this determination of faith to have Me the portion of his inheritance produces a hope in David’s heart that takes him beyond death, beyond the grave to the blessings that are in store in My very presence. And with this hope David is utterly confident that he has been shown the path of life that leads to My presence. And you know from other Psalms how he continually expresses this hope. My son and My daughter, if you share with David that same decision of heart that I am the portion of your inheritance and your cup, then you with David will share the same inestimable blessings that he shared.
Tags: Inheritance, Our God
Do you recall that when My Son quoted My commandment concerning loving ones neighbor as ones self that the one to whom He quoted My commandment asked, “Who is my neighbor”? Remember how My Son answered that question with the story of the Jew who was attacked and beaten by robbers. For in designating who is the neighbor, who is to be loved even as one naturally loves himself, He chose one whose natural identity was offensive and unacceptable as a true neighbor, even a Samaritan. And by what the Samaritan did to help the Jewish man who was in distress, even the one who asked the question was compelled to acknowledge that one who was on a natural level regarded as an enemy acted as a true neighbor who fulfilled the commandment. And in this portion My servant Paul admonishes believers to act in such a way as to please ones neighbor for his good, and that action must lead to building him up. And this, as He points out, means not going by the standard of doing what pleases oneself, but rather going by the standard of My Son who lived only to please Me. He willingly bore the reproaches of those who in their hearts were truly at enmity with Me. And what My Son endured as He lived to please Me is the standard to which you who are His are called. It will certainly mean, as it did for Him, that in doing good to please your neighbor, you will not only have to put aside what may seem good for your own benefit, but you will like My Son be willing to bear reproach and misunderstanding. You will have to go against human prejudices and preferences. But if indeed you are willing to do this, the benefits to your own soul will be immeasurable. Consider those benefits as they are declared here by My servant Paul. First of all, because you are choosing to please and bless your neighbor and not just yourself, in doing this you are choosing to please Me and to obey My Word.
Therefore, as it declares in this portion, through the patience and comfort of My Word you will have hope. This means that you are not seeking a selfish reward for your care of your neighbor. You are not demanding an immediate and tangible earthly result for doing good. Patience implies waiting. Comfort implies that even the outward circumstances are not producing an immediate reward; that hope assures you of that reward in due season. And there is beyond this the blessing of coming into a like mindedness, a harmony and a unity towards one another which is produced by the very presence of My Son within you. And this results in My being glorified. Can you really think of any better fruit than this as a result of your determination to bless and please your neighbor for his good?
For in blessing him and seeking his edification, you will please Me. You will be filled with joy and peace and you will abound in hope by the power of My Spirit. This is not just My servant Paul’s benediction, but it is My guaranteed promise of what will accompany your obedience in this manner.
Tags: Pleasing Neighbor