What do you think would have happened if Saul and Jonathon had sat down to analyze their situation and to determine what would be the best course of action in the face of the circumstances? For it declares here that after they had sent many of the men home and others had deserted out of fear, that there were about six hundred to face the Philistines. And it declares that just the Philistine charioteers alone were ten times that many. Would it not have seemed prudent with the odds so greatly against them to have disbanded the army and given up the battle? But you see that Jonathon clearly had it in mind and heart that I would do something to deliver My people. And as he observed the situation, notice how faith filled his heart and with it the courage to act in a seemingly limited way. See how he grasped that I could save whether I used many or a few. This was not a conclusion from human analysis and reason. And you see that his armor bearer also received faith and courage to go with Jonathon. Human reckoning would have judged this a reckless effort that had little or no chance for success. But faith was not considering a mere human effort, but what I would do. Faith caused Jonathon to look to Me even though he and his armor bearer would make an effort. Neither one of them had any conception of what would become of their effort of faith, except they were confident that I would give their enemies into their hands. But you see that as I gave them success, it was like a rock that came loose and falling down the mountain began an avalanche so that their small effort became the catalyst by which I turned the impossible odds against them and gave them a great victory. But you will notice that it was not a victory merely credited to Jonathon and his armor bearer, nor even to the small company that fought with Saul. But in truth it was clearly My victory. Here you have a clear picture of how genuine faith operates even in the face of impossible odds. Here you have a picture of how I can use the faith of a few to work a mighty work even though by human reckoning it would seem impossible? Remember the declaration of My servant Jonathon, “Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving whether by many or by few”. Do not judge the possibilities of victory or defeat by numbers or by other natural circumstances, for when I am in a situation, these natural considerations are not to be considered as what determines the outcome. If indeed you carry in your hearts the same perspective as Jonathon carried, you also will be able to consider the most impossible situation with faith and, like Jonathon, your faith can inspire others and the seeming little bit that you are able to do may be taken by Me and in My hands it can be made the stimulus to something much greater than you could even have thought..
Tags: Faith, God Confident
Posted by: admin in Psalm
Is David coming to Me and crying for help simply because he is harassed by enemies? Is it simply out of desperation that he is calling? Does he rise up early to seek Me simply because of the pressure of his circumstances?
There are many who might come to Me simply because of the pressure of circumstances. And there are those who might think that this Psalm is meant to be an encouragement to those whose desire is such. But I want you to see, as you look closely at the words of David, that his prayer was not a cry of last resort. He knows Me as his King and his God. As he lays his requests before Me, he declares that he will wait in expectation. It is out of his relationship with Me, his knowing Me, that he can declare with confidence My attitude towards the wicked. But he is also confident about his own relationship with Me and he sees his access to Me, to be able to come into My house and worship, as founded upon My great mercy. So then, it is out of knowing Me that he has confidence to lay his petition before Me concerning deliverance from his enemies. And as he describes these enemies do they not fit the description of the wicked? But look closely at his appeal for Me to judge them, for he does not say they should be judged because of what they have done to him. Rather he declares that they should be judged because they have rebelled against Me. But you see, as so often is the case, David does not confine his petition to his own needs, but he prays for all who love My name, who are the righteous, that they may take refuge in Me and be glad and sing for joy, that I will protect them, that they may rejoice in Me, that I will bless them and surround them with My favor. I want you to see, and it is very important that you take this into your heart, that it is not out of the pressure of circumstances that David calls to Me, though those circumstances are very real and present. It is simply that David knowing Me for who I am most readily resorts to Me in every circumstance. And the more that you know Me, the more confident will you be, as he was; not only for my help and deliverance from the wicked, from enemies, but for assurance that out of My mercy you may draw near to Me, you may in holy reverence worship Me. And you will have that same measure of confidence also about My blessing for all who love My name.
This I say to you, out of this expression of My servant David, that as you know Me and as you follow on to know Me more, your expectation as you lay your request before Me will be no less confident than was the expectation of David. And your coming to Me will not be merely the prompting of circumstances, though they may be ever present and even urgent, but it will be truly out of knowing Me and out of profound assurance concerning My purposes for those who love My name. Remember this now and embrace this truth within your hearts and you will prove to be as confident of My blessing and help in the day of trouble as David was.
Tags: God Confident, Seek God
I want you to notice that this portion begins and ends with a word about confidence. It declares that you have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of My Son and that you can draw near to Me because He has not only shed His blood to cleanse you, but He ministers as a great High Priest to represent you. But I want you also to notice that in addition to having confidence to draw near to Me, you are urged to have confidence to persevere in doing My will and in standing fast in the face of persecution and opposition. And what is the basis of your confidence to persevere? It declares here that it is My faithfulness to fulfill what I have promised. Now I have urged you in previous words to draw nearer to Me, to commune with Me in the Holy Place. And I want you to understand that it is in that place that your confidence is built up and strengthened so that you may also stand firm in the place of trial. For your faith is not born in the trial, it is truly given to you in the Holy Place where you commune with Me. You will notice that My servant declares that you can hold unswervingly to the hope that you profess on the basis of knowing that I who have promised am faithful. So then, it is in the Holy Place that you really come to know Me. It is in that place that faith is genuinely imparted out of knowing Me. But it is in the place of trial that faith is proved out and strengthened. It is in that place that it is manifested that you have really come to know Me and that you are truly trusting in My faithfulness to fulfill My promise. As I have told you before, it is in the condition of trial that the genuineness of your hope is proved out. So then, you can see how that confidence with which you enter the Holy Place is vitally linked to the confidence which you have to persevere when you are in the place of trial.
Tags: Faith, God Confident, Trial