The Overwhelming Importance of Christians Knowing and Believing that God is Always Willing and Able to extricate Them from Trouble!

Psalm 40:2.        He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings (steps).

So we’ve come to Wednesday, our second wind day. But we shouldn’t need to catch any second wind, for most of us have only worked one day so far this week. What we might need to catch our second wind from is the joyful Easter celebrations that are still weighing us down. We’d be lucky if we can get any serious work done this week.

But we need to get ourselves together for Jesus’ sake, for although celebrating His Easter resurrection is a big deal and a must, we also need to abide by His wishes that we give the best of ourselves to our work, doing so with diligence and efficiency, behaving as though we were working directly for Him. As Uncle Charles (Dr. Charles Stanley) liked to say: ‘Always look your best, do your best and be your best.’ And that is exactly what our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ expects from His followers.

Now today, we’re going to check out an interesting poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin simply titled ‘Always There,’ and I’m sure it will strike a note in many of our hearts because it’s so appropriate in these distressful and hurting times. And as always, I don’t know if I’ve shared it before, but it’s certainly worthwhile sharing again. (smile)

So please read with me: ‘So often, Lord I reach to the bottom of the abyss. So often I taste the dregs Of my own helplessness. Yet it is there, exactly there That You come to my immediate rescue. When I feel totally impoverished Of all self-sufficiency When I want to vanish into nowhere From the depths of despair I call Your name And You are always there for me!’

And that calls for a big ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ my people, because that is the gospel truth! Whenever we are down to nothing, wallowing in the mires of despair, loneliness and worthlessness, that is the time to desperately cry out to God for help, for the succour that He alone can provide, for the true healing and LOVING that only come from Him!

And I know that in these perilous and very hazardous times a lot of us are feeling like we’re lost, lonely and don’t know which way to turn. However, the best advice you can ever get in such a situation is to turn immediately to the God of Abraham, Isacc and Jacob for He cares very much for you. As Peter so wisely puts it in his second epistle: ‘Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.’ (2 Pet. 5:6-7)

And He certainly does, else why would He send his only begotten Son to earth to die for you eh? Simply because He cares a whole lot for His finest creation. As Bruh Paul says in one of my favourite scripture verses: ‘But God commendeth (demonstrated) his (own) LOVE toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom. 5:8) Now, if that isn’t showing amazing and abundant LOVE for a bunch of ungodly and ungrateful sinners, then I don’t know what is!

That’s why we never have to run from God. We might not like everything He does or desires of us, but we know in the long run He’s promised to work everything out for our good, (Rom. 8:28) and we definitely know that He is a God who keeps all of His promises, never reneges on any of them. And yes, the ravages and vicissitudes of life, those unpredictable, often uncontrollable, and frequently challenging changes, the ups and downs that we all experience at some time or other, tend to bring us to our knees, despite our innate strength.

And that’s exactly when we need to turn to Almighty God, to cry out for His help, and yuh better believe that His timing will be perfect; He will lift you up out of the mire and bring you to safety. It’s like Bruh David says in Psalm 40 – Praise for God’s Deliverance. ‘I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings (steps). And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.’ (Ps. 40:1-3)

Oh my people, that’s exactly what the Lord will do for those of us who feel lost and sinking deep into a pit of miry clay. But the most important part is that we have to call out to Him, call out to Him in all sincerity and truth for His help! And when you do that, have no fear, He will be there to help you. It’s like the Bible Promise for our poem today from the prophet Isaiah says: ‘And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought (dry places, sun scorched lands), and make fat thy bones (strengthen your frame): and thou shalt be like a well-watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not (never fail).’ (Is. 58:11)

Oh my fellow believers, that’s a promise our God will always keep if we come to Him in humility, sincerity and obedience. And Bruh David said that in spades in Psalm 40. ‘Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.’ (Ps, 40:4) So, on this Easter Wednesday, please, let’s make up our minds to seek God sincerely, especially if our present circumstances are looking dire and hopeless. For that’s what He’s there for.

Now, let’s declare our Wednesday Wail, letting all the world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And here’s an even greater promise: all who endure to the end with Christ, will enjoy a more than glorious future with Him. One that we cannot even imagine or comprehend. So, wisdom dictates that we endure to the very end, that we can enjoy that more than glorious future together! Much LOVE!

…the ONLY ONE…truly able to pull you out of the mire of life…is Jesus Christ…

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Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 March 2014 Psalm 40:3

Psalm 40:3.    And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

 
And then it was Saturday Friends. Consequently, I wonder what kind of weather will manifest itself in my area today? On Monday, it was cold; on Tuesday springtime appeared; then Wednesday that dreadful snowstorm descended upon us; Thursday was deathly cold, and Friday was somewhat spring-like again.
 
Oh the vagaries of the weather eh, just like that of a ……….! And I’ll leave that space blank for each of you to fill in your own comparison, because if I put mine, I’ll probably have to go into hiding in fear for my life. (smile)
 
Anyway my people, it’s time for us to wake up and recognize that for whatever reason, there doesn’t seem to be anymore consistency in the weather pattern these days. But unfortunately too many of us are burying our heads in the sand, refusing to see what our eyes and senses are showing us. I guess it’s because mankind and his filthy, disgusting, evil habits are being blamed for the inconsistency – whether it’s industrial pollution, or rebellion against Almighty God – and no one wants to take the blame.
 
But my brethren, we’re all guilty on both counts; polluting the world’s limited resources and atmosphere, as well as sinful rebellion. So it’s high time to wake up and accept the blame and do something positive about it. Now I can’t talk much about how to fix the pollution problem, but I surely can address the rebellious and disobedient aspects as they pertain to Jehovah God.
 
Ah mih people, there’s only one solution for that problem, and it’s prayer; prayer filled with genuine repentance. And it will be very instructive to hear how Bruh David begins Psalm 40, praise for answered prayer. ‘I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings (steps).’ (Ps.40:1-2)
 
Oh fellow believers, as individuals, and as a society we are certainly mired in a horrible pit, and unfortunately, not one of clay, but one of sinking sand, of quicksand, because of our current state of sinful excesses. And if we continue in that direction, we’ll surely keep sinking further down until we disappear completely. And the only thing able to raise us up from that pit of quicksand is a return to a godly society.
 
Oh mih breddren, that’s exactly what our untenable situation is crying out for. The Lord God Jehovah heard Bruh David’s sincere, heartfelt prayer and eventually raised him up out of his misery. So much so that Bruh David joyfully declares in our Bit. ‘And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.’
 
Yes my people, when we sincerely turn to our Creator, He lifts us up out of our misery, both as individuals and as a society, and also puts a new song in our hearts and mouth, with plenty praise and thanks pouring forth. Now that’s very important because others will see our new behaviour and also come to reverence and trust in the Lord God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and all therein.
 
As Bruh Paul told the Corinthians: ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.’ (2 Cor.5:17)
 
So once we turn to Christ, we become a new creation, a new model of human being, where we sing God’s praises, obey His dictates and try to become like Christ – at least as much as is humanly possible. Now this new behaviour certainly won’t go unnoticed, for others will see the sincere LOVE and joy emanating from our souls and want to be like us- new creations in Christ.
 
Nothing speaks better than examples my Friends – as the novel, I believe it’s titled Joseph Andrews says, ‘examples work more forcibly on the mind than precepts.’
 
Wow! And that’s gospel truth! And would you believe that it’s almost fifty years ago in High School, I read that book. Just goes to show the power of the brain, God’s greatest invention.
 
Now listen to Bruh David from Psalm 33, praise to the Lord for his creation. ‘Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely (beautiful) for the upright. Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise (shout of joy). For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. He LOVETH righteousness and judgement (justice); the earth is full of the goodness (LOVING-kindness) of the Lord.’ (Ps.33:1-5)
 
And that is the undisputed truth my brethren! Most excellent and wonderful reasons to serve and worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! 
 
So please let’s get serious about the life we’re currently living, and contract with ourselves and the Lord to improve it nuh. For it’s only through a wholesale revival of God-centeredness in our sinful societies that we will be saved from a disastrous and calamitous downfall, like the many other overly sinful societies that have gone before us.
 
Let’s attend unto wisdom today nuh Friends, by embracing Christ and all the good things He has in store for us. That’s surely wisdom at its very highest – godly wisdom. Much LOVE!
 
…he who has ears to hear…let him hear…or else he will feel God’s wrath…and that’s a faithful promise.