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Christian
Education Pre-K-12
Richmond Academy
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Perilous Times
Psa 91:5-6 “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by
night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day; (6) [Nor] for the pestilence
[that] walketh in darkness; [nor] for the destruction [that] wasteth at
noonday.”
Fear is the most deadly disease known to man. 2Ti 1:7 (KJV) “For God hath not
given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
How dreadful the days have become to so many today. How terrifying is the mind
of God’s people when we think of what might be – plague, terror, financial ruin.
People awaken in the night with chest pains. Our bodies are filled with aches
and hurts – and many of them come because of fear. Yet the Word says, “You shall
not fear…” How? By maintaining a close personal relationship with the unchanging
Word of God. Unless the church of America turns from their wicked ways, repents
and turns to the Lord in careful prayer, much fear will strike.
Terror = speaks of that which happens and we don’t understand
Arrow = speaks of our warfare that can be identified
Pestilence = that which destroys over time (unidentified)
Destruction = that which cuts off (the vine)
Wasteth = infection
Psa 91:7 “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand;
[but] it shall not come nigh thee.”
The reason we need to get down to business with God is because the natural
events of life are growing worse and we won’t escape the effects of them. We
will see it happen on all sides, but the promise is that we will be protected.
The Lord is very slow to wrath and anger. He is preparing His people to stand in
the day of evil. He doesn’t bring judgment all at one time. This truth is a
comfort to us. But that comfort lasts only if we receive His counsel today and
walk in the peace of God in our hearts and minds. This is not saying we won’t be
affected. It is only saying that we will overcome.
Psa 91:8 “Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the
wicked.”
We are going to remain on the earth long enough to see and observe evil being
dealt with. This is why we set our faces like flint – so we won’t run when this
happens.
Today we see many wicked people operating. When we suggest that the way to live
is righteously, they become angry and claiming their rights. This verse is not
between Christians and non-Christians, but between the righteous and the wicked.
The wicked do not become too upset about faith talk and going to heaven; but
talk about living righteously, and all kinds of evil are exposed. How does God
react to this kind of injustice? He laughs. He wants you and me to laugh with
Him and realize He is in complete control. If you don’t think it is funny, ask
the Lord to make you laugh until He lifts your anger and bitterness. The Lord
does not accept our fretting. Fretting leads to sin. The wrath of man does not
accomplish the righteousness of God. Be an Isaac and laugh at wickedness. The
wicked will need your help soon enough.
Psa 91:-10 “Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the
most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any
plague come nigh thy dwelling.”
All of the help of the Lord for deliverance is dependant on our abiding in
Christ. This means that right now, today, we are looking to Jesus for all we are
saying, thinking and doing. Living in Christ is our environment, holding all our
decisions, worries, fears, hopes, dreams and dreads before Him so we don’t take
one step out of His will.
But this state is:
It is not enough just to attend a church.
It is not enough to believe correct doctrine.
It is not enough to say I have accepted Jesus.
TODAY is the day of salvation. The Kingdom of God is as a seed. It is alive and
growing in us IF WE ARE TENDING to the environment – that which is conducive to
healthy growth to produce fruit. Psa 34:7 “The angel of the LORD encampeth round
about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”
Galatians 5:21; Hebrews 6:8; and 2 Peter 2:20 all are warnings of living out our
salvation TODAY. Until the church begins to live TODAY in salvation they don’t
have a witness for righteous living.
Psa 91:11 “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all
thy ways.”
The only thing we know is that there are twice as many good angels for us as are
against us. Then why do we have to wrestle against the evil ones? It is because
they are in rebellion against Christ. They do not want us to obey and please our
Lord; so until a believer fights back, he will not gain his place of authority
in the kingdom of God.
Heb 1:14 (KJV+) “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister
for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
The righteous angels have been sent to enable us to overcome the rebellion of
evil angels and to take their places in the heavenlies. An angel strengthened
Christ in the desert, and at Gethsemane. Angels rejoice when a sinner repents
and turns to God. Christ announces the name of each victorious saint in the
presence of God and His angels.
We see God commands His angels to guard those who are abiding in Christ, to
guard them in all their ways. We don’t see them performing their duties, but
they are watching over us very carefully (vrs.12) so that we are not destroyed.
This is telling us that God attends to the smallest detail of our daily
activities. Their constant care and attention to detail afford us innumerable
deliverances, most of which we remain unaware. Without their help, our lives
would be the most miserable of all people. But again, this promise is to those
who are living in communion with Jesus Christ.
Psa 91:13 “Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the
dragon shalt thou trample under feet.”
It is likely that none of us will experience this verse naturally. So what is
being said? Who are the lion and the serpent? They are the power of Satan! The
Christian who lives and abides in the shadow of the Almighty, the habitation of
the Most High, is to have no fear of what Satan or his angels and demons can do.
We must not be presumptuous in what we do. The idea of trampling on lions and
serpents portrays a boldness of action with which we are empowered when we are
obeying the Lord in all that we do. Yes, there is a day when Satan is crushed
under our feet; but today, the Lord directs our steps so we can ride over the
power of darkness.
Jam 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you.”
Instead of rebuking the devil, resist Him by living righteously. Satan is
terrified at righteous behavior. He cannot harm us unless he can persuade us to
disobey God in some area. Satan has no power over us unless there is sin
operating, then he can get past our protection even though we name the name of
Jesus Christ.
Christianity can be one of two things: it can be religious, something we
subscribe to like Islam, Buddhism, Catholicism; OR, it can be a daily experience
with living in the Lord Jesus Christ, continually trusting in Him for every
aspect of our life. We present our bodies as living sacrifices; we set our minds
on things above; we carry our cross behind Jesus, singing and making melody in
our heart to the Lord at all times. Then we are abiding in Him as He abides by
the Life of the Father.
Psa 91:14 “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I
will set him on high, because he hath known my name.”
Loving the Lord and acknowledging His name means to invite Him into every area
of our personality and behavior. We call upon Him for assistance in every aspect
of life, honoring Him and thanking Him continually for the help and wisdom He is
giving us continually.
-Pastor Steve
April Newsletter 2007 |
Perilous Times |
Pastor's Journal April 2006
Building the
Church part 3 of 3 | New Life &
Restoration
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Biblical
Counseling for Leaders
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