Post by Les Brewer on Feb 7, 2021 23:08:40 GMT
Sunday February 7, 2021
Montana this morning is cold the air is brisk and the skies are dusking with snow filled clouds in the mountain backdrop of White Sulpher Springs. White drifts abound everywhere and the hope of the sun shining later is certainly in a strong thought of mind. It’s been an interesting January thus far with some surprises not even perceived; yet God is good. Morning always brings spiritual meditations and thoughts provoked by the word of God and ponderings concerning the will of God. This particular morning brings thoughts of the immediate future concerning travel to California and Arizona through the course of the month of February visiting with family, friends, and doing ministry. This morning’s devotional which is by spiritual unction; concerns the strength of God.
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. (2 Timothy 4:17)
When we consider the context of this chapter and how the Apostle is directing Timothy’s attention to those around him abandoning him and those that he sent to minister and was left to himself alone. He boldly points to the fact that the Lord stood with him and strengthened so he could continue to preach the gospel. Brethren we have a mission which is dependent upon the presence and strength of God. It is a given in this life that sometimes those who worked alongside of us at one time with full devotion to the call and the cause of our mission will sometimes abandon us loving this present world more than the work of God.
When we stand along we’re not standing alone. What God has called us to; he will enable us to do! Abandonment is par for the course many times as we encounter people of different levels of faith along this sojourn to the Celestial City. As witnesses we are actually winners; enabled and empowered by the Holy Spirit to perform the task before us even on pain of death which is not death; but a transition or transport to heaven. God equips the chosen with those things which are needful to fulfill the commission.
What could have hindered Paul was not a deterrent at all! Why? Paul chose to love and to forgive; instead of living the life of victimhood. Blame is destructive in a world where fairness is only a utopian ideology. Life is and always will be contentious! Yet we as Christians have an advantage when it comes to our lives in this world. We have the presence and strength of the Holy Spirit to love, forgive, and go forward not laying any charge or blame on anyone with malice or animosity! When we are abandoned or bullied by those around us we can overcome instead of being overwhelmed knowing all the promises of God are yea and amen in Christ Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith!
What is not obvious to the un-generated soul is the presence and strength that is found in God. We that are enlightened have to word of God to instruct us and to inform us and the understanding that God does not abandon his own. The actions of others should never interfere with our relationship with God. It is the power of God that solely sustains us when we do not lean to our own understanding.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)
Our trust is supposed to be wholehearted and our understanding is supposed to be spiritual not carnal. Our delight is in Christ and our joy is our strength.
(3) Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
(4) Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
(5) Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
(6) And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
(7) Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Psalms 37:3-7
Brethren I have found that when I keep the faith the faith keeps me! The Spirit leads and guides us into all truth and shows us things prophetic. He is our Shepherd we shall not lack any good thing when we serve and worship him in Spirit and Truth. Selah
Brother Bishop D. Ray Ritchie
Montana this morning is cold the air is brisk and the skies are dusking with snow filled clouds in the mountain backdrop of White Sulpher Springs. White drifts abound everywhere and the hope of the sun shining later is certainly in a strong thought of mind. It’s been an interesting January thus far with some surprises not even perceived; yet God is good. Morning always brings spiritual meditations and thoughts provoked by the word of God and ponderings concerning the will of God. This particular morning brings thoughts of the immediate future concerning travel to California and Arizona through the course of the month of February visiting with family, friends, and doing ministry. This morning’s devotional which is by spiritual unction; concerns the strength of God.
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. (2 Timothy 4:17)
When we consider the context of this chapter and how the Apostle is directing Timothy’s attention to those around him abandoning him and those that he sent to minister and was left to himself alone. He boldly points to the fact that the Lord stood with him and strengthened so he could continue to preach the gospel. Brethren we have a mission which is dependent upon the presence and strength of God. It is a given in this life that sometimes those who worked alongside of us at one time with full devotion to the call and the cause of our mission will sometimes abandon us loving this present world more than the work of God.
When we stand along we’re not standing alone. What God has called us to; he will enable us to do! Abandonment is par for the course many times as we encounter people of different levels of faith along this sojourn to the Celestial City. As witnesses we are actually winners; enabled and empowered by the Holy Spirit to perform the task before us even on pain of death which is not death; but a transition or transport to heaven. God equips the chosen with those things which are needful to fulfill the commission.
What could have hindered Paul was not a deterrent at all! Why? Paul chose to love and to forgive; instead of living the life of victimhood. Blame is destructive in a world where fairness is only a utopian ideology. Life is and always will be contentious! Yet we as Christians have an advantage when it comes to our lives in this world. We have the presence and strength of the Holy Spirit to love, forgive, and go forward not laying any charge or blame on anyone with malice or animosity! When we are abandoned or bullied by those around us we can overcome instead of being overwhelmed knowing all the promises of God are yea and amen in Christ Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith!
What is not obvious to the un-generated soul is the presence and strength that is found in God. We that are enlightened have to word of God to instruct us and to inform us and the understanding that God does not abandon his own. The actions of others should never interfere with our relationship with God. It is the power of God that solely sustains us when we do not lean to our own understanding.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)
Our trust is supposed to be wholehearted and our understanding is supposed to be spiritual not carnal. Our delight is in Christ and our joy is our strength.
(3) Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
(4) Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
(5) Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
(6) And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
(7) Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Psalms 37:3-7
Brethren I have found that when I keep the faith the faith keeps me! The Spirit leads and guides us into all truth and shows us things prophetic. He is our Shepherd we shall not lack any good thing when we serve and worship him in Spirit and Truth. Selah
Brother Bishop D. Ray Ritchie