A Book Keeping Trick

  Jesus set out for his finial journey to Jerusalem, 

where he knew that he would face his death by crucifixion. Luke:9-18

St. Luke speaks of Jesus' determination to face the cross which he knew awaited.  Jesus was resolute, or determined to go to Jerusalem. This was something he was going to do.

"And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem", Luke:9:51

It would be Jesus' impending death which provides the back drop for his parables of Grace.  So often ,the parables are read divorced from their context when this is done their meaning can becomes diffused.

Grace

We can see Grace, beginning to surface in the parables and teaching of Jesus as time passes and as the cross draws nearer in the narrative of the Gospels. Grace begins to emerge and appear in the parables, little by little.

We can also see themes such as Lastness, Lostness, Death and Resurrection emerging in Jesus' teaching as well, but now as Jesus makes his final journey to Jerusalem, we see that Grace is on his mind and the means to extend it to humanity.

The Parable of Unjust Stewart

"Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose Stewart was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, because you cannot be Stewart any longer.’

“The Stewart said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg—I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ “‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied.

“The Stewart told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’ “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

“The master commended the unjust Stewart because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are shrewder in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight." Luke: 16:1-13

In Context

So often , this parable is read out of its context, it is generally read as a lesson regarding attachment to the “wealth” of this life, but when we see it in and read it in the context of Who Jesus is and his mission and why he was going to Jerusalem, which was to die and cancel the IOU of sin which hung over the lives of all humanity, then the meaning is transformed. 

Jesus is going to Jerusalem; Jesus is on his way to the cross the parable changes into a powerful statement of the Grace of God.

The Stewart

You see, the rich man had a right to have the debt paid, yet through the Steward’s actions, through a bookkeeping trick that debt was canceled, far reduced from the amount that was for upon those who owed it.

The accounts were settled forever and noted on the account ledger “as paid in full” by the Stewart.  By all rights , the rich man should have received his payments from the those who owed him the money, and though he does not receive payment, we are told that he commends the Stewart for his shrewd handling of the matter.

Our Dept: Paid in Full

When we read this in light of what Jesus was about to accomplish for us all on the cross, the meaning stands out. This parable is about the forgiveness which Jesus has brought to us, all by Grace.  Jesus has canceled our IOUs through a divine bookkeeping trick. Our dept which was greater than any of us could pay is now canceled.

The rich man had every right to collect what was owed him, but he did not, this speaks of the right of the Great God to receive what is due him. We all owe him more than can be pay . God has the right to have justice, but through Jesus that IOU that hung over us was canceled just as the debtors in the parable owed. The truth is, that it would have been just for him to collect, but he allowed the action to stand un-revoked.

 Jesus is the Stewart

We are told in the parable that the Stewart was going to loses his place, Jesus did just that, in a-way. Jesus divested himself of the glory of deity, while still retaining his deity fully and took on our humanity and dwelt among us. For just a short time he parted with the glory of his deity and walked among us, all due to our need for hm, that is, our in indebtedness, our inability to pay what was owed is why. John: 1:1,14, Philippians:2:5-9

Jesus, as did the Stewart, made away for all of our dept to be paid, even as God the Father, as did the rich man in the parable, had the full right to his full just payment, but through Jesus our accounts have been settled. Paid in Full.

Just as the Stewart called the debtors of rich man to himself and addressed their accounts with them then canceled them. Jesus’ dose the same.

Jesus calls each of us and asked us "how much do you owe?" The Stewart provided the means of cancellation, so does our Lord Jesus make it possible for us to go free of the IOU which hangs over all our lives. The Steward does for the debtors what Jesus has done for each of us.

They owed, yet through the bookkeeping trick of the Steward they were free of their debt. The reality is that they, and we, owe, but through Jesus we can released and have that IOU gone for all time and eternity.

Jesus calls us and lets us know that he has canceled our debts of that which we all owed to God.  God had a right to have it paid and so, the Grace of God is in one  sense "unjust” in the way that God could have demand that we ourselves paid it to the full but he chose to show mercy over "justice" .

Tetelestai

Jesus on the cross, as he died was announcing the canceling of our debt, using the "Red Ink" of his own blood covered all our sinfulness and blotting it out for all time and eternity, providing salvation to any and to all who will just receive it by grace.

Jesus, we read, utters the phrase “it is Finished” .   The Greek is "Tetelestai which means "paid in full”, it is completely accomplished there is nothing else to be paid nothing now owed on all of our accounts. Jesus alone has accomplished everything needed for our salvation is done.

"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the spirit" John :19:30

 The IOU

This is what St. Paul was alluding to in his epistle to the Ephesians Christian and to Christians throughout the ages.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians: 2:8-13

St. Paul again expounds on the debt that humanity owed to God, this was charged to all of us due to our inability to follow the law perfectly. We could not do it. The Law was like that ledger of the rich man which reflected that there was payment due.

St. Paul wrote that the Law "brought death”; It demanded the payment of our lives but Jesus reconciled our accounts us to God.

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" Colossians:2:14

 Through Jesus, the IOU of the Law, has been removed that we might walk in the newness of life, a life free of the Law's claim over each of us, now we are free to extend the love of Jesus into the world around us.

Mammon 

"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight." Luke: 16:1-13

This new debt free life given us by Jesus Christ, is that we have been set free to live by and through Jesus. St. Paul speaks of it in many of his letters. We are free, to be who we were meant to be in Jesus. We are now able to set our minds on those things of God, the things which are above.  Now set free from the earthly materialism, that is Mammon of this world. Jesus frees us to have our attachments and wealth in the union we now have with him, that which is Eternal.

 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians: 3:2

"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" Matthew:6:20

 Into Their Houses

 The Stewart, quickly assess the situation, and considers his future disposition and came up with the forgiveness plan to cancel the dept, so that he might be taken into their houses when they learn of the release of their dept and out of their appreciation, they will take him. This is what happens as well, when we come to see the forgiveness, we have in Jesus that is, our dept is canceled, we take him into our lives. Jesus is taken into our lives, we are his and he is ours.

 “The Stewart said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg—I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

Praising The Steward

After this forgiveness is brought to light and the Rich man discover it , he commends the Stewart's actions.

“The master commended the unjust Stewart because he had acted shrewdly." 

This speaks to us of the highly exulted place that the Father has bestowed on Jesus Christ, for being the very one Who brings salvation to humanity though His death on the cross, which cancels our dept and removes the outstanding IOU.

"And whoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." Matthew: 23:12

"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.Why God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: " Philippians:2:8-9

No one Greater and Higher has come lower; only to be raised higher above all other   than our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saint And they sang a new song:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped." Revelation: 5:6-14

 How Much Do You Owe?

When the Gospel is preached, we make friends of the children of this world, when they hear that invitation to come to Jesus and they can have IOUs canceled. The Gospel asked each and all of us, "how much do you owe?" and provides the means for the eternal cancellation of our dept through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Praise God for the unjust Steward for he has canceled our debts and settled our accounts forever.

Benediction: May we each and all, be ever graceful for the divine bookkeeping trick which has canceled our dept today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma

 

When Reason Returns

 Nebuchadnezzar was made a great king by God himself. God had blessed the King with power, glory wealth, authority over lands, people and nations. So great was his kingship and power that as the king looked out over his vast realm and all the glory that it contained, it inspired within Nebuchadnezzar a scene of pride about all his possessions and accomplishments.

The Great Tree

King Nebuchadnezzar had been given a dream of a great strong tree which bore fruit, and had great spreading branches that reached into the sky and provided for many and birds made their nest in the branches.

"Now these were the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed: I was looking, and behold, there was a was great. tree in the midst of the earth and its height
      ‘The tree grew large and became strong
            And its height reached to the sky,
            And it was visible to the end of the whole earth.
     ‘Its foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant,
            And in it was food for all.
            The beasts of the field found shade under it,
            And the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches,
            And all living creatures fed themselves from it."Dan:4:10-12

In the vision, this tree stood until, an angle of God ordered that the great tree to be chopped down , yet it's roots were to be left in the earth and a band of iron was to be placed about the stump.

"‘I was looking in the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed, and behold, an angelic watcher, a holy one, descended from heaven.    ‘He shouted out and spoke as follows:
            “Chop down the tree and cut off its branches,
            Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit;
            Let the beasts flee from under it
            And the birds from its branches.
     “Yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground,
            But with a band of iron and bronze around it
            In the new grass of the field;"(13-15)

After the proclamation of the angel to chop the tree down and to affix the iron band upon the stump, the angel then makes a cryptic proclamation.

"And let him be drenched with the dew of heaven,
            And let him share with the beasts in the grass of the earth.       “Let his mind be changed from that of a man
            And let a beast’s mind be given to him,
            And let seven periods of time pass over him."(15b-16)

 Daniel Interprets
 

The Prophet Daniel, who served as an adviser to King Nebuchadnezzar , after hearing the kings’  dream  is alarmed by what he hears.  The Prophet Daniel recognizes that it is a warning from God for King Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel then interprets the meaning of the dream for the King, telling him that the King has sins which threatens to undo his position, but if the King repents, God will be merciful, but if he will not, then Nebuchadnezzar will be cut down as the tree, and then driven out from before men and live in the wild as an animal, but if the King repents God will not bring this upon Nebuchadnezzar. (19-27)

Looks Out at His Kingdom

One year after the vision of the great tree being cut down and the warning from the Prophet Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar was walking upon the roof of his royal palace. Nebuchadnezzar looked at his kingdom and saw all of its greatness.  He ruled much of the known world and his kingdom's influence was felt from north to south and east to west.

Nebuchadnezzar 's heart was lifted up and, he was filled with pride over all that he had and did, and then ascribed to himself the greatness of his kingdom and all of its glory.

At that very moment, as King Nebuchadnezzar looked out at his kingdom, even as he gloried in himself, and praised himself; there came a voice from Heaven spoke declaring that the power  and rule which he held would now be taken from him and would be driven into the wild,  and would be there until Nebuchadnezzar  recognizes that it is the Lord God who rules in the kingdoms of men and has power to raise up or to bring down kings and nations. God is God,  not Nebuchadnezzar and God rules.

 “All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king. “Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. “The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’ “While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’ (28-32)

As an Animal

The King Nebuchadnezzar then, at that moment, loses his ability to reason as the warning vision spoke none year earlier.

  "Let his mind be changed from that of a man And let a beast’s mind be given to him" (16a), 

Nebuchadnezzar now acts as a carnal animal and lives as an animal, and is among the animals. He can no longer reason as a man his life is simply the life of an animal driven by the pulls of the nature of an animal.

"Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws".(33)

Lifted His Eyes to Heaven

This was the life of a King whom God had made great. Pride brought the loss of reason upon Nebuchadnezzar as he admired his own self perceived accomplishments and greatness. Here Nebuchadnezzar remained in the state of lost reason and animal behavior all due to his carnal pride.

For seven years King Nebuchadnezzar lived without reason, until he lifted his eyes to Heaven, and it is then Nebuchadnezzar’s reason returned to him.  With Nebuchadnezzar's reason restored, he then gave glory to God and worshiped the Creator of Heaven and Earth and all was restored to him.

“At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me. “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise,  exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”(36-37)

Looking at Our Own Kingdoms

What is the lesson for us today so many centuries removed? We all can be like King Nebuchadnezzar; we can look out at the kingdoms of our lives and see great things. We may look at our positions in life, or good works which we have done, education, possessions or any other self-erected standards of greatness whatever they might be, and if we do this, we can be filled with the pride of our flesh.

When Nebuchadnezzar looked out at his kingdom, he took his eyes off the Great God. His view now was to the things of the Earth, he lost the ability to reason and he acted as an animal concerned with only self-preservation and keeping the life of the flesh alive. 

This tells us that when we look out at the kingdom(s) of our life, no matter how good they might be, without acknowledging the God of Heaven we lose the ability to reason, that is, to acknowledge the God of Heaven and to worship him alone. We become carnal and are concerned with the things of Earth rather than the things of Heaven.

As Nebuchadnezzar's great tree was cut down and bound with a a band of iron so might the great tree of our own lives’ kingdom be hewed to the grown and bound with a band of iron, cut down no matter how many people benefit from us.

The Things of Heaven

The Apostle St. Paul speaks to Christians in all ages, to rather, set out minds on the things of God, the things above rather upon the things of the Earth.

"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth".Col:3:2
 

These very Heavenly things are what our Lord Jesus tells us to set our hearts upon, they are eternal and our by grace.

"Seek first the Kingdom of God" Matt:6:33

 When we keep our minds upon the Heavenly things of God and our relationship with  the great God , the Father, Son and Holy Spirit  in clear focus , in,  and upon the Person of Jesus Christ and acknowledge that it is by his gracious hand that all  which we have received is from him alone,  then  there cannot be found room in our hearts for pride; we will attend the spiritual things rather than to keep the life of the flesh alive.

Whatever we have in this life , all good no matter how great our personal kingdoms might be  all good which we have receive is from the Great God and not ours accomplished by our own means.

"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights"Jam:1:17a

Reason Restored

When we lift our eyes to Heaven and acknowledge the Great God, we, like Nebuchadnezzar, will have our minds restored. We see God as God and we, like the King, will no longer behave as an animal, concerned only for preservation of the flesh, that is , we behave like an animal.

We then worship him as did Nebuchadnezzar did when he finally saw the truth that "God rules in the Kingdoms of men" the King then issued a proclamation giving glory to God the King of Heaven.

If we in our looking to the things of this life, and have become preoccupied with our flesh, and have become filled with pride, we then need to “lift our eyes to Heaven” and worship the Great God and give all glory to him alone we will be fully restored and our reason will return to us.

Benediction: May we each and all look not upon the things of this life with pride, but rather let us lift our eyes to heaven and worship the Great God, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.

Rev.Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma 

If Not for the Lord

 The Nation of Israel had faced many challenges as they came out of Egypt,  even as Israel trekked through the wilderness  and ultimately settled in the Promised land and through it all they faced adversaries which were greater in strength than they. Through each and all the challenges it was the Lord God who brought them victory. 

King David wrote Psalm:124 which attributes the providence of God and his gracious protection for the victories which Israel had won.

Psalm:124  is designated as a Psalm of Ascent written by King David. The Psalms of Ascent are thought , by some Biblical Scholars , to have been sung as a progression  during the Fall Holy Day season, starting with Psalm:120 on the Day of Atonement  ending with Psalm:134 on  first evening of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) which were enjoined under the Old Covenant. (Leviticus:23 and Deuteronomy:16)

Also, the period of time between the Fall Holy Days the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hasannah) and of the Day of Atonement (Youm Kippur) completes  a time called the Days of Awe, which was a time to remember the great acts of God in the life of the people of Israel and to reflect upon them and worship the Lord God.


Psalm:124 is found in Book Five of the book of Psalms.  The Book of Psalms is divided into five books each of the five Books mirrors on the first five Books of the Bible. 

Book Five of the Psalms parallels Moses' Book of Deuteronomy, which is a recounting or retelling of the works of God in the life of Israel and the giving of the Law and establishment of the Covenant between God and Israel.

David used this concept of recounting to readdress and remind the people of Israel that it is God who has blessed them with victory over their enemies and has graciously blessed them..

Psalm:124

"If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say—if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent  would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away.

Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

 If it had not been the Lord

David makes it clear to all who it is that is responsible for the victories that Israel has been given, "If it had not been the Lord".

David, from the very onset of the Psalm, declares that it is God who has blessed Israel and these victories and had not come through their own efforts and abilities. David, then admonishes his people to acknowledge this truth and the God who embodies it,  "let Israel say" .

Israel should remember who it is that has defeated their enemies, from the armies of Egypt to the Canaanite nations who held the Promised Land, It is the Lord who has done theses great things on their behalf and it was God who opened the way into the Promised Land and removing all the pagan strongholds which had stood before Israel.

When Men Rose Up

David address that the enemies of Israel were men who "rose up against” the people of God. This phrase address not just the natures of Israel's enemies but the true reason for their coming against Israel. 

 It was out of their carnal nature which motivated Israel's enemies, that they sought power and control and wanted to exult the "gods” of their own making, which reflects only the truth about themselves.

A person's or nation's  "god" is a mirror image of the persons or nation's own self. Everything that a person's or nation's "god" is  tells you much about the person  or nation's . the "gods" of the nations were like the nations that warred against Israel. 

Would Have Been Swallowed 

If the Lord God had not graciously taken the "side" of Israel, they would have ceased to survived as a nation but would have been, consumed or "swallowed up" by their enemies when "wrath" was directed at Israel. But the Lord preserved Israel in spite of those who came against them. 

The wrath and anger that is expressed against and for Israel is not just directed toward the Israelite people alone, but above them it is directed toward the God that they worshiped, the God who set them free and gave them the land of Canaan this God  the is true object of the nation’s anger. To swallow up Israel is to eradicate the worship of the God of Heaven, the God who created all things.

 Like an Overwhelming Water

If the Lord God had not been for Israel they would have been swept away and forgotten. David tells Israel ,that the power of the nations would have been like a ragging torrent that would have taken them away. Israel would be gone but for the providence of the Lord God.

Praise God

David' s response to the protection shown to Israel by the Lord is to worship to acknowledge that without God's blessing of protection defeat would have come upon them, they as a people would have been destroyed by their adversaries. David credits the preservation of his people to the Lord whom he served.

"Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth” this speaks of the strength of the those who came against Israel, that God has not let them defeat his people and for this David give all the praise to the Lord.

Escape From the Snare

Not only has victory come from the Lord but beyond that Israel was taken out  of the reach of their enemies. God has broken the traps that had been  deliberately set for them. These traps at first may have been cleverly set, but God breaks them and Israel, and like a bird in flight, is out of the reach of those who sought their harm.

"We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped".

Our Help

David closes the Psalm with the reminder and acknowledgement that it is God alone who has help Israel and delivered them. That God has accomplished for his people every deliverance from the plots which have arisen out of the arrogant heart of Israel’s' foes and that the God of Israel's help is the very one who created all things,  that his power is over and above all else.

"Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

 For Us

The words of this Psalm however, are not just for the people of Israel in ages past ago but for us today. In our lives today as Christians we too can face challenges that arise.

These challenges can threaten us to the point, that we feel as if we are about to be "swallowed up" or "swept away". There are times when snares are so cleverly laid that without the help of the great God we would be ensnared and taken by powers and even circumstances far more powerful than we.

God On Your Side

When the enemies of our lives threaten, whatever the guise this enemy may assume, whatever form it takes, health problems, loss of employment, lost relationships, loneliness or another challenge it will attempt to distract us from one who has given us so great a salvation; Jesus Christ.

Whatever we face this day or the next, we have a Savior who is steadfast and is standing with us and we need not fear. Jesus is "on you side".

This Savior wants you, and we all , to know that he has made an eternal commitment to each and all, that whatever you or any of us face he is there, you are never alone, he will not abandon you.

" will I never leave you;  will never I forsake you" Heb:13:5

Whatever plots arise against us, no matter how great the enemy, whatever that enemy might be, we can face the challenge for the Lord Jesus is with you.

Knowing that Jesus has made an eternal commitment to stand with us we need not fear , this  should cause us to be confident in him.  Jesus is our help in and through any and all challenges which arise in our lives.

"So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere men do to me?"(6)

If God Be For Us
 

The people of Israel faced  multiple threats from the nations around them, many of whom were greater and more powerful than Israel, yet victory was given them not due to their power of strength of arms but through the great God who was and is greater than any and all which might come against us, whether they be powers seen or unseen which arise out of the world around us.

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."1Jhn:4:4

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Rm: 8:31

 Giving Him Praise

 Knowing that our Lord is with us should bring a response of worship and giving praise to Jesus, whatever we face our Lord is with us Jesus is our victory and deliverance over all that we face.

"Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Rm: 7:25a

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."1Crth:15:57

Our Lord is us and through Jesus Christ has given the great victory over all that arise against us. Jesus is with us and we will not be swallowed up in defeat.

Our Lord God through Jesus has brought us victory even over the greatest enemy of all; death. Through Jesus even death has and is defeated, and our response should be that of worship and thanksgiving.

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ".1Crth:15:54c-57

Praise God for the victory over all our enemies for we would have been swallowed up alive if not for the Lord...

Benediction: May we each and all trust always in our Lord for the victory in all challenges, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen

 

Rev.Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma