Psalms – Page 121 – I'm Following Jesus

King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Chapters: Psalms 81,88,92-93
Message: Weather The Storm

Hello My Friend,

Someone made a comment that it seems like this is the hundred and fifty-fifth day that we are in April. This really has been a long month, whenever we are dealing with things like this pandemic, we often come to grips with the fact that we have taken so much for granted. While God never intended for the entire world to shut down like this, He is using this time for a purpose, as He does with all things, and to get His people back to trusting Him, and lead some lost souls to Him as well. People are in a panic right now, they really think this is the end of the world, even saved, born again Christians are living in fear of all this. So, I challenge all of us who are strong in our faith to be there for the weak, after all, if we do not lift up one another, Satan will get them.

[Romans 15:1-7 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.]

[The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.] Do you know what this means? It means that instead of thinking of my own selfish needs, the burden to take care of others fell on me. I have to be honest with you, I have not been very strong, everything from my ministry, to my new relationship has been affected by this. I am tired of being told by the world what I am allowed to do, where I am allowed to go, and what they think is essential. The last time I checked, essential means, that which is of the most importance. So, who are they to decide that wrestling is of the most importance, but going to church or visiting family is not. However, I will tell you that I do have hope, praise God! All this time on my hands has definitely drawn me nearer to God in a way that I feel compassion and grief for others like I have never felt before. It has also put a fear of God in me that I have not had in a long time. This is actually what God wants from His people. In fact, He is crying out to us right now, He knows our struggles, and it saddens Him to no end that we are not really coming to Him.

[Psalms 81:8-16 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; 9 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. 10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. 12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels. 13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! 14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. 15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. 16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.]

[The haters of the LORD] You know, this is the first time I have noticed this. The world, and quite frankly, quite a few Christians, are fighting about every little thing, even complaining they not getting enough of the stimulus money that was handed out by the government. When I made a comment to someone that at least they were getting something I was unfriended by them. When we stop being grateful for what God has given us, that is when we lose those essentials. When we stop being thankful for what God has given us, that is when God stops listening to our requests. And when we turn to the world for the things we need, instead trusting God to fill our need, that is when God will hold things back until we realize we need Him. [James 4:1-3 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.]

[because ye ask amiss,] What are we asking that is wrong? Well, the need for things that are not so essential, but are use to getting tends to bring a lust for them the longer we go without them. People become desperate, especially when they are not really grounded in their faith. It is really sad that we will try every option before we go to God, but that is exactly what we all are guilty of one time or another. Then we start crying out to God, wondering where He is, and why He does not answer us.

[Psalms 88:1-3, 9-14 O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: 2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; 3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. 9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee. 10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah. 11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction? 12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? 13 But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. 14 LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?]

[For my soul is full of troubles:] Let me tell you, what brings a soul full of troubles, when all the cares of the world start filling our heads, when all the things that brought us comfort start diminishing. What brings a soul full of troubles is desperation, depression, fear, anxiety, dependence, lack of control, and uncertainty. Can I tell you that nothing in this life is certain? If it were, then, we would be no different than all those fools who are living in fear of stepping foot out the door and dying the second they do. Jesus said and still says, [Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.]

[and learn of me;] I think it is time for all Christians to remind themselves of they state they were in before they accepted Christ as their Saviour. Remember, what Christ did for you! Stop worrying about everything, He saved your soul from a fiery, burning hell, He can certainly save you from whatever you are going through now. I think it is time for all wannabe Christians, I am talking about those who are trusting in their religion, to learn that their own works are never going to save them, and that Christ alone is the only one who can. I think it is time for all the fearful, afraid, confused, uncertain, and depressed to open their eyes and hearts to what Jesus can do for them. When we take this time to open our hearts, eyes, ears, and minds to the fact that Jesus is there for us our soul will feel less troubled and we will remember to thank God for just how great He is.

[Psalms 92:1-5 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: 2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, 3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. 4 For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. 5 O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.]

[I will triumph in the works of thy hands.] You will triumph in the works of God’s hands! Tell yourself that, “I will triumph in the works of God’s hands!” Better yet, “I will triumph in the works of My Father’s hands!” Stop living in fear! Stop living in defeat! Stop living in uncertainties! Start living by faith! Yes, I know that is easier said than done, and you do not want to hear, “Snap out of it!”, when it takes everything in your being to get out of bed. Just remember, nothing is going to change if you just lay there, you need some faith, and you need some effort, it does not need to be a lot, only the size of a mustard seed. Who is in control of all this! God is! He knows what is going on, this is not the end of the world, and God is not done with you being here yet, He has a purpose for you. So, yes, it is time to snap out of it, and start praising God for all the things He has gotten you through.

[Psalms 93:1-5 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. 2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. 4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. 5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.]

[The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters,] Remember who calmed the sea? Jesus did. Right now, the floods do seem like they are very high and loud, but Jesus is much mightier than any storm. God is not always going to take us out of the storm, He will always help us weather it until it passes by.

[II Corinthians 7:10-11 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.]

Today’s Prayer: God, You know everything that is going on, You know the very essentials I need, You always take care of every need and then some. It is easy to take Your graces for granted, You bless us with so much more than we deserve, and yet You give it willingly and lovingly. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever, and You gladly help to those who come to You diligently by faith. You have proved Yourself over and over again, from Your Word, and even in my own life, that You answer our every request when we come to You by faith, resting on Your promises, and trusting You when we get in stormy waters. This pandemic is our rough waters, and You will get us through them as long as we seek Your help, and not rely or worry about getting out of it on our own. Lord, Watch over me, guide me, keep my heart on You, trusting in Your promises and that You will never leave nor forsake me. Give me Your mercies and grace, patience and cover me with Your hedge that I might be protected in this storm until it passes by. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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