Scriptural Topics
The Scriptures are all powerful in breaking down strongholds, raising up those who are pressed down, and guiding us into experiencing the Lord’s victory over all things. In this segment we set forth a series of subjects with appropriate Scriptures that strengthen faith, and lead to overcoming in the Lord.
Subject areas will be changed regularly, and previous scriptural readings and commentaries may be accessed by clicking different weeks in the calendar below.
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Gods Deliverance in Times of Distress
Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Ps:19-20.
To fear God is to revere him, to obey Him, and to trust Him. When you display your reverence and trust of Gods faithfulness before your fellow man, He will draw you into His abiding presence, and keep you safe from the evil plots of those under the control of Satan.
Gods Deliverance in Times of Distress
But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, You are my God. My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. Ps 31:14-15.
Revelation 12:11 says, And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. In this reading we have an example in Davids testimony of his belief and trust in God, a testimony that breaks the power of Satan, and paves the way for Gods victory to be manifested. His belief that his times were in Gods hands, is an affirmation that he was in Gods keeping, and no one could snatch him out of Gods hands before Gods timing.
Gods Deliverance in Times of Distress
Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Ps 31:23-24.
To hope in a spiritual sense is to have an assurance of Gods faithfulness to preserve those who love Him, and trust in His faithful care and protection. He shall strengthen your heart assures us that He will remove anxiety and fear, things that also have an adverse effect on the health of our physical hearts.
Gods Deliverance in Times of Distress
You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; will guide you with My eye.
Ps 32:7-8.
There are two parts to this reading, the first, Davids prayer of praise and worship, and the second, Gods encouraging response.
Not all Christians realise that spiritually we are in Jesus Christ in God. Jesus prayed, , that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us. John 17:.21. When by faith we adopt that spiritual position, God becomes to us a fortress, a hiding place, a safe refuge from all of Satans attacks directed at is. David realises this, and retreats into the safety of Gods presence.
Gods Deliverance in Times of Distress
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;s and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! P32:10-11.
This reading does not say that the righteous person shall not suffer tribulation and sorrows, but that in all of his circumstances Gods mercy shall be upon him, a surety of Gods loving presence and help to overcome.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Ps 34:19.
Gods Deliverance in Times of Distress
Surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him. You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Ps 32:6-7.
A flood of great waters suggests being threatened by many calamitous attacks that endanger his life. David is confident that God will shelter him in His abiding presence, and God will encourage Him and strengthen his faith by directing songs of deliverance into his spirit.
Gods Deliverance in Times of Distress
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Ps 33:18-19. Ps 33:18-19.
To fear God is to revere His almightiness to the degree that we choose to believe in Him, and to obey His will for us, trusting in His working in our circumstances. To hope in His mercy and trust in His invincible power to deliver us from the threat of death, is to have an assurance that this will happen. Famine is used as an example of any kind of death threat.
Gods Deliverance in Times of Distress
Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Psalm 33:20-21.
To be prepared to wait on God for an answer to prayer, leads to having a quietness and trust that is pleasing to God. On the other hand, to lose patience leads to engaging in fleshly efforts to make things happen, causing God to step back and leave us to our own devices.
To trust in His holy name is to have a complete assurance in His attributes, and His devotion to deliver us from all calamities.
Gods Deliverance in Times of Distress
I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. Psalm 34:4-5.
David encourages us with a testimony to Gods faithfulness.
They looked to Him - means all those who look to God for deliverance will not be ashamed or disappointed, their faces reflecting their rejoicing.
Gods Deliverance in Times of Distress
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:7-8. Psalm 34:7-8.
Those who are diligent in their commitment to the Lord must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22. We are engaged in a spiritual battle against Satan and his demon spirits who constantly oppose our spiritual growth and commitment. Peter warned us, to be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8-9. Our reading is a comfort to those who are being buffeted by Satan, in that we are not alone in this conflict, for God has appointed His mighty angels to guard us round about and keep us.
Gods Deliverance in Times of Distress
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Ps 30:4-5. Ps 30:4-5.
Sometimes God removes His hedge of protection, leaving us vulnerable to Satans attacks. This is not because God is angry with us, but He does all for our good, opening the door to our repentance and deeper commitment. Often it seems that there is no end to our suffering, but in this reading we are assured that times of recovery and refreshment are ahead.
The New Earth and New Heavens
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 2 Peter 3:12.
Some people think that after the final judgment, and our resurrection in union with Christ, we will return to this earth, which will have been cleansed from all unrighteousness. Peter declares otherwise. The heavens, or atmosphere will be dissolved, and the elements that make up the earth will be melted by fervent heat. The earth and its atmosphere will be utterly destroyed.
The New Earth and New Heavens
the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2 Peter 3:111.
Not only will the earth and atmosphere be burned up, but all of the works of man that have so corrupted it, will be consumed by fire. There will be no trace of man-made works on the new earth Christ is creating.
The New Earth and New Heavens
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:12.
Peter assures us that we will be going to a completely new uncorrupted earth and atmosphere, with all traces of mans former disobedience removed.
The New Earth and New Heavens
For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. Isa 65:17.
When we are taken by the Lord and located on the new earth He has created for us, all remembrance of the old earth with its sorrows and pains, will be removed from our memories.
The New Earth and New Heavens
In My Fathers house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:2-4. John 14:2-4.
This figurative statement by the Lord may be interpreted as follows. In my Fathers universe there are many habitable planets. I am going to prepare one to be your future abode, and I will come again to escort you there so that we will dwell there together.
This new earth will be our heaven, where we will live together with the Lord.
The New Earth and New Heavens
But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people. Isa 65:18-19. Isa 65:18-19
Here Jerusalem is a symbol for the glorified Church, where all the blessings of our earthly existence have their fulfilment. In this case it is the joy of the Lord which He made available for us in this present life. In the new earth joy will be directed from the Lord to His people, and be manifested in His creation.
The New Earth and New Heavens
The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying. Isa 65:20.
The voice of crying and weeping which are so prevalent in the sufferings of our present existence, will disappear, and be replaced by joy, peace, and contentment.
The New Earth and New Heavens
They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat, and My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
Isa 65:21-22.
There will be occupations that are satisfying, bearing results that are personally rewarding, with the fruit of their labours not taken away by others.
The New Earth and New Heavens
It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isa 65:24.
Isa 65:24.
God will know the thoughts of all hearts, and His care is so diligent that before they voice their prayers, God will be bringing about the answer.
The New Earth and New Heavens
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpents food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, says the Lord.
Isa 65:25.
There will be animals, and whether this is figurative or literal, this shows that there will be harmony throughout Gods creation.
The Lord is in us and we are in Him
At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. John 14:20.
On several occasions Jesus told us that He was in us, and we in Him. This points to two aspects of our relationship with Jesus Christ, each one providing us with a source of spiritual blessing. By His dwelling in us, Christ wants to share His life with us, encouraging us to partake of His attributes to meet our needs.
The Lord is in us and we are in Him
I do not pray for these alone [the disciples], but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us.
John 17:20-22.
Many people think that Christs empowerment of His disciples was limited to those of that generation, and is not available to modern believers. In this reading, Christ indicates that this abiding relationship applies also to those who will believe, which includes us.
The Lord is in us and we are in Him
As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. John 6:57.
Here Jesus reveals two aspects of His relationship with His Father, and Our relationship with Him. The first is that He drew on the presence of the Father in Him to accomplish His works, and secondly that we should live in like manner, drawing on His attributes in us to minister spiritual life to others.
The Lord is in us and we are in Him
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
John 15:4.
Jesus uses the analogy of the vine and its branches to show that we as His branches cannot bear fruit unless we remain attached to Jesus the vine, and draw on His indwelling life to minister spiritual life to bear fruit that lasts. He went on to declare that without Me you can do nothing.
The Lord is in us and we are in Him
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Gal 3:27.
Gal 3:27.
In the last weeks we have been looking at the blessings of Christ dwelling in us. These blessings are obtained by drawing on the attributes of the indwelling Christ in us. Now we will examine the other aspect of our union with Christ, we dwelling in Him and in God the Father. These blessings are those that have already been procured for us by Christs death on the cross.
This reading states that we were baptised into Christ, into all that He is, and all that He had done for us by His sacrificial death om the cross. Paul says that because we have been baptised into Christ, we should put on, or clothe ourselves with Christ. This means that as at the start of each day we put on clothes, spiritually we should, in prayer, clothe ourselves with all of the spiritual blessings we have in Jesus Christ, so that we may partake of them throughout the day.
The Lord is in us and we are in Him
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ
Eph 1:3.
Imagine a storehouse in heavenly places containing all of the spiritual blessings Christ has procured for us, like being healed by His stripes, made children of God, holy and blameless in His eyes, and eternally saved. We may receive each one of these blessings outlined in the Scriptures by faith, incorporating them in our daily living.
The Lord is in us and we are in Him
..just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame. Eph 1:4.
Can you say that you are holy and without blame? Probably not, but the Scriptures say that you may claim that. There are two classes of truth. The first is earthly truth - what we see and experience. In that respect we could never claim to be holy and blameless. The second is spiritual truth, which is eternal. Spiritual truth relates to all that Christ had procured for us by His death on the cross. Physically we sin each day, but spiritually we may claim to be holy and blameless in God�s eyes. In Colossians, Paul says that we should keep our eyes on spiritual reality, and not be weighed down by earthly reality.
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