Psalm 143 is another example of how David handled himself in times of testing and trial. He would cry out to the Lord about his situation. Then he would remind himself of times of deliverance by the Lord in the past. Then he would present his petition before the Lord. We should pray different prayers than David prayed because we now have a better Covenant, based on better promises than the one that David operated under! Hebrews 8:6:
6But as it now is, He [Christ] has acquired a [priestly] ministry which is as much superior and more excellent [than the old] as the covenant (the agreement) of which He is the Mediator (the Arbiter, Agent) is superior and more excellent, [because] it is enacted and rests upon more important (sublimer, higher, and nobler) promises.
and 2 Peter 1:4:
4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Find out what belongs to you as a born again child of God! Remind yourself of past victories, speak the Word of God over your situation and then begin to thank and praise Him for it! That's how we encourage ourselves in the Lord now! DO IT! Remember, "if satan can't steal your joy, he can't keep your goods"! AMEN!
Anyone who knows me will tell you that Philippians chapter 3, especially verses 8-10 in the Amplified Bible, are some of my favorite verses in the whole Bible. Next to that you can add the entire Gospel of John! I love that "In the beginning WAS the WORD"! I also love chapter 3! Not only does Jesus say right here, as plain as He can make it, that you "must be born again", but then He explains that it is by the Spirit. He goes on to explain further in verses 14-18:
14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must [so it is necessary that] the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross],15In order that everyone who believes in Him [who cleaves to Him, trusts Him, and relies on Him] may not perish, but have eternal life and [actually] live forever!16For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.17For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.18He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation--he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ's name.]
God is NOT, I repeat, NOT passing judgement on the world for their sin! Jesus of Nazareth, aka Yeshua HaMashiach, has, ONCE FOR ALL, paid the price for every sin EVER committed, EXCEPT for one sin. That is the sin of rejecting Him! The only thing that people will be judged before God on when their spirit/soul combos leaves their bodies is: What have you done with Jesus? Have you received Jesus of Nazareth as YOUR Lord and personal Saviour? If the answer is YES, then they enter eternity in the presence of Almighty God and all the angels in Heaven. If the answer is anything BUT yes, they will enter into eternal darkness with a future in hell and the Lake of Fire. What is the message we should be bringing to the world? It is that God is not holding anything against them. That the price to be paid for missing it even once is eternal death (separation from God), BUT, Jesus already paid the price through His death, burial and resurrection! Is there any reason you can't receive Jesus of Nazareth as YOUR Lord and personal Saviour right now? Then pray with them, encourage them to get into the Word, bring them to church and help them to grow! Doesn't that sound like just THE most exciting thing you could EVER do with your time? WOW! You sound like God now! AMEN!
In 1 Samuel 12 we hear Samuel rehearsing for the people all that God had done for them. Then he told them what a sin it was that they had asked for an earthly king. But God would STILL bless them if both they and their king obeyed the Lord. Verses 12-15:
12But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, No! A king shall reign over us--when the Lord your God was your King!13Now see the king whom you have chosen and for whom you have asked; behold, the Lord has set a king over you.14If you will revere and fear the Lord and serve Him and hearken to His voice and not rebel against His commandment, and if both you and your king will follow the Lord your God, it will be good!15But if you will not hearken to the Lord's voice, but rebel against His commandment, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.
Then again in verses 24-25:
24Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; for consider how great are the things He has done for you.25But if you still do wickedly, both you and your king shall be swept away.
What happened? Chapter 13:9-14:
9So Saul said, Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering [which he was forbidden to do].10And just as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came! Saul went out to meet and greet him.11Samuel said, What have you done? Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines were assembled at Michmash,12I thought, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord. So I forced myself to offer a burnt offering.13And Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly! You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God which He commanded you; for the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever;14But now your kingdom shall not continue; the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince and ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.
David will come on the scene, but it will NOT be an easy thing for him! Keep reading!
Shalom in Him!
