Psalm 127:1 says:
1EXCEPT THE Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.
This verse is telling us that if we don't have trust and confidence in the God of the Bible to "build", the Hebrew word, "banah", which means: to build or rebuild, to establish, repair and restore our house, then our efforts are futile and fruitless! It also says that unless the Lord is the One to "keep" us, the Hebrew word, "shamar", which means: guard, observe, protect, to preserve us, then our efforts will be wasted! He IS the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! let's find out how to do things HIS way, don't you think His way just MAY be better?! AMEN!
In 1 Corinthians 16 Paul is instructing the people in various things the way a pastor would instruct a congregation. My favorite verse in this chapter is verse 9:
9For a wide door of opportunity for effectual [service] has opened to me [there, a great and promising one], and [there are] many adversaries.
Take advantage of every opportunity you have to share the Good News of the Gospel as a Minster of Reconciliation, knowing that the enemy WILL most certainly try to stop you. Take a look at Paul's tests and trials through out the Book of Acts if you don't believe me. But the key is that the Lord WILL deliver you out of them ALL when you operate according to His Word! AMEN!
We continue to see through the Old Testament, especially after the deaths of Moses, Joshua and Caleb, that the people would serve God for a time, then fall into idolatry and reap the results. See Judges 3:7-8a:
7And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord and forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.8So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel,
But the good news is found in verse 9a:
9But when the Israelites cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel to deliver them,
The same thing is available to us! If we find ourselves out of fellowship with Him, then go to 1 John 1:9 and receive your forgiveness so you can return to fellowship with Him! If He was faithful to deliver them when they called, how much more will He deliver those that are members of His very own family when we call? AMEN! Don't wait an extra moment! Stay always in vital and close personal fellowship with Him and you won't miss a bit of all the wonderful things He has planned for your life! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
