Monday, March 21, 2016

Pastor's Ponderings, March 21, 2016

God Is For Me

In the Bible, Deborah, a judge in Israel, announced to Barak, the next judge over Israel, that God commanded him to lead an army against their enemy.  Barak agreed, but said that he would not do it unless Deborah went with him (Judges 4:4, 6, 7-9).  This is a fascinating story because although he knew that God had spoken, he needed the assurance of Deborah that she would be with him.

Many times God will tell us to do something, but we will seek guarantees that someone else will be in the trenches with us. Many times we would much rather believe people that we can see and ignore God who is the Creator of everything. But God is telling us today that nothing can stand against us and that He is sufficient for all of our needs (Romans 8:31).  Moreover, we should do everything we do, not by our feelings, but by total faith in Him (2 Corinthians 5:7).
The only question that we have to ask whenever we begin a task is, “Is God with me?” We have to know that in spite of the world’s challenges, God is for us (Psalm 56:9). We do not need to rely on other people because God will never leave us. We must remember that God’s promises are unchangeable (2 Corinthians 1:20), He is everywhere, He is forever, and He is for us.   

Judges 4:4, 6, 7-9
New International Version (NIV)
Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.
She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor.
I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”
Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”
“Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.


Romans 8:31
New International Version (NIV)
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

2 Corinthians 5:7
New International Version (NIV)
7 For we live by faith, not by sight

Psalm 56:9
New International Version (NIV)
Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me.

2 Corinthians 1:20
20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God



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