God Has Us Covered
"Observe the blameless person and look at the upright.
For the person of peace will have a future. But wrongdoers will altogether be destroyed; The future of the wicked will be eliminated. But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and rescues them; He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him." (Psalm 37:37-40)
How comforting and blessed this precious truth is to my spirit! God is our "strength in times of trouble. The Lord helps [us] and rescues [us]; He rescues [us] from the wicked and saves [us], because [we] take refuge in Him."
God Has Us Covered
"...the Lord is the one who is going ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not desert you or abandon you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed.” (Deut 31:8)
While drinking my coffee this morning, after feeding my twins and watching them play, I ran across this quote by Narrow Path: " Even the people who betray you are part of the plan." Yes indeed! I will be honest the last 8 months has been a time of great testing, discipline, and learning concerning how our spiritual foes operate through precious souls that don't know our Christ for themselves. However, our God always goes before us. Then He brings us into the fray after He Himself enters it. I recall feeling God's presence behind me extremely intensely before the battle burst forth! He is always with His bought ones.
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You [God through Christ] are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)
Now in all honesty, the forces of evil would succeed in destroying every trace of us from this fallen world happily, but for God, but for Christ, but for God's plans being fulfilled within us and through us for His glory, through His Spirit! "He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud; And He [God] set my feet on a rock, making my footsteps firm." (Psalm 40:2) Like Stephen full of the Holy Spirit, we have a God given purpose here as Christ's representatives, and God's plans will be brought to fruition concerning each of us.
God's Plans Will not Fail
“…we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Knowing this spiritual truth in an inward experiential way ushers from within us a peace the world has never known. "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but remains forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people." (Psalm 125:1-2) He is with us now and forever. Even as the outward chaos continually seeks to engulf us, He is there! Oh, the unfathomable privileges of being a truly bought one, a truly sealed one! We are purchased by Christ's precious blood and sealed by the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit for His purposes!
God Can't be Stopped
"The wicked plots against the righteous, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow. To take down the afflicted and the needy, to kill off those who are upright in conduct. Their sword will enter their own heart, and their bows will be broken." (Psalm 37:12-15)
As the precious Holy Spirit reminds me a lot, especially these last 8 months, we are in a spiritual battle. We do not fight against flesh and blood, for we have spiritual weapons, not of this world, to fight with. Instead, we are called to show forth divine love, forgiving, praying, and showing mercy through Christ’s Spirit. This is the example Christ showed us by taking that old cross in our place so long ago for us who were once His enemies. (Romans 5:10-11) Just like our Heavenly Father protected our Messiah, He, Himself will deal with our supposed enemies, within His eternal time frame. "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb 10:31)
Looking through the Lens of Christ
A. The Deceived Devising Evil Plans: Part One
"Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” (Matt 2:13)
God's plans always supersede our spiritual foes' plans. God is literally in the room while our enemies' band together to plot our downfall. He sees every group text message. He hears every word of treachery purposed, and even every plan, before it ever leaves the room it was thought out in! "There is no creature hidden from [Gods’] sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer." (Heb 4:13)
B. The Deceived Devising Evil Plans: Part Two
"...the Pharisees went out and conspired against [Jesus], as to how they might destroy Him." (Matt 12:14)
Destroy: "...Put an end to the existence, ruin emotionally or spiritually, defeat utterly." This is such a harsh word for us who are in Christ wishing all to come to Christ and taste the goodness of our Lord. However, Satan "has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Cor 4:4) So it is easy for Him to put within their hearts such harsh ideals, and thoughts.
C. The Deceived Utterly Failing: Part One
"Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any." (Mark 14:55)
Our Messiah, perfect without sin, was pointing all to Himself and our Heavenly Father. He who spent His time healing the sick, casting out demons afflicting the people, and bringing hope was continually plotted against. Those conspiring were the very ones who were supposed to be an example of Himself to the darkened world.
D. The Deceived Utterly Failing: Part Two
"Therefore, they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and left the temple grounds." (John 8:59)
The Spirit, like with our Savoir, will lead us out of troubling circumstances that would bring us to our deaths within the very moment it is necessary. He is always on time, not a minute too soon, nor a minute too late. He will protect us until our appointed time by God the Father for such to take place within our lives, if He has called us to such an ending. The world cannot see this magnificent, glorious truth, but God's authority does trump the world's authority given by Satan, for Christ has trumped Satan. Hallelujah!
E. God's Divine Timing Proceeds as Planned: Part One
"Jesus spoke these things; and raising His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, so that the Son may glorify You, just as You gave Him authority over all mankind, so that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth by accomplishing the work which You have given Me to do. And now You, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world existed." (John 17:1-5)
F. God's Divine Timing Proceeds as Planned: Part Two
“Worthy are You [Christ Jesus] to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation. You have made them into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.” (Rev 5:9-10)
Although our spiritual foes had come against our Lord planning and plotting through those who knew Jesus not yet, He was divinely protected to accomplish the work our Heavenly Father had given Him to do! Even though they tried to kill Him beforehand. As with our risen Lord, God the Father has plans for each one of us as well! These plans will come into completion despite our enemy's resistance. "For I know that the Lord is great. And that our Lord is above all gods/demons." (Psalm 135:5, 1 Chron 16:25, Eph 4:6)
Conclusion
"Do not fear, for I [God your Father through Christ Jesus] am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will also help you; I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)
Let us rest hidden in our Lord, as we stay in step with His Spirit! Remembering always that, "no weapon that is formed against [us] will succeed. And [we] will condemn every tongue that accuses [us] in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the Lord." (Isaiah 54:17) For we are not alone, our Everything goes before us, and He has already gotten the victory. Yes, truly in all things God has us covered.
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Billy Witt
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