on September 15, 2011
Psalm 119:81-88 – My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, "When will you comfort me?" Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees. How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors? The arrogant dig pitfalls for me, contrary to your law. All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for men persecute me without cause. They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. Preserve my life according to your love, and I will obey the statutes of your mouth.
Is God’s Word true? Is God’s salvation sure? Are God’s promises trustworthy? There are only two ways to answer these questions – Yes, they are! Or, No, they are not! The next question could be, are these things obvious by their immediate fulfillment? Of course, there would be little or no controversy or debate if they were obvious by their immediate and present fulfillment. The fact that they are not immediately fulfilled, or that they may be delayed, gives rise to unbelief in some people. It’s more than likely that all of us will pause to sort through the veracity of these claims. Some will turn in arrogant opposition to these things during the course of their testing. Their soul just cannot hold on any longer to hope in promises and a word that has no obvious and present fulfillment to them. This leads them to rejection of faith in God and to persecution and ridicule of those who believe.
Our Psalmist experiences these things as he cries out to the Lord, “My soul is at the end of its endurance in waiting for your salvation to be revealed. Nonetheless, I’m keeping my hope in Your Word! Even though I’ve worn out my eyes while looking for the fulfillment of Your promise, and I’m shriveled and marred (like a wineskin hanging over the fire), I hang onto what You have decreed. Just HOW LONG must I wait for vindication and validation?” If his own struggle with faith isn’t enough, he has to deal with the additional challenge of arrogant persecutors who are experts in digging pitfalls that undermine God’s law. There is no obvious reason for them to persecute him, and their efforts have ALMOST wiped out his faith. But, he has held on to God’s precepts. He continues in faith declaring that as long as God loves him and preserves life in him, he will continue to walk in obedience to God’s Word.
Jesus spoke to His disciples in John 15:18-21 – "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: `No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.” So, don’t be surprised by opposition to faith. Just keep on believing!
Thursday:
- Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
- Join our 6:00pm Thursday night prayer team.
Friday:
- Thank God for the surety of His Salvation, the Truth of His Word, and the trustworthiness of His Promise.
- Pray for the Good News families of the week: Pastor Dave & Cindy George, Pete & Laurel George (Annabeth, Luke, ?), Allen Grandin (Junior).
Saturday:
- Pray for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Sunday:
- Ask God for courage and faith to keep on believing until the day He validates your faith in Him.
- Join in with our Sunday prayer services to pray for God’s presence and blessing.
Monday:
- In times when faith in God is nearly wiped out, ask Him to preserve you by His love.
- Attend “In Touch” Prayer meeting at GNCC at 10:30am or join in prayer at that time.
Tuesday:
- Psalm 37:7 – Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Wednesday:
- Pray that God will preserve your faith, hope, endurance, obedience, and your life in Him.
Prayer Challenge: Pray that God will grant every believer: a passionate devotion to His Word, a humble recognition that we have much room for growth and improvement, His corrective discipline (that may be painful but produces good fruit), and a steadfast courage with strength to endure the arrogance, hostility, ridicule and slander of those who disregard the beauty and authority of God’s Word.