Thou Wilt Revive Me

Psa 138:7  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. 

The Hebrew rendering of the above is "go on in the center of trouble." What descriptive words! 

We have called on God in the day of trouble; we have pleaded His promise of deliverance but no deliverance has been given; the enemy has continued oppressing until we were in the very thick of the fight, in the center of trouble. Why then trouble the Master any further?

When Martha said, "Lord, if thou hadst been here my brother had not died," our Lord met her lack of hope with His further promise, "Thy brother shall rise again."

And when we walk "in the center of trouble" and are tempted to think like Martha that the time of deliverance is past, He meets us too with a promise from His Word. "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me."

Though His answer has so long delayed, though we may still continue to "go on" in the midst of trouble, "the center of trouble" is the place where He revives, not the place where He fails us.

When in the hopeless place, the continued hopeless place, is the very time when He will stretch forth His hand against the wrath of our enemies and perfect that which concerneth us, the very time when He will make the attack to cease and fail and come to an end. What occasion is there then for fainting?

~Aphra White~

THE EYE OF THE STORM

Fear not that the whirlwind shall carry thee hence, Nor wait for its onslaught in breathless suspense, Nor shrink from the whips of the terrible hail, But pass through the edge to the heart of the gale.

For there is a shelter, sunlighted and warm, And Faith sees her God through the eye of the storm.
     
The passionate tempest with rush and wild roar And threatenings of evil may beat on the shore.

The waves may be mountains, the fields battle plains, And the earth be immersed in a deluge of rains,

Yet, the soul, stayed on God, may sing bravely its psalm, For the heart of the storm is the center of calm.

Let hope be not quenched in the blackness of night, Though the cyclone awhile may have blotted the light, For behind the great darkness the stars ever shine, And the light of God's heavens, His love shall make thine.

Let no gloom dim thine eyes, but uplift them on high, To the face of thy God and the blue of His sky.

The storm is thy shelter from danger and sin, And God Himself takes thee for safety within; The tempest with Him passeth into deep calm, And the roar of the winds is the sound of a psalm.

Be glad and serene when the tempest clouds form; God smiles on His child in the eye of the Storm".

Abundantly Able

 Rom 4:20  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;  

We are told that Abraham could look at his own body and consider it as good as dead without being discouraged, because he was not looking at himself but at the Almighty One.

He did not stagger at the promise, but stood straight up unbending beneath his mighty load of blessing.

And instead of growing weak he waxed strong in the faith, grew more robust, the more difficulties became apparent, glorifying God through His very sufficiency and being "fully persuaded" (as the Greek expresses it) "that he who had promised was," not merely able, but as it literally means "abundantly able," munificently able, able with an infinite surplus of resources, infinitely able "to perform."

He is the God of boundless resources. The only limit is in us. Our asking, our thinking, our praying are too small; our expectations are too limited.

He is trying to lift us up to a higher conception, and lure us on to a mightier expectation and appropriation. 

Oh, shall we put Him in derision? There is no limit to what we may ask and expect of our glorious El-Shaddai; and there is but one measure here given for His blessing, and that is "according to the power that worketh in us." 

~A. B. Simpson~

Climb to the treasure house of blessing on the ladder made of divine promises. 

By a promise as by a key open the door to the riches of God's grace and favor.

God Only, You Can Trust

Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of Thee, yet will I never be offended. Matthew 26:33.

Why," cries one, "this is no promise of God." Just so, but it was a promise of man, and therefore it came to nothing. 

Peter thought that he was saying what he should assuredly carry out; but a promise which has no better foundation than a human resolve will fall to the ground.

No sooner did temptations arise than Peter denied his Master and used oaths to confirm his denial. 

What is man's word? An earthen pot broken with a stroke. 

What is your own resolve? A blossom, which, with God's care, may come to fruit, but which, left to itself, will fall to the ground with the first wind that moves the bough.

On man's word hang only what it will bear. On thine own resolve depend not at all. 

On the promise of thy God hang time and eternity, this world and the next, thine all and the all of all thy beloved ones. 

This volume is a checkbook for believers, and this page is meant as a warning as to what bank they draw upon and whose signature they accept.

Rely upon Jesus without limit. Trust not thyself nor any horn of woman, beyond due bounds; but trust thou only and wholly in the LORD.

~Charles Spurgeon~

The Schemes Of Satan Overruled!

What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor. Esther 6:6.

THE SCHEMES OF Haman were overruled to the honor of Mordecai, to the safety of the Jewish people, and to the glory of God.

And so will the devices of evil always be turned by the Most High to the promotion of good.

God may suffer his enemies to dig pits, but they shall themselves fall therein; they shall cast stones into the air, but their missiles shall descend upon their own heads.
 
Satan hath a great scheme in hand for the dethroning of King Jesus, but as yet, he has only made him to be the more exalted among men.

All the stratagems and subterfuges of the enemy have been rendered subservient to the greater glory of the Mighty One, and to the fulfillment of the divine decrees.

So will it be to the end of the chapter, and we shall see, in looking back from the starry heights of heaven, how all the cruel malice and crafty subtlety of the serpent have been frustrated by infinite wisdom, and overruled by divine love.

Lucifer Shall FALL; and in his fall he shall bear witness to the glory of "the Seed of the woman" through whom he fell.

Forgetting awhile the story of Haman and Mordecai, the words at the head of this paper may, without violence, be applied to our Lord Jesus.

He alone of mortal men it is, of whom it may be said, that "the King"—Jehovah, "delighteth to honor" him.

Mordecai had done some service to the Persian state, but our Jesus has done infinitely more for us; and the Eternal King, who never slumbers nor sleeps, puts to us this question "What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor?"

Let us, first, SEE WHAT THE KING HIMSELF HAS DONE.

He has honored him in every work of grace. In the decree of election, the Eternal Father chose his people, but he chose them "in Christ."

He made "the man Christ Jesus," the head of election.

Watts has well sung—"Christ be my first elect,' he said,Then chose our souls in Christ our Head."

~Charles Spurgeon~

Men As Men; God As God

Isa 51:12  I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
 
Isa 51:13  And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
 
Let the text itself be taken as the portion for today. There is no need to enlarge upon it. Trembling one, read it, believe it, feed on it, and plead it before the LORD. 

He whom you fear is only a man after all; while He who promises to comfort you is God, your Maker, and the creator of heaven and earth. Infinite comfort more than covers a very limited danger. 

Where is the fury of the oppressor? It is in the LORD's hand. It is only the fury of a dying creature; fury which will end as soon as the breath is gone from the nostril. 

Why, then, should we stand in awe of one who is as frail as ourselves?

Let us not dishonor our God by making a god of puny man. We can make an idol of a man by rendering to him excessive fear as well as by paying him inordinate love.

Let us treat men as men, and God as God; and then we shall go calmly on in the path of duty, fearing the LORD and fearing nobody else.

~Charles Spurgeon~

Divine Expulsion

Jos 17:18  But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong. 

It is a great encouragement to valor to be assured of victory, for then a man goes forth to war in confidence and ventures where else he had been afraid to go. 

Our warfare is with evil within us and around us, and we ought to be persuaded that we are able to get the victory and that we shall do so in the name of the LORD Jesus.

We are not riding for a fall, but to win; and win we shall. 

The grace of God in its omnipotence is put forth for the overflow of evil in every form: hence the certainty of triumph. 

Certain of our sins find chariots of iron in our constitution, our former habits, our associations, and our occupations. 

Nevertheless we must overcome them. They are very strong, and in reference to them we are very weak; yet in the name of God we must master them, and we will.

If one sin has dominion of us we are not the LORD's free men. 

A man who is held by only one chain is still a captive. There is no going to heaven with one sin ruling within us, for of the saints it is said, "Sin shall not have dominion over you." 

Up, then, and slay every Canaanite, and break to shivers every chariot of iron! 

The LORD of hosts is with us, and who shall resist His sin-destroying power?

~Charles Spurgeon~

The LORD As A FRIEND

John 15:8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17         

YE are my friends!”

In my Lord’s friendship there is the ministry of sacrifice. 

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

This great Friend is always giving His blood. 

It is a lasting shame when professed Christians are afflicted with spiritual anemia. 

And yet we are often so fearful, so white-faced, so chicken-hearted, so averse from battle, that no one would think us to be “the soldiers of the Lord.” 

We need blood. “Except ye drink my blood ye have no life.”

And in my Lord’s friendship there is the privilege of most intimate communion.

All things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

He takes us into His confidence, and tells us His secrets. 

It is His delight to lift the veil, and give us constant surprises of love and grace. 

He discovers flowers in desert places, and in the gloom He unbosoms “the treasures of darkness.”

He is a Friend of inexhaustible resource, and His companionship makes the pilgrim’s way teem with interest, and abound in the wonders of redeeming grace.

~J. W. Jowett~

SPIRITUAL BUOYANCY

Isa 43:2  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
 
Isa 43:3  For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
 
Isa 43:4  Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
 
Isa 43:5  Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
 
Isa 43:6  I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
 
Isa 43:7  Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

WHEN Mrs. Booth, the mother of the Salvation Army, was dying, she quietly said, “The waters are rising but I am not sinking.”

But then she had been saying that all through her life. Other floods besides the waters of death had gathered about her soul. 

Often had the floods been out and the roads were deep in affliction. But she had never sunk!

The good Lord made her buoyant, and she rode upon the storm!

This, then, is the promise of the Lord, not that the waters of trouble shall never gather about the believer, but that he shall never be overwhelmed. He shall “keep his head above them.” 

Yes, to him shall be given the grace of “aboveness.” He shall never be under, always above! 

It is the precious gift of spiritual buoyancy, sanctified good spirits, the power of the Christian hope.

When we are in Christ Jesus circumstances shall never be our master.

One is our Master, and “we are more than conquerors in Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”

~J. W. Jowett~

God Is Our Ally

Exo 23:22  But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. 

The LORD Christ in the midst of His people is to be acknowledged and obeyed. 

He is the vice-regent of God and speaks in the Father's name, and it is ours implicitly and immediately to do as He commands.

We shall lose the promise if we disregard the precept.

To full obedience how large the blessing! The LORD enters into a league with His people, offensive and defensive. He will bless those who bless us and curse those who curse us.

God will go heart and soul with His people and enter in deepest sympathy into their position. 

What a protection this affords us! We need not concern ourselves about our adversaries when we are assured that they have become the adversaries of God. 

If Jehovah has taken up our quarrel, we may leave the foemen in His hands.

So far as our own interest is concerned we have no enemies; but for the cause of truth and righteousness we take up arms and go forth to conflict.

In this sacred war we are allied with the eternal God, and if we carefully obey the law of our LORD Jesus, He is engaged to put forth all His power on our behalf. Wherefore we fear no man. 

~Charles Spurgeon~

High Places Of Defense

Isa 33:16  He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
The man to whom God has given grace to be of blameless life dwells in perfect security. He dwells on high, above the world, Out of gunshot of the enemy, and near to heaven.

He has high aims and motives, and he finds high comforts and company.

He rejoices in the mountains of eternal love, wherein he has his abode. He is defended by munitions of stupendous rock.

The firmest things in the universe are the promises and purposes of the unchanging God, and these are the safeguard of the obedient believer.

He is provided for by this great promise: "Bread shall be given him." 

As the enemy cannot climb the fort, nor break down the rampart, so the fortress cannot be captured by siege and famine. 

The LORD, who rained manna in the wilderness, will keep His people in good store even when they are surrounded by those who would starve them. 

But what if water should fail? That cannot be. "His waters shall be sure." There is a never-failing well within the impregnable fortress.

The LORD sees that nothing is wanting. None can touch the citizen of the true Zion.

However fierce the enemy, the LORD will preserve His chosen.

~Charles Spurgeon~

My Heavenly Friend

The precious Lord Jesus Christ is our friend. Oh, let us seek to realize this! It is not merely a religious phrase or statement, but truly He is our friend. 

He is the Brother " born for adversity," the one who "sticks closer than a brother." Who will never leave and never forsake us.   

How precious even on earth to have a heavenly friend, for this brings the joys of heaven in a little degree into our hearts now. 

This is just what our heavenly Father desires regarding His children, that they might be as happy as they are capable of being while here in the body.

Have we entered into this, that the One who is "altogether lovely " is ready hour by hour, to be our Friend?

When we cannot sleep at night, say to Christ, " My precious heavenly Friend, wilt Thou give me a little sleep?"

When in pain, say,  My precious heavenly Friend, if it may please Thee, wilt Thou take away this pain?   

But if not, if Thou sees better that it should continue, sustain, help, and strengthen me, my precious heavenly friend!

When we feel lonely and tired, turn to the precious Lord Jesus; He is willing to be our friend in our loneliness.

For sixty-two years and five months I had a beloved wife, and now in my ninety-second year I am left alone.

But I turn to my precious Lord Jesus as I walk up and down in my room, and say, " My precious Lord Jesus, I am alone, and yet not alone, Thou art with me; Thou art my friend; now Lord, comfort me and strengthen me, give to Thy poor servant everything Thou sees he needs."      

Oh, this is a reality, not a fable, that the Lord Jesus Christ is our friend. 

We should not be satisfied till we are brought to this, that we know the Lord Jesus Christ experientially to be our friend and habitually to be our friend. 

Just ponder this. Habitually, never leaving, never forsaking us, at all times and under all circumstances ready to prove Himself to be our friend.   

He is willing not merely to grant this for a few months, or a year or two, but to the very end of our earthly pilgrimage. 

David, in Psalm 23 says: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me."

Oh, how precious this is. For this "Lovely One" is coming again, and soon.

Soon He will come again; and then He will take us home and there we shall be forever with Him.

Oh, how precious is that bright and glorious prospect. Here again the practical point is to appropriate this to ourselves. 

He is coming to take me-poor, guilty, worthless, hell-deserving me-He is coming to take me to Himself.   

And to the degree in which we enter into these glorious things, the joys of heaven have already commenced!

~George Mueller~