DEPENDING ON GOD'S DELIVERANCE

DEPENDING ON GOD’S DELIVERANCE

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Hebrews 11

  The Bible tells of many instances of God’s physical deliverance of individuals and groups.

  Indeed He is Deliverer.

  We must not however focus on physical deliverance in all circumstance, for though He intends us no harm, the greater does no revolve around the lesser. This is true whether individual, group, even nation.

  Though at times expended, He never leaves or forsakes us. (Deut.31:6; Jos.1:5; 1Chron.28:20; Heb.13:5) Please particularly note this in the 23rd Psalm: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

  In depending on God’s deliverance let us not think it will always be physical. We will suffer loss. We may be injured. We may become (and possibly remain) ill. Unless He returns in our lifetime, we will die.

  I close this morning offering you a reading from Romans chapter 8.

  “And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creation was not willingly subjected to vanity, but because of Him who subjected it on hope that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

  And we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruit of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, awaiting the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope; for what anyone sees, why does he also hope for it?

  But if we hope for that which we do not see, then we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. He searching the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be the First-born among many brothers. But whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, those He also justified. And whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Rom.8:26-28)

  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom.8:31)

  Truly He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he condemning? It is Christ who has died, but rather also who is raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

  As it is written, "For Your sake we are killed all the day long. We are counted as sheep of slaughter." [Ps.44, verse 22] But in all these things we more than conquer through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom.8:32-39)

EBB4