Greetings again my Brethren. And another year is upon us. With each passing year I thank God for His long suffering and mercy. That would be for my waywardness at times and for the waywardness of mankind in rebellion to God’s word. I do not know what 2019 holds, but I know God knows and I pray that we love Him enough to learn the lessons He has for us in 2019 so we can go on with Him.
Let us continue to look at some of the benefits derived from waiting for and upon God. Last month we looked at God’s answer to our petition for deliverance, but learned God develops and not delivers us. If God cannot develop us then He cannot use us. This month we will look at God’s divine aid and His protection against our enemies. Now it is nice to know enemies of ours God makes enemies unto Himself. Because we know the battle is not ours, but the LORD’s. The sooner we learn this critical truth the less we will get beat up by the enemy and God. So many times we seem to be in competition with God for defeating the enemy and we get in the way and often wounded by friendly or not so friendly fire. Oh no the battle is not ours it is God who wins the battle and then turns the enemy over to our hands for executing the judgement. To be honest I am not an enemy type of Christian. I know Christians that look for the enemy under every rock and spend most of their lives turning rocks over looking for the enemy. It is important to remember the enemy is much much more than Satan. who some Christians “bind” (in the name of Jesus) at Wednesday night prayer meeting, but I guess he gets loose somehow and they “bind” him on Sunday. Wrong application of the word of God. The enemy is anything that is anti-Christ. Not just the Anti-Christ, but anything that speaks against or exalts its self against Christ. The enemy can be a concept, theology, or even a doctrine that is contrary to what the word of God teaches. Most denominational doctrines are anti-Christ and this is why I chide and rail on them. They add to the word of God, ritual and deeds making God’s word no affect in the lives of people. Governments and people can be anti-Christ as we see with communist countries present and past. And yes the Anti-Christ (mentioned in Revelations) is anti-Christ. It is important to know the word “anti-Christ” does not mean against Christ, but means another Christ. One that is anti-Christ projects another thought, idea, government (not diplomacy, but rule or reign in our lives), whatsoever instead of Christ and His projection found in the Bible. This is why the world is 100% anti-Christ and sadly I would say most of the church of today, especially the denominational ones. When it is all said and done if we truly have a heart for God in the end we will see we (our boastful mouth and ungodly thoughts) are our biggest enemy. But let us get back on track. In Psalms David shares two verses with us. In the 33rd Chapter when He fled from his son Absalom. David shares, “Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. 22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.” (Psalms 33:20-22) What a wonderful truth we need to hold on now and in the coming days of 2019 and beyond. The Hebrew language is a very pictorial language that seems to paint a picture with words as they relate to our experiences and life moments. Surely David was having one of the worse days of his life as his son Absalom was trying to overthrow his leadership and authority with the people in a rebellion. I cannot think of anything more pressing on a father’s heart than to have his son rebel against him. But can you see the words here. David’s solace and comfort was not his wives, family, mighty men of valour, his intelligence, or his wealth, but his God. Because David waited to hear from God and not move rashly against his son he was strengthened with might in the inward man and was sustained. In this trouble David could now rejoice knowing God had it under control. As a matter of fact David vacated his throne and put who to be king of Israel in the hands of God. Not too many leaders would do this, but David knew God and knew He would work things out for His (that would be God’s) glory. David was depending on God’s mercy in the life of His son and in the life of his kingdom and rule. David learned this lesson well. Then in Psalms Chapter 59 David was in another life and death situation, “But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision. 9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence. (Psalms 59:8-9) Here King Saul sent the enemy to watch a house were David was staying. Can you see the picture? Instead of being in a place of confusion like in Psalms 33 it was the enemy that was in “derision.” David knew if we waited to act God would be his defence. We get this revelation from the learning and the waiting. Did you get that? From the learning to wait (something difficult for man) comes the revelation. No waiting no revelation. Waiting is always the place of receiving from God.
Next month we will continue to look at another benefit of waiting on God. Walter Beuttler said if you build God a temple He will inhabit it. Have you built God a temple? If you do He will abide and wait for you.
Written by David Stahl
