You Will Have What He Says, and He Speaks By Peace

"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." (Mark 11: 23)

Most people construe this passage to mean that they can ask God for anything.

The previous verse will bring this verse into more clarity:

"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God." (Mark 11: 22)

The verse would better read "Have the faith of God."

How do we have God's faith? By receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior:

"20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)

We are no longer called to live our lives in ourselves, but rather Christ lives in us and works in us, both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2: 12-13)

In fact, because of Jesus' death on the Cross, God is able to place His laws in our hearts and minds, so that He leads us from within by His Peace:

"10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
 

11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

 

12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)

 

We have peace with God, and His love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5: 1, 8), and this same Holy Spirit grants us peace as to what we should or should not do:

 

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful." (Colossians 3: 15, ASV)

 

In this verse, "rule" means "preside like a judge", in that whatever moves we make which take away peace in our lives, then we do not do those things.

 

This same peace works in us and motivates us to say and do whatever God wants us to. And we can trust that He will give us all things through His Son (Romans 8: 31-32), that we will be able to do all things that He directs us to do (Philippians 4: 13), and that he will supply our needs (Philippians 4: 19)

 

More Importantly, He gives us beyond what we can ask or think because of Christ (Ephesians 3: 20)

Speak Grace to Every Mountain

“Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” (Zechariah 4: 7)

We find grace in Jesus Christ, who became a plain, in that He became nothing, that in Him we can become the righteousness of God in Christ and receive all things in Him.

Paul describes the depths to which Jesus descended for us:

"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2: 7-8)

Jesus is our Mountain, or Rock in times of storm:

" A Psalm of David. Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit." (Psalm 28: 1)

and

"Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress." (Psalm 71: 3)

Whatever mountains are in your life, just speak God's grace to it, seeing Jesus as greater than any mountain, any obstacle in your life:

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus says:

"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." (Mark 11: 23)

In Luke, Jesus mentions the mountain:

"And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you." (Luke 17: 6)

Them more that you grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus (2 Peter 3: 18), in whom we find grace and truth, the more that our mountains become plains, because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16: 33), and our faith in Him overcomes all things (1 John 5: 5)

In Christ, You Can Never Leave God's Comfort Zone

"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;" (Isaiah 51: 12)

Do you know how much God comforts us?

Isaiah gives us an understanding of Gods' comfort in His Son:

"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

"Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins." (Isaiah 40: 1-2)

How are our sins forgiven? Because of Christ and Him Crucified, because of all that He did for us on the Cross, taking away our sin, freeing us from the curse of the law, and bringing us into full and forever sonship with God the Father.

We have received more than double for all our trouble in this life. We were dead, and now we are alive in Christ. We were poor, yet we become rich in Christ. We were rejected, but because of Jesus, we are now accepted in the Beloved.

Jesus forever comforts us, because He lives in us (Colossians 1: 27). We are seated with Christ in heavenly places, too, and we need never fear the reproach of men, because "As He is, so are we in this world!" (1 John 4: 17)

He comforts us as His own children, because in Christ we are all sons of God.

In effect, because you are in Christ, you can never leave God's comfort zone.

While most people will tell you to "leave your comfort zone", the reason why many of us never venture out is that we believe that we will indeed be leaving the comfort zone of Christ Jesus with us, in us, and for us.

That is not the case at all. When you step out in faith, know and believe that because Jesus Christ has done all things, in wiping away every sin forever, you can be sure that you will never leave the comfort zone of God's love.

Release All to the Son, and The Son Saves You

"And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved." (Genesis 43: 14)

Jacob held out for a long time, until the famine was sore in the land of Canaan (Genesis 43: 1).

Joseph was already building up a strong nation in Egypt, one which would provide all things for His Covenant partner Jacob, his family, and eventually for the entire world.

For his family to receive the blessings, though, Jacob would have to release his Beloved son Benjamin.

"Benjamin" means "Son of my right hand" in Hebrew, a perfect picture of Jesus Christ, who is seated at the right hand of God the Father in full glory and majesty.

In another sense, Benjamin is a type of our limited understanding of Christ Jesus, as though He is not poweful enough to move in our lives. Because we do not trust, do not rest in the Finished Work of Jesus Christ, we feel compelled to depend on our resources in front of us, convinced that Jesus is just a little boy who can do nothing.

When we release the Son at His Right Hand in our lives,  when we trust that in Him we receive all things, we are bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10: 5), who intercedes on our behalf at the right hand of the Father, our mediator in every way.

We no longer look to ourselves, as if we have only our resources.

We can trust that God is for us, and therefore no one else can be against us (Romans 8: 31-32)

When Jacob allowed his son Benjamin to go to Egypt, Joseph blessed every son mightily, and when they returned with more food, treasures, and favor, they reported that Joseph was still alive, and ready to receive his father.

Release all things to the Son, and let the Son save you in every situation.

All Things Are For You, Even When All is Against You

"36And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me." (Genesis 42: 36)

Jacob was more accurate than he realized when he shouted at the nine of his sons who had returned from Egypt with grain, but without Simeon.

They had deprived their father Jacob of his beloved Son Joseph, even though Jacob did not know at the time that he was now the second-in-command in Egypt, the son who would save the whole world (just like our Lord Jesus!)

Just when things seem at their lowest point, let us look to the Cross, where man did the worst thing possible -- crucify God's own Son -- and from that terrible sin came forth the greatest glory -- our redemption and promotion in Christ from dead in our trespasses to alive forever and seated in heavenly places, blessed with all spiritual blessings.

We have a New Covenant in Christ because God does not remember our sins anymore, and our sins are all cleansed (and keeping being cleansed) because of Jesus' death on the Cross.

So, do not feel bad if you feel worried, if you see hardships in your life. Do not assume for one minute that God has abandoned you. If you believe in your heart and confess out your mouth that Jesus is Lord, then you are saved, and this salvation does not stop with our first confession, but we can believe and receive His righteousness and grace every day (Romans 5: 17)

Just when things seem against you, know that God is for you today, because you are Christ's. and Christ's is God's. (1 Corinthians 3: 23) Jesus your heavenly Joseph has prepared everything for you:

"28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." (Romans 8: 28-30)

Followed by:

"31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? " (Romans 8: 31-32)

and ending with:

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8: 37)

The Cross: More Than You Know

"That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3: 16-19)

The entire dimensional understanding of God's love for us is beyond what we can ask or think (Ephesians 3: 20)

The love that God showed us at the Cross speaks to all things. Whatever need we have, He is our God, and a God to us based on the New Covenant which He cut for us in Christ at the Cross.

For this reason, Paul exhorts us to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10: 5)

This obedience is not ours, but Jesus' obedience:

"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2: 8)

There, His blood was shed, a blood which is ever cleansing (1 John 1: 7), blood which speaks better things than the blood of bulls and goats (Hebrews 9: 12), or the condemning blood of Abel (Hebrews 12: 24).

At the Cross, Jesus took our curse (Galatians 3: 13). At the Cross, Jesus fulfilled every requirement of the law against us (Colossians 2: 13-15), and at the Cross, He became sin that we would be made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21).

We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ, as well (Ephesians 1: 3), and accepted in the Beloved, too (Ephesians 1": 6)

The problem will never be that He has not given us enough, but that we do not understand all that He has given us, and keeps giving us.

For this reason, Peter exhorts us to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18)

Christ and Him Crucified: more than we can ever know, and so much more to find out!

Even if You Despair, He is There For You

"And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand." (1 Samuel 27: 1)

When we read the Old Testamen through the revelation of Christ and Him Crucified, we can see His glory even when the saints of the Old Testament saw nothing but doom.

David had already been anointed King of Israel, and he had gathered together four hundred mighty men. That number grew to six hundred (1 Samuel 27: 2), when David despaired and retired to Gath.

More interesting, however, David had faced off against Saul one last time, and just when he could have killed the rejected king, David only took Saul's spear and a pitcher of water as proof that he would not slay Saul, nor was he the threat which Saul had wickedly assumed. David even rebuked those who have killed Saul, not because of mere pity, but because David believed that God would take care of Saul for him (See 1 Samuel 26: 5-25).

After conversing with David, Saul called David "my son" and blessed him, then went his way. There is no record that Saul was going to change his mind, and they never fought or even saw each other again.

Yet still, David despaired.

What we can take from this passage is that even when we get discouraged, even when we feel bad, or scared, we must know and believe (it has nothing to do with feeling!) that God is on our side, that He loves us (1 John 4: 10) as His Beloved (Ephesians 1: 3; 1 John 4: 17).

Why is God on our side? Because of Jesus, who is seated at the right hand of the father, the mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9: 15), in which we have been perfected forever before God (Hebrews 10: 14), standing in Jesus' own righteousness (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

Never despair because you have despaired, for we are saved by grace through faith, not anything on our part (Ephesians 2: 4-6). Even though David fled to the Philistines, even there he found grace before his own enemies (1 Samuel 27: 5), and even when the very Philistine who has favored him then turned him away (1 Samuel 29: 8-11), the rejection only set up David to step into the full reign for which God had already anointed him to receive.

Our Strength is Jesus Holding Us

"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." (1 Samuel 30: 6)

When I read this passage, I often wondered how David strengthened himself.

We have no strength in ourselves, anyway, since apart from Christ Jesus, we can do nothing (John 15: 5)

The first mention of "strengthen" (Chazak in Hebrews) occurs in Genesis 19:

"And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city." (Genesis 19: 16)

The two angels had warned Lot and his family to flee from Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot tried to persuade his sons-in-law to flee with him, but they did not believe him. Even Lot hesitated a little, not knowing what to do.

The two angels, seized, or rather strengthened, Lot's hand and delivered him and his wife and daughters out of the house, then out of the city.

In the same way, let us not look to our own strength, since we will hesitate and lose. Instead, let us rest and receive our strength from God's hand, for in Him we find our strength:

"My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10: 29)

Our strength is His strength!

And of course:

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)

A literal translation would read:

"In all things I am strong through the one who is strengthening me".

Jesus is ever more working in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2: 12-13)

If David was strengthened while under an old Covenant based on the blood of bulls and goats, how much stronger are we, who are ever cleansed, ever blessed by the precious, incorruptible, eternal blood of Jesus?

Our strength is Jesus who holds us, and we can know and believe that He holds us because He died for us and lives for us, justifying us at the right hand of God the Father.

Our Encouragement is the New Covenant

"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." (1 Samuel 30: 6)

When I read this wonderful passage of Scripture, I oftened wondered:

"How do we encourage ourselves in the Lord?"

Too often, our understanding of God is too small. Yes, we believe that Jesus died for our sins, but what more did He do for us when He died for us?

He cut a new covenant with God the Father, and He is our representative before Him on our behalf:

"And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." (Hebrews 9: 15)

What is this new Covenant? Check it out in Hebrews 8:

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)

You can be encouraged that God is on your side, because Jesus your High Priest ministers on your behalf before Him!

What the New Covenant Means: Jonathan and David

"And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. 3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle." (1 Samuel 18: 1-4)

A covenant is more than an agreement. It's a certainty bound by blood, one which cannot be broken, but on pain of death.

Jesus cut a new covenant with the entire human race when He died on the Cross.

He announced this New Covenant at the Passover meal just before His Crucifixion:

"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
(Matthew 26: 28)

This New Testament, this New Covenant, is announced in Jeremiah and Ezekiel, yet repeated in the Book of Hebrews:

"10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

 

11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

 

12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)

 

Now, Jonathan and David cut a covenant, in which Jonathan exchanged his robe, his sword, and his girdle. In a similar manner, Jesus exchanges with us His standing, His power, and his resources. As Christ is, so are we in this world (1 John 4: 17). Our enemies become Jesus' enemies. Our needs become His needs, and we can thus rest that no matter what challenge we face, Jesus is there to see us through and grant us victory to overcome, for in Christ Jesus we are more than conquerors (Romans 8: 27)

 

The New Covenant is much more than the forgiveness of sins, but this reconciliation enacts the entire covenant for us. When we believe on Jesus, that He died for our sins and was raised for our justification, we allow God the Father to write His laws in our minds and our on our hearts. He becomes a God to us, meeting every need, and He causes us to know Him intimately.

 

Jesus is your Jonathan, and as "The Gift of God" to the world (John 3: 16), you can receive Him and enter into the New Covenant with God your Father (John 20: 17)

The Cross: More than Our Sins Forgiven

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)

People know that Jesus died on the Cross, they know that He died for us.

But what did He die on the Cross for for us specifically?
Yes indeed, He died for our sins:

"13When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

14having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

15When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him." (Colossians 2: 13-15)

Colossians could not make it plainer. Jesus died cancelling out all our sins -- all of  them!

Most people do not even know this part.

Yet not only were the sins put away forever, the cause of our sin and shame, the source of reproach is taken away -- the law, because Jesus fulfilled all of its divine requirements.

When Jesus died on the Cross, He also took away the curse of the law:

"13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3: 13-14)

If Jesus had been stoned to death, or he had been stabbed with a sword, His blood would have indeed cleansed us from all sin, but the curse, the consequences of breaking the law would not have been removed from us.

Yet the New Covenant which Jesus cut with the Cross is far greater than even this:

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)

This New Covenant rests in God living in us and guiding us. He is our God, He protects us and cares for us in all things. He teaches us to know Him.

Wow!

Why is this not preached?

I am telling you right now: The Cross that Christ died on, He died there not just to clear away your sins, He died to take away the curse, and died that you may live, that you may live in Him, and that He may live in you and guide you and bless you.

No Fear in Waiting, Because He Is Working

"But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." (John 5: 17)

For a long time,  I believed that Jesus died for my sins, but I was on my own for everything else.

I never believed that Jesus was working for me, that He was actively ongoing in my life.

Yet Jesus said that He was as work, even during His earthly ministry.

Today, He is still at work, and He is working on our behalf.

When we do not see things materialize in our lives right away, we must not let the circumstances determine anything. We must rest and believe that He is taking care of all things for us:

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)

and also

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:" (2 Corinthians 9: 8)

This verse is better rendered thus:

"God is making all grace abound to you." It's not a possibilty, but a certainty!

Now, when things do not look so good before you, never feel that you are waiting on nothing, but rather remember that you are waiting on Him who is working:

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." (Psalm 27: 14)

"But", you may ask: "How do I know that He will come through for me. How do I know that He is working on my behalf?"

Because He Finished the work for us at the Cross:

"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." (John 19: 30)

And thus our work is to believe on Him (JOhn 6: 29)

And we can be certain that a New Covenant in operating in our lives because:

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 12)

There is no fear in waiting, because Jesus is working, and you can trust that He is working because He Finished the Work of cleansing us from our sins and bringing us into a New Covenant with His Father in Heaven.

As Kings in Christ, We Are Established in His Grace

"And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness." (Isaiah 15: 5)

Five is the number of grace, which one can also call "mercy".

The throne of any king is established by God's grace, for all power comes from God (Romans 13: 1)

God invites us to be established in His grace:

"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein." (Hebrews 13: 9)

God the Father has seated us in His Son (Ephesians 2: 4-6), and He sees us in Christ, thus we are made sons of God (1 John 3: 1-3)

Because of what Jesus has done, we are both kings and priests:

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." (1 Peter 2: 9)

Joy Comes in the Morning after Mourning

"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psalm 30: 5)

The anger of God endured for a moment, in that He thundered all His wrath on His Son Jesus for us:

"And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." (1 Thessalonians 1: 10)

and

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

Samuel wept because God rejected Saul as King of Israel:

"It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night." (1 Samuel 15: 11)

Yet where Saul failed, David would reign, and become the greatest King of Israel, the root and offspring of David:

"The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” (1 Samnel 16: 1)

David conceived a child with Bathsheba, who at the time was married to Uriah.

After Nathan the prophet discovered David's sin, and the king confessed, David learned that the child conceived with Bathsheba would die. David attempted to intercede for the child:

"David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth." (2 Samuel 12: 16)

Yet the child died. David stopped mourning. He dressed himself and ate. His servants were suprised, but David answered:

"And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." (2 Samuel 12: 22-23)

Later, Solomon, the wisest and wealthiest King of Israel, was born to David from Bathsheba.

Most importantly, Jesus prophesied about his death and also His resurrection:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." (John 16:  20-22)

Because Christ lives in you, you need never feel sorrow again, but trust that even in the darkest hours, your mourning will see morning, and your joy will remain in Him!

Jesus, Greater Than Every Day

"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

The Lord, who was and is and always will be, has made this day, today.

He made it. He knows what's ahead, he understands what is behind.

He has taken care of everything for you.

"For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward." (Isaiah 52: 12)

and

"Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;" (Psalms 33: 18)

and

"And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed." (Deuteronomy 31: 8)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

He is the Creator of all things, and all things are made of Him (Colossians 1:15-17)

He made this day, too.

He made the day, therefore He is greater than the day itself, and thus He is over everything that you may face:

"4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4: 4)

That includes every day, including this day.

Rejoice and be exceeding glad!

Keep Casting Your Cares on Him

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5: 6-7)

Most people have the idea that we cast all our cares on God once and for all.

While Jesus did indeed die for us once for all (Hebrews), we are invited to grow in grace and  knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3: 18)

We do not receive the fullness of Him to our minds right away.

Instead, we are invited to yield our bodies to him daily as a living sacrifice:

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12: 1-2)

This grace into which He invites us in Christ does not come to us all at once, not because God is stingy, but rather because we learn more about the areas of our walk which we still need to submit to His care.

Just as Jesus does not invite us to rest in Him only once, and just as we are invited to keep receiving from Him the gifts of righteousness and grace, so too He invites us to keep casting our cares on Him, because He cares for us.

It is important, therefore, to recognize that we are already blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1: 3), that we are already accepted in the Beloved, in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1: 6)

Do not think for one moment that any problem you face is too big for God to handle, and never think that anything which you have done will remove His loving protection and salvation from your life.

God Himself has pledged:

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13: 5)

and

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor 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." (Romans 8: 38-39)

You can trust that He cares for you, so keep on casting your cares on Him!

Jesus: God's Right Hand and Righteousness

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41: 10)

Every prophecy in the Old Testament must be read through the confirmation of the Cross in the New (2 Timothy 2: 15)

This promise means nothing without the right hand and the righteousness of God.

Where do we find these two things? In Christ!

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." (Colossians 3: 1)

and

"18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:" (Ephesians 1: 18-21)

Regarding righteousness, we find this in Jesus, too:

"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" (1 Corinthians 1: 30)

and

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

Because Christ is now in you and me and works in us(Colossians 1: 27, 29), because we are in Christ, triumphing in all things (2 Corinthians 2: 14), we have nothing to fear.

Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, where He is our favor, and He is our righteousness, our representatives forevermore.

God the Father is Carrying You Through

"31And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place." (Deuteronomy 1: 31)

Even in the most desperate and desolate of times, know and believe that the LORD your God loves you.

Never look at your circumstances, but always look at the Cross, where Jesus died for you and as you, that you would receive His righteous standing before God the Father:

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" (2 Corinthians 10: 3-5)

What was accomplished for us at the Cross, in full?

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)

And then

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." (1 John 3: 1)

 And of course:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

You see, Beloved, you are in Christ, so you can rest assured that your Father in Heaven is carrying you through every storm, every trial you may face.

While Satan wants you to be distracted by what is going around you or within you, just bring every thought into captivity to this truth:

I am a child of God because of Christ Jesus, and I know that my Daddy-God is carrying me through it all!

Let Christ, then Let Go

One of the most oft-repeated phrases in religious circles is:

"Let Go. Let God."

As often as I heard this phrase repeated, and as often as I tried to practice letting go, there was never any peace in my life.

If I let go of this or that, then how do I know that everything will be taken care of?

In order to "Let God", you have to trust that this God is there, and that He is there for you:

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11: 6)

The traditions of men teach people to choose their own conception of God.

Yet if we want to know God, especially God as Father, we must look to Jesus, who is the Author and Finished of faith (Hebrews 12: 1-2):

"8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?" (John 14: 8-9)

When we see Jesus our Savior, we see God as our Father, the most loving Parent who gave His Son, that we would receive everlasting life (John 3: 16), that in Christ His Son we would receive the adoption of children (Romans 8: 15), that we would be made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

When we understand how much God loves us, then we see how well He holds us:

"My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10: 29)

He has you and me and all things in His hands.

When you let God be who He is, in that He has everything, then you and I can let go.

Religious systems teaches us to look at ourselves then look to God. Jesus invites us to come to Him, and then He empowers us to let go:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11: 28-30)

Let God in Christ be and have and do all things, and then you can let go: that's the Truth that sets us free!

Meditate on the Law of the Lord -- Jesus!

1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." (Psalm 1: 1-2)

 

In this first Psalm, the blessed man meditates on the law of the Lord.

 

In Hebrew, "law" is "torah", or instruction, or the word of God.

 

Today, we have the Word of God living in us:

 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  (John 1: 1)

 

Then

 

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1: 14)

 

Because of the New Covenant, Jesus Christ now lives in us:

 

 

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

"And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.  "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)

Now, Christ lives in us(Colossians 1: 27), and we live because of His life in us (Galatians 2:
20-21) As we read the Word of God, we see Jesus Christ, and we know Him: "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8: 31-32) The Word of God testifies of Jesus (Luke 24: 27), and the more that we read the Word, the more that we meditate on Jesus Christ through the Word, then we will prosper in all that we do.

 

 

One Thing Needed -- Jesus -- Everything Else Taken Care Of

"41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10: 41-42)

Jesus is the one thing needed.

In fact, He is everything:

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13: 8)

The King James translation saw fit to remove the linking verb, since Jesus is the Life of all things, to begin with:

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)

Paul presents the grandest presentation of Jesus Christ, fully God with all fullness within Him:

"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1: 15-20)

Jesus Christ is everything, and through Him we live:

"For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring." (Acts 17: 28)

He provides us all things:

"31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)


In Christ we have our strength:

"13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)

Jesus is the one needful thing. Believe on Him and receive from Him.

Believe On Him -- He Works in You

"29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)

Too many people have a passive understanding of Jesus. They believe on Him for salvation, that He died for our sins. He also came to give us Himself, that He may live in us:

"10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10)

Then he shared with His disciples:

"6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)

He does not come to live in us, and then we have to bring Him out. He quickens us with His grace, which motivates us:

"27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." (Colossians 1:27-29)

Jesus Christ does not come to live in us, but then He sits back and does nothing while we strive and toil in our own efforts. Jesus works in us. His working is not just "just enough" but "mightily.

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)

and

"12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2: 12-13)

and

"10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2: 10)

God is working in us. He is not merely doing for us what we cannot for for ourselves. He is our life, and He is working in us.

Believe On Him -- He Lives Through You

"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)

When I heard this verse, I was first relieved, then more distressed.

If the only "work" is to believe on Him, then what am I supposed to do?

This conflict creates the greatest problems for us. We try to live "The Christian Life", as if Jesus Christ merely came to give us "some help".

"Doubting" Thomas voiced this error, and Jesus corrected Him with the truth, and Jesus Christ could not have been clearer:

"5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:5-6)

Jesus did not come to give bad men steps to become good men. He did not come just to die for our sins. He came to give us His life, and to live through us:

"16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)

Then

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." (1 John 3:1)

and

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." (1 John 4: 9)

We believe on Him, and then He lives through us.

What Job Wanted -- Jesus Gives Us -- Rest

"13For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

"14With kings and counsellers of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;

"15Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:

"16Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.

"17There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest." (Job 3: 13-17)

Job wanted rest, yet for many people, the only rest that they look forward to is. . .death.

For all of his continually sacrifices, for all the goods, for all the people whom Job had in his life, the one thing that he wanted was . . .rest.

Jesus is our rest: yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13: 8). He also invites us to come to Him and let Him rest us:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:" 28)

The original Greek is far more active, in which Jesus is our rest, our fulfillment, eternal life in which we find all things with Him (Romans 8: 31-32)

With this rest, we no longer need live a life of trying, and thus tiring, to get to God, but rather we allow Him to take us and rest us fully.

So the writer of Hebrews invites us:

"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it." (Hebrews 4: 1)

and

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 9-11)

Let Jesus be your rest today, and see His rest taking your yesterdays and making them into beautiful tomorrows.

Our Love is Perfected As He is in Our Lives

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

A better translation reads:

"Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17, ASV)

Our love is not perfect, for in fact we do not love in and of ourselves. We love because God first loved us through His Son Jesus (1 John 4: 10, 19)

How then, do we see this perfect love? We see ourselves in Christ, we identify fully with Him, and we grow in grace and knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3: 18), believing that everything that we are, have, and do is based in Him.

As you see more of Jesus in every part of your life, so then you will see how God's love is perfected for you.

Fear is Cast Out All the More as We Comprehend His Love

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4: 18)

Many believers who learn about the grace and truth of Christ in them will still feel fear in their lives.

Does that mean that Christ's love is not perfect? Not at all, for the previous verse could  not be clearer on this  matter:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

A better translation indicates that this love does not originate with us, but rather for us:

"Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17, ASV)

Furthermore, the initial verse carries with it an intensive, progressive element in "fear":

"fear is not in the love, but the perfect love doth cast out the fear, because the fear hath punishment, and he who is fearing hath not been made perfect in the love;" (1 John 4: 17)

John speaks to a man who actively lives in fear, or "is fearing".

Also, to the extent that we sense fear about anything, to that extent God's love has not yet invaded in some part of our lives.

Are you afraid of losing your job? See Jesus as greater than your boss, your deadlines, as the one who lives and works in you and through and all throughout your circumstances, trusting that all things work together for good (Romans 8: 28)

Are you afraid of losing a loved one? See Jesus' perfect  love for you, a love which was in place for your before the world began:

"22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (John 17: 22-24)

God loves us as much as He loves Jesus. This is a love which we need to learn more about! In fact, Paul prayed that we would all have this revelation:

"14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3: 14-19)

So, any fear we have in our lives is cast out as we comprehend more of God's love for us through Christ.

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear Perfectly

By reckoning, or recognizing, that we are dead in our flesh, no longer to identify with our fallen feelings, we put off the following from ourselves:

 Because we have received a new life though the Spirit, we no longer identify nor regard our fallen flesh:

 "8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6: 8-11)

 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: " (Colossians 3:5)

 Paul gives a more exhaustive list of "works of the flesh":

 "19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5: 19-21)

We can also add fear to that list:

"18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4: 18)

 Just as we in Christ put off wrath, strife, and lust because they do not identify with us as new creations in Christ, so too fear in our lives no longer applies to us, because we are one with Christ, and Christ lives in us.

Perfect Love Makes You a New Creation

"17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

We are a new Creation in Christ because of God's perfect love:

"10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." (1 John 4: 10-11)

This "so loved" appears in a beloved verse in the Gospel of John:

"16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)

With this life, Christ's own life, we receive a glorious standing:

"1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;  . . .And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 1, 6)

and

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." (Galatians 6: 15)

In Romans, Paul explains how this "new creation" status rests in our new life in Christ:

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6: 4)

God's Perfect Love has made us a New Creation, sons and daughters into the family of God through our first-born Brother (Romans 8: 29).

Give Up Death and Self-Effort -- Reign in Righteousness

7He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

 

8That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people." (Psalm 113: 7-8)

 

The Lord raises us out of death and self effort to sit in heavenly places.

 

We were dead in our trespasses because of Adam's sin (Romans 5: 15):

 

"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." (Genesis 3: 19)

 

Because of Adam's sin, man was condemned to his own effort, and to death.

 

To redeem us from death and self-effort, Jesus Christ died on the Cross, where He cried out "It is Finished" (John 19: 30)

 

Because of His death and resurrection, we can walk in New life":

 

"1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: " (Ephesians 2: 1-2)

 

All of our self-efforts, whether to obtain righteousness or favor, are filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64: 6). Even Paul disdained his own efforts in the past:

 

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ," (Philippians 3: 8)

 

In Christ, we go from dead and stinky to alive and reigning in life (Romans 5: 17)

 

"4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 4-6)

 

Jesus is our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9: 6; Ephesians 2: 14), and through His death we become one with Christ, and Christ lives in us, who is greater than all things that we may face in the world (1 John 4: 4):

 

"17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

You, Beloved, Can Sleep Because He is Working

"It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep." (Psalm 127: 2)

"So" in Hebrew is "Ken", which also means "Yes" or "Thus".

In other words, Indeed, The Lord God gives His Beloved sleep.

"But, I do not think that I am God's Beloved."

When Jesus Christ died on the Cross for all of your sins (Colossians 2:13-15), he put you in Christ, and through His grace, you are now "accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1: 6).

"But what if someone finds out about what I did. . ."?

Because He paid the price for all of your sins, you never have to worry about your past:

"4Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more." (Isaiah 54: 4)

An then

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54: 17)

"What about right now? My health is in trouble, my marriage is in trouble, and finances are not flowing?"

Jesus is our consummate peace, our wholeness, our full provision:

Jesus is our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9: 6)

He keeps us in perfect peace, so we can we rest in Him:

"3Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isaiah 26: 3)

The New Covenant confirms that Jesus does these things for us:

"14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;" (Ephesians 2: 14)

and

"For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2: 16)

You have rest easy, Bevloed, because the Lord of your past, your present, and your future, is for you, and He is giving you this rest, as well:

"28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11: 28-30)