Date: Saturday June 16, 2012
Today's Chapters: Psalms 28-33
Message Title: Eternal Rewards

Hello My Friend,

We had a youth conference at my church this week, there is no better feeling than serving God, hearing amazing preaching, and knowing that God is in that room, no matter what your age. Those of us who were not so fortunate to have good, stand your ground, Bible believing preaching growing up know all too well if we had heard those words growing up we could have avoided some big mistakes as adults. Nevertheless, we are now testimonies that no matter what wrong we have done, how long it took for Christ to find us, or how backslidden we had gotten we are forgiven. Praise God! While we cannot do anything about the past, we can do something about now, it's what we do after we are saved that brings eternal rewards.

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” - Titus 3:3-8,14.

The fact that a person is saved when they call on Christ to save them does not mean they are not going to be tempted and tried by those who would just love to see them fall. It does mean that they have the power of Christ in them to keep them from falling into their trap. David knew all too well that there were people just waiting for him to fall and give up on God. While he may have questioned where God was a time, or two, or may have even fallen once in a while, he never gave up on God.

“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. Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle. Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts. Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert. Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up. Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.” - Psalm 28:1-6.

The word supplication means the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly, God does hear our supplications, He will help us through them, and even takes care of our adversaries, one way or another. There is this person that comes and goes in my life, just to be a thorn in my side, he doesn't say much, I think it's just to see if I will fall. Every time he shows his presence I am reminded of just how much God loves me and what He has done for me. I do not know why that thorn pops out once in a while, but I do know that God's grace will see me through. We are not perfect, we may even fall a few times, but God's grace will always get us back up.

“For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” - 2 Corinthians 12:6-10.

David may not have had any rest from his adversaries at times, but he knew that God would always deliver him from his enemies. “I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.” - Psalm 30:1-5,10-12.

No matter how many times we mess up, God is with us. No matter what we get caught up in or what wrong we have done to others, God is with us. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9.

David knew this as many of the prayers were to seek forgiveness of his sins, he knew he was a sinner saved by God's mercy and he was not ashamed to let anyone know that he would remain faithful to God, even when he was be chastised. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” - Psalm 32:1,2,5.

The question was asked, “If God is with us then why did He allow this to happen?”. The response, “While God can intervene at any time, He never messes with the will of man.” Those who live wicked lives are doing so of their own will and since God never messes with the will of man, He cannot stop them from doing what they do. He can however give us the power to get out of their will through Him. And He can give us the grace to get through any affliction or suffering we endured as a result of falling into their will or even our own. “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” - 2 Corinthians 4:15-18.

Today's Prayer: God, While it may not always be easy to endure affliction I know I can get through it as long as I have You with me. I know I fall from time to time when I do things in my own will, but You are faithful to pick me back up each and every time. God, give me Your power to resist temptation, to walk away from those who try me, and to know how to handle those who keep trying me. Give me Your grace to overcome any affliction I am faced with and help me to be strong through Christ who lives in me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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