DIVINE DEIVERANCES
“For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?" (Psalm 56:13 NKJV).
This verse can be applied to many situations. It speaks of the past deliverance, the promised deliverance, and the purpose of deliverance.
Past deliverance – “You have delivered my soul from death.” The Psalmist wisely praises God for past deliverance from death. This could refer to either spiritual death or physical death. Of course deliverance from spiritual death is the greatest deliverance of all. Salvation delivers us from the second death which is eternity in hell (Rev. 21:8). We should never cease to praise God for spiritual deliverance.
Promised deliverance – “Have You not kept my feet from falling.” When we praise God for past deliverances, it encourages us to trust God for future deliverances. Past deliverances gives promise for future deliverances. The walk of the believer is not easy. But the God who delivered our soul from the second death can give us strength to keep us from falling in this life. Hence the importance of seeking His help to live victoriously.
Purpose of deliverance – “That I may walk before God in the light of the living.” Here the purpose of deliverance is twofold: First, “walk before God” speaks of service. One reason for our deliverance is for serving God. Deliverance is not just for our own pleasure and gain; but it is that we can better serve Him. Second, “light of the living” speaks of sanctification. Deliverance means we can walk in the light, not in darkness. Deliverance from temptation and sin is for our sanctification, our purity.
(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)
Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)
Quotation of the Week
“The only basis on which to work for God is an esteemed appreciation of His deliverance!”
Oswald Chambers (18374 – 1917)
Scottish Baptist, Holiness Movement Evangelist and Bible Teacher
Word Study
Dispute
Dispute is the is the Greek word philoneikia (φιλονεικία = fil-on-i-kee'-ah). It is made up of two words: “philos” which means loving, and “neikos” which means strife. The word means contention or strife. Literally, philoneikia means a love of contention, an eagerness to contend.
In Classical Greek philoneikia was used primarily in a bad sense of contentiousness, love of rivalry. However, the word was also used in a good sense of competition, ambition, or the desire to emulate the excellence of another, especially in the games. Philoneikia is not used in the Septuagint (LXX). In the New Testament, philoneikia appears only once, here in Luke 22:24. Here is used in a negative sense of the strife that arose among the disciples and the contention over who would betray Jesus. Philoneikia is the product of a zeal to contend, i.e., a contentious spirit.
Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus
Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah would speak the words, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Psalm 22:1)
New Testament Fulfillment – Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34
Bible Facts
“It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea” (Deut. 1:2) - The Israelites were eleven days in going from Horeb to Kadesh-Barnea, where they were near the verge of the promised land; after which they were thirty-eight years wandering up and down in the vicinity of this place, not being permitted, because of their rebellions, to enter into the promised rest, though they were the whole of that time within a few miles of the land of Canaan!
Bible Quiz
Who asked Jesus, “Are you greater than our father Jacob?”
**Answer to last week’s trivia: What is the name of the day when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples? Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).
That’s in the Bible
"Way of transgressors is hard”
"Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard” (Prov. 13:15 KJV).
“Way of transgressors is hard” - The expression “way of transgressors is hard” refers to the hard life of sin. The wise man is in a much better situation than the wicked. When one acts wisely, he gains favor and respect. In contrast we see the difficulty of one without favor; all sinful living is troublesome. The earthly life of the transgressor is filled with many sorrows and misfortunes. People may despise your morals, but if you act wisely in life’s matters, they will favor you.
Did You Know – Christian History
August Hermann Francke was born March 22, 1663 in Lubeck, Germany. He was a German Lutheran clergyman, philanthropist, Biblical scholar, and social reformer who was one of the principal promoters of German Pietism.
Francke was educated at the gymnasium (school with a strong emphasis on academic learning) in Gotha, at the universities of Erfurt, Kiel, and Leipzig. As a student, he made a special study of Hebrew and Greek, and became a professor of Hebrew at the University of Leipzig in Germany.
Although he professed to be a Christian, and even filled pulpits, Francke was unchanged and his soul was dry. This was not unusual because the State-run Lutheran churches of Germany were largely formalist. The ministry was treated as a civil service job. Many who had no heart for Christ occupied pulpits. And so, with the saved Francke behaved piously, with his worldly friends he sinned freely. He knew nothing of the joy of Christ but only a deep uneasiness that he was missing the mark.
This misery ended when Francke was asked to preach on John 20:31. He felt ashamed because he himself had not experienced the certainty of salvation. Francke determined not to preach the sermon unless he could do it honestly. In deep dread he fell to his knees pleading with God for salvation from his miserable state. He finally understood Luther’s words – “Faith is a divine word in us that changes us and gives us new birth from God.” He saw that the Christian life is one in which the Holy Spirit operates.
Francke accepted a pastorate at Halle. There he taught the Word, preaching five sermons a week, catechized the youth, and holding Bible studies. Aware that many who attended church were not born of God, he pleaded with them to pray and seek God. Francke himself loved both brother and neighbor as was shown by the works he did and kind attention he gave all who approached him. Under Francke’s influence, Christian missionary efforts were greatly enhanced, zeal was aroused and recruits for Christian missions were gained. Halle also became the Centre for Danish-Halle Mission to India.
A Little Humor
A local newspaper had a very difficult time in reporting the death of one of the town members. The first report said, “Brother Smith has gone to rust.” They tried to correct the misprint the next day and it came out, “Brother Smith has gone to roost.” Finally, they tried a third time and the report stated, “Brother Smith has gone to roast.”
Thought Provoking Church Sign
“Many who are well prepared for a rainy day are not prepared for eternity!”
