The Seasons Of Your Pilgrimage
The Seasons Of Your Pilgrimage
The Victorious Life In Christ – From Salvation To Service
Poems For A Closer Walk With The Lord
by Jerry (Gerald) Bouey and others
Foreward
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
The promise given here is one which should be believed and cherished by every child of God.
My name is Adam Aulin, and I found this to be true when at fifteen years of age, myself and two other friends were involved in a serious motor vehicle accident – an accident which resulted in the fatality of one of my beloved friends and sister in Christ. When one looks circumspectly at the incident: as a passenger in the vehicle, the damage done should have inevitably resulted in the loss of my life as well, but the Lord had different plans.
By God’s mercy, my battered body was pried out of the wreckage and into the ambulance. Life for me at that point was still very questionable, having sustained life-threatening blows to the head and having over 2 1/2 pints of blood lost through damage done to my body. For the next three weeks, whether or not I would live through that whole ordeal was still in question.
However, the Lord sustained me through that time, and through His strength I spent the next several months astounding the doubting doctors by regaining the ability to breathe without assistance, walk independently, and eat on my own. Consequently, for the rest of my life, I will suffer from this severely traumatic brain injury, and my broken body will suffer pain and slight loss of mobility. Nevertheless, the residing effects caused by that accident are minimal in comparison to the miracle in which the Lord performed in saving me from it.
Through all of this, I learned the extreme fragility of life and the importance of seizing every moment of every day, because as the Word of God states, “life… is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” (James 4:14) This whole experience was one of those things in which Romans 8:28 speaks of; one of those things that worked out together for good in my life.
During that trial and even since then, throughout the many seasons of my life, I have found refuge through reading Jerry Bouey’s poems in this book, and meditating on the truths and Bible promises contained therein. I trust that, as you read them, you too will find the same encouragement and spiritual strength in the Lord Jesus Christ as I have.
What God Hath Promised
God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.
God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain rocky and steep,
Never a river turbid and deep.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labour, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing kindness, undying love.
By Annie Johnson Flint
Dedication
This book of poems is lovingly dedicated to my Mom.
All of Heaven rejoiced in that day you received Jesus as your Saviour.
Through the many seasons of your pilgrimage, my prayer is that you will continue to cling to the Lord Jesus Christ – even in the midst of all the valleys of life. Remember, Jesus is the Lily of the Valleys. He will always be there for you, working out all things according to His perfect plan, making you more like Him, strengthening you and refining your faith until one day you come forth as gold.
One day you will go home and see your Saviour face to face – but until the shadows flee away, keep looking unto Jesus, and keep claiming His precious promises! Not one of them has ever failed (and never will)! (1 Kings 8:56)
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.
Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
My Mom is not sinking, she is rising – “Rising In The Arms Of Love”!
The Seasons Of Your Pilgrimage
In the springtime of your pilgrimage,
There's a new beginning, a fresh view.
There's a quickening of the spirit,
As you find the Saviour walks with you.
In the fervency of your First Love,
There's a freedom and peace to be found.
The burden of sin has been lifted
And the joy of salvation abounds.
In the summer of your pilgrimage,
The burning sun waxes fierce and strong.
Yet amidst all the trials and sorrows,
Jesus still fills your heart with a song.
Jagged mountains block the horizons
But above them your spirit has soared.
You receive more strength to be a victor,
As you patiently wait on the Lord.
In the Autumn of your pilgrimage,
Wisdom tempers your walk with the Lord.
With earthly treasures all left behind,
You find He is worth all these and more!
You're learning to be a conqueror,
Fighting the good fight with help from above.
You're serving Him faithfully with joy,
So amazed and awed at His love!
In the wintertime of your pilgrimage
Your physical strength is fading fast,
But the joys of Heaven seem so near
And you long for your Home that will last.
Now after a lifetime in His service,
Rejoicing, you lift up your heart to sing.
As you step through His door to open arms,
With tears of gladness, you behold your King!
In the springtime of Heaven's glory,
Awed by all the wonders that you can see,
You're filled with His love, as you behold Jesus -
In Heaven, it's springtime eternally.
November 25th, 2002
Jerry Bouey
Jacob's (Israel's) Testimony Of His Pilgrimage With The Lord:
Genesis 28:15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
Genesis 28:20-21 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
Genesis 48:15-16a And he (Israel) blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads.
Psalms 119:54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Spring – The Season Of Prayer And Purpose
A Friend Loveth At All Times
A Friend When You Need One
Blessed Is That Man
Footsteps Of Faith
My Heart’s Desire
Prayer For My Friends
The Alabaster Box (Mark 14:1-9)
The Altar Is Empty
The Father’s Heart
When I Stop Praying
Summer – The Season Of Trials And Trust
A Beautiful Symphony (by Jan McIntosh)
Count It All Joy
God’s Love Through The Storm (Author Unknown)
God’s Precious Promises
He’s Still Got The Whole World In His Hands
I Shall Come Forth As Gold
My Hiding Place
My Prayer For His Will (by Angela Trenholm)
One Heartbeat From Heaven
The Answers Why
The Shadows Flee Away
Autumn – The Season Of Rest And Reflections
A Faithful Man
ABCs From My Heart (by Kate Plourde)
Afraid? Of What? (by E.H. Hamilton)
Birthday Poem For A Christian
From Genesis To Revelation
Full Assurance
My Son, Give Me Thine Heart
Show Me Christ
The Valleys Of Life
Winter – The Season Of Your Graduation
Faith To Face
Going Through The Door
He Gathers His Lilies
Immanuel (by Charles Spurgeon)
I’ve Gone Home
My Rest (by Angela Trenholm)
Not Home Yet (by Jan McIntosh)
Rising In The Arms Of Love
The Sparrow Has Flown Home
Bible Studies:
And I Will Give You Rest – The Rest Of Salvation
Rest For Your Souls – The Rest Of Victory In Christ
Always Abounding In The Work Of The Lord
The Pilgrim Wrestling With His Lord (F.B. Meyer)
Spring
The Season Of Prayer And Purpose
A Friend Loveth At All Times
A friend loveth at all times -
You've been so faithful and true.
A friend loveth at all times -
I know I've been loved by you.
You've been there through all the joy and pain,
In fact, you've stuck like glue.
When I needed someone, you stood by me,
And your words brought comfort too.
You shared God's Word to cheer my heart,
You cared so much for my soul.
You brought me before the throne of grace,
So in Jesus I would be whole.
You are my friend in Jesus Christ,
My Heavenly Father is your Father too.
When the trials came to test my faith,
I know my Lord sent you.
A friend loveth at all times -
I've learned so much from you.
You shared your joy in the Lord;
Now His joy is my strength too.
A friend loveth at all times -
God's promise stands sure and true!
A friend loveth at all times -
I know I have found a friend in you.
July 25th, 2003
Jerry Bouey
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17
A Friend When You Need One
It's so easy to get discouraged,
To be downcast or in despair.
When you feel all alone in your wilderness,
And it seems that no one cares.
That's when temptation hits the hardest,
Where the battle is nearly lost - or won.
When you stumble through dark valleys
And gloomy shadows hide the Son.
In your loneliness and your struggles,
Here's a solution that may seem odd -
Don't look around to man for comfort,
Instead, with hope, look up to God.
Jesus will provide the grace you require
And His Word will light the way.
All you need is faith to claim His promises,
And your night will turn to day.
The Lord knows your each and every need -
He knows, before you even ask in prayer.
Just keep on being faithful to Him,
And, in time, His answer will be there.
So instead of giving up in disgrace,
Do the work that must be done;
You will find that as you run the race,
God will bring a friend when you most need one.
December 8th, 2001
Jerry Bouey
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer;
and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Isaiah 65:24
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly:
and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24
Blessed Is That Man
Blessed is that man whose trust is in the Lord,
Whose heart is wholly yielded to God's Holy Word,
Whose faith rests upon a solid foundation,
Who has trusted Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
Blessed is that man who delights himself in God's Word,
Who wields the same as a sharp double-edged sword,
Has a mind for the battle, is willing to fight,
That brave warrior who stands in the strength of His might.
Blessed is that man whose mind is on eternity,
Who stands faithfully in the gap for you and me,
Fighting spiritual battles in the whole armour of God,
Following in the footsteps that other saints have trod.
That good soldier of Christ, that mighty man of God,
Blessed is that man!
November 12th, 2003
Jerry Bouey
Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust.
Psalm 40:4
Footsteps Of Faith
Order my footsteps in Your Word -
Teach me where You'd have me to go.
Make me willing to walk in Your ways -
Lead me onward in this path below.
Enlarge my footsteps, let not my feet slip -
Help me to walk in Your ways with care.
Guide me through the straits of this world -
"Let me not falter", is my earnest prayer.
Number my footsteps, and count them all -
Show me the path my spirit has trod.
Open my eyes and cleanse my heart -
Lead me onward in the ways of God.
Direct me in my Saviour's footsteps -
Teach me with patience to run this race.
Let me learn from the example of Jesus -
Let me follow in the footsteps of faith.
May 16th, 2003
Jerry Bouey
For even hereunto were ye called:
because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps:
1 Peter 2:21
He that saith he abideth in Him
ought himself also so to walk,
even as He walked.
1 John 2:6
My Heart's Desire
Lord, let my love go to Your people;
Let my heart break for the lost;
Let me give my life in service,
For the message of the cross.
Let me go to all the nations,
Or let me serve You here at home -
For wherever You will lead me,
Let me kneel before Your throne.
Let me see others as You see them;
Let me love them as You do;
Let my heart be burdened greatly,
To bring lost children home to You.
Let me pour my heart out to You;
Let me petition You each day;
Let Your love flow right through me,
Bowing before You as I pray.
Let me carry Your Word to others,
As You guide me by Your hand;
Let me boldly speak Your wonders -
Lord, open hearts to understand.
Give me wisdom, give me courage;
Let me be part of Your plan;
Let me always persevere
In this grace in which I stand.
Lord, as You go before me,
Let my feet so gladly follow.
Let me always share Your mercies
To a world lost and hollow.
Let me carry forth this Good News,
Lord, and set the captives free;
Let me serve You with my whole heart,
As I give myself to Thee.
November 4th, 1996
Jerry Bouey
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:
as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 1:16-17
Prayer For My Friends
Oh Lord, my heart is breaking for my friends,
I am grieved and I don't know what to do.
I've done all I can to offer them hope;
All that's left, Father, is to lift them up to You.
I can't change the situations in their lives,
Oh God, they seem so powerless and weak.
Jesus, You who share their every sorrow,
Fill their hearts with the strength and peace they seek.
Lord, let me stand in the gap for all my friends,
Let me lift them in prayer to You each day,
Let me be faithful, Lord, to show Your love,
And shine a beacon of hope to light the way.
Let me be a witness of all that You can do
Through a life that's set apart for Your glory,
And when the raging tempests come their way
Let perfect peace and comfort be their story.
Let my example be a source of hope,
A vivid picture of Your redeeming love.
Let me always tenderly point the way
To the refuge found in Jesus Christ, above.
May 27th, 2002
Jerry Bouey
A bruised reed shall He not break,
and smoking flax shall He not quench...
And in His name shall the Gentiles trust.
Matthew 12:20-21
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD
in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
1 Samuel 12:23
And I sought for a man among them,
that should make up the hedge,
and stand in the gap before Me for the land,
that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Ezekiel 22:30
Let me stand in the gap, Lord!
The Alabaster Box
(Mark 14:1-9)
She did it; she broke it, there was no turning back.
It was all or nothing; now the box was forever cracked.
The ointment was poured forth, diffused throughout the room.
Jesus' body had been anointed, prepared for burial in the tomb.
It was an offering of love and devotion to her Lord,
But He remembered it forever, recorded in His Word.
It wasn't broken for show, only Jesus knew her heart.
But as the spikenard flowed out, the aroma filled every part.
The good work has been done, but there's a lesson to learn:
In all of life's opportunities, now it's my turn.
The alabaster box of my heart was broken one day.
On the altar of service, there the precious ointment lay.
Dedicated to my Lord - fervent and sincere.
I gave it all to Him, and the cost was dear.
The sacrifice was offered, well-pleasing to God.
I presented it with tears, and a soul that was awed.
Thank You, Lord, for Your plan that includes even me.
And in reasonable service, my life is broken for Thee.
July 23rd, 2002
Jerry Bouey
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.
Romans 12:1
The Altar Is Empty
The altar is empty -
The sacrifice has walked away.
The heart's gone cold -
Where's the willingness to pray?
Something is wrong, it shouldn't be,
No peace within, convicting me!
Chorus:
Kindle my heart, stir into a flame.
Restore my soul, as I call on Your name.
Oh Lord above, grant me the grace
To deny myself and put Your will in its place.
The altar is empty -
There are no prayers offered today.
The heart's lukewarm -
Where's the desire to pray?
The field is white, but no reaping done,
No hearts breaking, pleading for God's Son.
Chorus
The field is empty -
Where are the labourers today?
Those faithful servants
Standing in the gap to pray.
Oh hear God's voice, His Spirit's call;
Repent, you watchmen, upon the wall.
2nd Chorus:
Quicken my heart, in Jesus' name,
Cleanse me from my sin - bring to life again.
Send me, oh Lord, and I will go -
Go and tell the world Jesus loves them so.
July 29th, 2004
Jerry Bouey
John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
Matthew 9:36-38 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
The Father's Heart
The Father's heart is beating, pleading for the souls of men,
Yearning for His children to go and bring the lost ones in,
Crying out against the sin that plagues this darkened land,
The Father's heart is beating still - oh, can't you understand?
Chorus:
The Father's heart is beating for someone here to go,
To tell the prodigal child that He dearly loves them so;
The Father's heart is beating, yearning for the lost,
My child, are you willing to go and count the cost?
The Father's heart is beating, God is calling out your name;
If you listen to His pleading, you will never be the same;
Jesus Christ has paid the price, atonement has been made,
But the Father needs someone to tell them sin's debt has been paid.
The Father's heart is beating, pleading for the souls of men;
Hell is real, it is forever - go and plead with them!
The Father's heart is beating, His message rings loud and clear -
The sands of time are moving, there is no time for fear.
The Father's heart is beating, pleading from His throne,
Yearning for the shepherds to lead the lost sheep home,
The Holy Spirit's convicting, melting your heart of stone,
The Father's heart is beating - won't you make His heart your own?
Won't you make His heart your own?
The Father's heart is missions - won't you make His heart your own?
July 28th, 2004
Jerry Bouey
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 16:15 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Luke 24:44-49 And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me. Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
When I Stop Praying
When I stop praying - my whole life falls apart,
No joy thrills my soul, no peace fills my heart,
My compassion soon dies and my desires are not met,
The future seems uncertain, and there's no end of debt.
When I stop praying - it is obvious, the Lord I have not sought,
I have not seen Him work in my life and heart as I ought,
The things that I loathe about myself are still there,
And the plans that I am making are castles built on the air.
When I stop praying - I have let reign fear and doubt,
I have taken the reins of my life and left the Master out;
To other Christians and the world, I have let it be known
That I am prideful and think I can do it all on my own.
When I stop praying - it's obvious to the Lord that I fell
From my own steadfastness while others are on their way to Hell,
I am not standing in the gap, nor caring for the lost,
I am not plucking brands from the fire, nor counting the cost.
When I start praying again - the reverse is quite true,
I have moved my eyes off of myself and put them back upon You,
Claiming God's promises, seeing hearts and lives truly changed,
With a burden for souls, my priorities are rearranged.
When I start praying - answered prayers are only part of the story,
Now my mind is transformed, and I am living for God's glory,
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the word on my lips,
And my soul is grieved when I let an opportunity slip.
When I start praying - Jesus is precious to my soul,
My heart is no longer broken, but perfectly whole,
Fellowship with my Lord is wonderfully sweet
As my life is filled with victory instead of defeat.
When I start praying - there are riches that are waiting to be found,
Joy fills my heart, and the peace of God does abound,
The Word of God opens up like a bounteous treasure chest;
As the burdens are lifted, I am secure in my haven of rest.
December 24th, 2003
Jerry Bouey
Prayer moves the arm that moves the world.
Charles Spurgeon
Fervency is the fire on the altar of your heart
that burns the incense of prayer
and sends the sweet-smelling savour up to God.
Jerry Bouey
I was not looking at the little in hand, but at the fullness of God.
George Mueller, when his needs were great and the supply small
I have held many things in my hands, and have lost them all;
but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.
Martin Luther
Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.
William Carey
All God’s giants have been weak men, who did great things for God
because they reckoned on His being with them.
Hudson Taylor
Hebrews 11:6 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.
Mark 11:22-24 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 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. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Jude 22-23 And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
1 Samuel 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
Summer
The Season Of Trials And Trust
A Beautiful Symphony
A musician needs all the keys
To play a symphony;
If he only used the white ones,
What beauty would there be?
The black keys make the music
Melodic to the ear;
If the pianist never used them,
What a different song we'd hear.
And just like that piano,
So it is with life;
It takes both light and dark to make
The music flow just right.
God uses trials and sorrows
Like the pianist uses keys;
He combines the light and dark to make
Life's music sound so sweet.
The song of life sounds better
When He uses all the keys;
For then He can turn a simple tune
Into a beautiful symphony.
Copyright ©1995 by Jan McIntosh
Used With Permission
(originally titled "Life's Music)
And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Count It All Joy
Count it all joy, my brethren, for the trials in this race.
Count it all joy, my brethren, as you seek the Saviour's face.
Jesus is with you through every trial.
He will stand by you all the while.
Count it all joy.
Count it all joy, my brethren, for the trials that you've seen.
Count it all joy, my brethren, for nothing can come between,
And separate you from the Lord.
Just cling to Jesus and His Word.
Count it all joy.
Count it all joy, my brethren, this trial is but for a season.
Count it all joy, my brethren, the Lord has planned it for a reason.
He is working out all things for your good,
As only our Heavenly Father could.
Count it all joy.
Count it all joy, my brethren, for the trials that you go through.
Count it all joy, my brethren, for the fires that purify you.
As He molds this vessel to perfection,
Someday Jesus will behold His reflection.
Count it all joy.
March 12th, 2002
Jerry Bouey
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work,
that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:2-4
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to His purpose.
For 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.
Romans 8:28-29
God's Love Through The Storm
I did not know His love before, the way I know it now;
I could not see my need for Him, my pride would not allow.
I had it all, without a care, the "self-sufficient" lie;
My path was smooth, my sea was still, not a cloud was in my sky.
I thought I knew His love for me, I thought I'd seen His grace;
I thought I did not need to grow, I thought I'd found my place.
But then the way grew rough and dark, the storm clouds quickly rolled;
The waves began to rock my ship, my anchor would not hold.
The ship that I had built myself was made of foolish pride;
It fell apart and left me bare, with nowhere else to hide.
I had no strength or faith to face the trials that lay ahead;
And so I simply prayed to Him and bowed my weary head.
His loving arms enveloped me, and then He helped me stand;
He said, "You still must face this storm, but I will hold your hand."
So through the dark and lonely night He guided me through pain;
I could not see the light of day or when the storm might wane.
Yet through the aches and endless tears, my faith began to grow;
I could not see it at the time, but my light began to glow.
I saw God's love in brand new light, His grace and mercy, too;
For only when all self was gone, could Jesus' love shine through.
It was not easy in the storm, I sometimes wondered, "Why?"
At times I thought, "I can't go on." I'd hurt, and doubt, and cry.
But Jesus never left my side, He guided me each day;
Through pain and strife, through fire and flood, He helped me all the way.
And now I see as never before how great His love can be;
How in my weakness He is strong, how Jesus cares for me!
He worked it all out for my good, although the way was rough;
He only sent what I could bear, and then He cried, "Enough!"
He raised His hand and said, "Be still!" He made the storm clouds cease;
He opened up the gates of joy and flooded me with peace.
I saw His face now clearer still, I felt His presence strong;
I found anew His faithfulness, He never steered me wrong.
Now I know more storms will come, but only for my good;
For pain and tears have helped me grow as naught else ever could.
I still have so much more to learn as Jesus works in me;
If in the storm I'll love Him more, that's where I want to be!
~Author Unknown~
God's Precious Promises
God's precious promises are tried,
In the furnace of life - they are purified.
Every single promise of the Lord is true;
Test them yourself and watch Him come through.
For these precious promises there are conditions;
For this treasure, not everyone can stake a claim.
God's precious promises are only for His children -
For whosoever has called upon the Saviour's name.
For Noah's family, there was the rainbow,
For Abraham, there was his greatly beloved son,
For every child of God, there's perfect peace of mind,
blessings innumerable, and victories to be won.
In Jesus Christ, all these promises abound;
In the pages of His holy Word they are found.
They have been purified in this furnace of earth,
Test them yourself and discover their worth!
April 8th, 2002
Jerry Bouey
The words of the LORD are pure words:
as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Psalm 12:6
As for God, His way is perfect:
the word of the LORD is tried:
He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him.
Psalm 18:30
For all the promises of God in Him (Jesus) are yea,
and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
2 Corinthians 1:20
According as His divine power hath given unto us all things
that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:
that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:3-4
Have you claimed any precious promises lately?
He's Still Got The Whole World In His Hands
I was worried and discouraged -
Life had me quite upset.
I was ready to give in and break down,
But a still small voice whispered, "Not yet."
I was reminded of God's love for me;
A gentle assurance brought me hope.
The Lord is not limited by my situations,
And that reminder helped me cope.
His Spirit lives within me,
And I know I have been born again.
Whatever happens to this old world,
I know it is still held in His hands.
Yes, He's still got the whole world in His hands,
Though sometimes I may not see;
But Jesus reminds me from His Words of Life,
That with those same gentle hands He still holds me.
I need not fear for my tomorrows,
And my past is all but gone,
But when I look toward my future,
His bright promises shine on!
July 29th, 2002
Jerry Bouey
Can a woman forget her sucking child,
that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands;
thy walls are continually before Me.
Isaiah 49:15-16
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.
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 10:27-29
I Shall Come Forth As Gold
No longer on the mountaintop,
The tempests wax fierce and hot;
Though the way ahead may seem rough,
His grace will always be enough -
For when He has tried me,
I shall come forth as gold.
Chorus:
As gold, as gold, I shall come forth as gold;
As gold, as gold, I shall come forth as gold.
As I walk through the shadow of death,
This valley seems to steal my breath;
Though I cannot yet see my way,
I will trust in Jesus come what may -
For when He has tried me,
I shall come forth as gold.
When storm clouds carry doubt and fear,
I will not fret for God is near.
Though I walk through the darkest day,
Through faith, my Lord will light my way -
For when He has tried me,
I shall come forth as gold.
Someday my skies will clear again,
The clouds will part - I shall see Him!
Now by faith, but then by sight,
I'll behold my King in all His might -
For when He has tried me,
I shall come forth as gold.
June 22nd, 2003
Jerry Bouey
Behold, I go forward, but He is not there;
and backward, but I cannot perceive Him:
On the left hand, where He doth work,
but I cannot behold Him:
He hideth Himself on the right hand,
that I cannot see Him:
But He knoweth the way that I take:
when He hath tried me,
I shall come forth as gold.
Job 23:8-10
My Hiding Place
Lord, You are my hiding place
through life's stormy gale;
You are my fount of grace
when my strength begins to fail.
Chorus:
Lord, You are my hiding place,
Standing strong and sure,
My refuge in the storms of life,
A fortress that will endure.
You are my hiding place
though enemies surround;
You fill my heart with Your peace -
peace that always abounds.
When my sins come back to haunt me
and I need a hiding place,
You shelter me under Your wings,
and remove all of sin's trace.
Lord, You are my hiding place -
Whom shall I fear?
Why should my soul be cast down
When You are always near?
You are my hiding place -
You took in this lonely waif -
In Jesus, I know I am secure,
I know I'm forever safe.
When the tempests come -
their winds and waves crash over me,
You are my hiding place -
the only place I long to be.
December 25th, 2002
Jerry Bouey
Thou art my hiding place;
Thou shalt preserve me from trouble;
Thou shalt compass me about
with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Psalm 32:7
My Prayer For His Will
As I lay beside you in your bed,
My heart is so full of concern.
How I want to see you well again –
Is the prayer that within me burns.
To hear you laugh, as only you can do;
To see your precious smile light your face.
Each moment you have been with us,
Is a reminder of my Saviour’s grace.
Though I knew you have a heart condition,
You’ve been so well, I had forgotten.
But seeing you lying there, so frail and weak,
My heart is burdened with overmuch grief.
Your sickness is a clear reminder –
That to us, you do not belong,
But are lent to us from The Master,
And I know He’ll not steer us wrong.
You are our Lord’s, and He knows best.
As He fulfills His perfect will,
In each of our lives, it’s a test,
And we need but to stand still.
Too often we try so hard to control,
The circumstances that come our way.
Then these become a burden to our soul,
As we’ve led ourselves astray.
Dear Lord, if you choose to call her home –
Though I know my sorrow would be great –
Cause me to see that your grace will uphold me,
Help me, as in your care I commit her fate.
Oh Lord Jesus, may this my prayer be:
“That all in Thee, do I put my trust;
That I not question Your perfect will,
And all that You have planned for us.”
Angela Trenholm
December 9th, 2004
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:
for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9a
One Heartbeat From Heaven
So many trials to discourage,
So many mountains to block your way,
But you're just one heartbeat from Heaven,
Where the shadows will flee away.
My brother, why are you cast down?
My sister, why are you distressed?
You are just one heartbeat from Heaven,
From a land filled with peace and rest.
My friend, why are you so fearful?
Anxious? - Oh ye of little faith.
You are just one heartbeat from Heaven,
From seeing Jesus face to face.
Storm clouds may dim the horizon,
As lightning bolts streak through the sky,
But you're just one heartbeat from Heaven,
From your mansion prepared on high.
July 17th, 2002
Jerry Bouey
Philippians 1:21-24 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
2 Corinthians 5:6-9 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
The Answers Why
I asked the Lord one day why there were so many mountains in my life,
So much grief and heartache, so much trouble and strife?
I read His Word very carefully, looking for the answers why,
And deep within my soul, I heard His Spirit reply.
I am working all things out for your good;
Removing the debris that shouldn't be there.
There is so much damage that sin has done,
There is so much I need to repair.
There are works that I am doing - if you could only understand -
I am fulfilling all My promises according to My Plan.
The mountains are for reminding you of My goodness and My love,
The weakness is to cause you to lean upon My arms above.
Rest upon My provision, and trust that I will guide you along Life's way,
And rejoice in My grace and mercy that will lead you safely Home one day.
There's a work I am doing inside your very heart,
So one day up in glory, My likeness to you I will impart;
So don't fret about the things that you don't understand,
Just trust My eternal wisdom, and know it's all according to My Plan.
December 20th, 2002
Jerry Bouey
Being confident of this very thing,
that He which hath begun a good work in you
will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6
The Shadows Flee Away
I am waiting, hoping, praying, for the coming of that day
When the Lord shall come from Heaven, and the shadows flee away.
There is darkness looming around me, and the fears and doubts dismay
But the Morning Star lights up the gloom, and the shadows flee away.
When I feel I cannot go on, and my prayers fade away,
The Lord lifts me from my despair, and the shadows flee away.
Walking through the fire and the flood, the Lord holds the night at bay
My hope is renewed, my Saviour comes, and the shadows flee away.
God's promises light up my heart, and I find strength for this day,
Comfort comes from my Beloved, and the shadows flee away.
Even when I am faithless, and I don't have the courage to pray,
Jesus comes, like I knew He would, and my shadows flee away.
December 30th, 2003
Jerry Bouey
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved,
and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.
Song of Solomon 2:17
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away,
I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
Song of Solomon 4:6
Autumn
The Season Of Rest And Reflections
A Faithful Man
A faithful man - Oh who can find?
But you are of that faithful kind!
It's been a great blessing, that's for sure,
Learning from you how to persevere.
Sharing the treasures you've found in God's Word,
Drawing us closer to Jesus our Lord.
A faithful witness, a beloved Pastor,
A trusted guide, and a good friend.
Exhorting us with Godly wisdom,
On which the Christ-filled life depends.
A true testimony to all
of God's amazing grace;
A blessed example to us
of how to run in this race.
For being our Pastor,
We, the sheep of your flock,
Wanted to say,
"We love you with all our hearts!
And thank you for being so faithful..."
Written Christmas 2001
by Jerry Bouey
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour,
especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1 Timothy 5:17
ABC's From My Heart
Thou art my Advocate, always interceding for me.
My Bridegroom I will one day face-to-face see.
A Cornerstone Thou art to my Christian foundation.
My Deliverer from all trials as well as temptation.
My Everlasting Father Thou hast a Hand of great mercy
A Fountain, My thirst Thou removest far from me
Thou art my Guide, without Thee I do wander
My High Priest, for my salvation Thou didst suffer
Immanuel, God with us, alone I won't be
My Judge, Thou wilt judge me righteously
O King, how I long to witness Thy reign
Thou became a Lamb, for my salvation to gain
My Mediator, to the Heavenly Father Thou proclaimest
Thy Name is above all Names, Thou art surely the Greatest
Only Begotten of the Father, The First and the Last
Thou art the Passover, buried my sins in the past
Quicken my heart, Thy Spirit I desire
Redeemer of my sins and from hell's eternal fire
O Shepherd of my soul, Thou carest for me
Thou art the True Vine, I would perish without Thee
United with the Father, Thy voice do I hear
Victorious o'er death no more shall I fear
Word of Life Thou has truly opened mine eyes
To witness Thy EXample of love from on high
Thou art Yahweh, the Great and the Most High One
Thy Zeal for redemption, my soul Thou hast won!
Kate Plourde
June 17, 2002
(Used With Permission)
Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Acts 4:10-12 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Afraid? Of What?
Afraid? Of what?
To feel the spirit's glad release?
To pass from pain to perfect peace,
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid? Of that?
Afraid? Of what?
Afraid to see the Saviour's face,
To hear His welcome, and to trace,
The glory gleam from wounds of grace,
Afraid? Of that?
Afraid? Of what?
A flash - a crash - a pierced heart;
Brief darkness - Light - O Heaven's art!
A wound of His a counterpart!
Afraid? Of that?
Afraid? Of what?
To enter into Heaven's rest,
And yet to serve the Master blessed?
From service good to service best?
Afraid? Of that?
Afraid? Of what?
To do by death what life could not -
Baptize with blood a stony plot,
Till souls shall blossom from the spot?
Afraid? Of that?
This poem was written by E.H. Hamilton, after hearing of the death of his missionary colleague Jack Vinson. Vinson was martyred in 1931 and showed no fear of death to his Chinese captors, telling them, "Kill me, if you wish. I will go straight to God."
Birthday Poem For A Christian
Another year older, a year of living in the light of the Lord,
A time of changing, a time of growing,
A time of learning to use His Sword.
Maturing more as the days go on,
Telling others what Christ has taught you,
Touching hearts as you travel along,
Living love - we can see Him in you.
A miracle is working there in your heart,
A new beginning, He changed you right from the start,
And now you know that there is no turning back,
The grace of God you will never lack.
You're a picture of what our great Redeemer can do,
When you walk in His love, you make an excellent view,
You are changing on the inside, it's really plain to see,
Like a stranger to this world - living for eternity,
Committed to our Saviour, you are resting in His hands,
He planned your future long ago, before your life began.
Oh, delight yourself forever in the living Lord,
Wait on His gracious love and receive His Word,
Taste and see how good our God is,
He is awe-inspiring and His name is Jesus!
He is your refuge when your times get tough,
His provision will always be enough,
Your steps are directed by the Father of lights,
Trust fully in Him, your future is bright.
Shine out, my friend, and show them the way,
Light up the darkness, hold the shadows at bay,
Free the captives, as Christ has freed you,
Tell others the wonders of what our God can do.
Praise God and live a life pleasing to Him,
Lift up your voice and let your heart sing,
Seek the Lord's guidance and live in His will,
Come before Jesus and learn to be still.
Though this life seems so hard and you may fail sometimes,
Get on Hind's feet - there are still mountains to climb,
When you reach the highest peak, there will be joy without end,
God will say, "Well done, My servant and friend."
May 4th, 1995
Jerry Bouey
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18
The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet,
and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
Habakkuk 3:19
From Genesis To Revelation
From Genesis to Revelation
Lies hid one vast rich treasury,
And the wealth of its Godly wisdom
Is revealed in Jesus Christ, its key.
There is milk for spiritual children,
For the mature, there is bread and meat;
And all who will taste of its promises
Will find pure honey - wonderfully sweet.
For the soldier, there is armour,
For the farmer, seed to sow,
For the pilgrim, there's a compass,
And a map, showing where to go.
But the richest of all its treasures,
Lies in finding the Pearl of Great Price;
For the joy of life's truest blessings
Are found in the Lord Jesus Christ.
January 20th, 2002
Jerry Bouey
...and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Revelation 22:2
And as the leaves of the Tree of Life are for the healing of the nations, so likewise are the leaves of the Bible (The Word of Life) for the healing of our souls.
Full Assurance
(To the tune of So Little Time)
Full assurance - we pray - of understanding
Is yours in Christ - you are complete in Him.
Riches above, are stored in Heaven waiting.
Rejoice, my friend, you're a child of the King.
Chorus:
Today we serve, with fullness of understanding,
Assurance of hope, through eyes of faith;
So let us love our dear Lord supremely.
Let us be faithful, as we run this race.
Full assurance, stand fast in this your hope now.
Be diligent, be faithful to the end.
A crown of life, rewards for those who serve Christ -
Jesus remembers all that's done for Him.
Full assurance - steadfast is the eye of faith.
Approach God's throne, with boldness, plead for souls.
Let us draw near, give all our cares to Jesus;
Behold the prize - press on towards the goal.
2nd Chorus:
Today we serve, with fullness of understanding,
Assurance of hope, through eyes of faith;
So let us love our Saviour supremely.
Brethren, be faithful, as you run this race.
January 22nd, 2004
Jerry Bouey
That their hearts might be comforted,
being knit together in love,
and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding,
to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God,
and of the Father, and of Christ;
Colossians 2:2
And we desire that every one of you
do shew the same diligence to
the full assurance of hope unto the end:
Hebrews 6:11
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,
and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:22
My Son, Give Me Thine Heart
"My son, give me thine ears,"
Is a saying that may seem wise.
While they listen to your words,
You don't know what goes on inside.
They may appear to pay attention,
To respond to all you have to say,
But nothing is changed in their lives;
They may heed, but do not obey.
"My son, give me thine eyes;
Observe all that I do.
Overlook all my hypocrisy,
And copy the good and true."
While that saying may seem right,
It's only part of what God has to say -
They may watch all of your actions,
But inside, they're unchanged each day.
"My son, give me thine heart,"
Seek the Lord with all diligence.
Jesus works from the inside out;
That's what makes the difference.
Because when God really has your heart,
You will observe all He tells you to:
Obey your parents, read God's Word,
And glorify the Lord in all you do.
December 4th, 2002
Jerry Bouey
My son, give me thine heart,
and let thine eyes observe my ways.
Proverbs 23:26
Show Me Christ
Open up your Word to me, Lord
Help me to understand
Show me what you're teaching me, Lord
And guide me by your hand.
Show me the treasures in your Word
Reveal them to my heart
Open up my eyes to see, Lord
Show me where to start.
Teach me by your living Word
Examples of how to live
Teach me how to die to myself
And then reach out and give.
Show me Christ in all the pages
Show me the wisdom of the ages
Show me the end of all that's to be
Show me the future laid up for me.
Help me always to see you, Lord
In each and every book
In all sixty-six - I know you're there
Please show me how to look.
Teach me, oh Lord, your will each day
Tell me how to live your perfect way
Lord, I want to be pleasing to you
Show me how to be faithful and true
Show me how to be just like you.
May 23rd, 1995
Jerry Bouey
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets,
He expounded unto them in all the scriptures
the things concerning Himself.
Luke 24:27
Search the scriptures;
for in them ye think ye have eternal life:
and they are they which testify of Me.
Jesus in John 5:39
Then said I, Lo, I come
(in the volume of the book it is written of Me,)
to do thy will, O God.
Hebrews 10:7
Open Thou mine eyes,
that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.
David's prayer in Psalm 119:18
But we all, with open face
beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,
are changed into the same image from glory to glory,
even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Here's a little poem by someone else on the verse above:
When the child of God,
Looks into the Word of God,
And sees the Son of God,
He is changed by the Spirit of God,
Into the image of God,
For the glory of God.
The Valleys Of Life
There are so many valleys in this life;
Times of sorrow, heartache, and strife.
In this vale of tears that you are passing through,
I know our Lord will carry you.
As you're walking in the shadow of death,
This troubled life seems but a breath.
When it appears all around you is night,
The Lord will be your lamp and light.
Though giants of distress are drawing near,
My friend, there is no cause for fear,
For the Lord above still rules from His throne;
He will never leave you alone.
When the valleys of trouble loom ahead,
Look to Jesus with faith instead.
Forget the doubts along life's storm-tossed way.
Let God's Word light your path today.
August 30th, 2004
Jerry Bouey
I am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valleys.
Song of Solomon 2:1
Jesus is the Lily in all our valleys.
He is there in all of the Valleys of Life we go through!
Winter
The Season Of Your Graduation
Faith To Face
Looking through a glass darkly,
I find many things hard to explain,
But as I steadfastly gaze within God's Word,
The Lord makes all things plain.
Faith to faith is what I'm living.
Day by day, I learn to see,
In a life that's so uncertain,
I know that Jesus still walks with me.
Faith means I learn to trust Him
And forget walking by sight.
As I'm filled with His peace and wisdom,
God's Word lights up the night.
Faith to face, it's a tiring journey,
Walking through this pilgrim land.
Though I cannot see around every corner,
I'm clinging tightly to my Saviour's hand.
He's preparing me for service,
Enabling me to walk through open doors;
I fight the battles that Christ gives me,
Knowing that He's already won the war.
Face to face, the day of His return is coming,
Until then, there are mountains to climb.
I will keep looking for that blessed hope -
Someday soon - It's just a matter of time.
Faith to face, I look forward to seeing Jesus -
What a glorious day that will be.
It will no longer be by faith,
Because, face to face, my Lord I will see.
Faith to face.
November 23rd, 2002
Jerry Bouey
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:
as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 1:16-17
For now we see through a glass, darkly;
but then face to face: now I know in part;
but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1 Corinthians 13:12
And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads.
Revelation 22:4
Going Through The Door
I'm dying now, he thought, there's no one here to hold my hand -
No one but my Saviour, though I know He understands.
Times have sure been lonely, and my friends have gone away,
I sit here in my easy chair, waiting for the end of day.
My chest is hurting more now and the pain seems awful strong,
But there's a peace within me and on my lips a whispered song.
I try to reach for the phone now, but it seems too far away.
I want to call out to my wife but all I can do is pray.
There are no words coming forth, but my thoughts are racing fast;
In sweet silent meditation, I look back over my past.
Short of breath, I stop to wonder, "Was my life worth it all?"
Then I think of Jesus, and His loving Gospel call:
How He came to me and saved me, changed my heart from within,
How He purchased my full redemption and took away my sin.
Through many years of service, no, I've no regrets,
Because I have a home in Heaven that still awaits me yet.
A sudden sharp pain pricks me, and I slump down to the floor -
Now I can see all my loved ones that I knew had gone on before.
Look there is my beloved daughter, whom the fever took years ago,
And my precious little brother, who had that awful accident in the snow.
Oh, they look so bright and cheerful, how can this vision be true?
Then I remember that Jesus, my Saviour, was their Saviour too.
I reach out for my daughter and she stretches forth her hand,
And says, "Daddy, let's go see Jesus, and walk through Heaven's land."
I look all around me, but this old world seems mighty dim,
And then I see my Jesus, and my soul is awed by Him.
As I stand up to receive Him, into His arms I flee,
And the pain is gone forever, as my strength returns to me.
Dressed in robes of purest white, through pearly gates I walk along
Into the land of forever, with a joyous heart-felt song,
And see multitudes around me, praising and calling out His name,
With love in their hearts flowing, and their souls kindled flames.
I think about my darling wife now, and I know she will be home soon,
When she has finished running her course, for the Lord has prepared her room.
Face to face at last with Jesus, what a beauty our eyes can see,
And I am overwhelmed anew by the love my Saviour has for me.
December 13th, 2002
Jerry Bouey
Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
He Gathers His Lilies
The Lily of the Valleys, oh the savour of His name,
The blessed Rose of Sharon, age to age still the same.
Like the Lily of the Valleys, so are His children here,
Precious to the heart of God, beloved and so dear.
Jesus feeds among His lilies - the fellowship is sweet,
In the garden of their hearts, where they so often meet.
Scattered throughout this darkened field, their colours are so bright,
Bearing the savour of Christ, they sing songs in the night.
Jesus gathers His lilies, and with joy He takes them home,
This precious harvest of souls arrayed around His throne.
Oh the glory of these lilies, clothed in robes of purest white,
Growing in their Saviour's presence, flourishing in His light.
October 7th, 2004
Jerry Bouey
The field is the world.
Matthew 13:38
I Am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valleys.
Like the Lily among thorns, so is My love among the daughters.
Song of Solomon 2:1-2
My Beloved is mine, and I am His: He feedeth among the lilies.
Song of Solomon 2:16
My Beloved is gone down into His garden, to the beds of spices,
to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
Song of Solomon 6:2
"To gather lilies, wherewith he is pleased to entertain and adorn himself. He picks the lilies one by one, and gathers them to himself; and there will be a general harvest of them at the great day, when he will send forth his angels, to gather all his lilies, that he may be for ever glorified and admired in them." - Matthew Henry.
Immanuel
When once I mourned a load of sin;
When conscience felt a wound within;
When all my works were thrown away;
When on my knees I knelt to pray,
Then, blissful hour, remembered well,
I learned Thy love, Immanuel.
When storms of sorrow toss my soul;
When waves of care around me roll;
When comforts sink, when joys shall flee;
When hopeless griefs shall gape for me,
One word the tempest's rage shall quell -
That word, Thy name, Immanuel.
When for the truth I suffer shame;
When foes pour scandal on my name;
When cruel taunts and jeers abound;
When "Bulls of Bashan" gird me round,
Secure within Thy tower I'll dwell -
That tower, Thy grace, Immanuel.
When hell enraged lifts up her roar;
When Satan stops my path before;
When fiends rejoice and wait my end;
When legioned hosts their arrows send,
Fear not, my soul, but hurl at hell
Thy battle-cry, Immanuel.
When down the hill of life I go;
When o'er my feet death's waters flow;
When in the deep'ning flood I sink;
When friends stand weeping on the brink,
I'll mingle with my last farewell
Thy lovely name, Immanuel.
When tears are banished from mine eye;
When fairer worlds than these are nigh;
When heaven shall fill my ravished sight;
When I shall bathe in sweet delight,
One joy all joys shall far excel,
To see Thy face, Immanuel.
~Charles Spurgeon~
This is one of my favourite poems - by my all-time favourite preacher.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:21-23 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Hebrews 13:5-6 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. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Isaiah 43:1-2 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Psalm 23:4 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.
Isaiah 41:10 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.
I've Gone Home
I’ve gone home to see my Father,
I’ve gone home, so don’t you cry
I’ll be waiting for you in Heaven,
In my mansion prepared on high.
No more sickness, no more sorrow,
No more pain, and no more grief.
I’ve gone home to be with Jesus
Though my sojourn here was brief.
I’ve gone home to live in Heaven
With all the blessed saints of old,
Here with Abraham and David
To stroll through streets of gold.
I’ve gone home to be in Heaven
Where there’s no sadness, and no night.
There is joy and peace unending,
In this blissful land of light.
But there’s something else more beautiful,
So precious, beyond this crystal sea,
As I wander through realms of glory
I find my Saviour walks with me.
I’ve gone home to be in Heaven,
Though you miss me, and tears abound,
Just keep believing in God’s promises,
And listening for that trumpet sound.
Because one day in God’s timing
When the Lord calls out your name
Look to the skies in awe and wonder -
We’ll see each other again.
August 1st, 2000
Jerry Bouey
My Rest
He's my life, He's my all;
Without Him I would fall.
Every day, every hour;
Jesus keeps me by His power.
Through the assurance of His Word.
I know all His promises are true.
By faith, I stand upon them,
And my God makes all things new.
Though my trials like raging storms blow,
Help to endure is always present from above.
Not a sigh nor a loss in my life here below.
Could ever dim the glory of my Saviour's love.
Though clouds of sorrow seem to hide
His presence in the night,
There's not a moment in my life
When His guiding hand is not in sight.
All for His glory He will perform,
What He has promised in me, to conform.
He who hath begun a good work in me,
Will perform it until my Saviour I shall see.
Then one day I will cross over,
When He opens that final door,
And He transforms this corruptible
To His perfect likeness forever more.
When I stand to give account,
"Will I come forth as gold?" will be my test,
No more will I fight this robe of flesh
As in my Saviour I take my rest.
And with the saints in glory,
I stand with Him for eternal days.
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My Great Redeemer's praise!
June 13th, 2003
Angela Trenholm
1 John 3:1-3 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. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Not Home Yet
The road is hard, the road is long
But, by God's grace, life goes on;
And though my face like flint is set,
I must remember... I'm not home yet.
And when life's storms toss me about,
When I'm overwhelmed with fear and doubt,
He's there to remind me, lest I forget,
I'm a stranger here... I'm not home yet.
I take great comfort when I hear Him say
In His most sweet and gentle way,
"Child, don't worry and don't you fret,
Remember this .. you're not home yet!"
©2001 Jan McIntosh
(Used With Permission)
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
"Do not, dear reader, look so much upon painful circumstances and difficult situations as unpleasant trials of faith which have to be endured, but rather thankfully regard them as golden occasions for you to prove afresh the sufficiency of Him who never fails those who fully trust Him." - Arthur Pink.
"She is sinking very fast," whispered an attendant in the dying chamber of a godly woman. "No, no," was the quick response of the departing saint, who had overheard the words; "no; I am not sinking; I am in the arms of my Saviour."
(Taken from Our Daily Homily by F.B. Meyer)
Rising In The Arms Of Love
Oh, my friend, she is sinking so very fast!
No, she is only rising in the arms of Love!
But I thought that she would remain at last...
No, she is destined for greater things above!
But why would God completely take away her peace?
No, her Saviour has given her a more lasting kind!
Real joy isn't when all toil and troubles cease -
For when Jesus draws close, peace fills this heart of mine!
The fear, the unknown, it must be dreadful...
No, His blessed presence is so very near!
But, why did this tragedy have to happen at all?
Because He knew what I needed, and He is always here!
Why would He cause this affliction, why this trial?
He has a purpose, His ways are so much greater than mine!
I know these troubles are only for a little while,
And then I will dwell forever with Him in mansions sublime!
No, I am not sinking - I am rising -
Held gently by His arms of Love,
Sheltered safely under His wings,
Till I reach my Heavenly home above!
Rising, rising, in those arms of Love!
February 26th, 2005
Jerry Bouey
The eternal God is thy refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.
The Sparrow Has Flown Home
She's just a little sparrow,
A weakened vessel made of clay;
Yearning for the day break,
When the shadows will flee away.
Looking for the Sun of Righteousness
To arise with healing in His wings.
As the Saviour waits with open arms,
This little sparrow begins to sing.
Her Heavenly Father numbers each little hair;
Not one of them can come to lasting harm.
Not a sparrow can fall apart from His will -
She is safely resting in His everlasting arms.
Precious in the sight of the Lord
Is the death of one of His own.
Her Father waits to receive His child -
Into the loving arms of Jesus she has flown.
Now she is flying near God's Heavenly altar,
Forever to worship before His throne;
Dwelling in the Lord's presence -
This little sparrow has flown home.
August 30th, 2004
Jerry Bouey
Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Psalms 84:1-4 How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house: they will be still praising Thee. Selah.
Bible Studies
And I Will Give You Rest
Part One - The Rest Of Salvation
To quote a hymn writer: "Are you weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?"
What are you doing with your burdens? Are you trying to carry them yourself? Are you weighed down with trying to reach Heaven through your own good deeds and righteousness? Are you oppressed by all the legalistic rules that religious leaders have placed upon you? Matthew 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. These burdens of men are heavy and grievous indeed!
It doesn't have to be that way. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. There is a rest found only in the Saviour that the religions of the world can never offer you. It is the rest from striving for perfection, striving to keep the Law, striving to make your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds.
By the way, that can never happen. In God's sight, when we are without Jesus Christ we have no good deeds. Isaiah 64:6 says, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. The Bible teaches that none of us are righteous - we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (See Romans 3:10, 23) Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all.
All of us have gone our own way in life (whether it be the way of atheism, the way of the religious - trying to work our way to Heaven by adding church service or baptism, etc. to the Gospel - whatever our way has been. That's the problem, it's our way!), not the Lord's way. The wages of our sin against God is death in a literal, fiery place called Hell. (See Romans 6:23) There is nothing we can do to escape that punishment. The wrath of God must strike and our sins must be judged.
But praise the Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus offers us rest from the penalty of the Law. He took all our sins upon Himself when He died on the cross. He died in our place, as our substitute, and bore the judgment for our sins so that we wouldn't have to, if we place personal faith in Him and in the perfect salvation He provides.
The saying that lightning never strikes twice in the same place is so true. The lightning of God's wrath struck the Lord on Calvary, and if by faith we accept His payment in our place, we will never be struck by that wrath. God's wrath will not strike His children, because His only begotten Son has already borne it! Romans 5:6, 8-9 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
1 Corinthians 5:7 …For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
2 Corinthians 5:21 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.
1 Peter 2:24; 3:18 Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.
1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
The fact that He arose again after three days in the tomb is the proof that His sacrifice (of Himself) for our sins was accepted by God the Father. Romans 4:24-25 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Several beautiful types of the rest of salvation found in Jesus are portrayed in the story of Noah's Ark:
1) First, we have Noah's name, which means rest. (Genesis 5:29)
2) We have the ark itself, which is a picture of the refuge found in Christ from the wrath of God (which was displayed by the worldwide flood). It is interesting to note that in the description of the Ark in Genesis 6:14-16, there are seven specific things mentioned: Gopher wood, rooms, pitch, dimensions, a window, a door, 3 floors. Seven is God's number of perfection, completion. So here we have a picture of God's perfect salvation through Jesus Christ, who is our complete refuge from God's wrath against sin (eternity in Hell). There was only one door to enter into the Ark. God has only one way of salvation, only one Saviour who paid the complete penalty for our sin, only one name whereby we must be saved! (See John 14:6; Acts 4:12) Once Noah and his family entered the Ark, they were completely safe from the destruction of the flood. The Lord Himself shut them in the Ark, and it is the Lord Himself who keeps us in Christ, safely preserved unto Heaven. (See Genesis 7:16; 1 Peter 1:3-5)
3) In Genesis 8:8-9, when Noah released the dove, she found no rest for the sole of her feet from the chaos of the world after the flood, except in the Ark itself. Even so, Jesus Christ is the only refuge for our souls from the chaos of this world. Is your soul resting in Him?
In Isaiah 28:9-13, we have a passage dealing with the rest found in studying the Word of God. Notice especially verse 12 (which I have bolded). Whom shall He teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people. To whom He said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
When we study the Word of God and compare Scripture with Scripture, building precept upon precept (which means we study each passage where a doctrine is taught and we put them together to arrive at the correct conclusion), we will find rest and refreshing. In what way? Because the Word of truth rightly divided reveals the Saviour. Verse 16 says Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Jesus Christ is that corner stone. (See 1 Peter 2:6-8) This rest and refreshing of salvation is found only in Him! The testimony of Jesus is the heart (the spirit) of the whole Bible. (See Revelation 19:10) Peter's promise to the Jews in Acts 3:19 is just as true for us today. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
When we are striving to keep the Law on our own (to earn salvation), the burden is heavy and grievous. God's requirement is perfect obedience, and we all fall short of that mark already. There is only one person in the history of the world that has ever kept the Law fully, completely fulfilling all its requirements - the Messiah who is both God and man, Jesus Christ. (See 1 Timothy 3:16 and John 1:14) Matthew 5:17-20 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
If we accept His free gift of salvation, we are then credited with His righteousness, and that righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. No longer are we as filthy rags in God's sight, but we are covered in the spotless white robe of Christ's righteousness. When our Heavenly Father looks at us, He doesn't see our sinfulness, but He sees the perfect righteousness of His sinless Son.
After we have received Jesus as our Saviour, He then works through us to enable us to fulfill God's will for our lives, and gives us the grace and strength to obey Him. 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. When you walk with the Lord Jesus Christ, He bears the burden with you. Matthew 11:29-30 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. Like two oxen yoked together will bear the burden together, so too, when we are yoked together with Jesus, He will enable us to bear the burden in our service to Him, because He bears it with us! (And, believe me, He carries most of the load!) But if we buck against the Lord's will for our lives, then the burden will seem so heavy.
There is one final Old Testament type that I want to bring to your attention in this matter of resting in Christ, our salvation. That is the Sabbath and what it pictured. Of all the ten commandments, nine are clearly restated in the New Testament as still binding on the Christian. (See Romans 13:9; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; and other passages.) But the Sabbath is not commanded to the Christian - why not? Because it has been completely fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The word Sabbath means rest, and Jesus Christ is our rest! Colossians 2:16-17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Exodus 31:14-15 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
The Jews were to work six days, but on the seventh they were to rest and do no work. If they worked, they were punished for it. Many critics get upset at this command in the Scriptures because they do not understand it. If we understand clearly what the Sabbath pictured, then the commandment and the punishment for not obeying it is simple to understand. The Jews were not to work on the Sabbath because it pictured the free gift of salvation found in Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Titus 3:4-6 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.
Several passages that clearly teach about the Sabbath are as follows: (Note: these passages are specifically referring to the Sabbath on the Day of Atonement, when all Israel's sins were dealt with once a year, which pictured Christ's sacrifice once for all.)
Leviticus 16:29-31 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.
Leviticus 23:26-32 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
In the above passages, there are several things I want to point out:
1) The Jews were to afflict their souls. They were to be repentant of their sins and acknowledge them to God. This was a requirement for both the Jews and those that sojourned among them (the Gentiles).
2) They were not to work at all, because on that day the priest would make an atonement for their sins. This day was to be a holy day, one set apart from all other days.
3) There was nothing they could do to add to the atonement or take away from it their only requirement was to repent and believe. Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. They were to afflict their souls on that day, or they would be cut off from their people (the people of God). Jesus said in Luke 13:3,5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Repentance was absolutely essential to be saved. Repentance means a change of mind resulting in a change of conduct. If the Jews did not acknowledge the guilt of their sin to the Lord and turn from it to the Saviour, they would be cut off from the people of God. This is just as true for us today: if we refuse to repent, saying a meaningless prayer is not going to save us - we will not go to Heaven, and we will be cut off eternally from the people of God. We need to believe in our heart. (See Romans 10:9-10)
4) By the way, the alternative to eternity in Heaven is eternity in Hell. Jesus spoke twice as much about Hell as He did about Heaven! This is seen in the threat that those who work on the Sabbath will be destroyed from among the people. This pictures the person who chooses to add their good deeds to the Gospel. The Bible teaches that they will be destroyed in Hell. You cannot add to Christ's work on the cross - He will not accept it! If there was any other way that we could be saved apart from Christ's finished work on Calvary, He would never have needed to die for our sins!
Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.
Have you personally trusted the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, believing that He died for your sins on the cross? Do you believe that He paid the full penalty when He suffered the wrath of God in your place? Have you received His free gift of salvation? If not, why not turn from your sin and receive the Saviour today? He's waiting for your answer. Find your rest in Him!
The Haven Of Rest
(Words: Henry L. Gilmour)
My soul in sad exile was out on life's sea,
So burdened with sin and distressed,
Till I heard a sweet voice, saying,
"Make Me your choice";
And I entered the "Haven of Rest"!
Chorus:
I've anchored my soul in the "Haven of Rest,"
I'll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep over the wild, stormy, deep,
In Jesus I'm safe evermore.
I yielded myself to His tender embrace,
In faith taking hold of the Word,
My fetters fell off, and I anchored my soul;
The "Haven of Rest" is my Lord.
The song of my soul, since the Lord made me whole,
Has been the old story so blest,
Of Jesus, Who'll save whosoever will have
A home in the "Haven of Rest."
How precious the thought that we all may recline,
Like John, the beloved so blest,
On Jesus' strong arm, where no tempest can harm,
Secure in the "Haven of Rest."
O come to the Savior, He patiently waits
To save by His power divine;
Come, anchor your soul in the "Haven of Rest,"
And say, "My Beloved is mine."
July 10th, 2002
Jerry Bouey
Part Two - The Rest Of Victory In Christ
Psalm 23:1-3 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.
What a blessing it is for the children of God to walk with Jesus day by day, to live in continual fellowship with Him, trusting in Him for their every care and need. What a privilege to know this Shepherd as our personal Saviour. We need never fear when we remember that Jesus is always with us. He continually makes us to lie down in green pastures and is ever leading us beside still waters. The perfect peace and rest He provides is more than we could ever imagine. This psalm gives us a beautiful picture of what it is to rest content in the Saviour, our Shepherd. That is a privilege only His children can claim. Exodus 33:14 And He said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest .
Are you trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation? Are you resting in the complete forgiveness and cleansing He has provided for whosoever will come to Him? Are you finished with your own toiling and labouring to earn God's approval? Through His death on Calvary, and the shedding of His blood for our sins, He has done all that is needed to save your soul. Through His physical resurrection, He proved that He had the power to save you from sin, death, and the grave. Have you trusted in Jesus' finished work on the cross? His death paid the full penalty needed to reconcile you to the Heavenly Father, if you will receive His gift of salvation by faith. Let His precious blood wash your sins away.
If you have trusted in Jesus to save you, are you now resting in Him day by day? Do you have peace and joy in your Christian walk, or do you feel like you are spinning on a roller coaster ride, one day up the next day down? Is victory a foreign concept to you? It doesn't have to be! Daily victory is a result of faith, of spending time with the Lord in prayer and in reading His Word. We also need to be regularly attending a church where the Word of God is clearly preached and taught, where we will be fed spiritually and equipped in our service for the Shepherd. Song of Solomon 1:7 Tell me, O Thou whom my soul loveth, where Thou feedest, where Thou makest Thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of Thy companions?
Like Israel, we can forfeit our daily victory through lack of trust in the Saviour, and the perfect rest He gives.
When Israel was traveling through the wilderness, twelve men were sent to spy out Canaan. The land was abundant and fruitful. Truly it was a land of milk and honey, where the grapes of Eshcol grew so big that one cluster needed two men to carry it! God had given them the land, but they needed to trust Him to fight the battles for them. Ten of the spies discouraged the Israelites from claiming victory, and therefore they refused to enter the promised land. As a result, they were chastised by spending forty years wandering in the wilderness, a barren land of unrest and strife.
Here is what the Lord Himself (through Paul) had to say about their wanderings in Hebrews 3:7-19:
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear His voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known My ways. So I sware in My wrath, They shall not enter into My rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was He grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
We see that of the whole nation of Israel, only two men (of all those 20 years old and upward) were able to enter into the promised land. These two were Joshua and Caleb; all the rest of the nation died in their wilderness wanderings, without ever seeing the land of rest and promise. They lost out on the victory through unbelief! They would not trust the Lord to give them the victory over their enemies. Even so today, you and I can miss out on the blessings of God, miss out on the victorious life, because of a lack of faith, a lack of trust in what the Lord has said. Unbelief is sin! And we don't need to give in to it! We just need the simple faith of a child which believes simply because their parent has spoken. Our Heavenly Father has spoken clearly in His Word. Let's claim His promises and believe Him, not our feelings or our reasonings. God said it, that settles it!
The Greek word for "believed not" in Hebrews 3:18 is Strong's #544, which means "to disbelieve (willfully and perversely)". It was a choice on the part of the Israelites to not believe, to perversely refuse to believe God's promised rest of victory. We encounter a different form of that word (Strong's # 543, "unbelief") in chapter four verses 6 and 11 (see below). Will we choose to rebel and be unbelieving like the Israelites, or will we choose in simple faith to trust and believe what the Lord has said in His Word? How many times have we as Christians refused to believe that the Lord knows what is best for us? When we choose to "believe not" that Jesus will give us the power we need to overcome sin and bondage in our own lives, and we refuse the cleansing touch He offers, we are, in effect, rebelling (though we don't like to think of our unbelief in that way) against Him. We know that the change would be uncomfortable, and we prefer to avoid the discomfort of striving against sin. In our compromise, we let sin gradually take over, and thus lose the victory that the Lord has promised to give us, if we will only walk by faith. 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Hebrews 4:1-11 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. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, As I have sworn in My wrath, if they shall enter into My rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into My rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, He limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would He not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
There are three types of rest promised in Hebrews four, and sometimes there is confusion when this chapter is not rightly divided. The main emphasis of chapters three and four is the rest of victory, and the loss of that rest through unbelief and disobedience.
The first rest is the rest of salvation. We find this mentioned in verse 10. For he that is entered into His* rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. *Commentators seem divided as to whose rest is specifically in view here: either the believer's rest from his own works (in regards to salvation - rest from our own works, rest from striving to earn God’s approval through our own “righteousness”), or entering into Christ's rest through faith in His finished work on the cross. Basically, they both amount to the same thing, and are merely two sides of the same coin; Biblically, we quit striving to work our way toward Heaven when we truly rest in Christ's finished work. I have already covered that in my first study on rest - And I Will Give You Rest (The Rest Of Salvation). Matthew 11:28 Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest .
Another rest mentioned in this passage is the rest of Heaven . This is the believers' eternal home, where all sin is vanquished and there is perfect peace and joy. Here there is no more striving against the world, the flesh, and the devil; our own sinful nature has been removed forever (do I hear an Amen?), and we have finished whatever service the Lord has planned for us in this earthly life. This is the rest referred to in verse 9: There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. This is a promised rest that is not conditioned on anything we can do or have done, except for our personal faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. It is not a rest we can earn (or even forfeit), but the end result of the first rest - the perfection (completion) of our salvation. Revelation 14:13 says And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. At the end of a long day of working in the field of this sin-cursed world, this is the rest from our toil and labour.
The third rest (and the overall theme of Hebrews 3:7-4:11) is the rest of victory in Jesus Christ - rest for our souls. It is a rest conditioned upon our daily trust in the Lord, and our walk by faith. Notice that four times in this chapter, Paul says, "Let us …" (Hebrews 4:1,11,14,16) He is speaking to professing Christians here and stating that there is a rest that we can come short of. (This is not the rest of salvation - though the unsaved can forfeit that through willful rejection of the only Saviour.) In verse three, he states that "we which have believed do enter into rest", but the others did not. So this rest is a rest promised to believers.
This rest for our souls is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe the King James Bible is accurate when it states the name "Jesus" in Hebrews 4:8. While it is true that Joshua (a type of Jesus) led the Israelites into the promised land, and they had victory over the enemies when they trusted fully in the Lord, it was not Joshua who spoke through King David in Psalms 95 (which Paul quotes from in Hebrews chapters three and four). Hebrews 4:7-8 says Again, He limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would He not afterward have spoken of another day. If Jesus had given the Israelites the rest mentioned in this passage of Scripture (spiritual rest, the rest of victory) when they entered Canaan, then He would not have promised rest almost five hundred years later through this Psalm of David. As we will see in this study, this promised rest is much more than a relief from physical enemies, but is in fact a spiritual rest, a rest of victory through abiding in Christ.
Over and over again, reference is made to Israel's wanderings in the wilderness. They were promised the land; the Lord said He would fight their battles for them and give them the victory over the inhabitants of Canaan; but they refused to believe Him. In the book of Joshua and Judges, we see this rest pictured. After God's people had crossed the Jordan River, they were faced with the Canaanites (and other ungodly nations), which the Lord told them to wipe out because of their wickedness and abominations. When the Israelites did exactly as the Lord commanded them to do, they had victory upon victory with little or no loss of life. The Lord fought their battles as He promised He would.
Joshua 21:44 And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that He sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.
1 Kings 8:56 Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto His people Israel, according to all that He promised: there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant.
But there were times that God's people did not wipe out their enemies, they did not follow God's instructions, they did not deal with sin in the camp, and the results were grievous and many lives were lost.
The Bible is a book full of examples to learn from and be admonished of. (See Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17) Israel's crossing of the Jordan and entering the promised land represents the life of a believer after he/she comes to Christ for salvation. (I challenge you to read the books of Joshua and Judges again - especially Judges 1-2, praying for wisdom and examining them it in the light of the following comments.) As they dealt with their sin and compromise and completely followed the Lord's instructions in His Word, the Lord gave them complete and utter victory over their enemies - the world, the flesh, and the devil. BUT when they chose not to fight against their enemies - to drive them out of the land, and chose the path of carnal peace and compromise, they suffered severe defeat. These nations that they did not conquer became thorns in their sides (See Joshua 23:8-13 and Judges 2:2-3), and snares unto them. Likewise, when we refuse to deal completely with the sins in our lives, eventually those same sins will become thorns in our sides and snares to our spiritual lives. We will reap what we sow. If we sow sin (by walking according to the flesh), we will reap a harvest of sorrow and tears; but if we sow righteousness (by walking according to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God), we will reap a harvest of blessings and victory. (See also Hosea 8:7) (For a further look into this spiritual conflict, contrast Joshua 7 with Joshua 14. Also Joshua 15:63; 16:10; 17:12-13; with Joshua 17:14-18; 19:47. The issue here is faith versus unbelief.)
In 1 J0hn 5:13 it says, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. It used to puzzle me to see the same phrase repeated in the same verse, until I learned what it meant to "believe on" Jesus Christ. To "believe on" is to put your trust, your dependence on something, to commit yourself to it. First, we need to believe on Jesus for salvation, then, secondly, we need to believe on Him for our daily walk. We need to depend on Him for victory. The just shall live by faith is a phrase that is repeated three times in the New Testament. (See Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; and Hebrews 10:38) Our Heavenly Father didn't just intend us to be saved by faith, but also to live our whole Christian lives by faith! The last quote was just before the great Faith Chapter - Hebrews 11. There we have examples of believers throughout history who have lived (and died) in victory they received through faith. Will you be one of them?
Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. The word for "labour" means "to use speed, i.e. to make effort, be prompt or earnest; be diligent." Paul (and the Holy Spirit) are exhorting us to earnestly strive for victory in Christ, to be diligent to ensure that we do not lose this victory through our willful unbelief, through our lack of trust in the Lord. How do we achieve or maintain this victory? The next five verses give us three things to continue in, three things that are so essential if we are to be victorious, three things that will enable us to abide in the rest of victory that Jesus Christ offers to the child of God:
1) Stay continually in the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. It is interesting to note that right after we are given the command to enter into His rest, we are reminded of the means to do so: it is the Word of God that gives us the faith we are to walk by (Romans 10:17), teaches us how we are to live and please the Lord day by day, and, like a mirror, shows us what we are like in God's sight and what we should be like. When the Holy Spirit reveals to us what we need to change in our lives, let us seek His wisdom and His strength to do so. (See James 1:22-25) Let us take and apply what God's Word teaches us, and stand where His Word commands us to.
2) Look continually to Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:13-15 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us remember that Jesus can sympathize with us in all our infirmities. He was tempted in all points as we are, yet He never gave in to sin; therefore He is the only person who can truly understand our weaknesses and struggles, and can give us victory over all of them! He can give us the strength and faith to overcome the spiritual battles in our lives! Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. (See also Proverbs 5:21 and Psalms 139:23-24)
3) Pray continually, and come continually to the throne of grace. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. When we sin, and lose the victory through our unbelief, we need God's mercy (that is God withholding what we do deserve) - we need His forgiveness and cleansing daily. (See Lamentations 3:22-23; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9) Then we need the Lord's grace (that is Him freely giving us what we don't deserve) - to regain the victory, to retake the land that we have let the Canaanites conquer in our lives.
This is a day by day, moment by moment, battle!
The Greek word for "help" in verse 16 (quoted above) literally means "to run to the cry". When we earnestly cry out in prayer, Jesus will run to our cry and give us the victory. He has promised to give us all the help we need when we look to Him in faith.
Are there sins in your life that the Lord has given you clear guidance on how to overcome? Are you trusting Jesus for the grace and strength you need to be victorious over these specific sins, and to flee temptation? Some verses that will help you are: 1 Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Deuteronomy 33:25. We must remember that spiritual victory only comes through Jesus - not through any type of man-made philosophies, not psychology nor psychiatry, but only through faith and trust in His Word! If you don't read and study the Bible, your faith will not grow. (See Romans 10:17) Get in the Book! Then claim the promises you find. Learn from the examples you see. And trust the Lord daily for the rest of victory!
1 Corintjhians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.
Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Matthew 11:29-30 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.
Psalms 116:7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.
All The Way My Saviour Leads Me
(Lyrics: Fanny Crosby)
All the way my Savior leads me
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate'er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate'er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.
All the way my Savior leads me
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.
All the way my Savior leads me
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father's house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.
Hebrews 4:1 "Let us therefore fear" coming short of this promised rest of victory in Christ.
Hebrews 4:11 "Let us labour" to enter into this rest through faith.
Hebrews 4:14 "Let us hold fast our profession."
Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace."
Study written August 2nd, 2002
Jerry Bouey
Always Abounding In The Work Of The Lord
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
I would have to say that this verse is one of the most convicting and motivational verses that I have found within the Word of God. Every time I have grown weary in the work or wondered whether my service was making a difference, I would come across this verse or another one similar to it - Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. According to the Lord Jesus Christ, our service for Him and for the sake of the Gospel is not in vain, it is not empty or worthless. There is a promised harvest if we will continue to be steadfast, unmoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord.
Being steadfast means keeping my eyes focused on the Lord, trusting in Him, and clinging tightly to His Word. The Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines steadfastness as "Firmness of mind or purpose; fixedness in principle; constancy; resolution; as the stedfastness of faith." Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Being unmoveable means I will not waver in my commitment and service to Him. I will take the stands I need to in my Christian walk, and will not compromise or move from those positions, despite what lukewarm believers and a politically-correct society says to me.
Being always abounding in the work of the Lord means I will not grow lazy in my service to the Lord, I will not let my feelings dictate when I will serve, nor will I let myself falter in my commitment to reach the lost.
The word for abounding is Strong's #4052, which means "to superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous; also (transitively) to cause to superabound or excel." What this means on a practical basis is that I am not to stagnate in my service for Christ, but should always be seeking to excel, to do more (excelling in quantity) for Him, and to do better (excelling in quality). If after a lifetime of service, all we can look back to is the same level of service year after year, then we have not always abounded in the work of the Lord. (Lest I be misunderstood, I am trying to encourage faithfulness, but I am also trying to encourage a willing attitude that says what more can I do in my service to Jesus Christ? He has done so much for us, we ought to give Him our all in return. See Romans 12:1-2)
There are many ways we can abound in our service:
(Notice that all these verses contain the same word in Greek, translated as abound, excel, abundant, increase.)
Abounding in edifying our brethren. 1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
Abounding in giving. 2 Corinthians 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
2 Corinthians 8:7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
Abounding in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 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:
Abounding in love and discernment. Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
1 Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
Abounding in joy. Philippians 1:26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
Abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
2 Corinthians 9:11-12 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
Abounding in a life that pleases God. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
There are many ways our Heavenly Father has abounded towards us:
1) Giving us Christ's abounding righteousness, that far surpasses any righteousness we can devise. Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Yes, Christ's righteousness far exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees!
2) Having an abundant supply that can meet all our needs. Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! See also Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:19; Romans 8:32
3) Providing an abundance of grace. Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
2 Corinthians 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
4) Giving us an abundance of hope. Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
5) Providing us an abundance of comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6) Offering us an abundance of wisdom and prudence. Ephesians 1:8 Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
In John 10:10, Jesus compared the quality of life the devil desires for us with the quality of life He Himself desires for us - the abundant life. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (#622): I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (#4053)
Strong's #622 means "to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose)." Strong's #4053 means "superabundant (in quantity) or superior (in quality); by implication, excessive." The life of service that Jesus offers His brethren was far better than anything this old world could offer. It is a life filled with the fullness of joy, peace, contentment, and blessings innumerable as we walk with and abide in Him.
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly (#4053) above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Are you ever weary in your work for the Lord?
In Revelation 2:2-3, Jesus commended the Ephesians for their works, labour, and patience. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
They were faithful in service, toiling for their master. The word "patience" is Strong's # 5281, meaning to "stay under", ie. persevere in trials. They had borne (#941 - endured), and had patience (#5281 - perseverance), and laboured (#2872 - to feel fatigue; by implication, to work hard; toil) for Christ's name's sake. And they had not fainted (#2577 - become weary).
A trace of the words "fainted" and "weary" throughout Scripture reveal some of the Lord's intended ways for us to refresh our spirits.
We are to continually:
Seek God in prayer. Luke 18:1 And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Wait upon the Lord. Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Remember that it is He Himself who fights our battles and delivers us from our troubles and distresses. Deuteronomy 20:3-4 And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the LORD your God is He that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
Psalm 107:5-6 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.
Hope and trust in His Word and the promises contained therein. Psalm 119:81 My soul fainteth for Thy salvation: but I hope in Thy word.
Study His Word and look to the Scriptures for comfort. Isaiah 50:4-5 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
Amos 8:11-13 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.
Look for Jesus Christ throughout the Scriptures. Isaiah 28:9-13,16 Whom shall He teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people. To whom He said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Relying on God's mercy and grace. 2 Corinthians 4:1,16 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Take Christ's yoke of service upon us. Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Persevere in well doing. Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
And keep looking unto Jesus and remembering His example. Hebrews 12:1-3 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Are you weary in the work? Keep looking unto Jesus for the grace and strength you need to continue in service to Him. The solution is not to back off from our spiritual walk and devotion to the Lord, but to cling that much closer to Him, to plead His promises, and trust His Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen our hearts.
Stay steadfast!
Stand unmoveable!
Strive to keep abounding in the work of the Lord!
It is not in vain!
Hebrews 6:10-12 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
The Pilgrim Wrestling With The Lord
Genesis 32:25 And when He saw that He prevailed not against him, He touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with Him.
Our greatest victories are wrought out through pain, and purchased at the cost of the humbling of the flesh. Jacob learned that the secret of prevailing with God and man was not in the strength, but in the weakness and suffering of the flesh. It must ever be so. The victor Lamb bears still the scars of Calvary, and appears as one who had been slain.
Had Laban met Jacob that morning, he would have pointed to that limp as an indication of God's wrath and displeasure; but if he had looked into his face, he would have seen all its hardness and cunning gone, and would have been arrested by the unwonted tenderness in his voice.
The shrunken sinew counteracts pride. - So high a spiritual achievement as to prevail with God might have tempted Jacob to arrogance and self-esteem. But God anticipated the possible temptation by this physical infirmity, which was constantly present to Jacob's consciousness.
The shrunken sinew was the secret of victory. - Had it not been shrivelled by the angel's touch, Jacob would have continued to resist in the pride of his strength, and would never have clung convulsively to the angel, crying, "I will not let Thee go." (Genesis 32:26) It was only in that act that he became Israel, the Prince.
The shrunken sinew makes us think little of this world and much of the next. - From this moment Jacob takes up more of the pilgrim attitude. He finds that for him, at least, the pace will have to be slower; but it is well, for he relaxes his hold on the seen to entwine more tenaciously about the unseen. "The days of the years of my pilgrimage" (Genesis 47:9) - such is his epitome of his life.
(Taken from Our Daily Homily by F.B. Meyer)
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