AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Saturday – October 31, 2020, Cheshvan 13, 5781
THE PLACE OF SAFETY – PART TWENTY-THREE
Greetings dear and precious saints of God, friends and partners of this Ministry. I invite all reading this blog to share it as widely as possible. Election Day is at hand, let’s not forsake our duty before God and this nation to exercise our stewardship responsibility to vote. Vote the Bible. Read the Democrat and Republican Platforms and compare them to the Word of God. The Democrat platform is a wicked document. The Republican platform while not perfect is way closer to the Bible. This is a serious responsibility and not participating is not a choice for Christians. Our vote will have consequences here and before God. Will we choose life or death, blessing or cursing? You decide and I decide but our choice is recorded in Heaven. Our Wednesday evening Bible Study on Zoom at 6 pm eastern time is going wonderfully, please join us. Join the meeting with expectancy not of me, but of God. If you don’t already have the meeting id and password contact us and we will happily provide it so you may enter the Bible Study.
As I prepare to continue with our study of the 23rd Psalm consider the following. There is an awful belief which is prevalent in the traditional organized Christian Church which is the belief that God is in control of everything. This idea is not of God, it is not Scriptural, and is a bald-faced lie of the devil. The most destructive part of the lie is that it throws all responsibility for what goes on in the world, our country, our locality, and our lives totally onto God. Really? Is God really a puppet master or has He given authority and power unto mankind? This lie that God is in control of everything makes everything one way or another the will of God. Every good, bad, and ugly thing in the world is being orchestrated by God and is His will. Really? Let’s meditate on this and when we read Scripture determine what is up to Him and what is up to us. We always have a pivotal part. Now, let’s move into our Bible Study for this Saturday, first reading our primary Bible text aloud, yes, out loud.
Psalm 23:1-6 (KJV)
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
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.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Last Saturday we focused in on verse two and the Truth that God our Great Heavenly Shepherd makes available the best of feed, of water, but we choose to partake or not. I can’t speak for you but I for one want to choose the Master’s green pastures and still waters.
A natural shepherd wants the flock to have the very best of feed and water and so should a spiritual shepherd. In the natural the best productivity and quality of the wool (in the case of sheep) is dependent upon the feed and a safe environment. Notice that the flock is comfortable lying down, feeling safe with the shepherd. The feed here is representative of the spiritual food we are taking in. Are we getting the pure Word of God, the traditions of men, the doctrines of demons, or some mixture thereof? Just as a safe environment makes sheep feel secure and adds to the quality of the wool so it is in the spiritual realm. This combined with high quality feed (pure Word of God taught in faith, in love, led of the Spirit) produces high quality wool. This is essential to our fulfilling the Eden Mandate which is being fruitful, multiplying, replenishing the earth, subduing the earth (Genesis 1:28), taking care of our garden, guarding our garden, and not mixing good and evil (Genesis 2:15-17). Now, let’s move to the 3rd verse.
Psalm 23:3 (KJV)
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Let me ask us all this question. Does God restore our soul independent of any effort or input on our part? First let’s look at the Hebrew definition of the word ‘restoreth’ from our text. Restoreth is a verb meaning to turn, to return, to go back, to do again, to change, to withdraw, to bring back, to reestablish, to be returned, to bring back, to take, to restore, to recompense, to answer, or to hinder according to The Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament. Before Adam and Eve sinned, received, believed, and acted upon words that were not God’s their souls (mind, will, emotions) were pure, pure Word of God. Our under-shepherds have an important role in leading us to renew our mind, our will, and our emotions to be in line with God’s, the Word of God. How? Feeding us the pure Word of God. The pure Word we receive, believe, and act upon will restore our soul to its condition before the fall, to be like Christ. The remainder of the verse tells us that the shepherd (God is the Chief Shepherd with many under-shepherds) will lead us into what is right before God for the under-shepherd’s sake and for the sake of the Chief Shepherd (Christ Jesus).
Lord willing, I will pick up right here next week.
2 Chronicles 20:20b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus name! Quit asking God to bless you, you are already blessed, you have the Blessing, give Him something to do by the words of your mouth. Once you know the will of God, decree the thing (Job 22:28, Isaiah 45:11, Mark 11:23). (The Blessing is the Holy Spirit) We have left God way to long with nothing to do in our lives.
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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