Psalm 16

"Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, 'You are my Lord, I have no other good apart from you." (Psalm 16: 1 – 2)

Psalm 16 is one of my favorite psalms. I love the themes which are so real life in their applications. Here are some of the themes of Psalm 16 that I love:

• I have no other good apart from God. True or false? True.
  
• From God alone comes the good things I enjoy in life.
  
• You are my only good.
  
• My happiness is in none of the sacred spirits of the earth.
  

What are the sacred spirits of the earth, these other gods?

• Money
  
• Health
  
• Job
  
• Family
  
• Tools
  
• Food
  

Those who place these gods above the Creator multiply their sorrows.

Accursed are all who delight in false gods, they multiply their sorrows.

The sacred spirits of the earth take advantage of all who love them.

Jesus Christ is the Open Door

"I know what you are doing. I have set before you an open door which no one can shut. I know your strength is small, yet you have observed my command and have not disowned my name." (Revelations 3: 8)

God knows what I am doing here and now.

Jesus Christ is my open door.

Hope

"We are led by the Spirit to wait in the confident hope of saving justice through faith." (Galatians 5: 5)

What is hope?

Be joyful in hope (Romans 12: 12)

The God of hope fill you with joy and peace so that you may overflow with hope (Romans 15: 13)

That you might know what is the hope of his calling (Ephesians 1: 18)

By faith we wait for the hope of righteousness (Galatians 5: 5)

This hope is an anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6: 19)

In his name will the gentiles hope (Matthew 12: 21)

The hope laid up for you in heaven (Colossians 1: 5)

Your steadfastness of hope (1 Thessalonians 1: 3)

Looking for the blessed hope (Titus 2: 13)

A better hope through which we draw near to God (Hebrews 7: 19)

 

Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1: 27)

Christ Jesus, our hope (1Timothy 1:1)

 

(ROGET'S THESAURUS OF THE BIBLE)

Be Strong

"Be strong, stand firm; have no fear, do not be afraid of them, for Yahweh your God is going with you; he will not fail you or desert you." (Deuteronomy 31: 6)

Be strong and bold

Be strong and resolute

Be brave and steadfast

 

Be strong! (Deuteronomy 31:6, 7, 23; Joshua 1: 6, 7,9, 18; 10:25; 1 Samuel 4:9; 2 Samuel 10: 12; 1 Kings 2:2; 1 Chronicles 19:13; 22: 13; 28: 10, 20; 2 Chronicles 15:7; 25: 8; 32:7; Isaiah 35:4; Daniel 10: 19; Haggai 2:4; Zechariah 8:9, 13; 1 Corinthians 16: 13)

Strengthen yourself! (1 Kings 20:22)

Be strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6: 10)

Be strong in grace (2 Timothy 2: 1)

 

"He will not fail you or desert you."

• Do not forsake me (Psalm 27:9, 38: 21, 119:8)
  
• I am old yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken (Psalm 37: 25)
  
• I will not leave you. (Genesis 28: 15)
  
• I will not forsake my people (1 Kings 6: 13)
  
• The Lord will not abandon his people (Psalm 94: 14)
  
• Israel and Judah have not been forsaken by God (Jeremiah 51: 5)
  
• God will never leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1: 5; I Chronicles 28: 20; Hebrews 13:5)
  

May he not leave us nor forsake us (1 Kings 8: 57)

I will not forsake them (Isaiah 41: 17)

You did not forsake them (Nehemiah 9: 17, 19, 31)

We are persecuted but not forsaken (2 Corinthians 4: 9)

I will not leave you as orphans (John 14: 18)

 

(ROGET'S THESAURUS OF THE BIBLE)

Our troubles are temporary

"Our troubles are slight or short-lived, and their outcome is an eternal glory which far outweighs them, provided our eyes are fixed, not on the things that are seen, but on the things that are unseen; for what is seen is transient, what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4: 17)

Our delays, trials, disappointments though slight and temporary are nevertheless preparing us for an eternal joy. Fix your eyes on Christ and his grace and offer up your sufferings in union with his sufferings for our redemption.

Are things created in pair and opposites?

• Temporary – eternal
  
• Visible - invisible
  
• Trouble - glory
  
• Transitory - permanent
  
• Suffering - joy
  
• Present - future
  
• Cross - crown
  
• Trouble - triumph
  

 

Principle of 2 creations

"By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God, so that what is visible came into being through the invisible." (Hebrews 11: 3)

All things are created twice:

• First creation is invisible.
  
• Second creation is visible.
  

We can choose what we create in our world through the principle of first creation.

"We look not to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4: 18)

We are the clay

"Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." (Isaiah 64: 8)

We are the clay, you are the potter.

You are like clay in the hand of the potter (Jeremiah 18: 6)

Can the pot criticize the potter? (Isaiah 29: 16; 45: 9; Romans 9: 20 – 21)

Sufferings Now

"I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us." (Romans 8: 18)

What are the sufferings of the present time?

• The delays
  
• The doubts
  
• The birth pangs
  
• Dwelling in tent
  
• The humiliations
  

What is the glory?

• The destiny to which God is calling me

We are more than conquerors

"No, in spite of these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." (Romans 8: 37)

We are conquerors through Jesus Christ in spite of:

• Delays
  
• Obstacles
  
• Disappointments
  
• Sickness
  
• Persecution
  
• Poverty
  
• Hunger
  
• No job
  

We have more than enough resources in Christ Jesus to be victorious, to be overwhelmingly triumphant in any condition, in any situation, anywhere and at all times.

"For I am convinced that there is nothing in death or life, in the realms of spirits or superhuman powers, in the world as it is or the world as it shall be, in the forces of the universe, in the heights or depths – nothing in all creation that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 38)

Just as we are absolutely confident of Christ's power to save us, so can we be of his love for us. Nothing can ever shake that love, that commitment of Jesus for our good and salvation. Not even our personal sins if we repent and believe in his mercy. So once again, we take consolation in the thought that these things cannot dislodge us from the love of Jesus:

• Hardships
  
• Trials
  
• Delays
  
• Disappointments
  
• Sickness
  
• Poverty
  
• Hunger
  

"We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8: 28)

The Enterprise 2

"If this enterprise, this movement of theirs, is of human origin it will break up of its own accord; but if it does in fact come from God you will be unable to destroy them." (Acts 5: 38)

The Enterprise: Is it from God or from man?

What is the evidence?

"I myself shall lead you across. I will never forsake you nor abandon you." (Deuteronomy 31: 6)

Other signs:

• Entrada
  
• Kinder
  
• Billete
  
• QOP
  
• Wagen
  
• Recon AZ
  
• Salgado
  
• Llegado
  
• Santé
  
• Opus Dei
  
• Bibliotheca
  
• SAM
  
• www
  

The Gift of the Spirit

"He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee." (2 Corinthians 5: 5) – NRSV

"It is for this destiny that God himself has been shaping us; and as a pledge of it he has given us the Spirit." – Revised English Bible

"Now the one who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a first installment." – New American Bible

"It is God who designed us for this very purpose, and he has given us the Spirit as a pledge." – New Jerusalem Bible

For what "very thing" was the Holy Spirit given to you?

What "destiny" is God shaping you for?

What has God "prepared you for"?

The 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit are: (CCC #1831)

1. Wisdom
   
2. Understanding
   
3. Counsel
   
4. Fortitude
   
5. Knowledge
   
6. Piety
   
7. Fear of the Lord
   

 

 

Immanuel

"Yahweh Sabbaoth is with us, our citadel, the God of Jacob." (Psalm 46: 7)

If God is with me, it is accomplished.

Immanuel – God with us (Isaiah 7: 14; 8:10; Matthew 1: 23)

God is with us (2 Chronicles13: 12)

God is with you (Isaiah 45: 14)

The Lord is with us (Numbers 14: 9; 2 Chronicles 38: 8; Psalm 46:7, 11)

God will be with you (Exodus 3: 12)

I am with you (Haggai 1: 13; 2:4)

They will know that I am with them (Ezekiel 34: 30)

When we pass through the waters he will be with us (Isaiah 43: 2)

Do not be afraid for I am with you (Isaiah 41: 10; 43: 5; Jeremiah 42: 11; 46:28)

May the Lord be with you (Ruth 2: 4; 2 Samuel 14: 17; 1 Chronicles 22: 11, 16; Amos 5: 14)

May the Lord be with us (1 Kings 8: 57)

 

Perhaps the Lord will be with me (Joshua 14: 12)

I am always with God (Psalm 73: 23)

You are with me (Psalm 23: 4)

Son, you are always with me (Luke 15: 31)

Is not the Lord with you? (1 Chronicles 22: 18)

Is the Lord in our midst or not? (Exodus 17:7)

(ROGET'S THESAURUS OF THE BIBLE)

Turbulence

"They woke him and said to him, 'Master, do you not care? We are lost! And he woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Quiet now! Calm!' And the wind dropped, and there followed a great calm." (Mark 4 : 39)

He stills the roaring of the seas (Psalm 65 : 7)

He stilled the storm (Psalm 107:29)

When they threw Jonah overboard the sea grew calm (Jonah 1: 12, 15)

Jesus rebuked the sea and there was calm (Matthew 8: 26, Mark 4: 39, Luke 8: 24)

Even the winds and the sea obey him (Matthew 8: 27, Mark 4: 41, Luke 8: 25)

The wind was against them (Matthew 14: 24, Mark 6: 48)

When Peter saw the wind he was afraid (Matthew 14: 30)

(ROGET'S THESAURUS OF THE BIBLE)

Waiting

"Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him." (Psalm 37:7)

 

Wait for the Lord (Psalm 27: 14; 37:34)

Wait patiently for him (Psalm 37:7)

 

I wait for you (Psalm 25: 21)

For you I wait all day (Psalm 25: 5)

I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning (Psalm 130: 5-6)

I wait for God my savior (Micah 7:7)

I wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 40: 1)

I wait in silence for God (Psalm 62: 1,5)

 

Those who wait for the Lord renew their strength (Isaiah 40: 31)

Those who wait for the Lord will inherit the land (Psalm 37: 9)

Blessed are those who wait for him (Isaiah 30: 18)

May those who wait for you not be ashamed through me (Psalm 69: 6)

 

This is our God for whom we have waited (Isaiah 25: 9)

The Lord is good to those who wait for him (Lamentations 3: 25-26)

 

We wait for:

• A savior from heaven (Philippians 3: 20)
  
• The revealing of our Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 1: 7)
  
• The appearing of our God and savior (Titus 2: 13)
  
• His son from heaven (1 Thessalonians 1: 10)
  
• The mercy of our Lord Jesus (Jude 21)
  
• The redemption of our bodies (Romans 8: 23 – 25)
  

 

Be like men waiting for their master (Luke 12: 36)

The creation waits for the sons of God to be revealed (Romans 8: 19)

 

Saul was told to wait 7 days (1 Samuel 10: 8; 13:8)

David would wait until word came (2 Samuel 15: 28)

Destiny

"Every moment of my life is in your hands, rescue me from the clutches of my foes who pursue me." (Proverbs 31: 15)

My destiny is in your hands

My times are in your hands

My fortunes are in your hands

Commit your destiny to Yahweh

"Commit your destiny to Yahweh, be confident in him, and he will act." (Psalm 37: 5)

Since my destiny is God's hands, why not commit it to him? (Psalm 31: 15)

Commit your way to the Lord (Psalm 37: 5)

All my ways are before you (Psalm 119: 168)

A man's way is ordained by the Lord (Proverbs 20: 24)

A man's way is not in himself (Jeremiah 10: 23)

Make straight paths for your feet (Hebrews 12: 13)

He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3: 6)

 

I am the way (John 14: 6)

This is the way, walk in it (Isaiah 30:21)

 

Teach me your ways (Exodus 33: 13; Psalm 86: 11)

That he may teach us his ways (Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4: 2)

That your way may be known on earth (Psalm 67: 2)

God made known his ways to Moses (Psalm 103: 7)

He who has promised is faithful

"Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10: 23)

Perseverance – standing firm

Continue in faith, stable and steadfast (Colossians 1: 23)

Stand against the devil's wiles (Ephesians 6: 11-14)

Resist the devil, standing firm in the faith (1 Peter 5:9)

Stand firm in the faith (1 Corinthians 16: 13; 2 Corinthians 1: 24)

We must hold fast our confidence (Hebrews 3: 6, 14)

Realize the full assurance of hope until the end (Hebrews 6: 11)

Stand firm in the teaching (2 Thessalonians 2: 15)

Stand firm in one spirit (Philippians 1: 27)

Stand firm in the Lord (Philippians 4: 1)

Persevering in tribulation (Romans 12: 12)

Hold fast our confession (Hebrews 4: 14)

Hold fast the confession of our faith (Hebrews 10: 23)

We boast of our perseverance (2 Thessalonians 1: 4)

You have endured (Revelation 2: 3)

(ROGET'S THESAURUS OF THE BIBLE)

Make Yahweh your joy 2

"Find your delight in the Lord who will give you your heart's desire." (Psalm 37: 4)

My soul thirsts for God (Psalm 42:2; 63:1; 143:6)

My soul yearns for the courts of the Lord (Psalm 84: 2)

At night my soul longs for you (Isaiah 26: 9)

There is nothing on earth I desire but you (Psalm 73: 25)

Your name and memory are our desire (Isaiah 26: 8)

Many desired to see and hear what you do (Matthew 13: 17; Luke 10: 24)

 

I long for your:

• Ordinances (Psalm 119: 131)
  
• Salvation (Psalm 119: 174)
  
• Precepts (Psalm 119: 40)
  
• Commandments (Psalm 119: 131)
  

The Lord will fulfill all my desires (2Sam 23: 5)

He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37: 4)

May he grant your heart's desire (Psalm 20: 4)

You have given him his heart's desire (Psalm 21: 2)

The desire of the righteous will be granted (Proverbs 10: 24)

The desire of the righteous ends in good (Proverbs 11: 23)

 

Delight in the Lord, and he will grant you your heart's desires (Psalm 37: 4)

Come, everyone who thirsts. (Psalm 55: 1)

If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink (John 7: 37)

To him who thirsts I will give the water of life without cost (Revelation 21: 6)

Whoever is thirsty, let him come (Revelation 22: 17)

Whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst again (John 4: 14)

Give me this water so I will not be thirsty (John 4: 15)

 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5: 6)

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be fulfilled (Luke 6: 21)

He who comes to me will not hunger or thirst (John 6: 35)

Earnestly desire spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14: 1)

(ROGET'S THESAURUS OF THE BIBLE)

Make Yahweh your joy

"Make Yahweh your joy and he will give you your heart's desires." (Psalm 37:4)

Delight yourself in the Lord (Psalm 37:4)

Then you will take delight in the Lord (Isaiah 58:14)

They drink from your river of delights (Psalm 36:8)

They delight to know my ways (Isaiah 58:2)

Will the godless take delight in the Almighty? (Job 27: 10)

 

He delights in the law of the Lord (Psalm 1:2)

I delight in your law (Psalm 119: 70, 77, 92, 174)

I delight in your commandments (Psalm 119: 35, 47)

I delight in your statutes (Psalm 119: 14)

Your testimonies are my delight (Psalm 119: 24)

Happy the man who delights in his commandments (Psalm 112:1)

(ROGET'S THESAURS OF THE BIBLE)

Liberation 5

"If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples; you will come to know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8: 31 – 32)

No Compulsion:

If the Son sets you free you will be free indeed (John 8: 36)

The truth shall make you free (John 8: 32)

Freed from sin (Romans 6: 18)

He who has died is freed from sin (Romans 6: 7)

Set free from the principle of sin and death (Romans 8: 2)

Everyone who believes is freed from all things (Acts 13: 39)

He has freed us from our sins by his blood (Revelation 1: 5)

(ROGET'S THESAURUS OF THE BIBLE)

 

Liberation 4

"If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples; you will come to know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8: 31 – 32)

When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion (Psalm 126: 1)

I broke the yoke of the king of Babylon (Jeremiah 28:2)

I broke your yoke and burst your bonds (Jeremiah 2: 20)

(ROGET'S THESAURUS OF THE BIBLE)