David Confessing God as His Strength

Bob Hoekstra

The LORD is the strength of my life . . . The LORD is . . . my strength, in whom I will trust.  (Psa_27:1 and Psa_18:2)
Living by grace involves depending upon God to work in our lives. For the greater part of his life, David was an outstanding Old Testament example of such living. This was certainly evident in the way David frequently confessed the Lord as his strength.
For each adult who lives in this fallen world, strength is demanded just to deal with every day responsibilities and challenges. When you add the calling and desire that believers have to please and honor God, much strength is needed day by day. David confessed the Lord as his strength for living. "The LORD is the strength of my life." How wonderful to know that the Lord is with us to impart His strength in us for every aspect of our lives, whether home, or work, or ministry, or whatever.
In our earthly pilgrimage, we need strength to stay on course. The world, the flesh, and the devil want to prevent us from progressing down the Lord's perfect path. David found in the Lord the strength for this need as well. "It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect" (Psa_18:32). At times, when walking along our designated path of life, we get trapped in circumstantial nets, laid by the enemy of our souls. When David experienced these traps, he cried out to God for the necessary strength. "Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength" (Psa_31:4). At other times along our path, the problem is not a trap, but an all-out battle. Once again, David found the strength he needed in His Lord. "For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me" (Psa_18:39).
Sometimes, the need for strength pertains to what is going on within (or flowing forth from within). The thoughts we are thinking, and the words we are expressing might need to be anchored again in the will of the Lord. David also knew how to turn to God for this essential strength as well. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer" (Psa_19:14). When he weakened within and stumbled in failure, David still knew where to turn for the only help that will ever prove sufficient. "My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Psa_73:26). Whatever the need for strength, David learned to rely upon the Lord. "The LORD is . . . my strength, in whom I will trust."
O Lord, my strength, I need Your strength for daily responsibilities, strength for staying on track with You, strength for periodic battles, strength for weaknesses within, strength to please You. You are my strength; I trust in You!

Joshua Leading the People in God's Victory

Bob Hoekstra

And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho . . . a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, "Are You for us or for our adversaries?" So He said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my LORD say to His servant?"  (Jos_5:13-14)
When Moses pointed Israel to the Lord for battle, he was teaching God's people to live by grace (which involves God at work on behalf of His people). "The LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you" (Deu_20:4). Joshua demonstrated this same truth, when he led the people in God's victory.
Before the first battle at Jericho, God gave Joshua the opportunity to commit to the Lord as the Commander of the army of Israel. "And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho . . . a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, 'Are You for us or for our adversaries? " The Lord appeared in the form of an armed soldier. Joshua asked if the man was for Israel or against them. The Lord responded that it was not a matter of being for or against Israel, but that He was in charge of Israel. "'No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.' And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped. 'What does my LORD say to His servant'?" At this point Joshua fully yielded to the Lord as the leader of God's army. Any victories would have to be supplied by this divine Commander.
At Jericho, this divine Commander would cause the walls to fall down, as His people would humbly trust Him, obediently marching around the city. "And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat" (Jos_6:20). At Ai, the Commander gave Joshua a two-pronged ambush strategy. "We will flee before them. Then you shall rise from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand" (Jos_8:6-7). Against the Amorite kings, large hailstones and an extended day were used by the Commander to bring a mighty victory. "The LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven . . . So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day" (Jos_10:11, Jos_10:13). Whether by perplexing marching orders, by understandable strategy, by "natural phenomenon," or by miraculously extended time, the Commander brought victory.
Mighty God of Israel, I look to You to be the one who is in charge of my battles, the one who fights for me. Lord, help me to allow You to bring forth victory by any means You desire — whether perplexing, understandable, "natural," or miraculous, Amen.

The Reality of Spiritual Warfare

"Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:10-12).

Victory in battle comes when you identify the enemy, resist his attacks, and then take the initiative against him.

Our nation has known many wars, but Vietnam was an especially frustrating campaign. Thick jungle terrain made the enemy hard to find and guerrilla warfare made him hard to fight. Many Vietnamese who peacefully worked the rice paddies by day donned the black garb of the Viet Cong soldier by night and invaded unsuspecting U.S. forces camped nearby. American public opinion was strongly anti-war and morale among our troops was often low.
Spiritual warfare has similar parallels. Subtly and deceitfully, Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and "prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Pet. 5:8). His emissaries disguise themselves as apostles of Christ and servants of righteousness (2 Cor. 11:13-15). It takes wisdom and discernment to identify them and defend yourself against their attacks.
Most people are defenseless, however, because they scoff at the supernatural and deny the reality of spiritual warfare. They think Satan may be fine for movie plots and book sales, but assume only the superstitious and credulous take him seriously. Unfortunately, many Christians have succumbed to their ridicule and forsaken the battle.
Ephesians 6:10-24 reminds us that spiritual warfare is real and that God has given us all the resources we need— not only to defend ourselves, but also to take the initiative and win the victory over the forces of darkness.
I pray that our studies this month will encourage you in the battle and challenge you to always have on "the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil" (Eph. 6:11).
Suggestions for Prayer
Seek discernment and grace to identify the enemy and stand against him courageously.
For Further Study
Read Ephesians 6:10-24. What armor has God supplied to protect you in spiritual warfare?


From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

He writes my sins on the sand!

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(Alexander Smellie, "The Secret Place" 1907)

"And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam." Micah 6:4

I am interested in the inclusion of Miriam's name. Long generations after her death, God commemorates her deeds no less than those of her great brothers. For in His Kingdom there is neither male nor female, and the woman is as essential and as helpful as the man.

How it illustrates His forgiveness, too, that God recalls only that which is good about Miriam! There was a mournful episode in her history, when she spoke against Moses, and when, for a little while, the frightful scourge of the leprosy fell upon her. But this is forgotten, and nothing is recounted except her brave leadership of Israel.

Who is so liberal-hearted as God, and so rich in magnanimity?

He writes my sins on the sand, and the flowing waters of His mercy and grace soon obliterate the indictment.

My services, as small as they are in comparison with what He deserves--He writes on the undecaying page of His Book of Remembrance, and they live abidingly in His thought and heart!

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward!" Matthew 10:42

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Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church "Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty-Two Years” 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 August 31, 2014 Newsletter Number 480 Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor Brother Ronnie Henderson, Song Director Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com Web Site: www.sgmbaptist.com

Our Prayer Request: All of Our Military, Their Family’s & All the Civilian Workers in The Middle East, Zee Mink Fuller and Family, Her son’s Bryan Armstrong and Hunter Hackie, Daughter Shannon, and Brother Philip & Sondra Thornsberry, Helen Maggard, Johnnie Stephens, Alecia Stephens, and children, Frankie Baldridge and daughter, Buckie Thompson, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry & Martha Mollette and Her Family, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, The Muncy Family, Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn, Martha Gray, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie and Sarah Henderson, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Children, Ricky Henderson and Family, Jacie Henderson, Velma Hammond, Charles, Don Hammond and Families, Archie & Barbara Griffin, Bro. & Sister Bob Keller, Donna Johnson, Fay Johnson, James and Luann Reynolds, Timothy Fails, Nathan -& Claire Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jerry Hughes, Teresa Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, James and Lynn Tomlin, Pat Abercrombie, Donna Jones, Dale Trahan, Ricky and Margaret McCoy, Brother David O’Neal, James & Diane Thomas, Gina Peel, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Megan Whitaker, Manual Seymour, Sr., Brother Jerry and Sister Jean Dodson, Brother Curtis Pugh, Brother Dan Sullivan and the work in Thailand, Brother Raul and the work in Romania, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.

A Thought From Pastor Johnson: A Pastors job is to feed, love, care for, and be an example to the Lord’s church.1 Peter 5:1 - 3 "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: (2.) Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (3.) Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." I believe the word “elders” is speaking to Pastors. I know it means aged men, but I believe here that it means Pastors and Ministers because the word “feed” in verse 2 means - to tend as a shepherd – making this a Pastors example. I know there are some who would argue with me, and that’s ok because most people are just looking for something to argue about. But for the sake of the thought let us assume I am right. Peter says in verse 1 “The elders which are among you I exhort…” the word “exhort” means – I want to call this to your attention – in other words if you are a Pastor or Minister in charge of one of the Lords churches you need to pay close attention to what is about to be said. Peter went on in verse 2 and said “Feed the flock of God which is among you…” this is our job in the church and our charge from the Lord. Any Pastor or minister who is not teaching the meat of the scriptures is failing the church and the Lord. Church is not a playhouse for swinging singles, ball game, or anything else it is a seminary for a biblical education. If the membership is not learning the scriptures the Ministers have failed and the church is weakened. The ministers and especially the Pastor will be held responsible for the churches educational failure. Peter went on to say “…which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly…” A Pastor must take the oversight in the church; he is the appointed leader and ruler of the Lords church. Not the ruler as one who controls or dictates, but one who makes sure the church is fed properly, and run properly. This is a work, "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work." 1 Timothy 3:1 and if a man does not want to fulfill the office of Pastor as the Lord has commanded it is better he quite and let someone else fill the office. Churches are not playhouses nor are they talent shows; they are the most important institution on the earth. Therefore tending to one of them is a full time job, there is no such thing as a “part time” pastor. If you have the oversight of one of the Lords churches you did it willingly and not by force. If you do anything for the Lord you do it willingly because those who are truly called are chosen and God makes us willing to do His will. Jesus was not forced to die, He gave His life, and neither are we Christians forced. Peter went on to say “…not for filthy lucre…” That is not for self glory or gain. The word “filthy” shows it to for something dishonorable, which could be many things. Personal glory would also fit here. Peter also said “…a ready mind;” that is with a cheerful heart, with the Lord and churches benefit in mind instead of self. And then Peter in closing here said, “Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” Not being lords but examples to those who serve under us. Being a Pastor or Minister in the Lords church is a richly blessed work if done decently and in order; the main purpose is to feed and have oversight in the Lords church. We are only good Pastors if we follow Gods rules in oversight, and we are gauged by the truth we teach. 1 Timothy 5:17 "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine." The churches need to allow their Pastors to do their work and when the Pastor doesn’t do his work then it is a churches responsibility to dismiss him and find another one. The Church is an important place and there is no place for fun, pleasure, or failure.

A Thought To Share With Others: A prayer for the devil! You have heard a great many Arminian sermons, I dare say; but you never heard an Arminian prayer — for the saints in prayer appear as one in word, and deed and mind. An Arminian on his knees would pray desperately like a Calvinist. He cannot pray about free-will — there is no room for it. Imagine him praying: "Lord, I thank you I am not like those poor presumptuous Calvinists. Lord, I was born with a glorious free-will; I was born with power by which I can turn to you of myself; I have improved my grace. If everybody had done the same with their grace that I have — they might all have been saved. Lord, I know You do not make us willing, if we are not willing ourselves. You give grace to everybody; some do not improve it, but I do. There are many that will go to Hell as much bought with the blood of Christ as I was; they had as much of the Holy Spirit given to them; they had as good a chance, and were as much blessed as I am. It was not Your grace that made us to differ; I know it did a great deal — still I turned the point; I made use of what was given me, and others did not — that is the difference between me and them." That is a prayer for the devil, for nobody else would offer such a prayer as that! By Charles Spurgeon, "Free Will — A Slave" 1855

Church News: Let us all be in prayer for the upcoming Bible Conference. Friday night September 19th from 6:00 – 8:00 and Saturday September 20th from 9:00am – 4:00pm

Live near to God: Prayer is the link that connects earth with Heaven! Live near to God, and all things will appear little to you in comparison with eternal realities! When you gaze upon the sun — it makes everything else dark. When you taste honey — it makes everything else tasteless. Likewise, when your soul feeds on Jesus — it takes away the sweetness of all earthly things — pride, pleasure, fleshly lusts, all lose their sweetness. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus!" Hebrews 12:2. Keep a continued gaze! So will the world be crucified to you — and you unto the world! By Robert Murray M'Cheyne