12-2-2018 Weekly Message
Meditation of the week: Psalm 139:1-24
Text: Psalm 27:1-14
The Word of God: The Lord Jesus Christ, the refuge of those who belong to the kingdom of God
The Holy Spirit prophesied through King David of the people of Israel that crucified Jesus so that they shall be in extreme persecution in the midst of the Great Tribulation after the New Testament saints translated into heaven; and they shall be attacked by their enemy trying to eat their flesh:
” The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.“ (Psalm 27: 1-2)
At that time the remnant of the Jews shall be bold looking at the salvation they would receive:
“Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. “(Psalm 27: 3-5).
Apostle John testified of what he saw of the remnant of the Jews which God will save when the serpent, the devil, is about to make flood to wipe them out:
” And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. “(Revelation 12: 16)
King David testified that God will lift them up above their enemies in trouble and hid them in secret rocks:
“ For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. “(Psalm 27: 5-6)
Apostle John testified of the scene that God will take them all by the plane to the city of Rock, Petra like fortress in the time of their tribulation:
” And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. “(Revelation 12: 13-14).
God said in advance that He would give strength to their hearts when they boldly walk waiting upon the Lord toward the suffering Jews. This is also the word that God gives to the members of the church of God, the bride of Christ who lives and suffers when the devil as roaring lion to look for them that he is to devour:
God is our refuge, strength, and very present help in trouble not only for the Jews, but also the church of God as testified by the scriptures. As Jesus said, that is the beginning of sorrows that comes when the rapture of the church of God is near to the tribulation, and we have to stand still, looking for the help that appears in our refuge, the Lord Jesus Christ (Psalm 46: 1-11).
As the Jews shall pass through the Great Tribulation, they are to be in tremendous physical suffering by the more cruel antichrist than Hitler in the past, but because the salvation of the children of God reborn by the Holy Spirit is the salvation of souls (1 Peter 1: 9) It is being protected in the Lord Jesus Christ. Even though our bodies die, our soul and spirit are still protected in the hands of the Lord, the refuge. The Jewish refuge is a physical refuge, but our refuge is a refuge that is spiritual, so we should not be afraid to die even in extreme suffering. Jesus said:
” And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
Jesus spoke to those who cared for corrupted body rather than the salvation of the soul:
” He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:39)
That’s right. Our faith is not physical one. Our soul and spirit have already entered into the kingdom of God. We are not to supposed to be afraid of physical suffering. upon our body. Jesus told Martha about true faith in him:
” I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this??” (John 11: 25-26)
The Lord preached in advance of the thing that Apostle Paul preached the saints of the Thessalonian Church that the dead in Christ would rise first, and those who live shall be changed no more die (I Thessalonians 4: 16-18).
God is protecting the Jews, the Gentiles, and the born-again Saints who belong to the Church of God as the apple of eyes, who will live in the kingdom of heaven and earth. David testified of the presence of God for them all in surprise:
“ O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attainunto it. “( 139: 1-6)
The King David understood God, OMNI PRESENT , and finally asked God with fear: ” Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139: 23-24)