God Is My… (Psalms), 59

 ~ God Is My Fortress, 4 ~

Introduction  ~  Previously from July 16, 2017 through January 6, 2019 ALN posted a series of 60 posts of “Jesus is…,” and now we look exclusively at who “God is…” from the Book of Psalms.  While not a complete list these posts occur are in the same order they are in the Psalms. 

Passage  ~  “Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress” (Psalm 71:3).     

Prior Passages  ~  “For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name’s sake, lead me and guide me.  Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength.  Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth” (Psalm 31:3-5).

I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my Rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies” (Psalm 18:1-3).

“In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Your righteousness.  Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily; be my Rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me” (Psalm 31:1-2).   

Significance  ~  A fortress implies protection from enemies.  “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Myth, 97

 ~ Weekly Leisure Is Not Necessary ~

Myth  ~  This concept of being constantly on-the-go is harmful to the mind, spirit, and body.  It is often the cause of depression and other physical ailments.  Perhaps this is why our Creator gave us the example of resting on the seventh day following six days of His creative work. 

Old Testament Believers  ~  In the Old Testament the Sabbath was a firmly established reality.  It was meant to be a day of changing the pace, of rest, of refreshment, most importantly reflecting upon and worshipping God.  Fellowshipping with His people was also a key component. 

The Early Church  ~  In the New Testament the disciples changed this day or reflection to the first day of the week (Acts 20:7) as they now included a focus on the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first day of the week. 

Scripture  ~  “And He [Jesus] said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.  Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath’” (Mark 2:27-28).  I believe that one of the intents of this verse is to remind us that the weekly day of rest was for our benefit. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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The Gospel of…

 ~ The Mystery and Majesty of The Gospel ~

The Gospel of Grace (the source)  ~  “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).  

The Gospel of God (the Author)  ~  “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures” (Romans 1:1-2).  

The Gospel of Christ (the object)  ~  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith’” (Romans 1:16-17).  

The Gospel of Peace (the result)  ~  “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one …” (Ephesians 6:14-16).   

The Mystery of the Gospel  ~  “… And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints — and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:17-20).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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