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Victory Over Death

We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:9)

You know that those who are not the Lord people are not alive to the fact that they are dead. Death is not the great reality to them until they come to their body dying. But in their ordinary life when things are going on and there is health and provision, death is no reality to them. But death is brought home to the child of God. Immediately we get into God hands this thing begins to be brought home to us that we are not much good, we cannot stand up to things, we cannot go through. Our natural life and resources do not count here. The course of a true Christian life in the hands of God is that of being more and more brought to the experience of helplessness. Is that not true? Yes, of helplessness, of the impossibility of everything. Do not think things have gone wrong if that is becoming your consciousness. You may take it that you are in an immature spiritual stage if you have not come to that realization that in the realm into which you have been introduced in your relationship with God, you have no resource. You are as a dead man. The death fact is brought home to you, is made real.

Ah, but on the other side, resurrection is taking a certain form over against that. With that background and with that basis, more and more the child of God is being brought to the position where he or she has to say: "That was the Lord, it is the Lord; I cannot account for that, I am not the one who accounts for that, it is all of God," and you know quite well that resurrection is all of God. You can go a long way in many clever things and inventions, but you have not got as far as raising the dead yet. That is God prerogative. That is only God. And so in the hands of God the child of God is being brought progressively more and more, and still more, to the place where they have to say, "It is of God, it is all of God" and that is the testimony coming out. The Lord did that, the Lord is doing this. Is that not in Israel history in the wilderness? See how again and again they were brought to an end, which did seem to be an end... nothing beyond this, and then they had to come out with a new song The Lord did it! It is victory over death, it is the power of resurrection Life.

Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.

The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. § Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. § I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

Ps. 25:12;  Matt. 6:22;  Ps. 119:105;  Isa. 30:21;  Ps. 32:8,9;   Ps. 32:10,11;  Jer. 10:23

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.

A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. § For so He gives His beloved sleep.

They stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. § Absent from the body . . . present with the Lord.

Prov. 3:24;  Mark 4:37,38;  Phil. 4:6,7;  Ps. 4:8;   Ps.127:2;  Acts 7:59,60;  2 Cor. 5:8

Waiting On God

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him" (Ps. 37:7).

In times of crisis, we are prone to question His care; in times of calm, we tend to forget our need of His care.

"Don't look at earthly difficulties. Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not. . . therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me' (1 Sam. 13:11, 12). It is fatal to look around and at consequences, especially in times of crisis, for it will be impossible to be still, and wait God's time for deliverance. Jesus came to them in the fourth watch of the night (Matt. 14:25). It is always His way. God is never behind time! However dark the path may be, wait; do not go before Him, don't force yourself, like Saul. The crisis demands action,' we say! Nay, dwell in stillness and wait for clearness' - wait until you are sure of the will of God, and leave the Philistines' to Him." -T. A-S.

"Victory comes through the reckoning of faith and not through struggling and striving. But,' it may be asked, are we not exhorted to fight the good fight'? Yes, that is so, but you must please finish the text, Fight the good fight of faith,' and faith never struggles for victory. Faith stands in victory."

"The unbelieving heart looks at the circumstances, and leaves God out. Faith, on the contrary, looks only at God, and leaves circumstances out. Faith delights in man's extremity, simply because it is God's opportunity. It delights in being shut up' to God - in having the platform thoroughly cleared of the creature, in order that God may display His glory."

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him" (Ps. 62:5).

God, My Saviour (Study In God - All I Need-8)

Be Fruitful Through Suffering