“Cry yet, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts; My cities through [good] shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.”
First, it doesn’t matter what is happening, when God ends His chastisement and gives deliverance, nothing can stop it – “Then the angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord of hosts, how long will you not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which you have had indignation these seventy years? And the Lord answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words” (Zech 1:12-13).
He doesn’t help us because we’ve improved; He helps because the time that He predetermined has come – “Therefore has the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he does: for we obeyed not his voice…Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of your servant, and his supplications, and cause your face to shine upon your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake” (Dan 9:14,17). He established 70 years for the destruction of Jerusalem, and then on schedule, like a man awoken to work, He sets forth to bless. The enemies have wrought havoc upon us by God’s purpose, and now, He is ANGRY that they have treated us so lovelessly. Therefore, He intervenes – “And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. Therefore thus says the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, says the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem” (Zech 1:15-16). He does us good because He is good; it isn’t because I’m learning, growing, or improving; it is BECAUSE HE is gracious - O my God, incline your ear, and hear; open your eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by your name: for we do not present our supplications before you for our righteousnesses, but for your great mercies” (Dan 9:18).
When He saves, there is no unsaving. No accusation can be laid against us and no power can stop God – “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yes rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Rom 8:33-34). We can be sure about revival of soul, if we BELIEVE the blessing is for Christ’s sake and the time has come, according to scripture. If we believe, then we have what is written – “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you” (Matt 9:29).
Secondly, God’s grace is permanent grace and one day, we shall see God DELIVER us from all alarms. The tears of life, poverty of soul, etc, shall be conquered by His faithfulness to us, which was determined before we entered these bodies of sin – “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Thess 1:7-8).
Thirdly, if God is your Savior, then don’t be afraid of sin, man, or anything – “There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it” (I Cor 10:13). God is above all, stronger than the enemies, and faithful to His word – “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace (Rom 6:14).” And, again, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).” We are not slaves of sin because God is stronger than Satan and everything in us.
Lastly, the time has come, let us work, but as we work, let us believe that salvation is BECAUSE of Christ and THROUGH Christ and FOR Christ’s glory.
He doesn’t help us because we’ve improved; He helps because the time that He predetermined has come – “Therefore has the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he does: for we obeyed not his voice…Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of your servant, and his supplications, and cause your face to shine upon your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake” (Dan 9:14,17). He established 70 years for the destruction of Jerusalem, and then on schedule, like a man awoken to work, He sets forth to bless. The enemies have wrought havoc upon us by God’s purpose, and now, He is ANGRY that they have treated us so lovelessly. Therefore, He intervenes – “And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. Therefore thus says the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, says the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem” (Zech 1:15-16). He does us good because He is good; it isn’t because I’m learning, growing, or improving; it is BECAUSE HE is gracious - O my God, incline your ear, and hear; open your eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by your name: for we do not present our supplications before you for our righteousnesses, but for your great mercies” (Dan 9:18).
When He saves, there is no unsaving. No accusation can be laid against us and no power can stop God – “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yes rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Rom 8:33-34). We can be sure about revival of soul, if we BELIEVE the blessing is for Christ’s sake and the time has come, according to scripture. If we believe, then we have what is written – “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you” (Matt 9:29).
Secondly, God’s grace is permanent grace and one day, we shall see God DELIVER us from all alarms. The tears of life, poverty of soul, etc, shall be conquered by His faithfulness to us, which was determined before we entered these bodies of sin – “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Thess 1:7-8).
Thirdly, if God is your Savior, then don’t be afraid of sin, man, or anything – “There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it” (I Cor 10:13). God is above all, stronger than the enemies, and faithful to His word – “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace (Rom 6:14).” And, again, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).” We are not slaves of sin because God is stronger than Satan and everything in us.
Lastly, the time has come, let us work, but as we work, let us believe that salvation is BECAUSE of Christ and THROUGH Christ and FOR Christ’s glory.
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