APPOINTED TO EXERCISE WITH GOD AS OUR PERSONAL TRAINER

Photographed by Sandra
Copyright 2011

Greetings -

Scriptures are from the King James Bible.

Our Lord told me that someone is waiting for this message.  For sure, I need it...

Some of GOD'S people are asking, "When, Lord, will You answer what I have so long prayed for?  When will You manifest the deliverance from these storms...?"  

One answer is Exodus 9:5, "And the Lord appointed a set time,..."

Our Lord reminded me about the widow in Luke 18 who persevered. 

Luke 18:1-5 

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.  

How long did Abraham and Sarah wait for GOD'S promise of Isaac?  When impatience manifested, they got an Ishmael...

How long did Joseph wait for deliverance after he had his dream at the age of seventeen - Genesis 37:2, 5?  How long was Joseph, an innocent man, in prison?  We don't precisely know but what the Holy Bible does precisely tell us about the situation is in Genesis 39:21, "But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour..." 

Our Lord had this to say in the book of Psalms about Joseph:

Psalm 105:19, "Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him."

How long did the Israelites wait for deliverance from Egypt?

And what about this verse from Revelation 6:10 - "And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?"  

Without exercise, muscles atrophy.  That goes for our physical muscles AND for our SPIRITUAL muscles.  Resistance training builds muscles.  If no resistance happens, atrophy occurs.  If we allow atrophy, we give place to the devil.  Resistance training is highly beneficial for us to thrive in GOD.

We are appointed to afflictions for our profit that we may be partakers of GOD'S holiness.  1 Thessalonians 3:3, "That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto."

Those who aren't GOD'S children have appointments, as well.  1 Peter 2:8, 9 "And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed."  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."

Habakkuk 3:17, 18, "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:  Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

GOD reigns and rules over all.  Isaiah 45:7, "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace. and create evil; I the Lord do all these things."

2 Chronicles 20:6
And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven?  and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?

Daniel 4:35
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Ephesians 6:13
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

When we disobey our Lord, there are consequences for our disobedience.  Relative to Solomon, the Holy Bible says in 1 Kings 11:14, 23, "And the Lord stirred up an adversary unto Solomon,...  And God stirred him up another adversary,..."

And of course, we have adversaries when we walk holy with our Lord.  1 Peter 3:14, "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled."

The Word of GOD commands us to give thanks in every thing.  1 Thessalonians 5:18, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Will we falter?  Yes.  Will we sometimes "choke"?  Yes.  But thanks be unto GOD that the more we draw nigh to Him, the stronger we will get in Him.  When we exercise, we don't atrophy.  As we diligently abide in our Lord, we become such that we falter and choke less and less.  We build more and more muscle mass so that we can live as is stated in Hebrews 12:27, 28 which states, "And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved,..."

Here is more to remind us of the ways of GOD:

Exodus 3:12
And he said, Certainly I will be with thee;...

Exodus 7:4
But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

Exodus 7:12
For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

GOD said this to Pharaoh in Exodus 9:16,
"And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth."

Exodus 10:1
And the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart,...

1 Kings 12:15
Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord,...

GOD said this in Daniel 5:23, through Daniel, to Belshazzar:

"But thou hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, or hear, or know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, hast thou not gloried:"  

Sandra's comment:

When we encounter hardhearted and rude people, GOD allows them to be that way for His purposes.  HE always has a MASTER PLAN, and HE ALWAYS WINS - so do we when we abide in HIM.  Also, remember that hardhearted people are appointed to such...  Remember GOD hardened Pharaoh's heart "for to shew in thee my power: and that my name may be declared..."  Actually, when we have pure hearts, we need to be thankful for such hardhearted conduct when it is directed at us because it is affirmation that we have frustrated the devil.  When we make the devil angry, it is more triumph for the kingdom of GOD.

Of course, there are times when our Lord will instruct us to correct those who behave disrespectfully towards us but we are mandated to do it in the spirit of love.  Even when we must deal sharply and sternly with people, we are mandated to do so in love. 

When we Christians are justifiably corrected by others, we are mandated to receive such admonishment in the spirit of love.  Our Lord instructs us to love and to help one another in various ways.  GOD has us as His body because we need to strengthen, encourage, comfort, and correct one another for the advancement of our Lord's kingdom.   

Again, Isaiah 45:7
I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.

1 Samuel 19:9
And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul,...

2 Chronicles 18:20-22
Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him.  And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith?

And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.  And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.

Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets,...

Daniel 7:27
And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.  

Written Wednesday August 17, 2011