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#1424 0829 10A The apostle prayed that the Colossians be Colossians 1:11-12 “strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light”—that they could meet the various battles, trials, and things done to them in a scriptural way—and to rejoice when going through such things. When the early church disciples were beaten and persecuted by the Scribes and Pharisees, they met with the brethren and praised God for the privilege of suffering for such a great cause, and for being considered worthy to suffer in the Name of Jesus. It was not just some words said to them, but severe floggings and death threats. The place where they were assembled was shaken by a mighty wind, and all were filled with the Holy Spirit, Who would empower and inspire them to meet things in God’s way—even financial matters. Only God can enable us to take a stand like that. Ephesians 6:10-11 ”Finally [from this point], my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles [deceitful tactics, schemes] of the devil.” We have to stand strong by His power, because Ephesians 6:12 “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world.” Satan is in back of all our troubles. Circumstances do not just happen, and people do not just say things, but it is the devil who is trying to reach us and destroy us for eternity. Ephesians 6:13 ”Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” We are not to go down in defeat, but to stand in the strength God gives. Romans 12:21 ”Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good,” by meeting circumstances and insulting words in a scriptural way. All physical battles and financial troubles are to be met in God’s strength and with His armor around us—then we can endure such things with rejoicing and victory, instead of complaining and failure. Everything depends on surrendering our life to God. The eternal interests that are at stake are beyond all comparison. The only person whom God can put the life of His Son in; the only heart Jesus can dwell in; and the only way we can overcome the devil, is to be absolutely committed to doing the will of God by the power of His Spirit. Our surrender does not pay anything, because the Blood of Christ has already paid for it—the gift is as free as the air. Our surrender simply places us in a position where God has possession of us. A free-will individual cannot be controlled by another free-will individual unless they are willing to be totally subject to them. An employee is not able to do things unless he obeys the foreman; a child cannot learn unless they submit to the teacher. And God cannot do anything for us, and He cannot teach and train us, or enable us to meet things scripturally, unless we give up our will and accept His will. We must decide that whether we live or die, or whether our wrongs are ever made right or not, the only thing we will do is give our life totally to God. This surrender to do God’s will is the living sacrifice we make Romans 12:1. A full surrender is the total commitment of the three Hebrews. Daniel 3:16-18 They said; “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” That final surrender quenched the violence of the flames, and enabled God to bring them out with not a hair singed, and no one harmed. That victory and testimony has inspired multitudes of believers over the centuries to take that same uncompromising stand of faith when going through serious trials, because we serve and trust the same God—who cannot change Malachi 3:6; what He was then, is what He will be forever Hebrews 13:8—a loving and all-powerful God.
After making this commitment to God, if there is any fragment
of rebellion left in our heart, He will allow something to happen that
will reveal it. We are to be eternally thankful to God for bringing any
rebellion in us to our Instead of being angry and resentful toward people who say and do things to upset us, we should praise God and thank Him for revealing something in our heart that would have destroyed us forever. It is like being thankful to see a warning label on a container of poison. God not only wants to protect our life now, but He wants to save us for eternity. David had surrendered his life to God as far as he knew—not only as a shepherd, but also as a warrior and king. If he were asked if he thought he was in rebellion to God, he would have replied, No, I have given my life to God and I am serving Him with all my heart. Rebellion is very subtle and it can be hidden; because our heart can be very tricky and devious—and Jeremiah 17:9 “is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Anyone who passes from this life with rebellion toward God in their heart, will suffer in the flames for ever—that is the reason God permits things to happen—so rebellion can be exposed, and then giving us the opportunity to have it removed from our heart. After being anointed king, David was pursued by former King Saul to prevent David from reaching the throne. David said to Saul 1 Samuel 26:18, "Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in my hand?” If Saul had not persecuted him, David could have ended in the Lake of Fire. This persecution of David was wrong and unjust from a human standpoint, but it was profitable and enlightening from a divine standpoint. When Nabal had given David an insulting reply, that hidden rebellion came to the surface. David and his men had protected Nabal’s sheep—and they informed Nabal of this. 1 Samuel 25:8 “Therefore be favorable toward my young men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David what-ever you can find for them.’" Instead of compensating them, Nabal insults them; 1 Samuel 25:10-11 "Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?" David said 1 Samuel 25:13 ”Every man gird on his sword…" And about four hundred men went with David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies.” He was bent on avenging his own wrongs. Not one man would be left alive when he got through with them. We do not need swords to avenge our wrongs. We can ignore the person; talk about them; slander their reputation; give them the cold shoulder; or avoid them completely. If we have any attitude like that, we have acted toward them as David toward Nabal. We cannot change in the slightest toward anyone—no matter what they may have done or said about us. We often rob ourselves of inner peace, and get further away from Heaven, by not meeting things right and resenting people. Having any hidden rebellion in our heart revealed, is more important than anything else that ever touches our life. The human heart has an amazing capability of enduring sorrow or enjoying happiness—and it will be one or the other forever. If these things are met right—we will enjoy Heaven; if they are met wrong—we will eventually suffer in the Lake of Fire. When David was bent on killing those people, he was as much on the path to Hell, as Judas Iscariot was on his way to betray his Master. God knew that David was sincere, so He revealed the rebellion that was in his heart, by having Nabal give an insulting reply. The words, "Who is David,” revealed the rebellion. God had Abigail meet David to remind him not to avenge himself. David replied 1 Samuel 25:32-33 "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.” David made the final decision that he would not say a word, or do a deed to avenge his own wrongs. A short time later, he had the opportunity to prove the sincerity of his surrender, when he stood at the head of King Saul, with his bodyguard Abishai at his side. God permitted this test to reveal any rebellion in David’s heart. Psalm 139:23 ”Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.” If there is any lack of a full surrender to God, something will be said or done; some oppression from the devil, or some financial test will be met to reveal it. These battles are very profitable, because they show us what our spiritual condition really is. Abishai said to David 1 Samuel 26:8-10 “God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.” What a test that was, but God enabled David to say “Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless? As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.” That final decision brought an end to the persecution; and a straight path was opened that led to the throne. Before that test, David did not know he was on the wrong path, but when that last bit of rebellion was revealed and removed, he entered the straight and narrow road that leads to life eternal. That is what God will do for anyone who wants rebellion revealed and removed from their heart.
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