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Everlasting Arms Of Jesus

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“Underneath are the everlasting arms.” 

— Deuteronomy 33:27

 

God—the eternal God—is himself our support at all times, and especially when we are sinking in deep trouble. There are seasons when the Christian sinks very low in humiliation. Under a deep sense of his great sinfulness, he is humbled before God till he scarcely knows how to pray, because he appears, in his own sight, so worthless. Well, child of God, remember that when thou art at thy worst and lowest, yet “underneath” thee “are everlasting arms.” Sin may drag thee ever so low, but Christ’s great atonement is still under all. You may have descended into the deeps, but you cannot have fallen so low as “the uttermost”; and to the uttermost he saves. Again, the Christian sometimes sinks very deeply in sore trial from without. Every earthly prop is cut away. What then? Still underneath him are “the everlasting arms.” He cannot fall so deep in distress and affliction but what the covenant grace of an ever-faithful God will still encircle him. The Christian may be sinking under trouble from within through fierce conflict, but even then he cannot be brought so low as to be beyond the reach of the “everlasting arms”—they are underneath him; and, while thus sustained, all Satan’s efforts to harm him avail nothing. 

 

This assurance of support is a comfort to any weary but earnest worker in the service of God. It implies a promise of strength for each day, grace for each need, and power for each duty. And, further, when death comes, the promise shall still hold good. When we stand in the midst of Jordan, we shall be able to say with David, “I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.” We shall descend into the grave, but we shall go no lower, for the eternal arms prevent our further fall. All through life, and at its close, we shall be upheld by the “everlasting arms”—arms that neither flag nor lose their strength, for “the everlasting God fainteth not, neither is weary.” 

 

 Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

SPIRITUAL REMODELING VS. REBUILDING

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SPIRITUAL REMODELING VS. REBUILDING

 

Mark 14:58 (AMP)

58 We heard Him say, I will destroy this temple (sanctuary) which is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.

 

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (AMP)

19 Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own,

20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.

 

Spiritual remodeling is not spiritual rebuilding.  While it’s easier and more pleasant to work with what we have and perform improvements based on our personal beliefs through “remodeling” what is needed is for us to be spiritually rebuilt, totally new. Scratching the surface is superficial yet if we have died in Christ there is nothing left of us, we are totally new creations in Christ Jesus making Jesus Lord and the “old man” has passed away and the “birth” (born again) person is totally new.  For “ALL” things have passed away.

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP)

17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

 

Galatians 2:20 (AMP)

20 I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

 

Old things are torn away, broken apart and TOTAL spiritual reconstruction takes place through the love, mercy and grace of Jesus. There are no shortcuts or improvising in spiritual rebuilding for the author and finisher of our faith Christ Jesus is the creator of the universe including you and I.  We are being spiritually rebuilt by the Lord Jesus; for all things were made through Him, by Him and for Him.  As you go through this “rebuilding” process Jesus is with you every step of the way for He will never leave you or forsake you and His mercy endures forever.

 

Colossians 1:16 (AMP)

16 For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him.

 

Deuteronomy 31:6 (AMP)

6 Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you.

 

Our thoughts and beliefs on what we think we need verses what Jesus knows we need are in conflict and the “flesh wars against” the spirit of the Lord.  Often we find ourselves in our own “personal wilderness” being separated from the earthly and ungodly influences that have separated us from our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus.  While we are in this “wilderness” our fleshly nature is being crucified as the Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit is rebuilding us tearing down fortified strongholds, lies, hurts and pain as we come to the end of “self” being rebuilt into the likeness and image of our Creator.  The love of God/Jesus is restoring us back into our divine identity before the fall of man.  What you are experiencing is a separation from an earthly way and mindset of life.  We are seated in heavenly places yet we live here on earth.  We are in the earth but not of the earth, thus the conflict is real and the renewing of our minds is continual through the Spirit of the Lord and the Living Word of God.

 

Galatians 5:17 (AMP)

17 For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.

 

1 John 2:15–17 (AMP)

15 Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].

17 And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.

 

Proverbs 14:12 (AMP)

12 There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.

 

Ephesians 2:6–7 (AMP)

6 And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

7 He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.

 

Isaiah was “undone”, Paul said it was no longer he that lived but Christ in him.  When the Lord Jesus reveals himself to us we too will be “undone” desiring nothing but total transformation being rebuilt into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus.  

 

Jesus wants “all of us” and not just part of us.  He doesn’t remodel you He rebuilds you!  Don’t settle for used when you can have new!  We must embrace the mercy, love and grace of the Lord Jesus.  The rebuilding process is continual while we are here on earth surrounded by a fallen nature and ungodly influence, none of us are exempt from the continual renewal of our minds through the Word of God and we must cast down every stronghold which exalts itself against the knowledge of God/Christ Jesus.

 

2 Corinthians 10:4–5 (AMP)

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,

5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

 

1 Corinthians 3:19 (AMP)

19 For this world’s wisdom is foolishness (absurdity and stupidity) with God, for it is written, He lays hold of the wise in their [own] craftiness; [Job 5:13.]

 

Praise the Lord Jesus for He will never leave you or forsake you and you too can overcome the world through Christ Jesus.  May the peace, love and grace of Jesus be your strength, High Tower, Fortress and Abiding Place!

 

John 16:33 (AMP)

33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

 

Psalm 91:1 (AMP)

HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].

 

Proverbs 18:10 (AMP)

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the [consistently] righteous man [upright and in right standing with God] runs into it and is safe, high [above evil] and strong.

 

Blessings, peace and grace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.