Sunday, May 12, 2019

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Hymn:  Standing on the promises





(Click forward arrow > to play music:)


1.  Standing on the promises of Christ my King, 
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,

Standing on the promises of God.

Chorus:

Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of
Christ my Savior;
Standing, standing,

I’m standing on the promises of God.


2.   Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,

Standing on the promises of God.

3.  Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,

Standing on the promises of God.

4.  Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,

Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

5.  Standing on the promises I shall not fall,
List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call.
Resting in my Savior as my All in all,

Standing on the promises of God.


(Click pause symbol,  "  ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)


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The following scripture pertains to this hymn:

v. 2   By the living Word of God I shall prevail,

The living word of God is the word spoken to you by the Spirit of God during the crisis.  By His Spirit, God will bring to our mind ideas that show us what to do, or scriptures which show us what to do.  

And when it is of God, it will never fail.  We can put our trust in what we have heard from God by His Spirit.   

The living word of God is just exactly that, living, because it is instantaneously brought to our mind by God through His Spirit.  You can hunt for a scripture and fail.  But you will not fail when it is the Holy Spirit bringing the scripture to your mind. 

Here is a promise from Jesus concerning the work the Holy Spirit will do for us.

John 14:26    But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:13    Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

4 things the Holy Spirit does for the believer:

- HE teaches us all things.
- HE reminds us of all Jesus has said to us through scripture, dreams, concepts
- HE guides us into all truth.
- HE shows us things to come.


***

v. 3   Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,  

We are freed every time we have a word from God brought to our mind by His Spirit, and when we believe and act on that word in the midst of the trial or temptation.  

Several years ago, I received a birthday card from a high school friend.  In the card she enclosed a note telling me all the plans she had for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.  She was going to be with her husband, her daughter, and her grandchildren, celebrating.  

Instantaneously, the Holy Spirit brought to my mind these words, "You are dead, and your life is hid with Christ."  

I replied to the Holy Spirit, "Yes!"

Then I saw that if I had not heard from the Holy Spirit in this matter, I might have been a little bit depressed or down because I don't have a husband, or daughter, or grandchildren.  Nor did I have any plans for the holidays.  I was going to be alone.  

But God delivered me from depression or sadness by bringing His word on the matter by His Spirit.  

Colossians 3:1-4   If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 

 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

 
***

v. 4   Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,

God speaks to each of His children by His Spirit which lives inside each child.  The Holy Spirit brings thoughts from God to our minds to show us the way of God and the will of God as we live on this earth.

We overcome the trials and temptations of this present earth as we hear from the Holy Spirit daily, and take appropriate action to the instruction given by the Spirit.

You do have to be careful.  For the devil will try to imitate God and bring thoughts to your mind which are opposite to the way God wants you to go.  And often our own fleshly preferences will bring thoughts to us which seem good to us, but are opposite to the way God wants us to go.

But if you are a child of God, if you will ask God to confirm the way to go and to make it clear to you which thought is HIS, and if you will take time before you act, it will be made clear to you which thought is from God.

We must pay attention to those things spoken to our minds by the Holy Spirit in order to follow God.  And we do overcome daily with the Spirit's sword.


***

v. 5   List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call.
Resting in my Savior as my All in all,

Once we have established that a thought is from God, we must focus on that thought and rest in that word that we have heard from God concerning the matter at hand.  Often, we have to keep it before us day and night to be strong enough to continue in that direction.    


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