We just looked into the Restoration Promised to those who become One with GOD while still here on earth. Today I will look at the Promise of their Preservation also known as the Preservation of the Faithful. But first turning to Pastor Hoekstra's writing on Grace and then using the ESV translation my targeted subject. And as always I will edit when the Spirit leads me.
"Walking in the Spirit"
"Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh . . . If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5:16, 25)
"The term "walk" is used dozens of times in the New Testament to describe the manner of life that a person is leading. Many of these occurrences depict the Christian life; for example, "walk in love . . . walk as children of light . . . walk circumspectly" (Ephesians 5:2, 8, 15). In our passages, we are told to "walk in the Spirit."
Walking is a very insightful description of spiritual life. A walk has a beginning and a destination. Our beginning was in New Birth: "born of the Spirit." (John 3:6). Our destination is heaven forever with our LORD and Savior: "And thus we shall always be with the LORD." (1Thessalonians 4:17). A good walk is steady and progressive. Much like hiking up hill and at times a mountain with many narrow paths and boulders in the way, as well as switchbacks. We are called to be faithful: "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21). We are called to press ahead: "forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal" (Philippians 3:13-14).
In addition, a walk has many potential adventures along the way. We are likely to encounter stretching challenges and paradoxical blessings: "in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness. . . as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (2Corinthians 6:5, 10).
Ultimately, a walk must have an available resource that provides sufficient vitality, strength, guidance, and assurance. Here, our passages offer special hope through the injunction to "walk in the Spirit." Day by day, each step of the way, we are to rely upon the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Every issue of life (whether at home, office, school, or along life highways and byways) is to be faced in this manner. Otherwise, the influence of our flesh (our natural humanity) will prevail. "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." We are not able ourselves to overcome the inadequacies and improper tendencies of the flesh. However, the Holy Spirit is more than able to become our Sufficient Provider of whatever we need for an Effective and Fruitful walk.
This perspective on Christian living makes complete biblical sense, when we connect our daily walk to how we found Spiritual Life in the first place. "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit," It was strictly by the work of the Spirit that we Received this Life initially; therefore, let's take each step of Life "[walking] in the Spirit." It did not say keeping step or running ahead but with the Spirit and at times this may seem to be a toilsome task.
Preserving or the Preservation of the Faithful:
Deuteronomy 6:20-25, Joshua 24:17, 2Sanuel 8:6 and Nehemiah 8:6 "When your son asks you in time to come, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our GOD has commanded you?' then you shall say to your son, 'We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt (the figure and type of the world and its deceptive religions). And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. The LORD showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh (as the false gods of this world and its deceptive religions) and all his household, before our eyes. And HE brought us out from there, that HE might bring us in and give us the land that HE swore (a spiritual blessing of spiritual Promise, not gathered in by many lacking understanding and clear perception) to give to our fathers. The LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our GOD, for our good always, that HE might preserve us alive, as we are this day. And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our GOD, as HE has commanded us.'"
Joshua 24:16-18, 19-24 "Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods (but the scriptures bear them witness of their many failures), for it is the LORD our GOD Who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and Who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. And the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for HE is our GOD."
But Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD, for HE is a Holy GOD. HE is a jealous GOD; HE Will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then HE Will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good." And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD." Then Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve Him." And they said, "We are witnesses." He said, "Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel." And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey."
2Samuel 8:3-8 "David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. And David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze."
Nehemiah 8:1-8 "All the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great GOD, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of GOD, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading."
Psalm 31:19-22, 23-24 "Oh, how abundant is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear (greatly reverence) You and worked for those who take refuge in You, in the sight of the children of mankind! In the cover of Your Presence You hide them from the plots of men; You store them in Your shelter from the strife of tongues. Blessed be the LORD, for HE has wondrously shown His steadfast Love to me when I was in a besieged city. I had said in my alarm, "I am cut off from Your sight." But You heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to You for help. Love the LORD, all you His saints! The LORD Preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the ones who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!"
Psalm 37:27-34 and 146:9 "Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. For the LORD loves justice; HE Will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his GOD is in his heart; his steps do not slip. The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. The LORD Will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial. Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and HE Will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off."
Psalm 146:5-10 "Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his GOD, Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, Who keeps faith forever; Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD Loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the sojourners; HE upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked HE brings to ruin. The LORD Will reign forever, your GOD, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!"
Proverbs 2:1-15 and Isaiah 49:8 "My son, if you receive My words and treasure up My commandments within you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of GOD. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding; HE stores up sound wisdom for the upright; HE is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways."
Isaiah 49:8-13 "Thus says the LORD: "In a time of acceptance I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I Will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages, saying to the prisoners, 'Come out,' to those who are in darkness, 'Appear.' They shall feed along the ways; on all bare heights shall be their pasture; they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for HE Who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them. And I Will make all My mountains a road, and My highways shall be raised up. Behold, these shall come from afar, and behold, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Syene." Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted His people and Will have compassion on His afflicted."
2Timothy 4:16-18 "At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the LORD stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The LORD Will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen."
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