"being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).
Oh what a promise from our great God. We might not understand our trials, but his promises anchor us during these trying times. The promise is that He will complete his plan in us. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11). Trials refine us, they bring us closer to him. True peace is that the God of peace is with us in the heat of the battle.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:4-5). God is raising his army, consecrating his people, putting forth his plan. "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them" (Psalm 139:16). God's plan moves forward unstoppable, "No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord" (Proverbs 21:30).
It is in Christ we find our identity and in him God works out his plan. We preach Christ crucified, the power of God and the wisdom of God, exalted over man, as even the foolishness and weakness of God is greater than man. God has chosen the foolish, weak, base, despised, and ignoble things of the world which are nothing to man to disgrace man, that no flesh should glory in His presence. "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord'" (1 Corinthians 1:27:31).
Jesus was delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, he was despised and crucified by man. But God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. David foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Sheol, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus whom God raised up, of which there were many witnesses, was exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out to all (Acts 2:22-36).
Oh what a promise from our great God. We might not understand our trials, but his promises anchor us during these trying times. The promise is that He will complete his plan in us. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11). Trials refine us, they bring us closer to him. True peace is that the God of peace is with us in the heat of the battle.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:4-5). God is raising his army, consecrating his people, putting forth his plan. "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them" (Psalm 139:16). God's plan moves forward unstoppable, "No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord" (Proverbs 21:30).
It is in Christ we find our identity and in him God works out his plan. We preach Christ crucified, the power of God and the wisdom of God, exalted over man, as even the foolishness and weakness of God is greater than man. God has chosen the foolish, weak, base, despised, and ignoble things of the world which are nothing to man to disgrace man, that no flesh should glory in His presence. "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord'" (1 Corinthians 1:27:31).
Jesus was delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, he was despised and crucified by man. But God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. David foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Sheol, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus whom God raised up, of which there were many witnesses, was exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out to all (Acts 2:22-36).
You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you...
You are my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore
(Psalm 16).
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore
(Psalm 16).