2 Corinthians 4 verse 13

“And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,”

This short verse of scripture spoke volumes to me and I pray it does the same to you this week.

Every one of us that is a genuine believer in Christ has this same spirit of faith in us. It is by grace and through this faith that we came to become saved. We believed that Jesus is the son of God, the saviour who came to this world to die and save us from our sins, and reconcile us to the Father. We believed in Jesus and confessed Him as our Lord and Saviour.

2 Samuel 5: 9 - 11

Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward. ¹⁰ So David went on and became great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.¹¹ Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house. ¹² So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

How wonderful it is to enjoy God’s favour! When I read these verses of scripture, I see the favour of God upon David. The Lord of Hosts was with David. In other words, God’s good hand, God’s favour was upon him.

The Kindness and Discipline of Our Heavenly Father

Hebrews 12 v 5-6

My son do not despise the chastening of the Lord nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the lord loves he chastens, and he scourges every son whom he receives.

Proverbs 3 v 12

For the lord disciplines the one he loves, as does a father the son he delights in.

Exodus 9 v 15-16

Now if I had stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth. But indeed for this purpose I have raised y0u up that I may show my power in you, that my name may be declared in all the earth.

In Exodus 9, the Lord is dialoguing with Moses, about the seventh plague that He was about to release upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians. The Lord makes it clear, that if He (the Lord) had decided to deal with Pharoah on day one, He could have completely removed him and his people, from the Earth forever; without bothering with any plagues at all. He really did not need to send plagues to seal the deliverance of His people Israel. The reason the Lord sent the plagues, was to show His power, judgment, mercy and differentiation of the Godly from the wicked. He intended to give a clear message to everyone on earth, from that generation to the last generation, that He is all powerful, and able to deliver His people from the most horrendous oppression.

Luke 8: 1 - 3

Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, ² and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, ³ and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.

There is deliverance in Christ. It does not matter where we are coming from. It does not matter what our past life has been like.  We have a Saviour, Lord and Friend that specialises in setting us free from the bondage of the enemy, breaking and loosing us from every yoke. It doesn’t stop there though; He picks us up and places us where we ought to be so we can fulfil our destiny.

Psalm 61 verses 1 - 4

Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
² From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

³ For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
⁴ I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

This week we turn to the Psalms. Here we have the Psalmist David crying out to the Lord in prayer. We should learn from Him. He was saying to the Lord, hear my cry. Give attention to my prayer Lord.