The Patriarch Joseph actually expressed this sentiment at a time in his life when it appeared he was going to lose another of his sons to the vast kingdom of Egypt.

“And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: ALL THESE THINGS ARE AGAINST ME.” Genesis 42:36

Job of Old Testament fame might have used similar words, too. With all his trials … he actually testified: “I was at ease, but he (God) hath broken me asunder: he (God) hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.” That last clause, God has made me His target! Job 16:12

And someone reading right here today may also be wondering … “All my troubles, compounding as they are … is God ‘against’ me too?”

Now, I would like to show you another possible point of view. A better outlook! Glory to God!

Written also by a man of many troubles. Situations like these: “In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” Wow, Paul’s autobiography in 2 Corinthians 11.

The list rivals Jacob’s or Job’s, I’d say!

But Paul did not feel that God was “against” him!

In fact, the Apostle actually believed that God was “for” him!

Because Paul had met Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour! He had been born again (adopted too) into the Family of God!

And even with all the animosity and danger he faced … he still penned … “IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?” Romans 8:31

Problems in life?

They are universal!

Ubiquitous!

Read Job 5:7, a jewel of truth … “Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.”

Yet it apparently depends on the “view” we take of our “troubles.” Better yet, the “view” we take of the Lord Jesus Christ Who is the Son of God and the Occupant of Heaven’s Throne, sitting at the Father’s very Right Hand!

If you have been saved … He is not AGAINST you!

No matter life’s unpredictable turns and twists.

He is, rather, FOR you!

Something Jacob later learned!

Something Job knows by now!

And something that can relive a lot of stress and anxiety if we believe it too.

Again … “IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?”

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

How to be saved?

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24, Jesus’ Words!

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Yes, it is a word, “mentee.” Meaning the recipient of a “teacher’s” (also called a “mentor’s”) instruction … and probably including some “on-the-job training!” (More than just oral direction. Like “how-to-do-it” demonstrations.)

Biblically speaking, the Apostle Paul may have been the best “mentor” in the New Testament. He is the one who, under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, wrote our Text for this short little devotional.

“Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?” 2nd Corinthians 11:29, as mentioned in the lesson title.

Paul here is exhibiting sympathy, maybe even empathy!

If any Christian he knows is “weak” (in Greek “asthne’o” meaning “without strength”) Paul is determined not to be a cocky “superior” over that Brother in Christ! He will be “weak” right alongside him to help “pull” him out of that dangerous situation! In my estimation, that’s being a mentor!

Furthermore, read this from Paul’s pen … “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1st Corinthians 9:22

Then (back to the last half of our Text, 2nd Corinthians 11:29) Paul sincerely asks … “Who is offended, and I burn not?”

The verb “offended” is “skandali’zo.” meaning to be “tripped up.” Due to a “stumbling block” placed in the younger (weaker) Christian’s way. And when that injustice occurs, Paul as mentor “burns” within! This verb is “puro’o” and literally means “to be on fire!” I think Paul is suggesting he gets “hot.” As in anger, here righteous anger! That someone has mistreated or deceived or belittled or confused or mislead one of his “mentees.” One of the new converts he has led to Jesus Christ our Lord!

Where do YOU fit into this verse, this spiritual configuration? Are you a concerned “mentor” to some new Believer? Or are you the learner in the relationship, the “mentee?”

Either way, each has responsibilities!

Neophyte, newborn Christian … try to grow out of that weaking that is inherent in newborn babies! Try not to be misled or easily offended. Be a “mentee” as short a time as possible.

More mature Believer, start being a “mentor” to someone at Church. Help them grow in the Lord. Adopt them spiritually as your charge, responsibility! And defend them if they are wronged.

Wow!

Paul, the example in yet another area!

“Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? “ Relationships like this “cement” Church members to one another. Like we should be!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Maybe when you can’t sleep?

Like 4:00 AM, which it is here (exactly) in this motel room!

I started to say that I am alone this week, but not so! (My Wife normally being with me week after week, Revival after Revival.) But the Lord is with me! (He may have aroused me to share this thought with someone this very hour!)

Here’s the Bible idea of what to do at such times … “I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”

Again, this is Psalm 16:7-8 in the King James Version of the Bible.

What does it mean?

This … THINK … about the Lord when you cannot sleep or rest. When it is night! “Set Him before you,” mentally and emotionally and volitionally!

Then one’s reigns (literally kidneys) but essentially one’s “insides,” his or her mind or heart … will “instruct” … an intensive, forceful verb … you about the Things of God!

“Counsel” means “advice.”

This is simply old-fashioned “meditation,” thinking upon and fellowshipping with the Lord God Almighty!

And the result?’

A stable life, especially spiritually!

“I shall not be moved,” or not totter or slide or even shake! What a powerful promise!

Well, let me get back to my time with the Lord!

He has Revelation Chapter 12 on my mind.

What’s on yours?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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David, in spite of all his shortcomings, was called “a man after God’s Own Heart!”

Yes, in Acts 13:22 Paul is quoting our great God … “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.”

That’s a high commendation!

Again and again in his Psalms we find David living up to that name, that testimony. In fact, many of the Davidic Psalms of Scripture are prayers within themselves.

And Psalm 63:8 is a prime example.

David writes, says to the Lord … “My soul followeth hard after thee.” Hungry for God, in other words! Thirsty for Him too!

The verb “followeth hard” is spelled “dabaq” and means “to cling to” Someone! To “stick” closely by His Side! Once in the King James Version, “to abide” with Him!

Wow!

What a prayer!

Then notice, the answer comes!

Lord, “Thy right hand upholdeth me.”

As soon as the prayer is lofted heavenward, the response drops down to David!

Biblically speaking, one’s “right hand” suggests great strength, power, ability! Plus honor!

The verb “upholdeth” is “tamak” in Hebrew. It means “to grasp, maintain, hold fast!” To seize and not let go!

That sure sounds safe, secure to me. In the great big Hands of our Almighty God!

Jesus later says of us who are saved, Christians in the true sense of the word, believers… “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

Held, enclosed … by His Hand!

In Isaiah 49:16 God pledges this to His children … “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.”

What I am trying to emphasize … David prayed, and God answered! Immediately!

It often happens that way to the man or woman who “follows hard” after God’s Face, His Presence!

Looks to me like not a single second lapses between the request and the Response!

Read it again.

“My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” That’s the Verse, the whole Verse!

Pray it … and enjoy the results!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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This Verse is indeed astounding!

“In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.” Zechariah 12:8

The verb “defend” also means “to surround!”

And the “inhabitants” of Jerusalem? Jews, of course! Both historically and currently. And “forever” I might add, according to Jeremiah 31:35-36!

It looks to me like God gives these citizens “Strength.” The descriptor “feeble” means “weak, cast down, stumbling.”

(Here see Joel 3:10, “Let the weak say, I am strong,” with God’s Touch of course!)

And “as David” reminds one of the now famous Goliath episode! What an upset!

And the Jews “collectively” will be “as God.” In the vein of … “One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.” Joshua 23:10

Better yet … “And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.” Leviticus 26:8

Wow!

And to conclude the Verse … “the angel of the Lord” will go “before them!” Miraculous Protection!

Psalm 35:5 may even go a bit further! Concerning Israel’s enemies it is prayed … “Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.” This “Angel” may be a reference to Jesus Himself!

Powerful, powerful!

This much I know, from our single Verse of Scripture … I will not do harm to God’s City, God’s people, God’s Plan!

Because it is Biblically stated of Israel … “For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.” Zechariah 2:8

Enough said!

Unless I add this Fact concerning Abraham’s children, the Jews … “I (the Lord) will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:3

By the way, one can chart world history (the rise and fall of nations) using that template, how an entity treats Israel!

Beware!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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