Not Just Stories - Part 4

He’s a Keeper

Author Kathy Crabtree calls John 1:10 “The Greatest Plot Twist Ever”

John 10:10 NKJV

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Psalm 121:5–7 NKJV

5 The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.

Revelation 3:10 NKJV

10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Psalm 145:20 (NKJV)

20 The Lord preserves [keeps] all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy.

Three Passages That Give Us Keys to Enter God’s Keeping Power

2 Timothy 1:11–12 NKJV

11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Psalm 116:5–7 NKJV

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. 7 Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

Simple = Trusting

“In the Bible, faith is defined as a steadfast trust in God's promises and a firm belief in His existence and power.” - Tiffany Christensen

Four Keys in Four verses:

Proverbs 3:5–8 NKJV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.

Four Keys:

Trust - with all your heart (to the core of your being)

Acknowledge - His presence, His preeminence, His priority

Revere - Fear = Awe-filled reverence. Be in awe of His power, His might, his ability.

Repent - 2 Chron 7:14 “Turn from their wicked ways” Repentance is doing a 180 - not a 360 “He picked me up, turned me around...”

Stir up what is in already you:

2 Timothy 1:1–14 NKJV

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Three Keys:

Fan the Flames - “You know what really gets me excited?” - Do the things that energize your Spirit! Turn on worship music. Sing in the car - out Loud! Replace cursing with blessing.

Don’t Hide Your Faith - Paul said “Don’t be ashamed of the testimony of Jesus.” -

Navigate by What You Know - Timothy, you have been taught by your Grandmother, your mother, and me - now hold that pattern moving forward - by the power of the Holy Spirit

Keep Trusting the Keeper:

Background of Psalm 116:

According to John Gill's Exposition of the Bible, Most scholars believe this Psalm to be a Psalm of Thanksgiving of David from one of two periods:

The time when he was being pursued by Saul, “and the persecutions he endured from him, particularly when he was beset round about by him and his men in the wilderness of Maon, 1 Sam 23:26, to which he may have respect Ps 116:3” (being surrounded)

1 Samuel 23:26 NKJV

26 Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them.

also

The inscription of the psalm in the Syriac version is, `the progress of the new people returning to the Christian worship, as a child to understanding: and as to the letter, it was said when Saul stayed at the door of the cave where David lay hid with his men;''

1 Samuel 24:4 NKJV

4 Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’ ” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

2. Because Jerusalem is mentioned, which didn’t exist at the time of Saul, some believe it refers to the time when Absalom deceived him and stole the throne. Ahithophel, one of David’s confidants, had sided against him with Absalom (All men are liars - v. 11):

My personal thought it that it was a reflective Psalm of thanksgiving, recounted all of these and more times when God was his keeper (Ps. 121), preserving his life from destruction (Ps. 103)

Psalm 116 NKJV

1 I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. 2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. 3 The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!” 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. 7 Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. 8 For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling. 9 I will walk before the Lord In the land of the living. 10 I believed, therefore I spoke, “I am greatly afflicted.” 11 I said in my haste, “All men are liars.” 12 What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me? 13 I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord. 14 I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people. 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints. 16 O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the Lord. 18 I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people, 19 In the courts of the Lord’s house, In the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!

Jesus sang this Psalm before going to Gethsemene:

As another one of the Egyptian Hallel Psalms (Psalms 113-118), sung by Jesus with His disciples on the night of His betrayal and arrest (Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26), we can say with G. Campbell Morgan: “Whatever the local circumstances which gave rise to this song, it is evident that all its rich meaning was fulfilled, when in the midst of that little company of perplexed souls, the shadows of the One Death already on Him, Jesus sang this song of prophetic triumph over the sharpness of the hour of passion to which He was passing. He has made it over to all His own as their triumph song over death.”

Psalm 116:16 NKJV

16 O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds.

Luke 1:38 NKJV

38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Numbers 6:24–26 NKJV

24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’

Prov 3:5-