Let Us Walk With Strength and Joy

Bible Study #653-Church in the Houses From: September 28 – October 4, 2010

TOPIC: "Let Us Walk With Strength and Joy" Psalms 92:10-15 God will increase our strength like that of a buffalo. He will increase it because in us, humanly speaking, there is too much weakness to be able to defeat this world that is so hostile. God increases our strength each day; therefore we need to remain firm in Him. If we are feeble, weak, then this world can overcome us and even worse, bring defeat upon us. We need to rise and struggle with the strength of the buffalo given by God. As we can read in Verse 20, it says that we are anointed with fine oils, that is, with new oil. The oil was used in times of rejoicing; it appears as a symbol of joy. Psalm 23:5 God gives us motives to be happy. Not everything in this path is anguish, or pain. From God comes the joy and gladness. Psalm 30:5 Therefore, we all have motives with a strong foundation to be happy. In Galatians 5:22 we read that joy is the second effect of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. In Romans 15:13 we can see that Paul also refers to joy as a part of the fullness that we receive by the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, in no way are we to walk without strength and without joy. We are in struggle, but with strength and joy. In no way are we to be destroyed, because the One we serve is greater than everything that can come against us. The devil wants you to feel without strength and without joy. If he achieves this, then he will be gaining upon us. Beloved, rejoice in your God because the Scriptures teaches us that the joy is fulfilled in each one of us. 1 John 1:4 John 15:11 God has exalted your “horns of power” like the horns of the buffalo. God has given you tremendous strengths. His power is invincible; therefore, God has given you His power. You are anointed with fresh oil, that is, with new oil that refreshes you, and fortifies you. Why knock yourself down? Wait in God, because you will hear of those who rose against you. Psalm 92:11 You expected to see the last of them and you have seen with your own eyes how God favored you. You will always see God doing justice over all the injustices and that He will recover His providence for you. The psalmist understands this and for such reason expresses his confidence and awaits calmly the results in the future. That is why we walk with strength and joy! Verse 12 says, “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree.” Who has said that there is any sterility in God’s matters? The palm tree is always green and gives fruit; the dates are pleasant to the palate. This is the way God speaks of the righteous man, like those who flourish like the palm tree and always gives a good fruit. And this is why we will also see men who lack of the grace of God because there is a great difference between them and the righteous man. They are impious and the impious sprout like the grass and dries quickly without giving any fruit, but the righteous will flourish like the palm tree. Of course, that the growth of the palm trees is not so quick, but its resistance makes it last many years and even centuries. This is very different with the transitory grass of the meadow. It is said that the palm tree grows better under a constant pressure, that is, the more it is crushed the more it grows. In the same way a righteous grows and prospers, under his burdens and tribulations and this way gives fruits of sanctification. This way there is good and secure fruit in the old age. When we see a noble palm tree lifted, sending all its strength upward like a daring column and growing in the midst of scarcity and the drought of the desert, there we have a beautiful picture of a righteous. When everything else perishes, one lives and prospers under all external circumstances, no matter how negative it may be. In your old age you will give fruit! Other trees no longer give fruit when they grow older and become dry. The days of our last years should be the best and the deeds of those days should be the best we’ve ever accomplished in our lives. It is said that the best dates are produced when the palm tree is between thirty and one hundred years old. The palm tree indicates that the place where it is planted there is water. Where there is a righteous there is water of life, there is health, there is salvation. Let us be strong and enduring like the palm tree. We can see that the true believer is happier and more useful as he grows older. He knows his weaknesses and is more humble. They will grow like a cedar of Lebanon. God’s trees grow more and more as time passes. Look at yourself and observe your growth. The cedars of Lebanon are famous because of their height and slimness, always pointing towards Heaven and willing for good uses. The life and greenness of its branches are an honor for the root from where it lives. The same happens with men who are righteous. Depending on how fruitful his character is, will be the honor for Jesus Christ who imparts his life. Old age makes other things decline, but in Jesus it is different, Jesus makes one flourish. Let us be wise and obey faithfully in our youth and in our old age. To obey temporarily is to fail at the end. Judah began well, but he destroyed everything at the end when he betrayed his Master. You don’t grow by yourself, you are planted and not on common ground, but in the House of Jehovah. What conserves us alive is His grace. From His Spirit and His Word we receive the energy and the virtue that keeps us alive and makes us strong and fruitful. May the joy and the strength that comes from God always be with you. Amen.