The Soul Sower

Psalm 18:1-36 is a wonderful and powerful psalm of God’s power, dominion, and strength. A picture of His deliverance, care, and love for those who He calls His own, and the great things He will do for the blameless, upright, and righteous. It speaks for itself.

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears. 

Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from Him. 

He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under His feet. He rode on a cherub and flew; He came swiftly on the wings of the wind. He made darkness His covering, His canopy around Him, thick clouds dark with water. Out of the brightness before Him hailstones and coals of fire broke through His clouds.

The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones and coals of fire. And He sent out His arrows and scattered them; He flashed forth lightnings and routed them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. 

He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His rules were before me, and His statutes I did not put away from me. I was blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my guilt. So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. 

With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. 

For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him. For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? 

The God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.

Be aware that in these last days there will be many, both inside and outside the church that will be scoffers and mockers of the ways of Jesus. Many will hate you for the good you do, thinking you are better than them. There will be others who have not been taught all the true workings and instructions of the Lord. They may have a head full of the knowledge of God but are devoid of understanding and the Spirit of God. 

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. Jude 1:17-19

Some will scoff and jeer because they do not believe nor do they want to believe in who God is and what His servants have been sent to do. Yet others simply do not understand the truth. They have grown up in weak churches that suppressed the Holy Spirit, refused to teach anything that seemed “too spiritual”. Afraid of going too far in one direction they fell back in another.

Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:5-7

But for those who claim Christ and godliness, yet secretly gossip, slander, seek to divide, teardown, or are full of jealousy, you must avoid. They become jealous and envious of the gifts that the Lord has given His servant. Keep your eyes wide open, walking in the Spirit of the Lord, that you will be able to recognize them, and as hard as it may be, you must leave them be. 

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. Titus 3:9-11

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34

It is important to note here that you are not at war against people. No matter what they do or say, they are not the main enemy. But you must wage war against the spiritual forces of darkness, the devil, principalities, dominions, powers and demons with prayer and in the power of the Lord. 

You must understand that most people are strongly influenced by all kinds of wicked spirits and acting out their commands. To have victory over them and to save those who are tormented by them you must walk in the Spirit, and speak with the power and authority that only comes from the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:12-13

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 

And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. 

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:20-25

Once and for all your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ accomplished all that was needed to be accomplished. He suffered humiliations, mockeries, scourgings, and beatings to such a degree He was unrecognizable, and He hung on the cross shedding every drop of blood for you. He bore the nails in His hands, suffered the entire wrath of God upon Himself, and in the end died for your every sin. 

But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

But He could not be held down and there was no one or nothing that could hold Him back. On the third day, the Holy Spirit raised Him to life defeating both sin and death that you could be granted eternal life. 

“God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.” Acts 2:24 

Neither does sin or death have any reign over Him and they no longer have any reign over you. His perfect and flawless life and blood paid the great high price for the salvation of your soul, and for anyone who will believe in His name.

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 15:54-57

No longer should you look down at your feet with sorrow, no longer should you look back at your shameful past, no longer should you wallow in your sin and guilt, and no longer should you flounder around in the darkness for you now dwell in His light. 

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn shout for joy before the Lord, the King. Psalms 98:4-6

Hold your head up high, look to the Son who has set you free. Bask in His radiant glow, the glow of His great glory, love, and affection. You have been pulled out of the darkness to live in His marvelous light. You are no longer condemned but you have been pardoned, forgiven, and adopted into sonship to God the Father. Praise the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me praise His holy name!

May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in His works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! 

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord. 

Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord! Psalm 104:31-35

What is the size of your faith? In the face of long-enduring hardship and trial, does your faith stand fast or does it crumble? Does the quality of your faith rely on what you can see, feel, or have knowledge of? If your faith depends on anything but the unseen promises and hopes of the Lord, it is not faith at all, but it is doubt.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:1-3,6

How did Jesus describe faith and what illustration did He use? He used the smallest of garden seeds, the mustard seed. This seed is so very tiny yet grows up to be like a tree, the largest of garden plants. 

And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. Luke 17:6

He is saying, if you have any faith at all, it is powerful and can move mountains. But if you live in disbelief, doubt, and worry, when you come up against trial and fall, you have no faith in Him at all. 

If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all. Isaiah 7:9

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

Faith is trusting in God no matter the circumstances, no matter what you may see in the near future or the lack thereof. Full and complete trust in the unseen promises of God. Confident assurance that He will do as He has said He would do. His Word is true and can not be broken. That the Lord God Almighty is in full control of everything, the good, bad, and the ugly.

He(Jesus) is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, Hebrews 1:3

The fact that it says, “He sat down” shows His complete sovereignty, authority, and control. Absolutely nothing is outside of His sight, dominion, and power, not even Satan and his demons. Even they need permission to accomplish their deeds. See the book of Job. He allows it to bring forth His ultimate plan of salvation to the righteous and condemnation to the wicked.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! James 2:18-19

You can have this faith, you can have complete trust in this awesome and powerful God. You must pray to the Lord for it and believe that He will give it. Be firm in your faith, again, ask God and He will give it to you. Stand firm with the armor He has given you and hold fast in trust and faith. Then even with the smallest of faith you will not be shaken but will be steadfast and unmovable.

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For,

“Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Hebrews 10:36-39

As a follower of the Lord, you have been instructed to walk the narrow road, the path the Lord has laid out just for you, following the example of Christ, to seek the treasure that is more precious than gold.

It is unique, not to be duplicated or replicated by looking at what anyone else is doing. You are not to turn to the right or left but continue on His straight path, obeying and following the direction of the Spirit of God He has given you as your guide.

So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it. Proverbs 2:20-22

It is very easy to fall into sinful behavior, to lean to the left, or to slip into legalism and self-righteousness, leaning to the right. This is why you must seek the wisdom, understanding, and insight that only comes from God. Treasuring the commands, precepts, and teaching of the Lord in your heart that you may not go astray in any way.

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5

Many have walked this road called life. They have traversed the hills, valleys, and mountains and have come out on top. They have become victorious in the feats the Lord had placed in front of them to accomplish. 

Why were they victorious? It is because they had laid hold of the wisdom and understanding of the Lord, abandoned their own, and clung to His. They followed His leading every step and every moment along the way. Through all this, He was their shield and strong tower of defense, their guard, and a watcher over every step they took.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; Proverbs 2:6-9

The Lord is waiting for you to turn completely to Him, to ask of Him what good things He may give you. Not the possessions of this world or the approval of man. But the most valuable commodities in the universe, His gems, His precious treasures of godly wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and discernment that is beyond all human comprehension. They will protect you from the foolishness and wickedness of this current age. 

For wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways. Proverbs 2:10-15

May you seek the wisdom of God like a man searches for gold, dig for His understanding as a man digs deep in the earth for silver, and desire His insight and discretion as a singer desires to hit that perfect pitch.

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:1-5

Lay your every burden down before the Lord. Give them all up and lay them at His feet. Give Him everything, not holding back anything, that you may have nothing left to give, and everything to gain. He will in turn give you more than you can imagine. All power, majesty, and authority have been given into His hands. Become a fool for Christ that you may be made wise.

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Matthew 11:25-27

The Lord Jesus Christ is your strength, He is your authority, He is your source of wisdom, provision, and power. He is the Almighty God who rules and reigns overall. What is your own strength? What is your own wisdom? They are nothing compared to what the Lord wants to give you. But you must lay down your burdens and take up His yoke, then He will give rest for your soul.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Give it all up, why struggle and strive to achieve with your own feeble power, when you can have His power. He wants to give you such wisdom, understanding, and boldness that no one will be able to deny that it comes from the Lord. That you may say, It is not by my power but it is the Lord working through me.

Change the way you reason. Stop using your human intellect and your worldly understanding of things to try to make sense of the ways of the Lord and the workings of the Spirit of God. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

This is why God says, And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Everything with the Lord and His Kingdom is opposite to the understanding of man. “Those who lose their lives will save it.” “The weak are made strong.” “The foolish become wise.” “The poor are rich.” “The lowliest in the Kingdom of God becomes the greatest.”

So what is there to lose but the worthless things of this world that you may gain the best and most incredible things the Lord has to offer. Give up that which is nothing, that you may gain everything.

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. 

All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. For though the Lord is high, He regards the lowly, but the haughty He knows from afar. 

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. Psalm 138

Praise The Lord your God for who He is. He is a loving and compassionate Father, slow to anger, tender-hearted, and kind. He does not treat you as your sins deserve, forever holding out His hands waiting for you to turn back to Him for forgiveness, comfort, strength, and to show His everlasting love towards you.

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made. Psalm 145:8-9

He is the best and greatest Father you could ever imagine. Actually, it is impossible to even imagine the fullness of His loving-kindness and love He has toward you as a father. He seeks out those He loves and He pursues them, staying by them at all times until they have turned and embraced Him as their Heavenly Father.

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. Psalm 139:7-12

To those who have not had a truly loving father in any way, shape, or form, you are in for a treat. Also to those who have had a good father.  He promises to pour out His kindness, mercy, grace, and love upon you. Covering you with His garments and cleansing you from your sins and uncleanness. Like a woman rejected by everyone who has finally found her true love. There is nothing like it.

When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord GOD, and you became mine. 

Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. Ezekiel 16:8-11

Though you falter, stumble, and cry in desperation, the Lord God will always be there for you in the good times and bad. His tender hand is upon you, His word of gentle kindness speaks peace into your soul, His amazing love fills your heart, and His protecting arm will be fierce against those who try to harm you. He is truly the best of fathers and the greatest of daddies you could ever have.

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. Psalm 103:6-13

Who or what do you truly put your trust in when the going gets tough? In the good times and bad, who do you rely on when your life’s on the line? The righteous run to the Lord and depend and trust in Him only. 

When the pressing gets heavy, when the strain becomes taut to the point of breaking, and when the pressure is unbearable. The righteous run to the Lord and put their faith in Him like a fortress, like a strong bastion of hope.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. Proverbs 18:10

Though the righteous are scorched by the heat of afflictions, battered by the barrage of attacks, and blown by raging storms. They stand firm, they stand fast against the gale. Because they depend on the Lord they will not wither, break, or fall.

Their roots have been driven deep into the Word of God, filled with the Spirit of God, and the knowledge of God. There is no reason to fear or fret.

Blessed be the Lord! For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him. The Lord is the strength of His people; He is the saving refuge of His anointed. Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever. Psalm 28:6-9

There is no one like the Lord in whom you put your trust in. No one who gives sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, strength to the lame, and courage to the cowardly. No one greater or more mighty than the Lord God. No one else can be depended upon for every situation and circumstance. He will never let His righteous one fall. 

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to Him who has no might He increases strength. 

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

Stand strong and stand still in the presence and confidence in the Lord God. He is your victor, He is your champion! He will feed, hold, surround, and sustain His people. He is a bastion of hope to all those who run to Him for protection, for all those who put their faith in Him.

Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. 

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:5-8