How to stand in the coming storm.
Posted by appolus on November 29, 2012
Hi saints, many who have eyes to see can see a storm coming. Indeed the skies have already began to darken and the first bands have already arrived, birth pangs if you like. Slowly but surely Christendom is being surrounded by her enemies. How then shall God’s people stand in that day? How will you stand? Have you asked yourself that question? Will you truly have faith in the living God? Will you stand fast in that day?
Listen brothers and sisters, all those who know the Lord will stand fast because of the presence of God in them, because of the Holy Spirit. Do not be afraid, we have a promise. Yet do not be fooled, it’s not the promise that saves us it’s the one who makes the promise. Only by knowing Him who makes the promise can we stand fast on those promises. God said to His people that He would never leave them nor forsake them. Those who genuinely know God will stand fast because God has promised to be with us.
In Isa 33:14 it says that ” the sinners in Zion are afraid;fearfulness has seized the hypocrite.” You see, when judgements and destructions are all around Zion, its the hypocrites who are afraid. Now the word hypocrite in the Greek means ” actor.” And so in Christendom today we have actors, people who play the part of being a Christian. Now how will they be identified? Fear in the midst of calamity. And what is their cry ? “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?” ( Isa 33:14) In Hebrews 12:29 we see that ” our God is a consuming fire.” Yet the cry of the hypocrite, the actor is ” who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire.” You see, the actor flees from the presence of God who is a devouring fire but the genuine saint runs to the fire which he sees as a light in the midst of darkness. To one a fire, to the other salvation.
In that time the people of God find all their security in God who has made provision for them. Gods people will ” dwell on high, his place of defence will be the fortress of rocks; bread will be given him, his water shall be sure.” ( Isa 33:16) You see brothers and sisters we stand upon the unmovable Rock of Jesus. Even in the midst of famine we will have our bread and in the midst of drought we will be refreshed by the waters that flow from the throne of grace.
And the prophet further promises God’s people ” You eyes will see the King in His beauty, they will se the land which is afar off.” (Isa 33:17) You see brothers and sisters, we who trust in the Lord get to gaze upon His beauty and are given eyes to see beyond our current situation and calamity. We get to see the Kingdom of God. And this Kingdom that dwells within us is unshakable. The prophet describes it as a ” tabernacle that will not be taken down, not one of its stakes shall be removed, nor will any of its cords be broken. (Isa 33:20) This is the Kingdom of God that is already established in your heart. And one day soon will be established eternally for all to see, praise the Lord for eyes to see the heavenly Jerusalem.
Psalm 27 says…. “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.” (Psalm 27:1-6)
In verse 9 the psalmist says ” Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Do not leave me nor forsake me.” In the first chapter of Joshua God gives a tremendous promise to one of His ” faithful spies.” This promise is not just to Joshua but to every faithful follower of the Lord Jesus who puts his trust in God. ” As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.” Praise the Lord for His promises. He will be with us and He will go before us and He will lead us on to victory in Jesus our Savior forever. And now brothers and sisters, follow the command of the Lord ” be strong and of good courage,” and ” be strong and very courageous,” for the Lord your God is with you and ever shall be.
A Call To The Remnant 
W.E. Smith said
Amen. Thank you my brother. The Lord speaks of those who will give “meat in due season”. Paul speaks of “redeeming the time for the days are evil”. Then the writer of Hebrews exhorts us to join together, to encourage one another, especially as we see that day approaching.
Dear ones, we will not stand as our dear brother says, alone, in isolation, apart from each other in the body. I know, I know how easy it is in this hour, when all seems leavened, when the very gates and walls of the city have been trampled by an enemy. Yet we must encourage one another in love, to stand for the Lord. To stand in the Lord, To stand as the Lord. If you see another saint falling, help them up. Help them to stand. Let them lean on you, and you on them as needed. This is His way dear saints. Courage is never wrought alone. Ever! Steadfastness fails apart form the body. He establishes yes, but He does so as a family, as branches attached to Him and one another. Here is the Love of Christ, the Love the lays down for another. Oh Lord, help us to stand in this forsaken hour. To Live and Walk and Leap over a Hedge! And to help each other to do the same. Amen
appolus said
Amen dear brother, salt and light as usual. You thoughts are always deep because you have been brought into the deep and the Lord tells us not to fear when we pass through the water for He will be with us. Listen to these words of Scripture bro, may the speak to your heart……………
Isa 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; nor shall the flame kindle on you.
Isa 43:4 Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life.
Isa 43:7 everyone who is called by My name; for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Isa 43:16 So says Jehovah, who makes a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters;
Isa 43:18 Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.
Isa 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall sprout; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.
Isa 43:21 This people that I formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise.
Rachel said
Hi Frank, … how true and powerful this statement is .. “only by knowing Him who makes the promise can we stand fast on those promises” … Some powerful verses .. and I’ll add a couple.
Those who stand are those who have sought diligently after His ways, truth .. love .. those who truly know His righteousness and what it entails, thus are able to be knit and unified to Christ’s spirit as He comes within us.
Malachi 3:2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness.
Psalm 24:3-5 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who SEEK Him, Who SEEK Your face. Selah
appolus said
Hi Rachel, two of my favorite verses………………………bro Frank