There is a Psalm of David in the scriptures that is probably one of my favorites. It’s Psalm 139. (NLT)
O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! 7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there. if I go down to the grave, you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you. 13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them, they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up,
you are still with me! 19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life, you murderers! 20 They blaspheme you; your enemies misuse your name.
21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you? Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you? 22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
I included the entire Psalm because it is such an incredible portion. It shows God’s intent and care for those He has created in His image. One of Satan’s schemes is trying to convince us that God is not near but actually non-present when I’m in despair or when I feel alone is abandoned. Nothing could be further than the truth. He is always present. Verses 7-8 prove this.
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!
Whether heaven or hell or anywhere in between, He is with me. Talk about His faithfulness to never leave us. Jesus knew He would have to dwell with us. He said in this world we would have tribulation; John 16:33
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
In the same portion, Jesus told us of the advantage of Him going away in John 16:7
“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you”
What kind of advantage would it be? John 16:8-15
“And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
The Spirit Himself would reaffirm and declare all that Jesus taught which means the Jesus truths would be perpetually taught throughout the age. Not stale religious principles but living words, powerful enough to change and transform situations just as Jesus did when He walked on the earth. The word and His blood never lessen in power, never! That is faithfulness. And finally, Jesus said this about the Holy Spirit in John 14:15-17
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
I believe that I’m the days coming, there will be new revelation of Jesus in me, the hope of glory; Colossians 1:27 (ESV)
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
We will walk in concert with the Holy Spirit to see nations come to the truth and be transformed. No longer will the church be about 4 walls and programs. It will be about a people who recognize that God lives in us and is willing to move through us to change nations through obedient declaration that comes directly from the Holy Spirit, not my own unction. No matter the situation, Jesus always has the last word, Matthew 24:35 (ESV)
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
His character, righteousness and Justice (Ps 89:14) are the foundation of His word and they both serve as the foundation of His faithfulness! No matter what, He is faithful to His word and to His followers. He is also faithful to fulfill His word because God is not a man who can lie. It’s one thing God cannot do.
God bless you!