THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN

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"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful and lends; and his descendants are blessed."
 
Psalms 37:23-26
 
 
First of all, in this passage we must realize that the words "good man" here refers to a righteous, holy living person who is striving to walk the path with God. Today- a good man could be just anyone. But in God's word- there is none good- only those who have been made righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ and are living a consistent life of holiness and godliness. It is these people that satan tries make them feel like failures, like they have fallen and are forsaken. We all make mistakes, make wrong decisions and fail. But God orders the steps of a "righteous" man and when we repent and try again- He upholds us with His hand. We will not be utterly cast down.
 
In 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 the apostle Paul describes several trials that Christians go through: "hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not is despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-" But verse 7 holds the key--- "the treasure in earthen vessels"---this treasure is Jesus Christ Himself- dwelling inside of believers- that causes us to come through many trials and still come out on the other side. The "excellence of the power"  is of God and not of ourselves.
 
We must realize that in the times we are living it is going to take more than a mental attitude towards God in order to stand. It is going to take the POWER of the Holy Spirit through His people to stand for the word of God, go through many trials and afflictions- but like Paul- to NOT be crushed, in despair, forsaken or destroyed. Many who think that they will be okay during times of tribulation just because they say they are "Christians" but are not living a godly, holy life according to the Word of God- will experience the crushing, casting down and despair. It doesn't have to be this way if only they allow God to get hold of them now.
 
 
"The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You."

Psalms 9:9-10
 
 
(Taken from Pastor Keith's message 10/2/2013)

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