Mondays are great days for remembering that God is One who loves to deliver. How often do the Shepherd’s silly sheep find themselves in over their heads? Suffice it to say that we discern that it is a frequent thing with most of us to know that our life requires some divine intervention. I’m still looking for the person who can honestly declare that his or her life of faith is being easily lived out. I’m not even sure that this is a spiritual possibility. Can a follower of Christ who is purposefully seeking to grow, deepen, mature in the faith and die to self possible declare, “Hey, I’ve got this thing down. It’s a breeze.” Methinks the answer be nay.
“On Him we have set our hope that He will deliver us again.” – 2 Corinthians 1:10-11 {ESV}
Paul was opening up his second letter to the church at Corinth as he gave testimony to the delivering power of God. In the above verse we would do well to focus much of our attention on the word again. Perhaps nobody else in the history of the church understood as much concerning God’s plan for humanity than the Apostle Paul. He was granted miraculous power, incomparable wisdom, unparalleled endurance for ministry and the grand privilege of being the human author of most our New Testament. He also suffered like few others. If our little formula of faith + obedience = an easy path were to be proven true, nobody else above Paul should have it exemplified in their life experience. Yet, you know that the formula is not one that has its origin in God. No, friends, that is a man-made equation that has shipwrecked many a naive saint. God never – NEVER – promises us ongoing ease. He does, however, promise His own participation in the difficulty. He promises a deliverance…and not for the last time.
You and I need deliverance today. If you don’t think you need it then I suggest that you may need it most of all. There are circumstances on the outside of us which require God’s presence and power. Some of us need some hasty relief from walls closing in, deadlines rapidly approaching and opposition which refuses to relent. Others reading today have sick bodies, overwhelmed minds or dry spirits. We should slow down and recognize that deep bruising has found some close to us who will wear forced smiles on their faces. Others will compensate for longstanding fears by overemphasizing other areas of their lives where they feel more capable – they appear strong but they are actually trembling by the hour. Entrenched sin has hobbled the effectiveness of some in the church and they are pounded by daily guilt from the accuser which now causes them to doubt even the security of their souls. A few of you are living on a prolonged plateau where there is neither good nor evil that you can see; only stillness and silence as it might seem that God has forgotten you.
Yes, in all these things we need deliverance. Again. And again. And again.
Notice that Paul says that our hope is active…and well should it be. You see our Savior is greater than our strivings. He is more mighty than our foes. He has endless endurance and commitment so we know that He will be present when the thing from which we require deliverance is no more. Because God is good, He cannot fail us. He has deemed it better for us to know Him in the battle than it would be for us to miss His presence in the absence of battle. He is seeking to develop your trust and refine your faith. He’s answering those bold prayers that you once belted our when you longed for His greatness in your life. We forget those prayers, don’t we? Yet He cannot! Those prayers are being answered in both your present trouble and your impending deliverance. Friends, what we need the very most is not a cessation of our woes. We do not stand in the greatest need of a calming of our seas. It is not the funeral of our enemies that we most require. Certainly we need deliverance but it is this deliverance most urgent in our lives:
I need deliverance from me and you need deliverance from you. This is the work that God has exalted above all others. This is where we find Him the greatest. When self dies and Christ is seen to be resurrected…this is the victory whose sweet fruit will not be matched. This is what the Holy Spirit within you yearns for. This is what we need.
God, grant us your deliverance. Again. This is our hope.