Please see my commentary below, regarding this post I received from the daily devotional I subscribe to, the CQOD, Christian Quotation of the Day, which is highly recommended as the best online source of quotations for Christian unity I know of. _______________________________________________________________
Christian Quotation of the Day
Friday, September 22, 2023
Meditation: In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? --Psalm 56:4 (NIV)
Quotation: What then are we afraid of? Can we have too much of God? ... Is it a misfortune to be freed from the heavy yoke of the world, and to bear the light burden of Jesus Christ? Do we fear to be too happy, too much delivered from ourselves, from the caprices of our pride, the violence of our passions, and the tyranny of a deceitful world? ... Francois Fenelon (1651-1715), Pious Reflections for Every Day in the Month, London: H. D. Symonds, 1800, p. 78-79 See the book at http://cqod.com/b/r3824 See also Ps. 56:4; 27:1-3; 118:6; Matt. 11:28-30; Luke 12:4; Rom. 8:15,31; Gal. 5:1; Heb. 13:6; 1 John 4:4,18
I'd like to comment on points in this excerpt from the above, fine devotional:
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? --Psalm 56:4 (NIV)
Jesus says Evil has been cast out of Heaven with nothing in Jesus in Heaven or on Earth, as Jesus says of Himself, He has now been given all power in Heaven and Earth.
“17 ¶ And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Lu 10:17-20 AV)
“27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” “28 ¶ Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” (Joh 14:27-30 AV)
“16 ¶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Mt 28:16-18 AV)
“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jer 31:34 AV)
“31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Lu 12:31-32 AV)
“20 ¶ And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Lu 17:20-21 AV)
“18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Mt 28:18-20 AV)
These are the words to live by that proceeded from the mouth of God's Word we praise, and in which Word we fear no evil now or future, and bear no burden of the past, so that if His words abide in us, the joy Jesus had in loving God back by keeping God's words obeyed in His heart, becomes our joy in loving God back by keeping God's word obeyed in our hearts, and our joy is full of the joy of God, Himself, united in His One Spirit living in in our hearts, where we keep His spoken words for Him to call to our memory, which words are Spirit and Life in us.
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Mt 4:4 AV)
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.” (Joh 6:63 AV)
So Evil can now only work through mortal man, who has no power against God, but only the power to choose good in repentance for himself. Until and unless mortal man does so choose, he has no power at all, and his momentary, self-deluding, insignificant human power perishes with him in his mortal flesh, with no part in the present and eternal Spirit of all power in Heaven and Earth.
“15 ¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” (Joh 14:15-16 AV) “20 At that day ye shall know that I [am] in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” (Joh 14:20-21 AV)
“23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.” “25 ¶ These things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with you. 26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (Joh 14:23-27 AV)
"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you,ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you...These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full." “4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
