The Arms of the Lord3️⃣: Support

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Deut.33.27 NKJV

The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, "Destroy!'

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This is going to be quite short and simple, but I strongly believe that the weight it carries is of great essence. Now I know "support" is more of a literal term than a spiritual term. I'm yet to find out a name of God that means "The Lord my support." So even before we proceed I'd like to clarify the kind of support that we'll focus on straight from Scripture.

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2 Samuel 22:17-20 NIV

"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; 

he drew me out of deep waters.

He rescued me from my powerful enemy, 

from my foes, who were too strong for me.

They confronted me in the day of my disaster,

but the LORD was my support.

He brought me out into a spacious place; 

he rescued me because he delighted in me.

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A "support" literally means that which preserves from being overcome, from falling, yielding, sinking or giving way. It's more or less like a prop, pillar or foundation that upholds, sustains, bears up by being under and keeps from falling. It's why I specifically highlighted that part of the scripture: underneath are the everlasting arms. 

Now David was a victorious King for most part of his life, but from the Scripture we get to learn that the wars weren't always a bed of roses for him. It was in that moment when he was overwhelmed by his enemies and almost gave way that God brings him out and into a spacious place. In other words when he was sinking, God became his support in the sense that He bore him up. 

Strong though we may think we are, there are times that we are too weak to hold on and stand firm. The wind is bound to blow so hard sometimes that we are only an inch away from giving way and losing ground. Worse still, we may actually give way and totally lose it, but this here makes all the difference.

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Proverbs 24:16 NIV 

For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

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Since we are of God, though we fall, we rise again because His mercies over us prevail. The idea of "falling" signifies quite a lot. It could be literally be losing in battle, like David, only that in a more spiritual sense, that is, against our chief adversary, the devil. It could be stumbling in faith like the disciples did when Jesus got arrested, suffered greatly and was later crucified on the cross. It could also be a fall in countenance (more like depression), like David yet again when he said, "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?" 

Lastly and most importantly it could be falling in the sense of failing to overcome temptations and consequently sinning against God, like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Here's where God's Mercy comes in--though undeserving, we are still loved abundantly.

Since Scripture admonishes us not to be unaware of the schemes of the enemy, it would be wise to be established in this truth, lest the devil takes advantage of us. Whether we fall into sin, or just stumble in faith, or are seemingly overpowered by the enemy, we can always remind ourselves that God is our eternal refuge. He will thrust out the enemy from before us. He will destroy him for our sake. 

Realize that all this is by virtue of the Grace of God. Though the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, Jesus came that we may have life, and have it more abundantly. He took the penalty of sin upon Himself so we would enjoy the supernatural life that God wants us to experience as we fellowship with Him. This traces its way back to where we started--the primary role of the arm of God in bringing Salvation, redemption and deliverance to all mankind. 

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2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

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It's only by virtue of the finished work of the cross that we are considered righteous before God. On this account, though we still stumble here and there, we can still rise again because He bears us up. He upholds us. He preserves us in His loving arms. He gives us room to start over. This is why we have the confidence to say this;

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Micah 7:8 NKJV

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;

When I fall, I will arise;

When I sit in darkness, 

the Lord will be a light to me.

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Let not the devil or anyone else for that matter condemn you. You are of God. He is your eternal refuge. He holds you up in His everlasting arms. There is room to start over. I'll say that again: there is room to start over.

Why all this? Well I'm glad you asked! Check this:

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Psalms 94:18 NLT 

I cried out, "I'm slipping!" 

and your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me.

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I say this with all my heart. I did have my share of struggles with guilt trip and self condemnation...up until I finally understood this. An amazing friend of mine at one point made me see things differently. Her words exactly? You haven't fallen from Grace. Jesus is Grace in you. 

Finally,                        

Jude 1:24-25 NIV

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

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