Michelle shares from Psalm 119:81-88 today as we move from growing in God's Word to being delivered by it. The revival key of deliverance is often overlooked but, can be essential to a life of continual obedience as we experience His tender love through His deliverance.

Episode Transcript: 

Introduction 

Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives blooming alive! For my friends here in the United States I want to wish you a happy, happy Fourth of July this is Independence Day in America, and what an appropriate day for me to be reading about God's Deliverance for us who are committed to Him through His Word. 

Independence Day & A Prayer For America

With that said I'm going to let you go into the regular podcast but I wanted to remind you that it’s Independence Day in America -- let's pray for God to restore the freedom that we have long held and long fought for in this country and that they would be applicable to every man woman and child who is a citizen of the United States of America thanks so much for listening today now here is the rest of today's story.  

Revival Series: Recap & Review

This is episode 135! I haven't noted the episode number before, but I guess it's helpful for you to know where we are in the grand scheme of blooming inspired podcast. We are currently reading Psalm 119 looking for keys to Revival -- not just big, broad universal revival, but personal revival how does God revive our Hearts.  

On Tuesday we talked about how growing through God's word is one of the keys that as we focus our hearts on who God is in scripture, who we know Jesus to be from scripture, specifically when we consider that it's His hands that held us and made us who we are that His revelation teaches us to please Him and builds faith in our lives. 

That it's good for us to desire that others would see his favor and his goodness in our lives so that they would rejoice at the fact that His words are woven into the fabric of our heart, trusting him no matter what we go through. Even in seasons where we're reaping consequences for choices that we made, understanding that as a judge he is faithful and true -- isn't that what Revelation 19 tells us about Jesus? 

And, that his kind mercy kiss that comforts us is Jesus and it comes through His Holy Spirit to us who believe.  His tender love delights us when we receive his life-giving truth. That we don't have to be bound up by the shame that is put upon us by people who would oppress us and lie about us because of our passion for His Word. But instead, those who love God and worship Him will follow us because we follow Him, and at the end… The final part of this key is to make us passionate and wholehearted to fulfill God's every wish, or his every desire, so that we’ll never be put to shame. So that we’ll always be covered by that genuine humility that comes with His double honor. 

You see, devoting ourselves to God as our true treasure leads to growth and maturity in His truth and the desires of his heart. And when we’re surrendered to the desires of His heart it leads us to a place where His word becomes woven into the fabric of our heart. And, we out of genuine humility, passionately and wholeheartedly, pursue Him and the desires of His heart in our lives. In so doing see revival in our lives, and if we're leading others, it should lead them to revival. 

Today’s Topic: Deliver Me! 

Today, we’re going to talk about the key of the key of Deliverance. We're reading from The Passion Translation, and we're going to be reading verses 81 through 88. The heading over this section of scripture is “Deliver Me.” 

In verse 81... I want you to turn in your bibles if you've got one. Just grab them real quick, turn over to Psalm 119 -- It'll be somewhere toward the middle of your Bible. And, if you have a journal, take some notes,or if you want to write in your Bible like I do, just jot down a few notes. Some people who may even do what I do at times, and write your notes down on a sticky note and stick on right there in your Bible so you know right where you read about that note.

 Let's begin.  

Toward the middle of your Bible and if you have a journal take some notes or if you like to write in your Bible like I do just jot down and she knows there's some people may even do what I do right so Verse 81: “I’m lovesick with yearnings for more of your salvation…” 

Heartsick for More

Have you ever been in a season of your life where you felt heartsick for more of God -- for more of what His salvation has done for you in your life? You see, Jesus didn’t just die to give us a ticket from hell to heaven --  He died for us to be victorious upon this earth. To live completely delivered, and absolutely at liberty in the freedom that He died to give us. Scripture assures us in Corinthians that where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. 

“...For my heart is entwined with your word…” (Psalm 119:81b)

His Word In My Heart

Remember, back in the last passage in that second verse, 74(b), “for your words are entwined within my heart…” This idea of His word becoming a part of your heart, a part of who you are. And our heart is the wellspring of life we live from - isnt’ that what Scripture tells us? 

“I’m consumed with longings for your promises, so I ask, ‘When will they come true?’” (Psalm 119:82)

Longing for the Promises of God to Come True

When will they come true? Have you ever been in a season of life where you’re yearning for more of God’s salvation? Where you’re recognizing I’ve been in Your word it’s becoming a part of who I am. I’m seeking to live out of who Jesus is in me,and still… I’m consumed. I’m so overwhelmed by the longings I have to see Your promises come true. 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for His righteousness, for they shall be filled. (see Matthew 5)

There’s a longing aspect that brings about personal and corporate revival. A hunger for the holiness of God to be made manifest through His promises. 

When will they all come true?   

When is Jesus coming back? 

I’ve heard people ask that.

When we get so hungry that this Word goes to the ends of the earth, and every person has the opportunity to receive Him! 

Empty Soul, Full Heart

“My soul feels dry and shriveled, useless and forgotten, but I will never forget your living truth.” (Psalm 119:83)

Do you know that your heart, your spirit, your spiritual heart, where it is talking about His word is entwined, is completely other than your soul - which is your mind will and emotions? While your soul can be dry, shriveled up, useless and forgotten - you can feel absolutely at your utter wit’s end. You can feel absolutely useless, like you’re just dried up. You don’t have anything left to offer. But the truth, the living truth of God’s Word, never dries up. Your heart can be full when your soul feels empty. 

Do you get what I’m saying? 

And when our soul feels empty, and our heart is full of God’s truth - we need to go to that truth, and go to that truth, and go to that truth until those dry places are filled with the living water that comes from Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. 

God’s Servants Are Persecuted

“How much longer…” It says in verse 84. “...Must I wait until you punish my persecutors?” 

Ah, now we’re there. He’s being tormented. He’s being persecuted.” He says, “I’m your loving servant.” (Psalm 119:84b)

The Trap of Arrogance & Judgment

“Arrogant men who hate your truth and never obey your laws have laid a trap for my life.” (Psalm 118:85)

Never in the United States of America has the potential for this verse to be true been more relevant than today. In the last few years, our country has taken a turn. It’s actually been the last decade or so, our country has been shifting and trending away from the things of God, where it is becoming unpopular to be a believer in Christ, or even a Jewish person aligned with Israel. And there are people who are so arrogant before God that they would seek to put a trap for Christians and catch them so they can punish them - because they (those settings traps) don’t want to obey God’s truth. They don’t want to obey His Word. 

This political correctness and tolerant preaching that we hear from the world around us is the enemy’s best ploy for defeating Christianity and the purposes of God for the United States of America. 

We’ve got to stay true to what we know the Bible says, but the priority is to express His truth in love. In order for His truth to be expressed in love, we have to have relationships with people where we can speak into their lives in understanding ways. And recognize that the person living in the sin that I abhor is no different than me living in the sin that offends God in my life. 

It may not look like that (sin). It may not be so easily identifiable, but He hates it all the same. We must tend our hearts in humility lest we enter into judgment, and reap consequences. Jesus didn’t come to judge the world, He came to save it. 

Do you get what I’m saying there, friends? 

Part of being delivered from this culture and world around us is to walk in the loving purpose of God. 

The World Doesn’t Know The Truth

Verse 86, “They don’t know that everything that you say is true, so they harass me with their lies. Help me, Lord!”

They don’t know! Why do they not know? Because the church (universal) has not been doing her job. We’ve been demanding our rights, and that the government be our source of influence. And we have not been salt and light and love to the world around us. 

This is a clarion call! If we want to be delivered from the present culture, we have to turn our hearts to God, and to those people He desires to have in His Kingdom. And, I’m going to break it to you, friends… They’re sinners. They’re sinning. And, if we are offended by a little speck of sin in their eye, then we’ve got a plank of sinful judgment in our own. And, I’m so weary of the body of Christ attack other members of the body of Christ over points of doctrine without expressing love, without following the mandate of Matthew 18 and 19, without following the example of Christ, without honoring the Spirit of God.

You see, love and honor go hand in hand, and you can be a heresy hunter and have no love and no honor in your heart. This may offend some people, and I’m quite all right with it. I’m not speaking about anyone specific - I’m speaking about what you can tune into Twitter and see in a heartbeat. Or tune into Facebook and see in a heartbeat. I’m so weary of the body of Christ devouring itself. We’re so turned in on ourselves, we can’t be any good to the world around us. 

I’ve been guilty of this. I’ve been critical of other believers, of leaders in churches - I’ve done it in public. And, I’ve had to repent because God got a hold of my heart, and told me - This is not His heart for His church. He did not come… Jesus did not come to deliver to His Father a dissociated, divided Bride. So, if we want revival, we better unify over the things we can agree on and stop devouring each other and partnering with the enemy against each other. 

Whoa! I got a little fiery there… Let’s conclude. 

I Refuse to Yield to Persecution

“They don’t know that everything that you say is true, so they harass me with their lies. Help me, Lord!” (Psalm 119:86) 

When everyone else in life turns against you - the Lord will be your help. Cry out to Him! 

“They’ve nearly destroyed my life, but I refuse to yield; (I still live according to your word.)”  (Psalm 119:87a)

When the naysayers come… When you know that you know that you know that you are walking on purpose with God, you cannot give way to the people who would be negative or naysaying in your life. (Those) who would attack and accuse you.

You have to stand on what you know to be true. Stand in the face of persecution… Just as Jeremiah did… Just as Elijah did… Just as many of the prophets of God… Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - they had to stand in the face of persecution. The Apostle, John, and Jesus, Himself…

The Apostle John stood in the face of persecution. Early church history has it that he was boiled in oil and survived. He lived on the aisle of Patmos, imprisoned for his faith. 

Paul, the Apostle, was persecuted, and imprisoned and martyred. Peter was martyred. James, the brother of John, was martyred. All of the early church apostles were martyred, save John. He died of natural causes. 

We have to stand on the truth. When we see them burning our friends at the stake, we have to stand on truth, and not cower to fear... And not cower to political correctness... And not cower to the naysayers who would cause us to backbite and backstab our fellow believers in Christ. 

Refuse to yield my friends, and now we conclude.... 

"Revive me..." Here's our word. "Revive me with your tender love and spare my life by your kindness, and I will continue to obey you." (Psalm 119:88)

And, if we're not careful we can read that and think that there is an exchange - a bargain - we can strike with God. That we can negotiate with Him. That if He doesn't do what He says we don't have to obey Him. 

That's not the truth of God's Word. The truth is the more we experience His tender love, His deliverance and His kindness in our lives - the more revival comes to our hearts and our souls and our lives, and the world around us - the more obedient we become. 

That's where we're going to conclude today.  

Lord, revive our hearts according to Your Word. Deliver us from those who would persecute us. Deliver those who are backbiting and backstabbing, and becoming persecutors of the church. (Those) who are bound up in legalism and religious traditions, and the doctrines of men. And release us to become a unified body where revival and reformation takes place. Just as you did in the day of Martin Luther, and his thesis he nailed to the door of his church - do it again is us, God. And let revival and awakening to the Holy Spirit and the things of Your Word bring us to holiness and purity and truth in the name of Christ. It is by His authority and His name that I ask you to make all these thing true concerning us. Make us humble servants to Your word and Your spirit today. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

That's all the time we have for today... Don't forget the Prophetic Conference Coming Up (Looking at September - October Dates). 

And Wildflower Women is launched Sunday July 1st. I'll be preparing more for that tomorrow. I'll be doing some videos and inviting people to join us so I'm just excited about that. 

I just honor you today. I honor your willingness to stick it out with me and hear what God is speaking to my heart as I read through scripture  with you.

Thank you for being a part of the Blooming Inspired Podcast & the Blooming Inspired Network. If you like this podcast be sure to share it with your friends and people within your influence. We're so grateful to have you along. If you want to learn more about Blooming Inspired Network go to bloominginspirednetwork.com and click any link at the top of the page to learn more about us and REMEMBER: Blooming where you're planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams, so live your lives Blooming Alive!

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