Support - May 2005

This week we talk about support. Support is defined by Webster as -

Support -

Function: verb
1 : to endure bravely or quietly : BEAR
2 a (1) : to promote the interests or cause of (2) : to uphold or defend as valid or right : ADVOCATE (3) : to argue or vote for b (1) : ASSIST, HELP (2) : to act with (a star actor) (3) : to bid in bridge so as to show support for c : to provide with substantiation : CORROBORATE <support an alibi>
3 a : to pay the costs of : MAINTAIN b : to provide a basis for the existence or subsistence of <the island could probably support three
4 a : to hold up or serve as a foundation or prop for b : to maintain (a price) at a desired level by purchases or loans; also : to maintain the price of by purchases or loans
5 : to keep from fainting, yielding, or losing courage : COMFORT
6 : to keep (something) going

Synonyms - advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize

Function: noun
1 : the act or process of supporting : the condition of being supported
2 : one that supports

Synonyms - brace, bulwark, buttress, mount, mounting, shore, stay, underpinning

The Bible tells us in 2 Chronicles that the Lord supports those that are fully His -

2 Chronicles 16:9A - "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

Now the above scripture is taken from the Old Testament from where King Asa has acted foolishly and relied on King Aram and his army instead of the Lord. Hanani the seer tells King Asa of his foolishness, including the fact that he, King Asa, will now be a war due to his mistake. In response King Asa becomes angry and imprisons Hanani and oppresses some of his nation due to the truth that Hanani told him.

Our point in all of this is that God supports those that are His, but that does not mean that their walk or life is easy. Let’s first consider the support of God. Look at the synonyms of support - advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize, brace, bulwark, buttress, mount, mounting, shore, stay, underpinning. Look at the words that sum of the verb support - bear, advocate, assist, help, corroborate, maintain, and comfort. All of those things go to together to tell us that if God is supporting us that He will provide all that we need, He will defend us, He will protect us, He will strengthen us, He will guide us, He will help us, He will work with us. Basically, He will.

Now let us look at the concept of support in a more modern term. In modern terms if we combine all the things that it means to have God’s support it means that - God has your back. He will, does, and can take care of all that opposes you. You are not alone in your struggles, trails and work. He is working with you and for you. He is making the path to what He has planned for you clear. No power, force or opponent can or will stop Him from taking care of you. God is a completely sufficient and capable force that will completely care for all that you need.

You need not lean on your own understanding, your own strength, your own will, or your own way. Not leaning on your own understanding, strength, will and way also means not leaning on the understanding, strength, will or ways of others or the world. You, all your friends, all your neighbors, all your church, all your co-workers, all your money, all your education, all your skills, all the nation, and all the world will and do fail you. You, nor they, are sufficient to provide all that you need. God is the only means of complete sufficiency, and that sufficiency is available to you via the redeeming blood of Christ.

Now the tough part of the lesson. To get that complete and total support of God you have to be fully His. That means living for Him, sacrificing self, carrying the burdens of yourself and others, laboring when the work is both tiring and frustrating, and teaching the world about Christ and His love. It means a life fully devoted to pursing God, His will and His ways. Basically it means being the hands, feet, and mouth of Christ wherever you go. A large part of that is giving the will, direction, plans and path of your life over to God for Him to direct.

Being fully His does NOT mean being sin free as that would be impossible. God knows you will sin. If salvation kept us from sinning we would not need to continually seek God, His forgiveness, or His will as we would already be in His will and we would all live perfect lives after we accept Christ. So, perfection is not the standard for being fully God’s, devotion and dedication are. In the end, being fully God’s means having a core devotion and dedication to the things, ways and habits of God.

Now for the second tough part of the lesson. If we are fully devoted to God, fully dedicated to His ways and will our life will not be easy. In fact it is very likely the more dedicated and devoted you become to God the more difficult your life will be as you will be attacked more by Satan and the evil of this world. Look at Hanani from 2 Chronicles, he was imprisoned for speaking the truth. Consider the disciples, they were all verbally abused, threatened, and beaten. Some were even stoned, and put to death for following after Christ and speaking His truths. The history of the church is full of martyrs, oppressed prophet’s, downtrodden teachers, and suffering followers. The way of the Christian is not easy, but it contains a life full of blessings and ends in a eternity with Christ in heaven.

This is exactly what the Bible tells us the cost of following Christ is. God’s people are not called to easy walks. Taking up our cross and following Christ is hard, difficult and laborious work. We labor not in vain though, we labor with the full knowledge and power that God is ready, able and sufficient to care for us and to bless our work. He does not call us to suffer without cause or meaning. Everything done, every word spoken, every action taken, every deed done in His name is blessed, honored and it brings glory to God and to our risen savior Christ.

Why labor at things that do not bring glory to the Lord and reward to His people? That is the real question that you have to ask yourself and then answer for yourself. God promises to fully support you, and completely care for you. He promises to bless your labor and your work. He promises us most of all that we are His and that none can take us from His loving hand. So, the question is not if God can support you, He can, He does, and He will, the question is if you are going to live a life devoted and dedicated to Him where He can provide that support to you. There is no reason to wait if you plan to live for God. There is also no reason to continue acting like you care for God and His ways if you plan to rebel and dishonor God. Today choose whom you will serve God or man/self and then go live the life you choose. Just remember that the forgiveness of God is complete, His support is sufficient, that His judgement is final, and that He is always ready to redeem and restore if you will come to Him.

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	Picture from UINC - WILL.edu This week we talk about support. Support is defined by Webster as - Support - Function: verb 1 : to endure bravely or quietly : BEAR 2 a (1) : to promote the interests or cause of (2) : to uphold or defend as valid or right : ADVOCATE (3) : to argue or vote for b (1) : ASSIST, HELP (2) : to act with (a star actor) (3) : to bid in bridge so as to show support for c : to provide with substantiation : CORROBORATE <support an alibi> 3 a : to pay the costs of : MAINTAIN b : to provide a basis for the existence or subsistence of <the island could probably support three 4 a : to hold up or serve as a foundation or prop for b : to maintain (a price) at a desired level by purchases or loans; also : to maintain the price of by purchases or loans 5 : to keep from fainting, yielding, or losing courage : COMFORT 6 : to keep (something) going Synonyms - advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize Function: noun 1 : the act or process of supporting : the condition of being supported 2 : one that supports Synonyms - brace, bulwark, buttress, mount, mounting, shore, stay, underpinning The Bible tells us in 2 Chronicles that the Lord supports those that are fully His - 2 Chronicles 16:9A - "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. Now the above scripture is taken from the Old Testament from where King Asa has acted foolishly and relied on King Aram and his army instead of the Lord. Hanani the seer tells King Asa of his foolishness, including the fact that he, King Asa, will now be a war due to his mistake. In response King Asa becomes angry and imprisons Hanani and oppresses some of his nation due to the truth that Hanani told him. Our point in all of this is that God supports those that are His, but that does not mean that their walk or life is easy. Let’s first consider the support of God. Look at the synonyms of support - advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize, brace, bulwark, buttress, mount, mounting, shore, stay, underpinning. Look at the words that sum of the verb support - bear, advocate, assist, help, corroborate, maintain, and comfort. All of those things go to together to tell us that if God is supporting us that He will provide all that we need, He will defend us, He will protect us, He will strengthen us, He will guide us, He will help us, He will work with us. Basically, He will. Now let us look at the concept of support in a more modern term. In modern terms if we combine all the things that it means to have God’s support it means that - God has your back. He will, does, and can take care of all that opposes you. You are not alone in your struggles, trails and work. He is working with you and for you. He is making the path to what He has planned for you clear. No power, force or opponent can or will stop Him from taking care of you. God is a completely sufficient and capable force that will completely care for all that you need. You need not lean on your own understanding, your own strength, your own will, or your own way. Not leaning on your own understanding, strength, will and way also means not leaning on the understanding, strength, will or ways of others or the world. You, all your friends, all your neighbors, all your church, all your co-workers, all your money, all your education, all your skills, all the nation, and all the world will and do fail you. You, nor they, are sufficient to provide all that you need. God is the only means of complete sufficiency, and that sufficiency is available to you via the redeeming blood of Christ. Now the tough part of the lesson. To get that complete and total support of God you have to be fully His. That means living for Him, sacrificing self, carrying the burdens of yourself and others, laboring when the work is both tiring and frustrating, and teaching the world about Christ and His love. It means a life fully devoted to pursing God, His will and His ways. Basically it means being the hands, feet, and mouth of Christ wherever you go. A large part of that is giving the will, direction, plans and path of your life over to God for Him to direct. Being fully His does NOT mean being sin free as that would be impossible. God knows you will sin. If salvation kept us from sinning we would not need to continually seek God, His forgiveness, or His will as we would already be in His will and we would all live perfect lives after we accept Christ. So, perfection is not the standard for being fully God’s, devotion and dedication are. In the end, being fully God’s means having a core devotion and dedication to the things, ways and habits of God. Now for the second tough part of the lesson. If we are fully devoted to God, fully dedicated to His ways and will our life will not be easy. In fact it is very likely the more dedicated and devoted you become to God the more difficult your life will be as you will be attacked more by Satan and the evil of this world. Look at Hanani from 2 Chronicles, he was imprisoned for speaking the truth. Consider the disciples, they were all verbally abused, threatened, and beaten. Some were even stoned, and put to death for following after Christ and speaking His truths. The history of the church is full of martyrs, oppressed prophet’s, downtrodden teachers, and suffering followers. The way of the Christian is not easy, but it contains a life full of blessings and ends in a eternity with Christ in heaven. This is exactly what the Bible tells us the cost of following Christ is. God’s people are not called to easy walks. Taking up our cross and following Christ is hard, difficult and laborious work. We labor not in vain though, we labor with the full knowledge and power that God is ready, able and sufficient to care for us and to bless our work. He does not call us to suffer without cause or meaning. Everything done, every word spoken, every action taken, every deed done in His name is blessed, honored and it brings glory to God and to our risen savior Christ. Why labor at things that do not bring glory to the Lord and reward to His people? That is the real question that you have to ask yourself and then answer for yourself. God promises to fully support you, and completely care for you. He promises to bless your labor and your work. He promises us most of all that we are His and that none can take us from His loving hand. So, the question is not if God can support you, He can, He does, and He will, the question is if you are going to live a life devoted and dedicated to Him where He can provide that support to you. There is no reason to wait if you plan to live for God. There is also no reason to continue acting like you care for God and His ways if you plan to rebel and dishonor God. Today choose whom you will serve God or man/self and then go live the life you choose. Just remember that the forgiveness of God is complete, His support is sufficient, that His judgement is final, and that He is always ready to redeem and restore if you will come to Him.