DETERMINATION DECLARATION DELIVERANCE

Jack Davis

“I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies” – Psalm 18:3.

Our forefathers (in the U. S.) were possessed of strong determination to become an independent nation. Some of them had the burning desire to worship God after the dictates of their hearts, but their freedom from an iron-fisted rule did not come without great cost.
Their declaration of independence, was related to much shedding of blood. The liberty from their enemies’ control was to be enjoyed as a complete deliverance – and thus they called upon the Lord.

I am certain that our greatest freedom from our enemies is to be realized as we become most dependent upon the Lord. Our enemies can only bind and hinder us as we try to conduct our lives in independence of Him. Hence dependence upon Him produces the greatest independence possible.

THE LORD’S FREEMAN

Declaration of our independence: I Cor. 7:22-23, “For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” We, being purchased out of sins slave market (redeemed by the Blood), are free, free to serve, honor and worship the Lord. Glorify Him with all that we are and do, as well as what we say.

DETERMINATION

“I will call upon the LORD.” In the first three verses of this 18th Psalm, David seems to express a three-part resolve, of which this is the third. In verse one, “I will love thee.” “In whom I will trust,” verse 2. He has made his decision from past experience it is evident, as he tells us what the Lord is: what he had become unto Him. Humanity is told to call upon the Lord, bringing their request boldly to the throne of grace. We are promised sweet blessings, and the richest benefits in so doing. Yet we find that the only ones that consistently follow through are those that also truly love and trust Him.

DECLARATION

“The LORD who is worthy to be praised.” Oh yes, He is worthy! But who realize His altogether worthiness? Is it not those that, “worship God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh?” Who can say with convincing certainty, “He is worthy of all our worship,” other than those that love Him, trust Him, and call upon His Holy name? Those that stay in close, personal contact with our Lord realize victorious Christian living. Such believers are feasting at Jesus’ feet, and fighting the good fight of faith on their knees. Thus in prayer and praise we are being preserved.

Who knows by experience the total worthiness of His praise? Oh, what a privilege we have of knowing our Lord personally, intimately, in the sweetest closest communion. It is there, in prayer, that we gather much material for praise. In praise, we give God the glory for the victories won in prayer. These go together well. A happy Godly life cannot be separated from prayer and praise (Phil. 4:6-7 and I Thess. 5:16-18).

DELIVERANCE

“So shall I be saved from mine enemies.” The psalmist thus expresses such confident assurance. We may also know now that He is able to save to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25). We have the need and the privilege to be experiencing His saving power in our daily lives – body, soul and spirit. He has saved us; He does save us; and He always will save those who call on Him in truth, in the way and time that is best for us (II Cor. 1:8-10).

OH yes, God’s people do have their enemies no matter how Christ-like they are. Enemies have we that are powerful, wily, deceitful, and fierce. There are always enemies of  God’s grace, enemies of the cross of Christ, but the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Lord’s people (without and within). Prayer and praise in peril, seem to be the main way God would have us deal with our enemies that involves the world, the flesh, and the devil. In prayer, we, by faith, flee to His presence knowing that He is always there, placing ourselves under His protection, depending on His mighty power instead of defending ourselves.

Prayer is not just informing the Lord of our plight, for He knows all that we have need of. It is not pleading with Him. Prayer is not overcoming divine reluctance, but rather laying hole of His loving willingness. It is the Lord’s purpose to save. He has made full, provision for our deliverance. As we yield to Him and trust Him, He is performing a deliverance that will soon be complete (Phil. 1:6).

It is good for us to remember as we place before Him our dependent resolve that divine rescue often follows, or is preceeded by a requesting and rejoicing.