THE GREAT SUSTAINER
Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. —Psalms 55:22
HE SUSTAINS US WITH HIS DIVINE POWER IN A FOREIGN ENVIRONMENT
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” —John 18:36
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. —Philippians 3:20
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the [corruption that is in the world through lust. —2 Peter 1:2 - 4
FOUR THINGS NEEDED TO SURVIVE IN A FOREIGN ENVIRONMENT:
OXYGEN
WATER
FOOD
HOPE
1. His divine power sustains us through His very breath found only in His presence.
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. —Genesis 2:7
One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord And to meditate in His temple. —Psalms 27:4 (amp)
When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].” —Psalms 27:8 (AMP)
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper
in the house of my God than dwell
in the tents of wickedness. —Psalms 84:10
2. His divine power sustains us through rivers of living water.
13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,
14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” —John 4:13 - 14Wherever the river flows, life will flourish—great schools of fish—because the river is turning the salt sea into fresh water. Where the river flows, life abounds. —Ezekiel 47:9 (MSG)
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” —John 7:37 - 38
3. His divine power sustains us with daily bread of life.
And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life.” —John 6:35a
17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.
19 I am a stranger in the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me. —Psalms 119:17 - 19Be generous with me and I’ll live a full life; not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road. Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders. I’m a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions. My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!— insatiable for your nourishing commands. —Psalms 119:17 - 19 (MSG)
4. His divine power sustains us with a living hope.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, —1 Peter 1:3 - 8This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, —Hebrews 6:19
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, thereyou may be also.
4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” —John 14:1 - 4“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” —Revelation 2:17