“Keep and protect me, O God, for in You I have placed my trust and found refuge. 2I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.” 3As for the saints (godly people) who are in the land, They are the majestic and the noble and the excellent ones in whom is all my delight. 4The sorrows [pain and suffering] of those who have chosen another god will be multiplied [because of their idolatry]; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, Nor will I take their names upon my lips.”

Psalms 16:1-4 AMP

A word of encouragement this morning. It has been on my heart recently to remind myself that God is in control. Many times, the events of the day and the circumstances of our lives can cause us to lose focus of that reality! The Psalmist was crying out to the Lord to “keep and protect” him. The note on this Psalm talks about the issue of provision in life and protection in death. The words translated “keep and protect” is a great translation of the Hebrew here. The word is the one meaning “to create a permanent and sustained condition; Militarily it meant to limit access and movement of the enemy within a given area by defensive protection or guarding.” What a great reminder of the position that we are in. The Apostle Paul put it best,

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. 38For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced–beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39 AMP

Do you see it? “Yet in all these things…” The word “all” appears in the Greek text appears with a definite article proceedin. This implies the concept of totality, the whole or encompassing everything. There are times when we experience loss and pain, so we wonder what is happening to us! The Apostle reminds us that we are “more than conquers.” Conquers are those who embrace the victory and exercise their authority. This Greek word encompasses all of existence; physical, emotional, legal, and the metaphysical, spiritual realms. It means to win through prevailing in the battle! It reminds us that we can overthrow the lie of the enemy that we must accept defeat in our lives and simply give up! Jesus said to the Father,

“While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and protected them, and not one of them was lost except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.”

John 17:12 AMP

Today, Jesus is still with us through the Holy Spirit. His promise was to never leave us or forsake us so He sent the Holy Spirit to fulfill that promise! The Spirit is now or strength for the battle and the victory over the enemy! Paul reminds us that even the great lie of the enemy, death is final, is not true. If we believe that the Word of God is true, then we must not let death be a defeating concept in our lives. Before Jesus there was no hope past the grave. Now however He has removed the sting of death. The book of Hebrews tells us,

“Therefore, since [these His] children share in flesh and blood [the physical nature of mankind], He Himself in a similar manner also shared in the same [physical nature, but without sin], so that through [experiencing] death He might make powerless (ineffective, impotent) him who had the power of death–that is, the devil– 15and [that He] might free all those who through [the haunting] fear of death were held in slavery throughout their lives.”

Hebrews 2:14-15 AMP

Let me encourage you today. Jesus told us that He has victory over the grave and the world. We must walk in the hope of His calling the truth of His words. You are more than a conquer in Christ Jesus! To be a conquer, it means that battle need to be fought. The good news in that it is the Lord that will fight the battle for you if you will surrender to Him and receive the peace that passes understanding. Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken