You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
18 And [kai] the Lord [kurios] shall deliver [rhoumai] me [me] from [apo] every [pas] evil [poneros] work, [ergon] and [kai] will preserve [sozo] me unto [eis] his [autos] heavenly [epouranios]
kingdom: [basileia] to whom [hos] be glory [doxa] for [eis] ever [aion] and ever. [aion] Amen. [amen] KJV-Interlinear
18 The Lord
will deliver me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly
kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. NASB
The word for preserve, 'sozo,' means to protect, heal, deliver, and whole.
Evil, originates from Satan and is basically confined to this planet, as this is the stage for playing out the angelic conflict.
Paul was not worried about the dangers that existed in this world. Many as they are, and imminent as they are, still Paul looked to God for safety and security so long as his mission was ongoing in this life.
No matter what the world attempts, God will preserve you so long as you are functioning within your spiritual life, as He has defined it, and when completed, then and only then God will remove you at His convenience, not the worlds.
The world cannot remove anyone. God alone gives life and God alone takes it away.
But likewise, God alone determines your compliance, not you, and God is fair, very fair in His evaluations. While most people are more than unfair, biased, and just flat wrong in determining their own spiritual status. People know the requirements but ignore them, and prefer their own definition of what they are to do for God. Unfortunately they will find out too late, that they are wrong.
Unfortunately far too many kids figure that they have a better plan for their life, than to go to school, and they are wrong. And that same principle applies to most people who figure that they have a better plan for their own life, than God, so they ignore the obligation placed on them by God, to enter into a daily study, in fellowship, and proceed from there.
People just want to feel good about their life and do not want the responsibility of studying. After all, studying is boring. Study is not texting, not posting, not doing stuff.
Paul knows exactly what is truth and what is not.
Paul knows what is reality and what is pretense or delusion.
Paul looks to the future and to heaven, and not to this world. In Christ there is safety and a phenomenal destiny. And to have the 'in Christ' aspect for your life, you must have doctrine, for that is Christ in you, or doctrine, the word of God, learned and understood, and used in your life that results in your spiritual growth.
Safety does not refer to the avoidance of the violence of this world, but to the security of ones eternal life.
You will only live in this world for a few decades, and consideration as to how your eternal life, which is much, much longer, might be affected, is not only reasonable, but mandatory.
Anyone who rejects this notion is a fool.
Paul was facing certain execution. He knew it. It was happening all around him. His trial was going to be for show only because the final decision had already been made by the powers that be.
Look at your life and look at the world. The world has already made its decision as to your life, and it is not a good decision for you.
So, better to look to God, because He overrides all worldly priorities. In Christ, there is safety of purpose, safety of design, and safety of destiny.
You cannot control the government. You cannot control the weather. You cannot control society.
But, you can control your spiritual direction, and that is your ticket to power and authority overriding this world.
So, get with and stay with your daily Bible study. Confess regularly and remain in fellowship. Study and learn and come to understand that which will always remain elusive to the world, and win in your spiritual life as you will never win in this world.
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End Of Lesson
Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
