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I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11 WEB

Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane at night and then rushed through about six stages of a makeshift trial. He appeared before Annas, Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin, then Pilate, Herod, and finally Pilate a second time. The religious leaders pushed for Jesus to be crucified, though He was completely innocent. The life long politician, Pontius Pilate, wanted to please the people, so he gave in and granted them what they asked for. Jesus was crucified and buried, but on the third day, God raised Him back up to live forever more. The power of man had reached its end and could do nothing else. This is important for us to know. Your enemies can only go so far.

Jesus had many enemies, but they could only do what God allowed them to. Jesus told Pilate, You could have no power over Me unless it was given to you from above (John 19:11). This brings real peace into our life, knowing that when we are submitted to God, that we are in His loving hands. Nothing will come our way that He has not allowed. Even the most wicked acts of men will not result in permanent damage for God takes full responsibility for the life that is submitted to Him.

Even physical death is not the end of us, but only the beginning of something new. They crucified the Lord Jesus, but they couldn't keep Him in the tomb because men had reached the end of their power to harm Him. When you think about it, this is a very real thing. All the power on earth, the biggest nuclear bomb ever created, can go no further than death. There is a line its power cannot cross.

David said in Psalm 56:11 'I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'

John wrote in Revelation 12:11 'They overcame him because of the Lamb's blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn't love their life, even to death.'

There are things on the world that will threaten you with death, but the peace will come when you look beyond it. We need to remember that this world, and everything in it is temporary. The things that you see around you are not eternal, they will pass away.

After Jesus ascended, the Sanhedrin, the High Priest, the Sadducees, all threatened His Apostles with death and beatings, but the Apostles looked beyond what man could do to them because they knew that there are limits. John Huss was an early reformer who was burned on a stake as a heretic by the church in 1415. Do you know what John Huss was teaching? Some of the things that we take for granted today:

John Huss taught that no pope or bishop had the right to take up the sword in the name of the Church;

That he should pray for his enemies and bless those that curse him;

That man obtains forgiveness of sins by true repentance, and not by money.

For teaching these simple truths, John was excommunicated, free preaching was forbidden, many were beheaded, and eventually Huss was burned on a stake. While the flames began to rise around him, he sang a hymn to those watching. What a way to go. He knew that God would raise him up on the other side of the flame as He had for Jesus. This was just crossing over to the other side, and the power of men over him was reaching its end. About 600 years later, in 1999, the pope issued an apology and expressed "deep regret for the cruel death inflicted" on John Huss.

All the power on earth combined has its limits and can only go so far, while the power of God Almighty has no limit. If they fire you, He can give you a better job. If they leave you, He can give you someone that will treat you better. If you are sick, you can be healed. When you stumble, He can lift you back up. When they put you out of their circle, He can give you your own. When death finally comes, He will be waiting to raise you back up with His loving hands. I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for protecting me. You know what I am facing here better than I do and I look to You for my help. I put my trust in You, and my life is in Your loving hands. Please guide me and help me live my life close to You, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

Note: "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chron 7:14). If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network

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