November 18th, 1956 "I Have Set the Lord Always Before Me" Late Mr. N. Daniel
Psalm 16
This is a wonderful Psalm that brings out the deepest feelings of a child of God. Eighth verse, "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." I felt God at my right hand during my college days. This was true even later on, all through my life by His grace. "Always before you" – while in the midst of friends, while in the midst of enemies, while in your games, at meal times and while asleep. "My reins (inward parts) instruct me in the night watches." When you keep God’s word in your heart, it instructs you in your sleep. The heart holds the reins of he body. What your heart values and preserves, will determine your character. What you preserve in your heart as the most precious ambition will direct your actions. God spoke to Abraham in the night time and showed him the stars. God wants to instruct us in the night seasons—deepening your desire for Him. You must meditate on the word of God. When the thoughts of God and the Word of God dominate your subconscious and envelope your whole being with the desire for Him, which He puts there, your life will be a success. Youth is the time when the lusts of the flesh try to pull down your spirit’s desire. It is a time of a real fight. If God is your portion you will conquer. Your inheritance is God. Your inheritance is divine nature. The nature of the One who died on the cross is the nature that will conquer the world. Those who possess that nature will dominate the world. A man full of God’s thought and nature can never be shaken. They may be put in prison, burnt or killed, but they cannot be shaken. God is their portion. Fifth verse, "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot." David says that he drinks in God and His nature. God is your inheritance and he preserves your inheritance. David rises to great heights in these deep thoughts. Sixth verse, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage." The portion of the land which God had measured for Him was in the best place.
You will have victory in every place that you tread. God gave me such victories in my youth. I could present Him as the supreme One in every college I went to. Young people were attracted to Him. You must conquer like that. Young people, you will never be moved. You will not be defeated. Your faith will be honoured. Be pure and holy in the sight of God. Zechariah 12:8 & 9, "In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem." God’s aims for you are very high. David could see God at his right hand counseling him and leading him to fulness of joy. "My flesh also shall rest in hope." The body is an enemy of the Spirit’s ambitions. The body comes into the soul and contaminates the soul with self. Ethically the aim of life—is perfection in your life and to make others happy. Perfection comes through sacrifice. Humbling yourself before the cross and spiritual discipline. True happiness can be given to others by giving them the Gospel. Eleventh verse, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." This must be your hope. As we grow old we begin to assess our life’s success. If in our youth, God was not at our right hand choosing for us the portion in life, our life can never be a success. God’s intention is to give you the best. His patience and long-suffering are wonderful. We spoil His purposes by our selfishness. "Come let us reason together", says God. It is wonderful how in spite of our "self" and disobedience, He tries to make the best of what is left to Him, to give us that best. In His patience and long-suffering He bears with us. We spoil our life by not studying the Word of God. Mark 12:24 "…Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?" Sometimes people give themselves to God in their old age and God tries to make the best of that bit which is left. God wants us in our youth. I often ask God to forgive me for having spoiled His plans by my disobediences. Though we are converted we often grieve Him and spoil His purposes. I wish I had obeyed Him more in my college days. One day certain friends got a telegram to say a niece of theirs died. People were praying for their comfort. God asked me to pray that she may live. I feared their ridicule and refused to pray that way. Actually she lived. The telegram was wrongly worded. I did not glorify God because I cared for my name. Grow into perfect men of God. God calls you. At His right hand are pleasures for evermore. God is your portion.