Tuesday, January 19, 2021

STRONG

Holy Spirit Power
I had gotten a number of thought processes of some scriptures this past weekend for a blog. And in them all, some were definitely mine and one was for prayer for a family we know, but I kept on reading through Proverbs and other passages. Then I heard this testimony that forever changed a young man’s life early this morning. He was not saved till he was a teenager in the early 1960’s and the couple of who had prayed for him was neighbors and not of his own family. This devout couple prayed for this young man to preach the word as God had called him to do. And today I had seen his going home to be with Jesus. Oh my, how many have passed on to glory with Jesus just in these last months. And many yes, we know have been those about eighty years of age and older. Still, we think of those who are still among the living, and have a new year to encounter. If we truly lead, may we lead others to be strong in this hour and to finish strong by the end! And for this gentleman, he had a great going home adventure. His testimony was that this couple had told him that he would preach God's word. And he said no to that when he had been saved. He continued to tell the woman who told him he was that coming preacher whenever she saw him, but his answer remained the same till one day. It was later in the 1960's when he was going to someone's home but as he got to the shallow creek, the creek had become a river and was swollen even though it was a sunny day. He could not drive his car over the fast moving river. He would not be stopped! He got out of his car, rolled up his pants legs and proceeded to remove his socks and shoes and march across that river. Well, with great faith and patience to move slowly across the rocks in swift water, he reached the bank and started to climb. Then a "voice" was heard: "Are you the preacher I have been praying for?" AND his reply: Yes, I am that preacher!" And he went to preach the word of God!

On his headstone: Strong!

I know people use this word as their focus for their community either from a terror attack like seen in Boston, Massachusetts just a few years ago or those overseas in other nations like Paris, France and abroad. A school uses it for Sandyhook Strong where young children were killed in their school rooms targeted by a person not in their right mind for life. Another like Boston Strong, that represents those who were killed or maimed by the shrapnel that was poised against those who ran marathons. Sad that many innocent always find their end when they are targeted as in this tragedy by the whims of a madman. But our focus is finishing STRONG! People use this slogan to enforce their community and it is good. Still we are to be strong every day, every hour whether day or night, peace or tribulation, we are to be strong in the Lord!

Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV  10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

WE put on the divine nature of God to stand against the enemy who can and will use others to terrorize.

Ephesians 6:14 Stand, therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints---19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.

NOT Against Flesh and Blood: To discern between the spiritual struggle and culture with the social, the personal and political difficulties: Romans 8:37-39 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created things hall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 The DEFENSIVE is the Armor: Ephesians 6:14 Stand, therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

 But the DEFENSIVE is :Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints---19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.

The sword of the Spirit which is the word of God: Hosea 6:5-6 NKJV Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth; and your judgments are like  light that goes forth. 6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

God had sent His prophets to shape the nations but by rejecting them, the people called upon themselves the penalty that now must follow. God desires our relationship with Him more than He desires our service for Him.       Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

From 4:12 powerful, energes ( en—er---gace) Strong’s #1756 energetic,..it is the opposite of “ineffective”

Spiritual Warfare is Victorious Based on the Provision of the Cross and Christ’s Blood: Colossians 2:13-15 and you being dead in your trespasses and the un-circumcision  of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers. He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Grounds of Authority: Jesus triumphed over sin: Ephesians 2:13-16 NKJV 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that he might reconcile them both to God in one body through the Cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

Galatians 3:13-14 NKJV 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.”) 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 NKJV Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”

Revelation 12:10-11 NKJV Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of the brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” 11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

 

Entering Conflict: Know what side you are on! Right now, our faith is to be unwavering, the result of an abiding relationship in Christ Jesus.

Faith’s confession: Matthew 5:3 blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The beatitudes belong to those only of the kingdom of God: fulfilled in prophecy in Luke 4:16-21 was first given in Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.

 Jesus on the cross, giving up His body and by shedding His blood completely satisfied God’s requirement: Hebrews 10:12-14 NKJV But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are going sanctified.

Opened up the gates of Heaven for anyone that would believe in Him John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

In HIM, we have the benefit of life eternal.  1 John 5:10-12 NKJV 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony; that God has given us eternal life, & this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Romans 2:6-11 Amp. Bible 6 for He will render to every man according to his works [justly, as his deeds deserve]. 7 To those who by patient persistence in well-doing [spring from piety] seek [unseen but sure] glory and honor and [the disobedient to the Truth  but responsive to wickedness, there will be indignation and wrath. 9 [And] there will be tribulation & anguish & calamity & constraint for every soul of man who [habitually] does  evil, the Jew first & also the [Gentile]. 11 For God shows no partiality [undue favor or unfairness; with Him one man is not different from another. Our answer is in Jesus from Matthew 11:29-30 He said “take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle &lowly in heart….you will find rest for your soul. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

The Holy Spirit Prepares Us for Kingdom Victories Today: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints---

This is any prayer directed by, energized by and sustained by the Holy Spirit. It is prayer prayed in the Spirit. It falls in the category of being in the Spirit, speaking by the Spirit of God and singing in the Spirit.  Praying in the Spirit: according to God’s will which is His word: 1 John 5:14-15 NKJV Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

It will glorify the Father through His Son: John 14:13 and whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Always based on God’s character, Gods, ways and His Word: John 15:7 NKJV If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.

Will always come from a clean heart: James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Prayed in full assurance of Faith: James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.

Asked in Jesus’ name: John 14:14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

 

Whatever our focus at this moment whether to what may occur in the year ahead, the loss of a loved one, or what health crisis that might appear, but direct our focus really at this moment is to be on Jesus our Lord and Savior and remember He sent the Holy Spirit to us: not for a dress code, not for arranging big hair or flat hair, not for the weight or a specific height of a person, not about that certain leader of a business or ministry, but about Jesus. And Jesus said he was sending us His Holy Spirit for purpose. The Holy Spirit for power in our lives!

John 14: 16 And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Helper, that he may abide with you forever.

That means the Holy Spirit will do what Jesus did when He is absent from the scene with the disciples. It is continuity of what Jesus did and taught!

You could speak to any number of people in any nation right now and find them grieving over the loss of a leader of their country, a loved one passed on, they lost their job over a virus or they feel like the world has gone off its course! But these all have the Holy Spirit available if they are the saved ones who called on Jesus with a repentant heart.

Let’s choose the present and forget the past! That is a hard one but we can do it! That listening to the lies of the enemy instead of resisting them by the Holy Spirit will only bring us into more grief and worry from what occurred in 2020. We push back by inviting the power of the Holy Spirit to cleanse our mind with Christ’s thoughts. We have been given authority: we command in Jesus’ name that all lying spirits have to leave our minds. We will not adulterate our souls to live in confusion…we will live in clarity…We will not be tormented with impure, evil, negative or sinful thoughts but transformed by the renewing of our minds. We prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)    WE are Enabled “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10) ….

WE are not to be anxious for nothing;  but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, we let our requests be made known to God, and His peace, which surpasses all understanding, guards our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) and finally, whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of a good report, having virtue or anything praise worthy, we think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

So should you and I live in a country or region where the culture throws an agenda of discord against the righteous, or there is one who initiates an attack with fear mongering concerning the welfare of your body, your family or community, or when someone throws you under a bus to save their own flesh, what will come out of your mouth should be a heart that is filled with God’s word. Life & death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

The LORD is the “good” to those who find and take refuge in Him. Sickness is not of God but of the devil who came to steal, kill & destroy. The adversary is the unrepentant, who chooses to kill by spilling blood, by destroying one’s  health, determining our outcome. BUT We are not the cursed, but the blessed of God! We confess: we are the redeemed of the Lord, that He is our light /our salvation, whom shall we fear, He is the STRENGTH of our life of whom shall we be afraid?   Whatever the obstacle, God delivers to set us free for good. And this will be for His glory and to His praise. We are God STRONG! WE are set as warriors with our armor in place and the Holy Spirit guiding us through paths that are narrow and sometimes bumpy, the path we walk has many sounds like munitions firing, but peace holds us, we take not a glance to the right nor to the left, we keep our gaze on the beauty of the Lord WHO spoke “It is Finished.”

He took it all so we could finish strong! He took our sin so that we could be with Him forever. For you and I, we run this race, through the smoke of the enemy, and through the close sounds of whizzing arrows, but we run, for God set the course for us. He set that standard of the Gospel to build us up in Christ Jesus with the same actions and motives that have eternal value. For eternal life started long ago when we accepted Christ as Savior and Lord.

 Jesus’ walk was to a Cross on Calvary. Many things have occurred we did not see coming and we in that sense feel like we have been badly wounded or even destroyed by the hateful intent of others. But we remain alert. John 16:13 However when He the Spirit of truth has come, he will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears he will speak; and he will tell you things to come. We are Holy Spirit enabled.

We are to remember that we are the righteous and as such will suffer persecution and face trouble of those against God and His plan but we will also be vindicated by God Himself.  WE are strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. WE are strong to stand against the wiles of the devil. We are strong because we have taken up the whole armor of God, that you and I may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand……yes, strong…in the power of His might! Amen.


                                          New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

The Faithful Church, The Lukewarm Church

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New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

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