Above All

Let's look at a few important verses that say above all. What is important above all else?

Joh 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Col 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

3Jn 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Let us look again at the above all's that we need to heed.

Jesus Christ is above all, He is one with the one God who is above all. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the one God above all. We need faith above all as our armour of God. Without faith we are lost in confusion. His word is the faith builder. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. The most important character trait above all is to have love or charity which will make us more perfect in Christ Jesus. Finally above all things prosper in God's things, putting on Christ Jesus being found in him so that you may prosper and be in good health even as your soul prospers. Do these things and you will live above all of the evil and Jesus in you will be a light for others to see.

Merry Christmas

When Angels Came

Angels are messengers from God. In the past they delivered important messages and they were expected to be acted on with faith. The LORD requires that his people be people of faith. Angels were angry when the message was taken lightly, perhaps because God was angry too?

Sarah

Gen 18:9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
Gen 18:10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
Gen 18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
Gen 18:12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
Gen 18:13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
Gen 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
Gen 18:15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

Sarah laughed within herself, but God searches our hearts. He discerns what is real faith and what is not. The angel spoke to her unbelief. She had already messed things up by giving her handmaiden to Abraham to make them a son. This resulted in Ishmael, the son of the flesh and the enemy of God's promised chosen people through Isaac. The son's of Ishmael, the Arab nations fight with Israel until the end.

Zacharias, father of John the Baptist

Luke 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
Luke 1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
Luke 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Luke 1:18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
Luke 1:20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

His prayers were answered to have a son, but he probably had given up praying for this, because of their old age. Zacharias could not believe the angel, so the angel gave him a sign and a punishment; he would be unable to speak until the child was born nine months later. Keep praying for your loved ones, you people of faith for God hears and respects your faith.

Mary, the birth mother of Jesus

Mary was a humble virgin probably about sixteen years old.

Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month(of Elizabeth's pregnancy) the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
Luke 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
Luke 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Luke 1:29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luke 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

She responded in simple faith. The LORD honors humble faith and very much does not like unbelief and those who mock his word. Too many have no fear of God. God's word is truth and we are to believe and fear him who created us for his glory. God loves us through His Son Jesus Christ. Abide in him and abide in God's love.

The LORD Protects Israel

Ezekiel 29:1 On January 7, during the tenth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, this message came to me from the LORD:
2 "Son of man, turn toward Egypt and prophesy against Pharaoh the king and all the people of Egypt.
3 Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: I am your enemy, O Pharaoh, king of Egypt -- you great monster (dragon), lurking in the streams of the Nile. For you have said, 'The Nile River is mine; I made it for myself!'
4 I will put hooks in your jaws and drag you out on the land with fish sticking to your scales.
5 I will leave you and all your fish stranded in the desert to die. You will lie unburied on the open ground, for I have given you as food to the wild animals and birds.
6 "All the people of Egypt will discover that I am the LORD, for you collapsed like a reed when Israel looked to you for help.
7 Israel leaned on you, but like a cracked staff, you splintered and stabbed her in the armpit. When she put her weight on you, you gave way, and her back was thrown out of joint.
8 So now the Sovereign LORD says: I will bring an army against you, O Egypt, and destroy both people and animals.
9 The land of Egypt will become a desolate wasteland, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD."Because you said, 'The Nile River is mine; I made it,'
10 I am now the enemy of both you and your river. I will utterly destroy the land of Egypt, from Migdol to Aswan, as far south as the border of Ethiopia.

The LORD protects Israel; the LORD protects his covenant people. Woe to the nations who go against Israel. Woe to Egypt who was supposedly their friend and who was not their protection as they said they would be. Woe for a nation today who deals treacherously with Israel. They will answer to the Almighty God of Israel. Pharaoh was considered as a god by his people. He liked to boast of himself. "For you have said, 'The Nile River is mine; I made it for myself! A king is not made great by his boasting or his ability to debate. The LORD puts kings in power for his purpose, sometimes to punish a wayward people. Learn from this, repent you wayward people and repent high and mighty king and humble yourself before Almighty God. The God of Israel is greater than all gods. He will not share his glory. His righteousness will judge the nations through Jesus his Son. The same Jesus that you hide from will be your judge. Turn from your idols and foreign gods and bow to the King of kings and the Lord of Lords.

Isa 45:20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
Isa 45:21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Isa 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

End Times

Isaiah 24:10 The city writhes in chaos; every home is locked to keep out looters.
11 Mobs gather in the streets, crying out for wine. Joy has reached its lowest ebb. Gladness has been banished from the land.
12 The city is left in ruins, with its gates battered down.
13 Throughout the earth the story is the same -- like the stray olives left on the tree or the few grapes left on the vine after harvest, only a remnant is left.
14 But all who are left will shout and sing for joy. Those in the west will praise the LORD's majesty.
15 In eastern lands, give glory to the LORD. In the coastlands of the sea, praise the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
16 Listen to them as they sing to the LORD from the ends of the earth. Hear them singing praises to the Righteous One!But my heart is heavy with grief. I am discouraged, for evil still prevails, and treachery is everywhere.
17 Terror and traps and snares will be your lot, you people of the earth.

The people of God are the remnant. We may experience all the hardships and evil of the end times, but we are God's people and are not to be like the world. Isaiah is prophesying the end time days of tribulation. Believers will rejoice that the Lord is coming soon. Probably these are Jewish believers, many will be killed by the antichrist. There is a mixture of joy and sadness. Isn't this our condition? We joy in the Lord for he is everlasting and we are with him, but we sorrow for the world and it's bad condition and we are concerned in our flesh for our surroundings. Let us learn now to walk in the spirit, to stay close to Jesus and to live lives full of joy and praise, looking ahead to our completeness in him as we arrive in his presence! His grace is sufficient for anything that comes to us in this body of flesh. Rejoice that your names are written in the book of life because of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Be a witness of his overcoming life, bringing others to him.

Wise Men Came

Mat 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

wise men; magoi in the Greek

Mat 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Tradition has it that they were three kings, but they were astronomers and probably more then three. Perhaps these were influenced by Daniel and his revelations? The wise men knew what they were looking for and were looking for a sign. They came to worship the Messiah. They were following a star, a sign in the heavens. We are not to go to seers, diviners, or sorcerers for spiritual direction, but many do. We go to the LORD. The wise men had to hear from the scriptures to know where the Messiah was to be born.

Dan 2:23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.
Dan 2:24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.

Worldly Counsel

Mic 3:7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Mat 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

The people had no idea that a king had come. Herod was troubled and filled with jealousy and fear. Perhaps the people knew of Herod's ways and feared for what would be coming. Herod was a ruthless cruel king even killing members of his own family.

Counsel from the Scriptures

Mat 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

A ruler is born in Bethlehem who came from old, from everlasting. The everlasting king of the Jews is born in Bethlehem.

Mat 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
Mat 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Herod sends the wise men to Bethlehem to inform him when the Messiah is found. The lying King said that he would worship him too, but the devil was in him. He would try to destroy the Messiah. Satan opposed Jesus from the start and will oppose his servants today and until he is judged by Jesus, the Christ, at the end time.

Gifts for the Messiah

Mat 2:9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

They saw the star in the east, they were from the east. The star would lead them west to Bethlehem.

I remember once riding a motorcycle with a full moon before me. The trees seemed to move by swiftly, but the moon remained in its distant position. Real stars are like the moon, distant and unreachable. A rocket may go to the moon, but the stars remain distant. To go to the sun, a star, you would burn up. This was a special star, a glowing star made by God that led the wise men to where the Christ child was staying. Perhaps it was a special fire like that led the Jews in the wilderness coming out of Egypt?

Mat 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

True worshippers rejoice at the presence of the Lord. The scribes and pharisees and the people that the Messiah came to bless, were uninterested and at the most frightened. How will you feel at the presence of our Lord?

Mat 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

The baby no longer was in the stable. This meeting occurred sometime afterwards, for they were living in a house, but still in Bethlehem. It was not a permanent home, there home town was Nazareth.

The wise men fell down and worshipped him. They knew he was the Messiah. The Lord that guided them by the strange star also guided them in their hearts by His Spirit.

The wise men brought gifts to the messiah:


gold for his royalty as king of kings; spiritually it stands for purity
frankincense, a sweet smelling fragrance for the great high priest, (Exo 30:34-37) who would offer himself a sacrifice, being the atonement for our sins. Incense spiritually are the prayers of the saints.

Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.


myrrh, a spice for his burial. They wrapped the body with white linen, using aloe and Myrrh, as spices. (John 19:39-40)

Spiritually I see this as the cleansing of our sins by his death, burial and resurrection.


Warned in a Dream from God

Mat 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

They were following God and hearing him in a dream. They were believers connected by the spirit of God to God the Father. They obeyed the Father and not the wicked king. They went home another way, not giving any information to the King.

When it comes to living and walking in truth, we obey God before earthly authorities. The apostles said it well when they were told to not witness for God.

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

There are many perils in the lives of those serving our Lord. Satan is our enemy and he controls most of the world. God is our help, His Spirit our guide. As he guided the wise men and Joseph, he will guide us. We are of the light and the truth. Our God is greater then the god of the world.

Wise men and women still seek Jesus. We give him the gift of our needy lives and he gives us eternal life and the gifts of his Spirit. He makes us vessels of honor for his glory.

Into Egypt

Mat 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

The angel of the Lord comes to Joseph in a dream, apparently soon after the wise men departed with a warning and a command from God. Arise now, take the baby and Mary and flee into Egypt. Joseph had heard from the Lord before and believed. The just shall live by faith obeying God. There was no need to question, we are to obey. God sees the future and He is our guide.

He was told to stay until he heard again from God. How many of us let God direct our paths? Do we go as the Spirit leads us and do we stay until He says to move again? This requires a closeness to God, to be able to know his will. God wanted to be sure Joseph understood, because Jesus was in danger from Herod. " Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." I believe that they were still in Bethlehem because that is where the wise men went to find him in his house.

Mat 2:14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
Mat 2:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

Mat 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

Herod was so mad with jealousy, that he would kill his potential rival, to be sure of this, he had all the children under 2 years old killed who were in the region of Bethlehem. Another prophecy is fulfilled.

Mat 2:17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
Mat 2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Jer 31:15 Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

Rachel had been buried in Bethlehem.

Gen 35:19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.
Gen 35:20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.


Mat 2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
Mat 2:20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

All is clear, come home again. Satan seeks to steal and kill and to destroy but we have the Lord protecting us. Who satan has divided and scattered, the Lord will bring back home. Blessed are those who trust in the Lord.

Prov 10:28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
Prov 10:29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
Prov 10:30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

Jesus of Nazareth

Mat 2:21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
Mat 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

The angel having told Joseph to return to his home, because Herod was dead. They returned to Nazareth.

Mat 2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Nazareth comes from the Hebrew word "netzer" meaning "branch" or "sprout." It is used figuratively for that which is lowly or despised. The Messiah was lowly and despised by the world who knew him not. The old testament prophecy was probably Isaiah 11:1, concerning the branch of David.

Isa 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Isa 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Isa 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
Isa 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Jesus is the one spoken of here; Lord of Lords, King of Kings, and the wisdom above all men, the wisdom of God .

A False Teacher

One of the troubling things about false teachers is that they often quote the Bible and seem to be as other Christians, but if you ever question them, then they begin attacking you; you are accused of being a false one. The arrogance of this usually is dressed in a person of great authority; just ask him? He has the real truth and everyone else is in error. Even if you try to go along with him or her, they will accuse you. This is where the Holy Spirit shows us something is wrong. We will know something isn't right, even if they quote the Holy Bible, because the spirit of the person is wrong. They are not out to build the church, but to tear down the leaders. When confronted with their own methods of discernment, they deny everything and accuse you more. It becomes personal. They bring accusations against you and say that you are one of the "false teachers." Be careful little sheep (and big ones), If the talk gets too personal you are dealing with the accuser. Usually they know scriptures, but change the application or meanings, painting their destructive picture, white washing with a broad brush, but inside are dead men's bones, as Jesus commented concerning his accusers.

Mat 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

You just need to watch their fruit. Is the fruit holy and good? Is it the fruit of the Spirit?

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

There are many who say they are Christian who are desirous of vain glory, provoking and envying. A false teacher is not of God, nor his Spirit, yet he says that he is and claims to be in the Holy Spirit. It gets hard to discern, but the true church is not divided and Jesus is lifted up. A false one will glorify his own standing and condemn the body of Christ. If he has disciples, they will not receive love from him, but accusations. That is what the devil does and the devil tries to imitate the real thing.

Iniquity in the Land

Eze 9:9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.

Eze 9:10 And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.

A nation cannot hide from the LORD who sees all.

Psa 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Psa 33:13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
Psa 33:14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
Psa 33:15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

Psa 44:20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
Psa 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

More and more the nation turns from God, removing crosses, removing the ten commandments from public places and denying the name of Jesus. The antichrist spirit in the land is even against Christmas. Schools teach godless evolution and the homosexuals and their money and votes have put fear in the politicians to make abominable laws favoring them and have even invaded the schools teaching profane things to the children. Our once Christian nation is promoting gay rights to other nations. What has happened to our nation with the motto "In God We Trust"? We sacrifice the unborns to the goddess of self and cry over a tree being cut for lumber. If we do not clean house, The LORD will clean it for us by allowing every evil thing to come against us.

The LORD sees this, he knows what is happening.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

The people of God are to do good works and to be witnesses of our Lord. The wrath of God will not be upon we who trust in Jesus, but we are to pray for our nation and be watching and hearing what God is saying. Judgement is coming and shame upon a shameless people who have turned from God. It is time to make a decision to make Jesus Lord of your life or to be identified with the transgressors. Time is running out.

Overcomers

What is it that we are to overcome? Anything that separates us from God or prevents us from doing his will. The attacks in and on our body; afflictions or darts from the devil. Darts can come in our thoughts or in another s words that we receive. Our enemies are the flesh, the worlds thinking and the devil. We cannot overcome in the flesh because at the root is spiritual authority. We overcome having received Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior with the infilling of the Holy Spirit. We overcome through the Holy Spirit that opens up the word of God to us.

Who is in charge?

Jas 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
Jas 4:16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

We like to plan things and make goals for ourself, but we should seek the Lord first. We like to be in control and the flesh can be pretty selfish.

Trust in the LORD

Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Pro 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Pro 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Pro 3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

A full barn should not be our goal, but to serve God and walk in His path should be our goal. We are to be prosperous in our soul. The Bible is the truth of God from it we learn the will of God.

Prosperity

3Jn 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3Jn 1:3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
3Jn 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Your soul belongs to God

Luk 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luk 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luk 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luk 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Luk 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Luk 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Luk 12:22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
Luk 12:23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Luk 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

Law keeping is good, but it cannot save you

Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

The faith walk in the Spirit

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Mighty spiritual weapons

2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

What are these mighty weapons?

Christ in you, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth

1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jn 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

The word of God is our offensive weapon

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Faith in Jesus and the LORD

Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

In the name of Jesus

Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Overcoming through the Lord Jesus Christ

Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Luk 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

I believe that Jesus took the power from satan by his death on the cross and resurrection. Satan no longer has access to God directly, but those who are under the blood of Jesus can come directly to the throne of God. The Holy Spirit in the Christian sends every accusation of satan to our great high priest, who is our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

We overcome by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus shed his righteous blood to redeem a people unto God. Greater is He that is in us and the power of the word of God, our testimonies is the power for salvation to those held in bondage to the devil.

Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Satan is very angry and making a mess down here, but we are overcomers by faith in the blood of the Lamb. Keep testifying of the word of God and speak the gospel of salvation. It is not a time to live only for the flesh. We are God's mighty army, the light of the world.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Having difficulties? Why blame God? Jeremiah had his moments of weakness, giving in to the flesh. I suppose Job had his weak moments of self pity too. So we are in good company, but they were faithful to the LORD. So shall we be. I am sorry if I have offended anyone by not speaking with love. Can we really know what is going on in a person's life to make them seem ungrateful, harsh, or not as spiritual as we think they should be? One thing all of us who wish to serve the LORD will endure, is the attacks of our enemy; sometimes from our thoughts and at other times from even those we serve. Jeremiah was lamenting.

Lam 3:12 He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
Lam 3:13 He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
Lam 3:14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
Lam 3:15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
Lam 3:16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
Lam 3:17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
Lam 3:18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
Lam 3:19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
Lam 3:20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

Jeremiah faithfully spoke the LORD's words as a prophet, warning his people in Judah to repent. They would not listen to him. Why LORD when I do your will am I being persecuted?

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

When you are going through a time of affliction, remember what Jeremiah said under the inspiration of God. Like David he encouraged himself in the LORD and the LORD poured out these words of encouragement for him and for us.

Lam 3:21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
Lam 3:22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lam 3:23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lam 3:24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Lam 3:25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
Lam 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Unlike most of Judah, Jeremiah was faithful and God showed him favor in the end. Perhaps he encouraged a young Daniel who as a young man went into captivity? Daniel became God's anointed servant in a time of bondage. He was favored because he believed in and served the LORD. How much more shall we be favored in dark times, with his Holy Spirit in us if we are faithful? We can have His peace in all situations and always be loved by our LORD who redeemed us through faith in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Great is thy faithfulness!

Steve Green - Great is thy faithfulness - YouTube