Undefeated-Learning to Listen to God

 Deuteronomy 28:7

The LORD shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated in front of you: they shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways.

    This verse is part of the blessings God gives to His people when they are aligned with His Word and obey His Law; not just the letter of the Law, but The Spirit of The Law. Deuteronomy 28:1 "And it shall come to pass, if you shall hearken diligently unto the voice of The LORD your God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command you this day, that The LORD your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth."

     Hearken diligently means to 'listen intelligently, attend to what is being said, obey what is being stated'. It is to listen with understanding and submit to The Word being given by God. This is doubly impactful upon us when we remember John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  

     God gave us The Word (John 1:1-3, 14) for our salvation, that we might live in Him through His death and resurrection. It is up to us to believe on The Name of The Only Begotten Son of God. 

Romans 10:8-10, 13 "But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved. ... For whosoever shall call upon The Name of The Lord shall be saved." 

    And though this newfound faith in Jesus' Name is our greatest blessing, it has also put a target on our backs and a price on our heads. We have attained 'illegal' status all over the world, for many people seek our demise hoping to wipe out God's people, both His elect people and His called people. For we who were not initially given God's people (Gentiles: anyone who is not a Jew) have been "called out of darkness into His marvelous Light." 1 Peter 2:9-10. 

AT THE CROSS - Chris Tomlin

The Color of Worship - Gold

Exodus 25 through Exodus 26

Gold signifies the holiness of God. It was used to adorn and cover items within the tabernacle:

The poles to carry the Ark of The Covenant were overlaid with gold and four golden rings were made to carry the poles. Exodus 25:10-16

The Ark of The Covenant was covered by the Mercy Seat, which was also covered in gold; plus it had two solid gold cherubim attached to the top, which faced the Mercy Seat. 

The poles to carry the Ark and the rings into which these poles fit were also covered with gold. Exodus 25:17-22

The Table of Showbread was completely covered in gold. In addition, the plates and dishes which sat upon it were also covered in gold. These rings and carrying poles were also overlaid in gold. Exodus 25:23-30

               The Lampstand, the last specific item designated for the inside of the tabernacle is also made of hammered gold. None of these items were fastened together, nor were they welded or mixed with anything to hold together. That took God-given craftsmanship: beaten, hammered out sheets or blocks of gold, seamless, to produce each of these specially-designed pieces. 

    God had given Moses the plans, blueprints, for each part of the tabernacle when he was on the mountain with God. And God gave each one involved in the making thereof special knowledge to create the items. 

    These, however, were not the only things made of gold or gold overlay. Exodus 26:6 'hooks of gold to hold the tabernacle curtains up'. Exodus 26:31-33 describes the veil which separated the room where the Ark of The Covenant would be and the outer room where the Table and the Lampstand would be. The curtain for the door required hooks of gold set in brass sockets, and the pillars of the door had to be covered in gold. Exodus 26:37. 

    Yet, these are not all of the gold items within the Scriptures that reference the holiness of God. The prophetic verses in Zechariah 6:11-13 tells us (11) Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;  (12) And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaks The LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of The LORD: (13) Even he shall build the temple of The LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 

    Isaiah 9:6-7

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of The LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

    Isaiah 11:1-5

(1) Then a Shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. (2) The Spirit of The LORD will rest on Him—The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and strength, The Spirit of knowledge and fear of The LORD. (3) And He will delight in the fear of The LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear, (4) but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips. 

(5) Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist.

    Revelation 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a Name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. 

    In order for gold to be used purposefully, it first must be purified in fire. It must be tested until the refiner is satisfied with the result. Even when it is God's people who are being refined as gold. 

Malachi 3:3 tells us that the sons of Levi, the priestly lineage, will be refined like silver and gold. As God's people, we see this happen time and again in our lives: that God is testing us in various fires until we "come forth as gold" in His eyes Job 23:10. 

 Revelation 3:18 The Word of God is compared to gold: I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. How do we buy from Christ that which we cannot afford? With out obedient faith in His Word, by trusting in His promises, and that He is, indeed, a faithful God. By believing that God is truly trustworthy: worthy to receive our trust in Him. 

    Unlike manmade gods, which have no value and cannot see, nor hear, nor eat, nor receive  what is presented to them by the people who made these metal or brass or wooden or silver or gold or bejewelled idols and icons. Psalm 115:4-8; Psalm 135:15-18; Isaiah 44:9-20; Jeremiah 10:3-5; Habakkuk 2:18-19; Jeremiah 2:27-28. 

    When we offer our hearts and surrender our bodies and our minds to God's service and kingdom, we present such--to us--unworthiness. Yet, in His time and with His love, God transforms the sinner into the saint by the power of His Holy Spirit. He breathes on us, empowering us to become more like Jesus. We are refined in the fires of tests that we might have a faithful testimony > The Lord delivered me from all of my fears, my doubts, my weaknesses. >The Lord saved me from a horrific death and punishment: the grave and hell. >The Lord lifted me up from the miry clay, the things which threatened to bring me down and keep me down. 

    With this knowledge and understanding, we bow our knees to King Jesus and praise His Holy Name now, while we till draw breath. For we know that the time is near when "Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:9-11.

    

    

  

The Color of Worship - Blue

    

 I love the color blue, all shades. Blue represents the color of grace. The curtains in the tabernacle of God in the Old Testament were blue, purple and scarlet (Exodus 26:1). There were 10 curtains. Each curtain was 28 cubits long ( 1 cubit = 18 inches) and four cubits thick. {42' L x 6' D). The curtains which met in the middle had fifty blue loops on each edge and were attached to each other with fifty gold taches, or knobs.

Isaiah 53:5 & 6 He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Matthew 27:28-31 And they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit on Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head. And after that they had mocked Him, they took the robe off from Him, and put His own raiment on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. Matthew 27:50 & 51 Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;.

Wounded. Bruised. Chastised. Stripes. Beaten. Smote. Blood didn't just drip from His wounds: it poured. Blood ran down His face, oozed from His chest, matted His clothes to His back. Surely some of that blood was on His persecutors and tormentors. Some dripped into the ground where He stood, where He fell. Some blood seeped into the cross He was forced to carry after being beaten nearly to death. Some blood fell on the man who helped Christ to carry the cross. Some blood got on the men who nailed His hands to the cross and on the men who nailed His feet to the cross. Some blood splurted onto the men around Him as the cross was raised up, with Christ on it, and placed firmly into the ground, for all the world to see. Some blood fell on those who came near to see the worst criminal of all time: The Man who was given the title King of the Jews, The Man who claimed sovereignty as The Son of God. And some of that blood fell on me.

The wounding of Christ, the bruising, the chastisement (punishment), the whipping, the mockery of Christ was for us. He was wounded for our transgressions, our sins, our rebellious thoughts and hearts. For our blatant disobedience and disregard for The Word of God. God punished His own Son instead of you and me. Only The Son of God could take our place in that regard. He was a Man without sin. He was the firstborn, without blemish, without stain. When He died the veil, the curtains, in the tabernacle was ripped in two. Six feet of fabric was ripped like a piece of paper at the exact same time as Christ's last breath left His body. Instant access to the holy of holies was made available to everyone now. (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45)

Hebrews 10:19-21 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth (say it out loud) that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. Romans 10:13 For whosoever (anyone) shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.

 Every single person across the face of the earth has the opportunity through Christ to come into God's presence. He is the doorway. His bruises and His wounds, colors of blue and scarlet and purple created a permanent entryway into the throne room of God.

    

The blue gemstone in the wall around the New Jerusalem is Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli. Revelation 21:19 The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald. 

This stone represents the divine presence of God communing with His people. Exodus 24:10; Ezekiel 1:26, 10:1. With this gem God’s plan of a permanent covenant relationship with His people is complete. For it is only through Christ, God’s redemptive plan of salvation, that we are able to commune with God at all. It is by grace, God’s grace, God’s mercy, God’s willingness to die for us, that we can be saved from eternal damnation and begin the holiness phase with which we will be equipped to make our entrance into God’s eternal, holy presence. 

The Color of Worship - Brown

 

A Time of Creation and Growth

Genesis 1:9-12 And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered into

one place, so that the dry land may appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of waters He called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each bearing fruit with seed according to its kind.” And it was so. The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 2:7, 22

Then The LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. ... And from the rib that The LORD God had taken from the man, He made a woman and brought her to him. (Genesis 1:26-28)

A Time of Repentance

Joel 1:13

Gird yourselves and lament, you priests; Wail, you who minister before the altar; Come, lie all night in sackcloth, You who minister to my God; For the grain offering and the drink offering are withheld from the house of your God. 

Daniel 9:3-5

Then I set my face toward The Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to The LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, The great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances." 

Jonah 3:5-6

And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

The Gem

SARDONYX is the fifth foundation of the city walls:

Revelation 21:20

...the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.

    As you can see, it is reddish-brown in color and so qualifies to be placed in this study. Though there are a number of distinct shades of sardonyx, or onyx, I like this one. 

    Onyx was also on the breastplate of the priest bearing the names of the twelve tribes.

Exodus 28:9, 10

Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: six of their names on one stone and the remaining six on the other, in the order of their birth. Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings.

   From The Topical Lexicon:

 1. Permanence and Strength: Like a mason choosing the hardest stones for foundational tiers, the heavenly Architect selects gems that will never decay (Revelation 21:14). Sardonyx’s toughness illustrates the inviolable security of the saints’ eternal dwelling.

2. Purity and Sacrifice: The deep sard layer evokes the blood of the Lamb, while the white onyx layer evokes righteousness (Revelation 7:14). Together they preach redemption: washed robes made white by atoning blood.

3. Witness and Authentication: Because sardonyx signet rings authenticated decrees, the stone signifies that God’s promises are sealed and irrevocable (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Beautiful To God

 

This Makes Me Beautiful to God

    This is  a 31-Day Devotional booklet that I had made up for one of our Women's Retreats through our church and district. Everyone had to bring something bought or homemade for a raffle to raise funds for our group. So  I made two items. One was a coffee basket. A lovely golden basket with handle contained a homemade relaxation cd, a cup and saucer, instant coffee jar, a coffee scented candle and a booklet of made-from-scratch beauty recipes, plus homemade creamers. That was a hit. The other item was an upcycled corn syrup jar converted into a gorgeous vase.

    In the bottom of the vase I put little white and gray stones with a Bible verse written on them. Each verse indicated what made a person beautiful to God. But I was thinking that they may not know why I chose those particular verses. So, I wrote it all down and printed it off neatly. Then tied it with ribbons. 

    The vase was labeled and I had wrapped a grape vine around the top, with grapes attached. It was very pretty. Inside the jar, on top of the stones, I put about 15-20 bite size chocolates. And then I stuck the flower clips which I had made in that. So then it resembled a potted bouquet. That went over well, too.
This is the booklet:

     1 Peter 3:3-4 "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight."

 It is not my clothes, nor my jewelry, nor my fancy hairdo, nor my piercings, nor my make-up, nor my lack of these things in my life that makes me beautiful to God. What makes us beautiful to God is everything that makes God happy. So, what makes God happy in me? Is there anything that I can do or which I can say, that will delight God and make me beautiful to Him?

God makes me beautiful with His Word because:

1. I put Him first. Psalm 63:1
2. I take delight in His Word. Psalm 1:2
3. He is My Salvation, My Healer. Jeremiah 17:14
4. I speak the language of Grace. Colossians 4:6
5. I bring with me only what The Holy Spirit has given me, when I enter into His courts with praise. Esther 2:15
6. I wear His Mercy and His Truth in my heart and around my neck. God sees me and shows me Favor in His sight, and I am given favor by all men. Proverbs 3:3
7. I honor my parents. Subjecting myself to my parents' will when I live with them is an ornament of grace. Proverbs 1:8, 9 (Acknowledging that God is My Heavenly Father means that He is also my parent. Therefore, when I subject my will to His will, and humble myself to Him, this is an ornament of Grace to Him)
8. I choose to obey God's laws and wills for my life and not man's laws when they go against God's authority. By making it known publicly, God will reward me with gifts according to my abilities and talents. Daniel 1:8, 17
9. I understand what the will of The Lord is. I am wise in His Word. Ephesians 5:17
10. I have allowed myself to be filled with The Holy Spirit in excess. Ephesians 5:18
11. I don't worry about any thing. I just pray to Him and thank Him; God gives me real peace through Jesus. Philippians 4:6, 7
12. I clothe myself with the Mercy Qualities of His Son, Jesus: Compassion, Kindness, Generosity; Humility of mind=think of others before self; Meekness=Strength to be still, quiet in the face of adversity; Unending Patience. Colossians 3:12
13. I forgive as Christ has forgiven me. Tolerating people like Christ tolerates me in His infinite Love. Colossians 3:13
14. And over all of the Qualities which adorn my heart and my attitude, I cover myself with Jesus Christ, His Son, Who is The Bond of Perfection on me: Agape-unconditional, no-strings-attached, enduring, ever-forgiving, ever lasting, from time before time until time is no more- Love. Colossians 3:14
15. I allow Peace, the Peace of God, to rule in my heart, for I am the Body of Christ, for which I am thankful. Colossians 3:15

16. I allow God's only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to live in me fully and completely. Teaching me His Wisdom by His Word, which is alive in me. Whereby we are exhorted to teach and admonish one another in or through music and spiritual songs: singing with Grace in our hearts to praise The Lord. Colossians 3:16
17. I do all that I do in Jesus' Name and while I work/labor in Jesus' Name, I have a thankful attitude, spirit, which is ever present because God is ever with me. I thank Him for every thing for He is my God and my Father. Colossians 3:17
18. I have a submissive heart in my marriage. I submit not only my body, but my authority as a wife, a mom, self, to my husband, for he is my authority. He covers me with himself by his words and his actions, as Representative of Christ, Who covers His Bride with Himself: Christ is her glory. And by my decision to submit myself and every thing about me to my husband, this pleases God. Colossians 3:18, 19 and Ephesians 5:22-33
19. Respect and Honor are given to my parents for this pleases The Lord. If I could have lived again with them, then I would have been subject to their authority: their rules and their laws would have to be obeyed, even if I am already an adult. Colossians 3:20
20. I keep myself sexually pure. Even though most of us Christian women do not have sex outside of our marriages, some still flirt, some 'booty-watch', some indulge themselves with sexually explicit literature and movies [whether made for tv or on screen]. This is still considered by God to be sexually impure, for God knows what we're thinking when we let ourselves watch or read stuff like that. We are sanctified and set apart from the world, for we are called by God to be holy.                         1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; 1 Peter 1:15, 16; Exodus 19:5, 6.; 1 Kings 8:53.    I am God's inheritance, therefore, because He is holy, I too, must be holy.
21. I mind my own business and I don't gossip. I neither slander nor make fun of people behind their backs. I work quietly that I might walk in my integrity and be a blessing even to they who are watching me. By taking this action, God is able to bless me and meet all my needs. 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12
22. I pray for those in authority over me, whether it is my pastor, my mayor, my governor, or my government (president & vice president, senators and representatives); even for those who in law enforcement, for this pleases God, and draws people to Him who are seeking His salvation and direction. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
23. God has saved me, called me, not because of what I can do, but because of what God has done, and will continue to do, through me and in me. His purpose and His will is being accomplished in me in Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 1:9
24. I am patient. I establish-build up, am rooted into-my heart in Christ, for His return is near. James 5:8
25. A meek and quiet spirit is an ornamental quality pleasing to God. For the treasures of my heart are not corruptible; they neither fade nor can be destroyed. My attitude towards my husband, when described as such, not only please God, but God says I am priceless in my submission to my husband's authority. 1 Peter 3:4

26. Be of one mind: the mind of Christ; showing compassion to all. Love each other like a loving, devoted family should. Be kind and gracious. Be a blessing to everyone you meet. Deceive not, nor make trouble for anyone. The Lord hears only the prayers of the righteous; all others He will turn against. And I want God to hear my prayers. 1 Peter 3:8-12. {Think not that he will hear the sinner's prayer, for once that person confesses and repents, he or she, is no longer a sinner but a saint, a righteous person. Therefore, God will indeed hear that prayer.}
27. I sanctify The Lord God in my heart. I am always ready to give answer for what I believe and why to everyone who asks, speaking with strength and honor, in reverence to my God. 1 Peter 3:15
28. I live in love. Therefore, because I know and believe, and have confessed with my mouth that Jesus Christ is The Son of God, then God lives in me. Because I love with God's love, it is known to God that I live in Him, also. 1 John 4:15, 16
29. I am beloved of God; my faith, my holy faith, is built up in Him. I pray in The Holy Ghost, in the love of God, watching for the Mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who will bring me into eternal life. Interceding on behalf of others for their salvation. Jude 20-23
30. I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Regardless of what is happening in the world around me, I am content and at peace, because I have a Savior Who has overcome the world around me. Nothing in this world can separate me from the love of God. It matters not what the enemy brings against me to try to destroy my faith and my works of faith; for The Holy Spirit of God strengthens me and prevents me from falling out of Grace. Philippians 4:11.                    1 John 4:4-14.
31. I have a sound mind, it is a gift of God. God has also given me the spirit of love and the spirit of power. I control my thoughts and keep them under submission to The Word of God. I have learned from my elders in The Word and The Gospel; receiving from them and observing their actions: therefore, The God of Peace is with me. 2 Timothy 1:7 and Philippians 4:8, 9

    Now, while parts of this particular study was directed to the women at the retreat, most of  it can also apply to men. God wants our whole hearts centered in Him. I did write a separate study for godly men. I'll see if I can find it. 

Ancient of Days

 

'ATTIYQ YOWM

(pronounced at-teek' yohm)

ANCIENT OF DAYS

Daniel 7:22

Until The Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of The Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 

THE BEGINNING

Revelation 1:8

“I am The Alpha and The Omega,” says The Lord God, Who is and was and is to come—The Almighty."

Isaiah 44:6

Thus says The LORD, The King and Redeemer of Israel, The LORD of Hosts: “I am The First and I am The Last, and there is no God but Me."

John 8:58

Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” 

THE ETERNAL GOD

Genesis 21:33

And Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon The Name of The LORD, The Eternal God.

Deuteronomy 33:27

The Eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, ‘Destroy!’

1 Timothy 1:17

Now to The King Eternal, Immortal, and Invisible, The only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

THE EVERLASTING GOD

Psalm 90:2

Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from Everlasting to Everlasting You are God.

Isaiah 40:28

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, The LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 

Jeremiah 10:10

But The LORD is The True God, He is The Living God, and an Everlasting King: at His wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide His indignation. 

THE SON IS GOD

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 11:2

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.

John 17:3

Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, The Only True God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent.

John 1:1-3. 14

In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. ... 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of The Father, full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 2:14

Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil. 

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

1 John 4:9

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

John 1:18

No one has ever seen God, but The Only Begotten Son, Who is Himself God and is at The Father’s side, has made Him known.

THE EVERLASTING GOD 

HOLY HOLY HOLY

Prayer Cards - Pray In The Spirit

Ephesians 6:18

 Pray in The Spirit at all times, 

with every kind of prayer and petition.

To this end, stay alert

with all perseverance in your prayers

for all the saints.

Jude 1:20-21

But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in The Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life. 

Romans 8:26

Likewise The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but The Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

Galatians 4:4-7

But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent The Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.

    To pray "in The Spirit" is to have the right desires within us, which can only be put there by The Spirit. It is to pray first for one's self, that the strength of The Lord would be given us to overcome what we are battling. Second, it is to pray--intercede, stand in the gap--for other Christians who are fighting their battles, that they would stand strong against the wiles--the sneakiness--of the enemy, maintain their witness, sharpen their testimony and in so doing overcome the enemy which they are fighting against. 

    Yes, the battle does indeed belong to The Lord, but we must be fully equipped nonetheless that we might disengage ourselves from worldly principles and embrace the spiritual foundation--Jesus Christ--upon which we have built our life. This passage in Ephesians 6:10-18 discusses the armor which the Christian, the born-again believer, must always have on. And praying in The Spirit is part of that armor. 

    It must be used not only daily, but wielded in the right way. When we pray for ourselves, it is that we pray for strength to endure, wisdom to persevere, knowledge and understanding to retain The Word within us. We pray for The Spirit of Excellence (Daniel 6:3) to fill us daily, as life is lived day by day and not all at once. Sometimes we just won't know how to pray for ourselves: it is then that The Spirit of God intervenes for us and speaks to God Himself. 

    When we pray for other Christians, we pray as The Spirit leads us. Sometimes He wakes us up to pray for each other because of some tumultuous battle the other is going through. So, we get up and pray. And when the battle's over, we usually fall back asleep. Sometimes, we pray for each other at the altar, where worship takes place and The Spirit moves freely among God's people, touching first one, then another, to go and pray for this man or that woman, this daughter or that son. 

    Random strangers will cross our paths: sometimes a child of God, most of the time someone seeking God: The Spirit will lead us to pray with that person, if they are so inclined. Some will even ask for prayer. Always be ready to pray. 

    Sometimes the call for urgent prayer lasts all night long, as in Daniel 2:17-23, when the need for both dream and interpretation needed to come from God.  Another excellent example is found in John 17. Jesus praying in the night first, for Himself; then, for His disciples and third, for us who would believe what His disciples had to say concerning Himself. 

   Arm yourselves. The battle is coming and has even now commenced for many. Pray for yourselves. Pray for other Christians. Pray 

*for your families (even the generations to come) 

*for the strangers among you

*for your enemies: for the people who don't like you, who hate you and swear at you, who curse you, who make fun of you for being a Christian, 

 to believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, that He is God's only begotten Son. Pray that they, too, would know the joy of The Lord and be filled with His Holy Spirit.  Pray that they would be ready. 

BY YOUR SPIRIT 

MY GOSPEL

    

Prayer Cards - Steadfast, Watchful Prayer

 

Colossians 4:2

Continue steadfastly in prayer, 

being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 

    We need to pay attention to what is happening around us, especially when we are praying. We cannot pretend to ignore the changes in our world and expect God to move on our behalf or someone else's. How can we pray effectively for those in authority over us, if we do not love them with the love of Christ in us first? We cannot. 

    Can we pray for each other even if we're not sure we like each other? Yes. Because God will change the heart of the one praying before He begins to change the one being prayed for. Our hearts have to be right with God; filled with His Son, His Spirit and His Amazing Love. We are all made in God's image and we need to remember that God loves all of us and died for all of us. Therefore, each of us is precious to Him. Let us remember that when we pray. 

    We must choose wisely which music we put on to worship to as we enter God's courtyard. Not every "worship" video or playlist is Christ-centric. When we listen to The Spirit of God, we learn to discern what is proper and what is not. There's a lot of fakes out there. 

    Have we set up our walls and gates for a proper sanctuary to meet God in? Some folks have a personal space to pray in, like the prayer closet. For some the closet is wherever they are sitting or laying, yet the walls and gates must still be in place that no outside interference can intrude on our times alone with our God. 

    Steadfast prayer is continuous prayer. It is to be in constant communication with our heavenly Father. And, yes, we can call God our Father because as His adopted children, He is, indeed, our Father. (Galatians 4:6)

Ephesians 6:18 "Pray in The Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints." 

    Soon and very soon, our heavenly Father will send His only begotten Son to come and collect His bride and bring her to heaven. But God's people need to be ready for that day to come. Stop playing church and start being the church. Be the people of God in Truth, not just pretension. Christians, the born again through faith in Christ Jesus as Lord, are the church. 

    Your heritage does not make you a Christian. Your denomination does not make you a Christian. Your vain and empty traditions do not make you a Christian. What makes us Christians is our obedience to God's Word. It is how closely we follow Christ that determines whether or not we are Christians; whether or not we are His beloved church. Remember, Judas followed Jesus, too, but not very closely and not all the way. 

    Matthew 24:42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come."

    O Lord, make us ready to receive You. Make us ready for your return. Make us perfect according to Your Word. Make us holy and get us ready to be in Your eternal presence. Continue to have Your Way in us, in the deepest reaches of our hearts, that we may be more than ever intertwined in each other and in You. You weave us into Your heart and we are made stronger each day that goes by. 

    You are our Strength, our Peace, our Healer. You are our God, our Father, our Maker. You are Mercy, Grace, Joy and Love. Such Love we cannot even begin to comprehend, but which we are so very grateful and thankful for. 

    We lift up our voices together in Your praise, bringing You glory and honor with our hearts and our tongues. Be glorified, O Lord our God and our Savior. 

In Jesus' Precious Name,

Amen. 

    Luke 21:36 "So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before The Son of Man.”

Book of Ephesians in Folk

 

Prayer Cards - Prayer Closet

 

Prayer is not a public spectacle. 

Nor do we need flowery phrases

 and loud speaking voices. 
God is not deaf: He can hear our hearts speaking

 even when our tongues cannot carry words. 

God knows what we are thinking, that's why our thoughts 

need to focus on Him and His ways. 

Psalm 94:11 "..The Lord knows the thoughts of man.."

Philippians 4:8 "...think on these things.."

Jeremiah 17:10 "I, The LORD, search the heart;

 I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, 

by what his deeds deserve."

Our hearts, our thoughts and our actions need to line up 

alongside God's Word, with God's Spirit

leading us and guiding our steps, 

whether in our minds (the unseen actions),

or in our hearts (the emotional actions),

or in our daily actions/activities (the seen actions). 

Luke 11:1-4 is an example of how to pray.

  First to acknowledge Him, that He is Holy; 

that His kingdom - His Way of Life and Living -

and His Will is more important than ours. 

We pray for daily bread. Not just that food 

would be on our tables and in our bellies, 

but that The Bread of Life would be ours daily.

Which means we need to be ready to receive

what God is going to give us in His Word. 

We pray for forgiveness of our sins,

and ask God to forgive the people who have sinned against us.

We pray for the power to overcome temptation, 

that we might be delivered from evil:

evil thoughts, evil actions. 

We need the power of God's Holy Spirit 

residing in us, transforming desires of the flesh

into desires of The Spirit. A hunger for holiness

should be rising up within us. A desire 

to live a righteous and holy life/lifestyle

in accordance with God's Holy Word. 

    Only then can we begin to pray in earnest, 

in our prayer closets, for the things which lay heaviest on our hearts:

 the salvation of those who still do not know Jesus Christ 

as their personal Lord and Savior. 
We pray for healing on those who suffer.

We pray for strength of mind, body and spirit 

for those who wander; who are distressed and discouraged;

for those who are mentally unsound or drained. 

We pray for workers to be added to God's Kingdom:

planters, waterers, and reapers

of God's Word. 

We pray for whatever The Holy Spirit has laid on our hearts to pray for. 

We pray for you who read this.

And we close out our prayers in The Name of Jesus, 

because The Word of God tells us:

John 14:13 

"And whatever you ask in My Name, 

that I will do, that The Father may be glorified in The Son."

AMEN