Although this post is a re-post from about a year ago, it is never more needed than now! In addition, I have modified the presentation that I had attached before to include more! I pray this will be both edifying and equipping for you in these unstable days when our faith armor is an absolute necessity for spiritual survival. In all my lifetime, I have never seen a time as now when our use of the armor of Yahuah is more critical, necessary, and important in our journey down the narrow path to the Kingdom. We are faced with principalities in high places blatantly attempting to take control in broad daylight - they are no longer hiding! They are frantically going about their evil, because they simply have very little time left! Thinking through this, I am reminded of something I read in the commentary section of my new KJV study bible... "The spiritual battle we are engaged in exists from now on until our beloved Savior returns. There is no quarter end, no cease fire, no temporary truce, and no cessation of hostilities. From now on until the end, there is all-out war." This is so true, but do we really get it? I know that there was a time when I had no idea of what was taking place in the spiritual realm, and now, that type of ignorance can result in some serious trouble. I feel an urgency in my spirit to fully grasp this and be equipped to handle it. Are you a fighter, or would you consider yourself a warrior in life? As for me, absolutely not. I have always been a peacemaker, avoiding the fight whenever possible. In the last few years, the Father has brought this to my attention and has been teaching me that this personality trait may be admirable in life (and we know He loves a peacemaker - Matthew 5:9); however, this is not an option in the spiritual realm. The battle there is ongoing and is of a magnitude that only the scripture can make known to us.. This battle has nothing to do with people (although it sure feels like it sometimes), but involves high-level principalities that are so bad that our gracious Father has holy angels protecting us before we even ask! These entities are so wicked and grotesque that seeing them would strike us down in fear, thus our loving Father has kept them completely invisible to us. The Word is clear to us about this, but sometimes we just forget... you know, out of sight out of mind. Read the scripture below slowly and ponder it for a few minutes before moving on: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12 I recently had to do some deep spiritual introspection as I continue to try to overcome a level of grief I've never experienced, and in the midst of this, the enemy came in with ultra force (you know, he loves to kick us with a pointed steel-toe boot when we're down). It is in these times that we can get so down that we will begin to listen to his voice and believe his lies. He barges into the open door of trauma and grief and attempts to corrupt our foundation to the point that his lies become believable, which of course then manifests further into our already-fragile emotions. This is the trouble I referred to earlier -- this is a very vulnerable place to be. This is that time when we must rise up and fight, even when we feel we have no strength, remembering that Yahusha is IN us, and we have His mind, His strength, and His Spirit! We literally will win through Him, by Him, and ultimately for His name's sake! He will never leave us nor forsake us, and He will always be victorious over the enemy as our strong tower. But we have to choose to rise up first through Him and equip ourselves in Hiim to fully win the battle! We equip ourselves with His armor that He shares with us, and He tells us to TAKE it! Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1 Peter 1:13 I mentioned how the enemy can try to corrupt our foundation when we are down, and this is a key point. When the enemy's voice becomes easier to hear and receive than the promises of the Father, then we know our foundation is compromised -- in other words, we must immediately feed ourselves more with the voice of the Holy Spirit through the truth of the Word, which is almighty and all powerful in Yahusha!. This will strengthen our foundation again and equip us to fight in faith! It's simply having the faith to rise up, put on our armor, and battle in His strength. On that note, I think it is important to bring out a few points about the armor that jumped out at me last year when I did a Zoom study on this subject. It helped me to understand the magnitude of the gift of the armor! The armor belongs to the Father, thus the "armor of God", and He has given it to us as a tool to fight, thus it is a gift! But just as we take action to open a gift in life, we have to take action with this gift as well! In Ephesians 6:10-11, 13-18, we are told to act multiple times, mainly by TAKING and STANDING, and finally with PRAYING and WATCHING. In looking at these scriptures below, pay attention to the words in all caps:
In this end time in which we have been appointed to live, and as children of the Most High God, we have no choice but to become professional warriors, both proactive and reactive, knowing our enemy's tactics to the point that we zap him in the spirit before he has any chance to steal, kill, or destroy. As for me, this is only possible through the mind, strength, and armor of Yahuah through Yahusha in me! I will lose the battle if my faith is weakened to the point I don't act; that's the simple truth. This post is meant to be a reminder for us all as well as an encouragement. There are so many promises and tools and gifts given to us that will give us a victorious walk, but I would say that many of us tend to forget sometimes. And when we forget, we usually have to go through an experience to be reminded. I am hopeful that this will help in our remembrance specifically with regard to the incredible gift of the armor of our God and Father! In closing, I would like to share the powerpoint on the subject from the Zoom study I mentioned above. I think this will further encourage you in your journey towards the Kingdom with the Word and with visuals that highlight the power of this tool that we have been given by the Love of our Souls! He desperately wants us to win this battle, and He will always equip us with all we need... fully, completely, and faithfully every single time! Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10 Enjoy the Powerpoint by clicking on the image below.
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I know that Father has moved me here, to this exact apartment complex, and in this exact apartment. First, I have not lived in an apartment in over 25 years, so this is quite an adjustment for me. Secondly, I moved from my parents' three-bedroom home on .65 acre to a one-bedroom apartment on the third floor! As drastic as it sounds, it's perfect for me at this time in my life. I am grateful to minimize and simplify, and I am grateful for the inconveniences and changes. There is a purpose for me here, and I do believe it is on the cusp of its birth into action. As a testimony of His goodness, and to encourage you to press on in your current situation fully trusting Father to go before you, I would like to share one small part of this entire move and overall transition. The confirmation I received about moving here to this apartment complex was undeniable. Afterwards, when I called to see what was available (having previously checked a few weeks earlier but was not sure at that time), the apartment that was initially presented to me was no longer available; however, there was another one that met most of the things I was looking for. This was apartment 4302, and I did not hesitate to sign the papers to get things going. It was several days later when my sister Nikki asked me if I had looked up the apartment number in the Strong's Concordance to check the meaning, at which time I had not. When I looked, I was absolutely amazed. There was a poignant message in this number meaning, and I knew and know it is indicative of His perfect will and plan for me. I am grateful to have waited upon Him, as hard as it was, and to make a move into a place and situation that seemed so off track for me, compared to my past tracks. This is what the apartment number revealed in both the Hebrew and Greek meanings: H4302 - matta (noun): place or act of planting, planting place, something planted, that is the place (a garden or vineyard); from H5193 - to plant, fasten, fix, establish, to be planted Thy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. Isaiah 60:21 ...To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61:3 G4302 - prolego (verb): to say beforehand, to predict, forewarn, foretell, admonish; from G4253 - before or in advance - and from G3004 - to say or to speak, affirm, teach, exhort, advise, to point out with words Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:21 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 1 Thessalonians 3:4 I have been praying for some time that Father would prepare me for whatever assignment lie ahead for me, especially having experienced much growth and change through the recent loss of my family. I've had a few dreams about birthing a baby and even had words spoken over me by my sisters to support this very thing -- even a vision of me holding a baby, knowing this was an assignment of some sort. I must say I am nothing; I am nothing to be given an assignment, and it will only be His wisdom and strength to carry this out; I simply must obey. We are all called as His ambassadors to speak forth His truth, and we are all His workmanship called to carry out His good works in this earth. Any assignment given to me or to you will be solely for His glory and directed at building His kingdom. The lost souls that surround us, and surround me in this very apartment complex, are so heavy on Father's heart. I believe I am called to speak forth His saving truth, as well as admonish that time is short, and I have been planted here to do this. I pray I will hear Him clearly and accomplish all He desires. I pray I will not fail Him even in one small way. And if the Spirit brings this to your heart, please also pray for me in this regard; I need it. As I read and studied this morning, I began to veer quite a bit off course from the topic. However, it brought me to a few scriptures in Colossians that jumped into my heart and created a short little "Manna Bite" that I would like to post and share. It's unrelated to what I have just shared, but I wanted to share this wonderful experience before posting the Manna Bite. Having experienced something vehemently contrary to these scriptures and what I show forth in the Manna Bite, I have such an appreciation and gratitude for this truth and pray that it will also touch someone else. I also hope that my sharing a bit more of my recent transition has encouraged you in some way, even if only to bring glory and praise to the Father, through His Son Yahusha ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ), for His unending and unfailing faithfulness! Blessed be His name!! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord! Psalm 117:2 |
Special NoteThese writings are written in love and a spirit of servitude. They are not designed to judge but make us think. We are all sinners in need of saving, and we all need encouragement and absolute truth to endure on the narrow road to sanctification and ultimately eternal life. Categories
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