Wonderful Jesus!

Category: Believers

• Don’t Count Yourself Out!

  Posted at 3:38 am by wonderfuljesus8, on February 21, 2020

  “2 Chronicles 32:8 -With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. NKJV

  As I mentioned in my previous post, a lot is going on in this battle. I have already mentioned that Hezekiah was a righteous king, doing all that he could to restore the statutes of the Lord in Israel. He tore down everything that was contrary to the Lord, and rebuilt all that was destroyed in an attempt to stomp Him out.

  I like what verse 1 in this chapter of the Bible let’s us know. “After these deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah…” I wrote about this in my last post, but here we see in the word that the attack came after his righteous stand. Just like it does with us today! And at first he compromises with the enemy to try and get him to back off from the battle, but verse two lets us know that Sennacherib had come with a purpose to make war against Jerusalem.

  Each telling of the battle has some really interesting points, but tonight I want to deal with what happened after the compromise. According to verses 3-8, Hezekiah came up with a plan. That plan was not to give in and let Sennacherib totally destroy all that he had accomplished, but to prepare for battle!

  First, Hezekiah realizes that the Assyrians came to battle and he consults with his leaders and commanders. Can I stop for a moment and say that Hezekiah was wise enough to know that he didn’t know everything, or that he could accomplish far more with his team alongside him? Too many leaders in the church and in the world have a complex about what greatness looks like. For some reason they feel that because they are the leader, they know better than anybody else what to do. They need to go back to the school of feet washing so that they can understand that in His kingdom we are to be servants first. I have known a lot of bad leaders and only a few really good leaders. I tip my hat to them! Can I also point out that he recognized that the Assyrians came to battle. It’s time we recognize that every time the devil shows up, he comes prepared to do so battle. So we need to make sure that we are prepared, also.

  Together they decided three things: to shut off the water supply, to rebuild the walls, and to rebuild and equip their forces. There were springs near Jerusalem and a brook that ran nearby. All of this was stopped up to keep the Assyrians from having an ample water supply. They rebuilt the walls, and even built an extra wall outside of that one. Archaeologists have discovered a portion of wall that they think is from this time frame that was strong enough to withstand the battering rams and enclosed a reservoir of water. And lastly, they made weapons and shields to fight the battle.

  But the most important thing that happened was that Hezekiah took courage and talked to his military commanders. He encouraged them to be strong and courageous; to not be afraid, nor to be discouraged. Then he reminds them that the One who was with them, was greater than the one coming against them, and that He would be with them.

  Now how does this help us in the battles of life? After you compromise with the devil, the enemy wants you to think that it’s over for you. You gave up on God, or trusted in your flesh, or your money, or whatever, and now you are on your own. But Hezekiah realized that he was about to face a serious battle and he needed help from God! And so will you!

  One thing that you can do to get ready for war is to get over yourself. You messed up, now get up, repent and prepare for battle!

  Then, you shut off anything that will aid the enemy’s attack on you. That could be an ungodly relationship, or unforgiveness, or idolatry, hatred or selfish ambitions, or drunkenness to name a few. Just shut the door to those things, that the enemy will not have a place to get comfortable and habitat in your life.

  Rebuild the walls. Fix whatever is broken. Get things in order. Repent and recommit your life to Jesus. Get re-established in your church. Let go of ungodly soul ties. Restore godly relationships! Move in the direction that encourages a healthy life in Christ!

  Lastly, get those weapons ready! You have weapons of warfare that are mighty in God (2 Corinthians 4:10)! Those weapons include praise, the name of Jesus, the Blood of the Lamb, the living word of God, and prayer. You will not win this in the flesh. That’s what Hezekiah said that Sennacherib had, the arm of the flesh, but he and Judah had the Lord! So do you!! So see yourself as a winner, and not as a loser.

  And after you have done all of that, you stand! Stand knowing that greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world! (1 John 4:4) Stand knowing that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it. (Philippians 1:6). Stand because the word said, and having done all, you stand! (Ephesians 6:13). Don’t let the devil ever convince you that it is impossible to regain your place with God. In some cases, things could actually get better because you could actually be more committed than you were before having gone through a bad experience. Keep your head up and don’t count yourself out! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Battle plans, Believers, Christian, Victorious Living | 2 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, encouragement, Faith, God, hard times, Hezekiah, Judah, Prayer, Sennacherib, Spiritual warfare, Victorious Living, victory

• Don’t Compromise With the Enemy!

  Posted at 7:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on February 17, 2020

  2 Kings 18:14 – Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; turn away from me; whatever you impose on me I will pay.” And the king of Assyria assessed Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. NKJV

  The battle I will look at today is a very complicated battle with a lot going on. It will take several blogs to do it justice. It is a battle that is mentioned three times in the Bible, so I don’t want to rush through it, although I probably won’t get to all of it. It is mentioned in 2 Kings chapters 18-19, in 2 Chronicles chapters 32-33, and lastly in the book of Isaiah in chapters 36 through 37. I have always felt that the events that happened in this battle had to be important because it is written about more than any other battle. And I have always thought many of the things Sennacherib said and did reminds me of the enemy, so I am looking forward to sharing my findings.

  We are immediately informed by the authors that Hezekiah was a king who honored God. As a matter of fact, he is mentioned as a king who did right in the sight of the Lord. When he became king, he was intent on getting rid of everything that dishonored God, even destroying the bronze serpent that Moses had made in the wilderness. (See Numbers 21:8). Hezekiah brought about great reforms to Judah. He ordered that they clean the temple, destroy idols, sanctify the priests and reinstitute worship in the temple. The tithe and the sacrifices were restored and the people were so excited that they gave an abundance of supply to the temple. He also had them reinstate the Passover, and they had such a wonderful time of worship that they held the Passover for two weeks instead of one.

  Then Hezekiah rebelled against the king of Assyria. The Bible doesn’t tell us if this was God’s leading or Hezekiah’s plan for freedom, but it does say that he rebelled. Apparently, Hezekiah was king of Judah, but Judah was under Assyrian control or threat when Hezekiah said he wasn’t going to submit to Sennacherib any longer. This brought the wrath of the Assyrian king to Judah and he conquered 46 cities and towns surrounding Jerusalem and took the spoils and sent the people into captivity. When Hezekiah realized what had happened, he told the king that he had done wrong and would do whatever he asked of him. (This information is recorded in Assyrian history also). So Hezekiah paid tribute (or gold) to the king to be left alone.

  This reminds me so much of how things work out spiritually for the believer. When a person is radically saved by the power of God, they make radical changes in their lives. They throw away drugs, they turn away from sexual sins, they walk away from immorality, as they allow God to conform them into His image. This is their rebellion against the previous ownership of the devil. But he doesn’t just let them walk away from him (anymore than Sennacherib was going to allow Judah to walk away), he goes on the attack! An attack that can sometimes make a person feel like he/she was better off unsaved. But that is not the truth! As a matter of fact it is a lie that has been used against the members of the body of Christ for far too long! Don’t fall for the lie!

  Hezekiah fell for the lie. Sennacherib had already defeated Israel, three years previously. He had already stomped on the Egyptians who was supposed to be Hezekiah’s back up plan. He had destroyed the surrounding cities of Judah. And now he has turned his attention on Jerusalem! Hezekiah becomes a little nervous about all of this and begins to fear that he has brought destruction to Judah because of his plans to clean up the place! Maybe the devil caused him to think that all of his plans for restoring righteousness to Judah brought on these problems, so he needed to pull back on some of his reforms, namely rebelling against the king. So he compromises and tells the king he will do whatever he wants if he would just leave them alone. The king of Assyria demanded three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. Hezekiah gave him all the silver from the temple and from his own treasures and stripped the gold from the doors and pillars of both places. But this compromise does not stop Sennacherib, nor does it appeases him. So the first major point I want to make from this battle is that it doesn’t pay to compromise, so don’t do it! Ever!

  When the enemy comes against you, making you feel like it doesn’t pay to live a righteous life, it’s an attempt to get you to compromise on the principles of your faith. Don’t give in to it! Single women, who love God passionately, and want to get married, I implore you to not compromise in your stand to stay pure for a godly mate. The devil is lying when he says to you that there are no single godly men and all the girls who are having sex are the ones getting married; and all the women living for God are single and will always be single. That’s just not the truth! But even if it is your current reality, to compromise will not bring you what you are looking for, just like it didn’t for Hezekiah! It will only bring you heartache that will last a whole lot longer than the wait for God to bring you a mate.

  Have you been faithful on your job, working hard and believing for a promotion? But you were passed over for the guy who doesn’t work nearly as hard as you, but he parties with team? Be thankful that you were passed over because any job that will cause you to compromise your principles, to live contrary to the will of God for you life, is not a promotion that you want! Don’t compromise your stand for the Lord for money and position! It will not bring you the job satisfaction that you want! God still is the only one who promotes His children. There may be a wait, but it will be worth it!

  When you are doing all that you know to do to live for God you will attract the attention of the enemy, as surely as Hezekiah did. Israel was overtaken because of their disobedience to God, but Hezekiah’s attack was purely because of his stand for righteousness. Don’t let this be a block to your living for God. Don’t let this be a reason for compromise. Know that God left a record for you of how the enemy will put pressure on you to compromise and that it isn’t worth it! Ever!

  Hezekiah lost many cities because of his compromise. He started out doing so well. He was turning the hearts of the people back to God and God was with him while he was rebuilding the walls, restoring the temple, and calling people to worship. And as he was doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord, he was trusting Him. But when he heard about his cities and his people being taken into captivity, it was just too much of a burden and he ended up paying tribute to Sennacherib because he stopped trusting God. The compromise that was supposed to make his life easier and his kingdom safer only made things worst. And any compromise you make will make things worst for you. Stay tuned for what happened next. Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Battle plans, Believers, Christian, Hezekiah’s battle, Victorious Living | 1 Comment | Tagged freedom, Spiritual warfare, Hezekiah, Sennacherib, battle, compromise, 2 Kings 18

• I’m Melting, I’m Melting!

  Posted at 3:14 am by wonderfuljesus8, on February 14, 2020

  Joshua 2:11 – And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.

  I had the privilege of ministering recently about the battle plans. I was so excited, because it’s a subject that has stirred in my heart for years. I will blog some more on the battles and maybe even update my previous blogs, because as I ministered, God showed me some other things that I feel are pertinent to the battles I have already blogged about.

  But as we were headed home, my husband mentioned to me that one thing he found interesting was that Rahab told the spies that their hearts melted when they heard about the children of Israel and what that must have looked like. And that got me to thinking about my next blog.

  Have you ever seen the Wizard of Oz? They used to play it every year and I made sure that I never missed it. There was something fascinating about the City of Oz. But the most memorable part to me was when they poured the water on the wicked witch and she yelled, “I’m melting! I’m melting!” I just got a kick out of the fact that someone who had caused Dorothy so much trouble, melted before her face!

  We never see what is happening in the spirit realm when we pray and take a stand against the devil, but I believe Jericho gives us a unique insight into that realm. Long before Joshua and the people of God entered Jericho, the inhabitants of Jericho had heard of the great victories that God had given His people. Rahab said that the terror of the people of God had fallen on Jericho and they had grown faint hearted because of the children of Israel and their God. She told the spies that the inhabitants of Jericho had heard how the Lord had dried up the Red Sea, about the destruction of the Amorites, and of the kings on the other side of the Jordan. And when they heard these things, their hearts melted and they no longer had any courage because God was on their side.

  I think we give way too much credit to the enemy. Notice, I said we! I think that when we know who we are and stand against the attacks of the enemy in the Name of Jesus, we cause demons to tremble, for we are their worst nightmare. People who know and trust their God!

  Moses prophesied in his song, Exodus 15:15, that all the inhabitants of Canaan would melt away and that fear and dread would fall on them. And that is exactly what happened. When I think of a heart that’s melting, I think of a person who has embrace total defeat. That person has no more strength and can’t see anything but the loss that they are expecting, so they are paralyzed in that state of fear and hopelessness.

  The battle of Jericho was really not a battle that Joshua can take credit for. He literally just walked in to finish what God had started. If you think their hearts fainted at what they heard about the Red Sea, the Amorites, and kings of Og and Sihon, what do you think happened while they watched the procession for seven days? People probably started having heart attacks and dying, suicide rate probably accelerated, and everyone was casting blame on everyone else for them being in this predicament of hopelessness. There was probably a lot of sacrificing to their dead gods trying to find some help, some relief. The place was probably in total chaos and fear was running rampant as the citizens of Jericho were wondering what was really happening outside those walls with all of that marching!

  Then came the seventh day! The Israelites didn’t go back to camp after the first round of marching and trumpet blowing. Something was going on! Aren’t they playing a new song? What could it mean? Neither did they return to camp after the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, or the sixth round! They just kept going around and around and around playing those trumpets until finally there was a loud, long blast and then pandemonium breaks out! The walls of the city started falling around them. But not at Rahab’s. Rahab and her family sat huddled together in hope, waiting for their deliverance. Forty years prior, the Canaanites had made many of the Israelites hearts to melt. They had felt like grasshoppers and had missed out on going into the promised land. But now, the Canaanites had become the grasshoppers, and the grasshoppers had become the giants!!

  In Daniel 11:32, the Bible states, “…but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits!” I believe it is sufficient to say that Joshua knew his God! The exploits that he led the children of Israel through are still talked about today with great awe. But Joshua is not an anomaly! We are the people of God also, and we are to cause fear in the heart of the enemy.

  When we get in the word, when we pray, when we praise God, when we come together, when we get out of bed, the enemy ought to become very worried about what is up with us today! Our hearts should never be the hearts that are failing. We should not be afraid of the terror by night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that walks in darkness! A thousand may fall at our side and ten thousand at our right hand, but our stand should be that it will not come near us! We may see it and hear about it, but it shall not come near us!!

  Decide today that you will not be like the people of Jericho. You will be like Rahab!Even though her heart melted at first, faith rose up on the inside of her and she determined that her fate would not be the fate of the people of Jericho. She reached out to the true and living God and found Him receptive to her plea. She saved herself and her family! Fear will bring you destruction but the hand of faith extended to the loving Father will bring hope, deliverance, and great exploits! Next time the enemy attack you, just see him saying, “I’m melting, I’m melting!” Wonderful Jesus!!

  Posted in Victorious Living, Believers, Christian, Battle plans | 2 Comments | Tagged battle of Jericho, Believer, encouragement, Faith, Joshua, Spiritual warfare, the devil, trust in God, Victorious Living, victory

• The Shout of Victory!

  Posted at 7:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on February 11, 2020

  Joshua 6:16 – And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!

  You would be hard pressed today to find someone who has not heard of the battle of Jericho. Songs and movies have been made about this great victory; but just in case you are one of the few who have not heard, I will give you an abbreviated account.

  The children of Israel had arrived at the Jordan. It was time to go across into the land of Canaan to take possession of their promised land, their inheritance. Joshua sent two spies to check out the land, and while they were doing reconnaissance they met Rahab. She hides the spies, lies to her countrymen, then makes a deal for her life and the lives of her family members (chapter 2).

  Then the children of Israel arrives at the Jordan and again God parts the waters as He did with the Red Sea. Do you think the people of Canaan was oblivious to this parting of the river? I don’t think so! I think this only heightened their fear of Joshua and the children of Israel. Sometimes when we are in a battle, all we see is the obvious; but we have to realize that God is strategically handle the situation on our behalf. The Canaanites were already afraid of the God who parted the Red Sea and now He is parting the Jordan! This was no coincidence!

  After they cross over the Jordan, the manna ceased. The interesting thing to note about the manna is that God had miraculously supplied manna for them while in the wilderness, but in the promised land, provision was waiting and they had no more need of manna. Some say they no longer needed a miracle so it stopped! I think that the possessing of the land was quite miraculous and the miracles didn’t stop, they took on another form!

  The city of Jericho was on lockdown! There was no natural way to get inside the city without assistance. Archaeologists have proven that the city was surrounded by two walls and that houses were built in the walls. They also discovered that the Canaanites could have lasted for years under siege because they had a great water supply and had stored up many provisions. This was probably known to the spies and told to Joshua, Joshua didn’t know how he was going to win this battle, he just knew that he would!

  God gave Joshua some unusual instructions for attacking Jericho! Joshua was told that they were to march around the city once for six days. When they marched, the procession was to be led by the men of war, followed by seven priests playing seven trumpets in front of the ark (continuously), and behind the ark bearing priests there were to be more men of war. Not a sound was to be made otherwise! Then they returned to the camp. I can just imagine the look on the faces of the people of Canaan. They had to be wondering what in the world were the children of Israel doing? What kind of battle strategy was this? Why do they keep blowing that horn? And the sounds of the feet marching was probably magnified to them inciting fear beyond reason! What were they waiting for? What did they hope to accomplish with all of this marching? Simple instructions and frightening at the same time.

  However, on the seventh day the instructions changed. They were to march around the city seven times and when they heard the sound of the trumpet, all the people were to shout with a great shout, then the walls would fall flat! Can I just stop here to say that I wonder what Joshua was feeling at these instructions? Joshua, a mighty warrior, who have fought several battles with the Lord, is being told that his strategy for his first major war as leader of Israel is to march around the city?! Whatever he was feeling, he obeyed God! That’s a lesson all by itself!

  I remember reading a testimony of a person who was told by God to hit someone with a banana and they would be healed. Of course, the person thought that this was pretty ridiculous and couldn’t possibly be from God. Later that day, I think he was at a conference, the speaker said something like, “If God tells you to get a banana and hit someone with it, you need to obey God!” He instantly knew he was being rebuked, but moved to obey God and saw a miracle! Joshua needed no such confirmation! He trusted that this strategy would get the job done! There is no record of a discourse like Moses had with God at the burning bush when he said he couldn’t speak! No, Joshua simply obeyed God and the walls came tumbling down!

  Battles are tough! But they don’t always have to be. One word from God can turn your entire situation around. That’s why I love reading about the battles in the Old Testament. They help me to understand that God’s instructions are as unique as the situations. He is no cookie cutter God and what He told Bertha to do to win her battle, may not be what He tells you! Some battles are won with much fasting and prayer! Some are won with speaking the word! But some are won with a shout! Joshua understood that his sure victory was in hearing from God! And that’s the lesson I take from this battle! If you are facing a battle or in the midst of a battle, your victory will depend on your battle plan! Make sure it’s the one the Lord is backing! Shout,for He has given you the city! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Battle plans, Believers, Christian, Victorious Living | 1 Comment | Tagged encouragemnt, Joshua, miraculous, Prayer, provision, testimony, trust in God, Victorious Living, victory

• The Battle For Family!

  Posted at 5:58 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on February 8, 2020

  Genesis 14:14 – “Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.” NKJV

  Family creates an interesting dynamic to the lives of believers. Some of our family members keep us on our knees praying, confessing, and believing God for their deliverance. If it wasn’t for the fact that we know worry is a sin, some of us would live in the place of worry. But this is nothing new! And there is some great news ahead!

  Abram had been given a directive from God to leave his country, his family, and his heritage to go to a place chosen by God (Genesis 12). And he did! Kinda sorta! He took his nephew, Lot, with him. It wasn’t that Lot was some little kid that needed Abram to raise him, but when Terah left Ur, he had taken Lot, so maybe Abram felt responsible for Lot. Whatever the reason, whatever the case, they are together.

  Both men are prosperous. Verse 2, of chapter 13 lets us know that Abram was very rich in livestock, silver and gold. And we find that Lot is prosperous when the herdsmen of Abram and Lot begin arguing over the water and the land. Not only do they have to share with each other this land and water, but we are told that they have to share with the Canaanites and the Perizzites as well.

  This causes them to have to separate from each other. Lot was given a choice by Abram in verse 9, “Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” Lot chooses to go to Sodom. Some translations of the Bible states that Lot moved near Sodom, while others refer to him moving into Sodom. Which ever way it really was, he eventually ended up living in Sodom.

  In chapter 14, a battle is gearing up, and Sodom and Gomorrah joins with three other kings to fight, five agains four. During the battle, Sodom and Gomorrah are overtaken, along with Lot and his goods. Someone escapes and tells Abram, and he gears up for battle. If you have not read this in its entirety, you should do so, because I can only give highlights. In our key verse, Abram, with his trained men, go in pursuit of Lot to recover him and his goods.

  It doesn’t matter to Abram that Lot made his own choice to live in Sodom. It doesn’t matter to Abram that five kings lost to four. It doesn’t even matter to Abram that in helping Lot, he will end up helping Sodom and Gomorrah, whom I am sure he understood the nature of their lives. No! The only thing that mattered to Abram was that his beloved nephew was in trouble and needed his help!

  I’ve lived long enough to know that we all have that family member that can get into some situations. Not always of their own making, it just seems that trouble follows him or her. But family is family! And if you are a believer, your heart for your family is to see every one of them delivered from the enemy, as Abram felt. Abram pursued those kings, rescued Lot and his positions, and all the prisoners and possessions. In other words, they went into that battle and recovered all, returning quite victorious!

  I am from a large family. I had seven sisters and two brothers. All with families of their own. So we have seen some things. I also married into a good sized family. My husband had five siblings. So our families combined with siblings, with nieces, nephews and cousins are quite extensive. We’ve fought many battles over the year. We’ve lost some (seemingly in the natural), we’ve won all (in the spirit), and we find that we have become trained warriors. There is no sitting back on our family members saying that they got themselves into that, or it’s their lifestyle, or we are tired of them. We fight for our family!

  My mother died from lupus while in her forties, leaving all of us very young. Many years later when my sister was in her forties, they diagnosed her with lupus. She called me and told me about it, saying that she was going die in her forties like mama. Something rose up on the inside of me, we know it was the Holy Ghost, and I decreed the devil is a liar! I prayed for her on that phone and continued to pray until I felt the victory. She went back to the doctor and they couldn’t find it! Glory!!! She’s in her sixties. Another time, she was about to lose her job (not sure why she keeps coming to mind) because a patient lied on her. I want you to know we got to praying and she never did lose that job! Years later, she is still on it!! God is such a good God! We’ve gone to battle against sickness and diseases, financial attacks, legal battles, setups, and put downs, and we find that there is nothing God won’t do!

  I have friends, church members, acquaintances, with similar victories. As a believer, I have noticed that when the devil really gets messy, he starts attacking our family members when he wants to get at us. But we have to have the same mind Abram had, “not my family” knowing that God will go with us! Abram had no fear of losing his life or the battle. God had made a promise to him about inheriting the land of Canaan. He couldn’t inherit it if he was dead. So he went out sure of his victory. God has made us similar promises. Promises of victory! Promises that greater is He that is with us, then he that is in the world! A promise that we are more than a conqueror! A promise of household salvation! A promise of generational blessings!

  Don’t you quit on your family! Even if you believe or know you are the only one praying, the only one standing on the promises, the only one who believes! God cares about your family, because He loves them more than you do! I believe this is the first physical battle mentioned in the Bible and it’s about family! What does that say? God is aware that family can get into some altercations, but He is for you and your family! Don’t accept drug addiction, alcohol addiction, unemployment, sickness and disease, and no other lying attack the devil comes up with! This is your family! Fight, for you are inked in as the winner! Wonderful Jesus!!

  Posted in Battle plans, Believers, Christian, Spiritual warfare, Victorious Living | 4 Comments | Tagged Abraham, Believer, Christian, consequences, encouragement, Family, Genesis 14:14, hard times, Prayer, Spiritual warfare, Victorious Living, victory

• Battle Readiness!

  Posted at 2:52 am by wonderfuljesus8, on February 5, 2020

  Deuteronomy 20:1 – “When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” NKJV

  There will be a time in each of our lives when we feel as if we are in a major battle. That battle can come in many forms: financial issues, medical issues, relationship issues, family issues, and a host of other issues. But no matter what the issue, it’s a battle that must be won. I want to share today and in the next several blogs what God has to say about our battles.

  At this time, in Israel’s history, God is teaching them how to go into a physical battle. He told them when it was time to go to fight against their enemies that they would see some things. He said they would see the horses, they would see the chariots, and they would see the people. Then He told them that they would be outnumbered. That doesn’t sound all that encouraging! But even with this, God said, “Do not be afraid of them!” I’ve taught history, and I know that the invention of chariots took war to another level. As a matter of fact, having chariots often ensured your victory. But we hear God saying, don’t look at those things, don’t be afraid!

  Today, we don’t have to go to war as they did in the Old Testament. We having a standing military ready to defend our countries. Probably at that time, most men fought in the war and left their women behind with the children. So I know that everything about the wars in the Old Testament will not be applicable. But some of it is!

  As a matter of fact, our war is not a physical war at all. Paul, in Ephesians 6, wrote that we wrestle not against flesh and blood! Our battles are more likely spiritual battles. Battles that are waged against us by our enemy the devil. And we cannot fight him in the flesh. But the things that God spoke to the children of Israel about their natural battles are things we need to know to win our own battles.

  When we go into battle we see things too: the people, the medical reports, the symptoms, the bills, the challenges…and they can overwhelm us! Yes, they can! But God is still saying, “Don’t be afraid!” And typically, that is easier said than it is done. I am sure that the children of Israel didn’t always find it easy to be courageous in the face of untold obstacles and being outnumbered. But God told them to not be afraid! And when we get a negative medical report, or the symptoms are unbearable, or the financial pressure is weighing us down, God is still saying, “Don’t be afraid!”

  Some teach today that we are not to even be concerned about spiritual warfare. They suggest that God has already won the battle and there is no need to “fight”. I will concur that the battle has already been won, and that we already have the victory! But the devil never hides in a cave saying, “I’ve already been defeated, so there’s no point in messing with them!” And he is fully aware of the truth that Jesus defeated him. But he attacks anyone he can to see if he can steal their victory. For he knows that every one, who is unaware and unwilling to fight, can become his prey and his war trophy. I don’t plan on that being me! I plan to fight!

  After God tells them “don’t be afraid”, God says to the children of Israel, “for the Lord your God is with you!” That’s why we don’t have to be afraid! Because God is with us as He was with them! Jesus echoed this truth when He said, “Lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). And in Romans 8, Paul wrote, “If God be for you, who can be against you!” Over and over again, God has said that He is with us, and yet, we still wrestle with fear.

  If you are honest, if you are like me, it’s easy to forget this truth when you are bombarded by the enemy. Sometimes I really do believe that I am wrestling with flesh and blood! Sometimes, all I can see is the person who is attacking me. Sometimes, I am overwhelmed by all of the negative reports that I hear. Then God lovingly reminds me of His truth that He is with me.

  When you go to battle…We will all have a battle to fight some day, or we have fought a battle, or we are in a battle. It escapes none of us. I cringe when my pastor reminds us of this. But today I just want to remind you that part of getting ready for the battle is remembering that God has told us to not be afraid of what we see, even when it is overwhelming, because He is with us!

  Maybe you are facing a battle right now! Well, get in battle readiness and embrace the truth that God is with you and you don’t have to be afraid. Even if things are at the worst that they have ever been, or you are feeling more devastated than you could imagine, it is time to take God at His word! “For the Lord your God is with you!” You are not in this battle alone. You don’t have to fight it by yourself. Over the next few blogs, I plan to look into my favorite battles in the word of God and learn more about winning every time! My prayer is that you will allow God to show you that He is with you by releasing fear and beginning to trust Him like never before! He is with you! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Battle plans, Believers, Christian, Spiritual warfare, Victorious Living | 4 Comments | Tagged battles, Believer, Deuteronomy 20:1, encouragement, Ephesians 6, hard times, Matthew 28:20, Romans 8, Spiritual warfare, trust in God, Victorious Living, victory

• Free From Bondage

  Posted at 2:43 am by wonderfuljesus8, on February 3, 2020

  Romans 8:3 – For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh” NKJV

  I thought that I had concluded the matter on being torn between living for God and not quite living for God. I thought I had made the point clear that Paul was not struggling in his flesh. Nor was he writing to say that he understood that we would have struggles in the flesh and that was to be expected. But I may not have been as clear as I originally thought. Or maybe I just feel like I need to say one more thing!

  If we look at Romans 8, reading it without seeing the chapter and verses, we will clearly see that Paul is continuing his thinking from chapter 7. As I have read and reread these chapters I’ve added to my thinking. And I am thinking that maybe, just maybe, Paul addressed this issue in 6-8 because some of them were struggling in their walk with the Lord. Probably some of these Roman Christians had the same problems that some Christians we know seem to have. An inability to live a life of victory!

  So Paul has taken time to explain in Romans 6 that sin should not reign in our lives, for the wages of sin is death. That since we have died to sin, and have been raised to newness of life, that we should no longer live in sin. In Romans 7, Paul shared how before we came to Christ, our life was a struggle because sin had control over us. Even when we wanted to do right, because of our sinful nature, we were powerless to do right. But then he concludes chapter 7, (as we know it) saying that God, through Jesus Christ, broke the power of sin by giving us a new nature! His nature! And sin should no longer have this same hold over our lives that it had prior to us coming to know Jesus as our personal Savior!

  In the first verse of chapter 8, Paul tells us that there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus when we are walking according to the Spirit; but if we are walking according to the flesh, then condemnation is obviously our constant friend. It’s not too often I bring a lot of scriptures in to play because I want to make a quick point, but today I will refer to just a couple other scriptures.

  In Galatians 5:19-22, Paul mentions the works of the flesh: adultery, fornication, idolatry, hatred, jealousies, selfish ambitions, drunkenness (to name a few). And it is easy to see that these are unfamiliar sins, but sins that some of us could easily identify with. But Paul is informing us that when we are doing these things, we are in our flesh, and operating as if our nature has not been changed. And when we do it repeatedly, it’s difficult for us to believe that grace has been given to us, and we feel condemned. And to make sure we are thinking alike, the type of condemnation I am referring to is a feeling that someone strongly disapproves of what you do. So in this case, you should feel condemnation. God strongly disapproves of His people acting as if the crucifixion and the Blood of Jesus was a small thing. As if it wasn’t enough! But I can assure that it was!

  However, the word condemnation in verse 1, is the Greek word, “katakrima”, and it means that a sentence has been pronounced and you are judged. But there is no judgment against the people who are walking after the Spirit, only those walking after the flesh! And since that judgment was paid in full by Christ Jesus, Paul is reminding us that His Blood still works!

  Galatians 5:1, a personal favorite of mine, states: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Paul is the author of these words. In writing to the Galatians he tells them that Christ made them free and they should stand in that freedom and not get tangled again in the bondage of sin. Getting tangled in the bondage of sin again is a choice! Getting set free is a privilege. And all too often Christians are found living beneath their privileges!

  This verse brings us right back to Romans 8, verse 2: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Again, reminding us that we are free from the dictates of sin and death through Christ Jesus! That’s why verse 3 basically refers to chapter 7 when it says, “For what the law could no do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

  Many people believe that they can’t live free from sin. This must disappoint the heart of God because His blood is sufficient for us to live free. We just have to believe that we can live free and trust Him to assist us in doing it! You are free if you are a Christian! You just have to take God at His word that you can live it!

  Charle Finney, in his autobiography, wrote about his salvation experience. He was first interested in the Bible because he was studying law and many of the laws referred to the Bible. Then he started attending church and a prayer meeting. But much to his dismay, he was not impressed, for it seemed that the people prayed, but without much expectation to seeing their prayers answered. He discovered that what was in the Bible and what Christians actually lived was not the same. But one day he decide that the Bible would be his point of reference and sought the Lord for salvation. When he received salvation, he was made completely free of his sin. He never looked back. Does God free some and not others? I think He frees all who believe! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Acts 8:3, Believers, Christian, Romans 7:15, Victorious Living | 4 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, condemnation, freedom, Galatians, Jesus, Paul, Romans 7:15, Romans 8:3, Salvation, Sin, Victorious Living

• Who Will Deliver Me?

  Posted at 1:00 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on January 30, 2020

  Romans 7:15 – I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. NIV

  Today, I want to actually delve into my key text. Paul wrote, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” And traditionally, it is believed that Paul was confessing to having struggles in his life as a Christian that he couldn’t overcome. Nothing could be farther from the truth!

  Paul begins talking about the flesh. Actually, he talks about the spirit and the flesh throughout the book, and we will look at this word today. The Greek word for flesh is “sarx”. In the book of Romans, Paul uses this word frequently. Sarx was used literally to mean our physical body, it was rendered “according to the flesh”, and it was also used to mean “from a human point of view.” But in Romans 7, Paul used it in reference to us being “in the flesh”. In this reference he is actually referring to our sinful human nature, apart from Christ.

  It is to this nature that Paul is referring as he writes in verse 14 (but I am a creature of the flesh, sold into slavery to sin) because it is in our state before Christ that we are slaves to sin. When he gets to verse 15 and states, “I do not understand what. For what I want to do I do not do but what I hate I do,” it is because when we are bound in sin, we do things that God knows we don’t always want to do. Some of those things we hate, but we find ourselves yielding to them again and again.

  How many people do you know, who are bound in their sin, often crying afterwards because deep down in their heart they don’t like the way they are living? They feel as if they have no escape from this desperate and hopeless state that their lives are in and want out of it, by any means necessary! This is what Paul is referring to! Our Pastor likes to say that sin will take you farther than you wanted to go and keep you longer than you wanted to stay. How? Because you are in bondage to sin! Sin is your master!

  Paul states that as a sinner, as an unbeliever, in his sinful state, there was nothing good that lived in him; because even when he was willing to do good, it was not always what he did. And in fact, it wasn’t so much him, as it was his sin nature which dominated his thinking, his actions, his behavior, and basically the way he lived. Before Christ! After all, when he was known as Saul, he was known as a persecutor of the believers, and was in agreement with Stephen being stoned to death. That surely qualifies as no good thing!

  Paul tells the believers in Rome that he discovered that a law was at work in him, a law that evil was present in him when he was trying to do good. Paul, as a Jewish rabbi loved the law, but he saw a lack in his life that the law could not fulfill. He found that even though the law was wonderful, it didn’t have the power to influence his actions and to keep sin at bay. And neither will anyone else’s sins be kept at bay outside of Jesus! He forgives them, then He casts them into the sea of forgetfulness! Glory to God!

  That’s when Paul makes the statement that he is a wretched man and asks, “Who will deliver me from this state of sin, this spiritual death?” People are still asking this question. And it’s a necessary one, because it’s this question that opens a heart to the gospel of Jesus Christ. But again, I believe that Paul is not speaking in a present tense of his state, but more in a reflective sense of where he was at before his Damascus Road experience and how he got to where he was after it!

  Really, in all honest, chapter 8 breaks it down further and makes it clearer that Paul was not speaking as a believer who struggled with his flesh. He actually answers his own question by saying, “Thanks be to God (for my deliverance) through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (AMP)

  Paul was giving God praise for delivering him from that state of warring in his soul: trying to be good when in actuality what he did was evil. There are many today who think that because they do good, that is an entrance way to God, but your righteous or good deeds are as filthy rags before the Father and therefore unacceptable. Basically, that was Paul’s message in chapter 7. The law, even though it is spiritual cannot and will not save you from your sin nature. It only has the power to reveal your sin, the penalty of sin, and a loving Father who says, you can’t do enough in the flesh to be free from sin.

  When I read this chapter, I understand that without chapters 6 and 8, it could easily sound like Paul had a hard time being a Christian. However, if you read the rest of the New Testament, there is no evidence that Paul struggled with his flesh, incapable of living the life that Jesus required of him. Of us all! This is Paul who emphatically stated that he was ready to die for the cause of Christ. A man with this type of dedication isn’t flaky with his lifestyle. He isn’t struggling day in and day out to live for God!

  But here’s the most profound part of it all! If you believe that this chapter is actually about Paul struggling as a believer and therefore, of course you will; then you have bought into the lie of the devil that you can’t live a holy life for God. And that’s the biggest tragedy of the lie! Because the answer to “who can deliver you” is the same for you as it was for Paul, “Jesus!” His blood is sufficient to redeem you! His blood is sufficient to free you! And His blood is sufficient to keep you! There’s so much more than I can say, but I will end here with this parting word: He is well able to deliver you! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, freedom, Romans 7:15, Satan, Victorious Living | 4 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, encouragement, freedom, hard times, Jesus, righteousness, Romans 7:15, Salvation, Sin, Sinner, Victorious Living, victory

• Torn Between Two Worlds-Part 2

  Posted at 1:00 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on January 28, 2020

  Romans 7:15 – “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

  Paul begins his discourse in chapter 7 referencing the jurisdiction of the law over a person for as long as he lives. He uses the example of a wife’s commitment to her husband until his departure as an example of the legal binding of the law. He continues by reminding the readers that if a wife was to become involved with a man while her husband is alive, she will be an adulteress. This principle is still in affect today!

  In verse 4, Paul tells the believers in the Roman church that they died to the Law through the crucified body of Christ, so that they might belong to Him and bear fruit for God. In verse 5, Paul tells them that when we were living in the flesh, (not our physical bodies, but our spiritually dead state), we were trapped in sinful passions, a fact that the Law made known to us. And because we were in that state, we were separated from God and our sinful ways led to our being spiritually dead.

  When we read verse 6, Paul reminds the Roman believers that we have been released from the Law and the penalty of the Law, to which we had been held captive, so that we could now serve God in the newness of the Spirit. Paul is warming up to his subject. He is getting ready to make a point, and in doing so, he is laying the ground work. Since he is probably talking to Jewish converts, (because he mentioned that they knew the Law) he is using that which they already understand, to help them to understand something equally as important. Their freedom in Christ Jesus!

  Looking at verse 7, Paul asks the question, “Is the Law sin?” Then, he answers it by stating, “Certainly not!” Paul goes on to tell the Roman believers that without the Law we wouldn’t know what sin is. In the Law we learned coveting was sin, because the Law told us not to covet that which belongs to another. In the law we learned that we are not to lie, to steal, or commit murder because it is sin, and therefore, when we do these things we sin. The Law taught us this! However, Paul states, that sin found an opportunity to make itself known by stirring up every sinful desire that the Law spoke against. Before the Law was given, we didn’t even know or recognize sin because it was dead to us; but once we understood the law, we died to it because it became alive in us.

  In verse 10, Paul again writes and says that the Law which was intended to bring life, actually proved to bring us death. Still, in answering his question, “Is the Law sin?,” Paul lets us know that the Law is holy, righteous and good! And that through the Law sin is revealed as sinful! Paul is making the point that he is not trying to say that Law is sinful, because it is not, but that the Law revealed that mankind by nature, is sinful.

  Now let’s just stop a minute and think about all of this. In order for any of us to become saved, redeemed, born again, or a child of God (pick your term), we must come to grips with the nature of sin that is within all of us before Christ. In verses 1-13, Paul is just breaking down for us the nature of sin as revealed through the Law. We understand that the Law is God’s word to mankind and as such is holy, righteous, and good. Yet, we also understand that before He gave the law and revealed what sin was, there was no accountability between man and God for that sin.

  Through the Law, God established a system, whereby His people were now made accountable of the things that they did or did not do. When they wronged another it was sin. When they lied, it was sinned. When they worked on the Sabbath, it was sin. When they worshipped another God, again, it was sin. Even today, before we can lead anyone to the cross for salvation, we have to help them to understand that their life prior to God was a life filled with sin. That God Himself declared that it was a life a sin, separated from Him, and that if we died in this sin, we would live a Christ-less eternity. All of this that Paul is teaching, would be a lesson or sermon taught to even new believers to help them to understand theologically their salvation.

  And with all of this revelation of what sin was came an understanding that we must pay for sin. God’s judgment is that the payment was death! Something or someone was to shed blood to cover the sin. Therefore, in the Law, where God revealed sin, He also revealed the method of dealing with sin. If you murdered someone, you had to die. If you stole, you had to repay. If you sinned against Him, you had to provide a sacrifice. All of this teaching that Paul is giving to the Roman believers is leading to a point. Join me next time, as I bring the point home. Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, God, Romans 7:15, Sin, Victorious Living | 0 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, consequences, God, holy, Jesus, John 15:7, Salvation, Sin, word of God

• Torn Between Two Worlds?

  Posted at 6:15 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on January 25, 2020

  Romans 7:15 – I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

  I’ve been contemplating this chapter for years, as have many. And for some reason, when I read chapter 7, I walk away with an entirely different point of view than many Christians. As a matter of fact, I have often heard people use this passage (verses 14-25) to justify their inability to live the Christian life.

  These individuals explain, quite passionately, that if Paul, the great Apostle, struggled in his flesh, well, all the more reason they should struggle! Well, I don’t believe this is what Paul was saying at all! And it’s impossible to go into depth about all he did say with a blog, but I will do my best!

  Let me remind you that Paul was indeed writing a letter to the Roman believers, actually to the church in Rome. When I looked up the history of the book of Romans, (bible.org) I read these words and liked what the author had to say:

  “Romans is placed first among Paul’s letters in the New Testament not only because it is his longest work, but because it also furnishes a massive and basic theological frame-work for the whole collection of the apostle’s writings.”

  Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that we understand the theological principles set forth in the book of Romans and especially, in my opinion, in Romans 7. It lays a real groundwork for our belief system. And this book, one of my personal favorites, is where Paul takes time to break down the theology of Christianity.

  Keeping Romans 7 in context, when chapters 6 and 8 are read along with it, there’s no way to walk away thinking that Paul was saying that he was struggling in his flesh as a Christian, and that it was simply the way of life. If you read the entire New Testament, there is no other place where you can find scripture and verse to show Paul as such, a struggling believer. As a matter of fact, after reading the New Testament, most people I know walk away feeling that Paul was over the top in his faith and relationship with Jesus, and in a league of his own! So not a struggler!

  Romans 6 ends with Paul making a foundational point about redemption. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And in making this point, he continues in chapter 7 to express the power of sin, and our inability outside of Christ to get the victory over sin. Furthermore, in the outline on Bible.org, this chapter is listed under the section of sanctification and titled, “Freedom in the New Life.” Now that doesn’t sound like an individual who can’t live for Jesus because his flesh is too strong. God forbid! Then in chapter 8 he writes of the power of walking after the Spirit! Paul is talking, not about a defeated life of dealing with the weaknesses of our flesh, but the Spirit’s ability to deliver us and to lead us in a life of victory!

  So for now, I just want to say to you, if you have been struggling in your walk with the Lord, and you have been using this chapter as your crutch, in the next couple of blogs I am snatching that crutch away! God’s heart for us is not that we live life between two worlds. He has not redeemed us from sin that sin may still reign in our mortal bodies. Paul mentions this in chapter 6, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” Proof positive that we are not to continually struggle over sin. The battle over sin was won at Calvary, and the Holy Spirit is at work in us to maintain that victory! But we have to stop seeing ourselves as wretched, struggling sinners, and begin to see ourselves as Christ sees us!

  Join me for the next few blogs as I endeavor to explain some of what is being addressed in this chapter. I believe the devil likes it when we think that sin is more power than the cross of Calvary. And that’s just not true! Jesus defeated Satan and the power of sin, once and for all, and it was that we might live life free of the power of sin! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, freedom, Romans 7:15, Sin | 4 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, encouragement, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Romans 7:15, Salvation, Sin, Sinner, Victorious Living, victory

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