Wonderful Jesus!

Tag: freedom

• The Curse of Ham?

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on February 26, 2021

  Genesis 9:22,24-25 – And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. Then he said: “Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethren.” NKJV

  

  When my husband was in the Navy, he was a pilot. This elite group of young men were mostly white. My husband shared with me of a time that he and a young white pilot were out having dinner. During the course of the meal, slavery and marriage came up. The young man, feeling free to express himself with my husband, declared that Black people were enslaved because of the curse of Ham, and it basically their destiny. He also believed that it was wrong to mix the races. Interestingly enough to note, my husband felt he was quite sincere in what he believed; but for the record, he was sincerely wrong! It was his upbringing; and he was brought up with a distorted view of the word of God and the reasons behind slavery.

  The flood waters had receded, the ark had landed, and Noah and his family was living on land again. The Bible doesn’t tell us why Noah got stinking drunk, just that he did. Ham, his son, went into the tent, saw his father naked, and went back and told his brothers. His brothers went into the tent backwards, and covered their father. When Noah got up the next day, he knew what his sons had done. Now whether he was half alert, or God had shown him this, we don’t know. But what we do know is that the Bible tells us that Noah knew what had happened as he lay in his drunken stupor.

  When he saw his sons he cursed Canaan. Not Ham, but Canaan, Ham’s son! Ham was never cursed! He told Ham that Canaan would be a servant to his brothers. Let’s investigate this curse for the record. The first thing to note is that Noah said that the Canaanites would serve his brothers. Noah doesn’t say it will be in the form of slavery, but for the sake of argument, we will assume it as such. Those who teach the curse of Ham also state that instantly, upon being cursed, Ham turned black. I know for a fact that if you or I witnessed someone turn from white to black, we’re going to react to that, and especially if it’s our kindred. I believe it would have been noted in some way in the text, if that had been the case, much like Miriam turning leprous in front of her brothers were noted.

  If you take a look at the location of the land of Canaan, you will notice that it is not in the land of Africa. You will also notice that the land of Canaan became God’s promised land to His people.

  Exodus 6:2-4 – And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord I was not known to them. I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. NKJV

  As the children of Israel took possession of the promised land, most of the inhabitants were destroyed, but many of the inhabitants became their slaves.

  Joshua 16:10 – And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become forced laborers. NKJV

  So, if there were a people who were to be slaves, because they were marked, it would have been those who lived in the land of Canaan; and there is no mention of them being black people.

  But for the sake of argument, let’s say some of those Canaanites were black. Did Noah say that this curse would be upon Canaan’s children’s children, for thousands of generations? He did not! So how did we get Canaan’s descendants being black and doomed to being slaves? This line of thinking was nothing more than another form of justification for having slaves. In the 1980’s this ideology was still being peddled to white people, because this young man felt justified in his opinion, as if it was the gospel truth!

  I wish I could say that was the last and only time I heard of the curse of Ham being a part of the reason Blacks were slaves, but it is not! Recently, a friend called me asking me to explain my understanding of the curse of Ham. I shared what I knew; but tonight I did a little more research, and I can’t even go into all of that in this blog. It’s really sad what people will do and say to justify their behavior. And even sadder, is when we involve God in our mess!

  If you have followed me for any length of time, I hope you have sensed my love for God and for His people. I can truly say that I am not writing to incite hate, but to silence lies that have been propagated in the Name of of our Lord!

  Here’s my very last point on the curse of Ham. Even if all of that had been true against Black people from the mouth of Noah, Paul had this say about being cursed:

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

  If Jesus’ blood was capable of redeeming of us from the curse of the Law, you can best believe that it was more than capable of redeeming the descendants of Ham, whomever they are, from Noah’s curse. This redemption came before the Atlantic slave trade ever happened!

  My hope is that if someone you know bring this foolishness up to you, that you now have answer for them. I also hope that if you have believed this, in regards to yourself or another human being, that you have seen the light of God’s word and has been set free from it. You may need to do some soul searching and repentance, but that’s okay, God has great forgiveness in His heart for even this!

  This concludes my look at our heritage, as February ends! Again, these blogs have been for information and inspiration, not for agitation or accusations. I’m a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and I am Black. I am thankful for who I am because I was fearfully and wonderfully made. It’s unfortunate that we have to have a month to celebrate our heritage, when we’ve spent a lifetime trying to overcome our past! I have a dream that one day there will be no need for Black History month because we will all realize that Black history is all of our histories! Be encouraged in His love for you! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Black History, God, Jesus, racism | 3 Comments | Tagged Canaan, curse, curse of Ham, drunkenness, Forgiveness, freedom, Ham, Noah, racism, redeemed, slavery

• A Heritage of Faith!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on February 24, 2021

  Proverbs 13:22 – A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children… NKJV

  

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  Solomon wrote that a good man will leave his children, and his children’s children an inheritance. Some may read this and feel as if they are obviously not good enough because they have nothing to leave their family. Well, here’s some good news for you! If you leave them a heritage of faith, you leave them so much more than money!

  When our ancestors were in slavery, they had it pretty bad. Some believe that when the slaves were brought to America, it was a good thing because they found Christ. Others believe that some were brought here knowing Him already. I believe they are both probably true. I don’t think God needed slavery and all the harsh things slaves endured to get Black people introduced to the wonders of His love. But He is a God that wastes nothing! And through the harshness of slavery, faith was anchored where hope was trying to be destroyed. A people who had no voice, learned to pray to the God who heard their cry. Songs of despair gave way to songs of faith! And the rest as they say, is history!

  Many slaves learned to have a deep, abiding faith in the Lord. Harriet Tubman, SoJourner Truth, Frederick Douglas, and others speak of their intense love for God. They speak of His leading them, of His comfort, of His love. These great men and women, who acquired their freedom, also acquired a rich heritage of faith that helped them to accomplish greater things than they had even imagined. This faith was passed on to the next generation.

  Faith that inspired men like George Washington Carver, who spoke of his quiet time with the Lord being the place where his many creations were downloaded to him by the Spirit of God. Faith that inspired a Black man to start a college for the sole purpose of educating black people. Faith that caused Black people to see themselves as something other than laborers for someone else’s benefit.

  Dreaming the impossible dream, led to Blacks like Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughn who became scientists in NASA; who may have been hidden, but who couldn’t stay hidden. Whether it was their faith, or the faith of their parents, faith moved the barriers of racism for them to go to another level in a world that was previously closed to Black people.

  In the Civil Rights movement, faith was prevalent in the lives of those who were at the forefront of activism. In neither slavery, nor the civil rights movement, were Black people alone in their journey. God used many people who were white to assist and propel their causes to the forefront of humanity. So I understand that! But as Black people, those in the movement relied heavily on their faith!

  The Black church was a symbol of freedom, a podium of hope for a brighter day. As men like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., stood and preached God’s word about the kingdom of God, a desire and a strong faith was birthed to possess the kingdom, on earth! Many believed in the need for social justice, and they faced governmental authorities, mobs, and violence in their quest. But their trust, their great strength, their unyielding passion came out of their relationship with the God who created the ends of the earth!

  I was born into such a family. A family with great financial struggles, but deep ties to the things of God. We were a family that went to church without fail. We were taught to pray. We were encouraged to trust God. And today, many of us still embrace our faith-filled heritage as we sojourn through this world!

  Today, as I blog, I am grateful for the inheritance of faith that has come down to me through our people, through my family. Nothing could hold us back, and nothing could hold us down, once we came to know Jesus! Today we are doing amazing things. I have seen God take our people from segregated schools to running the schools, the cities, the states, and the nation! Look at God!

  Not only that! I have seen God use Blacks in spreading the gospel of the kingdom. From William Seymour at Azusa Street to the many men and women of God who are yet preaching the gospel from the pulpit, our heritage continues. Faith and love are key to breaking down the walls that yet divide us, but those walls will not stop us! We will continue to trust God to do what only He can do in us and through us, for His glory!

  My parents left this world early, and I wasn’t a recipient of anything material either. But they taught me about Jesus! I learned to pray and trust God. I learned to open my mouth and give Him praise. In teaching me about Jesus they gave me a hope and a future. I am so thankful that I tapped into my heritage of faith! I married a man whose family is also tapped into their heritage of faith! As I see siblings, in-laws, our children, nieces and nephews, and other family members serve the Lord, I know they will continue enjoying the blessings of our faith filled heritage and will pass it on! Why? Because they have been given a legacy of faith, that shouts loudly, with God, all things are possible! Wonderful Jesus!

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  Posted in Black History, Faith, Family, Heroes of Faith, Jesus | 4 Comments | Tagged civil rights movement, Faith, Family, freedom, George Washington Carver, God, hard times, Harriet Tubman, heritage, slavery, Sojourner Truth, trust in God

• What’s That About?

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on February 3, 2021

  James 1:19-20 – “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” NKJV

  

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  Have you ever witnessed someone who was so angry that they were out of control? Have you been that someone?

  One morning, as I was entering the school building, a fight broke out. It was pretty intense as kids were shouting, using profanity, and dodging in and out of the ruckus. My first thought was, “It’s too early in the morning for this!” I wish that I can say that this was abnormal, but the harsh reality of it is, over the 16 years that I have been in education, it has been way too common.

  So much anger in the world today. Unfortunately, many of our kids see and hear so much in their homes, in their environments, and even on television that fills them with anger. What’s that about?

  Well, I’m not a psychologist, and I can’t say for sure, but here are some reasons anger is prevalent in our society:

  • Stress – from many avenues
  • Family problems – too many to name
  • Financial woes- joblessness, debt, poverty, homelessness
  • Illness – self or loved one
  • Grief

  While each of these things are real, we have a word from the word about how to handle anger: we are to be slow to anger. James doesn’t leave us hanging with just telling us to be slow to anger. He tells us that this anger doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.

  I’m not writing to the unsaved. I am writing to the person who I believe is a Christian; a Bible believing, Bible toting, Bible quoting Christian, dealing with uncontrolled anger.

  There are times when we feel our anger is justified. Ask Esau. He was the firstborn of Isaac. His twin, Jacob was younger. As they grew, Esau had the heart of his father, and Jacob had the heart of his mother. Esau was casual about everything, and one day he made a trade with his brother: Esau promised his birthright to Jacob if Jacob would just give him something to eat. Later on, when Isaac was ready to pass the blessing on to Esau, Jacob stole it. (But did he really? After all, Esau had given it to him). This angered Esau so much that he promised to kill his brother! The Bible even goes so far as to say that Esau comforted himself with these thoughts! What’s that about? He was so angry that he wanted to kill his brother, and this brought him comfort? That’s bizarre! Yet, he felt justified in his anger! But nothing righteous will come from this type of venting of our anger.

  The Bible has a lot to say about anger. For example:

  Romans 12:19,21 – Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. NKJV

  This is a tough truth to live by when you have been deeply hurt. I know that, and more importantly, God knows that. But look at the promise in this verse: vengeance belongs to the Lord and He will repay! You may not see it happen, but I can promise you this, if you will trust God with your anger, He’s got your back!

  Here’s another truth:

  Psalm 37:8 – “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret— it only causes harm. NKJV

  Ain’t that the truth! Harm to your physical body, harm to your mental state, harm in your relationships, harm at your job, and the list goes on. I knew someone who was so angry, that person couldn’t keep a job. Several someones. Harm!

  This is what I try to teach my students about anger. If it isn’t dealt with, in a positive way, it will cause more harm than good. Fighting leads to suspension. Every single time! Angry outbursts lead to loss. Loss of time in school, loss of learning, loss of trust, loss in relationships, just so much loss. In the end, was it really worth it?

  People are incarcerated today because they didn’t control their anger. People are in the grave because they never dealt with their anger. And just because we are saved, doesn’t mean that we won’t experience these exact same results if we persist in our anger.

  God offers this solution to your anger issues:

  Matthew 6:14 – “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” NKJV

  If you are going to live free of anger, you are going to have to learn to forgive. Forgiveness is more freeing than you think. It doesn’t let the person get away with anything, because God is a righteous judge. But it does release you from the prison of all that pent up, negative emotion called anger.

  Proverbs 19:11 – The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. NKJV

  Sometimes, we just have to learn to overlook the things that make us angry. It isn’t easy. It very well may be impossible for you to accomplish, but not with God. With God, all things are possible! Even being free of anger.

  When Jacob returned home many years later, He asked God to deliver him from Esau’s anger. And guess what happened? You already know! God did just that! But let’s look from Esau’s point of view. He wanted to kill Jacob the last time he saw him. But at some point, he obviously let that anger go. When he saw Jacob, Jacob was bowing before him in humility. He rushed to his brother and embraced him. The rest is history!

  Even perceived justification of anger can be released. God wants us to be whole before Him. He knows that nothing righteous will come of it. He knows the damage of anger and doesn’t want us to go through that. If you are struggling with anger, for any reason, God has you reading this blog, so that you might be free. Go ahead! Release the anger, offer forgiveness, and receive the forgiveness and peace of God that has been waiting for you. Wonderful Jesus!

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  Posted in Dealing With Emotions, Forgiveness, God, Healing | 2 Comments | Tagged Attitude, Believer, Deliverance, encouragement, Esau, Forgiveness, freedom, God, Handling difficulties, Humility, Isaac, Jacob, offense, relationships, trust in God

• Celebration Time!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on January 22, 2021

  Luke 4:18-19 -“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” NKJV

  

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  For me, it’ really been an interesting time looking at the ministry of Jesus through Luke 4, which is really an echo, or fulfillment, of Isaiah 61. Isaiah’s list is longer than the one Jesus read, so since Jesus stopped here, for now, so will I!

  Tonight’s blog is on the acceptable year of the Lord!

  The word acceptable, in the Greek, is “dektos”. According to the Vines, “dektos” “denote that most blessed time when salvation and free favors of God profusely abound”. This expression would have meant nothing to a Gentile in that day, but it held great significance for the Jews.

  Leviticus 25:10-12 -“And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family. That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee to you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of its own accord, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine. For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat its produce from the field.” NKJV

  The year of Jubilee was significant in that it provided three major benefits: personal liberty, restoration of property, and blessings.

  In the year of Jubilee, if you were a slave you would be set free. No matter how many years were left to your bondage, you would be free! If you had to sale your property, for whatever reason, it was restored to you in the year of Jubilee. And the harvesting of the land was halted, that everyone could enjoy the fruit of the land, representing blessings or favor to all.

  The only drawback to the year of Jubilee was that it came every 50 years. So if you were in year 45 or closer to the Jubilee, I am sure that you could look forward to it and the blessings it brought. If you were at year 2 to 5, after the year of Jubilee, you might have pleasant memories. But if you went into slavery, or lost your property 10 years after Jubilee, or the year after Jubilee, the road ahead would not be filled with hope! Jesus came and announced that in Him was the fulfillment of the year of Jubilee. No more waiting for Jubilee, because Jubilee had arrived and was looking at them! It’s celebration time! But in truth, they didn’t see it that way!

  First, and foremost, He came to liberate us from the bondage of sin.

  Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24

  His death, burial, and resurrection provided us with liberty from that bondage. He who knew no sin, became sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

  This reconciliation of man to God, restored us to our rightful place in God, giving us an inheritance with Jesus.

  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29 – NKJV

  Once we were made righteous, we had access to all that was Jesus’, thus all that the Father had! Every promise, every blessing, and immeasurable favor, was opened up to us! This was the best news of all! Jubilee personified! For us! Let’s celebrate!

  Two things that stood out to me in this study: Jesus is our Great Physician. Physical healing, emotional healing, mental healing, social healing…if it has a name, Jesus heals us of it! And He is our Redeemer! Salvation, deliverance, protection, reconciliation is all wrapped up in Him. The entirety of the gospel message is really encapsulated in these two truths. It’s a theme repeated over and again throughout scriptures. However we find ourselves in life, we will need Him as our Physician or our Redeemer. And we will always find Him available.

  I’ve written some pretty long posts during this study, so I’ll be brief tonight. Schambach had a saying, while he was ministering on the earth: “You don’t have any trouble! All you need is faith in God!” For some reason this saying just came to me tonight. I will say it like this: When you have trouble, of any kind, reach out with your faith to God! Jesus has paved the way with the cross and has come to give us all of Him and all of the Father!

  Let us not be like the Pharisees! Let’s recognize the truth of Jesus’ words spoken so long ago and recorded for us to have! He has fulfilled the scripture that says He is our all in all! Let’s receive Him for the truth that He is and begin to celebrate Him like never before! And then, let’s just celebrate! Celebration time, come on! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in favor, Jesus, Luke 4:18, ministry of Jesus | 0 Comments | Tagged acceptable year, Believer, blessings, encouragement, Faith, freedom, God, Grace, Healing, Jesus, ministry, reconciliation, restoration, righteousness, Salvation, slavery, Year of Jubilee

• Spiritual Sharecropping!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on January 15, 2021

  Luke 4:18- “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed…” NKJV

  

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  Every aspect of the ministry of Jesus focuses on people. What He did, and what He said, during His earthly ministry, testifies to that truth. But this ministry, the ministry to set the captives free, is the launching pad of all of His ministry. He came to “break every chain” and to make us free.

  We can really get ourselves caught up in stuff. Drugs, alcoholism, sexual immorality, lying, stealing, hating, backbiting, and everything in between. Some of this stuff is of our own choosing, while some of it comes with the territory of our lives. And then there is that, which seems to have traveled through our bloodlines. So much baggage, so many chains, and Jesus came to free us from them all.

  I love the words of the Savior in John 8:

  John 8:36 -Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. NKJV

  Yet, many believers are still walking around in the chains of their past, with sins weighing them down, as though they have never heard this declaration of the Savior.

  Paul wrote in Galatians:

  Galatians 5:1 – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. NIV

  When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He died to set us free from the bondage of sin. When He set us free from the bondage of sin, it was that we could live a life of freedom, and still, there are chains in many people lives.

  Let me clarify for you, I am not sitting in judgment and making light of the trials and struggles that we face in this life. However, the truth of the Word is that Jesus came to set the captives free, and if we are captive to anything in this life, He wants us free!

  My daughter wrote a series called, “The Salis Plantation”. One of the things I truly love about the series, besides the fact that she wrote it, is the way she portrayed the slaves who ran for freedom. In her novels, these ex-slaves had to learn to be free. Although, they had escaped slavery, and was no longer bound in the physical sense, they had to become free in their spirits, their minds, and the way they lived.

  It’s the same way in Christ Jesus. He sets us free from the bondage of sin when we are born again. It’s our spiritual liberation day and we become new creatures. Outwardly we look the same, and so does our environments; but inwardly we are not the same people. Therefore, we are not to do the same things we did before, or to live the same way.

  It starts with the understanding of His message to the captives. We can be free. How is that even possible? Listen to what Jesus said:

  John 8:31-32 – Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” NKJV

  As we begin to read and study the word, we begin to abide in Him. As we begin to abide in Him, we learn of the truth of His power over sin and the evil one. As we learn to trust Him and His word, we realize that we can truly be free. Truth opens our eyes to the possibility of being free. When we embrace that truth, and can see ourselves free, it will happen for us! Chains are broken!

  You say, “It’s not that simple!” I agree, for many, it is not! For others, when they are born of the Spirit of God, they are immediately set free from addictions, from hate, from guilt and shame. I don’t know the whys of it all, I just know that He came to make us free, and He is well able to do what He said that He would do!

  The things that hold us in bondage are weighty chains. They affect every area of our lives. The alcoholic desperately wants to be free. The damage that comes into the family of an alcoholic can be pretty traumatic. The family of the drug addict cries for the freedom of their loved one, because the pain of watching a life self-destruct, is heartbreaking! (Remember yesterday’s post, He can heal that broken heart)! The point is, people need to be free, and only Jesus can truly set us free! He is just as anointed today to set the captive free, as He was when He walked this earth.

  Matthew tells us of a couple men who needed to be set free. They were demon-possessed, and they hung out in the tombs. Matthew described them as being extremely fierce, and they were obviously very dangerous men, because he said no one could pass their way. But one day, Jesus did! And at His word, they were set free!

  Every ministry that Jesus walked in, because He was anointed, is a ministry we are to walk in. I’m not saying that I have arrived, but I am saying that I need to know all that He did and expects of us as His body. Getting people free, is as much a part of our responsibilities, as Christians, as helping the poor, and the broken-hearted. But it’s not for the faint of heart or the individual who is not anointed.

  All chains are not broken the same way. There are some great programs, started by believers, that are effectively assisting people in getting free. Here’s a truth I never want to stray away from:

  Matthew 9:29 – “According to your faith let it be to you.” NKJV

  What you believe about your situation and how you can be made free, or not, plays a significant role in getting free. Slaves who were afraid of running away to obtain freedom remained in bondage. Even after their freedom was secured nationally, some stayed in the yokes of slavery, as sharecroppers. Not being owned, but not being able to live a life much different then when they were slaves; still bowing to the plantation owners with next to nothing to call their own. Still afraid of upsetting them and making them mad, or of not showing up and working when they said. Working hard, like a slave, and being given pennies a day, while being charged dollars a minute for everything. Always in debt, (another bondage), and never a way to get out of it! A horrible lifestyle!

  That’s what a believer, who Jesus came to set free, but who still lives in bondage is, a spiritual sharecropper. Living in bondage to the devil, as if there is no realization that freedom has been granted! Living as if the devil’s bondages are more powerful than Christ’s freedom! Living as though there is no hope for a different lifestyle, when the Savior has said we have become children of God and can be free!

  Not criticizing! Just saying what Jesus said! He came that we might be free from the bondages of sin! He came so that, in obtaining freedom, we might actually live in that freedom. As we minister to people, it is our responsibility to tell them this is part of the gospel message: they can be free! Jesus said it, and didn’t change His mind; that whom He sets free, is free indeed.

  If you or someone you know is yoked in spiritual sharecropping; free without the benefits of being free, it’s time to believe God for a change. The word of God says that you can be free and you should be free. As you study His word, even reading the truth in this blog, begin to see yourself free of every yoke. As you begin to see yourself free, ask God for a plan, or to lead you where you can learn more about being free. Go after it, and then dare to believe it can be yours! I’ll be praying for you or your loved one. And if you drop me a comment about a specific situation, I will add my faith and prayers to yours.

  Jesus is anointed to set you free, and if you look, you will find one of His anointed servants, who can help you get free! Wonderful Jesus!

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  Posted in Deliverance, freedom, Jesus, Luke 4:18 | 2 Comments | Tagged Deliverance, demonic activity, encouragement, Faith, free, freedom, Jesus, Luke 4:18, sharecroppers, the devil, Victorious Living, victory

• Happy Hanukkah!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on December 28, 2020

  John 10:22-23- Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. ²³ And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. NKJV

  

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  Hanukkah was actually celebrated this year from December 10th to the 18th. Many Christians are unaware of this Jewish festival, but since it is celebrated during the holiday season in December, I wanted to at least share why it’s celebrated and see if I could “tie” it in to it’s spiritual significance for me as a believer.

  In our key verse, John made note of the fact that Jesus went to the synagogue during the Feast of Dedication. This feast actually has several names including, the Feast of Lights, and Hanukkah! This is not a feast that the people were given by God, but one that was instituted in Jewish culture as a result of a dark time in their history. It is widely observed today by Jews all over the world.

  There was a Syrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes, who reigned from 175 BC to 164 BC. He had the bright idea that he would get rid of all things Jewish in Palestine, including their religion, and replace it with all things Greek. His first attempts to do so were peaceful, but didn’t get him the results that he wanted, so in 170 BC he launched an attack against Jerusalem. This attack resulted in the deaths and enslavement of over 150,000 Jews. He stole from the Temple treasury and made it a capital offense to possess a copy of the Law, or to circumcise a child. The list of his sins were many, including the defiling of the temple in every way he could think of.

  Then Judas Maccabaeus and his brother led a fight for freedom. In 164 BC they finally won the battle over king Antiochus and began a cleansing and purification of the Temple. It was to commemorate this time of Temple cleansing and restoration that the Feast of Dedication was instituted. Judas Maccabaeus had determined that the feast should be a happy occasion and should last for eight days, beginning on the 25th of the month of Chislev. Lights were a huge part of the celebration, thus the name, the Festival of Lights. There are two different views about the lights. According to one historian, eight lights were placed in the windows on the first day of the feast. Each day a light was snuffed out until there was only one light remaining on the last day. The way I heard it told, was just the opposite. A candlestick with eight branches was placed in the window and each day, a candle was added and there would be eight lights on the last day burning in the windows.

  Some say the lights had a more significant, miraculous meaning, other than celebrating the light of freedom returning to Jerusalem. It is said that when they re-lit the menorah, the seven-branch candlestick, at the first celebration, they only had enough purified oil to light the lamps for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for the entire eight day celebration, and thus the eight days of burning candles is a testament of the miracle God gave when the oil lasted for those eight days instead of one. Just a bit history to set the background for my thought for today.

  The first time I heard of the Feast of Dedication, I was a teenager. Time was set aside at the end of every year, during the festival dates, to re-dedicate our lives to the Lord for the upcoming year. It was a time of soul-searching, reflecting on the past year, and goal-setting for the next year. Although, I don’t “celebrate” this festival in its fullness, I do (like most people) use this last month of the year to reflect and to think about the past year and the goals that I want to set for the upcoming year.

  1 Corinthians 6:19-20- Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

  I can so understand a spiritual connection to the Festival of Dedication, based on this scripture in 1 Corinthians. If a physical temple needs cleansing and purification, as a believer, I want to keep my spiritual temple cleansed and purified. I may not burn candles (for I understand that Jesus is still the Light of my world), and it may not take me eight days to do what I need to do; however, I do think a time to reflect is needed. Time to think about how I took care of the Lord’s temple, my body, what I allowed to be done in this temple, and through this temple, and if in the end did it glorify my Lord. That reflection may lead me to repentance, or just a time of worship and joy, but I still believe today, it is beneficial.

  When I gave my heart to the Lord as a child, I didn’t know all that I was doing or all that it meant. When I recommitted my life to the Lord, as a teen, I had greater understanding. I have never changed my mind, my heart, or my focus from serving the Lord, but I can occasionally find myself in need of restoration, rejuvenation, or refocusing of my time.

  Jesus went to the temple during this feast. No other mention of the celebration is mentioned. But I wanted to tie a scripture to my thinking. Instead of making a new year resolution, maybe what’s needed is more of a heartfelt time of contemplation before Jesus, the Savior! A time of being real and keeping it real, as we head into the year of 2021. A time of saying, maybe we didn’t quite do all that we thought we would do this year, Lord; but we’re looking forward to doing so much more in the year to come! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in commitment, Holiday Celebrations, Jesus | 0 Comments | Tagged Antiochus Epiphanes, attacks, encouragement, Feast of Dedication, Festival of Lights, freedom, Hanukkah, Jesus, king, miraculous

• Grace Through Jesus!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on November 4, 2020

  Romans 3:24 – being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, NKJV

  

  grace-through-jesus_.mp3

  The topic of grace is an extensive topic. I know that I can’t exhaust it, nor can I completely cover it. But I do want to make the case for grace. It’s free, it’s precious, it’s abundant, and it’s available to every believer!

  My last blog was about grace coming through Jesus. Today, I want to tackle the truth of justification by grace through faith in Jesus. The Vine’s Dictionary explains justification in this manner:

  Justification has three distinct meanings, and seems best described comprehensively as “a concrete expression of righteousness;” it is a declaration that a person or thing is righteous…

  According to this verse, and the definition of justification, we can conclude that we are made righteous before God by His favor which He extended to us through Jesus! We were trapped in our sin with no hope of ever being set free, but God, through grace, and because of His love for us, made us righteous. In the Amplified Bible this scripture reads:

  and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:24 – AMP

  It’s important to note that justification is an important reality to the believer. Each of us came to the Father burdened with sin. Some of us had so much guilt over what we had done, what we should have never done, and what we wish we could do differently. Yet, God’s grace is made available to us to even deal with the guilt of sin. That’s pretty powerful! Paul made this statement:

  Although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:13-14 – NKJV

  Paul had much to be ashamed of, knowing that he persecuted believers, watched Stephen get stoned to death, and declared war on the believers. And here he is saying, he obtained mercy and exceedingly abundant grace in Christ. This is probably why he could write so poetically about grace because he understood the richness of what he received from God through grace. I know of no scriptures in the Bible, off hand, where Paul repeatedly said, “I’m so sorry for what I did! I can’t believe I was so blind and persecuted people who believed in Jesus!” He saw God’s grace for what it was, a lifeline, and he hung on tightly!

  Paul wrote to the church in Rome. He reminded them that they had been justified by faith, a faith that gave them access to the grace of God:

  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2 -NKJV

  Grace must be accessed. It’s freely given, but we must believe that it is available to us and we have access to it. When we trust Jesus for salvation, grace is activated. Not just grace to be saved, but grace to be made righteous, and much more! This is clearly seen in a familiar verse, that I will share from the Amplified Bible:

  For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. Ephesians 2:8-9 -AMP

  God’s remarkable compassion and favor is what draws us to Christ. It’s His undeserved, gracious gift of grace that brings us to a state or place of salvation. We can’t brag about it as something we have done, because it’s as a result of His favor towards mankind, and it is free! If we don’t gain any other understanding about grace, we must realize that God gives it to us even though we don’t deserve it.

  I’ve talked with people who just won’t except God’s grace. They feel so unworthy of His grace and mercy. They believe they can never be redeemed and there is no hope for them. But this is so wrong, and my heart aches for them. Too many people are living their lives in a state of unworthiness. News flash! At one time we were unworthy.

  Paul wrote in Ephesians 2, that we were just like everybody else was, at one time in our lives. We walked according to the world and the way things were done in the world. We were more concerned about fulfilling the desires of our flesh and our mind; and we were children of wrath and sons of disobedience. Paul went on to say that at one time we were without Christ, without hope, and without God. That’s a pretty miserable place to be!

  But God’s great loved prompted Him to pour out grace and mercy, instead of judgment and punishment. He not only wants to save people, but He also wants to free us of the guilt of sin, declare us righteous and free from the penalty of sin, and favor us with His glory! Embracing grace is the best thing that we can do for ourselves, and when we realize the greatness of it all, it will radically change our perspective and our relationship with God! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in favor, God, Grace, Jesus | 2 Comments | Tagged encouragemnt, Faith, favor of God, freedom, Grace, Jesus, justification, Paul, Salvation, Sin

• Proud to Be Bitter!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on August 27, 2020

  Ruth 1:19-20 – Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, “ Is this Naomi?” But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” NKJV

  

  proud-to-be-bitter_-1.mp3

  In my last post, I wrote about the children of Israel stopping at a place called Marah. Today I want to continue my discussion of the sin of bitterness. I sensed a need to “update” this “series” from my first year of blogging.

  Naomi and her husband went to the land of Moab with their sons to avoid the famine in Bethlehem. After they got to Moab, her husband died. Her two sons had married Moabite women and after a time, her sons died. Around this time, Naomi hears that there is food in Bethlehem, and she decides to return to the land that she had come from. Her daughters-in-law wanted to go with her; but in the end, Ruth was the only one to travel with her to Bethlehem.

  It’s been at least 10 years since Naomi and her family departed from Bethlehem, maybe longer. For some reason, the women of Bethlehem ask “Is this Naomi?” It could have been the shock of seeing her again, or of seeing her alone, or she could have changed in some way. Whatever the reason, they were unsure that it was her.

  Naomi immediately tells the women that they are not to call her Naomi, which means pleasant, but they are to call her Mara which means bitter. She continues to explain why she wants to change her name:

  • The Lord has dealt very bitterly with me, she said!

  • I went out full (with a husband and two sons).

  • And the Lord has brought me home again empty; which wasn’t completely true, because she had a daughter in Ruth!

  I’m not judging Naomi, but it’s pretty obvious here that she is making it plain that she is bitter and has a right to be bitter. She is so bitter, that she believes the Lord has dealt very bitterly with her. I can only imagine the devastating heartache that would accompany the loss of both a husband and your children. So I get that she is hurting! What I don’t understand is why she feels she has a right to be bitter!

  In Naomi telling the women, “Call me Mara” she sounds as if being bitter is a badge of honor. It is not! Then she goes on to list all of her issues as if she has earned the right to be bitter. She has not! God wasn’t responsible for the things that caused her bitterness, and He isn’t responsible for any bitterness that we may harbor in our heart.

  The Bible doesn’t elaborate on how her husband and sons perished, but whatever caused their deaths, she laid the blame at God’s door, and that’s not where it belongs!

  In Jeremiah 4:18, God shares insight into bitterness:

  “It’s the way you’ve lived that’s brought all this on you. The bitter taste is from your evil life. That’s what’s piercing your heart.” Jeremiah 4:18 MSG

  In other words, God is saying that the bitterness isn’t from His hand. He wasn’t piercing Naomi’s heart, life was! He isn’t piercing your heart, life is! Maybe not your life, but maybe the life of a loved one lived without God, and your heart is pierced. It’s not His fault! Things happen to the just and the unjust! When stuff happens to the just, we are not to react like the unjust. The unjust have no hope for they are without God; but we have the promise of deliverance, from the Great Deliverer!

  Peter, in addressing Simon the diviner realized that he was a bitter man and said this:

  For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” Acts 8:23 NKJV

  Bitterness is poison to the soul. It is deadly and capable of causing many physical issues in your life. It’s not worth holding on to!

  In the book of Hebrews, it is written:

  “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;” Hebrews 12:15 NKJV

  The writer of Hebrews encourages us to be careful unless we allow a root of bitterness to spring up and bring trouble in our lives and cause many people to be defiled. When we are bitter we have a tendency of defiling ourselves and others. Our bitterness becomes the lens in which life and relationships are processed.

  When I got married, several divorced women told me that all men were dogs. Others told me to watch out for the seven year itch. These things were said by women who had become embittered towards the institution of marriage and men. Probably with great cause! These words could have defiled me and my marriage had I listened to them! But I didn’t! I considered my source!

  James said:

  But if you have bitter, envy, and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. James 3:14 NKJV

  James is letting us know that there is nothing to boast about when we are bitter. As a matter of fact when we boast, we lie against the truth! Our situations, our pain, and eventually our bitterness makes us feel like we have a right to feel the way we feel, and say the things we say, which results in us lying against the truth of God’s word!

  In my opinion, bitterness short-circuits a heart of gratefulness. Naomi was still alive! Ruth had come with her to help provide for her and to take care of her. They had made it back to Bethlehem without any trouble. She had much to be thankful for. But she wasn’t concerned about anything except the fact that she had loss so much! Ruth was also a widow and we don’t get any vibes that she was bitter. Naomi’s bitterness was so deep that she could only see her pain and her losses, and was blind to the goodness of God. Rightly she said that she should be called bitter because she was a very bitter woman.

  But Naomi had a loving Father. One who doesn’t easily offend. One who knows we are imperfect beings. One who understands. And even though she couldn’t see Him working things out to bless her, He was doing exactly that! And thankfully, if you are born again, your Heavenly Father is wanting you free of bitterness because the poison is destroying the blessings He is bringing in your life!

  Life is tough! For some it seems to be down right unbearable. But, it is not an excuse for bitterness, or a need to boast in it! Bitterness says I will never do this, or I will never do that, because of what happened to me! Bitterness says that no one has the right to tell me how to feel until they have walked in my shoes! Bitterness says I will never trust another person as long as I live! All these emotional statements stem from a root of bitterness!

  Stop boasting in your bitterness! Get rid of it! A willing and repentant heart is all God needs to start the process of healing! Instead of blaming Him, try trusting Him! Instead of living with bitterness, try living without it! Let it go! It’s only making you sick! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Attitude, Bitterness, hard times | 0 Comments | Tagged Attitude, Believer, encouragemnt, freedom, hard times, Healing, Naomi, offense, Ruth, trust in God, victory

• It’s Not For Drinking!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on August 25, 2020

  Exodus 15:23 -Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah.

  

  its-not-for-drinking_.mp3

  The children of Israel found themselves in an unwelcome place. They had been wandering in the desert for three days unable to find water. And when they finally find water, it is undrinkable! It’s bitter! Can you imagine how frustrating this could be? Maybe you haven’t been looking for water, but maybe you have been looking for something else, and when you found it, it was not what you expected! Some women spend a lot of time looking for a husband, and in desperation they find one, but it wasn’t what they were expecting. Some look for a high paying job, and when they get it, it wasn’t what they were expecting! It happens to the best of us!

  If you read the fourteen chapters before this verse, you can well understand that for the people of Israel, this is just another disappointment in a whole list of disappointments. Have you ever been there? Have you ever felt this way?

  They were slaves for over 400 years under Egyptian rule and hard taskmasters. When Moses came to deliver them, instead of things getting better, they got worst. When they got to the Red Sea, the Egyptians came up behind them and they were sure they would be slaughtered. And typical of human nature, they were probably feeling “If it’s not one thing, it’s another”. Can you relate? I’m sure that you can! I know I can relate to this on a couple levels!

  But God! In the midst of their situations, God was mindful of them and working things out for their good. They couldn’t see it at the time, but it was happening nevertheless. And guess what, I can testify to that truth, that in those frustrating moments, those times of disappointment, He was working on my behalf, and He is probably working on yours!

  While they were in bondage, Moses was born. And even though it took him 80 years to get to the place where God could use him, God was still working on the deliverance of His people! They didn’t see it! They didn’t know freedom was on the way, but God was working towards their deliverance!

  While Pharaoh was constantly saying no to Moses and God; God was demonstrating His power to deliver; and when He did, they came out of Egypt with great wealth. The tables had turned. The ones who had mistreated them so severely was severely dealt with by God! The ones who had labored and received no wages in return, left with the spoils of Egypt. When I read the Word of God and see this type of thing, I am encouraged, because I know that if I trust Him with my disappointments, He will turn them around for my benefit!

  When they got to the Red Sea, (after having been led by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night) God parted the Red Sea and they crossed over on dry land. How spectacular is that! I can’t help but think that at this point they should have been fully persuaded that God was on their side. At this point, after being led by a cloud by day, fire by night, and having the Red Sea opened for them, they should have been able to trust Him for something as simple as water. But that was not the case!

  When they arrived in the Wilderness of Shur, and for three days they couldn’t find water, they were not happy! They were upset!! Doesn’t that just sound like people. No matter what God does for us, if He doesn’t do that “one” thing, we can get an attitude with Him real quick!! Instead of remembering His goodness towards us, we can only concentrate on our disappointments and hurts, just like the people of Israel!

  Exodus 15:24 – And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”

  Wouldn’t you think that after all of the miracles before the Exodus and the latest miracle of crossing the Red Sea, that coming to bitter water would cause them to look forward to what God was about to do instead of complaining? Hind sight is twenty twenty!

  How many times have you and I seen the hand of God move on our behalf? For me, I have been healed of paralysis, one of our daughters was healed of abnormal seizure activity, another was healed of larynx Malaysia, while yet another was healed of “the issue of blood”, to name a few. Many times He has provided finances, jobs at just the right time, favor in a situation, protection from an incident or accident… and the list of His faithfulness to us can go on and on! How about you? What has He done for you through the years? Any healings? Any financial breakthroughs? Any protections?

  And yet, just like the children of Israel, when something happens contrary to what we expect, we find ourselves dealing with bitter waters. I know, we don’t like to admit that we can become bitter with the Heavenly Father, but it happens all too frequently.

  Bitterness is a terrible place to camp out at. The bitter water was good for nothing, and so are bitter people. Life can at times be filled with disappointments, setbacks, and even heartaches. God knows this! And so does Jesus. Didn’t He say in John 16:33-“ In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”? Jesus didn’t say, we would have tribulations and at this time He understands how we can become embittered. Nope! He said, “be of good cheer”! What kind of advice is that? That’s the kind of advice One gives when He knows the Father!

  In other words, we are not to allow these things to stump us, to cause us to become bitter. We are to understand that He overcame that we might overcome! We are to realize that the One who delivered us before can deliver us again. We are to trust that the One who provided will provide again! There is no situation that is too big for the God we serve. There is no problem that He cannot solve! There is no circumstance that He cannot overcome! He is God! He has not lost His ability to bring about a miracle in our life!

  If you are stuck at the waters of Marah, feeling bitter about life, it is time to change your location. Time to move from this place of bitterness to your oasis. Bitter water is not for drinking, so don’t drink it! Repent of your bitterness and ask God to give you life giving water, so you’ll never thirst again! Then watch Him do it! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Attitude, Bitterness, Deliverance, God | 0 Comments | Tagged Attitude, Bitterness, children of Israel, Deliverance, disappointments, encouragemnt, freedom, hard times, Healing, hurts, Marah, Moses, the Exodus

• Can I Get a Witness!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on August 4, 2020

  Revelation 12:11 -They gained the victory over him on account of the blood of the Lamb and the word of their witness. Love for their own lives didn’t make them afraid to die. CEB

  

  can-i-get-a-witness.mp3

  I’ve been blogging on the spiritual weapons given to us to overcome the devil. This week will be my last week dealing with the subject. What I am realizing is that Jesus gave us so many ways to be victorious, that to live a life of defeat would be a slap in His face!

  Today I want to look at the phrase, “the word of their witness” as our spiritual weapon against the enemy. When I think about this phrase, it brings to mind, “what are we saying about Jesus?” Have you thought about the fact that what you say about Jesus can cause you to be either victorious or defeated?

  John wrote that they overcame the devil by the word of their testimony, or in this version, by the word of their witness. One commentator wrote that every single time we say no to sin, to temptations, to the lies of the devil, we are overcoming him! That’s what the end of this verse is reflective of when it says we overcome by the word of our testimony.

  The way we live as Christians, going back to holiness, will determine how adept we are at overcoming the devil. In the Bible we have two great men of God, who were totally different in their walk with the Lord, yet alike! Peter and Paul!

  Paul is one of my favorite people in the Bible, outside of Jesus! His life, speaks to me. He was a persecutor of the disciples of Jesus, arresting them and consenting to their deaths. Paul was zealous for the Law he had given his life to learn about, but ignorant of the God who sent His Son to die for him. I believe that every time he arrested one of the disciples their lives were a witness to him. He just couldn’t understand why they were so passionate, and some times, so willing to die for this Jesus! After watching Stephen die, I believe his life was changed. This young man had just used the very Law Paul had studied to explain his devotion to Jesus, and as Stephen dies, he cries “Lord, forgive them!” This was on his mind as he traveled on the road to Damascus. Now he was ready to encounter Jesus, and when he did, Paul recognized Him and called Him Lord. The same energy that Paul used to persecute the believers, was the same energy that he used to serve the Lord. He was strong in faith, strong in power, and strong in his teachings. There is no record of him ever straying from Jesus. He was passionate about his faith in Jesus, and he loved not his life, even to the death. Paul’s witness is an encouragement to me to live for Jesus. His life demonstrates that we can live a devoted, separated, victorious life with the Messiah.

  Peter was so enthusiastic in his service for Jesus that he sometimes got ahead of himself! When Jesus asked His disciples what were they saying about who He was, Peter spoke up, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” Yet, Jesus rebuked Peter on several occasions, and Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. But Jesus saw Peter’s heart, and restored him, and Peter went on to be used mightily of God. Peter then stumbled in his relationship with the Gentiles, not wanting to eat with them when the Jews were around. It wasn’t that he was a flaky Christian, he just showed a more human side, a fear for what people thought of him. His enthusiasm and passion, sometimes got the best of him, trying to block out his godliness. Yet he still remains a powerful witness that we can all look up to! God knows we aren’t perfect, that we will stumble, and through Peter’s life we have a witness that we can overcome, even when we don’t always get it right!

  Can you imagine the impact these men lives had on the people they came into contact with? By his witness, Paul overcame the devil, and God used him to write most of the New Testament and to take the gospel to the Gentiles! By his witness, Peter impacted the Jewish community for Jesus every time he preached, winning thousands of souls to Jesus at a time. Their witness, in their life, and with their words, caused them to overcome the devil, time and time again!

  I think of the Voice of the Martyrs magazine at this time. The powerful testimonies I have read over the years of these same type of Christians who, in spite of intense persecution, continue, even in the midst of trials to deepen their relationship with Jesus. One such man comes to mind that I read about. I don’t remember his name, but I remember his witness. He was arrested for his faith in the Lord Jesus while living under a communist regime. During his arrest he would witness to the prisoners. One day, the guards took him outside in the wintry weather, naked, as a means of torturing him. However, each time he was brought back inside, he was without sickness, frost bite, or even pain. I believe I also read that the Lord clothed him in warmth while he was outside. His witness was even stronger after the intense persecution and he led many to Christ. I don’t remember the end of his life, but he overcame the devil and his attacks, with his witness!

  We won’t all be a Peter or a Paul, but we can all be a witness. The devil will constantly do things to try and tempt us from our faith in Christ Jesus, but we must be determined that nothing will separate us from God. He will lie to us about God’s character, but we must be diligent in letting our words speak of God’s faithfulness, His goodness, His mercy, and His love. Even in these challenging times with the coronavirus, we must remain true to Him, remembering always, that people are listening to our words and watching our lives.

  We overcome the devil! Jesus made it clear that we do so! He gave His Blood as an overcoming weapon. We have praise to silence the enemy. We have the word of our testimony to testify that God is good and the devil is a liar! We have our holy, consecrated lives that give no place to him. We must live free of any fear of the devil! And now, we just have to live like we know these truths, believe these truths, and operate in these truths. Can I get a witness? Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in God, Jesus, the devil, weapons of warfare, witness | 0 Comments | Tagged Believer, coronavirus, freedom, God, Jesus, king, Paul, Peter, Revelation 12:11, Satan, Spiritual warfare, testimony, the Blood of Jesus, the devil, weapons of warfare, witness

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