The WARRIOR's protection

 Psalm 91:1

King James Version

91 He that dwelleth 

in the secret place of the most High 

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Life is a battle.

A battle with the unseen.

But a battle with the known.

The born again servant knows who he fights.

He knows the devil's devices.

He is aware of his crafty moves.

All because JESUS told him.

And SPIRIT guides his every step.

JESUS shows us how to overcome evil.

We are confident in GOD's protection.

And His unswerving love for His faithful.

This chapter sustains us:

Psalm 91:2-16

King James Version

2 I will say of the Lord, 

He is my refuge and my fortress: 

my God; 

in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee 

from the snare of the fowler, 

and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, 

and under his wings shalt thou trust: 

his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; 

nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; 

nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, 

and ten thousand at thy right hand; 

but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see 

the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, 

which is my refuge, 

even the most High, 

thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, 

neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, 

to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, 

lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: 

the young lion and the dragon 

shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, 

therefore will I deliver him: 

I will set him on high, 

because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: 

I will be with him in trouble; 

I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, 

and shew him my salvation.

We remain steady, at our posts.

Waiting for our Master's command.

That we may know what to do, where to be, how to act.

We rely on His EVERY command.

Thus, we wait, watch, warn, worship.

His will, ways, and wisdom are planted upon our hearts.

We remain victorious.

We look forward to what Charles Spurgeon spoke of:

Life is one long struggle 

from which we never cease 

till we hear the word, 

"Thy warfare is accomplished".

Related material:

The devil's DEVICES

The BATTLE for the SOUL

The BATTLE for the MIND

Related video:

The Hand of God in the History of A Man (Job 7:1) - C.H. Spurgeon Sermon

Image: Valdemaras D.

The STILLNESS strategy

 

Isaiah 30:18

King James Version

18 And therefore will the Lord wait, 

that he may be gracious unto you, 

and therefore will he be exalted, 

that he may have mercy upon you: 

for the Lord is a God of judgment: 

blessed are all they that wait for him.

GOD is Master Tactician.

And Master Strategist.

And yet, people continue to doubt Him.

But the true born again doesn't.

Our faith is in the LORD.

He teaches us about patience.

Stillness.

Faith.

Peace.

Man can plan all he wants, and it may not materialize.

Man can plant all he wants, and it may not bear fruit.

The secret is in the praying.

What do you pray for?

The born again prays for this:

1 John 5:14

King James Version

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, 

that, if we ask any thing according to his will, 

he heareth us:

We pray to know GOD's will.

If it be GOD's will, it will materialize.

GOD will make sure.

Take the case of His people, who GOD admonished:

Isaiah 30:2

King James Version

2 That walk to go down into Egypt, 

and have not asked at my mouth; 

to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, 

and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

Isaiah 30:7

King James Version

7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain, 

and to no purpose: 

therefore have I cried concerning this, 

Their strength is to sit still.

Isaiah 30:15

King James Version

15 For thus saith the Lord God, 

the Holy One of Israel; 

In returning and rest shall ye be saved; 

in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: 

and ye would not.

So, what happens?

GOD teaches them a lesson:

Isaiah 30:3

King James Version

3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh 

be your shame, 

and the trust in the shadow of Egypt 

your confusion.

Isaiah 30:16-17

King James Version

16 But ye said, No; 

for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: 

and, We will ride upon the swift; 

therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.

17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; 

at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: 

till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, 

and as an ensign on an hill.

There is virtue in stillness.

JESUS taught us to be still.

To trust in Him.

Remember His power?

When His apostles panicked at the storm?

Mark 4:35-41

King James Version

35 And the same day, when the even was come, 

he saith unto them, 

Let us pass over unto the other side.

36 And when they had sent away the multitude, 

they took him even as he was in the ship. 

And there were also with him other little ships.

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, 

and the waves beat into the ship, 

so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, 

asleep on a pillow: 

and they awake him, and say unto him, 

Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, 

and rebuked the wind, 

and said unto the sea, 

Peace, be still. 

And the wind ceased, 

and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, 

Why are ye so fearful? 

how is it that ye have no faith?

41 And they feared exceedingly, 

and said one to another, 

What manner of man is this, 

that even the wind and the sea obey him?

We must trust JESUS.

We must wait upon Him.

Psalm 27:14

King James Version

14 Wait on the Lord: 

be of good courage, 

and he shall strengthen thine heart: 

wait, I say, on the Lord.

We don't do anything, unless, and until GOD's SPIRIT is upon us.

As JESUS commanded His apostles:

Luke 24:49

King James Version

49 And, behold, 

I send the promise of my Father upon you: 

but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, 

until ye be endued with power from on high.

We must trust the LORD.

Proverbs 3:5-6

King James Version

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; 

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, 

and he shall direct thy paths.

We must let Him direct our paths.

Isaiah 30:20-21

King James Version

20 And though the Lord give you 

the bread of adversity, 

and the water of affliction, 

yet shall not thy teachers be removed 

into a corner any more, 

but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, 

saying, 

This is the way, walk ye in it, 

when ye turn to the right hand, 

and when ye turn to the left.

A true warrior of the spirit must have the MIND of CHRIST.

He must be brave.

Patient.

Prayerful.

Peaceful.

Obedient.

Watchful.

Still.

Therein lies his safety, and salvation.

Related material:

In STILLNESS is the KEY

Calming the Stormy Seas of Life

BREACHING the walls

BORN AGAIN articles

SPIRIT of GOD

Image: Clipart Library

The DAY I knew ISRAEL was going to be in TROUBLE

 

Judges 21:25

King James Version

25 In those days there was no king in Israel: 

every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

I used to love reading about world events when I was in high school.

But for the longest time, nothing makes sense in the world anymore.

It's been war, and more war.

It's been greed, and more greed.

It's been vanity, and more vanity.

It's been deception, and more deception.

So, I didn't follow world events too closely after that.

You can imagine my great surprise when alarm bells rang loudly in my heart.

I was alerted to Israel's troubles about seven months ago.

PARTICULARLY when her fighter pilots refused to train.

And all I could say was, "Oh boy...there goes Israel's air defense".

She'll be a sitting duck.

They're leaving themselves wide open.

Uh-oh.

Then more infighting in the Knesset and high courts.

All that infighting weakened this strong country.

After these last two days' horrific events in southern Israel, I could only turn back to those observations of mine seven months ago.

That's why I wrote a series of March 2023 articles on it.

Trouble at "home" will invite trouble from outside your home.

The principle remains the same.

In any home.

In any country.

In any community.

In any individual.

Those who don't love you bide their time.

Looking for chinks in your armor.

Then they zero in.

But GOD loves Israel.

She is the "apple of His eye".

Her future has been prophesied.

But she must wake up to the LORD.

And be saved, from everything.

And everyone.

Including herself.

Related material:

CONSIDER it a LOST cause

UNREST from within

PEACE for ISRAEL

ISRAEL posts

Related video:

The Line Up: The War in Israel with Amir Tsarfati

Image: Clipart Library

The CHRISTIAN's battle

 

Matthew 5:8

King James Version

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: 

for they shall see God.

Is it easy being born again?

What challenges us the most?

It's always been about one thing.

The battle a true Christian faces.

The battle against hypocrisy.

PERFECTION is the path.

Hypocrisy has no place in it.

That's the stumblingblock we face.

We can get so easily tripped by the enemy.

Especially if he detects pride in us.

Still, we must be blameless before the LORD.

Philippians 2:15

King James Version

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, 

the sons of God, 

without rebuke, 

in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, 

among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

For the enemy waits in ambush.

1 Peter 5:8-9

King James Version

8 Be sober, 

be vigilant; 

because your adversary the devil, 

as a roaring lion, 

walketh about, 

seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, 

knowing that the same afflictions 

are accomplished in your brethren

 that are in the world.

Constantly condemning us before GOD.

Revelation 12:10

King James Version

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 

Now is come salvation, 

and strength, 

and the kingdom of our God, 

and the power of his Christ: 

for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, 

which accused them before our God 

day and night.

Slyly setting traps for us.

Genesis 3:1

King James Version

3 Now the serpent was more subtil 

than any beast of the field 

which the Lord God had made. 

And he said unto the woman, 

Yea, hath God said, 

Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

But we have JESUS.

John 16:33

King James Version

33 These things I have spoken unto you, 

that in me ye might have peace. 

In the world ye shall have tribulation: 

but be of good cheer; 

I have overcome the world.

Perfection is possible.

Matthew 19:26

King James Version

26 But Jesus beheld them, 

and said unto them, 

With men this is impossible; 

but with God all things are possible.

For it is the LORD's command.

Matthew 5:48

King James Version

48 Be ye therefore perfect, 

even as your Father which is in heaven 

is perfect.

And because believers are "sons of God".

John 1:12

King James Version

12 But as many as received him, 

to them gave he power to become the sons of God, 

even to them that believe on his name:

And "children of light".

1 Thessalonians 5:5-6

King James Version

5 Ye are all the children of light, 

and the children of the day: 

we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; 

but let us watch and be sober.

GOD has given His children many gifts.

2 Timothy 1:7

King James Version

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; 

but of power, 

and of love, 

and of a sound mind.

We can be perfect.

Through the GRACE of GOD.

Through the TEACHINGS of JESUS.

Through the GUIDANCE of the HOLY SPIRIT.

Holiness is perfection.

Because it has no hypocrisy.

That's the mark of a true born again.

The true believer in CHRIST.

Who lives by His WORD.

Related material:

BEING part of GOD's army

The devil's DEVICES

SOLDIER of CHRIST

JESUS and Satan

HOLINESS

Sin AWARENESS

ROADBLOCKS

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Where evil CANNOT roost

 

1 Chronicles 29:11

King James Version

11 Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, 

and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: 

for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; 

thine is the kingdom, O Lord, 

and thou art exalted as head above all.

It has become a fearful world.

Many don't know who to trust.

Many don't know what to believe in.

But born agains do.

We know Who to trust.

JESUS, and JESUS alone.

He is LIGHT.

John 8:12

King James Version

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, 

saying, 

I am the light of the world: 

he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, 

but shall have the light of life.

He is LOVE.

1 John 4:7-10

King James Version

7 Beloved, let us love one another: 

for love is of God; 

and every one that loveth is born of God, 

and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; 

for God is love.

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, 

because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, 

that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love, 

not that we loved God, 

but that he loved us, 

and sent his Son 

to be the propitiation for our sins.

He is LIFE.

John 11:25-26

King James Version

25 Jesus said unto her, 

I am the resurrection, 

and the life: 

he that believeth in me, 

though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me 

shall never die. 

Believest thou this?

In contrast, the enemy is darkness, hatred, and death.

The EXACT opposite of Who JESUS Is.

So, if you don't want evil to have a place in you, pray to be born again.

John 3:5-7

King James Version

5 Jesus answered, 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; 

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 

Ye must be born again.

That SPIRIT may teach you the ways of JESUS.

John 14:26

King James Version

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, 

whom the Father will send in my name, 

he shall teach you all things, 

and bring all things to your remembrance, 

whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15:26

King James Version

26 But when the Comforter is come, 

whom I will send unto you from the Father, 

even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, 

he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14

King James Version

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, 

he will guide you into all truth: 

for he shall not speak of himself; 

but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: 

and he will shew you things to come.

14 He shall glorify me: 

for he shall receive of mine, 

and shall shew it unto you.

Is it any wonder devils flee from the LORD's presence?

James 2:19

King James Version

19 Thou believest that there is one God; 

thou doest well: 

the devils also believe, 

and tremble.

You know what you have to do:

James 4:7

King James Version

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. 

Resist the devil, 

and he will flee from you.

Related material:

On Knowing the Enemy of Christ

JESUS and Satan

The devil's DEVICES

Image: Wallpaper Better

Satan as SORCERER

 

Revelation 12:9

King James Version

9 And the great dragon was cast out, 

that old serpent, 

called the Devil, and Satan, 

which deceiveth the whole world: 

he was cast out into the earth, 

and his angels were cast out with him.

Of course, he'll balk at the idea.

"Me, a sorcerer?"

"I'm more than that!"

For his pride is great.

Still, he's a sorcerer.

It's been said, a sorcerer doesn't destroy you.

He lets you destroy yourself.

Tantamount to saying, "you won't even know what hit you".

Isn't Satan that way?

Crafty, cunning, cruel?

Manipulating us constantly?

Towards our own destruction?

Tempting us non-stop?

Playing with our minds.

Toying with our emotions?

Fueling our desires?

Pitting one person against another?

Beware the fallen one.

JESUS differentiated His followers, from those who are not:

John 8:42-45

King James Version

42 Jesus said unto them, 

If God were your Father, ye would love me: 

for I proceeded forth and came from God; 

neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? 

even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil, 

and the lusts of your father ye will do. 

He was a murderer from the beginning, 

and abode not in the truth, 

because there is no truth in him. 

When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: 

for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, 

ye believe me not.

Scripture has much to say about this sorcerer, and soul-destroyer:

Isaiah 14:12-14

King James Version

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, 

O Lucifer, son of the morning! 

how art thou cut down to the ground, 

which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, 

I will ascend into heaven, 

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: 

I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, 

in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; 

I will be like the most High.

Notice the ego:

I will ascend into heaven, 

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: 

I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, 

in the sides of the north:

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; 

I will be like the most High.

His future?

Isaiah 14:15

King James Version

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, 

to the sides of the pit.

Look how the Bible describes this cherub:

Ezekiel 28:12

King James Version

12 Son of man, 

take up a lamentation 

upon the king of Tyrus, 

and say unto him, 

Thus saith the Lord God; 

Thou sealest up the sum, 

full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

Ezekiel 28:13

King James Version

13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; 

every precious stone was thy covering, 

the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, 

the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, 

the sapphire, the emerald, 

and the carbuncle, and gold: 

the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes 

was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

Ezekiel 28:14

King James Version

14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; 

and I have set thee so: 

thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; 

thou hast walked up and down 

in the midst of the stones of fire.

Ezekiel 28:15-16

King James Version

15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways 

from the day that thou wast created, 

till iniquity was found in thee.

16 By the multitude of thy merchandise 

they have filled the midst of thee with violence, 

and thou hast sinned: 

therefore I will cast thee as profane 

out of the mountain of God: 

and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, 

from the midst of the stones of fire.

Ezekiel 28:17

King James Version

17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, 

thou hast corrupted thy wisdom 

by reason of thy brightness: 

I will cast thee to the ground, 

I will lay thee before kings, 

that they may behold thee.

Ezekiel 28:18-19

King James Version

18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries 

by the multitude of thine iniquities, 

by the iniquity of thy traffick; 

therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, 

it shall devour thee, 

and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth 

in the sight of all them that behold thee.

19 All they that know thee among the people 

shall be astonished at thee: 

thou shalt be a terror, 

and never shalt thou be any more.

Guard against the deceiver:

2 Corinthians 4:4

King James Version

4 In whom the god of this world 

hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, 

lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, 

who is the image of God, 

should shine unto them.

2 Corinthians 11:14

King James Version

14 And no marvel; 

for Satan himself is transformed 

into an angel of light.

Ephesians 2:2-3

King James Version

2 Wherein in time past ye walked 

according to the course of this world, 

according to the prince of the power of the air, 

the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation 

in times past in the lusts of our flesh, 

fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; 

and were by nature the children of wrath, 

even as others.

Ephesians 6:11-12

King James Version

11 Put on the whole armour of God, 

that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, 

but against principalities, 

against powers, 

against the rulers of the darkness of this world, 

against spiritual wickedness in high places.

1 Peter 5:8

King James Version

8 Be sober, 

be vigilant; 

because your adversary the devil, 

as a roaring lion, walketh about, 

seeking whom he may devour:

Revelation 12:12

King James Version

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, 

and ye that dwell in them. 

Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! 

for the devil is come down unto you, 

having great wrath, 

because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Put on the FULL armor of GOD.

GUARD against the crafty one.

We are at war with the fallen ones.

Related posts:

JESUS and Satan

On Knowing the Enemy of Christ

FUTILE attempts at usurping GOD's POWER

On ANGELS

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