“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding]. (John 16:33, Amplified Bible)
The External Opposition
“Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” (Deuteronomy 20:3-4).
God’s Answer: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7, NIV).
Spiritual Warfare is invisible to the human eye, still every believer is targeted. In the Great Controversy of Good and Evil, we are the focus. Satan uses people and temptations to fulfill His schemes in the attempt to separate us from God.
Internal Conflict: Our Minds [Hearts] Are the Battlefield
Internal: “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Since it is easier to choose wrong, we must pray to overcome our heart’s desires, which are never satisfied.
“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.” (James 1:14 NLT)
Though we can never be coerced to sin against God, every temptation is customized according to our desires and habits. Satan is not Omniscient, therefore he cannot read our minds, but he observes our habits and hears our spoken words.
The battles of Spiritual Warfare and the Desires of our Hearts are lifelong battles for which we desperately need Divine Strength to overcome!
The Struggle Is Real, but Victory Is Sure Through Jesus Christ
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12).
Although Satan has not changed his deceptive strategies since the Garden of Eden, his knowledge and wisdom supersedes human knowledge.
Yes, we were created in the Image of God, still, we were created lower than the angels. We cannot fight Satan, formerly known as Lucifer, the highest ranking angel, without the strength of Jesus, the Commander of Angel Armies.
True heart conversion reveals itself by acknowledging, “I was created to depend on God.”
Without involving God in our battles, we place ourselves in a spiritual dilemma, because we cannot win the war within, or the invisible warfare, without asking Jesus Christ, our Mighty Warrior for His Divine Help.
We Must Live As Prayer Warriors
“To pray without ceasing” means to pray continuously throughout our day for Spiritual wisdom, discernment, guidance, and strength. Prayer keeps us connected to Christ.
“The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:14).
The key to Victory is to possess a spirit of humility, always realizing your limitations. Before responding, or making decisions, always hesitate, and pray.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). To build our faith, and test our obedience, there is always a waiting period when we pray for Divine Help. Resist the urge to help God.
“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14, NLT).
Who can fight against Christ, our Mighty Warrior and win?
God’s Promise: “I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (Isaiah 65:24, NLT).
Bible Study: Exodus 14, 2 Chronicles 20, Psalm 37
Lord God, in these continuous Battles of Life, we desperately need Your Divine Help. We ask for the wisdom to use self-control when facing external opposition and internal conflict by persevering and waiting until you provide resolution. Lord, we thank You for Your Amazing Love and Divine protection. We ask this prayer in faith, and with joyful anticipation, we know that You will give us the victory. In Jesus’ Powerful Name, we pray, Amen.
The Pastor’s Instagram Reel started with these words, “Jesus is coming! “Truthfully, I felt relieved. Why? Finally, a pastor was on Social Media speaking with fervency about Jesus’ Soon Return.
After scrolling through six more Reels, I watched another reel of a young man on the beach who had a few grains of sand on his finger, who explained that the few grains of sand represent our personal interests, goals, accomplishments, and future plans for our lives.
But the beach that continued for miles represents God’s Eternal perspective and Jesus’ promise to give us Eternal Life, for which we are not prepared to receive.
God’s Eternal Perspective: “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ ” (Isaiah 46:10, NIV).
Jesus’ Promise and Warning: “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12).
We are too distracted by our hearts’ desires and the world’s wealth and possessions. Satan has persuaded us to maintain friendships with individuals who cannot give us spiritual support because they also fail to live with an Eternal perspective.
Sadly, most do not realize that the Apostle Paul’s letter, 2 Timothy 3, is prophetically describing “The Last Days,” which is the time that we live in right now.
The Bible that contains God’s Moral Law, The Ten Commandments, His Principles, and Instructions on living righteously, most Christians do not study. We can blame our busy lives for not having daily personal worship, but the failure to pray and study reveals the true status of our unconverted hearts.
Not only is daily Bible Study nonexistent, but we say quick prayers and happily pursue and fulfill our agendas, never thinking about Revelation 22:12. We are so fixated on achieving our goals that we have forgotten about Jesus’ promise in John 14.
The Eternal Reward: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3).
God’s Mercy: “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV).
Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life: Steps 2 Returning to Christ, With the Faith and Determination to Let Go, Let God, and Live a Blessed Life
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). “When we pray and ask God to guide us, He will guide us to the plans and the future that He has for our destiny.”
“Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14, ESV). This is Jesus’ promise to give us Spiritual Reinforcements. We cannot live righteously, resisting and overcoming temptations, and our internal desires, without receiving God’s Divine Power, Strength, and Wisdom, given to us by the Holy Spirit.
“The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” (Psalm 37:23, NLT). “Let God guide you and He will keep you safe from Satan’s snares and temptations, and give to you every miracle you need.”
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1, NIV).
The Sacrificial Life: Separate yourself from habits, behaviors, and half-committed believers who are not pursuing spiritual goals and preparing to receive the reward of their Crown of Life.
Finally, we must align ourselves every day with the will of God through continuous prayer, fasting, and the commitment to seek, obey, and fulfill His plans, which we can only accomplish through Divine Strength.
When God, the Father, agreed to Jesus’ commitment to die for us on Calvary’s Cross, saving us from the wages of sin, their Redemptive Plan required our commitment to actively participate in our salvation.
“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13).
“This does not mean to be terrified or to work for salvation through performance. Instead, it conveys a sense of awe, reverence, and respectful submission to God’s Sovereignty. It indicates a serious and cautious approach to living a life that honors God.”
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2, NIV).
God’s expectation is that we will demonstrate our love and loyalty for the gift of His Only Son through daily surrender, consecrating ourselves with faithful obedience to follow His Son, Jesus Christ, who keeps us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Yes, God has definitive plans for the faithful; still, we must possess the love for God to total commitment, and have the mindset of “Lord, Your will, be done in my life.”
Personal Declaration: “Brothers and Sisters, Because I love God, and I desire to see Jesus, the one who died for me, every day, I reinforce my commitment to Christ by verbalizing, ‘I am going to Heaven, and I refuse to willfully sin against God!’ Yes and Amen.”
Bible Study: Revelation 21-22
Lord God, we come to You standing in the need of prayer because You know that we do not have the time that we have been deceived to believe is ours to waste. Lord, we ask you to teach us, lead us, correct us, and protect us as we continue through this earthly Journey. It is our desire to live a faithful, obedient life dedicated to following Jesus Christ, our Shepherd and Triumphant King. Give us the strength, spiritual wisdom, and discernment to perceive life through spiritual eyes. Lord, we love You, and ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Our primary goal should be to abide in Christ. Setting aside time to separate ourselves and worship God invites the Holy Spirit to give us knowledge, wisdom, and a deeper understanding, so we perceive life through spiritual eyes.
This weekend, commit to setting aside at least 2 hours a day to fast, earnestly pray for a heart-to-heart revival with Christ, and study the Bible.
The Bible is our Spiritual Road Map, and should be studied every day under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. For the next 30-60 days, study the Books of Joshua and Ruth to learn God’s Loving and Righteous Character, and His history of intervening for those who love and obey Him.
Our desire to draw closer to Christ is rewarded with the Strength to persevere and endure this tough journey of life that cannot be accomplished without Divine help. Yes and Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for loving us so much, that you gave Your Only Son, Jesus to redeem us. As we worship with You this Sabbath, we ask for the blessings of Spiritual Renewal and Restoration. We love You, and look forward to the day when Jesus will come again, in whose Worthy Name, we ask this prayer. Amen.
Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual process of Spiritual Growth and Character Transformation necessary to receive our reward of Eternal Life.
The difference between unbelievers and believers is that we love God. And we demonstrate it by surrendering ourselves every day in prayer, asking for His Divine Plans to be revealed, and for the spiritual strength to obey and fulfill His plans.
“But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps…”
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 1:20-23).
The Incident In the Synagogue on Sabbath: Anger Incites the Congregation to Become a Mob
Luke 4:14-30 records Jesus’ Rejection in Nazareth: “He went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue, as was His custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him.” (Luke 4:16-17, NIV).
“…And they said, ‘Is this not Joseph’s son?’ ” (Luke 4:22, NIV).
The Outcome of Unleashed Anger
“All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove Him out of the town, and took Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him off the cliff.” (Luke 4:28-29, NIV).
It’s hard to believe that religious men who proclaim to serve God would transition from worshiping God to an angry mob [in the Synagogue] from hearing the spoken words of God’s Truth.
Truthfully, Jesus endured much suffering including the constant barrage of angry, hostile words from those who refused to accept Him as anything other than Joseph’s, the poor carpenter’s, son.
Understanding Spiritual Warfare [Ephesians 6]
Satan’s most effective tool is to use people, especially familiar people to antagonize us with the goal of enticing us to commit grievous sins against God by speaking, or messaging sinful words of retaliation.
” ‘In your anger do not sin:’ Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold [a stronghold].” (Luke 4:26-27, NIV).
Yes, anger is a God-given emotion that prevents us from accepting injustices, corruption, and heinous crimes that plague our world. However, the problem is that many believers cannot control their anger, easily responding with harsh words against the offender.
Righteous Anger only applies to God who tells us, “…There is none righteous, no, not one…”(Romans 3:10). We are sinners saved by Grace who must guard our words [and thoughts] to remain covered by the Righteousness of Christ.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline [self control].” (2 Timothy 1:7, NLT).
From embracing the Spirit of Offense, we place ourselves in extreme danger spiritually; uncontrolled anger crosses all righteous boundaries, separating us from God, and prevents the Holy Spirit from dwelling within us.
We desperately need spiritual reinforcement everyday. To rise above offensive words is only possible when we surrender daily to live a Faith-based, Christ-centered life reflected by the daily personal worship of prayer and Bible Study.
Jesus did not attempt to use His personal strength to overcome aggression, but prayed continuously for God’s strength and wisdom, receiving the Divine Power to overcome, and remain victorious when facing adversity.
From studying the life of Christ, we learn how He responded to hostility with the Holy Scriptures: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52, NIV).
Jesus possessed godly wisdom and discernment, answering direct questions with Holy Writ. Still, He also used silence when facing His accusers. If our goal is to be like Christ then we will pray and control our emotional responses when facing the War of Words.
Reflection: Are you willing to suffer the necessary hardships and challenges required of every believer?
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18).
The Apostle Paul also teaches us that the believer’s life is one of continuous suffering for Christ, yet, if we remain faithful, and cooperate with the Holy Spirit through daily surrender, we will receive the reward of Eternal Life.
The Struggle to Control Our Anger Is Real: The Reasons We Are Easily Offended
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). We do not understand the true condition of our inherited sinful hearts; it is easier to become angry than to remain calm and unbothered.
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” (1 Peter 2:9). We become angry when we do not understand our true identity and value found in Christ Jesus.
None of us are perfect. Every human being possesses character weaknesses, still, God knows the true condition of our hearts.
If we hear, or read words defaming our character, and the accusations are not true in the sight of God then we have the assurance that we are facing spiritual warfare, pray, and God will intervene.
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Through daily personal worship, we commit ourselves to a life of humility, surrender, and faithful obedience, which invites the power of the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, giving us the strength to remain silent when interacting with angry individuals.
“Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.” (Proverbs 18:2, NIV).
The person who delivers angry words is not interested in maintaining peace, or participating in conflict resolution, but waiting for a response that will always result in escalation.
When facing conflict, if we control our anger, the Holy Spirit will speak to us, “Remain silent.” If we obey then He empowers us to use our gift of self-control. We must decide if we will obey the commands of the Holy Spirit, or to rant, and sin against God.
Excerpt from ” In Contact With Others” Devotional, EGW
“We cannot afford to let our spirits chafe over any real or supposed wrong done to ourselves…”
“Self is the enemy we most need to fear. No form of vice has a more [devastating] effect upon the character than has human passion not under the control of the Holy Spirit. No other victory we can gain will be so precious as the victory gained over self…”
“We should not allow our feelings to be easily wounded. We are to live, not to guard our feelings or our reputation, but to save souls. As we become interested in the salvation of souls we cease to mind the little differences that so often arise in our association with one another.”
Jesus’ Disciples Reveal Their Lack of Self-control
Two of Jesus’ disciples, the brothers, James, and John were called “the Sons of Thunder” because of their fiery tempers. When the people of Samaria sent a messenger to Jesus telling Him not to come to their town, the brothers responded with this question to Jesus:
“And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?’ ” (Luke 9:54).
Jesus’ Response: “But He turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.’ ” (Luke 9:55).
Christ’s Righteous Character: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, KJV).
“It takes the right situation to reveal our real character.” When Christians become offended by harsh, hateful words, the true [unconverted] condition of our hearts is revealed.
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:24-25, KJV).
Jesus Christ is our Perfect Role Model
Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual journey of growth and transformation of our sinful hearts into the Righteous Character of Christ. The Christian Journey is the toughest one we will ever face!
“But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.” (2 Timothy 2:23).
A Christian believer should never become involved in arguments, or debates. Even when discussing the Bible, if dissension begins, we should pray, and end the conversation with, “God, bless you.”
With humility, we must strive every day to be a faithful and disciplined follower of Christ. From cooperating with the Holy Spirit, we receive the spiritual discernment to recognize the enemy’s spiritual warfare of covert attacks.
When a situation includes emotional escalation, we implement the Best Spiritual Practice, Prayer. If we form the habit of whispering prayers throughout our day when facing opposition, our immediate response is a prayer for Divine help!
Our True Identity Is Found in Christ: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9).
We are chosen by God to be a representative of Christ. Our responsibility is to always represent the humility of Christ, even when offensive, undeserving words are unleashed against us.
” ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay’ is found in Romans 12:19 and is also quoted in Deuteronomy 32:35. “This verse is a command for believers not to seek their own revenge but to leave retribution to God who alone has the authority to judge and repay.”
Our Response to Offensive Words: Whether face to face, or text messaging, we whisper a prayer for Divine strength and remain silent. Do not respond!
Workplace Conflict: We should not tolerate conflict in the workplace. Follow the company’s policies for reporting incidents to your Supervisor and Human Resources.
Abuse in the Home: God does not require us to stay in abusive marriages and relationships, which impair our ability to worship God in Spirit and in Truth.
Living in an environment of aggression and conflict prevents us from enjoying God’s gift of spiritual peace, which is needed for the spiritual growth and transformation required to receive Eternal Life.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” (Ephesians 4:31, NIV).
Yes, like Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer, at some point in our lives, most believers will face hostile words cutting like a sword, but we must never forget that our goal is Heavenly.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32, NIV).
We are sojourners, temporary travelers living on a temporary Earth. Included in our Life Journey are many trials and hardships including Satan’s Spiritual Warfare designed to make us react using our inherited sinful tendencies.
Our lives will not always be like this! Whatever adversities we face, we should memorize and remind ourselves daily of Jesus’ promise in John 14: 1-3.
We are sons and daughters of the Most-High God, preparing every day to receive our reward of the Crown of Life in the New Heaven and New Earth where the atmosphere will be saturated with eternal love, peace, joy, and happiness. Yes and Amen!
“To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21, NIV).
Bible Study: Luke 4:14-30
Lord God, we thank you for speaking to our hearts and reminding us of our spiritual status as a royal priesthood who will receive our Crown of Life, if we are faithful and obedient to Your Righteous Precepts and Commands. Lord, we ask for forgiveness for the times that we have failed to represent You by responding with anger and sinful words of retaliation. We ask for the Divine Strength, Wisdom, and the Discernment to recognize and overcome spiritual warfare. We look forward to the day when we will live in a world of love, peace, and harmony, and Jesus, we thank You for the gift of Your life that makes it possible for us to live forever with You. We ask this prayer in the Powerful Name of our Triumphant King, Jesus Christ, Amen.
“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33, CSB).
One of the worst kept secrets in the Christian Community is that no one tells us this, “Once you accept Christ as your personal Savior, you will begin a journey of hardships.
“The Christian life can be marked by seasons of excruciating difficulty and hardships of many kinds.”
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV).
Faith requires Active Participation: Despite our extenuating circumstances, we must believe in the Unlimited Power of God.
The growth of our faith and relationship with Christ depends on our willingness to consistently communicate with God through prayer, and studying the Bible to learn God’s Character, and His promises to help us.
At least one hour a day should be dedicated to having personal worship, in the morning and in the evening. Intentional time spent with God builds our faith, trust, and confidence in our Heavenly Father.
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
The believer who diligently studies the Word of God, learning His promises can live a Christ-centered, Faith-based, courageous life, knowing they can always depend on God’s Faithfulness. Yes and Amen!
God’s Steadfast Promise to Always Be With Us
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9).
We can be confident that every hardship has two spiritual purposes, to develop our faith, and transform our character into the righteousness of Christ’s Character [Galatians 5:22-23].
Jesus Christ, Our Shepherd will never allow Satan to crush us with adversity. Our proof of God setting boundaries on our greatest enemy is documented in the Book of Job.
When Facing Unexpected Hardships, Immediately Pray for Divine Help!
“Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].” (Hebrews 4:16, Amplified Bible).
Redirect Your Faith and Focus From Your Circumstances to Believing In the Power of God!
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ ” (Hebrews 13:5).
Fact: God’s Timing Will Never Align With Our Speedy Expectations
“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14, NLT).
Since God views time from an Eternal perspective, and knows the end from the beginning, He has no need to hurry up. To receive victory, do not attempt to resolve your challenge. Be patient, and wait, God is always on time!
Lord God, we come to You asking for Your Divine Help. We confess that our faith is weak, still, we believe that You are faithful, always keeping Your promises to give us a perfect outcome. We ask for the strength to endure our trials and hardships, and persevere, as we navigate through this journey of life. We ask this prayer in the Worthy and Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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