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Simultaneous Warfare

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

Winning the War that
Wages Within and Without

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalms 23:4

Jesus had to go through Gethsemane before He could conquer Calvary! Surrender and the Cross are Essential for Biblical Spiritual Warfare!

“Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. ²I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. ³I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. ⁴They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. ⁵O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.” Psalms 69:1-5

Notice that in the midst of spiritual warfare, the very attacks of Satan’s children, this man after God’s own heart acknowledges his own need for ongoing repentance.

Yes the sins and persecutions of others are wrong and yet this does not negate our own sin and need to honestly acknowledge such before the LORD.

“O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.” Psalms 69:5 (memory, life verse)

We are shown repeatedly that true victory, as defined in the divine economy, can only come through and to those who are truly honest, acknowledging any and all transgression (1 John 1:9).

“He that covereth (hides) his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

Listen to James:

“Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. ⁹Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.” James 4:8-9

Let’s peer a bit more into this piercing passage:

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. ⁷Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. ⁹Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. ¹⁰Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:6-10

The war of Satan rages against Christ’s “ambassadors” and yet, such a reality does not negate the frailty of the disciple. In the following passage as well as others in Scripture, we see both the warfare and the sin of God’s servants and their need to continue to draw near to, repent, and abide intimately in Jesus (Romans 7; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; John 15:1-16).

The cross is the only way to handle persecution, because ….

1. Jesus died for us on His cross while we were yet His very enemies, His persecutors (Romans 5:6-8) …. “But they (me, you) cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.” (Luke 23:21)

2. The crucified life is the only safe place, where Christ’s love is reigning and our unwarranted vengeance is nullified! … “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;” (1 Peter 4:1) Vengeance is God’s not ours (Romans 12:17-21).

There was no other way for Jesus but the cross and there’s no other way for you than the cross (Luke 22:41-44). And you will not make it without the cross He commanded you to take up daily (Luke 9:23-24). It’s only when we worshipfully, obediently resign ourselves in the death and burial of Christ – when we are “crucified with Christ” – that He raises us upward in His victory! (2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20) In the divine economy the resurrection is the victory and it of necessity, must be preceded with our own death and burial (John 12:23-25; Romans 6).

The true wise virgin saint must remain perpetually “poor in spirit” and ever so aware of that “old man” that must be daily crucified and therefore nullified (Matthew 5:3; 25:1-13; Colossians 3:1-10). If not he/she will become hardened in heart and fall away (Hebrews 3:6, 12-14). Read Colossians 3:1-14 daily when you arise from rest.

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. ¹³But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ¹⁴For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;” Hebrews 3:12-14

I simply cannot blame the devil for things that are my fault (Job 19:28). The LORD calls His children to be absolutely honest and it’s out of “an honest and good heart,” that they remain in Christ and bear fruit to His glory (Luke 8:15; John 15:1-16).

The battle on the inside of us must be won daily by the putting off of “the old man” in that daily cross (Colossians 3:1-14). Have you, like Peter, noticed just how blessed by God you can be and then wham, how you can manifest evil moments following a time of blessing? Note here in this exchange, how just after Jesus told His disciple Peter that the Father had given him the greatest revelation (CHRIST!), Christ then rebukes Peter and likens him to “Satan.” When Peter sought to hinder Jesus from doing His divine mission – going to the cross for our sins ….. here’s what we read:

“But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. ²⁴Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ²⁵For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 16:23-24

As is the case with each of us, there is a simultaneous warfare raging – that which is within and that which is without. Let’s hear Paul:

“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. ¹¹For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. ¹²So then death worketh in us, but life in you. … For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; WITHOUT were fightings, WITHIN were fears.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-12; 7:5

Paul’s resumes of sufferings reveal to us that those who truly serve Christ – HIS way – will be assailed by those within and those without… Paul was most insidiously lied about, slandered, and attacked by those who were false, Satan’s very “ministers.” (2 Corinthians 11:12-15). Read the book of 2 Corinthians with this in mind.

It was when Peter, filled with pride like Satan, sought to derail the very divine mission of redemption, that Jesus severely rebukes him here.

The cross is the prescribed method of divine victory.

It was those in Corinth who had not repented who were in trouble with the LORD and therefore His servant Paul. Listen please:

“And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.” 2 Corinthians 12:21

Paul indicated here that there were “many which have sinned” (among the church) and yet some of those “many” had “not repented.” It should be obvious to us that some among this group of saints, had also sinned and yet repented. This is a clear illustration of the honest and the dishonest. The promise of eternal glory is only to those who are first born again and then become and who remain honest before the LORD and will be with Him eternally (Luke 8:15). The deceitful who refuse to abide in Christ will be damned (Psalms 101; John 15:1-6).

Why would God have given us passages like Lamentations 3:19-22 if in His infinite divine wisdom He didn’t foresee the great need for us to get back to Him if we err, stray?

“Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. ²⁰My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. ²¹This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. ²²It is of the Lord‘s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. ²³They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. ²⁴The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. ²⁵The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. ²⁶It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3:19:26

Being truly holy, as God defines it, requires an ongoing and desperate cry and dependence on the LORD. The life of David and many others in Scripture is a testimony to this truth. Remember that there is a true and there is a counterfeit (false) holiness. If there weren’t a false, self-righteous holiness being peddled, the LORD would never have used the term “TRUE holiness” in Ephesians 4:23-25. Counterfeit holiness is founded in pride and self-love, purporting itself to be “holier than thou.” (Isaiah 65:5) God hates this evil and will eternally damn the souls of the Pharisees of every generation (Matthew 23).

Sinless perfectionism, as defined by some, is scary. The self-righteous ones I am speaking of put on this act of sinless perfectionism, proclaiming that they never sin and therefore have no need, like the patriarchs and Jesus’ twelve, to humble, repent afresh, and get a new washing (John 13). The self-righteous are in trouble with God as Jesus taught us clearly, including in the parable of the two men who went up to pray (Luke 18:9-14). The man who was condemned refused to acknowledge His utter need for the LORD and His mercy. The justified man was truly “poor in spirit” which simply means he remained desperate for the LORD, realizing his own perpetual need for God’s saving and enabling grace (Matthew 5:3).

The definition of the Greek word is an actor or impostor. This is the case with those who feign sinless perfection absent from truly, daily, momentarily trusting and crying out to Jesus.

Please read and pray Hebrews 13:9 and 2 Peter 1:2; 3:18.

“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. ²My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” Psalms 42:1-2

“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. … ⁸When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.” Psalms 27:4, 8

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IF you desire to truly hear from GOD, read His own Word for yourself. King James Bible.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“Nourished Up” – like a wise virgin Heaven bound saint.

“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” 1 Timothy 4:6

On this biblical topic of fervency, of being “fervent in spirit”, one commentary offers the following:

“Nourished up in the words of faith” is a biblical phrase from 1 Timothy 4:6, meaning to be continually fed, strengthened, and built up by scripture, sound Christian teaching, and doctrine, much like food sustains the body, these spiritual words sustain and grow the soul, leading to spiritual maturity and a deeper walk with God. It signifies a deliberate, ongoing intake of God’s truth, which fosters growth, guards against false teachings, and fuels a believer’s life.” (Source?)

It’s one thing to have a mere human giving you encouragement and yet another thing to get your encouragement, your spiritual nourishment from God—directly. King James Bible.

Psalms 73

“Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.”