A Cry for Truth

A Cry for Truth

In his novel Pudd’nhead Wilson, Mark Twain wrote, “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.”

As writers of fiction no matter how outlandish the tale, the reader needs to be able to believe the story is possible—even if the world is make-believe. God’s truth transcends the believable and includes the impossible. Gabriel gave testimony of it to Mary as did Jesus to his disciples.

“For with God nothing shall be impossible …

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them,

with men this is impossible;

but with God all things are possible.”

Luke 1:37;Matthew 19:26

The writer of Hebrews, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us that God’s unchanging promises and oaths show us lying is the only thing impossible to God.

“That by two immutable things,

in which it was impossible for God to lie,

we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge

to lay hold upon the hope set before us;

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul,

both sure and stedfast,

and which entereth into that within the veil.”

(6:18,19)

We have the whole of scripture and numerous fulfilled prophecies proving the truth of God’s word.

• He created all,
• He delivered the  son of promise to Sarah when she was ninety years old and Abraham one hundred,
• He made Abraham into a nation,
• He parted the Red Sea,
• He raised the dead,
• and He has given life to all who will believe.
• Truth is our comfort and sure, steadfast hope.

A Cry for Truth

“O send out thy light and thy truth:

let them lead me;

let them bring me unto thy holy hill,

and to thy tabernacles.

Then will I go unto the altar of God,

unto God my exceeding joy;

yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.”

Psalm 43:3,4

A Promise of Truth

“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him,

to all that call upon him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him:

he also will hear their cry, and will save them …

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.

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine,

and shall shew it unto you …

For the promise is unto you,

and to your children,

and to all that are afar off,

even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

(Psalm 145:18,19; John 16:13,14;Acts 2:39)

With truth being a precious commodity in our world, we need discernment to recognize truth from error. It is time to cry out with the psalmist for the Lord to— send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; It is ours for the asking. We have God’s word on it, and as we already know He cannot lie. When we’ve asked and believed Him to be true, then we give—

Praise for Our Belt of Truth

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

and into his courts with praise;

be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth to all generations …

I will praise thee with my whole heart:

before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

I will worship toward thy holy temple,

and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness

and for thy truth:

for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

In the day when I cried thou answeredst me,

and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.”

Psalm 100:4,5; 138:1-3

Ask, believe His word, praise Him, and tighten your belt of truth to stand in the confidence and strength of the Lord.

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If you are not familiar with the “belt of truth” you can find it Ephesians 6:14 and read more from my blog, “Truth Comes in One Size.”

Promises of Glory

Promises of Glory Now and Forever

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory forever. Amen.”

Matthew 6:13b; NASB

In suffering, the Son of God revealed the glory of God—His love, compassion, justice, holiness, and wisdom. As Christ glorified the Father, the Father glorified the Son—

• in the power of the resurrection,
• with a name that is above all names,
• and an everlasting throne.

Jesus made it clear suffering comes in this world. When we watch the news, the evidence bears that truth. As Jesus glorified the Father through suffering, He has given us the power of the Holy Spirit for strength to bear suffering and bring glory to the Father. Two promises come to mind.

“And He has said to me,

‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness’ …

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9a; Philippians 4:13; NASB

Those two are for starters, ones easily memorized, ones familiar to most. The following promises guarantee there is glory for us in our trials. For we could not persevere except by the grace, power, and strength of our Lord. By our weakness, the Lord is shown strong in us, in order that all glory belongs to Him.

Promises of Glory

Suffering, though not welcomed into our lives, brings great rewards when accompanied by faith.

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,

if indeed we suffer with Him

in order that we may also be glorified with Him.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time

are not worthy to be compared with the glory

that is to be revealed to us …

In this you greatly rejoice,

even though now for a little while, if necessary,

you have been distressed by various trials,

that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold,

which is perishable, even though tested by fire,

may be found to result in praise and glory and honor

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

(Romans 8:16-18;1 Peter 1:6-7; NASB)

The fulness of our glory is yet to be revealed.

“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be.

We know that, when He appears,

we shall be like Him,

because we shall see Him just as He is …

As for me,

I shall behold Thy face in righteousness;

I will be satisfied with Thy likeness when I awake …

With Thy counsel Thou wilt guide me,

And afterward receive me to glory …

And there shall no longer be any curse;

and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it,

and His bond-servants shall serve Him;

and they shall see His face,

and His name shall be on their foreheads.

And there shall no longer be any night;

and they shall not have need

of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun,

because the Lord God shall illumine them;

and they shall reign forever and ever.”

(1 John 3:2; Psalm 17;15; Psalm 73:24; Revelation 22:3-5; NASB)

Now, the glory of God is seen dimly in us, but then we will be bathed in His glory! So when trials come let us endure and overcome by the grace of God that is our glory now and forever.

A Final Prayer

“To this end also we pray for you always

• that our God may count you worthy of your calling,
• and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power;

in order that the name of our Lord Jesus

may be glorified in you and you in Him,

according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Thessalonians 1:11,12; NASB

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”

The Promised Kingdom

The Promised Kingdom

“For thine is the kingdom …”

Matthew 6:13a; NASB

A kingdom can be no better than its king, any more than the countries of this world can be any better than their political leaders. The character of the leaders of a country is reflected in the character of the country.

All heaven and earth consist of two kingdoms—

The kingdom of God, which is an everlasting kingdom filled with his eternal character and his children and—

the kingdom of this world, which is temporary, filled with the temporary ruler’s character, which is Satan, and those who are his children.

The Kingdom of God:

“Thine, O LORD,

is the greatness and the power and the glory

and the victory and the majesty,

indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth;

Thine is the dominion, O LORD,

and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all.”

1 Chronicles 29:11

The Kingdoms of This World:

Note nothing, according to 1 Chronicles 29:1, is beyond the authority, power, victory, or majesty of God’s kingdom—including the temporary dominion the devil has had in this world through the fear of death, brought about by sin. Those still in his clutches have rejected truth. They, like Eve in the garden of Eden, have rejected God as their King and embraced the prince of this world and his lies for he is—

• “the prince of the power of the air,
• the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience … Ephesians 2:2b;

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.

Why do ye not understand my speech?

• Even because ye cannot hear my word.
• 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.” John 8: 44-42; KJV

If God is our Father, we will love Jesus, God the Son. Satan has no power over us, for our power rests in the One who is head over all. We have been moved from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, with the promises given to those who love God.

Children of the King’s Promise

“That is,

it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God,

but the children of the promise

are regarded as descendants …

In the same way God,

desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise

the unchangeableness of His purpose,

interposed with an oath,

in order that by two unchangeable things,

in which it is impossible for God to lie,

we may have strong encouragement,

we who have fled for refuge in laying hold

of the hope set before us.”

Romans 9:8; Hebrews 6:17,18;NASB

A Few Kingdom Promises:

“I kept looking in the night visions,

And behold, with the clouds of heaven

One like a Son of Man was coming,

And He came up to the Ancient of Days

And was presented before Him,

And to Him was given dominion

Which will not pass away;

And His kingdom is one

Which will not be destroyed …

But the saints of the Highest One

will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever,

for all ages to come …

The LORD shall reign forever and ever.”

Daniel 7:13,14,18; Exodus 15:18; NASB

Revelation 21 paints us a picture of this everlasting kingdom.

• God will dwell with us.
• He will wipe all tears from our eyes.
• There will be no death, no pain.
• We will drink of the water of life freely.
• It is the inheritance of those who overcome this world.
• It will be a place of great beauty,
• A place with no temple, sun, or moon for the Lord and the Lamb will be the temple and their glory will be its light.
• Nothing unclean or any one who practices abomination or lying, will enter it,
• Only the ones with their names written in the Lamb’s book of life will be allowed in.

Jesus Christ is the one and only one who will usher in his kingdom—

“which He will bring about at the proper time—

He who is the blessed and only Sovereign,

the King of kings and Lord of lords;

who alone possesses immortality

and dwells in unapproachable light;

whom no man has seen or can see.

To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.”

1 Timothy 6:16; NASB

For Thought:  Think about it. Two kingdoms, completely opposite, the kingdom of God, for the children of promise, and the kingdom of darkness for the children of the father of lies. Eternal is the only characteristic common to both. Which have you chosen to inherit?

Keep Praising, Praying, and Believing

Keep Praising, Praying, Believing

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil …”

Matthew 6:13a, KJV

Job of the Old Testament knew it, Paul knew it, and we all know someone, if not ourselves, experiencing long term trials that Satan wants to use to make us doubt the goodness and love of our heavenly Father. But our God tells us—

“You are from God, little children,

and have overcome them;

because greater is He who is in you

than he who is in the world.”

1 John 4:4; NASB

The “them” in that verse refers to the antichrist spirits that belong to the “he”-Satan who is in the world seeking anyone he can convince— that God is not good. But the greater He lives in His children and gives us His promises He will deliver.

The devotional publication from, Mornings With Jesus, the Jan/Feb issue, included a piece written by Cynthia Ruchti. She began with a scripture which will be our first promise.

“When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and through the rivers,

they shall not overwhelm you.”

Isaiah 43:2(ESV).

Cynthia followed it with a text image quote that said, ‘“I asked Jesus why He was taking me through troubled waters. He answered, ‘Because your enemies can’t swim.’” She went on to remind us of the account of Moses leading the Hebrew children through the Red Sea successfully, and the Egyptians drowning.

The Father’s Promises for Victory:

“No temptation has overtaken you

but such as is common to man;

and God is faithful,

who will not allow you to be tempted

beyond what you are able,

but with the temptation will provide

the way of escape also,

that you may be able to endure it.”

1 Corinthians 10:13, NASB

• There are no trials we face that another has not faced—and endured.
• God has the final say over the trials we face.
• He will not allow one to come to us without providing a way out  before we would deny our faith.
• His strength in us is that way.

“And He has said to me,

‘My grace is sufficient for you,

for power is perfected in weakness.’

Most gladly, therefore,

I will rather boast about my weaknesses,

that the power of Christ may dwell in me …  

But the Lord is faithful,

and He will strengthen and protect you

from the from the evil one …

then the Lord knows how to rescue

the godly from temptation,

and to keep the unrighteous under punishment

for the day of judgment …

 And after you have suffered for a little while,

the God of all grace,

who called you to His eternal glory in Christ,

will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you …

We know that no one who is born of God sins;

but He who was born of God keeps him

and the evil one does not touch him …

The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed,

and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom;

to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

2 Corinthians 12:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 2 Peter 2:9; 1 Peter 5:10; 1John 5:18; 2 Timothy 4:18; NASB

• These promises are why those who have gone before us could rejoice in their trials—
• they knew their faithful God would deliver,
• their trial was not without purpose,
• and their heavenly Father had supplied faith and strength to endure to victory.

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world;

and this is the victory that has overcome the world—

our faith.

And who is the one who overcomes the world,

but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

1 John 5:4,5

For Us:

• Praise God—deliverance is coming.
• Pray for God not to let us enter into temptation but be delivered from evil by the grace of God which is your strength to endure.
• Cling to the Promises of God and rejoice for He is faithful.

“FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,

HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME,

AND WILL NOT DELAY.”

Hebrews 10:37

Forgiveness Promised and Delivered

Forgiveness Promised

“And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.”

Matthew 6:12, KJV

*“I can’t do it, Tom.” Sam wrung his hands and hung his head. In a shaky voice, he explained. “I know what you say is true. Jesus did die to forgive my sin. He paid my penalty—But I’m afraid I can’t live it—afraid I will fail Him.”

Sam did not truly believe Jesus had the power to save him from himself. He did not know the promise the Lord made to Paul.

“And He has said to me,

‘My grace is sufficient for you,

for power is perfected in weakness.’”

2 Corinthians 12:9a; NASB

Sam believed he had to make himself perfect, not believing the Lord would be the one to finish the work of salvation once it was received. The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians—

“For I am confident of this very thing,

that He who began a good work in you

will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

(1:6; NASB)

Some believe when we receive God’s gift of forgiveness, when we are first saved from sin’s penalty and power, never again do we have to ask for forgiveness of our daily cleansing—and we don’t for salvation—but we do to know the joy of sweet fellowship with the Lord.

The apostle John writes the Lord’s promise to us, the saved, saying—

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins,

He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and

to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin.

And if anyone sins,

we have an Advocate with the Father,

Jesus Christ the righteous;

and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins;

and not for ours only,

but also for those of the whole world.”

1 John 1:8-2:2; NASB

The Promises:

1. God’s grace is enough to finish His work of perfection in us.
2. If we are compelled by guilt to confess our sin to the Lord, He forgives us all—no matter who we are or what we have done.
3. Not only does Jesus forgive, He washes us from all unrighteousness. He makes us right with the Father.
4. We have an Advocate—One who stands before the Father for us—His own and for those yet to become His own.

These promises are for all who walk in the forgiveness of our Lord, those who can say along with the apostle John—

“what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also,

that you also may have fellowship with us;

and indeed our fellowship is with the Father,

and with His Son Jesus Christ.

And these things we write,

so that our joy may be made complete.”

1 John 1:3-4, NASB

There is another condition and promise to add to promise number two.

“For if you forgive men for their transgressions,

your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive men,

then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”

Matthew 6:14,15, NASB

A Prayer for Us: Heavenly Father, you have made complete provision for our salvation from sin’s penalty and power through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Your grace will see us through to life eternal. You have given us your Holy Spirit to have power over the flesh and provided for our daily cleansing to keep your joy flowing through us. May we be as quick and faithful to forgive those who hurt us or others as you are to forgive and comfort us from our sin. Thank you, Jesus.

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*Tom is my husband and Sam is not his friend’s real name. We don’t know the end of that story.

Have a blessed weekend and be careful to not let unforgiveness rob your joy of being with the Father.

Promised Provision

Promised Provision

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

Matthew 6:11, KJV

Are you a worrier? How will you pay the bills? Will there be food in the grocery stores? One of my favorite passages promises me, under the care of my heavenly Father, I have no need to worry. He reminds me worry accomplishes nothing productive.

“For this reason I say to you ,

do not be anxious for your life,

as to what you shall eat,

or what you shall drink;

nor for you body,

as to what you shall put on.

Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing …

Jesus then takes the audience’s attention to the sky and tells them to see how our heavenly Father takes care of the birds. And can’t you see Him as He points to the white and orange lilies growing in a nearby field as He reminds his listeners at how beautifully the Father has dressed them? Jesus points out these things last a short while and the Father has graced them with what they need. We are His crowning creation. Jesus asks us—

“will He not much more do so for you,

O men of little faith?

Do not be anxious then, saying,

‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’

or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’

For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek;

for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

• But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness;
• and all these things shall be added to you.
• Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow;
• for tomorrow will care for itself.
• Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25, 30b-34; NASB

The apostle Paul leaves us with this promise—

“And my God shall supply all your needs

according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:19; NASB

For Thought:

• Worry is the product of little faith.
• Worry produces anxiety.
• Anxiety robs us of peace.
• Paul said his God supplies our needs out of His rich surplus in glory. It’s inexhaustible.

Why would a person choose worry above trust? Worry works in our own strength—giving us something to worry about. Trust operates in the strength, grace, love, and riches of our heavenly Father. If He can’t handle whatever our needs are, we certainly can’t. So, are you a worrier?

“Now to our God and Father

be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:20; NASB

Kingdom Promises

Kingdom Promises

Photo by Ylanite Koppens on Pexels.com

“Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.”

Matthew 6:10, NASB

The evening began much like the Passover celebration of years gone by, sharing of the eventful night when the death angel passed over those who applied the blood of the lamb to their doorposts. It was a night of separation between the kingdom of death and the kingdom of  life. But instead of following the usual story line Jesus took his disciples down a different path—a path He would have to walk alone, so they would not have to.

Simon Peter shook his head and rubbed his whiskery face. “Lord, where are you going?”

“You can’t follow me now, Peter—but later you will.”

The other disciples didn’t get it either. Jesus switched gears and left them with a promise.

“Let not your heart be troubled:

ye 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 unto myself;
• that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3, KJV

Jesus must leave them for a time. Their hearts cried for understanding. What about the kingdom? How would they manage while He was gone? They didn’t want to be left alone to walk through this kingdom of darkness. Jesus gave them another promise.

“And I will pray the Father,

• and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
• Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not neither knoweth him;
• but ye know him: for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
• I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.” John 14:16-18, KJV

The kingdom would live in them through the Spirit of Christ dwelling in them until the time when Jesus would return and reign over the earth. They would not walk alone in this hostile kingdom alone. They would walk in the kingdom of light with the light of life living in them.

The same promises the Lord gave to his disciples then, He gives to us today.

He is preparing a place in his kingdom for us; He will come again to take us to be with him; Until then, He has not left us in this world alone. He has given us His Spirit of truth. And He promises He will come.

Until then—

• “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised:) …
• Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
• For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

FOR YET A LITTLE WHILE,

AND HE THAT SHALL COME WILL COME,

AND WILL NOT TARRY.

NOW THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH:

BUT IF ANY MAN DRAW BACK,

MY SOUL SHALL HAVE NO PLEASURE IN HIM.

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition;

but of them that believe to the saving of the soul…

For we, like Abraham of old are looking —for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God—

It is a—better country, that is , an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 10:23, 35-39;11:10, 16)

The prayer of the kingdom has come in part. We, as follower of Christ, are citizens of another country. One day we will take our place in the kingdom of Christ. Until then, we wait, we watch, and we work with Christ while it is still day, in building the kingdom that is to come. For we are— of them that believe to the saving of the soul … And—he is faithful that promised.

Promises for the New Year

Promises for the New Year

We have seen promises made and broken. Some were made—foolishly, not knowing what the future held, some made not accepting we don’t have the power to keep our promises, and others made knowing we couldn’t keep them but it would get us what we wanted. When a promise is broken trust is eroded. There is only One completely trustworthy to keep his promises. To Him  we started the week with praise, and offered our prayers. Now He answers us with His promises as we end the week with our highlighted scripture.

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”

Matthew 6:9, KJV

As we welcome a new year, not knowing its future, we look to the promises of—

Our Father …

Who knows us and keeps us in His hand.

“My sheep hear My voice,

and I know them, and they follow Me;

and I give eternal life to them,

and they shall never perish;

and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.

My Father, who has given them to Me,

is greater than all;

and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” 

John 10:27-29;NASB

He gives us strength as He walks with us.

“Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

surely I will help you,

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10-13;NASB

Nothing—absolutely nothing—can change the love He holds for us.

“For I am convinced that—

• neither death, nor life,
• nor angels, nor principalities,
• nor things present, nor things to come,
• nor powers,
• nor height, nor depth,
• nor any other created thing,

shall be able to separate us from the love of God,

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39, NASB

The prayers we’ve been praying—He answers.

“And this is the confidence which we have before Him,

that, if we ask anything according to His will,

He hears us.

And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask,

we know that we have the requests

which we have asked from Him.”

1 John 5:14-15; NASB

We can have complete confidence in our heavenly Father—for He is sovereign over all and cannot lie. He is our Father—

which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name …

“Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and Thy dominion endures throughout all generations.

The LORD sustains all that fall,

And raises up all who are bowed down …

Psalm 145:13-14;

He, who is the holy God and Savior of Israel, is our God and Savior.

“For I am the LORD thy God,

the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior…

you are precious in My sight …

you are honored and I love you…”

Isaiah 43:3a,4a;NASB

And we end the promises with the assurance all God says He will do, He will do—

“For Thine is the kingdom—He has the authority to accomplish His will—none can prevent Him.

and the power—He has the ability to perform His will—none can overpower Him.

and the glory, forever. Amen—All praise belongs to Him—none can equal our Father.

Your Response: Choose a promise to hold to throughout the coming days. Put it to memory. Begin each day with a praise, a prayer, and a promise. What promise do you cling to most often?

The Overcomers’ Promises, Praise, & Prayer

2 Corinthians 11: Dwelling in devotion to Christ

“But I am afraid,

lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness,

your minds should be led astray

from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ …

And no wonder,

for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

2 Corinthians 11:3,14,NASB

Paul feared, not for himself, but for the Corinthian followers of Christ. He feared they were being led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. Paul understood the power and schemes Satan uses to destroy the witness of Christ in his people.

• He urged the Corinthians to be suited in the armor of God.
• He urged them to humble themselves before God and walk in pure devotion to Christ.
• He urged them to walk in victory, to be overcomers through the power of the Spirit of Christ in them.

Paul wanted them to know the same things he wrote to Timothy.

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

but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner;

but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel

according to the power of God;

who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling,

not according to our works,

but according to his own purpose and grace

which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

But is now made manifest

by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ,

who hath abolished death,

and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

2 Timothy 1:7-10,KJV

Jesus Christ overcame death with life and darkness with light. We no longer have to live in fear of death or the power sin. For we are governed by the power, love and mind of Christ in us. We are overcomers—for He brought us the victory.

His Promises to the Overcomers:

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches ..

• Life in the Presence of God—

To him who overcomes,

I will grant to eat of the tree of life,

which is in the Paradise of God …

• Deliverance from eternal death—

He who overcomes

shall not be hurt by the second death …

• Bread from heaven, a name that gives entrance to Christ’s kingdom—

To him who overcomes,

to him I will give some of the hidden manna,

and I will give him a white stone,

and a new name written on the stone

which no one knows but he who receives it …

• The authority of Christ and life forever with him—

And he who overcomes,

and keeps My deeds until the end,

TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;

AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON,

AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES,

as I also have received authority from My Father;

and I will give him the morning star …

• The righteousness of Christ, life and a witness—

He who overcomes,

shall thus be clothed in white garments;

and I will not erase his name from the book of life,

and I will confess his name before My Father,

and before His angels …

• A Permanent place of belonging in God’s kingdom —

He who overcomes,

I will  make him a pillar in the temple of My God,

and he will not go out from it anymore;

and I will write upon him the name of My God,

and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem,

which comes down out of heaven from My God,

and my new name …

• To be seated with Christ—

He who overcomes,

I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne,

as I also overcame

and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

The Overcomers’ Praise:

“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

IS THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY,

who was and who is and who is to come …

Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God,

to receive glory and honor and power;

for Thou didst create all things,

and because of Thy will

they existed and were created.”

Revelation 4:8, 11

Our Prayer:  Heavenly Father, be our strength to endure, to resist the devil when he roars after us or comes to us as an angel of light; and to resist the pull of the flesh when it promises to satisfy our need. May our devotion be simple and pure. So after we have done your will we will receive your promises. For you tell us in a short while you are coming and nothing will delay your coming. So we pray—

“Come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” Revelation 22:20,21

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(Unless otherwise noted scriptures are from the NASB95. The promises are found in Revelation 2:7, 11,17, 26-28;3:5,12,21)

Promises, Praises, and Prayers—Our Victory

2 Corinthians 10: Praise for Victory

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” 2 Corinthians 10:3,4; ( All Scripture is from NASB, unless noted.)

Promises and Praises for our divinely powerful weapons of—

Righteousness & Salvation:

“As a result of the anguish of His soul,

• He will see it and be satisfied;
• By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many;
• As He will bear their iniquities …
• that, as sin reigned in death,
• even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Isaiah 53:11; Romans 5:21

“I will rejoice greatly in the LORD,

My soul will exult in my God;

For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,

He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,

As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,

And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

Isaiah 61:10

Truth & God’s word:

• “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light to my path …
• Every word of God is tested;
• He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him …
• I will bow down toward Thy holy temple,
• And give thanks to Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth;
• For Thou has magnified Thy word according to all Thy name.” Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 30:5; Psalm 138:2

“And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood;

and His name is called The Word of God …

And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written,

‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Revelation 13,16

Peace & Prayer:

• “For a child will be born to us,
• a Son will be given to us;
• And the government will rest on His shoulders;
• And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father,

Prince of Peace.

• There will be no end to the increase of His government

or of his peace …

• The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:6,7

“The LORD sat as King at the flood;

Yes, the LORD sits as King forever.

The LORD will give strength to His people;

The LORD will bless His people with peace …

• Be anxious for nothing,
• but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God,

• which surpasses all comprehension,
• shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Psalm 29:10,11;Philippians 4:6,7

“And the God of peace

will soon crush Satan under your feet …

And the devil who deceived them

was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone,

where the beast and the false prophet are also;

and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Romans 16:20;Revelation 20:10

Faith and the Spirit of Christ:

“For by grace, you have been saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God …

who are protected by the power of God

through faith

for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Ephesians 2:8;1 Peter 1:5

“However, you are not in the flesh but in the spirit,

• if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.
• But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
• And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin
• yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,

He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead

will also give life to your mortal bodies

through His Spirit who indwells you …

I am convinced neither death, nor life,

nor angels, nor principalities,

nor things present, nor things to come,

nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing,

shall be able to separate us from the love of God,

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:9-11

Our Prayer:  Heavenly Father, what a wonderous thing you have done for us. “And my soul shall rejoice in the LORD; It shall exult in His salvation … who is like Thee …my tongue shall declare Thy righteousness And Thy praise all day long.” Psalm 35:9,10,28