Old enemy strongholds fall they shall be no more—-no more! rest, for the way has been made… ©2024 S. Michaels Beautiful Beginnings(Prophetic Haiku 7-7-7) Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:14 Image: wallhere.com
Unmatched Victories
Unmatched Victories
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Unmatched Victories
Old enemy strongholds fall they shall be no more—-no more! rest, for the way has been made… ©2024 S. Michaels Beautiful Beginnings(Prophetic Haiku 7-7-7) Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:14 Image: wallhere.com
Unmatched Victories
Is Your Light On?
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.14-16.NASB1995
The verse “nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house” can be found four times in the Gospels. Matthew 5:15, Mark 4:21, Luke 8:16, and Luke 11:33.
I consider it an important statement if it is mentioned four times. Could it be a reminder that salvation is more than receiving? That it is about shining the Good News in the lives of others? Jesus is the Light that shines through believers to the world.
I (Jesus) have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.
John 12:46 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.12.46.NASB1995
In Him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the Light of men.
John 1:4 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.1.4.NASB1995
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
John 8:12 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.8.12.NASB1995
While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.
John 12:36 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.12.36.NASB1995
so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
Philippians 2:15 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/php.2.15.NASB1995
🌹Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Daniel 12:3 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/dan.12.3.NASB1995
Continually Seeking Him,
Salt of The Earth
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
Matthew 5:13 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.13.NASB1995
Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Mark 9:50 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mrk.9.50.NASB1995
Salt in ancient days was used to season, as is today, but it was also used as a preservative.
Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.” Salt enhances the flavor of food. What a difference we can make with words that enhance another’s life. Words of salvation, kindness, encouragement.
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
Ephesians 4:29 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/eph.4.29.NASB1995
Salt preserves food. Believers are to preserve the truth and goodness in a fallen world.
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
Colossians 4:6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/col.4.6.NASB1995
Being the salt of the earth is a big task.
🌹“Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Luke 14:34-35 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.14.34-35.NASB1995
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
https:/indasharonjesus.org
Great Reward Awaits
He (Jesus) opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:2, 12 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.2-12.NASB1995
As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
James 5:10 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.10.NASB1995
but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy.
2 Chronicles 36:16 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/2ch.36.16.NASB1995
Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;
Acts 7:52 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/act.7.52.NASB1995
who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.
1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1th.2.15-16.NASB1995
We will be persecuted for our faith but hang in there. Praise God we have a home of glory coming!!
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.12.1-3.NASB1995
🌹For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
1 Thessalonians 2:19 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1th.2.19.NASB1995
Continually Seeking Him,
Reviled? Blessing!
He (Jesus) opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
Matthew 5:2, 11 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.11.NASB1995
We live in a world that seems to be disinterested in who Jesus is, what He does, or that He even exists. Sharing the gospel can be received with hostility and because of this God’s people seem to have replaced courage, confidence in the Lord, and being witnesses to the world with fear. But Jesus said, “Fear not for I am with you.” Jesus also warned us of retaliation so we would be prepared and gave us the Holy Spirit to speak through us. Jesus said, “blessed are”, so let us trust His Word!
You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
Matthew 10:22 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.10.22.NASB1995
These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me.
John 16:3 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.16.3.NASB1995
but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
1 Peter 4:16 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.4.16.NASB1995
🌹If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
Peter 4:14 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.4.14.NASB1995
Continually Seeking Him,
Persecuted for Christ
He (Jesus) opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:1, 10 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.1-10.NASB1995
But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,
Peter 3:14 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.3.14.NASB1995
[19] For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
[20] For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
[21] For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
[22] who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;
[23] and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; [24] and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
1 Peter 2:19-24 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.2.19-24.NASB1995
Did you notice in verse 23, ‘Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father’?
Even while suffering he uttered no threats! What an example, of bearing up under persecution, Jesus is for us, and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.
but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
1 Peter 4:16, 19 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.4.16-19.NASB1995
we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10, 16-18 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/2co.4.8-18.NASB1995
The things not seen are eternal. The kingdom awaits the persecuted for the sake of Christ.
🌹Continually Seeking Him,
Salvation Gratitude
Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/hab.3.17-18.NASB1995
Even in the midst of turmoil we can rejoice exceedingly with triumphant joy because of our salvation. We are headed to the promised land!!
Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.12.2.NASB1995
When was the last time you thanked God for your salvation?
🌹The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,
2 Samuel 22:47 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/2sa.22.47.NASB1995
More beatitudes coming next week.
Have a blessed weekend exalting our God.
Continually Seeking Him,
Peacemaker Pt. 2
He (Jesus) opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:1, 9 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.1-9.NASB1995
Yesterday’s devotion was regarding abiding in Christ, the Holy Spirit living in us. By faith a person is saved, justified, and thereby we have peace with God.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
John 1:12 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.1.12.NASB1995
for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’
Acts 17:28 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/act.17.28.NASB1995
A child of God is a peacemaker.
So, what is the responsibility of a peacemaker?
To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:79 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.1.79.NASB1995
So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
John 20:21 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.20.21.NASB1995
The peacemaker spreads the “Gospel of Peace”.
For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
Ephesians 2:14 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/eph.2.14.NASB1995
by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
Ephesians 2:15-19 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/eph.2.15-19.NASB1995
So children of God, let us put on gospel shoes and spread the gospel of peace.
and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Ephesians 6:15 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/eph.6.15.NASB1995
🌹But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:17-18 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.3.17-18.NASB1995
Continually Seeking Him,
Peacemakers Pt. 1
He (Jesus) opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:1, 9 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.1-9.NASB1995
Peacemakers abide in Christ. Christian, you have the Holy Spirit abiding in you.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
John 14:26 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.14.26.NASB1995
The Holy Spirit, provides fruit to those who abide in Christ.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, PEACE, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Galatians 5:22 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/gal.5.22.NASB1995
Faith = Peace
And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:50 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.7.50.NASB1995
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Romans 5:1 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.5.1.NASB1995
What a wonderful gift has been bestowed upon us by Jesus.
🌹Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
John 14:27 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.14.27.NASB1995
These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.16.33.NASB1995
Continually Seeking Him,
