Hi! I would like to thank you for joining me and reading the post today. I am so blessed to be able to share the truth of the Word of God with you. I want to encourage you today with these words, “The Lord is never out of control!” And, “He is always faithful!” Eric

In the foreword of the book, “The Rules of Engagement” by Cindy Trimm, Dr. Chuck D. Pearce wrote, “When we become Christians, we are born onto a battlefield. We already know that the headship of satan has been broken forever. However, how do we enforce and engage the enemy to remain broken and his head submitted to the authority of Christ in us?”

In the day in which we live, we find it can be hard to remain faithful in our walk with the Lord. There are many voices that cause confusion in the minds of believers. There are many issues we struggle with and choices which need to be made. Many question whether or not they are doing the right thing involving family, jobs. church, friends, and other relationships.

Today, we are finding that the authority, validity, and truth of God is being challenged and rejected, very vocally, by those who are the enemies of Christ.

I believe Revelation 12:17 and 12 gives us insight into what is taking place. Revelation 12:17 (NKJV), “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, (the Dispensational Interpretation says the ‘woman’ represents the nation of Israel - through whom the birth of Christ came) and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring (the church), who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” There is a war raging between the Lord and His people and the devil and his forces. We read in verse 12, “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time." The Greek word for wrath means: inflammatory, rage, exploding anger, turbulent, commotion, boiling agitation, and impulsive outbursts of hot anger. Praise the Lord, the devil’s time is short.

The battle has definitely heated up! The devil sets his eyes on the children of God to try and cause them to walk away from their faith. His desire is that all people would follow and worship him.

What do we need to do for ourselves and others in the body of Christ, to help them stand strong in the day of trouble? Looking at Psalm 42:3 and 4, the author penned, “My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, "Where is your God?" 4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.” When their soul was cast down, they remembered the positive events from the past. Our focus, no matter what trials we are going through, needs to remain on the Lord and the truth of His Word. God is always faithful. We need to remember how the Lord has ministered, healed, delivered, and kept us through previous trials. All too often, we tend to get caught up in keeping our thoughts and focus on the trouble rather than on the solution, Jesus!

In 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV) we read, “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” David also chose to turn his focus onto the Lord, and took courage or encouraged himself in the Lord.

As part of the family of God, we need to help each other by speaking encouragement to one another. We need to exhort and edify each other in the knowledge of Christ. When we do that, we will strengthen other believers as only fellow believers can.

We are given a clear directive in Hebrews 10:24, 25, 35 and 36, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. ... 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” ‘Stir up‘ in verse 24 means: to stimulate, urge, spur on.

We also read in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 and 14, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. ... 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” 1 The phrase, “build up” (edify in the King James) in verse 11 is oikodomeo which means: to promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, and blessedness. In verse 14, the word ‘encourage’ means: calm, console, and encourage. The word ’help’, antecho in the Greek, means: to keep oneself directly opposite to anyone, hold to him firmly, cleave to aid them and care for them. The phrase,’be patient’ means: to be patient in bearing the offences and injuries of others, to be mild and slow to anger, slow to punish, to defer anger. Whew! We need to help each other stay the course, even when we need to exercise patience with them! We need to understand that some of the people we are required to encourage can be exasperating.

Being a follower of Christ, a part of the family of God requires a heartfelt, honest, complete commitment. If you enter into a relationship with Christ halfheartedly, then fall away, the scripture reveals that you would face being thrown into the eternal fire. (Matthew 8:3 and 4)

Another necessity for the family of God is to continually remind our brothers and sisters to “fight the good fight of faith.” 1 Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” The first word translated ‘fight’ (agonizomal) means to contend, struggle with difficulties and danger antagonistic to the gospel. ‘Good’ means: praiseworthy and noble. The second word translated ‘fight,’ agon in the Greek, means: “Amid all hindrances let us exert ourselves to the utmost to attain to the goal of perfection set before the followers of Christ; any struggle with danger, annoyances, obstacles standing in the way of faith, holiness, and a desire to spread the gospel.” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). Encourage your brothers and sisters to remain faithful and fight!

The devil will try to discourage us and make us quit. But, we have the victory through the power of God! 2 Corinthians 10:4 and 5 (CSB), “since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

Along with encouraging our brothers and sisters to stand and fight, we need to encourage them to pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Romans 14:19 (NKJV) instructs us to, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” The word translated ‘pursue,’ dioko, means pursue with all haste (chasing after), earnestly pursue, earnestly desiring to overtake. According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, it means to seek after eagerly and earnestly endeavor to acquire. This does not indicate a quick glance and casually thinking about what would bring peace into the situation. The Greek word, oikos, translated ‘edify’ means: the act of building up. In the New Testament, metaphorically, edify and edification is: the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness, and happiness.” When we ‘edify’ someone, we should see a positive end result to our action. The American Heritage Dictionary defines ‘edify’ as to instruct so as to encourage intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement.

Have you noticed? In defining, to encourage, edify, and build up, there was not one mention of the words, “to criticize, put down, or judge!”

It is essential and indispensable for older more mature believers in Christ to encourage and edify new believers to stay the course and grow in intimacy with their Savior. Young people and new believers need to put aside pride and be willing to learn from those who have been tried and proven through trials and experience.

Colossians 1:28 presents a wonderful visual for the body of Christ, “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”

Ephesians 4:11- 16, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” These verses reveal the mature church as it needs to exist! Working together, to equip, attaining the unity of the faith, no longer tossed about by the waves and mind of doctrine presented by humans operating in deceitful schemes. a mature church grown up in every way into Christ, our head! Hallelujah! That is the church I want to be a part of! How about you?

Realize this my brothers and sisters. Absolutely every person in the body of Christ is valuable! It takes every single one to fulfill his or her part so that we would have a mature church. Everyone has a God given purpose to fulfill. You are valuable! You have a purpose!

I will close today by sharing a small list of some of the areas we need to edify, encourage, and exhort ourselves and each other in:

Remaining Faithful - Acts 11:22 and 23, “The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,”

Abiding in the Word of God - John 8:31 and 32, “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Praying without Ceasing - Luke 18:1, “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” Philippians 4:6, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Choosing to Let Love Rule - Colossians 3:14-17, “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Be Cautious with Your Words - Ephesians 4:29 (NIV), “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” James 3:15, “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.”

In life, we will have trouble. John 16:33 (NLT), “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." Everyone will encounter times when we will need to be comforted and times in which we will need to extend comfort. That is life and we should realize that we are blessed, in knowing that the Lord comforts us, His children comforts us, and we can be used by Him to comfort others.

2 Corinthians 1:4, “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus”

When you pray for, exhort, edify, encourage, and comfort others you are fulfilling part of the plan and purpose God as for your life! Praise God!

Romans 12:6-13, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

Children of God,

Pray!

Encourage!

Exhort!

Edify!

Keep on keeping on!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are taken from the English Standard Version.

NKJV New King James Version

KJV King James Version

CSB Christian Standard Bible

NIV New International Version