Category: Encouragement For The Downcast

⁴ For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ~ Romans 15:4

The world will try to convince you that the Bible is outdated. That it no longer fits our society and culture today, but I’m here to tell you that that is a lie from the Devil himself. This is why Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote that whatever was written in the former days is still relevant today. We can learn and be encouraged by each and every verse because it was dictated by God Himself.

Why? Because Jesus, God incarnate, is the Word of God, so when we read Scripture, we are encouraging ourselves in the LORD. Literally. Don’t let the world fool you; there is hope, life, strength, encouragement, and endurance in the living and breathing Word of God.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Encouraged In The LORD.

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²⁹ But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. ~ Romans 2:29

Our hearts are changed by the Holy Spirit. The law, which is a foreshadowing of Jesus taking away the sins of the world, is written on our hearts. Our hearts are circumcised by this because circumcision was the sign of the covenant. The importance of this is that we are now under a new covenant and better covenant that doesn’t just put off our sin for another year, it completely washes us clean, and our sins are blotted out.

In other words, we get a new fresh start with Christ. Our old man is dead, and we are, in fact, a new creation in Christ Jesus. We don’t have to hold on to our past; it is erased. Blotted out. Thrown into the Sea of Forgetfulness. It is no more. We can start over in Christ Jesus. All we have to do is repent and confess that Jesus Christ is LORD.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Become a New Man.

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²¹ And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, ²² but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians. ~ Exodus 3:21-22

When God led the Israelites out of Egypt, He didn’t lead them out empty-handed; He led them out with the jewelry and clothing of the very people who were enslaving and mistreating them. While the people of Israel were in the land of Egypt, they were slaves and paupers, but when God led them out, He led them out rich. Now, I’m not saying that God wants or is going to make us all rich; neither am I saying He isn’t. I’m saying we were spiritual slaves. We were spiritual paupers, but God, in His love and mercy, stepped off of His throne and led us out of the spiritual land of Egypt by saving us from our slave master, sin.

We are now rich in Christ Jesus. We are no longer slaves or paupers but sons and daughters of the Most High God. We were once poor in spirit; now, we are filled with the Spirit of God that heals, casts out fear, protects us, guides us, strengthens us, and empowers us through Christ Jesus. Be encouraged today, for the God of the Universe has freed you from your chains of sin, fear, depression, etc. He has freed you from all strongholds; all you have to do is repent and accept your freedom in Christ Jesus.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Live As Children of God.

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¹⁸ For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. ~ Ephesians 10:18-21

I was watching a show once, and it was a mother and daughter having a conversation. The daughter was telling her mother how she was nothing special. How her mother was great, was royalty, but she wasn’t. She wasn’t fearless, brave, or strong like she was. Her father was a no-one, so she was a no-one. That’s when her mother looked at her and said, you are my daughter. My blood runs through your veins, the moment you realize that is the moment things will change. That’s exactly how it is with us today. We are sons and daughters of God Most High, yet we hold on to our past as if it defines who we are today.

We may have scars from the wounds that have been healed. We may have scars from the sin we have been redeemed from, but they do not define us. We are defined by the one who healed us. The one who saved us. It isn’t us who saves, redeems, or heals ourselves or anyone else for that matter. It is Jesus. It’s by Jesus that we are saved, redeemed, healed. It is through Jesus that we are called sons and daughters of the Most High God. The moment we realize we are no longer our past but are a new creation in Christ Jesus, adopted sons and daughters of God Almighty, is the moment we will see who we truly are. That’s the moment we will see ourselves the way that God sees us.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Look Through God’s Eyes.

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^12b …for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. ~ 2 Timothy 1:12b

We know whom we have believed. We know where we are going. We are all working towards that. One day Jesus is going to split the eastern sky, riding on a white stallion and a two-edged sword protruding out of His mouth with which He will smite the rebellious nations. He will set up His throne in the Temple and rule the nations with an iron rod for a thousand years. Then He will make a new earth for us, where He Himself will dwell among us for all eternity.

Just think. Peace and justice for all. No one to make us afraid. No one to persecute us. A time of praising and glorifying God. This is what we are working towards. Complete and absolute freedom from all sin, temptation, pain, suffering, anger, grief, etc. We are working towards being at peace with God for all eternity.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Fight For Your Eternity.

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¹² Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. ~ Revelation 22:12–13^NIV

He said that His reward is with Him, and He will give to each person according to what they have done. So, whether good or bad, there will be a reward for you according to your deeds. If you want a good reward, do good things. If you don’t really give a care, continue in your rebellious ways without Jesus.

It is a war they cannot win. Jesus will never be defeated. He will never be overcome. He is the Alpha, and He is the Omega. He is the first, and He is the last. He is the beginning, and He is the end.

Nothing or no one will be able to stand against Him and the power of His word. Just by the blast of His breath, He slays the wicked. Don’t get caught on the wrong side. Because no matter what comes our way, Jesus’ reward will far outweigh the hardships. Nothing compares to it. Nothing compares to Jesus.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Trust In Jesus.

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²⁸ Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. ²⁹ But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. ³⁰ But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” ³¹ So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. ~ Galatians 4:28-31

We were once slaves to sin. We were once slaves to fear. We were once slaves in general, but now we are sons and daughters of God. We are now fellow heirs with Christ Jesus. We have displaced our mistress as we have become overcomers of the world. We are now free from our past mistress, the world, no longer having to bow down to sin.

In the name of Jesus, we are freed from all sin because He bore our sin on His shoulders. He bore our punishment on His back. He bore and finished it all on the cross. We are free in Jesus’ name.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Live Redeemed.

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¹⁷ And as He was setting out on His journey, a man ran up and knelt before Him and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ¹⁸ And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” ~ Mark 10:17-18

Jesus asked the rich young ruler a bold question, why do you call me good? Jesus wasn’t saying; I’m not good. He was giving the rich young ruler to make a distinction between Him and mankind. Today, Jesus still asks us this question. He’s still knocking at the door of our hearts. He’s still giving us the opportunity today to proclaim who He is.

Jesus is our LORD, our God, our Savior, and our friend. He is our everything. He is the Good Shepherd that lays down His life for His sheep. The Good Shepherd that gives life and life more abundant. He is the living water, the bread of life. He is the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end. The First and the Last. Jesus is the giver of life. He took our place on the cross and gave us the free gift of Eternal Life to anyone who will believe. This is why He is good.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Know Why He Is Good.

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⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ~ Matthew 5:48

According to Jesus, we are to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. But how can we humans who are flawed be perfect? Christ loved us enough that He gave Himself up for us so that we could be Holy. Then He washed us with living water through the word of God so that we could be without stain or blemish, but instead Holy and blameless.

Paul then instructs us to be not conformed to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. How do we do that? We meditate on Scripture, and we take captive every thought that is unclean. We change the way we think through Scripture and through prayer.

So, in order to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, you have to read the Word of God, and we have to hear the Word of God being preached. Because it is by faith, we have been saved, and faith comes through hearing and hearing through the Word of God.

We place on the full Armor of God as well as pray in the Spirit for ourselves and others so that we will be able to overcome temptation when it comes because God promises that we will never face temptation too strong to overcome.

You may not always make the right decisions, and temptation may overcome you from time to time, but don’t settle for less than perfect. Aim for perfection. Norman Vincent Peale said it this way, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” It may seem impossible to live without sin, but with God, everything is possible.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Shoot For The Moon.

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²⁸ the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces. ~ Proverbs 30:28

We’re lower than the heavenly beings. We can easily be destroyed and overpowered. We’re lower than everything except for the animals, yet the God of the Universe got off of His throne to rescue us from our sin so we could be with Him forever.

Though we’re small. Though we’re tiny. We’re below the angels. We’re below the supernatural realm, yet God Almighty looked down and saw something in us worth saving. He came and He died for and gave us the opportunity to dwell with Him. We don’t have to, it’s not forced upon us, but He says,

²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20

Jesus gives us the opportunity to dwell with Him in His palace. In His temple for all eternity. We will dwell in God and with God forever and ever, even though we are only dust, God has made a way for us to dwell in and with Him forever and ever.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Dwell As Lizards.

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