Category: Encouragement For The Downcast

^18b and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. ~ Matthew 16:18b

Ever since the time of Jesus and the inception of the Church, we have been under attack by our enemies. They have stomped and stomped, but stomp as they may, the gates of hell have never and will never prevail over the Church.

Trials and tribulations will come. Persecution and all manner of evil may come against you, but be encouraged today, because no matter what may come your way, the gates of Hell, the enemy, will never overcome you. For Christ has already overcome the world, and we overcome through Him.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Overcome Through Christ.

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¹Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ²A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. ³He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. ⁴So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Him, since Jesus was coming that way. ⁵When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” ⁶So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. ~ Luke 19:1-6

So often, we allow the littlest things to keep us from our call. When we see an obstacle in front of us, we don’t try to find a way through it or around it. Oftentimes, we just give up. We should take a lesson from Zacchaeus. We must be more determined and not let anything stop us from seeing Jesus. Don’t lose sight of your dream because someone else is discouraging you. Maybe they are a part of the crowd; they’ve seen Jesus; now it’s your turn, don’t let the crowd discourage you.

Where there is a desire
There is hope
Where there is hope
There is faith
Where there is faith
There are miracles

You didn’t get that. I’m saying you can’t keep doing the same old things you have always been doing and get different results. If desperate times call for desperate actions, then take intentional desperate actions. When you’re hungry for a move, then a move will come. It is those who hunger and thirst that will be filled. You have to have the desire.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Desire More.

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¹ But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ³ Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. ⁴ And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” ⁵ And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” ~ Acts 9:1-5

Saul didn’t physically persecute Jesus, yet when he persecuted the Christians, the followers of Christ, Jesus told him that he was persecuting Him. Why? Remember what Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”

When people persecute you because of your faith, it’s not because they hate you. It’s because they hate He who sent you. Even if they cry that they love Jesus or the Father, but persecute His Church, then the love of God is not in them. Their hatred is not truly for you but for what you stand for. Who you are imitating. Who you have built your life on. That is who they truly hate.

So, when the world attacks you for following Jesus, don’t be discouraged. For Jesus was persecuted and even murdered, yet He overcame the world. And because He overcame, we will overcome as well.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Overcome the World.

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¹⁸ Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. ¹⁹ By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him; ~ 1 John 3:18-19

We reassure our heart before God by our actions. God is love; the only way we can abide with God is to follow in His footsteps by loving all people. We must love everyone, including our enemies. Pray for those who hate you. Bless those who curse you.

We can no longer live as the world lives. When we accept salvation, we begin to change from the inside out. We are no longer our old self. We are a new creation being molded into the image of God.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Let God Mold You.

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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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