A King Is Coming

A king is coming! Of that we can be certain. His arrival was foretold nearly three thousand years ago. He was brought to us by the zeal of His father. A heavenly father so powerful and so in love with His beautiful Son and His beloved creation that all the forces in the universe could not stop this incredible miracle.
 
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NKJV)
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Zeal is synonymous with the word, passion.  Our Heavenly Father was jealously passionate to send the world His Only Begotten Son, so that we might have eternal life with Him.

John 3:16 (AMP)
“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.

What are we passionate about?  What do we get excited about and look forward to with great enthusiasm?  Is it a long-awaited promotion?  A new job? A move? At Christmas, many children excitedly look forward to presents under the tree, special cookies, and time off from school. But are these long-lasting gifts that will be remembered?  Can we remember the first time we asked Jesus Christ into our hearts and made Him Lord over all?  (Romans 10:13) Wasn’t that a lasting change that has endured the joys and tears of our lives?  Has the heart of passion for Jesus faded due to hardships, sickness, or delayed hopes? Have we put our dreams, our heart’s desires on the “back burner”?

Proverbs 13:12 (NLT)
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

This is the “season of the King” and our hopes and dreams can be reignited from the truths in the Word of God.  As we reflect on the birth of God’s Son this Christmas season, let us also reflect on the zeal of the Lord. How can we not be in awe of a God, who with fervent compassion for His creation, sent His only begotten Son so that we may live. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts has done great and mighty things for us. Let us rejoice in all things and be filled with the joy of the Lord. In His presence is fullness of joy! (Psalm 16:11) The song “Joy to the World” describes how men and creation declare the wonders of the Father’s love.
♪ Joy to the World
Joy to the world! the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
Joy to the world! the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonder wonders of His love ♪

Luke 2:10-12 (NKJV)
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

We wish a very joyful and blessed Christmas season to all our readers and their families.
~ Sarah and Joanne

Thankfully, JESUS

Jesus, we are Thankful!
No matter where we live, or what season or climate we find ourselves in, a sure way to “get out of the doldrums” of life is to give thanks.  As Christians, our praise and thanksgiving are the answer to the “darkness that surrounds us.”  Let us:

Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

In many elementary schools this time of year, teachers will assign their young students to list the things they are “thankful for”, so in like manner, the following is our list.

JESUS, we are THANKFUL: (for / that)
J = justified by His grace
E = every promise in God’s word
S = sins washed away by the Blood of the Lamb
U = unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
S = shalom of the Lord Jesus Christ

Romans 3:24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Revelation 1:5 to Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood

Ephesians 4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

John 14:27 Peace (Shalom) I leave with you, My peace (shalom) I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

T = Today, … hear His voice
H = healing wholeness by Jesus Christ’s stripes
A = authority in Jesus Christ
N = no weapon formed against us can prosper
K = King Jesus our Bridegroom
F = family and friends
U = under our feet (satan is crushed)
L = life more abundantly

Hebrews 3:7,13 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice”; … but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today”

1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Matthew 28:18-19 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore[a] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper

Revelation 19:13, 14,16 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God…. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses…. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:  KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Ephesians 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God

Romans 16:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Be blessed and remember to be “thankful” each day as we “finish the race set before us”; “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Hebrews 12:1,2; Titus 2:13)

~ Joanne and Sarah

We Are STILL The Light

Washington Monument: The world's tallest obelisk. 

John 1:4-5 (NKJV)
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it

By now we’re sure you are all aware of the growing list of powerful people, especially in Washington and Hollywood, accused of sexual misconduct and criminal perversion. Of course, these incidents are not exclusive to Washington and Hollywood, but as the nation’s Capitol and the nation’s media/entertainment center, what occurs there reflects our society as a whole.

While our purpose at the Herald of Hope continues to be bringing you the blessed hope found only in our Savior Jesus Christ, we would be remiss if we did not briefly comment on the state of our nation's spiritual health. Make no mistake about it; this issue is spiritual in nature. How do we know this?  The prince of darkness made a very clear mark on our nation. Two symbols in the form of the obelisk and capitol dome have been glorified. In ancient times the obelisk and dome represented the male and female reproductive parts respectively. We are not going to go into any further detail in this post, but please consider our position from scripture. The evil and discord that is going on around us is indeed spiritual in nature. We have personal authority over this present darkness through Jesus. However, we must understand what it is that we should take authority over.

Ephesians 6:12-13 (NIV)
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

If you want further information on the symbols in Washington, DC and their origins/meanings please PM us. We’ll send you some relevant teachings.  Most importantly, remember that Jesus loves you beyond measure regardless of our surroundings. Stand Firm!!

John 8:12 (NKJV)
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Immediate Evacuation

Gridlock of traffic trying to evacuate FL prior to Hurricane Irma

We are keenly aware of the recent tragedies around the world: earthquakes, floods, fires, hurricanes, and storms in various places.  Some of these have been deadly and taken people by surprise, and others have been told to evacuate immediately.  Did everyone heed the call to move to safety?  Were all saved?  Unfortunately, NO.  Some people were simply caught unawares, while others were not prepared.  And those who were left behind, suffered the storms’ fury.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to experience an immediate removal from danger and be transported to a safe environment with our loved ones?  Many fantasy movies and books have a way of making traveling from one reality to another fairly easy. Oh, Dorothy may have asked “where is this strange place?” when she ended up in Oz. And Star Trek characters who are caught up in time travel may get a little weak in the knees when they morph from the 21^st century to the 25^th century, but overall, they end up adjusting pretty quickly. However, there is a coming shift in reality, that was not conceived in the minds of Hollywood. And, it’s going to go down like this:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (AMP)

For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the [blast of the] trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain [on the earth] will simultaneously be caught up (raptured) together with them [the resurrected ones] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord!

Imagine being a believer in Jesus who will one day end up on the receiving end of this incredible phenomenon. For those who are alive and remain, (that means living on earth when this occurs) this fantastic event will happen to them! We will leave this earth realm in our redeemed bodies to be with our Lord, Jesus Christ. We’ll meet Him in the clouds (without an airplane or hot-air balloon) and be with Him forever from that day forward.

1 Corinthians 15:52 (AMPC)

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed).

Even though this coming event is scripturally true, which means it is a fact that it will occur, we humans can barely wrap our minds around it. How can we be living here in this world and instantaneously be transformed into a completely different reality? The very thought causes a mental dilemma in the minds of many believers. This dilemma may be so strong that it causes our minds to battle thoughts of possibility and probability. We may even find ourselves in a state psychologists call, cognitive dissonance, which is a psychological conflict resulting from incongruous beliefs and attitudes held simultaneously. That means, our minds waver from one possible understanding to a vastly different one!

We believe that as the rapture of true Christians draws nearer (those who have called upon the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ: Romans 10:9-13), the danger of cognitive dissonance will manifest greatly in the body of Christ.  This is where faith comes into play. There are numerous signs around us which indicate that the rapture of the church is imminent. In fact, there are so many, that we couldn’t possibly cover them in one blog post. Yet, a vast number of believers continue to deny the possibility that Jesus could call us up to be with Him in the rapture.

(L: rapturo; Gr: harpazo = to catch, steal, carry off; take by force; caught up)

Even though, “Jesus could return at any moment” has become a cliché in Christian circles, few truly believe it to be a fact. The sad truth is that most people are attached to this world in such a way that they would rather Jesus wait a while so they can continue with life: marrying & giving in marriage, eating & drinking, and watching football. “No one knows the day or hour” has become the battle cry of both worldly Christians and those who find the whole notion of a rapture so absurd, that they can’t even process it in their minds.

There are many who are denying the possibility of the rapture of the Church and some even ask “where is the promise of His coming?” The word of God is clear that this event will happen.  There will be an immediate departure of the true believers in Christ Jesus from this earth someday soon.  The Father in heaven desires that all men be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2:4)

We need to encourage one another to “stand fast, continuing in the faith”, and to “not grow weary in well doing”.

2 Peter 3:3-9 (NKJV)

knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,  and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

The following YouTube, “We will know the season of the rapture! Bible tells us so!” by Barry Scarbrough, is one of many that shows the context of scripture clearly. We encourage viewing it and trust it will be a blessing.  We Will Know The Season

Titus 2:13 (ESV)

waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ

~ Sarah and Joanne

Subscription Problems

Dear Readers,

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Thank you for your continued support and may God bless you!

~ Sarah and Joanne. 

What in the World? … the Heavens Declare the Glory of God

Many have heard before that God (Elohim) has written His story in the stars. But, do we know what that actually means? The reason we ask, is because there is a great divide within the church right now. We would like to clarify this subject as best as we can, based on scriptures and revelation from our Lord, Jesus Christ. We can see that in camp #1, there are some Christians (we believe they are the minority) who understand that the constellations tell the story of Jesus Christ: from His birth to His glorious return as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. In camp #2, there are Christians who believe that anything to do with the interpretation of the constellations is nothing more that pagan astrology.  And, in camp #3, there are Christians who have never even heard of signs in the heavens. Wow! What an expanse of disparaging beliefs! Never the less, confusion abounds and it is with sincere love toward our brethren and in humble submission to the Holy Spirit, that we will attempt to bring light upon this topic. Therefore, our request is that we all look at the scriptures again, with open minds, and with the desire to know Jesus more than the desire to be aligned with certain church denominations or doctrine. 

The scriptures clearly tell us that the heavens (the planets / stars) tell a story:

Psalm 19:1-6 (AMP)

The heavens are telling of the glory of God;

And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands.

Day after day pours forth speech,

And night after night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there [spoken] words [from the stars];

Their voice is not heard.

Yet their voice [in quiet evidence] has gone out through all the earth,

Their words to the end of the world.

In them and in the heavens, He has made a tent for the sun,

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;

It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.

The sun’s rising is from one end of the heavens,

And its circuit to the other end of them;

And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

The constellations are set in order, so that the story of Jesus Christ is portrayed:

Virgo: the seed of the woman, a child born; Libra: the price paid (the balance); Scorpio: the violent conflict; Sagittarius: the conqueror returns; Capricorn: the slain goat for atonement; Aquarius: the blessing poured out for redemption; Pisces: the blessed and bound redeemed; Aries: the lamb slain but victorious; Taurus: the Messiah coming to rule; Gemini: the Messiah reigns as Prince (dual nature of King Jesus); Cancer: the sheep fold/ possessions held fast; Leo: the triumphant King implements the final destruction of the adversary (satan).

(Notes taken from “It is Written in the Heavens, How to Read and Interpret the Word of God Written in the Stars,” by Dale M. Sides, www.lmci.org

[more references: Bullinger, E. W. Witness of the Stars, 1893, 1975; Seiss, Joseph. Gospel of the Stars, 1882, 1972.; Sides, Dale M. Christological Astronomy, 2011, Liberating Ministries for Christ International, Inc.]

Why in the world are we mentioning this?  The recent total solar eclipse crossing from the NW to the SE of the United States was both highly publicized and watched. There is another sign in the heavens that will be visible on September 23, 2017.  Many are exclaiming that this sign is the same one written about in:

Revelation 12:1-5 (NKJV)

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

There are many teachings about what is now being called the Rev 12 Sign on YouTube. Some are very good in explaining this phenomenon and others have left us scratching our heads. Needless to say, we have sifted through many of these teachings. We offer a teaching here, that although it is not the most in-depth in our opinion, it is quite easy to understand. It can be viewed at: Rev 12 Sign 

We are not necessarily looking for a sign, but when we travel, road and map signs are very important in order to get to our desired destination without delays or mishaps.  (There are many stories of folks ‘blindly’ following the directions of their GPS only to be faced with a dead end or worse!)  Isn’t it a good feeling to see that “last sign” before arriving at a vacation spot? What about the ‘signs of the times’?  Can we know the times and what to do about them? What is so important about the heavens telling the story of Jesus?  Will Jesus be coming for the Church (His Bride) soon? Will Jesus come to the earth again, stand on the Mount of Olives, and set up His 1,000-year Kingdom?  The Word of God reveals Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation.  We believe these things are true.

Also, according to Daniel 9, the 70^th week called Jacob’s Trouble, still hasn’t come to pass for Israel.  There are many wars, and rumors of wars concerning Israel (the Promised Land).  Since we as believers are ‘grafted into the vine’ which is Israel, (see Romans 9-11) then we should be ‘looking’ at the events surrounding Jerusalem.  After all, that will be the future site of Jesus Christ’s throne.  Of course, He is currently seated at the right hand of the throne of God in heaven. (Hebrews 12:2)

Let’s get back to the Revelation 12 sign in the heavens this September 23^rd. The date is quickly approaching and we honestly do not know what may or may not happen on this day. But, we do believe that the sign will at the very least serve as a marker in our collective history. This earth will not go on in its present form forever. That is a truth that we can take to the bank. Someday, Jesus will return.

The truth about this mystery of the “catching away” of the Church (Greek: harpazo; Latin: rapturo) is found in scripture. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (KJV)

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (TLB)

But I am telling you this strange and wonderful secret: we shall not all die, but we shall all be given new bodies! It will all happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For there will be a trumpet blast from the sky, and all the Christians who have died will suddenly become alive, with new bodies that will never, never die; and then we who are still alive shall suddenly have new bodies, too.

What a promise! The final redemption of our bodies will happen in an instant!  We have the blessed hope of Christ’s return for His Bride and can watch with joyous anticipation.  (Titus 2:13)

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 (AMPC)

For God has not appointed us to [incur His] wrath [He did not select us to condemn us], but [that we might] obtain [His] salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Who died for us so that whether we are still alive or are dead [at Christ’s appearing], we might live together with Him and share His life.

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.

~ Joanne and Sarah

* IMPORTANT FOLLOW UP *

Map from www.greatamericaneclipse.com/nation/

Dear Readers,

Yesterday we posted our newest article titled, Look Up. We hope you have been blessed and encouraged. However, we want to offer this follow-up due to the timely nature of the upcoming American eclipse. #1 We want to reinforce the understanding that the term “look up” refers to the EXPECTATION we have as believers in Christ for His soon return. We do not encourage anyone to physically look up to see the solar eclipse without “authentic special” eyewear, because that would be very dangerous. We do not have such viewing apparatuses, so we will NOT be attempting to watch the eclipse in the physical sky. We will, however, watch online. We encourage you to go to nasa.gov and follow their viewing recommendations. #2 We understand from scripture that Jesus told us what the condition of the world be like when He catches away (the rapture) His saints prior to the 7-year tribulation, and His final return when He steps down on the Mount of Olives. These are literal truths found in the bible. We believe that scripture makes it clear that we are in the season of His return but in no way, can we predict a specific time. However, we know that God places signs in the heavens (the sky) for us to gauge events in the world around us. Therefore, when an unusual celestial sign does appear, we look with hopeful expectancy NOT trepidation. We continue to stand on His promises for us and we always pray for mercy over judgement. 

John 16:33 (NKJV) “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Grace and Peace to you all,

Sarah and Joanne

Look Up! The Great American Eclipse

On August 21, 2017, there will be an exciting astronomical event which is being dubbed “The Great American Eclipse.” This will be a rare total solar eclipse which will cross over the United States from sea to shining sea. Americans living in the path ranging from Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina will be treated to the full effects of the solar eclipse, while the remainder of the country will experience it to lesser degrees depending on location. Here in northeast Pennsylvania, there will be an approximate 72% solar eclipse which will still be pretty impressive. We are hoping for a cloud free day!

So, why are we excitedly going to be watching this celestial event? Because we understand that as followers and believers in Jesus Christ, we are also watchmen. All of God’s word ultimately points to Jesus in both His first and His second coming. He first came to earth a little over 2000 years ago as an infant.  Jesus Christ will return as a king to set up his kingdom for 1,000 years. However, before that, Jesus will call His body (His church) up to be with Him forever and ever.

We are excited because Jesus told us what to look for, so that we would know His return is near. Luke 21:25 (CEB) “There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On the earth, there will be dismay among nations in their confusion over the roaring of the sea and surging waves.” There is currently a convergence of events which encourage us and give us Hope that His return may not be far away. We have the American eclipse on Aug 21st and exactly 33 days later, there will be a celestial configuration that seems to be another sign that is mentioned in the book of Revelation.
 

Revelation 12:1-2 (NKJV) (The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon)

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.  Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

The subtitle alone alerts us to the significance of this celestial constellation. We will discuss the Revelation 12 sign more next month, but for now, suffice it to say, there are signs in the sun, moon, and stars.

We are aware that many in our nation are eagerly awaiting the August 21^st eclipse by preparing to view the phenomenon in a celebratory manner. At the same time, there are some Christian leaders urging caution and even predicting doom as a result of the eclipse. Please note that we are not making any dire claims because we simply do not know if anything will happen on that day other than the sun crossing over our land in a dark shadow. We plan to watch and more importantly, we plan on praying because that’s what watchmen do. To ignore blatant signs in the sky would be foolhardy. Jesus taught us this in Luke 12.  

Luke 12:56 (AMPC)

You play actors (hypocrites)! You know how [intelligently] to discern and interpret and prove the looks of the earth and sky; but how is it that you do not know how to discern and interpret and apply the proof to this present time?

Jesus told us to understand the times and that is what we are attempting to do; not with trepidation but with hope. We trust Jesus to never leave or forsake us and we choose to look up.

1 Corinthians 1:22-23, 30 (NKJV)

For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified… But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

Luke 21:28 (AMP) 

Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near.

Note* We are continuing to work on our book, Hope Over Chaos, Transitioning From Darkness To Light. It will be released on Amazon as soon as possible.

You can watch the great American Eclipse live online at https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/

~ Sarah and Joanne

Dear Readers,
We thank you for your patience while we have been working on our book. Stay tuned! Also, we appreciate your prayers while we continue with this venture. 
Blessings,
Sarah & Joanne

Blessed Hope

As the world turns and as time marches on, there is a collective feeling of unease growing on the earth. Angst (a gloomy feeling of anxiety or depression) has seeped into the collective pores of humanity. “We’ve seen it all, we’ve done it all, and we’ve imagined it all.” While some would like to believe in “world peace” hate and violence fills the streets.  With such discord, even the faithful remnant of Jesus Christ perceives the intensity of the “cosmic battle” which seems poised to consume us all. BUT GOD! Amid this turmoil, which surely is part of the end times prophesied in the Bible so long ago, we must have Hope. But, how do we receive this hope?  This Hope can be so tangible that we can know it, if we allow the Holy Spirit to stir it up within each one of us. The Hope we are speaking of is the Blessed Hope in Titus 2:13 (NIV) “while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Hope is an “expectation of good” that is given to us when we believe that God gave us His only begotten son, Jesus Christ.  When we ask Jesus into our hearts, we receive the blessed hope of our eternal life.  This “hope” will not fade away, but will endure and keep us to the end!  (John 3:16; Romans 10:9,10,13) 

1 Peter 1:3-5 (NKJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you

Perhaps one of the questions we ask is how can we have HOPE of a future event… the Hope of our inheritance in heaven? If our eternal life is only in the future, what about the pressures of today’s world?  Can we be joyful and expectant of good things to happen in our lives now?  Can we have daily patience to receive the promises of God while the world seems to be “heading down a slippery slope into a never ending black hole”? Can we “rejoice in hope? Be patient in tribulation? Continue steadfast in prayer?” (Romans 12:12)

Romans 8:24-25 (GNT) For it was by hope that we were saved; but if we see what we hope for, then it is not really hope. For who of us hopes for something we see?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

We read in Colossians 1:27 that it is “Christ in us, the hope of glory.”  This hope of being glorified like Jesus was in His resurrected body, is difficult to understand. Since we are the Body of Christ who will be resurrected at the “gathering together” (rapture / harpazo), how do we “hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end” of our lives? (Hebrews 3:6) How can we be encouraged?

The Word of God is clear about our hope and our rejoicing, not only at the end of our lives, but as we face each day…

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (AMPC) Now also we would not have you ignorant, brethren, about those who fall asleep [in death], that you may not grieve [for them] as the rest do who have no hope [beyond the grave]. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him through Jesus those who have fallen asleep [in death]. For this we declare to you by the Lord’s [own] word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede [into His presence] or have any advantage at all over those who have previously fallen asleep [in Him in death]. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first. Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord! Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words.

WOW!! What a comfort to know that our loved ones who believed in Christ and have already died, will be with us at the “gathering together” of the Lord’s body. This HOPE in our bodily resurrection at the Lord’s coming for us in the clouds is an “anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.” (Hebrews 6:19)

Let’s be clear:  this HOPE is that Jesus Christ, Himself, will call us up to be with Him in the clouds someday soon.  It is NOT when Jesus steps His foot down on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:1-4) which is called “the Day of the Lord.” That is another future event in scripture that has to do with the battle of the nations against Jerusalem.

If we believe God is faithful and His promises are true, then we can “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.” (Hebrews 10:23)

Our prayer for all of us is that we can remain HOPEFUL, and be encouraged in the finished work of Jesus Christ at the cross.  We daily desire a greater revelation of what Jesus meant when He said, “It is finished.”

Romans 15:13 (AMP) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.

~ Joanne and Sarah

  

  

A Secret Weapon

Recently, we wrote about the spiritual armor that is at our disposal.  Jesus Christ gave us this authority (armor) when we believed that He is the son of God and made Him Lord of our life. (Romans 10:9,10)

In Mark 16:17-18 Jesus said: “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My  name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (NKJV)

As believers, we can do the things listed above.  However, most of these promises are rarely seen in Christian churches today. 

Sadly, the teachings of John Calvin left a very strong impact upon the church. We say sadly because one of the main tenants of Calvinism is the unscriptural belief that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit somehow stopped after the dawn of the church age. Staunch Calvinists will argue that the Holy Spirit performed miracles through the earliest Christians to jump-start the church. They will typically tell you that manifestations seen today in believers, such as speaking in tongues or words of prophecy are not from God. Some current denominations today are more strictly Calvinist than others but it appears that the negative effects of this powerless form of Christianity can be seen across the board.

Most Christians seem to be comfortable with ineffectual doctrine. If that were not true, then we would see more people praying in public because they would be confident that their prayers had the powerful backing of the Holy Spirit. But, we rarely see that, do we? Instead today’s Christians feel they should pray quietly, go to church once a week and attempt to “behave” like good people. We have forgotten about the day of Pentecost and the sovereign ability given to us.

 Acts 2:3-4 (NRSV) Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Yes, the Holy Spirit, who is the Comforter that Jesus said He would leave with us, gave us the ability to pray in tongues. You may call it a “prayer language” … it is a special gift from God to help us in this world. It is interesting to note that many of the observers of the newly Spirit filled Christians, thought those speaking in tongues must have been drunk even though it was early in the morning.

Acts 2:11-13 (NKJV) Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

Why did God make that point clear in scripture? Could it be because today, many people are quick to claim that the manifestation of speaking in tongues is not from God? 

It wasn’t only the early followers of Jesus who were accused of not belonging to God when the Holy Spirit came upon them. Jesus himself was accused of working with Satan. Take a look……..

 Matthew 12:22-32 (NKJV)

A House Divided Cannot Stand

“Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.  And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.  If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.  But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.  Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.  He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”

These are very important issues to consider when attempting to understand the role of the Holy Spirit in our own lives.

In Ephesians 6:11-18, we are instructed to “put on the whole armor of God.” Part of the whole armor of God states that we should “pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” 

Ephesians 6:18 (JUB) praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching in this with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

What does praying in the Spirit mean?  Jesus told his disciples that they would receive “power when the Holy Spirit came upon them.” We mentioned this above but let’s take a closer look at (Acts 1:8). The word, power, is the Greek word dynamis = power, ability, workers of miracles, mighty works. 

Acts 2:4 (AMP) And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately]

That sounds pretty good as far as a spiritual weapon is concerned. We submit to you that “praying always… in the Spirit” is a secret weapon that many believers have missed.  We as believers have the Holy Spirit sealed inside us.  It is time to use that secret weapon in our lives so that we can attain the promises of Christ on the cross.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,  who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

When we do not know how to pray for ourselves, or a family member or friend, and we “pray in the Spirit” the Holy Spirit intercedes for us!

Romans 8:26 (NKJV) Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Praying in the Spirit is also called: 1) our prayer language or 2) speaking in tongues.  So, if you have been in a Christian home group or church that believes “speaking in tongues” ended after the book of the Acts, well, why then is it listed in the whole armor of God in Ephesians?  Were you taught that the verses in the Pauline epistles about “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:16); and “continue earnestly in prayer” (Colossians 4:2) were prayers in your native language only?  Praying in the spirit is a “secret weapon” that many Christians have missed.

 Every year the church observes Pentecost…which occurs 50 days after Passover. As we have noted, Pentecost was when the early church received the power of the Holy Spirit. It was celebrated yesterday (June, 4, 2017) in the American church. Did you hear about it in the pulpit? Did you see the Holy Spirit noticeably working in your midst? Where has this power gone?  It was clearly given to us!

Even if your church wasn’t operating in the power of the Holy Spirit yesterday, it doesn’t mean that you need to live without the Comforter in your life.

Our prayer language (speaking in tongues) is a gift that we receive when we are born again as stated earlier.  This language is not something that we can understand in our native tongue, but it is called “the tongues of men or angels.” (1 Corinthians 13:1a NKJV)

The following is a list of the scriptural benefits or reasons for “speaking in tongues” by Rev. Paul Norcross (Kingdom Faith Ministries).  We trust it will be a blessing as you search the Word of God for this secret weapon of truth.

18 Scriptural Reasons for Speaking in Tongues (Maybe 19) by Paul Norcross

(S.I.T. = Speaking in Tongues)

1.  S.I.T is rest to our souls – a refreshing.  Isaiah 28:11-12; I Cor. 14:21-22

2.  S.I.T. edifies you.  I Cor. 14:4

3.  S.I.T. speaks to God mysteries.  I Cor. 14:2

4.  S.I.T. speaks the wonderful works of God.  Acts 2:11

5.  S.I.T. magnifies God.  Acts 10:46

6.  S.I.T. is perfect prayer for yourself.  I Cor. 14:14-15; Rom. 8:26-28

7.  S.I.T. is perfect intercession for others.  Rom. 8:26-28; Eph. 6:18; I Tim. 2:1

8.  S.I.T. gives thanks well.  I Cor. 14:17

9.  S.I.T. strengthens you with might in your inner man.  Eph. 3:16

10.  S.I.T. (“quickens”) gives life to your mortal bodies.  Rom 8:11

11.  S.I.T. puts to death the deeds of the body (“mortifies the flesh”).  Rom. 8:13

12.  S.I.T. gives us the “spirit of adoption” – an “Abba” intimacy with Christ.  Rom. 8:15

13.  S.I.T. bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.  Rom. 8:16

14. S.I.T. confirms you are “joint heirs with Christ.”  Rom. 8:17

15.  S.I.T. is a sign for unbelievers.  I Cor. 14:22; Mark 16:17

16.  S.I.T. builds up your faith.  Jude 20

17.  S.I.T. helps us be filled to capacity with the Spirit.  Eph. 5: 18-19

18.  S.I.T. helps us keep from being deceived.  John 16:13; I John 2:26-27; Rom. 8:16

19.  S.I.T. helps build your immune system 30-40% according to Dr. Carl Peterson, brain specialist at the former ORU Hospital in Tulsa, OK.  It also activates a portion of the brain that does not have other known activity to medical science.  (We do not find this in scripture, but it is very thought provoking.)

Please make sure to visit Kingdom Faith Ministry by clicking the KFM button listed on our page.

In closing, we humbly want to express our love for the church as the body of Christ in this world. You are part of that body. We pray that the Holy Spirit fills your hearts and minds and overflows with love and power through each one of you. God bless you all!
 

~ Joanne and Sarah

John 4:23-24 (NKJV) But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Let Not!

It is a troubling world. Strife is among people everywhere. There are wars, rumors of wars, terrorist’s attacks and hateful discord strewn throughout nearly all media outlets. We all endure personal struggles to varying degrees. It could be from “my daughter didn’t make the cheerleading squad” to “my brother has just been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer”. And quite frankly…… in this fallen world, these situations are just the tip of the iceberg. 

Knowing how dark and sometimes savage our world is capable of being, how can we be expected to live lives of peace? Yet, our Savior, Jesus told us to “…Let not our hearts be troubled?” (John 14:27b)

“Letting” is an action, isn’t it? When we “let” the dog out we are allowing it to go outside. When we “let” ourselves eat a dozen tacos at 8pm in the evening, we probably won’t feel well the next day. Those actions are choices and they result in consequences such as a happy dog or an angry stomach. Of course, Jesus has always known about our free will and that is why He told us to “Let not our hearts be troubled”. He knew that the result of our action of “letting not” would give us peace. We want peace in our hearts. Do you? 

There is a story line in the movie Star Trek III, where Spock’s half-brother Sybok, a determined space hippy, captured the Enterprise so he could fly it to a universal place of love and peace. He was able to subdue the crew through his Vulcan mysticism….. All except for Captain Kirk, of course, who saw through the danger of the promise of a false paradise. When Sybok taunted Kirk with the promise of everlasting bliss through removing his pain, Kirk resisted by screaming, “I want my pain, I need my pain!”  Of course, the whole ordeal portrayed a longing for a counterfeit place of peace. However, Kirk’s desire to hang onto his pain teaches us a valuable lesson. How many people today are choosing misery instead of following Jesus’ words to “let not our hearts be troubled”?  

If letting is an action that we truly have control over, then why let distress rule our hearts? Why would someone want their pain? We don’t have all the answers, but perhaps some people think they have the ‘right’ to wallow in self-pity, anger or bitterness? While we know these emotions exist and that we have experienced some of them from time to time, they are NOT from God. They are part of the fallen human condition that we can choose to overcome through the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  Jesus’ promises to us are true.  He GAVE us His PEACE and we must allow our hearts to accept it in every situation that we face.

John 14:27 (AMP) Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] 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 afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]

So how can we “let not” our hearts be agitated, filled with fear, doubt, or discouragement?  What actions can we take?  There are several ‘directions’ in the scriptures that we can follow.  

1) We need to keep our eyes (and minds) on the truth of the Word of God, by reading scripture (reading it out loud is best).  When we do that, the Lord promises to “keep us in perfect and constant peace.” (Isaiah 26:3) 

2) We must choose to “forget those things of the past” and look “forward to those things which are ahead” with HOPE (a positive expectation of good). (Philippians 3:13-14)

3) We should remain steadfast (unwavering) in our pursuit of God, by way of the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord and His finished work on the cross. (2 Peter 1:2)

There are several ‘actions’ involved in the above.  Picture yourself standing at an open doorway… You are on the threshold of going through to a new place, but your mind is filled with the unrest of past experiences which are holding you back.  You want to ‘breakthrough’ and step out, but first you must remove those thoughts that seemingly continue to plague your mind and keep you frozen. Then you decide to “forget those things which are behind” and you toss one hand behind you, in an action of determination.  Next, you take that hand and reach forward through the open doorway.  But you haven’t moved through the threshold yet.  A force is needed for you to press forward and step with momentum through the doorway.  This illustrates what is needed to move forward.  

Let NOT your heart be troubled… let not the past keep you from moving ahead with life.  A life that is promised to be more abundant by the Lord Jesus Himself. Do not allow the “thief” to “steal, kill, or destroy” you or anything that pertains to you.  (John 10:10) Follow after Jesus Christ and learn more of His finished work on the cross.  Grace and peace will be multiplied to you!   

Today we declare that the promises of Christ Jesus are true and we receive them! 

Isaiah 26:3 (AMPC) You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

2 Peter 1:2 (NASB) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

~ Sarah and Joanne

IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES

Jesus told us that persecution would be coming for those who follow Him. The most severe persecution today exists as we see many believers in Christ around the world suffering unthinkable horrors for their faith. They suffer brutal afflictions mostly at the hands of Islamic radicals. Their fate of martyrdom is due to the fact that they believe in Jesus. However, we are in a time where Christians living in what were once considered firm Judeo/Christian strongholds, such as the United States and Western Europe, are enduring persecution too. Fortunately for those Christians, the torment is not typically in the form of physical torture, but rather, it comes in the form of tyranny, intimidation and harassment.  Any Christian who engages in social media will quickly learn that the cyber highways are littered with nasty Trolls! Their objective is to bully true believers into silence. Worse are those who pretend to be disciples of Jesus by hiding behind false ideas of Oneness and universal “love”. They are clearly endorsing a false gospel. We wrote about this counterfeit “love” in a previous post, The Truth About Being One.  Yes, Jesus warned us about the veracity of Christian haters and gospel twisters!

2 Peter 2:1-2 (CEB)   ……false teachers will come among you. They will introduce destructive opinions and deny the master who bought them, bringing quick destruction on themselves.  Many will follow them in their unrestrained immorality, and because of these false teachers the way of truth will be slandered……..

So how then are we to ‘finish the race set before us’ (Acts 20:24; 2 Timothy 4:7) and accomplish all that the Lord has given us to do for His glory? How do we survive and thrive in this fallen, chaotic world?

Jesus said in Matthew 10:16 (NKJV) “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”
WHAT did Jesus mean when He said this? It has been said that, “A serpent is wise, with keen eyesight and is quick to learn. A dove is innocent, meek and gentle.” He was admonishing us to outwardly portray these qualities of wisdom with humility. Also, He wanted us to understand that we should be “militant in the spiritual realm, and gentle as doves in the natural realm, full of the fruit of the Spirit.”

Thankfully, we can be certain that our Heavenly Father never leaves us without knowledge. The scriptures describe how we can have both attributes of a clever serpent AND a gentle dove.  We are to “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15-17); and to “walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time” (Colossians 4:5) Philippians 2:15 says “so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of people who are crooked and stubborn. Shine out among them like beacon lights.” (TLB) It should be said of us that we live our lives as witnesses for Christ, not as worldly, but as just and blameless in our behavior towards others. (1 Thessalonians 2:10)

So, HOW are we to “arm ourselves” against the enemy, yet “walk in love”? Isn’t this what Jesus did when He walked here on the earth?  He walked in love to all who would listen and hear His words, and signs, wonders, and miracles followed.  Yet, the enemy could not stay in His presence because at Jesus’ words, demons were removed and cast into the sea. At Jesus’ words….these are our powerful weapon against the enemy.

Matthew 18:19-20 (NKJV) “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

When we are in AGREEMENT with Jesus, HE is in the midst of us! Where two or three are gathered together in His name, Jesus is with us. Let us state here that the TRUE words of the Holy Scriptures are our defense against those preaching false doctrines as we stated earlier. If the words you are hearing or reading from others is not in AGREEMENT with the Bible then they are not from God’s Spirit. His words are life!

Psalm 23:4-5 (NIV) Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

In the presence of our enemies, the Lord anoints us with His oil, and our cup overflows… with what?? With His grace, His mercy, His wisdom, His favor, and blessings so that we can be over-comers in every situation we face.  When any trouble, distress, or persecution, comes our way, and when we are in the midst of wolves, let’s remember that Jesus is with us! He is with us in the midst of every storm in life.  We can walk in love, being armed with the TRUTH of the Word of God.  When we ask for wisdom, we will receive it from on high. We can hear the voice of the Lord directing our steps. We can speak and the door to freedom will be opened for us.

John 10:3 (NKJV) To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

~ Joanne and Sarah

Casualties of War

It has been said that the FIRST casualty of war is TRUTH.  That is why we believe the entire subject of spiritual authority has been left out of most churches today.  Therefore, Christians are becoming ‘casualties of war’ and the enemy of our souls (satan) is winning in many areas of our lives.  We need to understand and implement the ‘whole armor’ of God, both the offensive and defensive weapons at our disposal, to remain on victory ground.  The finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross has given us this authority. 

Ephesians 6:11 (NKJV) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

The wiles of the devil are vast, and he has been studying our every move. However, our focus should not be on his wiles, but on our victorious savior, Jesus!

In previous blogs, we have outlined some of the finished work of Christ and how we overcome the enemy in our lives.  February 23, 2017: “Delivered from Darkness;” March 8, 2017: “Bought with a Price… Redeemed;” March 28, 2017: “How We Overcome By The Blood Of The Lamb;” and April 7, 2017: “Spiritual Armor – a drawing.”

There are many scripture references in the Spiritual Armor drawing that you can read and study.  The answer to the question: WHY is there a difference between our offensive and defensive weapons is in the totality of the finished work of Christ on the cross.  Jesus disarmed the enemy offensively and defensively, so that we can enforce (offensively or aggressively) our victory through Christ, and so that we will always be ready to resist the enemy’s attacks (which is our defensive posture).  We do not actually “put on armor” like the knights of old, but with our mouths, we speak the truth of the scriptures.  “It is written,” were the three most powerful words spoken by Jesus to the devil in the wilderness. (Matthew 4:4-11)

WHEN do we need to “put on the whole armor of God”? Should we do this every day?  The devil is not taking any vacations from trying to cause havoc in our lives.  HOW we are to “arm ourselves” against the enemy, yet “walk in love” will be discussed in another blog.  For now, and each day, we want to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. (Ephesians 6:10).  When we recognize that our enemies are not “flesh and blood” but “principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual demons of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12), we can STAND against the wiles (schemes) of the devil. Multiple times the words: “STAND, WITHSTAND, STAND, AND STAND therefore”, all precede the actual listing of our spiritual armor.  A song verse, “standing on the promises of Christ our Lord” comes to mind.  That’s right!  The battle is won in our minds!  What are you putting on in your minds daily?

“Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7b) The way to resist the devil is by SAYING and BELIEVING the truth of the scriptures.  He will flee – run away from you and all that pertains to you!   

1 Peter 5:8-9 (AMPC) Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.

~ Joanne and Sarah