Ministering Spirits Or Sinister Spirits?

Like most people, I did my share of trick or treating, though nothing bad. I hosted a few parties and was innocent of a lot of things but always made sure the children had fun and also that they were taught about Jesus. That has been true of me, my entire life. I always told children that angels were watching them. However, I have grown in the Lord and learned a lot more about both angels and the demonic.

Even parents of non Christians never complained that their children were hearing about Jesus and angels and the only one who mentioned anything wanting  her children to have a  ” real world ” life, was complimentary when she moved to another state saying that when she thought about me, she would think about angels.

But I can tell you, angels are very real and so are demons. Though the Bible uses the term devils, demon is common and comes from the word demonstrate. And the ” real world ” is very demonstrative of one fallen angel’s attack on mankind. There is one adversary with a lot of minions, and they have ranks and classes just like angels do. The good news is that Jesus is over all of them.

And what would want in your atmosphere? Good or evil? Spiritual warfare and a spiritual world are very real. We too, are spirits, with a soul and body. Angels are not fantasies, but are fantastic in their strength and ability to watch over us and protect us as believers. I have read story after story of divine intervention and angelic protection.

A woman walking home who avoided a rapist, when called in to identify a suspect she was told that he did not attack her because of the men with her. She knew she was alone. Another one could not remember Psalm 91, and could only shout the word ” feathers ” and was let go. I have collected angel stories for years. Man are about such attacks, and some are about being lost or broken down on a lonely road and some very much life and death.

It is Halloween again and another demonic time of year and we see it evidenced in the evil that people inflict on each other. War is a terrible thing, but fighting an enemy that would like nothing better than to destroy you is nothing new, it is in John 10:10, Jesus wants us to have life and more abundantly, and that can be hard to fathom in a world gone wrong but it is true that He does and that He has sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us, and angels are ever present with Him and in His realm.

Surely, believers fight their share of battles, but the Lord goes before us as if we were carrying the Ark of the Covenant, because we are. Jesus is on the throne and the mercy seat of our hearts, God fights our battle as we are still in His presence.  Exodus 14:14, Psalm 46:10, and he even told Joshua not to fear that the battle was his.

We are too often falling short as we come to Him in prayer. There are sinister spirits loosed on believers as they come to faith, learn grace and how let the spirit discern. God will only allow so much and will intervene on our behalf. He commands angels on our behalf, Psalm 91:11.

He surrounds or encamps the saints, Psalm 34:7, and they are a benefit of salvation, Psalm 103. It says they listen to the voice of His word. Are we calling on Him to send them, to deliver us, to protect us and even to minister to us as they did Jesus.

Ministering spirits are far above sinister ones. and Jesus way above them all. He has all the power and authority and gives us the use of His name, the weapons of His warfare, and the privilege to speak His word in prayer.

It is not strange for angels to surround you as a believer. May He send ministering spirits to defeat the sinister spirits in our lives. They are prevalent in the last days before He returns, we have to let the Holy spirit to discern. He will send His angels to gather a harvest of souls and I pray that He covers us with His  healing wings and peace, that we may rest in a blessed assurance of our faith, because He has us covered.

Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” Hebrews 1:7

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

Now in putting everything in subjection to Him, He left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to Him. But we see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:8,9

Now, that He is raised from the dead, our High Priest, seated in heaven, He has returned to His authority and will come one day to rule and reign. Ephesians 1 explains how He was raised and seated by the Father.

It is great to know that in a world full of sinister spirits that exercise control of the hearts and minds of so many, that we have ministering spirits as heirs of salvation and that…

I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38

Be very careful of how you entertain and what entertains you, and have a safe Halloween.

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Receiving His Peace

I was recently blessed to have a short testimony published and I hope that it indeed blesses the readers. It was about the Prince of Peace, and receiving His peace. Over the past few years I have learned that though He left it for us, gave us the gift of His peace, John 14:27, that we have to receive it, and on a continual basis. Sometimes, day by day others moment by moment. Even today, I can feel how much the enemy doesn’t want us to have it.

I remarked to my mother that it had been almost two years since I was rushed to the hospital with a life and death situation and endured a long hospital stay and multiple surgeries. Never was I so glad that I had sown His peace in my heart. It was one of the darkest, if not the darkest time in my life, but I held onto that promise of His peace, and even when I could not fight, the Prince of Peace, Himself was holding me.

Every needle that drew blood, every post postponement and every awful day, I would have to rely on His peace and the promise of recovery, and that would take a lot longer than I thought. Every day that I could not get up and walk, even to the bathroom, every painful step to rehabilitation, all the ringing contraptions, I needed to receive that peace. I had to not let my heart be troubled or afraid, I had a choice, I fought the terrible fear that was present.

Coming home was a challenge also. It was months before I could really see well enough to focus on my writing. I still could not get up alone or walk. My mother had to call the paramedics a couple of times, still, there was His peace. A fall put me back in the bed and my walker was right there in front of me.

I don’t want to belabor the point, I want to glorify Him. His peace was there and remained so as long as my focus was on Him and not the problem. Today, I can walk, I hope to drive again soon and I am looking forward to even better days as His return approaches. What the enemy has stolen from believers, he cannot keep, including the peace of God, he had it once, a fallen angel and defeat foe, thanks to Jesus, and he can’t have mine.

I may not be exactly where I want to be yet, but He has me here for such a time as this, as it says in Esther. And I want you to know that with all the chaos and confusion in the world, He doesn’t want it in our hearts as believers. His peace is a gift to open and receive, long before the holidays. I know I have a lot to be thankful for, so much that I could never express it here.

I am going to take some time off in early November, but I will still be on FB, and coming up with more ways to share His love and peace with you, and I pray that will open your hand and heart to receive His peace.

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. ” Jesus ~ the Beautiful Prince of Peace

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Reach For Peace

So often, we think or are even told that something or someone is out of reach, a goal of some kind. And sometimes, they are in the natural sense. People are not always available to talk or settle a problem. You even have to book some appointments well in advance, or make your way to the emergency room, but Jesus is always there and He is not out our reach, ever.

While the woman with the issue of blood risked arrest, being unclean, she decided she had had enough and took to the streets and reached for Him, the hem of His garment was enough power to heal her, and He sent her on her way with His peace.

The story of the woman with the spirit of infirmity is another story of how Jesus not only healed but delivered a daughter of Abraham, an on the Sabbath, to the dismay of the religious. She had been bound by the devil for eighteen years and was bent over, she might not have been able to see anything but His sandals or the hem of His garment, and she was loosed, release from that spirit, and no doubt with peace and a lot of praise. And these healings were immediate. we also know from the parable of the sower that the devil comes immediately for God’s Word.

So let’s reach for Jesus today and His peace. Lord, knows He longs to reach us. He has kingdom insight that we don’t, even if we get glimpses. Our ills may be from sin, but there are other ways, demons attack, though they cannot possess a believer, they can certainly oppress. Like these women, we need a rhema word from God. Not only His words that are Spirit and life or a story we can relate to but specific and prophetic ones, they are a gift of the Spirit as He sees fit.

Things may be out of reach but not out of His….

This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach. Deuteronomy 30:11 ( life or death, blessing or curse )

He reached down from heaven and rescued me; He drew me out of deep waters. Psalm 18:16

Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Psalm 36:5

Reach down from heaven and rescue me; rescue me from deep waters, from the power of my enemies. Psalm 144:7

What exists is beyond reach and very deep. Who can discover it? Ecclesiastes 7:24 New American, all others are New Living.

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” Matthew 14:31

And even Paul said this to those Greeks who sought knowledge…

He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons and the boundaries of their dwellings, that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for Him and find him, though He is not far from each one of us. Act 17:26:27 World English Bible

The Word of God has been timely for all generations and mankind, the world over. Before Jesus returns, I pray that we reach for Him, that we may know His peace.

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Release The Peace

I know it sounds strange to be writing about peace being released in a time of uncertainty, concerning the war in Israel and how the United States is involved and really, the world. I think that truly Israel is fighting for the world, according to prophecy and this war is one that is religious more than political.

I don’t know if believers really understand why God allows things any more than unbelievers do, at times, but He is in control. He releases people to their own free wills and intercedes and I believe intervenes and even interferes to thwart evil as a result of prayer, intercession and the most important intercessor, Christ. He has protected us from more that we know and always will, but prophecy will be fulfilled, His timing is His own

We must still rest in Him, His covenant with us as a believers and know He is able still to release His peace into our lives, no matter the circumstances. Faith is way above them in Him. I pray His peace takes hold, grips us, more than terror ever could.

People are terrorized in many ways, even in daily life, bullied as believers by the adversary, the devil. Afflicted and persecuted in ways that are no less a version of spiritual warfare. Believers don’t have to accept defeat but can pray for the Lord to rebuke the devourer for our sake, and to release His peace.

This post is for Christians, but for those as well who may not be believers, or of another faith. No one, in their right mind, would want war, famine, disease, poverty or death. And yet, there are those who are bent on chaos and confusion, division and destruction, in order to achieve whatever the goal is.

I can tell you that God knows hearts and sees them, and He is the author of peace, 1 Corinthians 14:33. He sees the big picture, the beginning and the end. Ecclesiastes says that He has set eternity in the hearts of men, but where do they want to spend it, is the question? There are some that think they can force events, like the Rapture or catching away of the church, people will kill others thinking they are doing God a favor, but He defends His children.

Matthew 10:13 explains the disciples visiting homes, it is the same with the Spirit visiting souls, if He deems you worthy, His peace, from John 14:27 can rest on you. He can release you from the trial by fire that you may be going through, or whatever the situation. He can release His peace into your life. Wouldn’t you want that kind of God, loving and merciful, full of compassion? He allowed Jesus to be punished for His people to have peace.

People and wars, fears and terrors, come and go. And one day He will end all this forever. There is literal warfare and spiritual as well. And there are so many variables and strategies that those who plot evil would devise, but God will always be the victor. His gospel is good news, His gospel is peace. And Jesus is Lord, because God gave Him authority.

I pray that if you don’t know Jesus as Lord that you will at least consider what He gave to offer you His love. I pray that you will be drawn to Him, that you will feel this peace of God as you read or share, He is as close as whispered prayer and before there is more terror and destruction, you can make a decision for peace in your heart, not matter what goes on in the world. May He release His peace to believers, and those He knows will listen to His peace, in Jesus name.

Now may the Lord of peace, Himself give you His peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all. 1 Thessalonians 3:16

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Peace To The Body

Years ago, I heard about taking Communion daily as a part of my belief in healing. I did it a lot and would usually find myself running out of grape juice or crackers. Sowing His peace and healing has been beneficial, even before I would need it. You can find matzah bread at most stores, it is unleavened, full of holes and toasted, represent the body of Christ being pierced for our transgressions and the burnt look reminds us that He went to hell to retrieve Adam’s authority for us, He holds the keys of death, hell an the grave.

I am not criticizing using wine for Communion, but I do think it is different than the pure unfermented wine Christ turned water into. That said, He turns the water of the Spirit into new wine, but can’t put it into old wineskins or unbelievers, and cannot pour that same Spirit we receive at salvation into people who are not in submission to His will, not allow their spirit to be taught, to rightly divide and discern. He longs to give His peace to the body of Christ, to dwell there, to speak peace to us and through us.

I can also be truthful in saying I used a regular cracker, a pretzel, even a chip and some Coke zero, though I do like to be respectful and do Communion the right way. I still the He honored the intent of my heart or I would not be alive to witness to you His love, after a long hospital stay. I didn’t walk out but I can walk again after two years.

I am feeling the need to again take Communion. The attacks on the body of believers has been terrible. I have prayed for so many and truthfully some have not survived. People get tired of the fight, come to believe in healing in the later stages of a disease, when the body is weary and without rest. In truth, the Bible says that many sleep, meaning to die, because they don’t discern the body, Christ’s and their own in many ways.

How often do we go without sleep, a meal, snack too much, work too hard, skip a doctor’s appointment? I have to admit that doctors and medicine were what I wanted to avoid, because I thought that if I had enough faith I would be healed. Can I tell you a secret? You already are in His eyes because He paid the price, He knows what you believe. You don’t have to prove yourself, you just have to rest, discern, to ask and believe, and yes, people will challenge you, but your decisions are between you and God. None of us are worthy, deserving, only through Him.

I tell people not to fast unless they can, keep taking medicine, go to appointments, have the surgery if you need it, just hold fast to that faith and promise that He is the healer. And if you take Communion, keep a repentant heart, and be sure to discern. If you take Communion, whether at church or decide to do it daily, because the Bible says that believers are kings and priests, Revelation 1:6, discern correctly. You will read in Matthew 26, that some just wanted to be fed, not have spiritual truth revealed and in 1 Corinthians 11, that many were in hurry, hungry and ready to go home. How often does that happen at church?

His blood was shed to cover the sin, but His body, the bread of heaven, was broken for us. No, His bones were not broken, as prophesied they would not be, but His flesh was torn, He is our bread of life, we cannot live by bread alone but the words from the mouth of God , through Christ.

If you read how Jesus sent out the disciples, He told them to speak to the houses they entered, if they were received, stay, if not, to leave, shaking the dust from their feet. We are n essence, the temple, our bodies as believers were redeemed by Him and His peace should be there, we should be receiving and not just crumbs from the Master’s table, but the peace and health He died for us to have.

I realize this is a lot to take in. It is especially when you are the one in pain, dying of cancer, facing surgeries or long rehabilitations. I won’t go into my situation, but it was dire, a matter of life and death. With my mind reeling from pain, bedridden, alone because of Covid restrictions, I could barely hold onto Jesus, but He was holding onto me.

I have seen miracles and consider myself one. Do you like this post. Two years ago, I could not have seen how to read or write, could barely sign my name to have a blood transfusion. His blood covered my sin and shame and His body broken for me, restores me, in His time. A lot of followers abandoned Jesus after He taught about Communion, many more have and will reject his teaching, but I can’t be one of them. I pray we see more miracles before He comes, so let Him speak peace to the body.

A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones. Proverbs 14:30

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” Matthew 26:26-29

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” John 6:32,33

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and His people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing ( proclaim ) the Lord’s death until He comes again.

So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.

1 Corinthians 11:23-30 all from the New Living Bible

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Sowing His Peace

Surely, we have all read the parable of the sower in Mark 4. And I like the Matthew 13:18, which explains that when we don’t understand a spiritual principle it is easily taken away. But do we let Jesus really sow His peace into our hearts? We know that He sows and the enemy comes immediately for the words, His and ours. And there are a few basic ways that the devil devours them and causes us trouble.

It is very possible that he gets it quickly from some, the birds are figuratively demons, that get it immediately. Sometimes, it is received but taken as faith grows because the Spirit is not being allowed to water that seed and develop a root. Sickness and disease, infirmities, can all cause us to lose sight of the sower’s words. There will be times we just want to do other things beside study the word or pray, that can take away the word, being deceived by wealth or the lack of it is a cunning trick of the enemy. And persecution or affliction.

Now, not every sickness or disease or financial problem is a result of sin. In many cases we can make mistakes but there are often attacks of the enemy through circumstances and others. And we live in a fallen world. God sees and knows and make the way out. He does like to see us respond in faith and not fear.

Words can fall on different kinds of ground, too. They take root and grow, or fall on dry parched soil, they can even be among rocks, or become choked by thorns. We definitely want to receive His peace, John 14:27, and other peaceful words by being good ground and have seeds/ words deeply rooted in our hearts.

We become dry through not allowing the presence of the Holy Spirit to be ever present in our lives. People that lose faith and are unbelieving can revert to having stony and evil hearts, Hebrews 3:12. Not that they are unsaved but are not receiving what is sown. And of course, the enemy sends thorns. Paul had a thorn in the flesh, clearly identified as a servant of the devil, but God gave Him grace.

I know what it is like to feel the sting of persecution for believing in Christ, more specific, for believing in healing, gifts of the Spirit, even for praying for divine intervention and angelic protection, difference in beliefs about end time events, and more.

I pray He sows His peace into the body of Christ all the more as His return approaches. And I pray we learn to discern with grace and receive it. We need the Spirit now more than ever. Let’s all keep sowing His peace to each other also.

https://biblehub.com/nlt/matthew/13.htm

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Lasting Peace

The past two weeks have been a concerning time for the people of Israel, and the world. war is nothing new, the historian Josephus even wrote about the Wars of the Jews. Someone had been out to annihilate them from the beginning, and before the return of Christ is is no different. While we pray as believers for the peace of Jerusalem, let’s remember that is also part of the blessing that brings peace to ourselves, His rest for our souls.

Many are divided on the issues, and quick to condemn leadership, there are calls for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s resignation, the President’s trip was a short one, about eight hours there. It appears a ground invasion is inevitable and the cries of outrage are heard over every outlet of media. Naturally, there are concerns that innocent people are being deprived of the basics, and that they are also being killed, it happens in war but most civilized and compassionate people are doing their best to avoid it at all costs.

And then there is propaganda. We see it all the time, the smear campaigns, and even out and out lies. Israel did not destroy a hospital. The enemy will take every advantage of that, including false accusations. The devil is out to deceive, he would love to back off those who are capable of defending Israel, and really, God is doing that. He’s greater than any iron dome, but the fiery darts sometimes get through to us because we are limited and He is not. God is who makes or prayers work. But His timeline is being fulfilled. And as long as there are those determined to steal, kill, and destroy, John 10:10, there will be no lasting peace.

We can see it from history and should learn from it. There will always be someone who wants to wipe Israel off the map, probably the United States. Hitler wanted to. And there were those who tried to make peace with him. Those who would hate others for no reason except being Jew or Christian. Anti Semitism may be on the rise, Islamaphobia, but the spirit of Antichrist is has also been at work and is dangerous and inevitable, until God says it’s time. Rest assured, He gives everyone a chance to change, to believe in His love.

We see peace treaties made and broken all through history, our own government, with the Indians for example, there were chiefs and braves who would not abide by them and caused massacres of wagon trains and settlers and also soldiers who slaughtered women and children in retaliation. There are all sorts of treaties and agreements in place, but are they correct? Legitimate? Or being followed? Are we really sure who has an arsenal? I read of two incidents in the 60’s and 80’s where someone was poised to release a nuclear weapon. Are we positive that the needy are getting the supplies? That prisoners are being treated according to the Geneva convention?

I don’t believe these kinds of ideologies, zealots are planning to quit any time soon. we need to pray for souls to be saved, yes, but also for the protection of all in harms way.  Leaders and militaries. The only lasting peace will come when fear is stopped, when the Prince of Peace comes to rule and reign. It appears hell is enlarging everyday. They are sending themselves by choosing violence.

What can we say about those who are eager to shed innocent blood, sacrifice their own, who hold captives and make demands? It is the furthest thing from a loving God who sent His Son to weep over Jerusalem and be crucified, offering salvation and eternal life, His peace, John 14:27.

If you think there is no such state of being as lasting peace, think again.

But I said, “Oh, Lord GOD! Behold, the prophets are telling them, ‘You will not see a sword, nor will you have famine; on the contrary, I will give you lasting peace in this place.’” Jeremiah 14:13 New American Standard

” Behold, I will extend peace to her ( Israel ) like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. ” Isaiah 66:12 English Standard

Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem’s wounds and give it prosperity and true peace. Jeremiah 33:6 New Living

These and other prophets were contemporaries, and after Jesus came, God wanted His family to be gathered in. He has room for all who would believe, and lasting peace.

His ( Jesus’ ) government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! Isaiah 9:7 New Living

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Beloved Prince Of Peace

We can just look at this rendering of the Lord and see that He is beloved. There is love in His eyes. The beauty behind the soul that suffered for us. He is the beloved Prince of Peace.

Beloved is not as common a word now as in the past. The term dated from the 14th century and perhaps even before meaning, greatly loved, or dear to the heart. Prior to that it is an obsolete verb alluding to being pleased with or to please.

Indeed, when the Bible was translated in later centuries, God states that He gave His beloved Son to the world because He loved people, John 3:16. At the baptism, He was well pleased with Jesus again, Matthew 3:17. But what is truly telling is the prophetic words of Isaiah 53, describing the crucifixion of Christ that reads…” it pleased the Lord to bruise Him. “

God could not break His Word and redeem the earth, sacrifices had to be made but only one would ever be enough to cover those who would believe forever and not just once a year, we had the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippor, a time that Israel was attacked before and is under siege again.

I believe it is possible that Jesus goes into the Holies as our High Priest, His blood is there on the Mercy Seat and that is what cleanses us and is applied to our hearts. And it pleased God to allow Him to go through this, He gave His beloved Son. He even says to listen to Him. Again He is called beloved on the Mount of Transfiguration, Matthew 17:

Beloved is poetic and used in Song of Solomon, and Jesus was and is greater than he was. It is used throughout the New Testament as well, and is letters converts. They are called ” beloved ” having believed in the Son and becoming children and friends of God. And we know that peace is often a greeting used in the letters. One day soon Shalom is coming, in the person of Jesus, the Beloved Prince of Peace.

By grace in Jesus, ” He has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:6. He lavished love on us with the gift of Christ, 1 John 3:1, and belonging to Him means, I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine., Song of Solomon 6:3.

I did some Hebrew studies, too. Being beloved or dearly loved, has different meaning, it is like agape, God’s love. It implies the intimacy of marriage, but the word dod, is also used of friends, yadiyad, beloved friends, though most are not havar, or chaverim, friends, not even friends but acquaintances. It is a term tossed around lightly just like love, ahavah or agape.

Relations or intimacy do not always tend to be beloved. Real love and friends can be platonic. This is in tradition, a sharing of the heart. You might love someone but not share your heart fully with them, that happened to people in the Bible. Look how many wives some of them had. But like a marriage should be, with Him the tie that binds, the spiritual marriage of our beloved bridegroom is sharing our heart with Him. That is why the ” bride ” or church consists of men and women, He desires to share His heart.

John refers to himself as the disciple Jesus loved. Timothy is called beloved. And here are a couple of my favorites as well.

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved sleep.” Psalm. 127:2

As indeed He says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” Romans 9:25

How beloved are we to Jesus. His actions and words speak for themselves. How beloved is Jesus to us? We will really find out the more we share our heart with the beloved Prince of Peace.

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Wounds Of Peace

Did you every really stop to think about the suffering of our Lord? I mean really, not just reading it or seeing a movie. It makes me think twice about complaining and yet, I know He is the High Priest who is easily touched by us. He understands better than anyone.

As a young woman in need of healing, I would reconcile His crucifixion to myself by thinking that He was all God, it didn’t hurt Him like I thought. A mere mortal could not have done that. But I was wrong, and I began to learn spiritual, comparisons, metaphors and principles. I did a lot of Hebrew studies. Did you know His death is encoded way back in Genesis?

God always had a plan. I cannot comprehend a triune and supreme Creator giving up Himself in the form of His only Son, who had to be born of a woman of a pure lineage, He placed that seed into the womb, and Jesus was born. Now, the Holy Spirit had to keep Him, protect Him, He was always in danger and death nearby. He watched Him grow, and help Him endure the agony of the Garden of Gethsemane, the cross and then raise Him from the dead.

Yes, He was all God but He was also all man. And walked in the full measure of the Spirit. Yes, He felt the pain, loneliness, the lashes that cut to the bone, sword that pierced Him the crown of thorns, He saw His own blood drop to the ground in Gethsemane as His heart was beginning to break, angels ministered to Him and He experience the fear we often do but He never gave up. He never bargained with the enemy who is a liar.

He was tempted in the wilderness, to turn stones to bread when He had fasted forty days, tempted to become suicidal to jump from the rooftop, He was even offered the return of the earth should He bow to the devil, and of course, He would not but spoke the Word instead.

Now, people tell me that it wasn’t the devil’s to give, but he did take Adam’s authority. Would he have given it back had Jesus gave in. No! Because he is a liar! Jesus knew better! He would never have bowed, He had been in heaven, nothing compared to that.

Even the heartbreak of betrayal did not make Him submit and His blood had broken curses as it dropped to the ground, all but the devil’s. Jesus was crucified and entered hell but death could not hold Him and He took back the keys, and He gives us authority in His name.

We can bind and loose because of those wounds. I really began to associate with Him and accept pain as a kind of a badge of honor, suffering with Him. But that is really being crucified with Him at salvation. He longs to heal our wounds, mental or physical, look what He endured for us.

Whatever our wounds were or are, His were deeper still. Just read the account of Isaiah 53. It was a horrible, brutal, death perfected by the Romans, and Jesus was tried at night and that was unheard of. Beaten and scourged, it should have been one or the other, not both. What He suffered for us to be offered healing and health as a benefit of salvation!

We have all seen the movies, but the make-up, the special effects don’t do justice to what the Lord truly went through. Let’s not do Him an injustice by focusing on ourselves or even the ones we love, but rather the one who first loved us, 1 John 4:18.

I know it can be hard. I thought of my life in the hospital, but held tightly to His promise, and I was out. I walked in pain when I could not but I received His peace and I know healing is there also. I have had days I thought I would not get through. and times I was ready to give up, but I know He took my place or I would not be here. I truly believe He longs to heal us.

Isaiah foretold it, saying that. ” by His stripes or wounds, we are healed. ” Now, notice that Peter puts it in the past tense as something He had already accomplished on the cross.

” By His stripes or wounds, we were healed. ” 1 Peter 2:24

It is a marvelous testament to the life of Christ. He was the Word sent to heal from Psalm 103:20, John explains in in the New Testament. And went on to tell us how He left us His peace, 14:27.

I had a terrible deep wound on my leg. My mother had to tend it when I came home, though it healed an left a scar, she later confided how bad it was and how she had to pray she was bandaging it right. It caused her anxiety and fear, but Jesus took that also.

So, even if we have scars or wound, that we can see or not. We can know that His wounds heal, the wounds of peace. I pray for your healing today, I hear many say that passing is a form of healing, that you are healed in His presence, and I suppose that is true if He deems it to be, He knows when we are unable to stand.

And yet, I know He is standing there with an outstretched hand as we touch the hem of His garment. If it is faith makes us whole, it is because of the wounds of peace.

Mikhail Nilov / Pexels / Canva

The Return Of Peace

You know, we have to sometimes be careful about discussing political beliefs and religion. But I just had to write something about the ongoing war in Israel. God doesn’t change, and He gave free will. Right is right and wrong is wrong. The world’s idea of peace is wrong. Did you know the word chamas is actually chaos, violence, wrong? What is going on is a far cry from the God of peace and who is not the author of confusion, 1 Corinthians 15:33.

You may or may not know that I have been writing some WWII stories. In order to do that I had to go back and read a lot of history, accounts of war heroes, holocaust victims. The bombs dropping there are not unlike the London blitz that lasted fifty days, in 1940. While they relied on the RAF, Israel’s iron dome has intercepted up to 90% of the rockets. What if they had not?

I watched the debris falling over Askelon, it looked like fireworks, instead of leveling a building. And though the casualties, deaths and kidnappings are horrible, they fall short of what prophecy says will come. For that reason, I am speaking out.

Not everyone will believe in Jesus, but some will see the truth in His words and one day look upon the one whom they have pierced. The only real peace and return of peace will be with His return. There are and have been wars and rumors of wars, people who fail to understand the Rapture or catching away of the church, much less a prophetic timeline. This may not be the beginning of sorrows nor the time of Jacob’s trouble, but it is a wake up call for believers and non believers alike.

We are blessed to live in a diverse country with many freedoms. In the late 1930’s people discounted a madman and he rose to power in Germany and attempted to rule the world. No one wanted to get involved after the first world war, the United States sent supplies to England but it was an unpopular decision until Pearl Harbor.

A blind eye was turned to people like Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden until 9/11. You can’t make peace with those who don’t want peace, and I don’t mean some Palestinians, I mean terrorists. Last Saturday was a nightmare for Israelis, their own Pearl Harbor and 9/11. A thousand Jews killed is like 35,000 Americans. What does it take to bring us around to God’s way of peace?

Anti-Semitism is nothing new, hating different races or religions is nothing new, and often many mistake calling sin a sin, hatred. But we have one thing in common, we all bleed, we all need Jesus, the God who died for us as opposed to using excuses to murder. Killing in battle is different to murder. Plotting to destroy a region through violence, and causing retaliation that kills your own children is murder. The Jews, nor any one else, killed Jesus. He gave His life to give peace with a chance.

Civilians and elderly, women and children are not soldiers, nor targets. Seeing them dragged through the streets, shot, raped, slaughtered or burned is not the way to peace. But make no mistake, peace is coming. Sooner, I believer rather than later. There are just too many signs and Jesus explained them.

It is a shame it takes a tragedy before we pay attention. Indeed, we are intelligent people, but even the best intelligence fails in the light of an enemy who comes to steal, kill and destroy, John 10:10. We don’t know it all and we are not God, but we should seek His wisdom in the coming days and weeks, and pray for Israel, and not only them but the women and children in harm’s way, for the leadership, and even those who terrorize that they may come to their senses. I know God knows hearts and was not caught off guard by this.

There will be a Rapture, I believe, pre-tribulation, 1 Thessalonians 4:17, the dead in Christ rise and those believers remaining when He comes, will meet Him in the clouds and be forever with the Lord. I do believe this precede the Great Tribulation when the world truly is in chaos. Many more will die, but many can still come to Him before it is too late. There will be 144,000 to preach His Word, Enoch and Elijah will have to be killed in the streets.

A false god rises to power with a false peace treaty. I believe there will be a third temple built and Orthodox Jews attempt to make sacrifices again but the Antichrist will not allow it. While believers in Jesus are sealed with His Spirit, His guarantee of eternal salvation that marks our souls, he will deceive many and cause eternal damnation for those who take his mark.

We have no way of knowing who he is, we had heard about Hitler, and some tried to make peace, others capitulated and others resisted. We are to submit to God and resist the devil for him to flee, James 4:7. Did you know that Germany was close to having stealth bombers and nuclear weapons? It was not in God’s plan, not His timing, but is releasing the world to the devil’s device in order to save as many as possible. The technology is here.

Though a tyrant killed 6 million Jews, probably more, there are the naysayers and Holocaust deniers, and well as Christ deniers. I am sure many of those precious souls never expected to captured again and imprisoned. There will be a war to end all wars, but it will take the Prince of Peace to bring the return of peace. I believe that is the Second Coming, when He steps onto the Mount of Olives. We are on the brink of eternity and it is time to pray, draw near to Him if you know Him and believe before He decided that fate of all at the Bema Seat of Great White Throne.

While we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, Psalm 122:6, let’s keep our eyes and focus on the one who will ultimately bring a return to peace.

On that day the LORD will defend the people of Jerusalem; the weakest among them will be as mighty as King David! And the royal descendants will be like God, like the angel of the LORD who goes before them! For on that day I will begin to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for Him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for Him as for a firstborn son who has died. Zechariah 12:8-10

It is Friday the 13th, and protestors are out. Haman tried to destroy the Jews on the 13th of Adar, the devil has tried and failed, repeatedly. His hand is over His people, believers and His chosen people. Let’s continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, as we await the return of peace.

Oleg Vakhromov / Unsplash / Canva