Complete in Him

by Tammy Phillips
November 5, 2020

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials…”

I thank God for sisters in Christ who speak words of encouragement into my heart.  A few days ago, a sister spoke 1 Peter 1 and specifically verse 6 to me.  Like a song on the radio, “a little while” had been on replay in my head over and over again.

Throughout scripture we hear… “a little while.”

A little while and the wicked shall be no more… 

[A Psalm] of David. Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring [it] to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. 7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret–[it] only [causes] harm. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. (Psalm 37:1-9 NKJV)

For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. (Psalm 37:10 NKJV)

A little while… be strong and do not fear! The Lord will shake the earth, and all will come to Jesus, the Desire of All Nations…

Be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the LORD, ‘and work; for I [am] with you,’ says the LORD of hosts…My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’ For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Once more it is a little while I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land;  ‘and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts. (Haggai 2:7 NKJV) (Haggai 2:4-6 NKJV)

A little while, endure, Jesus is coming and will not tarry…

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:  “For yet a little while, [And] He who is coming will come and will not tarry. (Hebrews 10:36-37 NKJV)

A little while, Jesus went away, returned and sorrow was turned in to joy….

 “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.” 19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’?  “Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. … 22 “Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. (John 16:18-20, 22 NKJV)

A little while, you have been grieved by various trials…

“… who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,  that the genuineness of your faith, [being] much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, (1 Peter 1:5-7 NKJV)

 We greatly rejoice which means leap and jump for joy.  Why?  We are kept by the power of God through faith through the trials to endure until Jesus comes again in a little while.

We endure “a little while.” The Greek word for this phrase is oligos which is puny!  Puny in extent, degree, number, duration or value brief, short!   The trials might be heavy, grievous, sorrowful, but they are puny in Him.  God allows us to endure through faith to show us that our faith is more precious to him than gold.  Our faithfulness brings praise and honor and glory to our King.

I enCOURAGE you grab hold of God’s “a little while.”  A little while is nothing in light of eternity.  

by Tammy Phillips
November 4, 2020

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up. (Psalm 5:3 NKJV)

GOD MORNING to you!  Often we greet loved ones, friends and coworkers with the phrase: “GOOD MORNING.”  It is a nice salutation, too.  However, I challenge that there is no good morning unless there is first a “God Morning.”   I choose to say God Morning instead.

It is a God morning.
The abiding light of the sun still rose over the horizon.

It is a God morning.
The dawn still knows it place

It is a God morning.
The foundation of the earth is still hanging in thin air.

It is a God morning.
The morning stars still join and sing together.

It is a God morning.
The clouds still come and go, providing us rain.

It is a God morning.
The waves of the great seas are still contained.

It is a God morning.
The frost of heaven is still birthed.

It is a God morning.
The birds of the air fly to and fro.

It is God morning.
The animals still birth and produce their young.

It is God morning.
The lungs still breathe in the air fresh and free.

It is a God morning.
The night might have been bad, but there is always a new morning.

It is a God morning.
The wealth of wisdom is still dispensed in the mind. 

It is a God morning.
The gift of understanding is still given to the heart.  

It is a God morning.
The weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning

It is a God Morning.
The Lord is my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.

It is a God morning.
The lovingkindness, mercy and faithfulness of God are never ceasing.

It is a God morning.
The arm of Lord is our support and salvation in time of trouble.

It is a God morning.
The glory of the LORD is our rear guard and our healing shall spring forth speedily

It is a God morning.
The Lord awakens me and my ear to hear as the learned.

It is a God morning.
The LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.

It is God Morning
The LORD [is] my portion and my hope is in Him.

It is a God Morning.
The one and only Jesus is same, today, yesterday, and forever.

It is a God morning.
The salvation he paid for is still ours.

It is a God morning.
The favor of God is for life.

It is a God morning.
The Morning Star, Jesus, shines and welcomes the new day.

I enCOURGAGE you in that every day is a GOD MORNING!   Rise and shine in His day. 

by Tammy Phillips
November 3, 2020 

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13 NKJV)

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NKJV

One time in high school, I got a new gold necklace.  It was a really nice “add-a-bead” necklace.  I wore it to school.  A rather snooty girl asked me if it was real.  I was taken back.  I had to prove its authenticity by letting her see the clasp.  As Christians, we have nothing to prove, it is God who authenticates us with His seal, His Holy Spirit.  We are accountable to God.  It does not matter what anyone else says.   As Christians our allegiance is to Him and only His opinion matters.  

God tells us the Truth.
We hear the word of Truth.
We hear the good news of salvation
We trust the word.
We trust the promises of God.
We believe the word.
We believe that God’s promises are Yes and Amen
God anoints us.
God gives us the Spirit in our heart as a guarantee.
God seals us with the Holy Spirit of promise.
Our hearts our sealed with Holy Spirit

We are sealed.
We are marked.
We are secured
We are proved.
We are confirmed.
We are authenticated.
We are stamped for security.
We are sealed for preservation.
We are deeply impressed on by God Himself. His mark declares the full authority of royal ownership. Our soul bears His mark.  His seal definitively states: “They are mine. They are real. Hands off.”

I enCOURAGE you to know that the only mark that matters in your life is the seal of the Holy Spirit.  You are sealed, marked and authenticated by God and not one other person’s opinion of you should matter.  You are His.  You are secure and preserved in Him and His promises for eternity.

by Tammy Phillips
November 2, 2020

Four years ago, I was concerned and seeking God as to whom  He wanted to be President.  I lacked confidence in either candidate.  On October 28, 2016, he led me to this verse, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV)  It led me to be confident.

He brought me back to this verse on the same day, four year later, October 28, 2020!!!  This verse took on new meaning to me.  I always thought victory meant my team winning.   Victory is so much more.

I wonder if the disciples of team Jesus felt victorious on the night Jesus was taken from the garden, beat unrecognizably and crucified the next day on the cross?

I wonder how many times you have felt victorious when you have sat on your couch weak in strength, feeling woozy in the head, and sick at your stomach?

I wonder if you felt victorious when a friend or family member was diagnosed with cancer?

I wonder if you felt victorious when your loved one moved to heaven without you?

I wonder if you felt victorious when in a moment your dream ceased to exist as you knew it and you had to build new dreams?

I wonder if you will feel victorious if the election map ends up all red or all blue? 

I have learned that victory is NOT just in the temporary but the eternal.  

Jesus’ death on the cross was only temporary because in three days he would rise with keys of death and hell in hand. He overcame death in death.   Sickness is only a temporary situation.  Our bodies were made to heal.  We will heal on this side of heaven or the other, but we will be healed.  Death of our bodies is not finality either.  It is not over.  As followers of Christ, we will live eternally with Him.   It is with great confidence that I say today, the election tomorrow does have great significance.  However, the ultimate victory is not in the end result of the election ballots.

Victory is Jesus.  
Victory is salvation in Him.
Victory is “thanks [be] to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15 NKJV)

Victory is faith and belief that Jesus is the Son of God.
Victory is whatever is born of God overcomes the world.

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5 NKJV)

Victory is peace in the midst of trouble.Victory is knowing that in the end, no matter what, Jesus has overcome the world. 

“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.” (John 16:33 NKJV)

Victory is “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 NKJV)

Victory is that we are more than conquerors over tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword, through Him who loved us

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37 NKJV 

Victory is never being separated from the love of Christ.

“I am persuaded to believe death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 38-39 NKJV)

Victory is in the blood of the Lamb.
Victory is in the word of our testimony.

 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Revelation 12:11 NKJV)

Victory is in God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.
Victory is God using our testimony to diffuse the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.  The sweet smell of Jesus overcomes the stink of the world.  The sachet of his salvation overcomes the stench of death.  Victory is knowing that no matter what happens tomorrow, Jesus is still King of Kings and Lord of Lords and nothing can change that fact.

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV)

I enCOURAGE you to rest in the victory that is Jesus.  He is Savior and Healer of the world and no candidate could ever take his place.  “When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away ” (1 Peter 5:4 NKJV) and that is victory in my book, any day!

by Tammy Phillips
November 1, 2020

It has rained most of the week.  In fact, it poured.  I do not believe God cries, but if he did, it would be a big cry resembling the rain from this past week or like the first rain of Noah. Think about how hurt and pained God’s heart was before the flood of Noah.

“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. …  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:5-6, 8 NKJV)”

Six chapters into the Bible, God was so done with the evil thoughts of man that he was sorry he created man.  What if He was so grieved that the flood was actually his tears? They were not but what a thought.  What if God was so grieved that he cried forty days and nights?  “For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.” (Genesis 7:4 NKJV)

As I was thinking these thoughts this week, I thought about John 11:35,

“Jesus wept.”

The Jews who saw Jesus weep thought he was sad because Lazarus his friend who he loved had died. 

 However, John 11:33 said, “Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.”  

This verse does not imply that Jesus was sad, but that he was mad and angry.  “Groaned” is the Greek word, embrimaomai, meaning to snort in anger; to be very anger; to be moved with indignation.  “Troubled” is the Greek word, tarassō, which means to be stirred up or agitated.

And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” (John 11:37 NKJV). Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. (John 11:38 NKJV)

The people who had walked and talked with Jesus, still did not get that he was the resurrection and the life.  They believed he could have prevented Lazarus death, but had no clue he could raise him from the dead.  They placed Jesus in a box. They were limited by their thoughts of what he could and could not do.  I propose because of John 11: 33 and 38 that Jesus wept because he was angry at death and unbelief.  He was not moved to tears because of Lazarus’ death. He knew what he was about to do. He was about to overcome death, once for all.  

Jesus tells his disciples: “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless, let us go to him.”  His purpose was to raise Laz from the dead so that they would believe and see the glory of the Lord.

As I watched the rain pour down, I wondered if God was sad with the state of the world.  I wandered if the rain was Jesus weeping at the brokenness of our world.  I wandered if he was dismayed and agitated with the death and unbelief in the world?  He is still the resurrection and the life. He has not changed, yet so many still do not see or ignore the fact.

I enCOURAGE you to be moved to repentance at every rain drop.  I hate to think of the possible pain of the rain being tears from heaven.  Jesus overcame death and the grave with the life he so freely gave.  May we honor the King of Kings with our faithfulness by believing that he is who says he is and will do what he says he will do.

by Tammy Phillips
October 31, 2020

“You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14 NKJV)

“Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. Every man may see it; man may behold [it] afar off. Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. For he makes the small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapor thereof: Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.  Also, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? (Job 36:24-29 KJV)

On Sunday October 25, 2020, “Let Us Worship” gathered on the mall in Washington, D.C.  Pastor Jentezen Franklin offered the contents of this encouragement in a seven minute mini-sermon on worship and the nine expressions of worship in the Bible.  It had to be shared, so I transcribed it. (I have filled in the blanks with scripture and he did not specifically mention point 4.)

 Job compares the accumulating clouds to the noise that happens in the tabernacle with musical instruments and with shouts of praise.  If you look at that text, he goes into detail.  He tells how clouds are formed. Here are how clouds are formed.  The sun shines down and it hits bodies of water. Those bodies of water give off invisible vapors that ascend up into the heavens and they condense, and they get heavier and heavier. The more vapors that go up from the shining of the sun, the thicker the clouds get, until finally the clouds cannot contain in heaven what is supposed to come down.  Suddenly, the rain begins to fall.

Elihu said in Job, if you want to know what the noise of the Tabernacle of praise and worship is all about you have to understand it’s about rain.

Zechariah says in chapter 14:17, “And it shall be, [that] whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.”

No worship; no rain.  Little worship; little rain.

Rain represents the Holy Spirit.
Rain represents righteousness
Rain represents revival
Rain represents miracles signs and wonders
Rain is what we need in America and in this world

There are nine expressions of worship in the Bible that are invisible vapors that create clouds. Three of them are done with your mouth.

1. SPEAK YOUR PRAISE.
   “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” (Psalm 34:1)
   In other words. get a praise phrase:

• • • Hallelujah!
    • Thank you, Jesus!
    • Glory to God!
    • I love you, Lord!

Do not just think about it and love him in your heart, but you are supposed to open your mouth, vocalize and verbalize.  When you say, “Praise the Lord,” you can’t see it, but an invisible vapor just went up into the heavens.  

2. SING YOUR PRAISE.
   “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! (Psalm 47:6 NKJV) That is exactly what we’ve been doing.  It is biblical.  Sing unto the Lord. 

3. SHOUT YOUR PRAISE
   “To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” (Psalm 47:1 KJV) Psalm 47 said to shout your praise; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

The next three expressions of praise are done with your hands.

4. PLAY INSTRUMENTS
   “Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” (Psalm 33:2-3)
   
   “Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God,  Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.” (Psalm 147:7-8 NKJV)
5. LIFT UP HOLY HANDS
   “I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.” (Psalm 63:4)
   When you lift up your hands, you can’t see them coming off the fingertips, but there are invisible vapors, when we worship God with our hands.  God loves to see your hands because you have something that nobody else has, your fingerprints.  Your praise matters.  It is different from the thousands that are raising their hands.  it is an invisible thing.
6. CLAP YOUR HANDS
   “To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” (Psalm 47:1 KJV)

   If nothing goes up, nothing comes down.  The more that goes up the more that comes down.  When people say, “Well, I’m not a charismatic.  I’m not a Pentecostal.  Praise is not a Pentecostal thing.  Praise is not a charismatic thing. Praise is a Bible thing. Let everything that had breath, praise the Lord.   This is not about certain denominations.  This about the King of King’s and the Lord of Lord’s. He is worthy of our praise.

There are three more expressions of praise. 

7. STAND IN HIS PRESENCE
   “My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.” (Psalm119:120)
   Even while your legs are getting tired. You amazing people by the 10’s of thousands, standing in the rain, worshipping God. Vapors…every minute standing…vapors have been going up.

    

8. PRAISE HIM PROSTRATE
   “Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” (Psalm 95:6)
   Lay out before him. There are times that we do that or kneel.   Your whole body becomes a vapor.

    

9. DANCE BEFORE THE LORD
   “And David danced before the LORD with all [his] might; and David [was] girded with a linen ephod. (2 Samuel 6:14 KJV)

   “Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.” (Psalm 149:3)
   When you begin to dance and leap, every part of your being send vapors up.

Here is the point, as you send the vapors up, clouds get thick and the rain falls.   Here is what you need to understand.  I was I was with an old man of God who has gone to be with the Lord.   His name was Norvell Hayes.  He was a faith preacher.  He said something to me in a swimming pool that we were in one time.  He said Jentzen, “Did you know that demons can’t swim?”  He said, “demons can’t swim!” and I thought, “He is a little flaky.  What’s he talking about?”    He reminded of Mark 5, where the demoniac had 2000 demons.  Jesus cast the demons out and the Bible said that they went into the pigs.  The pigs jumped into the sea and drowned. He said, “Jensen, demons like dry places.”  That is why the devil came in the wilderness to Jesus.  That is why the Bible said that when you cast the spirit out, send it to the dry places.  Demons like dry services and dry worship and dry preachers and dry religion.  The reason the devil hates worship is because when the rain begins to fall, suddenly, out of your belly will flow rivers of living water. Demons cannot swim. – Pastor Jentezen Franklin

I enCOURAGE you to worship the Lord with the vapor of your life. Live out loud and on purpose. The Son of God shines down on our bodies full of water.  We in return give off invisible vapors of praise and worship. The glory cloud gets full and heaven rains down.  Speak!  Sing! Shout!  Play! Lift Holy Hands! Clap! Stand! Dance! Bow down! Enjoy His rain. 

 

 

by Tammy Phillips
October 30, 2020

Let all that you do be done with love. (1 Corinthians 16:14 NKJV)

We could change 2020.  We could change the world, if we would commit to Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 16:14.  Today, can we start with these eight words and let them be our focus?  Can we try to live by these words today? Can we take it moment by moment; step by step; word by word, minute by minute?  Can we work our commitment into an hour, a day, a week and then a lifetime?  We really can change the world if we…

Let all things be done with love.

Always
All things
Anything
Each and
Everything
Every way
Whatsoever
Whosoever
The Whole Thing

…A cup of coffee, making the bed, taking out the garbage,  a phone call answered from one of those numbers, friends, or family member’s, the grocery store check-out line or click list pick up, the doctor’s office, a Facebook post or response…

Whatever we do
Whatever becomes
Whatever begins to be
Whatever rises
Whatever comes to pass
Whatever happens

The WHOLE thing, whatsoever, whosoever, whatever, do it in love.

The word “in or with” is the Greek word, en.  It denotes a fixed position in place, time or state; in the interior of some whole; inside; within the limits of some space; among; in the presence of, by the measure or standard of; inherently fixed; implanted; ingrafted; intimately united.  “In” is a place we are so tied to that we are immovable and cannot break free from.  We are actually hidden inside, unseen.  Only the object we are hidden in is visible.  We become invisible.  What a powerful statement: “Let me become invisible in love.” 

I enCOURAGE you to hide out in love, today and every day. The WHOLE thing, whatsoever, whosoever, whatever, do it all from the hiding place of love.   I already feel an attitude of overcoming, overwhelming, love arising. #RESOLUTE2020 in love!

by Tammy Phillips
October 29, 2020

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:27 NKJV)

The Lord planted these thoughts and words in my spirit.  “Not only do I hear you, I know your voice.  Your voice matters to me.  Whether you are alone, in a crowd of a thousand, ten thousand or a hundred thousand, I recognize your singular voice.  I hear what you are saying, and it matters to me.”  He loves us!  He knows our voice!

Jesus said:  “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27 NKJV).  In following Him, we are instructed to imitate Him.  “Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children.”(Ephesians 5:1 NKJV). Since we are to imitate him, aren’t we supposed to say the same thing as him?

When we raise our voice, God hears and knows exactly what we say.  Are we imitating His voice?  Are we speaking His truth or are we speaking our own “voice?”   Our voice matters, but it should align with His word alone.   Proverbs 18:21 states: “Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” Our words whether written or spoken are containers of power.   

• Our voice builds up or breaks down.
• Our voice speaks unity or division.
• Our voice speaks selflessness or selfishness.
• Our voice speaks life or death.
• Our voice speaks love or hate.
• Our voice speaks good or evil.
• Our voice speaks hope or despair.
• Our voice speaks faith or fear
• Our voice speaks truth or deceit.
• Our voice speaks Prince of Peace of or Prince of the Air.

What are we speaking into our own life?  What are we speaking into the lives of others?  What are we saying to our spouses? What are our voices speaking to family and friends?

I enCOURAGE you to proceed prayerfully and carefully.  Consider what you voice is speaking?   It speaks loudly.  It can mean life or destruction.  It can honor God or not.    Be kind to yourself and others.  Imitate God.  Know that what you voice matters to God.

I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. [But] certainly God has heard [me]; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed [be] God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me! (Psalm 66:17-20 NKJV)

by Tammy Phillips
October 28, 2020

When we attribute death, destruction and disease to God, we blame Him.   To blame is to assign or impute fault; to blemish; to injure.  We often blemish and injure God’s name when we give him credit for things that He did not do. 

God is not the author of death, sickness, disease, accidents, nor natural disasters.  It is not His fault.  Adam and Eve experienced perfect life with God.  They did not know sickness before sin and Satan, Prince of the Air, entered.  Sin and the devil crept in and began to attempt to decay and destroy God’s good creation.  We need to be on purpose and place blame where it rightfully belongs.

• Satan is the Destroyer; Jesus is the Savior.
• Satan is the Inflictor; Christ is the Healer.
• Satan is the Oppressor; Jesus is the Deliverer.
• Satan is the Thief; Jesus is the Protector.
• Satan is the Death: Jesus is the Life.
• Satan is the Liar; Jesus is the Truth.

God only gives good and perfect gifts.
Jesus came that we might have life and more abundantly.
Satan came to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10)
Jesus came and bought back what Satan stole in the garden.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and do the works of the Father.  (1 John 3:8)

Jesus said in Luke 9:56, “For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.”

“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38 NKJV)

God appointed and anointed Jesus.
God anointed Jesus with Holy Spirit and with power.
Jesus went to work “doing good.” “Doing good” is the Greek word, euergeteō, which means bestowing benefits.  It is a derivative of euergetēs, which means benefactor, a philanthropist, a worker of good.  It is what he did.  He was sent to do the work of His Father.  Jesus went to work healing all who we oppressed.  Oppressed is the Greek word, katadynasteuō, which means to exercise harsh control over.  If sickness and disease are not harsh control over the body, I do not know what is?  Healing is a benefit from the Father supplied by Jesus!

Psalm 103:2-5 reminds us not to forget the benefits of the Benefactor:   “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:  Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,  Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,  Who satisfies your mouth with good [things], [So that] your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

The Lord crowns us with life, loving kindness, and mercy, not corona, nor anything else.  If God was the deliverer of sickness and disease, if it was His will for us to be sick to teach us something, why would we want to get better? Satan is the oppressor and gifter of sickness and disease in attempt to steal time and energy from us; to kill us and ultimately destroy us. Sickness is not, nor has ever been God’s will nor His gift.  Jesus is our gift and Deliverer.

God will use everything that is thrown at us and turn it for good.  And, our responsibility is to believe and confess God’s word.  We are not to believe in the future tense of one day “we will be healed.”  Our bodies our made to heal themselves; we will be healed.   The word of God says, “By his stripes we ARE healed.”  It doesn’t say we are going to be healed. It says: “BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE and WERE  HEALED.” (1 Peter 2:24 and Isaiah 53:5). Healing  is present and completed.   It is done.  It was done 2000 years ago. 

I enCOURAGE you not to blame God.  It is not his fault nor His will, but He always is the answer.  Confess with your mouth.  “God loves me.  He gives only good and perfect gifts.  He uses everything the enemy meant for evil and turns it for good.  By His strips I am healed. “I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD.” (Psalm 118:17 NKJV)

“Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.”(Hebrews 10:35 NKJV)

What an encouraging word!  “Do not cast away your confidence in Christ; it has great reward!”

Do not cast away your confidence in Jesus, our Healer, when our healing does not come as fast as we would like.  Your confidence in Christ has great reward.  Healing is coming

Do not lose your boldness in Christ, when the world and all media tell you a different story than the truth of the gospel.  Your confidence in Christ has great reward.   The Truth wins every time.

Do not throw off your free and fearless confidence in the King, when the little corona virus continues to wreak havoc and destruction on our friends and family.  Your confidence in Christ has great reward.  Covid will bow its name to the name of Jesus.

Do not stop the flow of what freely pours forth from the Holy Spirit, when you cannot see Him immediately working.  Your confidence in Christ has great reward.  God is always working in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Do not cast away your cheerful courage, when it seems everything surrounding you is doom and gloom.  Your confidence in Christ has great reward.  We have hope, peace, life and a future.  It is Jesus.  It is always Jesus.

Whether trial or persecution, the Bible says:

“Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great [is] your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:12 NKJV)

“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward [is] great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets. (Luke 6:23, 35 NKJV)

The Bible  says:

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24 NKJV)

“But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most-High. (Luke 6:35 NKJV)

I enCOURAGE you “therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.”   Trust God always.  Every single thing you do whether it is getting out of bed, answering the phone, taking care of another or yourself, do it as unto the Lord.   Jesus says, ‘And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Revelation 22:12 KJV) We cannot work our way to heaven.  Our salvation has been bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus. However, we can believe and work toward our reward, Jesus!  We can work toward pleasing Him.