by Tammy Phillips

April 21, 2020

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. [Eph 6:12 KJV]

Remember, wrestle means to throw your enemy down.  David threw the giant enemy of Israel by trusting the Lord and casting a stone.  As we follow David’s example, we need to pick up our rocks.  David said, “The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer and God is the rock of our salvation” in 2 Samuel 22:2,4.  Jesus called Peter a rock in Matthew 16:18. To wrestle well, let’s pick up our Rock, our Savior and pick up the 1 ROCK 5:7 (1 Peter 5:7), this wrestler’s stone of choice:

Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

We have heard this verse so many times.  “Cast your care. Cast your care!”  However, do we pick up this nugget?  Do we practice the verse when the care comes to visit or do we sit and wallow in the care?  Be empowered by the original Greek meanings of the words in this verse.

CASTING (epiripto) to throw upon.  Break down of the Greek compound word epiripto:  Epi means on, upon, before.  Ripto means to throw down; throw off; throw forward; to set down; to fling with a quick toss; to hurl; to violently throw.  It is similar to rhapizoa which means to smite with a rod or staff; to smite in the face with the palm of the hand, to box the ear.  (In my world this means hit the “care” right out of the park with a bat.)  See; Wrestling and casting both mean to throw down.

ALL (pas) means all.  It means each and every.  Every part.  All things, everything, the “whole thang.”  Whatsoever and whosoever.

YOUR CARE (merimna) anxiety, trouble, difficulty.  It comes from the word merizo meaning, what distracts you; divides you; separates you into parts; tears you apart; cuts you to pieces, splits you into.  According to Webster’s Dictionary 1828, anxiety is concern respecting some event, future or uncertain, which disturbs the mind, and keeps it in a state of painful uneasiness.  It springs from fear.  Think about anxiety is fear about something that usually never happens. Care=Anxiety=Fear.

UPON HIM FOR HE CARES (melei) to be of interest; to be of concern; take care] FOR YOU!

How powerful are those words?  Altogether, this is how I see 1 Peter 5:7, Throw down, throw off, throw forward, set down, fling, hurl, violently throw, hit with a bat, slap silly upside the head, all, each and every, all things, everything, the whole thang, whosoever and whatsoever care, anxiety, fear, trouble or difficulty upon him, our Rock, our Salvation, our Jesus, for He cares for you.  He is interested in you. He will take care of you and take your cares for you.

God does not care how BIG or small our care. (God doesn’t have any big problems!)  We were not meant to carry cares.  Throw it to him!  Here is a perfect example.  No kidding!  My Mom sent me this text as I was writing this:

“I’ve looked EVERYWHERE in the house, outside office, and my car multiple times for last 24 hours for my water bottle!  Exasperated, I sat in my chair to read and said, “Okay Lord, don’t know why I haven’t asked You, but please show me where it is.”  No sooner had I sat down, less than a minute, than I had to go to bathroom!!!  When I walked in, I had the “urge” to open the closet.  I did and there sat my bottle!   God is sooo Good, quick to respond, and always listening to our every prayer!  He did that to show me, He cares about everything that concerns me and that I must trust Him with EVERYthing!!!  Thank You, Lord!”

I encourage you to SLANG that THANG that is wearing you out!  David slang the thang and knocked out the giant.   Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you: he will never permit the righteous to be moved. [Psalm 55:22]  Wrestle well.  Cast your cares every day, all the time.  Kill your giants.  Be CARE-FULL for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [idea from Philippians 4:6 KJV]

and Tammy Phillips

April 20, 2020

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].  Ephesians 6:12 KJV

When I wrote the “You are a Wrestler” devotion, the story of David and Goliath came to mind.  David trains us by example how to wrestle against the enemy.

LESSONS FROM DAVID (from 1 Samuel 17):

•  The enemy was small from God’s view

By sight Goliath was a giant, but David was not moved by what he saw or heard.  He knew his battle was not against flesh and blood of Goliath. God was with David and David knew it.   David knew he was empowered by God.  David was not fearful at all.  David saw Goliath from God’s perspective and Israel chose to view their enemy through the eyes of man.  If we choose a Godly perspective, looking down at the problem from seated in heaven, doesn’t it get super small?  The higher our viewpoint the smaller the obstacle. Remember, “He hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus” [Eph 2:6 KJV]

• The enemy yelled loudly

Goliath was the big bully with a bullhorn who bullied Israel 40 days and nights.  He instilled fear into Israel and they were greatly dismayed.  Isn’t that what our enemy does with every problem?  He tries to deceive and frighten us into believing that the problem is too gigantic for God.  Remember, God laughs and says, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)

• David called out the enemy

“Hey, Goliath!  Who do you think you are?  You think you can defy the armies of God?”  We need to say this to every giant that appears on the scene of our lives.  “Hey, pain in my knee.  Who do you think you are?  Jesus died for this pain. You are nothing to God.  Lack go away; you are nothing to my God.  Hey, fear. You don’t own me.  I have the faith of God.”

• David said don’t worry

David to Saul:  Don’t let your heart be troubled because of this giant!  I’ll go out and fight him.  Isn’t that what God tells us?  Don’t worry.  Don’t fear.  I will go before you.

• Saul discouraged David from the battle

Saul to David:  You are not able.  You are only a kid…he is a warrior.  We are wrestlers. We are warriors.  We are over comers in Christ.  We are empowered by God.  We operate under the authority of the name above every name, Jesus.  Don’t be discouraged by anyone or anything.  Enter the ring.

• David recalled his victories in the face of other giants

“A lion came… I went out after him… God delivered.  A bear came… I went out after it… It arose against me… I caught him, smote him, killed him.  The Lord delivered me then, and he will deliver me now, from this giant.”  We should not so easily forget where we are and how we arrived.  We have many victories in life that we so easily forget.  Call them to mind.

• David went to battle with his weapons

David tried to wrestle Goliath with Saul’s armor, but he was not used to it.  It didn’t fit him.  He could not go.  It was not God’s plan for David.  David had to go to battle with what he had.  David picked up five rocks.  He really picked up the ROCK of his salvation.  He took God with him.  I believe he could have knocked Goliath out with a toothpick because it was not his battle to win; it was God’s.  We must take the Rock of Salvation with us into every battle. The Lord and His word will provide us with the knock-out punch we need.

• David went  into battle head on.

David said to the Giant: “You come to me with your arsenal of weapons, BUT I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts…Today, the lord will deliver you into my hands…The lord saves not with sword and spear. The battle is the Lords and He will give you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:48-47)  We need to follow David’s example and say to our giants, our mountains:  In the name of Jesus, our salvation, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; we shall not doubt in our heart, but shall believe that those things which we say shall come to pass; we shall have whatsoever we say.

• David ran quickly to the battle line 

Goliath came at David and David ran quickly to the battle line.
He did not entertain fear.
He trusted the Lord.
He took immediate action against the giant.
He did not fear the giant.
He was not amazed by the giant.
He saw God and not the giant.
He didn’t panic.
He didn’t run away.
He didn’t drop to his knees and ask the Lord to save him.
He ran right at the enemy because he knew who was backing him.
David cast what he had at the giant and one rock knocked him out.
It was not the stone that knocked out the giant. It was God with David.
Should we not follow David’s example?

I enCOURAGE you with the courage of David.  Run quickly to the battle.  Do not fear.  The Rock of our Salvation will deliver you every time.

by Tammy Phillips

April 19, 2020

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. [Ephesians 6:12 KJV]

Did you know we are wrestler’s? (My kids are going crack up about this one.  I wouldn’t let them watch wrestling on TV growing up.)

Ephesians 6:12 states that we wrestle.  Since we wrestle, we step into the name of Wrestler, often and at various times in our lives.  (New name for us. What’s your wrestler name?)  The Greek word for wrestle is pale.  Pale is defined as a contest between two in which each endeavor to throw the other, and which is decided when the victor is able to hold his opponent down with his hand upon his neck.  Pale is derived from pallo which means to vibrate or shake.  Pallo is another form of ballo which means to cast, to smite one with slaps, to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls.  Ever heard of “casting your cares?”  I do believe we step into the wrestling arena, dressed to kill in our power suit, the armor of God, when we cast our cares.

We are not wrestling against (what is in front of us) flesh and blood. We do no wrestle against our boss, our friend, our mother, our father, our brother, our sister, our spouse, our son, our daughter, nor our self.  In “Dressed to Kill,” Rick Renner says: “This is the reason we must deal with the flesh before we attempt to deal with the devil.  By living a crucified, sanctified life on a continual basis, we are able to neutralize any attack the enemy would try to wage against our flesh.”  We die to self and give the enemy nothing to work with.  Renner further states, “You can kick dead people. Spit at dead people; curse at dead people; or try to tempt, deceive or seduce dead people-no matter what you do, they do not respond!”  If we stand, this fully describes us.

I wish it was that simple.  We cannot see the enemy with physical eyes.  We must always be on guard, standing, watching with spiritual eyes, praying, and preparing for the match.  The enemy smells fear and will come.  We will wrestle against (come face-to-face):

1. Principalities: (archas) the beginning, the origin, the first in order time, place, rank; the oldest and the highest-ranking leaders.
2. Powers: (exousia) endued with authority, delegated authority, influencers of choice, freedom, do as one pleases, wherever one pleases; idea infused of doing what the world thinks is right out in public
3. The rulers of the darkness of this world: (kosmokateros) world ruler; from (kosmos) world, order, arrangement and (kratos) might, power.  These rulers are a force.  They are an ordered, arrangement of mighty power. They have joined forces and are mighty powerful to complete assigned tasks.  We are obviously more powerful than they are through Christ Jesus.  What would happen if we joined forces against them?  What if we accomplished our assignment, together?  What would happen if just two queens, joint heirs in the kingdom of God, joined together?  What would happen if more sparkling jewels became committed and fell in with us? Come on now? God has given us the power and authority.  Light it up!
4. Spiritual wickedness in high places: (poneros) bad, evil things, vicious, iniquity, pressed and harassed.  From ponos: pain, great trouble, intense desire. From penes:  poor,  From peno: to toil for daily substance. 

I enCOURAGE you WRESTLER; be prepared for the match.  Die to self, daily.  Pray without ceasing.  Train with God.  Know your enemy, but know your God better.  Know that your enemy is one of the four goons listed above who have been commissioned by Satan, their leader, to kill, steal and destroy.  Know God is with you.  Know God goes before you.  Know that greater is He that is in you than these goons in the world.  Always be encouraged; our God is greater!

April 18, 2020

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

Jesus says, “I am the WAY (the road you need to take, the way you need to think), the TRUTH and the LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” [John 14:6 KJV]. The enemy of our souls, the devil, the false accuser wants to be just like Jesus.   He yells in our ears: “I am the way.  Come my way.  Come down my road.  It is a lot more fun.  I am the life…of the party.   You will have no life if you follow God.  It’s ok to tell a fib. You don’t want to hurt her feelings.  Do this…buy this…drink this…eat this…you deserve it.   It’s ok to eat the big piece of Key Lime Pie.  It’s your birthday.  You ate the pie?  You big fatty.  You are a failure.  You are not smart enough.  You are not good enough.  You can’t do that.  You will never amount to anything.”

The exclamations of the enemy to our mind are what I interpret to be “the wiles of the devil.” The Greek word for wiles is methodos which means with road, highway, with the way. It’s the road the devil wants us to choose.  The wiles are his strategies and deceits.

We have a choice.  We can listen to the Voice of Truth or the father of lies.  We have a choice as to which road will we follow?  When we travel by car or plane on vacation, do we enjoy delays? Do we enjoy making a wrong turn and delaying our arrival?  Every time we listen to the lies of the enemy, we are taking a wrong turn.  In reality, we are delaying our arrival to God’s best for our lives.  God provides us with the whole armor to stand against the bully with the bullhorn who loves to get in our head.

The armor of God enables us to stand and face our enemy head on.  STAND is the Greek word histemi meaning to abide, continue, a steadfast mind, make firm, establish, keep your place, stand immutable, persist, and persevere.  When the harasser starts howling, we must choose to speak the truth to that situation.

The wiles of the Devil say:	We stand and say the Truth of God:
You are going to die of “the corona.”	I will not die but I will live and declare the works of the Lord.  (Psalm 118:17) I am healed, whole and complete.  (Col 2:10) Behold, God [is] my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH [is] my strength and [my] song; he also is become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2)
You are a loser.	I am an overcomer. (John 16:33, Rev,12:11) I am more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37)
You are ugly.	I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalms 139:14)
You cannot do that or that or that.	I can do…all things through Christ. (Philippians 4:13)

I enCOURAGE to put on the whole armor of God and to STAND against the wiles of the devil, every time and every situation.  I guarantee the ways of God will take you to places you have never imagined.  God is the only option.  I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and I arise and stand to face my enemy.

April 17, 2020

“He gives power to the weak; and to [them that have] no might he increases strength.  (Isaiah 40:29)

The world has been forced to slow down during the COVID-19. I have followed the instructions of our leaders for the most part.  However, I chose to take a part time job on March 17.  When the world stopped, working, I went to work.  (Odd how God works.)  It is a small project that needs to be completed by May 1.  I work from home, eight hours Monday and Tuesday and a half day on Wednesday.  It has changed my world just a bit.  I actually have more responsibilities and am busier in some ways than before “the corona.”

Yesterday, Thursday, I planned to clean house all day.  However, after making an 8 am run to the grocery, I was done.  I hit a brick wall.  I was tired and my head was cloudy.  I chose to rest instead.  Truth be told, all groceries were not put up until 4 pm.  I. WAS. DONE!

I got up today feeling about the same.  I determined the house was going to get cleaned.  My body was telling me a different story.  BUT GOD…I start every day by sitting at the feet of Jesus, spending time in His word, praying, reading my favorite devotionals and seeking what our Father has to say.

Our Daddy is the Great Physician.  This morning I got “just what the Doctor had ordered” for me!

One of the very last things that appeared in one of my devotions this morning: “He giveth power to the faint, weak, weary; and to [them that have] no might he increases and gives a multitude of strength.”  It was my “prescripture” or prescription for the day.  I took it and I immediately felt energized.  I will take this Word as often as needed today.   I will recite and believe.  I got the power!

If I had not sought THE DOCTOR, I would not have gotten my pre-script, His script, His word, for me today.  What do you need today?  Your pre-scripture is probably different than mine.  You have to go to the doctor to get the prescription.  Seek Him.  You will find Him.  He promises, “But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

I enCOURAGE you to go the Doctor, the Great Physician.  He will give you “just what the Doctor has ordered” for your today.  I guarantee if you “take as directed,” you will feel better.  What did he prescribe you today? What is your prescritpure?   (Share your prescripture in the comments! It might be the medicine someone else needs.)

April 16, 2020

For we walk by faith, not by sight: – 2 Corinthians 5:7

Here is what the Holy Spirit taught me by simply investigating the Greek definitions of the words in this verse.

WE:
We do it together. “We” is God, Tammy and whoever I am walking with through this journey of life.  I used to think it was me against the world.  I thought I could do life and everything all by myself.  Wrong.  I know that I need “we.”  I need God.  I need you.

WALK:
The Greek word is peripateo.
It means to make your way, progress, make do use of opportunities, be occupied, live, conduct one’s life, follow as a companion, tread all around.

Peripateo is a compound of words peri and pateo.

Further definition of peri:
We walk through, all over, about, concerning, all around, beyond, completely.

Further definition of pateo:
We tread, tread under foot, trample, crush with feet, advance by setting foot upon foot upon foot and tread upon tread. To encounter successfully the greatest perils from the machinations and persecutions with which Satan would happily try to thwart the preaching of the gospel (Luke 10:19, Ps 91:13); to treat with insult and contempt.

Pateo is probably from a derivative of paio:
We strike, smite, to sting, to hit with a single blow.

So, we walk, crush it or hit “it” with a single blow, and encounter successfully Satan’s plans against us…but more importantly God’s plans for us.  How?

BY:
(dia) Greek preposition denoting the channel of act: through time, through place, through any means.

FAITH:
(pistis) Translated from Greek is belief, conviction that God exists and was, is, and will always be, creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of salvation through Christ who is the Messiah who was born of a virgin, died and rose again. Simply, faith is believing that God is who He says He is and will do all that His Word says He will do.

NOT: (ou) no, not, no never ever, we cannot, God forbid

BY SIGHT: (eidos) Greek for external outward appearance, form, figure, shape, see, perceive.
What we see and perceive may not be the truth. The Truth is God’s Word and what it says.

My version of walking by faith…We do it together. We WALK, drive, fly.  We make our way.  We progress down the road.  We make do, use of our opportunities.  We live.  We regulate our life.  We tread. We tread under foot.  We trample.  We crush with our feet. We advance by setting foot upon foot upon foot and tread upon tread.  We encounter successfully the greatest perils from the machinations and persecutions with which Satan would happily try to thwart the preaching of the gospel and the progress of life. We strike.  We smite.  We sting.  We hit with a single blow. T his is how we walk.  We walk BY.  We walk through.  We walk through places.  We walk through time.  We walk all over.  We walk all around.  We walk by…FAITH, simply believing that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. NOT, no never, ever, we cannot God forbid…Walk by SIGHT.  Walk by view.  Walk by what we see.  Walk by outward appearance. Walk by what we perceive. ( Because that could be a lie.) Walk only in the promises of God and who He says we are.

We have a choice. And, it is our individual choice! We can believe the devil, the false accuser, the father of lies.  We can choose to walk in fear.  Effectually, we will be walking around naked and exposed to the enemy.  We put off the armor of God.  We deactivate the killer power suit.  Let me be clear, the armor is still yours, but you aren’t plugged into the Almighty Power.  Repent, and it returns.  The best choice: We walk by faith and not by sight.  We believe God.  We activate the power of God to work in and through us by believing Him.  We clothe ourselves in the whole armor of God, our “Killer Power Suit.” and we “Crush it!”

I enCOURAGE you to walk by faith in our Almighty, All Powerful and All-Knowing, God.
To me “walk by faith” in the most-simple terms, means, CRUSH IT GIRL!
I enCOURAGE you to CRUSH IT GIRL!  I enCOURAGE you to CRUSH IT, BOY

April 15, 2020

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

In Ephesians 6:10 we are commanded to be endued with super special power in the Lord.  The only place we receive this power is by staying in place, plugged in to our power source, the Lord.  We cannot do life without Him.  Remember the scripture in Matthew 19:26 where Jesus said: “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

Since He gives us super-power, He also saw that we needed a super-power suit.  Ephesians 6:11-18 describes in detail each of the seven perfect pieces of the suit.  Ephesian 6:11, names the “killer” outfit.  It is called the WHOLE ARMOR of God.  Don’t we all want to be “dressed to kill” by our favorite “man?” (I borrowed that phrase from one of my favorite authors, Rick Renner, who wrote, “Dressed to Kill.”)  We are not asked if we want to wear the armor.   We are told to PUT ON all seven pieces, the whole armor of God.  Put on is the Greek word enduo. It means to sink into your clothes, be arrayed, or be clothed with.  Our Supreme Authority, Issuer of His Power, has provided us with His best.  Why wouldn’t we wear it?

How do we put on our power suit?  Each morning when we get out of bed, we can figuratively and spiritually dress ourselves to kill by putting on each piece, like we do our physical clothes.  This action is a good reminder of our power suit, but we actually have to get “dressed to kill” a little differently.  God gives us the power and the armor.  We have to stay in place with Him.  We have to have to abide in Him.  We have to “walk by faith not by sight in Him.”   This is how we are dressed to kill. (I can’t wait to share tomorrow what walk by faith means to me.)

I enCOURAGE you to put on the whole armor of God!  Get ready to slay the day.  Do not forget one piece!  He specially made your “killer power suit” just for you.  Hold your head high and walk by faith in Him!  It looks so good on you!  You look marvelous!

April 14, 2020

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Ephesians 6:10 (KJV)

The year 2020 has brought us to a place where we are under an order to “shelter-in-place” to protect us from our enemy, “the corona.”  We are asked to stay in place so that we remain strong and are not affected by the virus, the enemy.   I found in Ephesians 6:10 that Paul issued a “shelter in place order” to us, first.  Let’s unpack this verse to see what he has to say.

Finally, (what’s remaining to say; as Paul Harvey would say, “The rest of the story…”)

My brothers (born of the same womb) As Christians, we are all born again from the same Godly womb.  We are all in this TOGETHER.

BE STRONG: 
Strong is the Greek word endunamoo meaning-
Be empowered.
Be made strong.
Be able to do.
Be endued with super special power.
Be empowered with explosive, like dynamite power.

IN:
In is the Greek word en denoting a fixed position in place, a relation of rest.

We are command to be endued with super special power in a fixed position.  This is not a place we move in and out of.  It is where we are quarantined.  We are commanded to “shelter in place.” Where? in the Lord.
 
THE LORD: 
Lord is the Greek word kyrios meaning supreme authority, who you belong to, possessor, and Sir.

We are commanded to be empowered with super special power in a fixed position, the Supreme Authority. Yes, this sounds like something out of a super-hero movie.  It is not. It is how we as followers of Christ are meant to live. I mean God is God.  We are his children.  Don’t you empower you kids to live their best lives?  Think God wants any less for us?  I do not think so!

AND… not only are we commanded to “shelter in place” with Him, but also in his power and might.  Let’s see what that means:

He’s got the POWER!
Power is the Greek word kratos.  Kratos is defined as force, might, dominion, great vigor.  Kratos power accomplishes things.  This power gets the work done.  This is the same word that was used in Ephesians 1:19-20.  The power that raised Jesus from the dead, resurrection power.

Did you know the Holy Spirit empowers you and I with the VERY SAME POWER?  We are not weaklings in Him. Paul also tells us that God Almighty backs His power with His might.

MIGHT:
Might in Greek is ischuos meaning force, strength.  Might is the picture of the muscle behind the power. No muscles no power.

Paul commands us to be strong in the Lord, to “shelter in place” in the Lord. It’s where we get our superpowers to endure and stand against the enemy.  He also directs us to “shelter in place,”  to be strong in his power of his might.  I see God as all Powerful  and Almighty.  He has some pretty big muscles.  He has given us everything we need to fight the enemy.

I enCOURAGE you to BE STRONG IN THE LORD!
I enCOURAGE you to BE STRONG IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT!
I enCOURAGE you to be fearless in facing your enemy, whatever that looks like.
I enCOURAGE you to “shelter in place” with the Lord.

April 13, 2020
by Tammy Phillips

“…lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:20

Recently, I was praying eyes closed at my dining room table, my prayer closet.  Holy Spirit said, “Look up, open your eyes.  Don’t you see Me here at the end of the table?  He said, “I am here at the end of the table. Talk to Me like it.  I am here beside you when you need Me closer.  Talk to Me like it.  I am sitting in the chair with you.  Talk to Me like it.  I am at your table.  You are at My table.  Talk to Me like it.”

One of the last things Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 28:20:
Lo (Behold! Look! See!)
I am (I be, I am present, I exist)
with (in the midst)
you alway (every day all day, when you pray, when cry, when you praise)
even unto the end of
the world (perpetually, incessantly, invariably, at any and every time, forever.)
Amen.  (Matthew 28:20)

“See, I am present, right in the middle of this with you everyday, all day, event the end of the world, any time and every time forever.” (Loose Tammy Translation)

I enCOURAGE you to pray like you see God sitting at the end of your table, going on walks with you, riding in the car with you, everywhere you go and everything you do.  He IS WITH YOU always…to the ends of the earth…pray like it.

April 12, 2020

And he said unto them, GO ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)

Dear Disciple of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord:

This year we are not celebrating Easter as we have in the past.  We will not go to church a building.  We will attend “church” online with our immediate family who lives in our home.  We will not have a big lunch celebration with all the extended family.  It will be small and intimate.  Will I miss our gathering? Yes.

However, did Jesus direct us to have a feast honoring his resurrection?  Did he have a big party with the disciples or a brunch after his Son Rise?  The answer is no.  Before his death, he said remember my body broken, my blood shed and my death, but nothing directing us to celebrate His resurrection.   (We should want to celebrate Jesus everyday with out being directed.)

However, after searching through the gospels to see what Jesus did to celebrate the most amazing happening ever,  what I discovered was not what I was looking for.  I found out that he had a couple of conversations, but they didn’t even recognize him.  Even when he met up with the disciples in Galilee, they were so amazed that they did not offer him food.  He had to ask for something to eat. They gave him a piece of broiled fish and honeycomb, not a meal fit for the risen King.

So, what did Jesus do when he gathered with his eleven disciples on the mountain in Galilee?  To paraphrase, He said, “Let’s go! My work is complete and it’s time for y’all to go to work.” He rallied his trained and prepared troops, all eleven of them.  He commissioned his troops. (Honestly, the word should have been “GO-MISSIONED.”)   He activated his army.  He presented his mission plan which looked something like this across the gospels:

1. He established his authority in Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
2. Who:

• His disciples then and his future disciples, us!

3. CoMission:

• GO!   (Matthew 28:19 & Mark 16:15)

4. Where:

• Start in Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47)
• All nations; All the World (Matthew 28:19 & March 16:15)

5. Mission Orders:

• Teach all to observe Jesus’ commands. (Love God and other!)
• Preach to every creature. (Mark 16:15)
• Preach repentance & remission of sins in his name. (Luke 24:47)
• If they believe, they are saved. (Mark 16:16)
• Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.
• Wait until you receive the promise of the Father and are endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49)

6. Signs of those who believe, in Jesus name: (Mark 16:17-18)

• Cast out devils: (Devils are messengers or evil spirits of the false accuser. ) We should come against thoughts daily that are not the truth. It is throwing defeating thoughts out of our mind.  (ie: “You gonna die from the Corona!)  This could also mean to cancel out what the false messenger is telling someone else by speaking  truth or praying over them to help them beat the thoughts or actions of the enemy. It could mean exercising our God given authority and going at the enemy in another’s life, but you better be prayed and fasted up to take this on.
• Speak with new tongues. (call me about this.  I’ll explain.)
• Take up serpents and if they drink any deadly thing is shall not hurt them.  This is not snake handling or drinking poison.  It is believing in the divine protection of God.
• Lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.  Pray for the sick by laying on hands.  Doctors do this everyday.  This should not be be unusual happening.

7. Commissioned/Deployed:

• He led them out! (Luke 24:50)
• He lifted up his hands and blessed them. (Luke 24:50)
• He said I will be with you until the end of the world. (Matthew 28:20)
• They worshiped and returned to Jerusalem. (Luke 24:52)
• They were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. (Luke 24:53)
• They went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs following. (Mark 16:20)

Looking at what Jesus did after the resurrection, there should be no questions as to what we should be doing.   Jesus finished his work and passed the torch to us, his disciples.  As followers of Christ, we are charge we the same mission. We should be prepared.  We have our full armor (Ephesians 6)   It is time to deploy.

Arise, Army of God.

I enCOURAGE you in the words of our Commander in Chief,  Jesus Christ.  “ARISE!  Make up your bed! Go!”   Celebrate Jesus this year by fulfilling your “GO-MISSION.” Celebrate Jesus by telling someone about how he has changed your life.  Celebrate Jesus by proclaiming his story.  Celebrate Jesus; help someone in need.  Celebrate Jesus by sharing his love.  I enCOURAGE you to join me and follow our leader.  Follow Jesus.  He said in John 13:15, “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”  He arose, made up his bed, and went.  We must follow his example; Arise, make up our bed, and GO!  

Complete in Him and on the GO!

Tammy Phillips