Way of The Warrior- A Daily Devotional

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” – Daniel 3:16-18 ESV

Warrior;

When we read the Bible, we are reading history. We are reading about things that happened, IN THE BEGINNING, reading about people who succeeded and people who succumbed, people who soared and people who stumbled. However, there is also much prophecy in the Bible. According to “The Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy” by J. Barton Payne, there are 1,239 prophecies in the Old Testament and 578 prophecies in the New Testament for a total of 1,817. These prophecies are contained in 8,352 of the Bible’s verses. Since there are 31,124 verses in the Bible, the 8,352 verses that contain prophecy constitute 26.8 percent of the Bible’s volume. According to George Konig; “The Bible contains 1,817 individual predictions concerning 737 separate subjects found in 8,352 verses. These numerous predictions comprise 27 percent of the 31,124 verses in the whole of the Scriptures. Generally, the Bible is said to be approximately 30% prophecy, although many of the prophetic verses have already been fulfilled historically. With all that said, we are living in END TIMES and much of what was talked about in the Bible, is coming true now, we are living through it. We can find solace in these ever-darkening times to understand that this is WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT, and now we are to be ABOUT IT! For the word of God is living and active…discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Leader, these three Hebrew boys, give us an example of how we are to be as children of God in the days that they were in literal Babylon, while we live today in figurative BABYLON. God is telling us, it is time to decide. “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth”. (Revelation 3:16) We are living in a time, where we are called to CHOOSE; “If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you’d rather serve—and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you’re now living. As for me and my family, we’ll worship God.” (Joshua 24:15 MSG) Matthew 25, Jesus states he will gather up all people when he returns to the earth as King (31). He will then divide them into two groups, the sheep, and the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left (32). He will then say to the people on his right, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father! (those who lived a truly converted life and obeyed God) Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you ever since the creation of the world.” (34) Christ will then turn away from the sheep and state to the “goats” or those who are on his left, “Away from me, you that are under God’s curse! Away to the eternal fire which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels!” (Matthew 25:41). This parable is about the time of the judgment. The sheep are symbolic of those who follow and obey Christ, while the goats represent those who chose not to follow Jesus and His example on earth (a witness). Choose this day are you going to be ON THE RIGHT, or ON THE LEFT?

Conduit, God is in control and God is allowing for these TRIALS and TRIBULATIONS, we can no longer separate God from the rest of our life- the TIME IS NOW TO be about JESUS and HIS WORD. There is going to be no elected official, no politician who will save AMERICA from the destructive course we are on- the only answer IS JESUS and HIS WORD. Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. (1 Timothy 6:2b-5) Does this sound familiar? This is America today, in the name of SOCIAL JUSTICE we are moving away from God, moving away from HIS WORD, JESUS. There is NO JESUS, NO PEACE, in all the street marches, in all the ‘Defund’ this, and ‘Cancel’ that. We need to go back to the basics, to our LORD, to OUR WAY, to OUR LIFE! (John 14:6) After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (John 6:14) After conducting Beethoven’s magnificent Ninth Symphony, Arturo Toscanini brought down his baton to a burst of applause. The audience roared its approval. Toscanini and his orchestra took repeated bows. When the cheering finally subsided, Toscanini turned back to his musicians and leaned over the podium. In a staccato whisper, he said to the orchestra: “Gentlemen, I am nothing. Gentlemen, you are nothing. But Gentlemen, Beethoven-Beethoven is everything, everything, everything!” Whether it’s Toscanini or the apostle Paul, whether it’s BLM, Republicans or Democrats or some social justice hero, these people are nothing. I am nothing, you are nothing, we are nothing- But Christ is everything. Today LIVE, LIKE: Jesus Life, death and resurrection MATTERS! IT IS ABOUT JESUS!

You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God. I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ – Isaiah 14:13-14 ESV

Warrior;
These are the 5, “I WILL” statements of Lucifer, the devil- El Diablo. Lets also look at corresponding verses in Ezekiel 28: “Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,’ yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god—you are indeed wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you; by your wisdom and your understanding you have made wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries; by your great wisdom in your trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth— therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you make your heart like the heart of a god, therefore, behold, I will bring foreigners upon you, the most ruthless of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor. (v2-7) Does this sound like the world we live in today? We seem to have gone full circle- we are like gods.

Leader, this is where you find the ORIGINAL SIN, it was in the heavenlies! It was PRIDE of LUCIFER, that brought the fall. Just as it was the PRIDE OF MAN that brought the fall in the Garden of Eden- see Genesis 3. Whether we are talking about THE original sin of pride, with Satan in the heavenlies or man’s original sin in the garden- wanting knowledge and wanting ‘what we want’. “Don’t tell me what to do with my body, don’t tell me who I can share my bed with, don’t tell me I have to have that baby…” The 5 I WILL’s of the devil, are not much different then the reality of most people today- Freedom is our god, and we are its Master. We get so wrapped up in our rights, and others ‘privilege’, that we covet what others have and claim, “ITS NOT FAIR”. Here we are again, telling God, He is UNJUST, HE IS NOT FAIR- He is wrong. This is also a clear violation of the 10th commandment-see Exodus 20:17.

Conduit, this is the path of RELIGION. Mans attempt to GET TO GOD, it started with Nimrod, the first leader of Babylon- the founder of RELIGION. Abandon your religion and seek a RELATIONSHIP! According to the historian Josephus, Nimrod “said he would be revenged on God, if he should have a mind to drown the world again; for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to reach. And that he would avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers” (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 1, Chapter 4). The motive, according to Josephus, for building the Tower of Babel was to protect humanity against another flood. Don’t you hear it, “GO GREEN- SAVE THE PLANET- Nimrod. IT IS TIME TO LET GOD BE GOD and allow HIS WILL TO REIGN, not our will, NOT our desire, NOT OUR limited understanding! Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2) PURSUE a relationship with the Almighty! HIS WILL BE DONE- not ours! Amen.

And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” – Matthew 26:37-39 ESV

Warrior;
Singer\songwriter Brandon Heath had a hit song called, “Give me your eyes”. It was a touching song that had a gentleman praying to God. He realizes that he is missing people, he is walking by people in life and NOT seeing their story, NOT seeing their pain, NOT seeing their needs- NOT caring, NOT LOVING THEM. The song is about his prayer to God the Father, he wants to see what God sees. He wants to see through the eyes of a HOLY GOD, a PERFECT GOD as He looks at His broken creation. “All those people goin’ somewhere, why have I never cared? Give me Your eyes for just one second, give me Your eyes so I can see, everything that I keep missing. Give me Your love for humanity, give me Your arms for the broken-hearted, the ones that are far beyond my reach. Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten. Give me Your eyes so I can see.” Dear Heavenly Father, please give us eyes to see, to see what you see. When you look at me- when you look at what is going on in this world, when you see the chaos in America- when you see people taking a knee to worship at the altar of man and confess sins against mankind, to mankind- What do you see? When you see the hatred, people keeping a record of wrong, people exacting their pound of flesh, based on grievances from our past…? Give me your eyes!

Leader, God is about choices, but He is also about simplicity. He knows the wiles of the enemy, He knows the strategies that our enemy uses to keep us off the GOD TRACK. We must understand that the VIEW that we have, the way we see things, dictates how we live, how we respond to this world and how we VIEW WORLD EVENTS. If you see this world, as the end all, be all- then you will see things one way. If you see this world, as a practice ground, as a way to get you ready for the Kingdom to come- then you will see things a different way. If your view is that you are here to be happy, to raise a family and to make a name for yourself- you will live life one way, and view the events of the day with a certain perspective and your investment of time will be dictated by that view. However, if your view is that we are here to bring glory to God, that we are here to get ready for eternity with God, that we die to ourselves daily and let Christ live in us- then you will view the issues of the day through Godly eyes, and things will LOOK MUCH DIFFERENT. This different view causes us to respond differently and to see the issues of the world, with KINGDOM EYES and have a KINGDOM RESPONSE. We must quit being used by the devil to do the world’s bidding, and get new eyes, GODLY EYES, and respond in a KINGDOM way, with a KINGDOM mindset and with KINGDOM focused thoughts and actions. This is what God means in the 12th chapter of Romans when He says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect”. We must quit marching for the WORLDS issues and start MARCHING TO A DIFFERENT DRUMBEAT!

Conduit: even though scripture only gives us three times that GOD HIMSELF cried out, He is identified in Isaiah 53 as a MAN OF SORROWS, familiar with grief. Remember, only a small portion of Jesus’ ministry was recorded. But Jesus was not known as the man of joy, He was never at an anti-slavery meeting, He did more for women, than any social engineer and yet, He never went to a woman’s rights rally. However, He did weep, and have much sorrow. There are only 3 recorded times in the Bible that Jesus wept. Jesus cried after seeing the anguish of those he loves, see John 11:28-37. Jesus wept when he saw the sins of humanity, see Luke 13:34 and Luke 19:41-42. Jesus shed tears when praying in the Garden before his crucifixion, see todays verse. However the author of Hebrews tells us Jesus tears were a regular part of His earthly experience! While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. (Hebrews 5:7) We are called to live an examined life; Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (2 Corinthians 13:5) Here is your test to see if you are in the faith: How often do you look at the falling of America and weep? When you hear about all the killings in our inner cities of children, every single day- do you weep? When you see the hatred in the political process- do you weep? When you see the racial hypersensitivity do you MARCH, or do you WEEP? Today, are you more like JESUS and weeping for the destruction of our country, or are you like the JEWS and calling on Rome to release a criminal, while Jesus is disregarded, degraded, and discounted? Read Isaiah 53 and see how you stack up to the emotional commitment of Jesus. Are you in the faith? Do you feel what Jesus felt? Oh Lord, give me your eyes, to see what you see and act according to your will and your way! Amen.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 ESV

Warrior;
The basic concept for comfort in both the Old and New Testaments is encouragement, whether by words or the presence of another to help in time of need. Synonymous words are console, help, give relief, cheer up, exhort, and fear not. Great Leaders learn how to comfort. God is not only the creator God who consoles, but he comes in time of calamity and gives help. The gospel is given in Isaiah 40:1, where he exhorts, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” The final twenty-six chapters of Isaiah are often called “the volume of comfort” with its promise of present comfort and the future promise of the suffering servant who comes to give hope, help, and release — “to comfort all who mourn” (ibid 61:3). The command of Moses to not be afraid (Exodus 14:13; 20:20) is a command intended to bring comfort to the people. Isaiah intends to bring comfort as he echoes God’s presence among his people: “So do not fear, for I am with you” (ibid 41:10). Just like the old Testament prophet Isaiah had a ministry of COMFORT, we too should learn how to comfort. If we want to be LIKE JESUS then we must become COMFORTERS.

Leader, the word comfort in the NEW TESTAMENT is Parakaleo. It is one of the oldest and richest words in the Greek language. The compound—para, “alongside,” and kaleo, “to call,” conjured up at least five vivid pictures to the Greeks. It was used to mean: To rekindle a flame. It pictured someone gently, patiently blowing on dying embers to bring a fire to life again. To call forth comfort. Parakaleo pictured the cries of a frightened child in the night calling for the comfort and reassurance of his father. It was to call a physician. Parakaleo pictured someone who was injured calling for a physician to set his broken bone or bind his wound. Parakaleo was to stabilize the troops. It pictured the military officer who, in the heat of battle, could calmly encourage, exhort, and steady the frightened soldiers in his ranks. It was also to plead one’s case. Parakaleo pictured the counsel for the defense, making an appeal for his client before a judge.

Conduit, Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would be the Parakletos—the Encourager, the Helper, the Consoler, the Comforter—who would take His place. All the things that Jesus was to the disciples, the Holy Spirit would be, when Jesus was gone. The Spirit would do in the disciples what the Lord in the flesh could only do for them. Notice as we look back at our original text we are to look to GOD for our COMFORT. By the end of the letter, it is NOW called upon us, it is US WHO IS TO COMFORT EACH OTHER. We can do that with words, with deeds, with prayers, with sustenance like food, money, clothes, opportunity. Today, consider WHO needs comforting in your life and HOW have you been at the discipline of COMFORT? Are you being Christ to ANY, or MANY? HOW MUCH COMFORT ARE YOU BRINGING? Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11) What would JESUS DO? He WILL and DOES COMFORT! That is why it is called the GOODNEWS!

For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. – Acts 13:36-39 ESV

Warrior;
When Jesus rose from the dead, EVERYTHING changed! You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing.

Leader, God’s WAY is NOT the world’s WAY. Freedom IS from God- NOT man, NOT government, NOT SELF; So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”.

Conduit, Today, BE FREE to BE ALL YOU WERE CREATED TO BE, through Christ Jesus- to the Glory of GOD! No Shared GLORY!! You are new, BE NEW! Now that’s GOOD-NEWS, that is FREEDOM!! REAL freedom, brings REAL peace. Know Jesus, KNOW PEACE. NO JESUS, NO PEACE. No peace, no freedom!

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. – 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 ESV

Warrior;

This is interesting, it is in the LOVE chapter of the Bible. The first 7 verses were about the POWER and PRESENCE of AGAPE, Godly love. The first 7 verses cover how it is impossible for MAN to do this kind of love. We can do Phileo (brotherly love), we can do Storge (Familial love), some can do Eros (sensual love) but only God, working through us- through the Holy Spirit and the indwelt Christ- can do AGAPE love! This chapter has been titled, by the Biblical writers: The Way of Love. As we read, we realize, Jesus is the WAY…of love! When life squeezed Jesus, the only thing that came out of HIM, was LOVE! Jesus looked down from the cross upon a scene that must have been distressing to Him. The Roman soldiers were gambling for His clothing, the criminals on the crosses to either side of Him were reviling Him. the religious leaders were mocking Him, and the crowd was blaspheming Him. Surrounded by this most unworthy lot, Jesus prayed for them. “Father forgive them.…” (Like 23:34)

Leader, the only constant in life is change. God is telling us everything changes. The day we are born we are one day closer to death. Our relationship with God is getting closer (better) or farther (worse)- its not staying the same. But God wants us to know that what does stay the same is the need, and the availability of FAITH, HOPE and LOVE! Faith is the foundation of our walk with God. The Bible tells us; But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) Faith is the first of the 5 SOLAS of the reformation: Faith alone, in Christ alone, by Grace alone, through Scripture alone, by GOD ALONE! This is one time it is GOOD TO BE ALONE! We are justified; stand before God in HIS righteousness through FAITH!

Conduit, Hal Lindsey reminded us; “Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air…but only for one second without hope.” Hope keeps us moving forward. Hope fuels us to face impossible challenges. Hope is the expectation that we will obtain what we desire. Hope is a special gift given by God through his grace to combat the day-to-day monotony and the most difficult circumstances. Hope hangs on to the promise of a Savior who is coming to set us free. Hope encourages us to keep running the race until we reach the finish line. As believers we must KEEP HOPE ALIVE! Why is love the greatest, because without love there can be no redemption! For God so loved the world, HE DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT! Love is a verb! The Bible teaches there can be no redemption WITHOUT LOVE- that is why it is the most important. God IS LOVE! (1 John 4:8) God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us- a supreme act of Love- SACRIFICE! “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:12-13) Love is the virtue upon which all Christian faith and hope know to stand. For the believer, love is the foundation for every good thing in our lives. We must have FAITH to please God, HOPE keeps us going; However, without love, nothing else matters.

And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the LORD to Bethel. Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make offerings. And the man cried against the altar by the word of the LORD and said, “O altar, altar, thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’ “And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign that the LORD has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’” 1Kings 13:1-3

Warrior;
What a powerful part of scripture. In this chapter 8 times we hear, “the WORD of the LORD”. And at NO TIME do we know the name of this prophet, or anything about him. GOD’s WORD is all that matters. Our opinions, our standing in the world, our own personal accomplishments mean nothing compared to the WORD OF THE LORD! This prophesy would be fulfilled in almost 300 years! This shows you that GOD IS IN CONTROL. Quit worrying about what God has done, and is doing and AVAIL and COMMIT to the WORD OF THE LORD!

Leader, God is looking for people who are willing to share HIS WORD, not their feelings, not their interpretation, but the WORD OF THE LORD. The prophet Isaiah boldly proclaimed; No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me, “Says the Lord. (54:17) When Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, in an attempt to subvert the Word of the LORD- his hand dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself. Yet, even to the profane, God shows MERCY at the request of HIS Servant- and healed his withered hand! How GREAT is our GOD!

Conduit, do you desire GOD’s will, versus the worlds accolades and rewards? Are you willing to follow GOD’s WORD and not man’s ways? the man of God said to the king, “If you give me half your house, I will not go in with you. And I will not eat bread or drink water in this place, for so was it commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came.’” So he went another way and did not return by the way that he came to Bethel. -1Kings 13:8-9 God’s WILL, will be done! 290 years later- the EXACT WORD OF THE LORD was fulfilled! Even the altar at Bethel, the high place made by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin—even that altar and high place he demolished. He burned the high place and ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole also. Then Josiah looked around, and when he saw the tombs that were there on the hillside, he had the bones removed from them and burned on the altar to defile it, in accordance with the word of the Lord proclaimed by the man of God who foretold these things. (2Kings 23:15-16) The TIME IS NOW, to know the WORD of the LORD and DO HIS WILL! All kings will bow before him, and all nations will serve him! Start TODAY!

“Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. – Habakkuk 2:4 NLT

Warrior;

The original sin was NOT in the Garden, the ORIGINAL SIN was in the heavenly’s. The original sin was Lucifer in the Heavens. “You were in Eden, the garden of God.… I ordained and anointed you as the mighty angelic guardian. You had access to the holy mountain of God and walked among the stones of fire. “You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you.… and you sinned. So I banished you in disgrace from the mountain of God. I expelled you, O mighty guardian, from your place among the stones of fire. Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty. Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor. So I threw you to the ground.” (Ezekiel 28:13-17)

Leader, in his great work written in 1980, ‘The Invisible War’, Donald Grey Barnhouse talks about the gap theory. The theory that posits between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 there could be an eternity of time. When did time begin? It began when there was more than 1 WILL in the universe. The Original sin was PRIDE. And the Bible is clear; Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18) How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the North. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:12-14)

Conduit, Nebuchadnezzar was the leader of the Babylonian Empire. Babylon was considered one of the wonders of the world in its time and still today considered one of the great empires on earth. He had a problem with pride and NOT realizing who was really doing the building of his kingdom and his authority. As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’ “While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.’ (Daniel 4:30-32) The book of proverbs tells us, “When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. (11:2) The great king became like an animal and lost his sanity- but some would say he had already lost his sanity- taking credit for what God was doing. Some would say he was crazy to STEAL GOD’S GLORY. When he came to his senses WISDOM prevailed. “When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before. “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud.” God is in charge. Quit stealing HIS GLORY and building your kingdom on this planet. It is time to be about KINGDOM BUSINESS. Not yours on this planet, but HIS that is SOON TO COME! All glory and honor to God the Father and His SON, the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” (Romans 14:11) Therefore, God elevated him (Jesus) to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.” So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. – Romans 14:10-12 BSB

Warrior;
So much to unpack in a few short lines. This is what the writer of Hebrews means when he says, For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12). First of all we must remember that each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. God is keeping score, God knows not only our deeds, but our hearts. That is why we are to live an examined life-because when this life is over God will go over that examination with us! The Bible encourages us to judge now, so that we can make adjustments and then God will not NEED TO judge us! “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” (1 Corinthians 11:31)

Leader, Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (2 Corinthians 13:5) We must be aware that we are in a fallen world, and the Prince of this world is doing everything he can to keep us from being used by God and bringing glory to God. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:4-6) This is why we must know scripture because the devil is constantly deceiving us, he is the father of lies. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)

Conduit, And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:14-15) Satan is the great counterfeiter of Jesus. Throughout the Bible we find that he has done this in a number of ways. God has sent prophets to proclaim His word, and Satan sends false prophets, Jesus is the LIGHT of the world and Satan appears as an “angel of light”, God gives us teachers to teach His WORD and Satan sends false teachers. Satan is a liar and a deceiver (Romans 12:9, Revelations 20:7-8,10). In the world of racial unrest, the destruction of the fabric of our family and our country we are seeing many believers bowing down and confess sins to men. We see people ‘take a knee’ to people in the BLM movement and confessing ‘sins’ of those who in the past looked like them? Things are getting crazier, angrier, and more ungodly- just like the Bible says it will in the end of days. But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:12) How do we know what is of God and what is counterfeit? We must diligently read and study God’s word, and know it well, so that when we hear or see something that DOES NOT line up with the Bible, or is a COUNTERFEIT, we will know it instantly. If we DO NOT spend time becoming familiar with God’s word, as well as spending time with God in prayer, we are likely to fall prey to Satan’s deceptions. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

And when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they themselves gathered together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with a question: “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”- Matthew 22:34-40 BSB

Warrior;
Our enemies #1 weapon formed against us is confusion. We are called to beware of the wiles of the enemy. Ephesians 6:11 tells us not only to be AWARE, but by being aware we are able to STAND against the wiles of the devil. When we are confused we DO NOT take action. When we are confused, not only do we NOT stand up, we DO NOT speak up, we do not OWN UP, we DO NOT fess up- we just SCREW UP! Keep It Simple Soldier (K I S S) The spirit of the LORD is PEACE, understanding, Mercy, Grace, Light, and clarity. The Spirit of the devil is darkness, hatred, retribution, strife, ‘Pound of flesh’- confusion. We are called not to judge, but we are called to be FRUIT INSPECTORS!

Leader, the devil Himself attempts to TWIST, to PERVERT to take what is HOLY and make it WICKED. Look at the temptation of Christ in the Garden in Luke 4. Jesus is the Word of God, and yet Lucifer attempted to MISQUOTE the WORD to JESUS, who is the WORD. Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. (Revelation 19:11,13) Notice, the devil attempted to tell JESUS, “You said this.” And Jesus said, “NO, I SAID….” Jesus is the WORD OF GOD! The Word of God is also called your Bible! If A=B and B=C; then A=C!

Conduit, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (Matthew 10:17) This is why CONFUSION can be debilitating. If someone tells you what JESUS says, and you don’t know the WORD of GOD, then you will be confused, you will be useless and maybe even fall away from the TRUTH. See Genesis 3, and how the Devil tricked Eve, who had gotten God’s word from Adam, but not directly from God. We must know the WORD OF GOD, to KNOW the WORD OF GOD. Here in Matthew 22 God, breaks it down for us: LOVE is the way to KNOW GOD. Love is a Verb; For God so loved the world…HE DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT! (John 3:16) For you so love your spouse, you do something about it- sacrifice, turn the other cheek, serve him\her, hold your tongue….For you so love your country, you do something about it; serve in the military, sacrifice your freedoms, risk dying. Today, remember LOVE IS A VERB and that there is no greater love than to lay down your life for your brother. (John 15:13) Today lay down your CHECKBOOK, lay down your SCHEDULE, lay down your HARDNESS of your heart- for your brother or your sister. If you don’t lay down those temporal things, how can you ever lay down your life? By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)