Fear-FREE focus

 

Proverbs 4:25-27

King James Version

25 Let thine eyes look right on, 

and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

26 Ponder the path of thy feet, 

and let all thy ways be established.

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: 

remove thy foot from evil.

When you are a child of GOD, a believer in JESUS, a faithful servant of CHRIST, and a student of the HOLY SPIRIT, you are focused.

You do not deviate, are not distracted, and thus, are not destroyed.

Much as CHRIST's enemy tries to attack you, every single time.

Just so you know, the devil has many devices.

But the born again has a mission, are powered by faith, and by our love for GOD.

Obedience to GOD's will is our DNA.

One great example of such focus is Nehemiah.

"Interestingly, he was cupbearer to Artaxerxes I.

Who happens to be the fifth king of kings to the Achaemenid Empire, 

from 465 to December 424 BC.

This empire was also called "The First Persian Empire".

It was founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC.

You mean, Israel and Persia were once friends?"

-- "City in RUINS"

He was tasked with rebuilding Jerusalem.

It was a formidable task, but GOD wanted it done.

Of course, Nehemiah's enemies were in a rage when he was securing the walls of the city.

They aimed to put every block to his thinking, and rebuilding.

Here's what they did, and how Nehemiah responded.

Nehemiah 6:1-2

King James Version

6 Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, 

and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, 

heard that I had builded the wall, 

and that there was no breach left therein; 

(though at that time I had not set up 

the doors upon the gates;)

2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, 

Come, let us meet together 

in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. 

But they thought to do me mischief.

Nehemiah's response:

Nehemiah 6:3

King James Version

3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, 

I am doing a great work, 

so that I cannot come down: 

why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, 

and come down to you?

But his enemies wouldn't let up.

Nehemiah 6:4

King James Version

4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort;

and I answered them after the same manner.

Nehemiah 6:5-7

King James Version

5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner 

the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;

6 Wherein was written, 

It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, 

that thou and the Jews think to rebel: 

for which cause thou buildest the wall, 

that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.

7 And thou hast also appointed prophets 

to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, 

There is a king in Judah: 

and now shall it be reported to the king 

according to these words. 

Come now therefore, 

and let us take counsel together.

Nehemiah's response:

Nehemiah 6:8-9

King James Version

8 Then I sent unto him, saying, 

There are no such things done as thou sayest, 

but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.

9 For they all made us afraid, saying, 

Their hands shall be weakened from the work, 

that it be not done. 

Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

He was warned further.

Nehemiah 6:10

King James Version

10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah 

the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, 

who was shut up; and he said, 

Let us meet together in the house of God, 

within the temple, 

and let us shut the doors of the temple: 

for they will come to slay thee; 

yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.

Nehemiah's response:

Nehemiah 6:11

King James Version

11 And I said, 

Should such a man as I flee? 

and who is there, that, being as I am, 

would go into the temple to save his life? 

I will not go in.

His impression of the whole thing:

Nehemiah 6:12-13

King James Version

12 And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; 

but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: 

for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, 

and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter 

for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

His prayer:

Nehemiah 6:14

King James Version

14 My God, 

think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat 

according to these their works, 

and on the prophetess Noadiah, 

and the rest of the prophets, 

that would have put me in fear.

The result of his prayer, and unbending focus:

Nehemiah 6:15-16

King James Version

15 So the wall was finished 

in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, 

in fifty and two days.

16 And it came to pass, 

that when all our enemies heard thereof, 

and all the heathen that were about us 

saw these things, 

they were much cast down in their own eyes: 

for they perceived that this work 

was wrought of our God.

The lesson that SPIRIT inspired me to give you from all these:

"FORTIFY your FORTRESSES 

through FAITH and FOCUS."

GOD put it upon my heart on 22 January 2024 to write about Nehemiah, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

Here are the series of articles His HOLY SPIRIT inspired me to write then:

City in RUINS

RESULT of PRAYERS

REBUILDING the GATES

On FACING setbacks

BUILDERS and WARRIORS

52-day WONDER

JERUSALEM comes ALIVE

DEDICATING the city

Israel is going through the same situation today.

She is being attacked and bullied, on all fronts.

But she stays on the path.

She knows GOD is with her.

Let us, born again workers, watchmen, and warriors, be like Nehemiah.

Let us not be distracted by things of the world.

Let us not be fearful of what people can do to us.

Let us not be cowed, or bullied, into giving up our faith.

Let us remain focused on CHRIST JESUS alone.

Colossians 3:1-4

King James Version

3 If ye then be risen with Christ, 

seek those things which are above, 

where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, 

not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life 

is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, 

then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Related material:

Why you MUST turn to JESUS now!

For CHILDREN of LIGHT

PEACE through JESUS

GUIDANCE for TODAY

TOUGHEST job EVER

TIME to FORTIFY

GOD's GLORY blogs

BORN AGAIN classics

Related video:

FURY As French Consulate CONFRONTED In Jerusalem - Here's What Happened (MK Ohad Tal)

Image: Clipart Library

SURE and STRONG

 

JESUS said:

Matthew 7:24-25

King James Version

24 Therefore whosoever heareth 

these sayings* of mine, and doeth them, 

I will liken him unto a wise man, 

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, 

and the floods came, 

and the winds blew, 

and beat upon that house; 

and it fell not: 

for it was founded upon a rock.

What makes us certain about life?

What makes us strong in this world?

The world is filled with tons of temptations.

And tons of traps, that aim to ensnare us all.

We all need to be born again, to have a robust heart.

SPIRIT, through Scripture, will guide us every moment.

We will know the things that matter.

Such as being aligned with GOD's will.

We will know the commands we need to obey.

That our life, and our family's life, can be secure.

Not through fame, or fortune, but through FAITH in GOD.

Unless we follow JESUS, we cannot survive this world.

We need the strength of His mind, that we may survive.

Satan will wear us out, every chance he can get.

Unless our foundation is rooted firmly in CHRIST, we will succumb.

A TRUE BORN AGAIN is steady.

Because of these things:

We LIVE by the BIBLE.

It is the NONNEGOTIABLE gospel.

It is NOT a gospel of accommodation.

We are FREE from ambivalence.

We live FREE of distraction.

We are CONFIDENT in CHRIST.

We are HAPPY with JESUS.

We have VICTORY through JESUS.

We are SOLDIERS of CHRIST.

We are ROCK steady.

We know GOD's PLAN of SALVATION.

We have PEACE through JESUS.

He is our CHIEF Corner Stone.

GOD is STEADY.

JESUS is CONSISTENT.

The ONLY thing that will REMAIN is GOD's WORD.

GOD's WORD stands forever.

As WATCHMEN, we are STEADY at our posts:

"We remain steady, at our posts.

Waiting for our Master's command.

That we may know what to do, where to be, how to act.

We rely on His EVERY command.

Thus, we wait, watch, warn, worship.

His will, ways, and wisdom are planted upon our hearts."

-- "The WARRIOR's protection"

Our pillar is CHRIST.

Our pillow is the WORD.

Our peace is JESUS.

Our homes are fortified with GOD's TRUTH.

Our souls are safe from sin.

Our hearts belong to GOD.

Our minds are fixed on JESUS.

We wear the FULL ARMOR of GOD.

We sleep good nights because of the LORD.

Confident, and grateful, in His LOVE.

We are His.

John 10:27-28

King James Version

27 My sheep hear my voice, 

and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; 

and they shall never perish, 

neither shall any man 

pluck them out of my hand.

*NOTE:

Matthew 7:1-23 refers to what JESUS said about "these sayings of mine" .

The things we need to do.

Related material:

WORD of GOD

GOD's GLORY blogs

BORN AGAIN classics

Image: Omer Saridas on Pexels

FORTIFY your HOMES

 

Jeremiah 51:12

King James Version

12 Set up the standard 

upon the walls of Babylon, 

make the watch strong, 

set up the watchmen, 

prepare the ambushes: 

for the Lord hath both devised and done 

that which he spake 

against the inhabitants of Babylon.

I had been dreaming, the past two days.

Had an urgent dream about the Rapture yesterday.

Today, I dreamt of securing my family's "house".

Three black-shirted men wanted to enter the house.

One pushed aside the screen door and made his way in.

Of course, I got angry, and asked him to leave.

When they left, I secured the two sliding screen doors.

Instinctively, I headed for the back door, aiming to secure it.

But first, I needed to check the front of our house.

There was a balustrade, whose design seemed all wrong.

The workers had not constructed it well.

It should have been parallel to the front wall.

Thing is, it was shaped outwards.

That was a no-no.

The wider gap would invite people to squeeze in.

Giving them access to our windows.

Funny, even in my dream, I was thinking architecturally.

The significance of the dream?

It's all about "fortifying".

Is our whole person secure through JESUS?

It's about "alignment".

Is our whole person aligned with GOD's WORD?

It's about "family".

Is our family one with GOD?

It's time to fortify self, and families, now.

More than ever.

For the enemy lies in wait.

1 Peter 5:8

King James Version

8 Be sober, be vigilant; 

because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, 

walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

We must be FULLY aligned with the LORD.

Look where "thieves" can come in.

JESUS spoke of parables, to that effect:

Luke 8:4-5

King James Version

4 And when much people were gathered together, 

and were come to him out of every city, 

he spake by a parable:

5 A sower went out to sow his seed: 

and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; 

and it was trodden down, 

and the fowls of the air devoured it.

Luke 8:11-12

King James Version

11 Now the parable is this: 

The seed is the word of God.

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; 

then cometh the devil, 

and taketh away the word out of their hearts,

lest they should believe 

and be saved.

John 10:6-8

King James Version

6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: 

but they understood not what things they were 

which he spake unto them.

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, 

I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me 

are thieves and robbers: 

but the sheep did not hear them.

John 10:9

King James Version

9 I am the door: 

by me if any man enter in, 

he shall be saved, 

and shall go in and out, 

and find pasture.

John 10:10

King James Version

10 The thief cometh not, 

but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: 

I am come that they might have life, 

and that they might have it 

more abundantly.

John 10:11

King James Version

11 I am the good shepherd: 

the good shepherd giveth his life 

for the sheep.

John 10:12

King James Version

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, 

whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, 

and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: 

and the wolf catcheth them, 

and scattereth the sheep.

John 10:13

King James Version

13 The hireling fleeth, 

because he is an hireling, 

and careth not for the sheep.

John 10:14

King James Version

14 I am the good shepherd, 

and know my sheep, 

and am known of mine.

John 10:15

King James Version

15 As the Father knoweth me, 

even so know I the Father: 

and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:16

King James Version

16 And other sheep I have, 

which are not of this fold: 

them also I must bring, 

and they shall hear my voice; 

and there shall be one fold, 

and one shepherd.

John 10:17

King James Version

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, 

because I lay down my life, 

that I might take it again.

If you're a born again parent, this you must do.

That you, and your family might be safe:

Deuteronomy 11:18-21

King James Version

18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words 

in your heart and in your soul, 

and bind them for a sign upon your hand, 

that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.

19 And ye shall teach them your children, 

speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, 

and when thou walkest by the way, 

when thou liest down, 

and when thou risest up.

20 And thou shalt write them 

upon the door posts of thine house, 

and upon thy gates:

21 That your days may be multiplied, 

and the days of your children, 

in the land which the Lord sware 

unto your fathers to give them, 

as the days of heaven upon the earth.

Lastly, be aware of the "black-shirted" ones.

What we call the "copycat".

Observe how he copies --

GOD has His TRIUNE GOD.

The enemy tries to have his, too.

Secure your homes.

Secure your families.

Secure your souls.

Pray to be born again now.

That SPIRIT may teach you how.

The Rapture is imminent.

It can occur, any moment GOD chooses.

I'm not dreaming these dreams in a vacuum.

There is real urgency, dear brothers, and sisters.

Only through JESUS are we safe.

And saved.

Related material:

POWER of JESUS

DEFINITELY a copycat

JESUS and Satan

The devil's DEVICES

Sin AWARENESS

SALVATION

HOLINESS

Image: Clipart Library

FORTIFICATION from GOD

 

Philippians 4:13

King James Version

13 I can do all things through Christ 

which strengtheneth me.

Nothing like GOD's WORD to give us peace, safety, security.

And a good night's sleep.

Nothing like His Word to reassure us, each day.

Let His Word tell us so.

What could be stronger than a fortress?

Exodus 15:2-3

King James Version

2 The Lord is my strength and song, 

and he is become my salvation: 

he is my God, 

and I will prepare him an habitation; 

my father's God, 

and I will exalt him.

3 The Lord is a man of war: 

the Lord is his name.

What makes the enemy flee?

James 4:7

King James Version

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. 

Resist the devil, 

and he will flee from you.

How must we fortify?

Acts 16:31

King James Version

31 And they said, 

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, 

and thou shalt be saved, 

and thy house.

What strength do we have?

Ezekiel 3:8-9

King James Version

8 Behold, 

I have made thy face strong against their faces, 

and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.

9 As an adamant harder than flint 

have I made thy forehead: 

fear them not, 

neither be dismayed at their looks, 

though they be a rebellious house.

Where do we get power from?

Luke 24:49

King James Version

49 And, behold, 

I send the promise of my Father upon you: 

but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, 

until ye be endued with power from on high.

How do we conquer fear?

2 Timothy 1:7

King James Version

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; 

but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

What ensures freedom?

2 Corinthians 3:17

King James Version

17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: 

and where the Spirit of the Lord is, 

there is liberty.

Who oversees everything?

Psalm 127:1

King James Version

127 Except the Lord build the house, 

they labour in vain that build it: 

except the Lord keep the city, 

the watchman waketh but in vain.

Who is the head of our army?

Acts 4:10-12

King James Version

10 Be it known unto you all,

and to all the people of Israel, 

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, 

whom ye crucified, 

whom God raised from the dead, 

even by him doth this man 

stand here before you whole.

11 This is the stone 

which was set at nought of you builders, 

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: 

for there is none other name under heaven

 given among men, 

whereby we must be saved.

Of course, we need GOD to fight our battles.

And to help fortify us, in spirit, and in truth.

Especially it's not an ordinary enemy.

JESUS tells us who the enemy is.

That's for the next post.

Related material:

The SAFE house

Image: Clipart Library

A SPIRITUAL house

 

1 Peter 2:5

King James Version

5 Ye also, as lively stones, 

are built up a spiritual house, 

an holy priesthood, 

to offer up spiritual sacrifices, 

acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

What does it really mean, "fortify your fortress"?

It simply means, fortify your soul.

Check for breaches.

Where does Satan get to you?

Where are you sinning?

Where are you kept unaware?

Is your heart right, with JESUS?

Are you living, as GOD would have you live?

Are you born of the SPIRIT?

Do you believe in JESUS?

Have you a love for the LORD?

GOD is really merciful, you know.

He could have wiped out His holy nation anytime.

The same goes for all of us.

Psalm 78:40-41

King James Version

40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, 

and grieve him in the desert!

41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, 

and limited the Holy One of Israel.

But He reasoned:

Psalm 78:38-39

King James Version

38 But he, being full of compassion, 

forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: 

yea, many a time turned he his anger away, 

and did not stir up all his wrath.

39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; 

a wind that passeth away, 

and cometh not again.

Even as GOD is merciful, it's no excuse for us to be careless.

We need to look after our hearts, our spiritual houses.

Proverbs 4:23

King James Version

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; 

for out of it are the issues of life.

We all have breaches in our spirit.

Our spiritual houses are broken down.

Our lives are in disarray.

Our forts are unmanned.

We do not have watchers.

Neither do we watch.

Watch for what?

Ephesians 2:2-3

King James Version

2 Wherein in time past ye walked 

according to the course of this world, 

according to the prince of the power of the air, 

the spirit that now worketh 

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation 

in times past in the lusts of our flesh, 

fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; 

and were by nature the children of wrath, 

even as others.

Ephesians 6:12

King James Version

12 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.

Colossians 2:8

King James Version

8 Beware lest any man spoil you 

through philosophy and vain deceit, 

after the tradition of men, 

after the rudiments of the world, 

and not after Christ.

1 Timothy 4:1

King James Version

4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, 

that in the latter times 

some shall depart from the faith, 

giving heed to seducing spirits, 

and doctrines of devils;

1 Peter 5:8

King James Version

8 Be sober, be vigilant; 

because your adversary the devil, 

as a roaring lion, walketh about, 

seeking whom he may devour:

Many are not aware the sins they are committing.

Many deny they sin.

Many don't acknowledge the presence of GOD.

Neither, the presence of evil.

As such, their forts are breached.

There's no need to ambush.

Satan lives in their house.

He has made himself comfortable there.

We did write about "whitewashed walls" in the previous post.

Wherein we look good on the outside, but are rotten on the inside.

We're all slick, and savvy, but full of sin.

Those are the breaches I'm talking about.

Potential openings for Satan.

We need fortification of the soul.

Through acknowledgment.

That we are sinful.

That we need GOD.

That only JESUS can save us.

That we need to be born again.

That we need SPIRIT to teach us Scripture.

That we, too, can share the gospel with others.

That's how it is to have a spiritual house.

The house of your heart is safe, secured, saved.

Under the GRACE and GUIDANCE of GOD.

What other house is there anyway?

Check other parts of your "house":

FOUNDATION

WALLS

GATES 

FLOORS

WINDOWS

Related video:

Seduction of Christianity - Dave Hunt

Image: Clipart Library