“And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.” The Word became a human being and dwelt among us. Jesus is the word of God made flesh. He is the living word of God who became human, incarnate. When He walked the earth He worked the written word of God to set the example for us to follow. The power we need to reign in victory over evil is in the word of God. As we go on to maturity in Christ, and allow the word of God to consume us through study and meditation, we grow and become more powerful. The power to change things is in God’s word, the bible. The power is released when we confess it with our mouths and believe it in our hearts. Our confession of the word of God on our lips and with true heart felt trust it will change things for the better as we speak it with authority, is vital. The evil forces in this world know whether you’re playing with it or you really believe, (they bow down to God’s word). Doubt is the destroyer of faith. To be less doubtful, we must renew our minds with God’s way of living, using His word of correction, His word for healing, His word for getting your needs met, His word for deliverance, His word on relationships, His word on how the family should function, and everything else having to do with our limited time here on earth. Work the word, and God’s word will work for you.

“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” David having gone through many battles successfully, has experience in knowing the Lord is his shield around him, and David’s head may have hung low many times during the process of the battle. God doesn’t always help us avoid the battle because He knows we need to go through the hard places in life to build character and integrity. When we try to avoid the battle instead of facing it head on, we miss God on every level. He’s trying to develop us, help us grow up into the warrior he created us to be. You will fight your battles either with God’s help, or in your own strength, because the battles are inevitable, they’re coming. There’s a saying most people know, “If it doesn’t kill me, it’ll make me stronger”. That holds some weight to it. It’s in line with God’s way of development for His children. Without battles we would not develop our faith and without faith you’re pretty much on your own in life. We are laborers together with God. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Life was created to include the Lord. Our ups and downs are simply God’s fine tuning of our faith. Most don’t understand this and get lost in the battle. The battle is not to take you out, but to give you wings so you can soar above your troubles and live in victory.

“[Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.” Seed, time, and harvest have been in effect since the beginning of time. What we give shall be given again unto us. With whatever measure, and quality you give out, is how your harvest will return to you. The law of reciprocity works whether we know it or not. The financial system God has laid out is perfect for supporting the work and plan of reconciliation assigned to all christians. We give to a church or ministry and we will receive a return on our giving. Sowing into God’s program brings prosperity to the giver and supplies the needs of the local church we attend. Tithes and offerings are God’s way to keep the church functioning. How we give is important also. Not grudgingly or sparingly, God loves a cheerful prompt to do it giver whose heart is in his giving. Give and it shall be given again unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men and women give unto you. It’s like you’re a river, not a pond. The river has fresh water flowing in and out not allowing stagnation to develop. Your finances become stagnated as you hold on to your money too tightly, release your money into good fertile ground for a wonderful harvest.

“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God’s power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,”. The power of God is in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. His entire experience on earth has gained Him the preeminence in life. He did what no one else could do concerning living above the evil in this world, by demonstrating His authority over it. He overcame Satan and his crew by simply working the word of God against him, setting the example for us to follow. The power is in understanding and acting on God’s word, which is the final authority over all things. When we sync up with God’s way of living, we reach heights of victory not otherwise obtained. If you’re a closet christian, it’s simple because you haven’t grown enough in the word of God. As we mature in Christ, the boldness of who you are in Christ gets stronger and stronger, and you lose the shame of telling people you’re a christian. It’s past time we grew up and latched on to a healthy walk with the Lord. Get out of the closet and stay out, you are royalty in God’s eyes and there’s nothing to be ashamed of being a christian.

“Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset–rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.” Our enemy the devil roams around like a lion, is what the text for today says. The key word here is “like”. The devil isn’t as ferocious as a real lion because he has no power over us unless we give him the power. The bible says submit yourself to the Lord and resist the devil and he will flee from you. Our submission to the Lord is where we gain the power to resist the devil. Satan uses our power against us. As we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths a thing, it will eventually come to pass. The devil knows this better than most ignorant christians. The devil gets your attention through fear, deception, and temptations. As we react to these demonic entities we begin to speak about what we’re dealing with. In speaking out, or confession of your situation with belief in it, therein lies the power. The power of your tongue will bring results, good or bad, you have what you say eventually. The devil uses your power against you because he understands the system God put in place. It’s why the Lord says, my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Stand firm in your faith and put the devil on notice your not taking his mess anymore. Resist him now!

“O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!” We never have to be concerned about the Lord running out of love towards us. We are secure in His love from beginning to end. His helping hand has been upon us from birth. It is the decisions we make in life that can alter God’s plans for us. He will never override our will. We have freedom of choice and that if not properly governed can turn disastrous with some of the decisions we make in life. Our freedom of choice should be governed by the word of God, the bible. God’s love for us wants to keep us on the straight and narrow towards the victory found in His teachings and precepts for living with the demonic influences of this world, which are designed to steal, kill, and destroy you. You may think that’s a bit extreme but Satan’s tactics are subtle in approach but devastating once you take the bait of temptation. The devil’s heart of destruction towards mankind has been a thing since we took the place of God’s affection he (Lucifer) once had in heaven before he got kicked out. The Lord is totally aware of Satan’s temporary dominion on the earth, that’s why God’s love sent Jesus to destroy the devil’s plans against us. Give thanks to the Lord, He loves you more than words can say.

“When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established, What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?” The answer to why God is so mindful of mankind in the midst of all the spectacular heavens He created and the stars, and moon, is that man was created on a level that we can fellowship with the Lord. The animals or birds or fish in the sea cannot intellectually relate to God like a friend He can talk to. He cares for us because we remind Him of Himself. Where do our personalities come from, why is there humor, or emotions in our lives. It all comes from the Lord, He gives us what He already has in Himself. We are made in His image and likeness. He is three parts (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and we are spirit, soul, and body. Each has a particular part to play in life. He is mindful of you even when we don’t sense or see God in any way. He wants us to grow up, so He allows us to go through hard spots in life from time to time. He will never leave you or forsake you. Get closer to Him first, and then He will come closer to you, and you’ll know why He is mindful of us.

“Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one].” Our strength truly comes from the Lord. He is faithful to set you on a firm foundation. We are pulled in every direction sometimes, and need a firm foundation to help keep us steady. He’s the Rock of our salvation and the pillar of our faith. He guards us from the evil one, Satan. To be protected by God, we must trust Him first. Through faith and patience we obtain the promises of God. As we follow Him into all truths of life and purpose of existence, we become invincible in our endeavors. Jesus took the keys of death and hell as He ascended up to the Father, and He rose in victory over every demonic influence and principalities and evil powers, (He gave them the holy beat down). We now have been given all authority over the evil one, but if you don’t know that for yourself, those evil entities will know that you’re not sure and won’t obey you when you command them to leave you alone. Knowing who you are in Christ Jesus is vital to your Christian walk and total victory over the evil one. Yes, the Lord is faithful, He will strengthen you, and will guard you, but it’s our job to learn His teachings and precepts to connect with the Master for a firm foundation.

“THE EARTH is the Lord’s, and the fullness of it, the world and they who dwell in it.” This planet belongs to the Lord, He made it and still has plans for His creation including mankind after Satan’s reign of running things is over. After the fall of mankind in the garden of Eden rulership of this earth was transferred over to the devil. This is why God sent Jesus into the world to regain man’s authority and rightful position in the world. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills the bible states, and He can get our needs met by our faith in Him. Regardless of Satan’s rule over the earth, God’s kingdom is upon us for the ability to live above the evil in this world. It’s a choice, and until we invoke our wills to follow God’s way of living, we fall under Satan’s rule and way of life. We are born into the way of this world and we must at one point choose Jesus to understand the other life option the Lord has provided, a life of faith and victorious living. The time is coming when the lion will lay down with the lamb, and not eat him. No more hurt or pain or any of this world’s troubles because it will be a theocracy, God ruled, and God run world.

“Jesus said to her, I am [Myself] the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on) Me, although he may die, yet he shall live; And whoever continues to live and believes in (has faith in, cleaves to, and relies on) Me shall never [actually] die at all. Do you believe this?” The text today is loaded with meaning. Jesus is the life giver for creation, and unto the new birth experience. We all will die physically one day, that’s inevitable. But before we come to Christ we are all spiritually dead even though our bodies are alive and well. Jesus is the resurrection of our physically dead bodies and our spiritually dead human spirits. We can be alive but death doomed unto hell itself. All life comes from Jesus Christ our Lord as He was given the go ahead by God the Father to create the world. All things are created and held together by Him. He’s the reason the ocean waters will only come so far into land, and why animals instinctively know how to survive this world without being taught. Jesus raises the physically dead body, and the spiritually dead human spirit. He is the life and the resurrection.