Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Through the weekly and daily devotionals you can be constantly encouraged in your great role of parenting, the highest career in the nation. You can also stay updated on what's happening with the Above Rubies ministry.

The vision for Meat for Men — UNCOMPROMISING MANHOOD blog is to encourage husbands, fathers and single men in Biblical manhood.

BE ON GUARD, Part 2

FearManSnare2. DO NOT LET FEAR DRIVE YOU TO PANIC

2 Timothy 1:7: “God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

A friend shared with me about their pastor who the Sunday before closing down public services because of the fear of spreading COVID-19 spoke on 2 Timothy 1:7. And yet at the end of the service, he reminded everyone not to shake hands and announced there would be no more series until further notice!

In countries where persecution of Christian gatherings is most severe, true believers take enormous risks to meet together in undisclosed underground secrecy, in caves, forests, and alternative houses.

Don’t we believe in divine healing and protection? Psalm 91 10 says: “There shall no evil befall thee, either shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.”

Don’t we believe in togetherness? Hebrews 10:25 states: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting (encouraging) one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.”

Christianity is very much a togetherness. We fellowship together. We worship together. We pray for one another together. We encourage one another when we come together. “One another” Scriptures are mentioned over and over again.

No matter what all the naysayers think, I believe there is something very special about Christians coming together.

It is important to collectively pray together for our leaders, kings, and for all that are in authority (2 Timothy 2:1-3). There is something powerful about the collective, unified prayer of agreement.

Matthew 18:18: “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are GATHERED TOGETHER IN MY NAME, THERE AM I IN THE MIDST OF THEM.”

Our president Donald J. Trump desperately needs our prayers All our leaders need our prayers, especially in these most challenging times.

If some are too fearful to gather in larger crowds, they could meet together in smaller gatherings in homes.

How can we have Christ in the midst if we do not even gather tougher in small groups, let alone larger ones?

The prayer of agreement is based on the context of where “two or three are gathered together” and there is even more faith in a larger crowd of believers.

The right to assemble in a peaceful way is written in the First Amendment to the Constitution. It states: “The First Amendment to the United States Constitution prevents the government from making laws which regulate an establishment of religion, prohibit the free exercise of religion, or abridge the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble, or the right to petition the government for redress of grievances.”

It is a big mistake for the church to close its doors in the midst of a pandemic for the church represents Christ and His door is always open. He has no fear of gathering with His people for it is written in Psalm 22:22: “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.”

We never closed our doors throughout this whole virus and the Lord protected us and we enjoyed amazing services. Unto Him be all the glory.

Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”

Inside of Christ there is no fear of a pandemic. It is the opposite. Inside of Christ there is a peaceful, healing stream. Psalm 46:4 says: “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.”

The fear of God trumps the fear of man.

More points to come.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

P.S. GREAT NEWS!
Many churches are beginning to assemble together again. If you hear of a church near you that is assembling again, gather with them. This will make the devil mad, but it will make Christ glad that His people are coming together again.

One example:
Megachurch Pastor to Reopen Churches for In-Person Services this Sunday, Calls for Congregations Nationwide to Join

Pastor Brian Gibson to Open hIs Churches in Texas and Kentucky on Sunday, May 17th and Invites Churches Across America to Join; First Liberty Institute Pledges to Defend Gibson’s Constitutional Rights Should He Face Challenges

Go to:
https://peaceablygather.com/

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BE ON GUARD

BeOnGuardBe on guard. Be watching. Be ready. Be alert.

This lesson came to us as a wake-up call when we were without power for nearly four days. A powerful electrical storm brought down many trees and knocked out the power in many counties in Tennessee.

Recently our closest city, Nashville, and a smaller city nearby were hit with a very powerful tornado which destroyed many homes and businesses in sections of the inner cities.

And now it is amazing to me how quickly the largest and most powerful economy in the world could come to such a sudden, screeching halt all over a sinister thing called COVID-19. Not only the USA economy, but all the world’s economies were wasted.

How easy it was to batten down the hatches, put a halt to all our civil liberties and freedoms, shut down basically all of our economical resources, and put everyone under CDC orders and regulations for the last two months without fully realizing how unbelievably difficult it is to turn the switch back on.

Once you turn the switch off, even for such a short period of time, it’s difficult to turn it fully back on again. The cost of shutting down is enormous and in this country, it amounts to several trillions of dollars, the loss of employment, the shortage of basic household items, and the list never stops.

What can we learn from all of this?

1. KEEP IN TOUCH WITH GOD AT ALL TIMES

During the reign of Darius, he appointed three presidents and 120 princes but gave to Daniel the leadership of them all. King Darius preferred Daniel above all others “because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king sought to set him over the whole realm.”

He was a very busy man in the matters of the kingdom of Babylon, and yet he took time to kneel before His God three times every day. This was his lifestyle. Daniel 6:10 says: “He went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

When we cultivate the daily habit of prayer, we will be far more ready to handle difficulties and traumas that come our way, which they inevitably will. We must also train our children to cultivate the daily habit of prayer as we train them to face life.

Five more points to come.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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THE DOUBLE PORTION ANOINTING, Part 5 - THIS ONE THING I DO!

DoublePortion5We look today at the kind of faith we need to press into the double portion anointing. We see this in Philippians 3:11-14.

• There is a faith that believes “by any means possible” meaning whatever it takes—rain, hail, or snow, nothing is going to stop me from attaining all that is possible to attain in Christ.
• There is a faith that believes “I have not yet attained all that there is for me in Christ.
• There is a faith that believes “I have not reached perfection yet.”
• There is a faith that believes in “following after.” In other words, pursuing with all the means you have in Christ to obtain a higher degree of apprehension and perfection.
• There is faith that “apprehends or “grasps hold of” as you run to receive a prize.
• There is a faith that confesses “this is one thing I do.” It is the consuming passion of your life.
• There is a faith that “forgets the past and reaches forth” to be the first over the finish line.
• There is a faith that presses on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize.”

This type of faith in Christ Jesus that Paul lived (not only talked about) was a life of pioneering, discipline, hard work, warfare, “blood and guts” fighting, and possessing his inheritance.

The Christianity that Paul preached was a far cry from what we see and observe in our modern 21st century church life.

What’s happening through this COVID-19 virus could well be a wake-up call for us to examine ourselves to see whether we have the faith that will enable us to be overcomers and victors.

It seems to me that we could face many more challenges ahead. We are certainly going to need all that there is in Christ to win. The double portion means walking in His fullness and all that He has for us.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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THE DOUBLE PORTION ANOINTING, Part 4

DoublePortion4In these challenging times we are facing we need a rock-solid faith in all that God has to offer each one of us in Christ. The alternative is fear and a collapse of all we hold dear.

Just as Elisha pressed into the double portion of the anointing that was on Elijah so must we, as sons and daughters of the living God, press in to claim our double portion inheritance that God the Father has provided for us in Jesus Christ.

Paul confessed in Philippians 3:13, 14: “THIS ONE THING I DO, forgetting those things which are behind, and REACHING FORTH unto those things which are before. I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

The Apostle Paul did not sit around taking his Christian life for granted. He was not casual with his inheritance that Christ Jesus had provided for him to appropriate and experience.

The early pioneers came to America with very little means apart from a big appetite to get here, work hard, and appropriate all the good things this new land had to offer them. There were no government handouts and benefits that entitled them to be slothful and easy going.

America had a lot to offer those would roll up their sleeves, get stuck in, stake their claim, and apprehend what the country had to offer.

It was not enough to arrive in America. And it’s not enough to just arrive in Christ.

On the other hand, it is a wonderful thing to arrive in America, the land of the free. It is a far more wonderful thing to be in Christ and to be free indeed.

Through the action of faith we have come into Christ. This is the first portion of our inheritance. The second portion is being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Experiencing His gifts and His fruit in our lives is not attained by the inaction of a faith that is self-pleasing, easy going, and has no spiritual disciplines.

We’ll look at what kind of faith we need tomorrow.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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THE DOUBLE PORTION ANOINTING, Part 3

DoublePortion3Jesus Christ is our double portion. Exodus 16:5 tells us that on the sixth day the Israelites were to gather and prepare twice as much manna as they daily gathered because the seventh day was to be a day of rest, the Sabbath Day.

Jesus said in John 6:35: “I am the bread of life.” He compared the bread God provided for the children of Israel in the wilderness with Himself, the New Covenant living bread.

Jesus is the sixth day double portion and also our sabbath rest.

Hebrews 4:9 says: “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” Just as Canaan was the land the pilgrims of Israel sought to enter, so we also press toward a heavenly promised land called Heaven. However, we can experience, even in the midst of all the battles we face in life, an earnest (down payment) of all that He is by His Holy Spirit living in us.

Ephesians 1:13, 14: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

The Holy Spirit indwelling our weak, mortal bodies brings to us a foretaste of what is yet to come. The more we rest (trust, rely) and appropriate His double portion, the more effective we will be in our daily lives. There is a far greater anointing than any of the great prophets of Israel ever had in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:14-17 tells us how Esau despised his birthright and in so doing he despised the double portion.

What did Esau give away when he sold his birthright? Genesis 27: 27-29 tells us:

He gave away . . .
1. The kiss and blessing of his father
2. The dew of Heaven
3. The richness of the earth
4. Plenteous grain and wine
5. People to serve him
6. Nations bowing down to him
7. Lord over his brothers
8. The sons of his mother bowing down to him
9. Those who curse you will be cursed
10. Those who bless you will be blessed

Jacob had barely left his father’s presence when Esau came in from hunting. He also prepared food and brought it to his father.

Genesis 27: 32-34: “And Isaac his father said unto him, who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? Where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed ? yea, AND HE SHALL BE BLESSED. And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry. . .”

We must never take lightly the birthright that has been given to Jesus, the head of His body, the church. The head of the body shares His birthright in all its fullness with his body, the church.

What a tragedy if we fail to appropriate our Savior’s birthright, the double portion of all the Father in Heaven has given to His Beloved son.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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THE DOUBLE PORTION ANOINTING, Part 2

FirstbornCreationWe have been given a double portion anointing in Christ. More examples today:

ESAU

Esau was the firstborn son of Isaac but sold his birthright for the sake of a lentil stew (Genesis 25:29-34). What a tragedy resulting in an enormous loss of wealth and prophetic blessing. He is also deprived of the family blessing (Genesis 27:1-40).

Esau missed out but Jacob, the younger brother, inherits the title “Israel” and becomes listed with Abraham and Isaac as one of the three patriarchs of Israel through whom all the tribes of Israel (and Jesus Christ, the Son of God) would come.

Hebrews 12:16, 17: “Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright, For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with rears.”

DAVID

David was a prophetic type of Christ.

David was the youngest son of Jesse, but God made him a firstborn. Psalm 89:18-20, 27: “I have laid help upon on that is mighty (a warrior): I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: . . . I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.”

JESUS CHRIST

Jesus was the ultimate firstborn and according to the promises of God we are to inherit all that He receives as the firstborn.

1 Chronicles 5:2 tells us that out of Judah came “the CHIEF RULER” which was Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:9, 10: “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”

Romans 8:29: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the FIRSTBORN among many brethren.”

Colossians 1:14, 15: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN of every creature.”

Colossians 1:19: “He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the FIRSTBORN from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Hebrews 12:23, 24: “To the general assembly and church of the FIRSTBORN (Jesus Christ), which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

Press into your double portion.

I’ll write more about this next post.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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THE DOUBLE PORTION ANOINTING

DoublePortionWe have been given a double portion anointing in Christ. Let’s not despise it.

Deuteronomy 21:17 tells us that the firstborn son is to receive a “double portion.” In Bible days, it was considered a great blessing to be the firstborn son, especially to oversee the family inheritance.

According to Jewish history and culture the double portion was given to the eldest son because he had the privilege and responsibility to make sure the father’s inheritance was shared to all members of the immediate family and to have extra inheritance to share with needy family members.

The birthright of the oldest son was greatly prized, but sadly there were some firstborn sons in the Bible who did not receive their double portion.

The challenge comes to us as God’s people who have also inherited a double portion in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ is God’s firstborn and the Bible tells us we are “joint heirs with Him” (Romans 8:17). Because we are in Him, we inherit the double portion.

Are we walking in our double portion anointing or are we despising it?

Lets look at some exampes:

ADAM
Adam was the firstborn son of God in the natural. However, because of his sin and the fall in the garden of Eden, the great significance and honor of this title was given to another. It was given to God’s firstborn Son whose name is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:22: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

CAIN
Cain lost his privilege and honor of the firstborn inheritance (Genesis 4:10-16). Because Cain was cast out from the presence of God, it was possibly given to Seth as he is mentioned in the godly lineage through whom Christ came (Genesis 5:5, 6).

REUBEN
Reuben was the eldest son of Jacob, but he missed his birthright because he slept with his father’s concubine (Genesis 35:22). Instead it was given to Joseph’s sons.

As we read Jacob’s blessing to Reuben, we feel the sadness in Jacob’s words as he sees the prowess in his son, but cannot give him what should have been his right.

Genesis 49:3, 4: “Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: unstable as water, thou shalt not excel: because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.”

1 Chronicles 5:1: “Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his fathers bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel . . . For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s).

We will look at more tomorrow.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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IF MY PEOPLE...

IfMyPeopleWe know this Scripture so well, but are we doing it?

"If my people, which are called by y name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will HEAL THEIR LAND."

We have the answer for our current situation--for all God's people to get down on their knees and cry out to God and turn from our wicked ways. then God will HEAL OUR LAND.

Amen.

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LET’S ACT LIKE MEN

ActLikeMen“Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’” (Psalm 115:2 (ESV).

I believe this country is desperate for some positive news. I have always been pretty much a news enthusiast, especially with conservative talk shows such as Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, The Ingraham Angle, Judge Janine, Mark Levin, and Rush Limbaugh, etc. However, lately my enthusiasm has been dampened with so much negative news about the corona virus and how deadly it is.

We are told:
You must continually wash your hands. Yes, of course I am committed to do this.
You must not touch your face.
You must wear a mask. I don’t.
You must wear goggles. Really?
You must not eat at a restaurant. They are closed anyway.
You must not go to church. How sad the churches are closed, and yet many abortion clinics are still operating.
You cannot gather publicly.
You must stay indoors. How do you keep a man inside?
You must restrict traveling except to food stores, gas stations, and of course, hospitals.
The enemy can kill you!

I am an 80-year-old man and love getting out and about. Proverbs 26:13 says: “The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.” I am ready to face the lions in whatever form they come!

I don’t know about you, but I feel sick and depressed, not because of the virus, but by those who don’t give a hoot about our economy which is barely existing. Our “loving and benevolent” politicians at the top want to stop us from working and be good little children who wash our hands, stay inside, and don’t go outside because you could die or cause someone else to die.

For crying out loud, please let us go back to work. It’s most likely just as safe at many workplaces as at food stores and gas stations and definitely safer than being among the diseased and dying at our hospitals.

The health institutions have taken over. They are stuck in their little boxes. People are dying and yet they are reluctant and slow to use the hydroxychloroquine (sometimes with azithromycin) which has been proclaimed by President Trump and approved by the FDA. The testimonies of those who have used this drug, which is very safe, have been amazing! Even some who have been at death’s door have recovered when given this drug. It is a proven virus buster, but unfortunately it is outside the priority box of many health officials. People don’t need to die.

And why can’t we get it freely with a doctor’s prescription without having to go to the hospital or wait until the patient has no other alternative? The whole nation should know about it. It should be freely available to everyone now so people can live – and get back to work. We have an answer now.

I thought that home was the place where you resort when you are too sick to work. Why are the healthy given the same prescription as the sick? It gives the whole nation a good (or bad) excuse to get lazy at home.

No nation ever won a battle by extolling the might and power of their enemy. The negative news has to stop right now. We can’t afford to wait for a vaccine (which can’t be trusted) before we get back to work! That’s a liberal agenda.

In the meantime we destroy our moral. In the meantime we sit around watching fake news. The states with democratic governors and mayors that are under lockdown with police curfew are getting a taste of socialism/communism. I pray they will wake up before its too late. We are losing our freedoms fast and the money is running out.

How long are people going to stay away from church? There is so much power in fervent, corporate prayer. I’m sure the devil is happy about that!

“Be on the watch, stand firm in the faith, play the man, be full of courage” (1 Corinthians 16:13 Knox).

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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NOT EVEN DRIVE INS?

EasterCrossA Kentucky mayor bans drive-in Easter services. He says “It’s not really practical or safe to accommodate drive up services taking place in our community . . . there would be hundreds of thousands of people driving around our community.”

Well, wouldn’t there be the same amount of cars that usually go to church on Easter Sunday?

This same mayor allows “drive-up ice cream stores, liquor stores, and abortion clinics” but not even a drive-in Easter service where people would be “social distancing” in their cars.

Let’s wake up to what’s really happening.

~ Nancy Campbell

https://www.toddstarnes.com/…/louisville-mayor-forbids-ch…/…

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WHY?

DBenhamArrestedWhy are abortion clinics still open and yet churches are closed?

And why are people being arrested when they are not breaking the law?

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LIFE IS A STRUGGLE...

McRaven“Life is a struggle and the potential for failure is ever present, but those who live in fear of failure, or hardship, or embarrassment will never achieve their potential. “

Without pushing your limits, without occasionally sliding down the rope headfirst, WITHOUT DARING GREATLY, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT IS TRULY POSSIBLE IN YOUR LIFE.”

~ Admiral William H. McRaven from “MAKE YOUR BED – LITTLE THINGS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE . . AND MAYBE THE WORLD!”

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WORDS OF HOPE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

SpreadHope“Hope is the most powerful force in the universe. With hope you can inspire nations to greatness. With hope you can raise up the downtrodden. With hope you can ease the pain of unbearable loss. Sometimes all it takes is one person to make a difference.”
From “MAKE YOUR BED – LITTLE THINGS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE . . AND MAYBE THE WORLD!” by

~ Admiral William H. McRaven.

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THE BREAKTHROUGH, Part 8 - THERE IS BREAKTHROUGH IN THE NAME OF JESUS

Breakthru8There is unlimited power in the name of Jesus. Therefore, let’s daily call upon the name of the Lord (Romans 1013).

Our president hopes that the Federal Government will lift the “state of emergency” off this county by Easter (18 days from now). I do pray this will happen so that so many people will be able to get back to work and the economy will bounce back to life again.

As families, we need to daily pray that this will happen so that our country will not sink into a great depression. We must pray that people will not fear going back to work because of exposure to this virus.

It seems that there are some very promising remedies such as hydroxychloroquine, a remedy used to fight malaria. So far, the results of people taking this cheap drug have reported amazing results.

We also need to pray that fear will not stop left-wing state governments from getting back to work.

We must also pray that God will shut the mouths of the fearmongering media who hate the president and do not want him to succeed in saving lives through encouraging alternative cures so many lives can be saved, as well as the economy.

Remember, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10).

His name is Jesus. Keep speaking his name. Keep calling on His name.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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THE INNER AND OUTER MAN

InnerMan

Prayer must be kept up as duly as mealtime.

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HOW DO WE BREAKTHROUGH THE CURRENT CORONAVIRUS?

CoronaIsn’t it amazing how one single virus can literally collapse the whole world in so many ways?

Caleb was a man who had a breakthrough spirit. Joshua and Caleb are mentioned together in Numbers 14:6 as the only two spies who refused to join in with the “evil report” concerning the land of Canaan (Numbers 13;32).

It is worth noting that it is Caleb whose name is singled out as the greatest hero in this story. Caleb, on his own, first seeks to silence the people before Moses: Numbers 13:30 tells us: “And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”

God honors Caleb in Numbers 14:24: “But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereunto he went; and his seed shall possess it.”

Things have been going so well in our country with a president who is, without fail, fulfilling all his campaign promises. He has already delivered us from so many flawed and restricting policies from the past administrations. The stock market was at all-time high and the list of so many blessings could fill this page.

However, the power of one “evil report” of a single virus has brought almost everything in the nation to a screeching halt. President Trump is now urging all gatherings over 10 people to cancel for the next 15 days. Cruises are canceled. Workplaces and schools are fast becoming locked down and under quarantine regulations. Whole nations and cities are closing. Travel to overseas countries is almost over (for maybe the next eight weeks).

Fear is one of the devil’s main advocates and even when things are going well fear is often so close to the surface that it doesn’t take much to trip the wire and we have a whopping explosion. This is what happened in Numbers, chapters 13 and 14. Read the story again.

Instead of talking fear, all of us who call ourselves Christians should pray. Really? Yes, start praying. Pray individually. Pray as families. Currently, and in the immediate future, you can’t be involved in so many things that have taken your time. You now have time to pray with your families. Maybe God is giving us this time.

Caleb stood in the gap and was soon joined by Joshua. These two men had the right message. But when fear takes over it takes more than words to overcome it.

Numbers 14:10 says: “And all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.” Yes, Joshua and Caleb could have been wiped out by the stoning of the people if it wasn’t for the glory of the Lod showing up before all the people and Moses standing in the gap and interceding for the nation.

Our current situation began with one deadly virus that has the potential to kill older people (especially in their eighties and those with already existing health problems). I turn 80 years myself in a couple of weeks, but I do not fear this virus because I believe that my God answers prayer and preserves those who fear the Lord and hold onto Psalm 91.

• Fear brings panic and destruction.
• Fear is destructive and binding.
• Fear stops progress.
• Fear shuts us down as it did God’s people who had just been blessed with a powerful deliverance from Egypt. If it hadn’t been for Moses standing in the gap with prayer God would have destroyed them all.
• Fear turns us away from our miracle-working God who wants to take His people into a land flowing with milk and honey.
• Fear will destroy more than the virus. It destroys the economy, jobs, income, and prosperity.
• Fear keeps us from the joy of the Lod.
• Fear is the opposite of faith. Faith keeps our eyes on God and His promises.

It’s time for all of us who call ourselves Christians to stand in the gap before God in prayer. Print out and pin up Psalm 91 and place it in prominent areas of your home. Read it aloud with your family each day.

Men, gather your families together daily in humble prayer and bind the spirit of fear and panic.

How do we break through the current coronavirus? By staying in a place of faith and by earnest prayer and calling upon God.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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THE BREAKTHROUGH, Part 6b - WHO WILL SCORE A TOUCHDOWN FOR GOD?

Breakthru7The watching sons of the prophets who observed Elisha receiving the anointing of Elijah never got a breakthrough (2 Kings 2:14, 14). They were contented to observe the passion and desperation of Elisha but did not push in for themselves.

There are too many who are satisfied to be by-standers and observers of those who really press into God to obtain the breakthrough into the miraculous.

It’s so easy to talk to others who have broken through, who have disciplined themselves, and obtained the victor’s crown. One only need tune into any sports channel and listen to those who wax eloquent as they commentate of the various teams and their star players.

In the same way, many Christians are content to wax eloquent in what others achieve but they themselves never have a breakthrough with God into the supernatural realm. They are contented to be called “the sons of the prophets” but they themselves are not the prophets.

Paul confessed: “I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me” (Romans 15:18).

The world does not need “sons of the prophets” as much as it needs prophets.

At the great Super Bowl there are very few who are out on the field compared to the multitudes who are in the grandstands or glued to their TV sets.

Who are the true heroes? Our churches are full of those who want to entertain, or be entertained, but fail to be the people who breakthrough. This world is desperate for Christians who experience the breakthroughs out of every squashing, squelching, confining, negative, limiting bondage to the Pharaohs that continually seek to stop us from experiencing breakthroughs with God.

Who will rise and score another touchdown for God?

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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THE BREAKTHROUGH, Part 6a - THE REAL DEAL

Breakthru6We don’t need sons of the prophets. We need prophets with the anointing of God upon them to get a breakthrough

When Israel was in Egypt under the extreme bondage to the lashing whip of slavery, they certainly needed a breakthrough from God.

In Exodus 3:7, 8 God said: “I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.”

To give them this breakthrough, God raised up Moses with a simple rod in his hand and his brother, Aaron who became his spokesman to Pharaoh. The whole story of Israel’s deliverance and their breakthrough deliverance from the squelching, confining, and debilitating stranglehold of the devil-inspired Pharaoh still applies to God’s people today.

Many of God’s people feel that the devil is still trying to hold them back from a much-needed spiritual, and in many cases, physical breakthrough. Just as Israel needed a great deliverance from the bondage of Egypt so do many Christians today. Many are groaning under the weight of bondage to fear, doubt, and failure.

Many are discontented with the status quo of our modern day gimmicky Christian experience and long for a real breakthrough. They want to experience the “good and large land that flows with milk and honey.”

Elisha, who earnestly sought for the double portion of the Holy Spirit that was upon Elijah, took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and smote the waters of the Jordan river and cried: “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither; and Elisha went over. And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha” (2 Kings 2:13-15).

Many modern churches fail to demonstrate the power and anointing that was upon the early church. How we all desperately need a breakthrough, just like Elisha needed a double portion, supernatural breakthrough. We are tired of all the religious gimmickry.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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WHICH ARE YOU MARRIED TO...

3ps

...Poverty, Prisons, and Persecutions, or Prosperity, Personality, and Popularity?

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THE BREAKTHROUGH, Part 5

Breakthru5Let’s check out more breakthroughs through Moses’ shepherd’s rod. This rod was used to . . .

DROWN THE EGYPTIANS
Exodus 14:26-28: “And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned into his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned and covered the chariots, and the horsemen , and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.”

Take note that the rod and Moses’ hand are used interchangeably, e.g. Exodus 14;16.

BRING FORTH WATER FROM THE ROCK
Exodus 17:5, 6: “And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod . . . and go . . . and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.”

DEFEAT AMALEK
Exodus 17:8-16 tells us that when Moses held up his rod, the Israelites would defeat Amalek and win the battle, but when his hands got tired and weary and he let down the rod, the Amalekites would win. You will remember how Moses’ brothers, Aaron and Hur, came to the rescue and held up his hands with the rod while they fought and so they won the battle.

What amazing miraculous breakthroughs happened through Moses’ humble shepherd’s rod. They were delivered from many yeas of bondage and harsh slavery under the rule of Pharaoh.

Moses’ rod may not have been significant to the natural eye, but we can be certain the Egyptians feared Moses when he held us his rod!

I believe the rod represents the authority and power of the name of Jesus Christ and of the Word of God. Jesus used the power of the Word against Satan (Matthew 4:1-11).

The world, the devil, and everything that stands against God’s people must bow before those who lift up Jesus’ name, His blood, and His testimony which is the Word of God (Revelation 12:11).

No matter what the cost, we must get breakthroughs this year. We have been circling the mountains for too long.

More to come about the rod.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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