Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Obedience to every word of Christ is paramount to our success in spiritual warfare. Every parent is blessed if they have compliant and obedient children to their parental authority. How grieving when children choose to be defiant and disobedient.

God speaks through Isaiah the prophet in Isaiah 1:2: “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.”

In response to their disobedience He continues: “When ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear . . . If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it” (read Isaiah 1:15-20).

Men, we need to take stock of our obedience to Christ. God does not approve of grudging obedience. He wants us to give Him willing obedience.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 states: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

What evidence do we display before God and our fellowman that we are indeed people of faith? Hebrews 11:1 calls faith a “substance” and an “evidence.” Do we demonstrate in our lives that we believe in things that as yet we do not see with our natural eyes?

We believe we are saved through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We believe that our sins are atoned by the shedding of His blood. I believe the difference between people of faith and the people who are not of faith is the substance and evidence of a changed lifestyle. A big part of this changed lifestyle is a changed confession.

Psalm 116:10 states: “I believed, therefore have I spoken.” Also confirmed again in 2 Corinthians 4:13: “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken: we also believe, and therefore speak.”

Our faith is revealed by our confession. Romans 10:9, 10 states: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

The word saved is “sozo” which means full salvation--saved, healed, delivered, preserved, protected, and made whole. It is the same word Jesus used when he healed the people and they were “made whole” from that moment.

Considering our faith is revealed by our confession, why do we so readily quote Isaiah 53:5 “With his stripes we are healed” and at the same time confess our sicknesses? This is an opposing confession.

James 3:10 says: “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

“Be careful for nothing” means we should not be anxious about anything. Don’t fret about anything. The NCV translation says: “Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, ALWAYS GIVING THANKS.”

Worries and cares are part of the devil’s weaponry to defeat us. We need to wake up to the root cause of all our anxieties.

“Be careful for nothing” is not an exhortation that is impossible to apply to our lives Multitudes in this great and free country are bound with worries and anxieties, even in the Christian church. Living in a free country does not exempt us from worrying about all sorts of things. Instead of prayer and supplications, coupled with thanksgiving, many take anti-depressant drugs or stifle their problems with alcohol.

The more we worry, the more we magnify the problem, resulting in our becoming exhausted and defeated. The devil claps his hands and jumps for joy to see us miserable and defeated. The more we dwell on anxiety the more we magnify the devil.

Conversely, the more we pray and supplicate, coupled with the most important ingredient of thanksgiving, the more we magnify the Lord. Faith is released. We understand that God is on our side and He is much bigger and greater than our problems, whatever they may be.

The great question is: will we be foolish enough to magnify the devil’s attacks and strategies, or will we instead magnify God by turning each problem over to Him.

The greater the problems, the greater we should pray and intercede. The greater the problems, the greater we should worship, thank, and bless our great God.

We have not grown up into maturity as a church unless we put this principle into action in our own lives and in the lives of our families and friends.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

And did you know that this promise is especially tailor made for mothers? God gives these words in a prophetic blessing upon the tribe of Asher where it says “Let Asher be blessed with children” and then it concludes with “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” It’s in the context of having children! How about that?

You may think, “How on earth could I ever cope with another child? I’m already overwhelmed.” Dear Mother, God is your strength for today. He doesn’t give you strength and energy for a baby that has not yet come to you. If God sends you another blessing from Heaven, He will give you the strength when He gives you the baby. What a wonderful God we have.

Rejoice in God’s strength and anointing He gives you for today.

Blessings,

Nancy Campbell

Painting: Brooke Walker-Knoblich: Creation

Praising and worshipping God is a great booster, worshipper, and precursor of faith. When we magnify God, we enlarge Him in our faith. Faith cannot remain small in the souls of those who constantly magnify and extol Him. Magnifying God does not make God any greater than He is. Magnifying God opens up the eyes of our hearts to realize more and more just how great He already is so that we can apply the realization of His greatness to our every need.

Psalm 34:1, 2 states: “ I will bless the LORD AT ALL TIMES: his praise shall CONTINUALLY be in my mouth. My soul shall make her BOAST IN THE LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.” There is not a time when we are exempted from praising and worshipping God, no matter how bleak and dark the outlook. There will always be something for which to praise Him.

Apart from Jesus Christ, I do not think anyone could have suffered more than Job and yet he still found a way to bless the Lord. Job 1:20-22 says: “Then Job arose, and rent his mangle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped. And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”

Praise and worship increases our faith. Right now, more than ever, the world needs the church to be full of faith and power. Acts 6:8 says: “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”

It seems wrong to me, and I am sure more so to the Lord, that when we sing the great hymn, “This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long” on Sunday that we do not practice it through the week. When will we learn that the more we magnify Him, the greater will be the release of our faith?

We will soon have revival when we daily release our hearts to worship our most worthy and awesome God. Acts 2:46, 47 says: “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart PRAISING GOD, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to church daily such as should be saved."

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

It wasn’t a coincidence or accident they went through the wilderness. God allowed it by His determinate design and will. God did not desire to have an unprepared and self-reliant people to fight the giants of Canaan. Nor could they bring down the high walls of their cities by the strength and power of their own arm. A thousand times, no.

They had to learn God’s strategy for every battle. Every battle would be a different plan of attack. The only principle that would remain the same for every new encounter with the enemy was the principle of seeking God afresh to find exactly His plan. What He wanted them to do. When He wanted them to go. Where He wanted them to go.

Seeking God was often accompanied with praise and worship. In a spiritual sense, this same principle applies to us today for we are fighting spiritual foes. In some situations, even in Canaan, singers and musicians sang and worshipped God as they went out a head of the armies of Israel. Trumpeters went before the army in the battle of Jericho. Also in Jehoshaphat’s time.

2 Chronicles 20:21, 22 states: “And when he (Jehoshaphat) had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth forever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”

The first thing we should do when the enemy attacks us is to worship the Lord and invite Him to come in and fight our battles with us and for us. Worship and praise are great ways to invite the powerful presence of God to our defense. Worship and praise take away our fears and help us focus on the awesome power of God. This is the way we lift up the gates of our mouths, using our tongues and voices to praise the greatness of His strength power. As we worship and praise the Lord of hosts (the God of the armies of heaven) comes in! Yes He does.

If we do not praise and worship, we tend to talk more negatively about the battle. Our tongues will talk, no matter what. Therefore it is far more beneficial to use them to praise and worship the greatness and power of our awesome God.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

He does not dwell in us to speak negatively to those around us. Instead, we have a divine responsibility to share with our tongues, as well as our deeds, ALL the good things that are in us because of Christ Jesus.

Rejection, criticism, negative gossip, and slander are not in the indwelling Christ. All the things that divide and separate us are not in Christ Jesus. Sickness and disease are not Jesus. Therefore, we have no right to confess them unless we are calling for prayer for divine healing.

Can we ever count up all the good things that are ours by virtue of the indwelling Christ? I think not. Jesus Christ is a minefield of infinite treasure. It is our responsibility to discover and take knowledge of ALL His benefits and blessings and share them with others. This is why we must make every endeavor to know Him more intimately. Not only is Christ a minefield full of treasure, but He has brought all His treasures into us and He wants us to effectively share them with others.

We don’t share our faith stingily, half-heartedly, or fearfully. The great Hoover Dam in Colorado was not made only for the people of Colorado, but to supply energy to other states as well. Wouldn’t it be a shame if the only energy that came from that great dam flowed through a three-quarter inch pipe to provide energy for one house only? We must speak generously of the great reservoir of Water of Life that dwells in us.

Psalm 116:10: “I believe, therefore have I spoken.” How much we believe determines how much we speak. If we are going to speak of ALL the good things that are ours in Christ Jesus, we need to do a lot more discovering. This should be our lifetime pursuit.

Colossians 2:3: “In whom (Christ) are hid ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

I believe we can all learn a very good lesson from this first outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the newly born New Testament church. We also cannot expect the Holy Spirit to fill us and empower if we as a family, a group, or a church are gossiping, slandering, or criticizing one another. We need the Holy Spirit so desperately to move in our lives and empower us to be effective witnesses, coupled with signs, wonders, and miracles.

The church in general is riddled with all types of illnesses and life-threatening diseases, including oppressions and depressions. Medical drugs and all types of prescription medicines and anti-depressants are the only way many in the church are barely functioning. What has happened to the modern church that has caused it to abandon the laying on of hands and the appropriating the healing power of Jesus’ name?

To experience a revival that sweeps thousands, and possibly millions, into the kingdom of God, we Christians need to immediately begin laying a foundation of true unity and love. The precious Holy Spirit desires ever so much for us to come into this fullness and power, but is continually grieved by our divisions and disunity.

Our tongues are so often used to backbite, slander, and divide one another. Instead, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we must use our tongues to edify, encourage, and speak loving and forgiving words to each other.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The enemy of our souls tries his best to divide us with all sorts of offenses to spring up so that as a family we would be rendered powerless.

We firmly believe that there is healing in the atonement along with forgiveness of sins.

Isaiah 53:4 states: “Surely he hath borne our griefs (the Hebrew word is “sicknesses) and carried our sorrows (the Hebrew word is “pain”)".

This prophetic messianic promise of Jesus’ death upon the cross is confirmed in Matthew 8:16, 17: “They brought unto him (Jesus) many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed ALL that were sick: THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet (Isaiah 53:4), saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”

Isaiah 53:5 says: “With his stripes we were healed.” This is also repeated again in the New Testament in 1 Peter 2:24: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree . . . by whose stripes ye were healed.”

The disciples understood the truth of healing in the atonement. It’s about time the church stopped balking about healing for today too.

The enemy tries to do everything he can to destroy our unity in order to stop our prayers being answered, but we will never give in to the devil for he must flee at the sound of God’s people speaking forth the name of Jesus.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, sweet words are very powerful for good. We are reminded of Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” I think that more people are destroyed every day by the power of the tongue than by any other means. Amazing, but true.

People may not be in literal coffins because of slaying, critical words from fathers and mothers. However, we may be surprised how many could actually be in an early grave because of the tongue’s devastating effects on their lives.

One can be emotionally, spiritually, and physically in a coffin while they are still walking. There are multitudes in our amazingly free western nations that are deeply wounded and bound because of the negative power of the tongue. These people may not be in wheelchairs literally, but they are in wheelchairs and hopelessly crippled because of a spouse’s or father or mother’s tongue. Many talents and gifts are crushed and countenances are lifeless. They will not every reach their fullest potential unless someone with sweet, life-giving words ministers healing to them.

Husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, let the Holy Spirit get control of your tongue, right now. Today. Before it does any more damage! The tongue can be such a wrecking ball, but on the other hand, it can be such a power for good.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Because sweetness is a fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit we need to lay hold of the fullness of the Spirit through prayer. As we are filled with the Holy Spirit sweetness naturally flows out through us to others.

1. WE NEED TO SPEAK MORE SWEETLY

We need to be men of sweet speech to all those who we live with, especially our wives and children. On the surface, it might seem a sweet thing to buy gifts for your wife and family, but what’s the point of gifts if we do not speak sweet and kind words to them on a daily basis? I know that many of us men are far from perfect in this area of our lives. I’m not talking about absolute perfection, and I do not think wives and families should get upset because the husband and father loses his cool occasionally. However, it would be a great blessing for men to be generally speaking far more sweetly with all their loved ones. Men should aim, with God’s help, to improve in this area.

Many women also need to improve in this area and remember that “A soft answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1).

Proverbs 25:15 says: “ A soft tongue breaks the bone.” Some women may think their husband has a thick skull when it comes to temperament. However, the best answer to any problem comes in the form of a soft, sweet answer.

Men, remember that these two Scriptures were not just written to women. They apply to men as well.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men should be strong, courageous, and masculine, but our families should know us to be sweet men. Sweetness is certainly not effeminate. Our Lord Jesus Christ was definitely not effeminate. He was strongly opposed to hypocrisy. With righteous zeal He made a whip and turned over the tables of the money changers who should not have been in the temple doing their business. With strong words He drove them all out of God’s house and rebuked them for not reverently regarding it as a house of payer. The demons knew who he was and fled at the word of His command (Matthew 21:12-17).

Painters have depicted Christ as being weak and effeminate in character, but the winds obeyed His voice. At this command blind eyes opened. Deaf received their hearing. He cleansed the lepers and raised the dead. And yet at the same time He was the sweet Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the valleys, and the Chiefest apple tree among all the trees of the woods (Song of Solomon 2:1-3).

John the apostle knew His sweetness and even as a grown man at the Last Supper leaned on the breast of Jesus, resting and basking at the heartbeat of his divine love. Mary, the sister of Martha knew how sweet He was. She anointed the feet of Jesus with a pound of very costly spikenard and wiped His feet with her hair (John 12:1-3). How sweet He was to those who met Him and knew Him.

Men, how can we really be Christ-like if we do not have His sweet Spirit coursing through our own veins?

Men, the world needs fathers who are strong, rugged protectors and providers, yet as sweet as men can possibly be in the midst of a hurting and bitter generation of fathers who are so disengaged with their wives and families.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The answer to this problem is to reckon ourselves to be crucified with Christ to the old, hard, unforgiving nature and learn to receive and apply the sweet grace of Christ to all those who you find offensive.

On the other hand, there are many Christians who are not offended by evil such as fornication, adultery, pornography, and homosexual activities, etc. They are sweet towards them and treat these sins as normal. They believe they do not need to lovingly confront them with the claims of Christ and His call to holiness. They believe we should love these people no matter what, and make them feel comfortable around us, even in their sin.

The answer to this problem is that these Christians who believe in a cheap grace gospel need to get a revelation of the truth. The cross of Christ cost Him everything, including His own precious blood. It was our sin that He bore on the cross in order for us to be set free.

The truth is that God hates sin, but loves the sinner and gave His only beloved Son to free us from all sins and bondages. Jesus Christ was not only love and sweetness (although this was a great part of His life), but He was all about hard-nosed truth. He spoke judgment on all sin and called men to repentance.

Jesus Christ was full of two seemingly apposing truths, but they met perfectly together in Him. He was full of grace (sweetness and love) and truth (pricking thorns).

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Gracious words are not harsh, brash, and cutting. Gracious words are not judgmental, condemning, and cold. Rather, gracious words are sweet, uplifting, and life-giving.

Proverbs 18:21: ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit of it.” Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible says: “Death and life are much determined by the power of the tongue and he that uses this power rightly shall live because of it.”

Proverbs 10:11: “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life.”

Proverbs 10:20: “The tongue of the just is as choice silver.”

Proverbs 10:21: “The lips of the righteous feed many.”

Luke 4:22: “And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth.” Men, grace in itself is a beautiful virtue. It’s nice to be around. It’s not a passive virtue; it not only looks beautiful, but speaks beautifully. It is helpful, loving, encouraging, and healing speech.

Grace also affects our walk. It gets into our feet and takes us to where people sit in darkness to give them the light of Christ. Matthew 4:16 says: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Grace affects our hands. We caress and comfort the wounded souls. We lay hands on the sick n the name of Jesus to bring healing. Grace brings sweet and understanding smiles to our faces to light up the world.

Have you ever wondered why God created beautiful roses in the midst of thorns? Did He do it to protect the rose? Perhaps, but I think here is a deeper and more mysterious answer. Truth can be like thorns that lovingly prick our conscience and expose our sinfulness so that we will repent. We are all attracted to Christ, the beautiful Rose of Sharon (Song of Solomon 2:1), but at the same time we all need to be lovingly pricked by the thorns of truth. We need to be convicted of the sins that hold us back from being like Christ, the beautiful rose. Another wonderful thing about roses is their exotic, sweet, rich fragrance.

Men, it is high time for us to be the strongest, and yet the most sweetest men on planet earth. Surrounded by the thorns of loving truth, sweet graciousness will make others attracted to the Rose of all Roses who lives within us. Ephesians 4:15 says:” “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Having shared about the four compromises Pharaoh tried so hard to get Moses to yield to, let us not forget the main purpose God wanted His people out of Egyptian slavery and bondage. He wanted them to be a sweet people unto Him, using their freedom to offer Him free will sacrifices and offerings from grateful and willing hearts.

They were to demonstrate this through their lives and hearts that were not only willing and sacrificial towards God, but also towards one another. Only then could God accept their offerings and sacrifices as a sweet-smell to His nostrils.

The truth is still the same today. We deceive ourselves if we hold grudges, judgments, and coldness towards our spouse, any members of our family, or friends and neighbors, and at the same time still expect God to have regard to our ever-so-sweet offerings and sacrifices of praise, prayer, and worship. Such prayers and worship are not sweet to God at all.

In fact, such religion smells very bad to God. Frankly it stinks. Malachi 2:12, 13 says: “The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts. And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.”

Let’s also read the next verses in Malachi 2:14-16 NLT: “You cry out, ‘Why doesn’t the LORD accept my worship?’ I’ll tell you why! Because the LORD witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows. Didn’t the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And why does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. ‘For I hate divorce?’ says the LORD the God of Israel.”

Our Christian lives, prayers, offerings, and sacrifices are only acceptable unto God when we have learned to forgive one another, bless one another, pray for one another, and do good to one another, no matter what the cost. Do we want God to answer out prayers?

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The was the fourth and final compromise Pharaoh tried to put on Moses in order to keep the children of Israel under slavery. Their cattle and sheep were their livelihood. Not only were they a source of food for themselves, but also for the sacrifices and offerings to offer to the Lord when they reached a three day journey out of Egypt.

I love the phrase, “THERE SHALL NOT A HOOF BE LEFT BEHIND”! Moses was steadfast in his confession: “We are leaving Egypt “lock, stock, and barrel. You have had more than your “pound of flesh” from us. We owe you nothing. Through slavery we have built your treasure cities, Pithom and Ramses. You have afflicted us with great and heavy burdens. We are leaving Egypt to start a new life of sacrifice to our God who has redeemed us from your bondage and slavery. From now on we serve only the Lord our God.”

Thank God for men like Moses who did not fear the power and glory of Pharaoh. We need more leaders and fathers today who will not bargain and compromise with the pharaohs of this generation.

Colossians 3:17: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” They could not offer sacrifices and offerings in the midst of Egypt for that was an abomination to the Egyptians ( Exodus 8:26). A life of sacrifice is still an abomination to border line Christians. The world believes that we should please our flesh, not realizing that it leads to bondage and slavery.

One of the greatest addictions of all is the addiction to our self life. There is only one way to break the chain of this addiction--to apply the cross of Christ to our self life. We may live in a Christian country, belong to a Christian family, and attend a Christian church, but still be in bondage and slavery to an Egyptian self life. It is a daily experience to apply the cross of Christ to our lives (1 Corinthians 15:31).

Jesus said in Mark 8:34-35: “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.”

We now gladly offer our lives--our livelihood, our home, family, and everything we possess as a daily free will offering and sacrifice to the One who gave His all for us. If we use these things to only gratify our self nature, we have not yet left Egypt. We are still in bondage.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell.

But God who mandated the three day gap principle means exactly what He says. God can only respect offerings and sacrifices of His people who are prepared and willing to serve God the way He wants it done--a three day journey from Egypt.

There are still far too many Christians who want to remain on the border of what God wants. Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom (Genesis 13:12). It was not long before he was actually living in Sodom (Genesis 19:1). Despite Sodom’s great wickedness, Lot and his family were border line in their separation to God. Sodom was hardly the place to offer sacrifices.

Abraham chose to live in the land of Canaan, surrounded by the mountains of God and had respect to His sacrifices (Genesis 13:14-18).

Border line Christians are weak and often defeated. They cannot go far in the things of God because they are too half-hearted, double-minded, and lukewarm. We can only become strong in the ways of the knowledge of God when we place ourselves on Heaven’s side of the three day gap.

Men, we must also teach our families by our example to not live on the border of Egypt (the world). Our responsibility is to live, worship, and sacrifice to God three days away from the border!

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell