Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Let us all remember at this season the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:14: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” Obviously the best lights that need to be turned on, not only at this season, but at all times, are the Christians themselves.

In my last post I talked about hearing the words of Christ as opposed to tuning into so many other voices. Last week, two of my grandsons, Zadok and Crusoe Johnson, with three other shining and ardent young men drove to New York to pray for a two-year-old boy, Trucker, who has serious brain cancer. At the same time they are witnessing to everyone they meet along the way, both going and coming.

They have already led a number to Jesus and I am so looking forward to hearing more of their testimonies. I know that many more souls will be led to Jesus Christ and miracles will happen because they shine with the light of Christ and their countenances are radiant.

The best Christmas tree is a face lit up with the glory of the Lord. It is high time for the whole Christian church to cast off all the things that eclipse the light of Christ in their lives and shine like we have never shone before. Only then will the world listen to our message.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

America has more churches, Bibles, Christian TV, radio, and Internet outreach programs than any other nation. Almost every motel room has a Bible supplied by Gideon’s International. And yet it often takes more than all this availability of the message to really get the message home.

Isaiah 52:7 says: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings.”

If only the church would not put so much emphasis on the pulpit and the professional evangelist at the expense of marshalling its people to witness for Christ to all they meet, and wherever there is an opportunity, to share of Jesus Christ to a hurting soul.

Christmas provides a great time to share what Christ means to you.

Train your children to be witnesses for Christ, too. There’s no greater training. Paul encouraged Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” Before you encourage others, first train your sons and daughters to be faithful men and women who know how to share the Gospel and God’s truths.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Our nation certainly needs to hear the voice of God through Jesus Christ. However, God uses His people who intently listen to Him to be His medium through whom He can speak. Isaiah 6:8 says: “And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” God tells Isaiah in the rest of this chapter what to say to a nation that is not interested in hearing Him.

Isn’t it amazing that God, in His grace, should still try to speak to people who do not want to hear Him?

Men, as people who call ourselves Christians, we have a great responsibility to listen to the voice of Jesus Christ so that we can tell it to our families, churches, friends, and nation--whether they want to hear it or not!

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Family and close friends have a right to our attention, but there are other mediums we must watch regarding how much attention we give them. We live in a very media driven age. Almost everyone has a smart phone and other electronic devices to captivate their attention. Multitudes text and Facebook one another no matter where they are, but everyone seems too busy to listen to the most important voice of all.

Why should the chief voice of all, the “Only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” be crammed out by voices that are unbelievably less important?

The voice of Jesus Christ, the lover of our souls, the only one who truly understands us, and the One who wants to lead and guide our every step on a daily basis waits patiently for us to listen to Him every day.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Jesus’ sword was the true Word of God and it eventually took Him all the way to Calvary’s cross to fight the greatest battle of all--to be crucified on our behalf in order that we might become completely free from the kingdom of darkness.

The truth is that Jesus Christ did not fight every day of His life until His death so that we would become prissy flowers or pompous ceremonial swords. Dash that thought from our thinking forever. Rather, He redeemed us so that we would become true flashing swords, looking and living as He did upon the earth.

Why then, do so many Christians have no appetite to fight? Many will not even put up a real fight for themselves, let alone their perishing fellowman. Shame on us. Considering the price Jesus paid for us (His own precious blood), how is it possible for any of us to be ceremonial swords and yet call ourselves Christians. It is a crime against the blood of His cross.

On the day when He comes to count up His jewels, be assured if this truth that there will be no fake ones amongst them. Malachi 3:18 says: “Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.”

Most of all, right now, we need discernment for ourselves. Philippians 2:12 exhorts us: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

2. (v.3). They talked with their mouths but did not carry it out in their actions.

3. (v.4). “They bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” Jesus Christ, on the other hand, lifted burdens from the brokenhearted. He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4 and 60:1-3).

4. (v.5). They did everything for men to see. They loved the praises of men. Jesus was “meek and lowly of heart” (Matthew 11:28-30).

5. (v.5). They broadened their phylacteries (small cases for carrying Scriptures), but they did not show it in their lives. It could be said of them: “The bigger the Bible, the bigger the hypocrite.”

6. (v. 5). They lengthened the tassels of their garments. They were prideful and religious show-offs.

7. (v.6). They loved the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues. I am sure that when Jesus went to the synagogue that he didn’t sit in the chief seat. A thousand times no. He would have sat amongst the people.

8. (v.8). They loved religious titles and to be called Rabbi or Master.

9. (v.14). For a pretense they prayed long prayers.

10. (v. 27). These ceremonial swords are described as “whited sepulchers,” looking beautiful outwardly, but within were “full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness . . . full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

This sword is often made of fake, light, alloy material, perhaps chrome plated, or plastic. It is blunt so it does not pose any danger to those who may pick it up. To the casual eye it appears strong, but in fact it is delicate and has no intestinal fortitude to wage war. It likes to be continually cleaned and polished, but never sharpened. It is most comfortable when it is gently tucked away in its highly decorated sheath.

There are many ceremonial swords turning up each Sunday for their church parade while the dirty, dark demons and devils gleefully advance their cause. These devils do not fear these ceremonial swords the slightest bit.

Isaiah 34:6 says: “The sword of the LORD is filled with blood.”

Jeremiah 48:10 says: “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully (negligently), and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.”

It’s time to get into the battle, men. And fathers, we must not raise our children to be ceremonial swords. Never. We must prepare them for battle also.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Jesus Christ, our supreme Commander and Chief, only chooses overcomers, those who have overcome in the past and who are continually overcoming.

Revelation 2:26, 27 says: “And he that overcometh and keepeth my works UNTO THE END, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron.”

Revelation 17:14 says: “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are CALLED, and CHOSEN, and FAITHFUL.”

Men, there are far too many who are not ready and prepared for true engagement in the Lord’s battles. Maybe one of the main reasons is that we have not been raised with the mentality that the Bible instructs us to be soldiers (2 Timothy 2:3, 4).

As fathers, we must raise our sons and daughters to be flashing and gleaming swords in spiritual warfare.

The word “glittering” means gleaming, sparkling, flashing, and lightning.” God’s lightning Word spoken through Spirit-filled people is very attractive to those who are hungry, but esome and fearful to those who are His enemies.

Proverbs 20:15 says: “There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.”

Psalm 19:8: “The commandment of the LORD is pure enlightening the eyes.”

Luke 4:22: “And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.” Obviously when Jesus spoke the word it had a glittering affect and a special attraction on those who heard Him. His words were like sparkling jewels to His friends, but a sparkling sword to His enemies.

Luke 4:36, 37: “And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.” Jesus used His lightning sword against an unclean devil.

Men, God calls for parents (fathers and mothers), to speak His flashing and lightning words of life to their children. When God looks at His collection of swords to find a sharp, effective sword, He looks for a glittering and gleaming sword. He picks it up, smiles at it, and says, “I will use you, for your gleaming and lightning will put fear in my enemies.”

A rusty sword that is stained, tarnished, and unpolished is blunt and will not cause devils to tremble. Does the worldly, godless spirit of this age fear our modern, politically correct, “nicey picey” tolerant church? I do not think so. Nor for a moment. But gleaming swords put fear into the enemy. Ah, they make him afraid. Who wants to use a corroded sword? Not me. And most certainly not God!

Fathers and mothers, keep your children from all forms of corrosion because we are polishing glittering and flashing swords for God to use against His enemies.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

We are told to hide God’s Word in our hearts which is the believer’s real sheath (Psalm 119:9). Carrying a Bible is not as important as hiding God’s Word in our hearts. The Word has to be in our hearts in order for the Holy Spirit to draw it from our mouths. In Revelation 1:16 we read a description of Jesus: “Out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.” Jesus kept the Word in His heart so He could draw it from His mouth

The heart and the mouth are closely linked in the Scriptures. Romans 10:9, 10 states: “That if thou shalt confess with thy MOUTH the Lord Jesus, 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.”

Deuteronomy 30:14 states: “The word is very nigh unto thee, in thy MOUTH, and in thy HEART, that thou mayest do it.”

Isaiah 59:21 (ESV): “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your MOUTH, shall not depart out of your MOUTH, or out of the MOUTH of your offspring, or out of the MOUTH of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore.”

Men, it is our prime responsibility to ensure we put God’s Word into the hearts of all our children. Only then, will they be able to deliver it from their mouths. Jesus said in Matthew 12:34: “Out of the abundance of the HEART the mouth speaketh.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

God wants us to become sharper as the days go by so that by the time our life on earth ends we will be sharper than ever. I don’t see any reason why the last days of our lives here on earth should not be the sharpest days of all.

We must never see the trials of life as an annoyance, but rather welcome them as a means to sharpen our swords and weapons of war. As God’s men, we should not long for days of ease where all is bliss and there is no stress and challenge. Instead, we should change our entire attitude and welcome anything that could possibly sharpen us up more in order to afflict greater causalities upon Christ’s enemies.

I think this is a reason why some of God’s people do not welcome larger families. They do not want to face trials, difficult challenges, or trust God beyond their financial resources, which are all part of parenting children. Consequently, we ourselves lose character as we refuse the trials of building character in our children.

Refusing to build families because of extra work and involvement causes us to become blunt in character. Our western nations are becoming increasingly dumbed down, dependent upon government provision, and consequently characterless.

Right now, we need a revival of character building. This requires a sharpening up mentality. Sharp swords are deadly weapons in dealing with enemies.

We must understand that our worst enemies are not physical ones. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 says: “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.”

The strongholds of unbelief, all forms of pride, negative attitudes towards accepting responsibility, hard work, raising children, resisting the entitlement mentality, refusing to take a strong stand against lust, homosexuality, abortion, pornography, and all fornications are our worst enemies.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Ecclesiastes 10;10 states: “If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength.” The Living Bible paraphrases it: “A dull axe requires great strength; be wise and sharpen the blade.”

No one in any successful business wants to hire someone who is inefficient, does not know what they are doing, and who does not have a sharp edge about their conduct. How can we offer our great God and King our lives as blunt axes and swords? Can God use blunt swords in this day of battle? I do not think so. Revelation 19:15 says of Christ: “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations.”

Moses had to go to the back side of the desert for 40 years to be sharpened (Exodus 2:15 and Acts 7:30).

Israel had to go through the wilderness for 40 years before they were sharp enough to fight and win the battles of the Lord in the land of Canaan.

Our walk with God on this earth is really a boot camp to sharpen us up for the time when we will conquer and win the entire earth under the leadership of Christ in His millennial reign (1 Corinthians 6:2, 3).

Men, we must not only sharpen ourselves, but teach our children these truths lest they remain blunt.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

How important it is to have a sharp mind to comprehend and quickly respond with a short to the point answer. However, more important than solving secular problems is to have a sharp spiritual mind in order to comprehend spiritual matters and provide quick to the point, powerful answers to the many moral problems we currently face.

I believe we will be delivered from our economic bankruptcy when we first seek answers to our spiritual bankruptcy. Much, if not all, of our economic problems can be traced back to our backslidden relationship with God. Read Deuteronomy 28.

It is amazing how concerned we conservatives are over our fiscal policies knowing that our country is heading for a disastrous fall, yet our moral bankruptcy is not in debate at all. Can lots of money in the bank heal us? Can the greatest economical policies in the world deliver us? We desperately need to be spiritually sharpened up.

Fathers, we ourselves must put a much higher priority on being spiritually sharp and in turn sharpen up our children.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, we must never forget that it is not necessarily brilliant minds that God looks for, nor men of noble birth who have the best tutorage and training this world can offer. On the contrary, God looks for Holy Spirit filled men.

I remember the words of C. T. Studd:
“Only one life, ‘twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Why do we spend so much time and effort educating our children to be successful in this world and yet make such little effort by comparison to make sure they are spiritually educated and filled with the Holy Spirit? To be filled with the Holy Spirit is God’s way of success, not only for this world, but also for eternity.

This world needs Holy Spirit filled men and women although they don’t know it. When this world meets with Spirit filled Christians they should feel their impact shaking the very foundation of their lives. Christians who are not Spirit filled are barely scratching the surface of their fellowman.

Acts 4:8, 13 says: “Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them. . . Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.”

Acts 2:1-4: “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Our nation, churches, and families need men and women, fathers and mothers, and children who are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

For many centuries the church put much value on religious, academia, and theological doctorates. We now suffer a mass exodus from many of the established mainline churches.

People flocked to hear Jesus and the early church, not because of their excellent speech, academic qualifications, or religious traditions. The multitudes came because the preaching was anointed with life and power. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:1-4: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”

Every born again Christian receives the spirit of sonship (Romans 8:9). However, there is much more of the Holy Spirit for every born again child of God to experience. It is imperative that every child of God be filled with the Spirit. Any ordinary man, filled with the Spirit, can impact the world.

Zechariah 4:6 states: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the LORD of hosts.” Verse 7 tells us that this is the only way mountains become plains. It is interesting to note that the headstone of the restored temple was to be laid with “Shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it” (Zechariah 4:7). The Holy Spirit inhabits the praises of His people. He loves it when the church raises anthems of God’s amazing grace.

Men, treat your family to more and more Spirit-filled teaching and preaching, coupled with Holy Spirit-filled worship and praise.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The high praises blow out the cobwebs and assist us to clean house.

Psalm 47:1 says: “O clap your hands, all ye people; SHOUT unto God with the voice of triumph.”

Psalm 47:5 describes our God: “God is gone up with a SHOUT, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.”

Perhaps one of the main reasons the church is so quiet and subdued is because we do not allow ourselves to become excited about the exceeding greatness of our God. The devil robbs us of our vibrant joy. He wants the church to be cool, calm, and collected, but if we don’t watch out, we will become God’s frozen chosen, if that be possible.

What does it mean when it says, “God is gone up with a SHOUT”? Shouting praises lifts up and exalts our God. Not empty shouting, but rather triumphant shouting.

Fathers, we must teach our families to shout for joy.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Praise and worship is a vital part of believing. During the great Welsh revival started by Evan Roberts multitudes were saved and revived during the singing of the hymns in the congregations.

Isaiah 12:1-6 is primarily about praise and worship to God as we draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Psalm 116:10: “I believed, therefore have I spoken.” Repeated again in 2 Corinthians 4:13. Praise and worship is a form of speaking forth what we believe in the form of singing. When joy fills the human heart, it cannot help but sing and worship and will not want to stop.

Praise is an eternal circle. Praise and worship releases faith and faith releases praise the worship. When we praise and worship by faith, sometimes cold-blooded faith, we are filled again with the Holy Spirit. This in turn releases more praise and worship to our God.

Fathers, we must greatly encourage our families to daily worship the Lord. How can we let a day go by without praising Him who is worthy of all praise? Revelation 4:11 says: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Jesus continued to say: “The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him” (John 7:38 HCSB). The second question is: How believing are we? Are we really believing Him for this river of life? It is easy to be contented with the structure and the form without the life.

It is like looking at a beautiful jug, chalice, or water container. We admire the design, but if it is not pouring out the amazing water of life, what good is it? Many Christians and churches fall into this category. We must never lose sight of the water, for without it we die.

After all, it’s not the beauty of the vessel, but the water of life that really counts. Many look for the most beautiful vessel instead of looking for the most beautiful life-giving water. The vessel itself cannot give life without the water.

John 7:37-39 (ESV): “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes I me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”’ Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell