Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Prayer and fasting deny the flesh its appetites and tune the spiritual senses to high alert. Fasting and prayer make us not only more alert, but also more aware of the enemy’s strategies. They save us from being caught off-handed by some surprise attack or broad-sided by the enemy.

The devil hit Jesus at His physically weakest moment: “He was afterward hungry.” However, through fasting and prayer Jesus was well prepared for the devil’s armed attack. An unarmed enemy is called a “soft target,” but strangely enough, in this instance, the enemy (the devil) was armed with Scripture as well as darts of doubts as to Jesus being the true Son of God. We are living in a time when many of God’s people are deceived by preachers and teachers, who like the devil, twist the Scriptures and quote them out of context. The true doctrine of Scripture is not what one Scripture on its own has to say, but rather what all the Scriptures have to say on a particular subject.

I am sure the discipline of Jesus’ fasting and prayer would have given him a far greater advantage to respond with a powerful impact of what the Scriptures really had to say. Jesus said: “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Job 8:32). Jesus did not know a little truth; He knew all the truth because He is the truth (John 14:6).

When Jesus was about to face the battle of all battles-- the “armed men” of Jerusalem, He fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 50:7: “For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.”

Luke 9:51 tells us: “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he STEADFASTLY SET HIS FACE to go to Jerusalem.” Like the warhorse going on to meet the armed men in Job 39:21, nothing in all the world could possibly deter Him.

Men, as we face the armed men in our lives, we must also set our faces like a flint. Flint is hard rock. It is unbendable. This should be out attitude as we go out to meet the armed men who come against us.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

We should therefore glory (boast) and confess our weaknesses in order to receive the strength and power of God to come upon us. I believe that Paul was not encouraging people to praise their lack of strength, but rather to make honest, humble confession of our human weaknesses and inabilities. This leads us to ask and claim the power of God to be given to us in exchange for our total weaknesses and inabilities.

There are far too many Christians who continually talk about their sicknesses and diseases in order to get people to feel sorry for them. It would be far better for them to share with their friends of God’s great manifestation of power upon them in response to their humble confession of weakness

The psalms are full of David confessing God has his strength (Psalm 18:1, 2; 27:1; 28:7, 8 and many more).

The more we acknowledge our weakness and rejoice in His strength He gives to us, the greater will be our victories.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The natural warhorse has great strength and can therefore rejoice in the strength God gave him. But many of us facing great spiritual and physical battles have very little strength to rejoice in. What little strength we have in the natural often disappears in the first round of the boxing match.

The mighty Samson soon found out when Delilah ordered the locks of his hair to be shaved off how weak he really was in his own natural strength. Going out and shaking himself after he had given away his Nazarite vow did not help him one bit. Judges 16:20 states: “And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.”

Christians who walk in step with Christ can find that He is all-sufficient strength and that we can handle every situation He allows us to go through. It is time for us who call ourselves by the name of the Lord to learn what it means to rejoice in the strength that has been generously provided for us in our relationship with Christ.

God spoke to Paul in His weakness: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

When a human baby is born, the body requires their lungs to be developed enough to provide them all the oxygen they need to be strong and healthy. If their lungs are not developed, as in a premature baby, they may not survive without the help of modern medical assistance.

When a man is spiritually born again, he receives oxygen and air from the Holy Spirit to enable him to live in the new spiritual realm of life. This air or breath is called Holy Spirit life.

John 20:22 says: “He (Jesus) breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” This was the beginning of the new walk the disciples experienced with the Holy Spirit, bringing a new type of breathing into their spiritual nostrils.

Acts 2 speaks of the terrible, awesome, rushing mighty wind that filled the house where the disciples were sitting. This is the wind of the Holy Spirit that turned the disciples into the most powerful Spirit-filled warhorses.

God definitely wants all of us to have strong spiritual nostrils to breathe in the air and wind of His awesome Spirit. The more we expose our spiritual nostrils to the atmosphere and breath of the Holy Spirit, the more powerful we will be to change the world around us.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Ten of the men who went to spy out the land of Canaan gave into a grasshopper mentality. They told the people: “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight” (Numbers 13:33).

When they saw the giants, the fixed their eyes on what they saw instead of God. They lost their vision of the great and mighty God who brought them out of bondage from Pharaoh. They allowed the spirit of fear to put them into a state of paralysis. They got the jitterbugs.

This kind of fear does not come from God. 2 Timothy 1:7 says: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Ten spies gave into a jittering grasshopper mentality. But not Joshua and Caleb. They were true warhorses. Listen to what these warhorses confessed about the giants: “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 . . . Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, AND THE LORD IS WITH US: fear them not” (Numbers 13:30 and 14:9).

The brave warhorse mentality of Joshua and Caleb was completely opposite to the grasshopper mentality of the other ten spies, as well as the rest of the children of Israel whom they freaked out with their fearmongering. Read the whole scene in Numbers 13:25-33 and 14:1-12).

Men and fathers, it is only as we keep our eyes upon the greatness of our amazing God and praise and worship His awesome power that we can be delivered from fear and the grasshopper mentality. Men that have their eyes on God will encourage others to keep their eyes on God.

Grasshoppers raise grasshoppers! Remember fathers, you are not in the business of raising grasshoppers. Beware lest we allow all the corruption coming against our country to turn us into grasshoppers. On the contrary, let’s rise up with the fearlessness of the warhorse. And let’s raise children who will also become battle horses in God’s army.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

King David emphasizes this point in Psalms 18:32, 34, 39, 40: “It is God that girdeth me with strength . . . He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken in mine arms . . . For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.”

2. HIS POWERFUL NECK
“Hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?” (Job 39:19). When you look at pictures of the warhorse’s neck, it strikes you as being very awesome and powerful. In old time battles the warhorses often had to pull heavy loads, perhaps a heavy cannon gun or battering ram which would be roped to a collar or yoke around the warhorse’s neck.

The strong neck also enables the horse to hold its head up high even in the midst of the raging battle. Loud thunder is frightening and the powerful necks of warhorses also installs fear into the enemy. Spiritually speaking, the Holy Spirit enables our necks to be awesome, like frightening thunder to our enemies.

Song of Solomon 1:9 says: “I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.” There would have been at least two outstanding, well-trained, disciplined, and amazing horses to pull King Pharaoh’s chariot. Their necks would have been strong to carry the harness and hold their heads up high.

They could see where they were going. Their neck’s thunderous strength enabled them to see the way forward.

God wants our spiritual necks to also put terror into the hearts of His enemies.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Goliath looked like a warhorse and David did not. But who was the greatest warhorse? We know the answer--David

The apostle Paul, whose name meant “small,” did not look like a warhorse and yet he was one of the early church’s greatest warriors. Samson, despite what most think, did not look like a warhorse in any shape or form and yet what an incredible havoc he wrought on the Philistines.

Jesus Christ, the meek and gentle Lamb of God did not look like a warhorse and yet he fought and overcame the battle of all battles against sin and Satan and won the greatest victory of all.

All the warhorses of faith in Hebrews chapter 11 did not look like warhorses, but their names go down in the Scripture’s Hall of Fame as the greatest warriors of all time. They were recorded in Scripture for our benefit so we would also take courage and fight in the day of battle. Like the warhorse in Job 39 they had the right attitude about spiritual warfare.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

C. T. Studd, the famous English cricketer wrote about The Chocolate Soldier. He scorns those who run from the battle and melt when the going gets too hot. He writes that true soldiers are like children who when the school bell rings at the end of the last semester, bound out of school to begin their vacation, full of excitement. True soldiers don’t like to be confined and coped up. They just can’t wait to fight on the battlefield.

Job describes the war horse in Job 39: 19-25: “Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of this nostrils is terrible. He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted: neither turneth he back from the sword. The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield He salloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smell the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.”

This is the same attitude we should as we fight the Lord’s battles against evil. We men must also teach our children to fight the good fight of faith. We must prepare them for the battles of life (1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:3,4 and 4:7). We must pray that 2016 will prove us all to be great warriors for the truth, that we will embrace the call God has given us to draw our swords, and that we will never back down no matter what the devil hurls at us.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

1 Corinthians 1:25-29 says: “The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence.”

Simeon, an old man and obviously a humble man, being led by the Holy Spirit was told by God he would not see death before he saw the Christ (Luke 2:25-32). Why was this privilege not given to others? Could humility be the answer?

Anna, a prophetess and widow for 80 years lived at the temple serving God “with fastings and prayers night and day” (Luke 2:36-38). She also arrived on the scene just at the right moment and “gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

I amazed me how few were privileged to behold his first coming. How many will be chosen to behold His second coming?

May God grant to us all a revival of the true humility of Christ.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Why didn’t God the Father choose a famous city such as Jerusalem to be the birthplace of the King of kings and Lord of lords? Once again, God the Father wanted to teach the world a tremendous lesson on the subject of humility. Evidently God did not want His Son to be born in Jerusalem. There was too much religious pride in Jerusalem, especially with the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus said of them: “All their works they do for to be seen of men; they make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their garments. And love the uppermost rooms at feast, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi” (Matthew 23:5-8).

Little Bethlehem was the place of His humble birth, but Jerusalem was the place of his death. Pride persecutes and puts to death the humble. But the humble shall always be lifted up for God the Father deeply loves humility. James 4:6, 10 says: “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. . . . Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

Bethlehem was near the place of Rachael’s tomb (Genesis 35:19). Ruth, the God-fearing Moabitess made her home in Bethlehem with her second husband, Boaz and was remembered as the ancestress of David (Ruth 1:1, 2, 19, 22). King David himself was known as “the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem-judah, whose name was Jesse” (1 Samuel 17:12, 15). It was also in Bethlehem that David was anointed king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:13).

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and explained to him how Mary had become pregnant by the Holy Ghost and he must go ahead and marry her. Joseph was humble enough to bear with the shame and carry the suspicions of all those who knew them both. Even though they both might have tried to explain it, who would believe that they had not committed fornication before marriage? Even though he was a “just man” and would have wanted to defend his character, he was humble enough to obey the angel of the Lord who appeared to him in a dream. By getting married to Mary, friends and family would judge he was admitting his guilt.

Joseph was not only a just and upright man, but also a humble man, willing to suffer shame on the behalf of Christ. By putting Mary away and giving her a bill of divorce, he would have cleared his name, but humility tempered his justice and enabled him to bear the consequences.

The Scriptures mention that Joseph was a carpenter. After the people had listened to Jesus teach in his own town of Nazareth Matthew 13:54,55 says: “They were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s?” They questioned his credentials. In their minds the only people worth listening to had to have cultural and theological credence.

They were familiar with his mother and his brothers and sisters, but because of his lack of credentials they were offended in him (verse 57). The Greek word is “skandalizo” and means they were stumbled or scandalized by Him. They didn’t take humility into account at all when it came to theological wisdom and mighty works. They did not know how to connect the dots. A carpenter’s son could not, in their minds, be Israel’s Messiah.

But he surely was a carpenter’s son as well as the son of God.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Mary’s prophetic utterance made it abundantly clear that it was nothing less than her humility, her LOW ESTATE. She also prophecies: “He hath showed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of LOW DEGREE” (Luke 1:51, 52).

This is a great lesson for all who want God to lift them up. How low is our estate (regard of self) in our pursuit of humility? Have we reached the depth where God can gladly lift us up? We have just stated how God exalts them of low degree.

The question remains: How far down do we go to reach the point of low degree? Paul instructed the believers in Philippians 2:5-11: “Let this mind (attitude) be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

It appears to me that the lower the depth of humility the higher the exaltation.

Men, we must take this truth to our own hearts and make sure that we impart it to our families.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The western world is not all silent regarding the birth of God’s beloved Son. We publish it with carols and brilliant light displays. We observe the 25th of December as a special holiday to commemorate the wonder and glory of His birth. Personally, I am all for it. I rejoice at the birth of Christ and am glad that along with other Christians we can enjoy a special meal and the sharing of gifts.

The devil is a killjoy and does not want Christians to rejoice and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the only Savior of the world. Some Christians despise Christmas trees and it decorations citing Jeremiah 10:1-5 and Isaiah 44:9-17. These Scriptures refer to the tree being used as an idol and worshipped. In all my life I have not met one Christian who worships a Christmas tree.

Legalism is always a joy robber. But God is not a killjoy. He lit up the heavens and the glory of the Lord came down. The heavenly hosts rejoiced, so why shouldn’t we?

Some say the reason we shouldn’t celebrate Christmas is because it is celebrated on a day that was once used to celebrate a pagan deity. In my mind, I think that if it replaces a pagan celebration, then it is a good thing and another victory over the devil.

However, in the excitement and joy of Christmas we must never be silent in our praises for Christ’s absolutely, amazing humility. This to me is the greatest reason why I celebrate Christ’s birth.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

While the “multitude of the heavenly host” rejoiced at this amazing event, the  earth was strangely silent. Only a few humble shepherds were honored to receive the heavenly announcement. The Christmas carol, “Silent Night, holy night” truly fitted the manger scene.

King Herod only received the news second hand. He was too proud to receive the great news from God. The religious leaders of Israel were not notified by God or angels for they were also too proud. In fact, the whole nation, apart from the humble shepherds, were silent and asleep that night.

When heaven reasoned who should be told and invited to this awesome holy occasion, out of the whole nation, it was only the humble shepherds who were given the amazing privilege

Oh how God loves humility.

Be encouraged.

Colin

I am sure that Joseph would have done his best to clean up a space for his wife to give birth, but Mary may have wondered if she had really heard from God. After all, what great God would stoop to such depths to bring forth his Son in such poor and humble conditions. Surely God could have arranged for someone to cancel their night in the Inn.

But these continuing doubts would have quickly dispersed when eventually the wise men from the East came to visit. They had been invited by God to follow star from some eastern country all the way to Jerusalem where they inquired: “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2).

They eventually were given an appointment with King Herod to enquire more. But this baby was not Herod’s baby although he lived in the palace. God was teaching the world a great lesson of how much He respects, loves, and honors humility.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

People are attracted to this phenomena and will ask the reason for the joy. This opens up great opportunities to witness for Christ. As believers, we must take time to immerse our hearts in the presence of Christ on a daily basis. How can we possibly give out what we haven’t got in our hearts?

Jesus said that when we abide in Him and His words abide in us that we can ask what we will and it will be done for us (John 15:7). Jesus makes it very clear that His purpose for telling us these things is that His own personal joy will remain in us and that our joy will be full (John 15:11 and 16:24).

This means there will be no more dragging the bottom. No more trying to get the crumbs or the left over residues of joy. This means we will have an overflowing testimony.

This joy is not fleeting, but lasting. Isaiah 51:11 says that “everlasting joy shall be upon their heads.”

The joy the world gives comes from parties spiced with alcohol and living a life filled with worldly pleasures. Many Christians who do not know what it means to have the “joy of the Lord” are also tempted to cram their lives with worldly pleasures. The reason for this is that man was created with a great need for joy. The “joy of the Lord” fills the abiding Christian no matter what they are going through--sunshine or rain.

Persecution and even the treat of death cannot quench the joy of the Lord unless we allow it to. Worldly pleasures with their counterfeit joy are very circumstantial and are not all at all lasting.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The Scripture admonishes us in Philippians 2:12 to “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Our attitude towards temptation, sin, and the world, the flesh, and the devil should always be met with fear and trembling lest we grieve the Spirit of God and hinder His blessing in our lives.

However, we should also understand that the salvation we are working out is one of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14;17). Therefore we ask: is it possible to be serious and joyful at the same time? I believe it is.

We should always be on guard that we do not equate true Christian joy with foolishness and foolish jesting. We must be serious about that. Our freedom in Christ must always be guarded so we do not allow freedom to become an occasion for the flesh (Galatians 5:13).

Legalism leads to bondage and joylessness. Freedom leads to peace and joy.

He whom the Son sets free is free indeed! Joy leads to a bright, shining face and this leads to spiritual joy and holiness, and this leads to worship and praises.

It is a challenging thought that there are many in the world who “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die” type of people. They often have more joy than a lot of Christians. This is not a good advertisement for Jesus Christ is the One who has been anointed with the “OIL OF GLADNESS above his fellows” (Hebrews 1:9).

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that you JOY MIGHT BE FULL” (John 15:11).

“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your JOY MAY BE FULL.” John 16:24

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell