Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Isn’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

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

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

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

We continue to read of the miracles that happened through Moses’ humble sheperd’s rod. We do not read that the rod was used for the plagues of flies, death of cattle, and boils.

BRING FORTH HAIL
Now we come to Exodus 9:22-26: “And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt. And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast: and hail smote every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.”

BRING FORTH LOCUSTS
Exodus 10:12-15: “ And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts . . . And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.”

The locusts “covered the face of the whole earth” so that the land turned black and they ate everything that remained in Egypt. The Bible tells us that nothing like it had ever happened before and would ever happen again!

BRING FORTH DARKNESS
Exodus 10:21-23: “And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand (which included the rod): and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.”

The rod was not used for the final judgment upon Egypt of the death angel smiting the first born in every family, from Pharaoh on this throne to the lowest servant (Exodus 11:1-7).

DIVIDE THE GULF OF AQABA
Exodus 14:15-22: “And the LORD said unto Moses . . . lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea . . . And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.”

Galatians 4:24 proves that Mt. Sinai is in Arabia.

Could there be a greater miracle? And it happened through Moses’ lifting up his rod. Of course, we know that God did the miracle, but God always wants His people to do their part. They must go ahead in faith and take action. Moses, in unbelief, could have wondered how a rod could deliver them in such a tight spot? But he stretched out his hand with the rod anyway. He took the step of faith. And as he did so, God moved with His mighty power.

When we take action, God takes action.

Daniel 11:32: “The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.”

There’s more yet.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Do not bury your talents and gifts, no matter how insignificant they may appear to you. God has entrusted them to you for His purposes. Consecrate them to God and begin to exercise them for His glory. God loves to bring breakthroughs through the weak and helpless. The world waited to see what God could do through an insignificant rod.

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 Go chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

Just wait and see what God can do with your gifts that He has placed in your hands to bring great breakthroughs. Moses had to let God use his rod so that the miracles could happen. While he used his rod with the wild animals that would attack his flock of sheep out in the desert he was limiting the power of God. God had more in store for Moses’ rod.

The rod of Moses was used to . . .

DEMONSTRATE A MIRACLE
Exodus 7:9: God said to Moses: “When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.”

BECOME A SERPENT THAT DEVOURED ALL OTHER SERPENTS
12 Exodes 7:10: “Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and his servants, and it became a serpent . . . but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.”

This gospel-hardened, unbelieving world needs witnesses for Christ who demonstrate the miraculous. If it was good enough for Jesus to preach the gospel with miracles to confirm it, why shouldn’t His present-day followers do the same?

TURN THE WATERS NILE TO BLOOD
Exodus 7:17-21: “And the LORD SPAKE UNTO Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and vessels of stone. And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants, and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.”

BRING FORTH A PLAGUE OF FROGS
Exodus 8:1-6: “And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt: and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.”

The Nile River swarmed with frogs. They came into their homes, into their bedrooms and even their beds! They jumped into their ovens and their bowls when kneading their bread! They filled the land and jumped all over the people. Can you imagine it? And all because Aaron stretched out his hand with the rod.

COVER THE LAND WITH LICE
Exodus 8:16,17: “And the LORD said unto Moses, say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt. And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.”

The magicians of Egypt could no longer perform any miracles. They had to confess: ”This is the finger of God” (v. 9).

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

God can take the simple things that we have in our hands to perform miracles and bring forth breakthroughs for His people.

In Exodus 4:3, 4 God tells Moses to cast his rod on the ground. “And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand.”

This miracle was to be the first breakthrough sign to Pharaoh and his magicians to persuade Pharaoh to let God’s people go.

In so many ways, God’s people are still in bondage to the Pharaohs of this world. Considering what Jesus Christ has done for us at the cross, why are we still in bondage to the world, the flesh, and the devil? The trouble is, we fail to recognize the significance of what God has already put in our hands.

A rod is a very simple and insignificant thing. No one would give a second thought to a rod but with God’s anointing and power He used that simple rod to bring miraculous breakthroughs.

President Donald Trump has been raised up by God to use his hand to restore America’s greatness in the natural. But what’s the point of natural greatness if its not accompanied by spiritual greatness? If the talents and gifts God has put in our president’s hands can restore the greatness of America’s wealth, then surely God is saying to His people today, “What is in thy hand? Cast it down before Me and see what I can miraculously do with it to bring about great spiritual breakthroughs in your life, your family’s lives, and in the United States.”

That same rod that turned into a frightening snake out on the back side of Mt. Sinai would later be thrown on the ground before Pharaoh and his magicians. Although the magicians turned their rods into snakes, Moses’ snake devoured up all their snakes. Moses got his rod back but not the magicians!

Prayer is a rod in our hands. Do you recognize its significance? Have you got a prayer life in your hand? To break through, lift up holy hands in prayer and worship.

The Scriptures are a powerful rod which God has placed in our hands. Do you know them, and do you use them? Is the Bible in your hands daily? Keep it before your eyes and heart to get a breakthrough.

What about the unique gifts and talents God has put in your hands? Are you using them for your own benefit, or for breakthroughs in the lives of those around you? Consecrate them to God for a breakthrough. Many members of our families desperately need spiritual breakthroughs.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

1 Chronicles 14:11 (NLT) tells how David and his troops defeated the Philistines. What was David’s confession?

“‘God did it!’” David exclaimed. ‘He used me to burst through my enemies like a raging flood!’” So they named that place Baal-perazim (which means ‘the Lord who bursts through’).”

Evidently, the breakthrough God gave to David against the Philistines was like a major bursting forth through a breach in the wall of a large dam. God burst forth upon David’s enemies in some way that resembled the mighty gushing forth of waters.

David uses the words “by my hand (KJV).” Obviously God used the hand of David to accomplish this miracle.

I believe God loves to bring breakthroughs through the hands of His people. Yes, God can intervene on our behalf with His own arm. However, He loves to exercise His power through His chosen people. And David was that man.

We, God’s creation, also have the privilege of working with God to deal with our enemies who are also God’s enemies.

When God has a problem with this world He looks for a man through whom He can exercise His judgment, His rule, and His power. If He can’t find a man, then as a last resort, He makes bare His own holy right arm.

When God looked down from Heaven upon the great oppression of the children of Israel in Egypt, He found a man called Moses through whom He could work.

Ezekiel 22:30 says: “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: BUT I FOUND NONE. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them: I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God.”

I believe it is wrong for us to not offer ourselves to God, that He, by His grace would use us in some way to get the needed breakthrough that we so desperately need.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Can I solicit your prayers? I am so grateful for our president in all that he is doing for our nation and standing strongly for life and for that which is right.

However, since he shared about his DEAL OF THE CENTURY, which although gives to Israel, it also takes land away from Israel, some of the West Bank and part of Jerusalem. This is very serious because God plainly says in Joel 3:2 that He is going to bring judgment on the nations that DIVIDE HIS LAND! No one can get away with diving the land of Israel, which is God’s land.

I have therefore written a short email and a longer letter to the president. Could you please pray that he will receive the message of this letter and will understand the implications of giving up land for peace?

You may also like to email the president also and encourage him to never give away one inch of Israel’s land.

I am emailing this letter to you so you can pray with me about this important matter. I will send it in three segments so you don’t have to read it all in one day.

Thank you so much.

~ Colin Campbell

Dear Mr. President:

May I present to you my concerns regarding THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY.

Firstly, I want to thank you profusely for your unwavering support for little Israel (so small as far as land mass is concerned and yet so large as far as political and spiritual influence). The whole of our Judaic/Christian value system has its roots and foundations in the land of Israel.

When we make a deal with Israel, in a sense, we make a deal with God’s chosen land. Since God, in His sovereignty decided to make Israel and the city of Jerusalem His special place of residence, who are we to dispute or contend with Almighty God?

When God made a covenant with Abraham regarding the land of Israel, He spoke of the literal land (Genesis 12:1 and 17:8).

Genesis 12:3 He says: “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” God has promised to bless the nations and their leaders who bless Israel.

Thank you, Mr. President for placing our American Embassy in Jerusalem. This was indeed a great encouragement to Israel who desperately need our encouragement.
Thank you, Mr. President for your strong heartfelt support for this little nation, so despised by so many of the powerful nations of the world, and yet at the same time so dearly loved by God.

Mr. President, I remember that soon after you were inaugurated, you showed great friendship to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (which Obama never did). You also mentioned you would not interfere with their struggle with the Palestinians but that you would support Israel.

God blessed your presidency because of this, and this blessing has been miraculous, given the short time of only three and a half years. Contrary to world opinion, you are blessing Israel by endorsing their right to build up and restore certain areas of the West Bank. I am sure that you have Israel’s best interest at heart.

The real truth is what the Holy Bible says, not what mortal man says. And the truth is that the whole of the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) belong to Israel (even if Israel is willing to give portions of it away to the Palestinians to keep in favor with the world) and maybe save themselves from a few less rocket attacks.

Sad to say, the Palestinians hate Israel with a dreadful hatred and thus bring upon themselves the judgment of Almighty God.

To be continued tomorrow.

~ Colin

Despite all the highly commended good works of the church at Ephesus, they had allowed a great problem to occur. They needed to repent quickly or else they would lose their candlestick from being regarded by the Lord as a true church (Revelation 1:20 and 2:4, 5).

Revelation 2:5: “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent.”

This was more than just a problem. It was a sin from which they had to repent. Problems do not always necessitate repentance. However, sin always requires godly sorrow and repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Falling from our “first love” or failing in “enduring love” is a very serious situation. It disqualifies us from calling ourselves a church. At least, from God’s perspective, although not necessarily from man’s perspective. I am sure there are many churches that call themselves legitimate and are proud of their good works. However, from Heaven’s perspective their candlestick has been removed long ago. How sad is that!

“First love” according to Scripture: First love responds to the first and second commandments:

Mark 12:30, 31: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy HEART, and with all thy SOUL, and with all thy MIND, and with all thy STRENGTH, that is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

To me, first love is related to the first and second greatest commandments concerning the length, depth, height, and width of our love for God and our neighbor. Even though the second commandment is regarding our love to our neighbor, Jesus says that the second is like unto the first.

Jesus told a story in Luke 10:29-37 to explain who is our neighbor. To the Jews he was a man going down to Jericho who fell among thieves and was stripped of his clothes, wounded, and left half dead. The priest and the Levite would not help him. Only the Good Samaritan, who was not a Jew, would help him. The Good Samaritan met the conditions of what it means to love one’s neighbor as one’s self.

In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus clearly explains that when we show love to the needy, we are showing it to Jesus who is God.

There will come a day when Christ will judge all the nations of the world and divide the sheep from the goats. The sheep represent those who are humble and listen to His voice. The goats are proud, intelligent, and listen to their own reasoning.

Jesus said that . . .
He had been hungry and the sheep gave Him food.
He had been thirsty and the sheep gave Him drink.
He had been a stranger and the sheep took him in.
He had been sick and the sheep visited Him.
He had been in prison and the sheep came to Him.

We clearly see that first love has first works.

1 John 4:20, 21: “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

Beware of sectarianism which divides the churches and hinders brotherly love from enduring.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

1. They labored in good works. They were not behind, neglectful, or lazy regarding good works. Jesus Himself labored long hours in the ministry to meet the needs of the people. The Apostle Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 2:9 that he, along with the others who worked with him, labored night and day because they would not be chargeable to anyone.

2. They were patient. Patience is a good work. There are many times in life when we are called to wait and be patient with people and circumstances. How easy it is to face the test of patience.

3. They would not tolerate evil. To not bear those who are evil is also a good work. They refused to tolerate evil people. They obviously excommunicated themselves, perhaps because they exposed the evildoers and denounced them. There is far too much tolerating of evil in the church today.

4. They examined the church eldership that called themselves apostles, but they found to be liars. Jesus also commended this as a good work. By doing this they protected the church from those who call themselves apostles (who expected to preach in the pulpit and get offerings of money) but were false and spoke false doctrine.

They did all the above works for the Lord’s name sake and did not faint. This testimony of the Ephesians church was pretty amazing compared to church standards today.

But it was not good enough!

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell