Spiritual Weapons

2 Corinthians 10:5-7 (New International Version)
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

During the latter years of the Great Depression, the American people were faced with mobilizing themselves for a second world war. They rationed their butter, meat, gasoline and other basic items. With the money they had left after purchasing the necessities of life, they paid wartime taxes and bought war bonds to provide even more funds for mobilization. They also sent hundreds of thousands of their finest youth abroad. It was a massive effort, involving great sacrifices and a tremendous expenditure of resources (Waldrop 1984:42). Paul pictures himself as involved in a similar war effort. In his case, however, the battle is being fought on a spiritual front. And spiritual warfare requires spiritual weaponry, which Paul readily deploys. What distinguishes his weapons from those of the world can be summed up in one word--power (dynatos). The weapons Paul fights with have divine power and, as a result, can accomplish what the world's weapons cannot (demolish stongholds, v. 4). Paul does not identify these weapons here. But they certainly would include "the Holy Spirit," "sincere love," the true message and divine power (6:6-7). He may also have in mind "truth," "righteousness," "the gospel of peace," "faith," "salvation" and "the Spirit," put forward as the Christian's armor in Ephesians 6:13-17.

Paul's weapons are effective in doing too things. They can, in the first place, demolish strongholds (v. 4). Ochyrwma is a military term for a "fortified place" (Heidland 1967b:590; Malherbe 1983:147). The picture is of an army attacking and tearing down the fortified defenses of the enemy. In the ancient world a prosperous city would build not only a stout wall for its security but also, somewhere inside the wall, a fortified tower that could be defended by relatively few soldiers if the walls of the city were breached by an enemy. Once the stronghold was taken, the battle was over (Carson 1984:47). In ancient times this was commonly accomplished through a variety of siege machines, the most common being battering rams, mobile towers, catapults for throwing darts and the ballistae for throwing stones (Stern 1976). The strongholds that Paul's weapons lay siege to are arguments and every pretension (v. 5). Logismous are reasonings that take shape in the mind and are then worked out in life as action (Heidland 1967a:286; Malherbe 1983:147). Hypsoma epairomenon ("raised ramparts") are human "pretensions" (NIV) or "arrogances" (JB, TEV, REB, NEB, RSV, NRSV) that have built fortresses with high towers aimed at repelling attacks by the knowledge of God (v. 5; Malherbe 1983:147).

Such efforts, however, are to no avail. For Paul's weapons not only can demolish strongholds (v. 4) but can also take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (v. 5). The verb aichmalwtizw means "to take a prisoner of war" (Kittel 1964a:195). Paul pictures human thoughts as captured enemy soldiers. Once a city's defenses had been breached and its fortified places destroyed, conquered soldiers were taken in tow as prisoners of war. In the Roman triumphus, the prisoners were paraded through the streets of Rome (see commentary on 2:14-16). Paul's objective, however, is not to put human reasonings and pretensions on public display but to take captive every thought for obedience to Christ (v. 5).

What does this mean today? We live at a time when the mind is deemphasized and the needs of the individual elevated--so much so that our generation has been dubbed "the me generation." By contrast, Paul affirms that the mind matters. Indeed, it is so crucial that he focuses all his efforts on taking every thought captive and making it obey Christ. Alister McGrath has written that the future of evangelicalism lies in the forging of rigorous theological foundations and intellectual credibility (1995:18). For this to happen, Christ must reign supreme in our minds.

So, far from being the spiritual wimp that his critics in Corinth make him out to be, Paul has at his disposal a divine arsenal, which he will use on his next visit to punish every act of disobedience (v. 6). The term ekdikeo means "to take vengeance for" or "punish" something--the something in this case being disobedience (parakoe). The noun parakoe (literally, "to hear aside") denotes a stubborn unwillingness to hear what is said and to act on it. The Corinthian intruders are primarily in view here--although any lingering dissenters at Corinth are not excluded. Their disobedience is not their unwillingness to bend the knee to Paul's authority but their attempt to subvert the gospel. "I am afraid that . . . your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ," Paul says (11:3).

What the punishment will involve is left unstated. But Paul will be able to carry it out once the Corinthians' obedience is complete. Only with the church as a whole behind him can Paul operate from a position of strength against his critics. But once he has their support, his troops stand at the ready to be deployed (en hetoimo echontes--"will be ready").

This is the reason for Paul's tough talk in his letters. By adopting a stern approach, he hopes to avoid acting as the disciplinarian in person--not because he is intimidated by the Corinthians but because he loves them. We always make the effort to avoid causing grief or pain to those we love. In many ways it is easier to bear hurt ourselves than to watch the suffering of someone we care about. Paul was no different. The severe letter he wrote to the church caused him great distress and anguish of heart (2:4). But he wrote it so that when he was next with them, he might be a source of joy (2:1-3) and love (2:4), rather than a cause of pain.

~M H Commentary

I Hear Sickles- a Prophetic Word for 2008

by Stacey Campbell

I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one "like a son of man" with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe."

So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe." The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city . . . .

Joel 3:12-14
"Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow—so great is their wickedness!" Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.


For 2008, prophetically, I hear sickles. They are swinging over nations, and they are set to reap. But what will the harvest be – national revival or national judgment? The Bible (Rev. 14:14ff; Joel 3:13) speaks of two types of sickles – one is a sickle of salvation – to reap the ripe harvest of the earth. The other is a sickle for grapes – a sickle bringing judgment and the wrath of God. What if the sickle that swings widest over a nation could be determined by the Church of that nation?
It is no secret that all over the world things are heating up. On the one hand, there is great anticipation as some of the prophetic words of the past few years unfold before our very eyes. “Convergence,” “acceleration,” “generations,” “alignment,” “crossing over,” “great signs and wonders,” “the beginning of a new 40 year cycle” – the prophetic buzz words of the past few years are no longer future, but present. All of the above are happening throughout North America and the rest of the world. Our faith is giving way to sight. The push in the spirit is upon us and we all feel its weight. God has positioned many of us to ask for and receive things way beyond our natural capability (Eph. 3:20).

Why? Because to this very day, God continues to “so love the world,” (JOHN 3:16) and, unfortunately, much of the world is still grossly lost. All over the world, nations are in moral crisis. From school shootings to child porn, sin is escalating. In North America, economic crisis is looming, and will probably crack wide open at some point in 2008. Communism is threatening Mexico and other Latin American nations. Russia is beginning to taunt the West again. Terrorists are indiscriminately blowing up whatever they can get away with. Child poverty is raging all over the globe and pushing the cycle of sin to unthinkable levels.

But when sin abounds, grace does much more abound. God is raising up a standard to turn the tide of evil back to righteousness. The prayer movement is exploding with 24/7 houses of prayer springing up everywhere. Miracles of all sorts are taking place. Marketplace apostles, prophetic evangelism, and spiritual fathering and mothering are established norms in many places. Like a giant chessboard, the world is taking shape for the war for the souls of men. Preachers of righteousness, their hearts on fire from having spent hours in the presence of God, are emerging from the prayer room like John Wesley and Savanarolla of old. Their words, empowered by the Holy Spirit, will shift cities and nations. As the god of Mammon is shaken in North America in 2008, stadiums will fill with massive gatherings of fasting and prayer, the generation prepared with signs and wonders will, like the apostles in the book of Acts, be released to preach to receptive ears.

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

Prayer is the tipping point. Prayer will release both the judgments of God (Rev. 8:3-13), and create the climate for people to call upon the Lord (see Judges 2:11-22; 3:9,15; 4:3; 6:6, etc.) The scene is being set. If there ever was a time that a nation could “be saved in a day,” now is the time. The wealth transfer has begun, the miracles are happening, the leadership has crossed over and stadiums are already being filled with tens of thousands of believers who are gathering in solemn assemblies of fasting and prayer. I know 20 and 30 year olds who are changing the political climate of nations, who are seeing the lame walk and the blind see, and who are consumed with passion to see a resting place for the Lord established. The speed at which the Church is accelerating is almost frightening, but we have no choice but to follow the Lamb wherever he goes. We are within decades of the gospel of the kingdom being preached to the whole world. And we all know what Jesus said would happen after that (see Matt. 24:14).
Yet we must face the fact that acceleration is happening in kingdoms, the divine and the demonic. In this hour when the world is hanging in the balance, the Church on earth has the power to influence the destiny of nations. We are the salt of the earth, the agent that retards sin and establishes truth and righteousness. When we are faced with the merciless onlaught of evil, we don’t look around, we look up. 2008 is a year of incredible opportunity for the Church, as long as she responds with faith to the opportunities that will come suddenly upon the earth. As I said, in my spirit, I hear sickles. God is preparing to reap nations. Will they be saved . . . or judged?

Rev. 14:16 “So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. . . 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath.”

Joel 3:13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow—so great is their wickedness! 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!”

Prayer – massive gatherings of fasting and prayer – concerted, fervent prayer – will determine which sickle swings widest over America and the other nations of the world. When the prayer bowls fill in heaven, the result on earth is the acceleration of harvest and judgment (Rev. 8:3ff).
In 2008, the Church must join with the intercession of Jesus (Hebrews 7:25) for the release of national revival. Just as with individuals, there are certain national demons that will only come out by fasting and prayer. The formula for national change has been the same for thousands of years: “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray, I will . . . heal their LAND (emphasis mine)” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

If we take the principle of first binding the strongman through national assemblies of fasting and prayer, and then loosing the harvesters (marketplace apostles, fiery end-time preachers, mercy evangelists, and miracle workers), we can take nations. As the kingdoms of this world are shaken, and fear fills the world, a faithful and faith-filled Church will respond to the crises and reap perhaps the greatest harvest the world has ever seen at one time. Prayer, fasting, combined with radical missions must be released at a new level. 2008 will be the bomb . . . “for those who have ears to hear.”

U2 Wave of Sorrow..

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Incredible sound and lyrics..

Discernment..& Intercession

So, how do you discern something?

First and foremost it is a process of sifting, a process of separating. You must be willing to separate between what is of the soul, and what is of the spirit (Heb 4:12). To separate between the precious and the worthless (Eze 44:23), this means sifting the word or the revelation you are receiving to crystallize the most clear, purified nugget of what God is showing you. It also involves waiting if it is not clear, rather than trying to make it come together by adding your thoughts into the gaps.

We Have Glasses!
Lastly it is the continual sifting out of “us” (Jn 3:30). We all wear “glasses”- our worldview through which we interpret life. Even Christians have a great variety of interpretations about what is happening as life unfolds. These “glasses” will always limit our discernment unless we can hear each other and work together.

So we must make a commitment to pursue and love the TRUTH, not just the truth we like, feel comfortable or familiar with. We must in fact love the truth MORE than our desire to be right. A humility and commitment to seek out the truth, is the posture that will open up to us true discernment and understanding.

It is this posture that will allow us to walk together and discern corporately. This is where the safety is (Pro 11:14).

Corporate Discernment
In order to be used of the Lord in this corporate setting, we must be able to submit our “glasses” to the overarching sense that is coming from the Body. This is never easy! We especially must be careful to surrender our perspective if we have been hurt or offended. These emotions often cloud our discernment.

When we are in these corporate settings of discernment we need to listen carefully for the oil. Weigh what impacts and resonates in your spirit, listen for complementary words, which confirm the discernment or direction.

When seeking to gain discernment the stature and number of those that discern together should correspond to the scope of what is being discerned. For example if I am seeking to discern what God is saying to the intercessors of my city, I should inquire with perhaps a dozen or more of the key leaders of intercession, who come from different denominations and streams to get a sense of the big picture. Bring together four or five intercessors from my home church won’t give me the same breadth of perspective and discernment.

As we seek to discern we need to understand the nature of the prophetic sounds that people hear.

Prophetic Sounds
There are Many Sounds: We need to be aware that the Lord is not confined to speaking or doing only one thing at a time. He can be speaking at a variety of levels at the same time. He can be speaking to some about joy, others about healing, still others about taking responsibility for social action in our neighbourhoods. We may pick up one of these sounds and feel we have the “word of the Lord”.

This is why it is critical that we discern corporately, and that we are willing to wait for the weight, rather than always being “trigger happy” and settling with what first comes to mind. In this example, all of these sounds that are being heard are true words, yet we want to go for the deepest, the most encompassing and most significant sound.

Sounds Travel: It is the nature of sounds to travel. They get louder as we get closer to them. This is often the case with prophetic sounds as well, the closer they get (time wise) the clearer and more distinct they are. For example, consider John the Baptist, the true forerunner, a lone voice crying in the wilderness. His message was “repent because the Kingdom of God is near”!! The sound got louder and louder as Jesus emerges on the scene, proclaiming that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him to preach the gospel, bring liberty to the bound, healing to the brokenhearted… the kingdom in our midst! This is a pattern that is often repeated. You can have a forerunning prophetic sound preparing the way and then the fullness comes at a later time.

It is often very hard to distinguish between the two. It takes experience to discern between the forerunning expression and the “fullness of time” expression.

This is also why it is often difficult to discern the timing of words. They will frequently come with an intensity that makes them seem like they are imminent, but in fact they may be well into the future.

Sounds from the Lord Create Life: Prophetic sounds from the Lord will sound like him. They carry the quality of his voice. His voice carries a sense of grace, revelation, freedom, mercy and life. You feel the character of God through his voice, even if he says very little. Remember Mary in the garden did not recognize the resurrected Jesus, but when he said her name- “Mary” she knew that voice! (Jhn 20:16) That one word changed her life forever!

Sounds are Sent to Different Hearers: Prophetic sounds will have different applications. Sometimes they are just a general word, but other times they are for someone in particular. They may be for you, your family, a friend, your church, your city, a people group, a nation or even the whole Body. Discerning the level that the word is applying to involves a) discerning the weight of the word (the greater the weight the broader the application).
b) does the word indicate a specific hearer.

Training to Discern:
As we set ourselves to grow in discernment, we can train ourselves to be much sharper. Yes, there are some that naturally have this gift, but anyone can become discerning and grow in this.

Here are some ways you can develop more discernment:
 Stay alert! Be asking the Lord about what you see, what you sense and how it is impacting you and others. Falling into a place of dullness will rob you of much the Lord would want to show you and say to you.
 Look for the “Burning Bush”- Moses saw something odd, (a bush that burnt and was not consumed) and turned aside to “inquire of this strange sight”. If you come across unusual events and situations, inquire of the Lord to gain understanding.
 Listen for the Lord to Speak Through Anything- he can speak through the evening news, through billboards, through the names of satellites that are being launched, through sporting events, movies, pronouncements from civic government, sounds, weather, etc, etc… Listen for the sounds that are reinforcing and confirming the word of the Lord. The broader and more pervasive the confirmations, the more important the word or the more expansive it’s application.
 Inquire of Others- (especially those that are mature and discerning) what they are hearing, what they are discerning. This will give you a sense of proportion for what you are hearing. If everyone else is hearing the same thing, or something similar- this is good! If not, you might need to consider that your “glasses” could be obscuring your sight.
 Value the Prophetic-even the baby-steps taken by a beginner in the prophetic gifting can carry great revelation. Weigh and consider each piece. (But be careful to protect your prayer meetings from everyone just sharing prophetic words. It’s always easier to share than to pray.) Keep your ear open to what the senior prophets are releasing at any given time.
 If there is Fruit, there is a Root! As the Lord to show you the root cause of both good and bad fruit in various situations. Learn from this without becoming judgmental or critical. If the Lord is showing you something in someone else’s life or in a church setting, He is expecting that you will cover it in love and intercession.
 Stay Humble! We always see through a glass darkly, all of our discernment is flawed and incomplete. Jesus alone sees all. Always maintain the posture that what you have discerned could be off, or you could be missing a very important part. Love truth, and be willing to be corrected.
 Stay Grounded! Remember, everything will line up with scriptural principles. Don’t pursue revelation to the point of getting flakey and bordering on fantasy.

So what does this have to do with intercession?
Discernment and accurately discerning what God is saying, what is hindering the advancement of the Kingdom, the times and seasons we are in are so critically important for knowing what to pray for, how intensely to pray and if additional steps might need to be taken, such as fasting, corporate focused times of prayer etc.

movie

I dont usually make comments on these things butI just went to the site of the new movie soon to be released: The Golden Compass; here is an excerpt of what is said online under the heading "Lyra's World":

"In Lyra's world a person's soul lives outside their body in the form of a daemon - a talking animal spirit that accompanies them through life ...it can change shape assuming all the forms that a child's infinite potential inspires......The bond between human and daemon is extraordinarily powerful - a person without a daemon in Lyras world would be seen as horribly mutilated - and trifling with this connection is taboo in the extreme...

There is also an online compass where you can ask questions through mental telepathy and receive answers to your questions from a set of secret symbols on the compass. There is also an area where you can answer some questions and they will provide you with the information as to who your own personal daemon actually is. This is aimed especially at young children, but for those Christians who do not understand nor beleive in the spirit realm, it will seem innocent enough. For those of us who have come out of "the dark side"..its very sobering and serious. its not unlike consulting ouija boards ..and it is very blatantly occult in nature. It's graphics are amazing much like "The Chronicles of Narnia"...The movie itself may seem fairly innocent, but its message is very clear. The spirit behind this movie has an agenda.

At a point after becoming a Christian, I had to renounce and be delivered from the effects of a "familiar spirit" that had been attached to me, probably since birth. It had become my friend and I used to speak with it, and it would talk back to me. I didnt know at the time it was an evil spirit - it told me that it was there to help me and that it was my friend. This is NOT fantasy.

Revelation 16:14They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.
1 Timothy 4:1[ Instructions to Timothy ] The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
1 Corinthians 10:20No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.
1 Corinthians 10:21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons

Here is a dictionary definition of the word "daemon'
1.Classical Mythology.
a.a god.
b.a subordinate deity, as the genius of a place or a person's attendant spirit.
2.a demon.
Also, daimon. [Origin: < L daem¨­n a spirit, an evil spirit < Gk da¨ªm¨­n a deity, fate, fortune; cf. da¨ªesthai to distribute]

Those Who Know Their God

In Mat 24, Jesus speaks of the last days. So terrible is this period that He warns "Unless those days be cut short, no life would have been saved." Ther seriousness of this final hour is a dividing line which finds Christians encamped on either side: some believing in a pre-tribulation rapture and others leaning toward a post-tribulation rapture. Myself, I have come to the conclusion that I am not preparing for what is coming but for WHO is coming. The bride is not making herself ready for a "date" but a marriage. If we are fully given to knowing Christ intimately, not only will we enjoy His presence, but we will gain a spiritual strength for whatever the future holds!

The key to living in this victory is not knowing timetables, but knowing God. From the position of knowing the heart and nature of God, in the midst of great difficulties we will "display strength and take action" Dan11:32

When we consider the wrath of God, it is right that destructive images come to our minds, for such must come upon the whole world. However, Is 61 gives us clear insight into the purpose of the day of vengeance of our God. It is to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion beauty instead of ashes, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting v2,3

The first phase of God's vengeance upon the world is aimed at releasing his elect from oppression. But God does not stop there. His grace continues, taking these very individuals who were fainting under their enemies' oppression, He reaises them up to spiritual maturity. v3

You see, as God's anger is released against His enemies, there will be great deliverance among all His people simultaneously. Indeed, where they have suffered most from perseonal defeat, in those very areas they will walk in victory. Untimately these oaks of rightouseness will advance the very power of redemption, which God applied to their hearts, to the cities around them.

"Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will raise up the former devastations, and they will repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. v4

For everyone who shares a true yearning for the righteousness of God, and for each soul that earnestly desires to be like Jesus, the day of God's vengeance is your hour of fulfililment! In difficult times, the church has consistently been God's tool to bring healing to the nations! Im asking the Lord for the nations as my inheritance according to Psalm 2:8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

Interesting that the Canadian flag is the only flag that I know of with a picture of a LEAF..

Revelation 22:2down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Ezekiel 47:12Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."

The Revealing of the Bride..A Love Story..

Song of Songs 8:6 "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel (severe, unyielding) as the grave: the coals (Heb."flames") thereof are coals (flames) of fire, which hath a most vehement flame (+ of the Lord")."

The word "seal" is the same Hebrew word for "signet" or "signet ring". The king (or his representative) would affix the royal seal to a document representing His authority, will, ownership, protection or direction. It was to be permanent! Esther 8:8 is a wonderful example of this: "Write ye...in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse."

The seal from King Jesus today is the Holy Spirit (II Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13; 4:30)! The Holy Spirit is the seal placed within us and assures us that what God promises in His word He will perform! That "sealing of the Holy Spirit" took place the moment she received her Beloved as her personal Lord and Savior. In this verse He is asking her to set Him as a seal upon her heart and arm. She looked very puzzled at this request from Him.

He explains, "My darling bride your heart must have My seal upon it for that is where you make your decisions. Then it must be put on your arm that carries them out. With each decision you must place My seal upon it, then nothing will ever come between us as we walk together up out of this wilderness. It will demonstrate more than anything else that you love Me with all of your heart. My beautiful bride, this is something I will never force upon you. I want you to willingly take it and make it a permanent commitment." She knew this was the most holy and sacred moment of her life. His desire was her desire. Nothing else mattered!

A powerful presence of the precious Holy Spirit filled her whole being. Speaking in her heart He said, "Dear surrendered bride, this is the ultimate gift of joy you could give your Beloved." The enemy fought this decision with all the demons of fear and doubt he could muster against her. But it was to no avail! Her eyes stayed steadfast upon Him. With longing, pleading words she said, "Please, my Love, I must have this seal. I must give You this joy. I must satisfy Your heart, for nothing else will satisfy me!"

Her Beloved's eyes sparkled with delight. Intently gazing at His hands He slowly opened the palms exposing the scars and said, "These my faithful bride are the seal for you, the scars of my crucifixion. They are the guarantee that I will never leave you nor forsake you. They are the assurance that My love for you is eternal. They are pledge that your sins will never rise again to condemn you and the safety that no one can snatch you out of them! My Spirit's indescribable power will be released in you! Then you will know My love which surpasses knowledge. You will be filled with all the fullness of God (Eph.3:19) and be transformed from glory to glory in Me (II Cor.3:18). My seal will cause you to always triumph in all circumstances (II Cor.2:14)."

She touched His outstretched hands and lifted them up to look more closely at the scars. Overwhelmed at what she saw, tears fell uncontrollably upon them. Catching her breath, in a forced whisper she exclaimed, "My name, I see my name, it's there, there in Your hand! Right in the middle of Your scar!" She stood there speechless. Then, He lifted up her face to look into her eyes and said softly, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. (Isa.49:15-16)!"

She took His right hand lovingly placed the scar over her heart and declared, "O my Love, I promise to You that every decision I must make will be made by You. Every thing that would vie for my love and attention will first be filtered through Your scar!" All of a sudden an indelible mark of His scar appeared over the place of her heart. An inexpressible, heavenly glow of joy filled Him. She then took His left hand and placed it over her arm, then looking into His eyes with a holy fire of devotion declared, "Every action, every activity in my life will have Your approval. It will be only for Your glory." She closed her eyes and felt completely immersed in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Contentment and peace filled her soul. Jesus, bursting with love, said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you - you have made My joy complete!" In this powerful presence she fell limp in His arms - His left hand was under her head to give rest to her mind and His right arm embraced her to impart strength.

Power and glory filled her to overflowing! She understood for the first time what her Beloved meant concerning being baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16). Her attitude and actions, her desires and decisions would be completely under the Spirit's control. She would gladly walk in the pathway of crucifixion (Rom.6:6-14; II Cor.4:7-18) - dead to self and independent ambition, but alive in His resurrected life. Everything in her life would have His seal of approval on it. She would say with each decision, "Your will be done in my heart as it is in heaven - never my will!" (Mark 14:36; Matt.6:10).

This is true dying to self - the crucified life, every desire, decision and circumstance filtered through the cross. You ask the question each time, "Would this please my Beloved?" "Would He watch this or listen to that?" "Read this or go there?" Place His hand in front of everything! The crucified life is total confidence that He knows best. The crucified life brings into the heart a wonderful godly fear giving heavenly wisdom and holy direction. His voice, presence, power and love will be experienced as never before. You will fear to hurt the One you love! That's spiritually healthy fear (Psa.147:11; Prov.1:7; 3:7;10:27; 14:26; Eph.5:21)! While she continued to rest in His embrace He said...

"...for love is strong as death, jealousy as cruel (unyielding) as the grave..."

Then He explained to her what all this meant, "You see, My loving, precious wife, death is unyielding, so is My love for you! I will never cease to love you with a 'first love' love! My jealousy, is for your good, it is as strong as the grave for it is unyielding! My passion for your welfare is as flames of fire from on high! O dear bride of My heart, never forget that I have a holy, protecting jealousy (Exo.20:5; 34:14; Deut.4:24; 5:9; 6:15; Josh. 24:19) which will always fight for you against the enemy."

A holy fire rushed through her entire being (Heb. 12:29). It was a purity and holiness ablaze in her spirit and soul. She leaned close to Him with tears of joy running down her cheeks! Thrilled beyond description , she proclaimed, "HE is consumed with me!" "He IS consumed with me!" He is CONSUMED with me!" "He is consumed WITH ME!" She burst out in song....

Taken from: http://www.songofsolomondevotional.com/preview.php
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