The Battle Above

There is a constant battle going between the good and the evil! The Lord and the devil are constantly fighting for our lives! Luckily for us, we know how it ends. In Revelation, it talks about when the Lord comes back and destroys all evil and makes a perfect world! It's exciting really, because in the future, we will be living in a perfect world! Not full of hate, selfishness, or blasphemy!


In Revelation 21: 1-4 says,

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth where passed away; and  there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem , coming down form God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of the heaven saying, Behold , the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them , and they shall be his people , and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying , neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Isn't that great!?! It makes me so excited! But if the we know that God will win then why do we need to do anything?


Kelly sat with her friend behind the house talking about the upcoming social event. Terry is really wanting Kelly to go but, her parents won't let her. "Ahh, come on Kelly you could ask to spend the night at my house and then we could sneak off! No one would know! "  Kelly looked at Terry then down at her hands that where sitting in her lap. "Well, maybe..."  

What she doesn't know is that she just let the devil take a step closer. With every disobedient thought the devil gets closer and closer. The angels see it and draw their swords getting ready for battle. They send out the communicator, the Holy Spirit, to talk some sense into the girl. The Holy Spirit already knowing what God wants Kelly to hear, whispers into her ear. " You know better then to disobey your parents! Ephesians 6:1-3 Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Honor your father and your mother ; which is the first commandment in promise ; That it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth."  The angels step forward making the devil back off just a step.

 Kelly closes her eyes and prays.

 The angels are so close to the devil they could strike him with their swords.

 Terry stares at Kelly, "Sooo, what do you say!? "
 Kelly opens her eyes and is instantly filled with peace. "No, Terry I can't.  I would be disobeying my parents and my God!"

 The angels run past the battle line in into devil's territory (Which is the girls heart.) and chasing him off and killing any demons (sins) that come into their path. They won the victory!


This was a small thing, but this is really how it is! If we make the right choices then God's team wins that battle or if we sin, the devil wins. We know that in the end the Lord wins the earth back, but we need to be helping with winning over our battles of sins! We can't let the devil take over us and win every battle! So, how can we win the life long spiritual battle??

Ephesians 6:11-17

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood , but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefor , having your loins girted about with truth , and having on the breastplate of righteousness: And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation , and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  

Belt- Gods world is like a belt. It holds us together! We learn what is right and wrong! It gives us comfort when needed and conviction when needed! Gods truth is so very important!

Breastplate- Righteousness means "the quality of being morally right or justifiable" How do we be "morally right" with out learning what's right and wrong in Gods word!

Feet shod-  We need to be ready to give people an answer! We need to know our Bibles, so we can show them the truth!

Shield-  The shield is a very vital thing. It protects you when you are in a battle. Sounds like faith huh? Faith is a HUGE  thing! It's shows that you  trust God and are willing to leaving all up to him! Even if it looks a little scary. Faith can and will protect us! Its our faith in God that saves us from sin!  Having faith is hard, but well worth it. We need to be ready to give anything and everything to God!

Helmet- Salvation is another HUGE armor piece. You wouldn't be fighting this battle if you didn't have your helmet of salvation! Salvation in Jesus Christ saves us from so much and protects us too! We are protected from some very evil things because we have salvation! We are all so saved from eternal death! Like a helmet would protect your head from blows, salvation protects our souls from blows from the devil.

Sword- My favorite! The sword! The tool to use to destroy all evil, which is Gods word! Gods word is perfect and is shaper then any two edged sword!! God's word can destroy all evil! It tells  how to live and whats right. Gods word is our sword for our battle we need to use it everyday for every little situation!


Now, how can we use our new armor, On the world, for one.

 Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefor brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be ye not conformed to this world but, be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We are not to be of this world! We are in the world but, we shouldn't be of it! The world is very selfish , and evil. It's always talking about , you need to love your self before you can be happy, you need more things , etc. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We need to change our minds about the world! We need to show people what is good, and acceptable, perfect  will of God!

James 4:4

Ye adulters and adulteress , know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend to the world is an enemy of God.

Scary huh? We are against God when we are with the world! And God is a jealous God and will do anything to bring us back to him. See when we are "friends" with the world we begin to think the way everyone else does. "Oh, maybe if I dyed my hair I would be cool, or if I had that shirt I would be pretty, maybe even, I need that new computer, it's so important!" All that time walking in the worlds way is not worth it! Its just that many minutes, hours, or days not with God.

I have seen the Christians who are of the world, and you know what? They can only last so long before the world sucks them in for good! We need to stand strong and put on the armor! We need to be ready for every battle that comes our way!

John 15: 18-19

If the World hates you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were if the world the word would love his own; but because ye are not of the world , but I have chosen you out of the world. therefore the world hateth you.


The world hated Jesus because he was the real thing! He corrected the wrong and taught salvation! He was in the world, but not of it. He was a goody two shoes. He was apart from the world. It even says in this verse that the world will hate those who are not with it!  When it's hard, and we feel like the world hates us, its because it does! And be happy! For you are living in the way of the Lord! That's why we have the armor to put on! To protect us from the wiles of the devil and the hate of the world!

How is your battle above going??? Who is winning? Is it God's team or the devils?  Its a long road home, but it is well worth the battle wounds if we walk off the road home and the Lord says, "I am well pleased, my faithful servant."


We know how the big battle ends, but how does yours end?


Grace

The Best Mother and Daughter Relationship

Ruth fell at her husband's grave crying her heart out. Orpah 

knelt beside her. "Why!? Why would the gods do this to us?! Have we not pleased them?!" Orpah cried through her tears. Ruth's mind was spinning with answerless questions. "Where will I go, what will I do!? " She pulled her shawl closer. Orpah started to stand, " Naomi is probably wondering where we are." she stated at she wiped her still falling tears. Ruth put a flower on her husband's grave and stood up, her head ached. She rubbed her forehead and followed Orpah home.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I am leaving" Naomi stated shortly after the girls arrived. Orpah cried and threw her arms around Naomi. "No! Please don't leave me! You are the only thing I have left of my husband's family! Please don't go!" Orpah cried harder. Ruth stood by the table stunned. She looked at her hands, she could barely see them because of the tears. Naomi hugged Orpah and pulled away. "I can't stay here, I want to go home. To my people." She turned to Ruth,"You understand, don't you?"  Ruth nodded. Orpah's head shot up. "We'll go with you! Won't we, Ruth!" She glanced at Ruth then back at Naomi.  Naomi shook her head. "No, there's no reason for you to come with me. I'm too old to have another son and by the time he would be old enough to marry, why, you would be old ladies. No, stay here with your family." Orpah began crying again. Ruth didn't know what to do. She always thought that she would live with Naomi, she loved her dearly. Naomi told the girls again that they should stay.  Orpah hugged Naomi and kissed her goodbye. "I'll never forget you, Naomi." She looked around the little house and took a ragged breath, turning she hugged Naomi one last time, and ran out the door.

Ruth watched Orpah leave, turning to Naomi, "I'm not leaving you, I'm going with you!" Naomi sighed and took her hand," Ruth, go to your family, your friends, your gods. You'll be much happier." Ruth lifted her chin stubbornly, "No, I will not! I will be miserable if you leave me here! Your people are my people, your God, my God! I will not leave! I love you."  Naomi smiled, "I always knew you were a stubborn one. Come, let's get ready to go."

This had to be hard for Ruth, her husband dies and her Mother-in-law wants to move. Did she leave? Nope! As we see in Ruth 1:16-17 she follows her mother-in-law.

16. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and whither thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God. 17. Where thou diest, I will die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

 Ruth's qualities.

+++++++++++++++++

1. Loyal

2. Loving

3. Submissive

4.Willing.

5. Patient.

6. Hard-working

Ruth was willing to change her way of living to be with her mother, she was willing to move to a place where she knew no one. She was willing to believe in the one true God, she was willing to be with Naomi forever that the only thing that will separate them would be death!

Naomi mentions in verse 9 that they could get married again. So, Ruth not only left her home but also left willing to not marry again!

What a beautiful relationship Ruth had with her mother! Even when her mother tried to get her to stay with her people, Ruth stayed with her. Think about it! Her mother tried to discourage her!

And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister. Verse 15.

Naomi tried to discourage them twice before Orpah left, but Ruth was loyal. She loved her mother, she wanted to stay with her! 

Verses 19-21 ................. And it came to pass when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call me ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

 Naomi was having a pity party. She went so far that she wanted to change her name to Mara and to say she came back empty! Naomi was so into the grief of her sons that she didn't realize that God gave her a wonderful Daughter-in-law that loved her so much that she stayed with her!

 Now in chapter 2, I'm believing that Naomi or Mara is still in her pity party because she must not have noticed that there wasn't any food in the house. (Or she ate it all.)  Ruth was patient through Naomi's pity party, though the Bible doesn't say what Ruth thought. Ruth right away when they arrive at home she goes and gets food. Chapter 2:2-3

And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.

  Ruth worked hard in Chapter 2 trying to provide food for Naomi. Little did Naomi know that God had plans for Ruth. See, even if our mothers have bad days, we still need to be loving and submissive! Working hard to please and help them in every way we can! I can honestly say that my mother is better then Naomi!

I challenge you to read the book of Ruth and as you read it think about the mother/daughter relationship in this! The book of Ruth has so many lessons! Tell me what you learn in Ruth when you read it! :)

Gracie