Encouragement

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“Set a bar…So God can use you!”  --Dr. Wayne E. Anderson

INTRODUCTION:
    Years ago, a good friend of mine was an intercessory prayer warrior.  She came to me one day, almost in tears, and complained that: “Satan was fighting hard against me!”  “Well,” I received wisdom from on high for my response, “seems like the Devil wants to short YOU out, so he can shut down the prayer switchboard!”
    Some of you have been loyal to God, and been strong Prayer and Encouragement Coaches.  However, you’ve been up against it.  The world, the flesh, and the devil have been giving you fits.  Worse still, there are STILL those who need prayer BUT are too comfortable and entrenched in their sins AND oppose your efforts.
    Have heart!  A Christian who does NOT have enemies is a sad Christian indeed.
    As time passes, we are ‘amazed’ that the world is growing more and more hostile towards the things of God, and the people of God--both Christian and especially those of the Jewish background.  Have heart!  Matthew 24 is coming to pass.  It won’t be long.

PRAYER--THE REALITIES:
    That’s why this mission is called The Prayer and Encouragement Coaches Group.  The dues to get in have already been paid at the Cross, and given with interest at the Tomb.  Real prayer involves sweat; because we are often coming against the spirits of this world who don’t want us to pray in Jesus’ name.
    *Prayer As Praise:  Exodus 15:1-19 KJV  (Read Entire for Devotion)
Remember--REAL prayer, on occasion, is REAL spiritual warfare.  Saints of God, male and female, were BORN AGAIN to WAGE WARFARE against the world, the flesh and the devil (Eph. 6:10-20 KJV).  If YOU don’t want to fight…Satan will ROLL over you.  This measure is FROM Moses, a Man of War (Ex. 15:3).

ENCOURAGEMENT--THE JOYS:
    In wrapping up our sojourn in the Book of Ruth, we come to Chapter 4, where Boaz wants to marry Ruth…but there is a closer kinsman/redeemer in the picture.  Boaz uses wisdom, and Ruth uses patience in order to ‘close the deal’.  Wisdom and patience are the two keys to encouragement.  It may take more than one meeting to truly lift someone out of their ‘funk’.  Or, victory can come after one meeting.  You never know how God is going to work things out.  That individual who really is not too ‘hot’ about prayer, can be won over by encouragement.  That is why I was blessed to couple the two together!  The perfect ‘one two’ combination.  I Samuel 30:6 (KJV) is an insightful verse for those who think that encouragement is not ‘important’ enough to give our all to do.

SMOOTHING IT ALONG PRAYERFULLY--THE P. A. E. C. WAY:
    The world has us tainted to respond to its ways, instead of God’s ways…IF we are not careful.  For example, the Christian is to meditate on the Word of God day and night.  The world likes to ‘squeeze’ us into the mold of thinking that meditation is something reserved for far-eastern religions.  On the contrary!  We must ‘chew’ on the Word of God throughout the day, in order for us to; a) understand, and; b) to properly hear our God!  One of my favorite statements comes from a saint of a bygone era by the name of Thomas Brooks:  “Til we have sinned, Satan is a parasite; When we have sinned, Satan is a tyrant.”  Sin--regardless of where it comes from--can ONLY be broken by repentance, and the power of Jesus Christ.  He IS the ultimate sin breaker!

    Mike Ramey is a Minister, Book Reviewer, P-School Ranger, Modern Street Gangs Specialist and Syndicated Columnist who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.  “The Overcomer Case Files” is meant for those of the Body of Christ who are serious about bringing in the harvest during these dark days.  This is one of a variety of columns that Ramey has in cyberspace.  To drop him a line--or a whine--the address is still the same:  [email protected].  ©2020  Barnstorm Communications

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