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Today’s Devotional – August 28th

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End-Time Exodus,

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Part 4:

“Overcoming The World!”

To Read Part 1, click here… “August 25th (End-Time Exodus! Part 1)”

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In the last two devotionals (click here to read), it has been revealed, that the way to overcome the world and the flesh, is to join the Lord in a three-part process of taking back the heart from the Devil.

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It is a three-part plan to win the battle against the Devil.

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Because the heart is where the battle is fought. The heart is the territory which the Devil gained long ago. And he doesn’t want to give it up!

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And so, the Devil has been engaging in a war against Heaven, to retain control over the human heart.

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SATAN: MASTER OF CONFUSION

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And the first thing that Satan has done, is to convince us that we don’t have a heart!

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Yes, the Devil has tampered with the English language, in attempt to confuse us into thinking that our blood-pump is our heart!

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But our heart is in our mind! It is the treasure-chest of the mind!

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It is where the love of all our precious treasures is stored!

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It is the common ground between the Believer and God!

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It is the Most Holy place, in which we are to minister as priests before God.

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Heart oblique external – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike Lic.

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KINGDOM OF GOD WITHIN

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Listen… “And when He (Jesus) was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20, 21

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And so, the Kingdom of God is within us. Thus, the heart and mind are to be our own little portion of God’s Kingdom. And of course, God’s eternal dwelling place is His Temple! Therefore, as priests together with Christ, our heart is where we minister before our Heavenly Father.

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Oh yes, Jesus is our High Priest! But we are to eternally reign as co-regents with Christ! (“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation,” 1st Peter 2:9)

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IN HEAVENLY PLACES

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“And (God) hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians 2:6

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And so, we don’t have to wait to sit with Christ in Heavenly Places! We are to be there right now! Oh no, we are not there physically! But God has graciously taken up residence in our heart! Therefore, it is in the heart that we sit with Him in Heavenly Places!

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Listen… “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;” Ephesians 3:17.

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So, if Christ is dwelling in our hearts, and we are sitting together with Him in Heavenly Places, then just what is the obvious conclusion? Heaven is in our heart! And Christ is there in our heart, sitting on His throne!

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BRINGING EVERY THOUGHT INTO CAPTIVITY

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But back to the subject at hand. Just how do we win complete victory over the thoughts and intents of our heart? After all, if our heart is Christ’s Heavenly Throne Room, then it is a most high and holy calling, that we must make surety for Christ!

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Listen once again…. “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2nd Corinthians 10:4-6

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Yes, as already stated in the last two devotionals, Paul has put into military terms, the victory of obedience! We are not to war with carnal weapons, but we are to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when our obedience is fulfilled!

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GOD SITS AS A PURIFIER OF SILVER & GOLD

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But now, we come to the third part of this three-fold equation for complete and total victory over the world and over the flesh.

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And so, the third part which greatly is the work of God, is to purify us by fire, just as gold is tried in the fire! Yes, God must purify our heart, and fill it with the pure heavenly gold of faith and love. And He will sit as a purifier of silver and gold, to purify His royal priesthood (Believers), with the silver of purity, and the gold of faith and love!

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And so, the Believer must go through the necessary trials in his or her daily walk with God, so that we may say, along with Job…  “But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10                       

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gold smelting – cropped image – Public Domain – wn.com

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TRIBULATION WORKS PATIENCE

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Now just why does God send us through trials? Well one reason is to teach us patience.

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Listen… “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4

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And so, God is not wanting a repeat of the first rebellion. Yes, He wants us bullet-proof, so to speak. He wants us to remain faithful, even when it seems as if He doesn’t care, or isn’t there! Therefore, He purposely delays His deliverance for us! And He purposely delays our victory over various nagging sins! And He seems to take forever in bringing us out of the “miry pit”, even though we pray constantly for deliverance! And He allows us to fall, again and again into our little pet sins, even though we despise our weak will.

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Paradise Lost – G Dore – wikipedia – public-domain

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THE SECRET INGREDIENT: PRAYER

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Now of course, this three-part recipe for victory has a secret ingredient, just like any great secret family recipe!

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And that secret ingredient is unceasing communion with God. Yes, the privilege of prayer is perhaps the most wonderful part of this recipe-for-success! It is something we can do anytime and anywhere! Silently, while walking, while working, while lying down or at recreation with our family, the Believer can pray, pray, pray!!!

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And so, as we cry out to God for deliverance, we know deep down in our hearts that He will finally arrive, to rescue us once again! But even more than that, we know that He’s right beside us in our trials… “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:5, 6

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 Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – Public Domain                                                                                                

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FOLLOWING JESUS

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Yes, following Christ is the true pathway to victory! “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

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And so, overcoming the world and the flesh is not grievous. For Christ has promised us that… “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1st John 5:4.

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Actual Sunset – Wikimedia Commons – Share-alike License

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POWER TO PREVAIL

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And God promises us power beyond anything we can imagine!

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Listen… “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith….Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us…” Ephesians 3:17-21

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As this above passage reveals, God can do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the Power that works in us! And so, with promises like this, how can we lose?

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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain

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TO READ PART 5, CLICK HERE…

“August 29th (End-Time Exodus, Part 5: Overcoming The World!)”

Globeblack wikimedia public domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Bring me through the fires of tribulation, so that I might become a vessel unto honor…

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Crown of Revelation 12: What Is “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble”?” or you can also read… “July 29th (The Chrysalis Christian, Part 2: Afflictions)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

 

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

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GLORIOUS CROWN CONSTELLATION… 

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& THE REVELATION 12 WOMAN

(Click here to read more!)

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Let us meet our first host: The Glorious Crown of Revelation 12 Constellation!

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This Glorious Crown Constellation looks like a wreath at first glance. It has 7 stars, plus another star in the middle. This Glorious Crown Constellation is commonly referred to as the Corona Borealis Constellation. This wreath reminds us of the victory wreath given to athletes who won races in the ancient cultures. This was spoken of by Paul as he compared those ancient races to the race that Christians must run…  “Know you all not, that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you all may obtain.” 1st Corinthians 9:24 (see also Hebrews 12:1) 

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Photo: Corona Borealis – seen in warmer months – cropped photo with crown drawn in by this website – Wikipedia – Taken from software called Perseus – All rights by Roberto Mura 

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“A CROWN OF 12 STARS UPON HER HEAD” …

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But upon a closer examination if you have access to a very dark sky out in the country; if you watch this wreath, you will eventually see 5 more very faint stars, making a total of 12 stars, plus that single star in the middle. This wreath now becomes a crown of 12 stars. This goes along with Revelation 12, which tells of a crown of 12 stars upon the head of the Virtuous Woman of Revelation 12.

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Just listen to Revelation… “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman…and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:” Revelation 12:1.

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But this crown is not yet upon the head of the Virtuous Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (also known as Ursa Major). It is just above her head, as if she has yet to attain it. Of course, the 13th star in the middle would represent Christ (Who is our true Crown of our rejoicing). Ok, so we have a picture of Christ and His twelve tribes of Israel. But also we have a picture of Christ and His twelve apostles, which is a picture of His Church. So this heavenly crown is a multi-faceted concept.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Crown of Revelation 12: What Is “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble”?”

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TOMORROW:

“August 29th (End-Time Exodus, Part 5: Overcoming The World!)”

Globeblack wikimedia public domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. 

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THIS IS STUDY #238 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing names, details, and tags, and all other necessary info on any particular photo. Most tall, narrow photos have been cropped or reduced by this website to make them a better fit on phone screens.