Song of Solomon 8:6

New Living Translation

6 

Place me like a seal over your heart,

    like a seal on your arm.

For love is as strong as death,

    its jealousy[a] as enduring as the grave.[b]

Love flashes like fire,

    the brightest kind of flame.

Song of Solomon 8:6

• Bible / Our Library / Bible Commentaries / John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible / Song of Solomon / Song of Solomon 8 / Song of Solomon 8:6

Share Tweet Save

• Song of Solomon 8:5 Song of Solomon 8:7

Song of Solomon 8:6

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm,

&c.] These are still the words of the church, speaking to Christ as she walked along with him, as the affixes in the Hebrew text show; in which she desires to have a fixed abiding place in his heart; to continue firmly in his love, and to have further manifestations of it; to be always remembered and supported by him; to be ever on his mind, and constantly under his care and protection; and to have a full assurance of interest in his love, and in his power, which is the sealing work of his Spirit, ( Ephesians 1:13 ) ( 4:30 ) . The allusion seems to be to the high: priest, a type of Christ, who had the names of the children of Israel engraved on precious stones, and bore by him on his shoulders, and on his heart, for a memorial before the Lord continually; or to the names of persons, engraved on jewels, wore by lovers on their arms or breasts, or to their pictures put there; not to signets or seals wore on those parts, but to the names and images of persons impressed on them: the Ethiopians F16 understand it of something bound upon the arm, by which persons might be known, as was used in their country. The church’s desire is, that she might be affectionately loved by Christ, be deeply fixed in his heart, be ever in his view, owned and acknowledged by him, and protected by the arm of his power. Her reasons follow: for love [is] strong as death;

that is, the love or the church to Christ, which caused her to make the above requests: death conquers all; against it there is no standing; such was the love of the church, it surmounted all difficulties that lay in the way of enjoying Christ; nothing could separate from it; she was conquered by it herself F17; and could not live without him; a frown, an angry look from him, was as death unto her; yea, she could readily part with life and suffer death for his sake; death itself could not part her from him, or separate him from her love F18; so that her love was stronger than death; jealousy [is] cruel as the grave:

the jealousy she had of Christ’s love to her which was her weakness; and yet it was very torturing and afflicting, though at the same time it showed the greatness of her love to Christ: or “envy”, that is of wicked men, she was the object of, which exceeds cruel wrath and outrageous anger, ( Proverbs 27:4 ) ; or rather her “zeal” F19, which is no other than ardent love for Christ his Gospel, cause, and interest; which ate up and consumed her spirits, as the grave does what is cast into it. ( Psalms 119:139 ) . Virgil F20 gives the epithet of “cruel” to love; the coals thereof [are] coals of fire;

which expresses the fervency of her love to Christ, and zeal for the honour of his name: which, though sometimes cold and languid, is rekindled, and becomes hot and flaming; and is, like fire, insatiable, one of the four things that say, “It is not enough”, ( Proverbs 30:16 ) ; [which hath] a most vehement flame;

nothing is, nor, common with other writers F21, than to attribute flame to love, and to call it a fire; here a most vehement flame. Or, “the flame of Jah” or “Jehovah” F23; an exceeding great one: the Hebrews use one or other of the names of God, as a superlative; so the mountains of God, and cedars of God, mean exceeding great ones; and here it expresses the church’s love in the highest degree, in such a flame as not to be quenched, as follows: or it signifies, that the flame of love in her breast was kindled by the Lord himself F24, by his Spirit, compared to fire; or by his love, shed abroad in her heart by him, Hence it appears to be false, what is sometimes said, that the name of God is not used in this Song; since the greatest of all his names, Jab or Jehovah, is here expressed.

Verse Thoughts

The habits that we set up in our thinking, develops a fixed mental attitude, which pre-determines the way that we respond to life-situations – a mind-set that influences our reactions to the circumstances that touch our lives; a disposition that constructs a set of self-imposed values and perceptions about God, and other people, that may be twisted or false, unless they are founded upon the truth.

The mind-set of the unsaved can only emanate from the inherent, old sin nature, which is at enmity with God and which builds into a pagan, anti-God, mental attitude. The mind-set of a believer is able to be influenced by the old sin nature, which develops into a carnal Christian OR the new-life in Christ, which blossoms into a spiritual believer. The former makes a habit of walking in the way of the world and the flesh, while the latter makes a practice of walking in spirit and in truth – the carnally minded believer leads to death while the spiritually minded believer leads to life and peace.

Whatever mindset develops in the heart of a believer, whether carnal or spiritual, his position in Christ and his eternal life remains secure forever, for it rests upon the faithfulness of God to keep His promises – not upon the unfaithfulness of God’s blood-bought children towards their heavenly Father. Praise God for His unfailing grace.

Death in scripture means separation from God, and for a carnally-minded believer death means estrangement from God – broken fellowship – interrupted communion – inner turmoil. When a believer develops a carnal mindset, he habitually constructs a false set of values, incorrect perceptions about God and distances himself from the Lord that bought him.

But praise God we can rectify this sad state of affairs, by changing the way we think – by habitually setting our heart on heavenly things – by continuously looking to Jesus – by fervently drinking in His Word and by developing a spiritual mindset that makes for life and peace.

Let us be careful not to get sucked into the world’s way of thinking about God but let us develop the spirit of Christ – let us put off our carnal mindset and develop a fixed mental attitude that is founded and focussed on Jesus Christ.

Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/romans-8-6

Psalm 119:18

New Living Translation

18 

Open my eyes to see

    the wonderful truths in your instructions.

What does Psalm 119:18 mean?

John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

Psalms 119:18

Open thou mine eyes

The eyes of my heart or understanding, as Kimchi; or, “reveal mine eyes” F20; take off the veil from them: there is a veil of darkness and ignorance on the hearts of all men, with respect to divine and spiritual things; their understandings are darkened, yea, darkness itself. This veil must be removed; the scales must drop from their eyes; their eyes must be opened and enlightened, before they can discern spiritual things contained in the word of God; and even good men need to have the eyes of their understandings more and more enlightened into these things, as the psalmist here petitions, and the apostle prays for his Ephesians, ( Ephesians 1:17 Ephesians 1:18 ) ;

that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law;

the law strictly taken, which had great and excellent things in it; and was wonderful for the compendiousness of it; for the justice, holiness, and equity of its precepts; especially for its spirituality, and above all for Christ, being the end of it; the two last more particularly could only be discerned by a spiritual man: or rather the five books of Moses, the almost only Scriptures extant in David’s time, in which there were many wonderful things concerning Christ; some delivered by way of promise and prophecy of him, under the characters of the seed of the woman, the seed of Abraham, the Shiloh, and the great Prophet; and many others in dark figures, types, and shadows, which required a spiritual sight to look into; of which the rock and manna, the brasen serpent, passover, &c. are instances: but rather, as the word “law” signifies “doctrine”, the doctrine of the Gospel may be meant; which contains mysteries in it, respecting the trinity of Persons in the Godhead, the person of Christ, his incarnation, sufferings and death; the blessings of grace through him; the doctrines of peace, pardon, righteousness, eternal life, and the resurrection of the dead; with many others.

Verse Thoughts

This lengthy but beautifully written Psalm has its entire focus on the Word of God, which contain the instructions of the heavenly Father. How we need the Word of God, for it is our daily food and it is refreshment for our souls. How we should treasure the Word of God, for it is our guide and teacher – our strength and our defence. How we should read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the Word of God, for it is life and health – it is peace and light., it is joy and hope. And as the Psalmist trawls the depth of its treasures, his whispered prayer is – open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your instructions.

We are not only servants and students of the Word, but we are sons and daughters of its Author, and so that should search the scripture daily to discover the truths, in which the Lord desires to teach and train us, as well as the areas in which He seeks to guard and correct us. As His children we should treasure His Word in our heart that we might not sin against Him, and as we reach for our Bible, our prayer should mirror that of the Psalmist – open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.

We need to ensure that our eyes are wide open to all that is in the Word as we saturate ourselves in His wonderful ways and reflect on the beauty of His person. We should crave for the milk of the Word so that we may grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus, and we should meditate upon the meat of the Word so that we may walk in spirit and truth – and live in submission to the guiding of the Spirit. Day by day our prayer should be – open my eyes so that I may contemplate the wonderful things from Your instruction.

When our eyes are open and earnestly looking to Jesus they are not searching out the things of this world. When our heart is gasping for the Lord it is not lusting after the things of the flesh. But when our eyes are closed in disinterest or discouragement our own imagination can be funnelled in to a wrong direction. Let us look to the Lord in excitement and open our eyes in prayerful expectation – that we will see the wonderful things that are written in Scripture and contemplate on the glories that are contained in the Word of God.

Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/psalm-119-18

Jeremiah 17:7

New Living Translation

7 

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord

    and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

Devotional Thoughts

By David Wilkerson

You may be going through the worst storm of your life — a financial struggle, business troubles, slander, family problems or a personal tragedy. Restlessness keeps you awake at night, a cloud hanging over you. When you awaken, the dull ache is still with you and you cry, “God, how long will you allow me to go through this? When will it end?”

Let’s look for a moment at Israel’s experience at Rephidim: “Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink … And the people thirsted there for water” (Exodus 17:1-3). The Scripture shows that God led Israel to the driest place in the whole wilderness — no stream, no well, not a trickle of water — where he allowed them to grow thirsty. The people complained to Moses but God had a plan! He was not going to allow them to die; he had a reservoir of water that he had prepared long before.

Why had God done this? He was waiting for a response of faith from Israel. He was saying, “I have taken you through all these things but you have refused to learn. Will you trust me now?”

Many Christians are being tested and tried right now because of unemployment. Their savings are dwindling and the situation looks hopeless. Others are enduring various forms of suffering. It is never easy. These faithful, anxiety-ridden people come to church and raise their hands in praises to the Lord. They smile and hug their brothers and sisters in Christ, yet they go through awful pain and insecurity.

Beloved, one reason your trial is prolonged is because God wants you to approach him with childlike trust and confidence. When a spiritual dryness sets in, God wants you to look to him: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:7). If you put your total trust in his Word and his faithfulness, God has promised to bless you — and he cannot lie!

Verse Thoughts

What tremendous benefits are discovered for the one that trusts the Lord with all their heart and does not lean upon their own understanding. Trusting in the Lord is simply believing what God has said. It is having faith in the incarnate Word of God and trusting all that the Lord has revealed to us in the written Word of God.

The man who trusts in the Lord is simply believing Him in all things – believing His Word, trusting His promises, and not allowing himself to be shaken by circumstance, sight, emotions, or feelings. Blessed indeed, is the man that trusts in the Lord. Favoured and fortunate, is the one whose hope is resting in the God of our Salvation.

It was Jeremiah who wrote these words. He was acutely aware of the sins of Judah and the unfaithfulness of the people of Israel. He knew that man’s heart is deceitful above all things, and that fallen man can be swept into deep despondency when faith in the Lord fails or falters. He was surrounded by a nation that had fallen into apostasy, and it was in His distress that he sought the Lord for healing and deliverance.

At the start of his ministry, Jeremiah had been warned that the people would not listen to his message, and the guilt of the nation stands in stark contrast with the innocence of this solitary prophet of God. It was as He lamented the unbelief of the people, and became distressed by the destructive consequences of their sin, that he was led to reignite his own faith by confessing the truth, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD. and whose hope is the LORD.”

Trusting the Lord is simply believing that the one and only Way God has provided for fallen man to be saved, is through the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is having faith in the unchangeable Truth that God has opened up for us in the Scriptures, and has revealed to us through His only begotten Son. It is accepting, as an unchangeable fact, that the Life which God imparted to us through the Lord Jesus Christ, will save to the uttermost.

It pleases the very heart of God when His children depend on Him utterly, believe in His Word, and trust in His Son for Salvation, for without having faith in Who He is and what He had said, it is impossible to please Him. Without faith we are ships without a rudder that are tossed and adrift on the merciless sea of life, for the one who draws near to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Trusting in God and hoping in the Lord is simply believing the reality of all that He has disclosed to us in His Word. It is accepting as fact all that God has revealed to us in the Bible. It is trusting all that has been revealed in Scripture about our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

It is believing as fact that Christ has gone to prepare a place for us and loves us with an everlasting love. Christian hope is not a vain, fingers-crossed fantasy, and faith in God is not founded on fiction, but on fact. It is seeing with the unclouded eye-of-faith, all God promises as a certain reality, and accepting as actuality the truth of His Word.

Trusting in the Lord and hoping in Him is being certain of the existence of things we cannot see. What glorious joy is realised by the one that trusts implicitly in the Lord and places their eternal hope in Him. Blessed is the man who embraces these two gifts of grace, which abide forever – for faith and hope unlock our understanding of the Father-heart of God’s pure love for all His children.

Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/jeremiah-17-7

Lamentations 3:22-23

New Living Translation

22 

The faithful love of the Lord never ends![a]

    His mercies never cease.

23 

Great is his faithfulness;

    his mercies begin afresh each morning.

The Steadfast Love of the Lord

(Lamentations 3:22-23)

by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

Audio (6:50)

When you read the book of Lamentations in the Old Testament, it can seem pretty grim. Jeremiah mourns the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The book’s chapters repeat one dismal lament after another, line after line. It’s crushing — and reflects the way the Israelites feel after this massive defeat and exile. But the dark lament finally gives way to hope.

“21 But this I call to mind,

and therefore I have hope:

22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

24 ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul,

‘therefore I will hope in him.'” (Lamentations 3:21-24, ESV)

In spite of the bitter circumstances, God’s character shines forth.

God’s Faithful Love

The author highlights three aspects of the Lord’s character — his love, his mercy, and his faithfulness. Let’s look at these.

• “Steadfast love” (ESV, NRSV), “great love” (NIV), “mercies” (KJV, NASB) is the Hebrew noun ḥesed. It is Yahweh’s “great love,” his “lovingkindness.” I like the translation “steadfast love,” because to me it conveys love that never gives up, never quits (1 Corinthians 13:7-8a).[1]

• “Mercies” (ESV, NRSV), “compassions” (NIV, KJV) is the plural noun raḥamîm, “tender mercy, compassion,” from rāḥam, “love deeply; have mercy, be compassionate.”[2]

• “Faithfulness” is the noun ʾemûnâ, “firmness, faithfulness, fidelity, steadiness,” from ʾāman (from which we get our word, “Amen”) “to be established, be faithful.”[3]

In our text, the words are clearly related to each other. Each underscores a part of God’s gracious, steadfast character that brings us hope. This is the character revealed to Moses as Yahweh passed before him on Mt. Sinai (and is repeated many times in the Bible[4]).

“The LORD, the LORD,

a God merciful[5] and gracious,[6]

slow to anger,

and abounding in steadfast love[7] and faithfulness.”[8](Exodus 34:6)

The character words in our text — steadfast love, mercies, faithfulness — are used in parallel, as saying something similar. This shouldn’t surprise us, since one of the chief characteristics of Hebrew poetry is parallelism.

Never-Ending Love

God’s character, God’s mercies never end, are never depleted, never quit. You see the parallelism in verse 22.

1. Never cease[9] (vs. 22a).

2. Never come to an end[10] (vs. 22b).

Several modern translations (ESV, NRSV, NJB, and NASB) capture this well.[11]

When you get to verse 23, this actually seems like triple parallelism, intensifying the idea all the more.

1. Never cease (vs. 22a).

2. Never come to an end (vs. 22b).

3. Renewed every morning (vs. 23a).

And these three lines are capped off with a conclusion based on what they assert: “Great is your faithfulness!” God, your mercies never quit — ever — thus your faithfulness must be very great indeed!

Let’s meditate for a moment on the phrase, “they are new every morning.” “New” is ḥādāsh, “new, new thing, fresh,” from the verb “to renew, repair.”[12] At night I’m tired, my muscles may be sore, I am exhausted. But by the time I’ve had a good sleep, I wake up renewed, refreshed. God’s mercies are like that. Every morning they’re renewed, refreshed, ready to go. They never quit.

I Claim God’s Love As My Own

The depressing, repetitious lament of the first part of Lamentations is broken when these verses appear:

“22  The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

23  they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

And the author exclaims:

“‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul,

‘therefore I will hope in him.'” (verse 24)

The verb “to apportion, allot” often occurs in the sense of territories in the Promised Land being apportioned out to the twelve tribes of Israel (Numbers 26:53). In verse 24, we’re reminded that Yahweh himself is “my portion,”[13] the “territory” apportioned out to me, if you will (Psalm 16:5; 73:26; 119:57; 142:5; Jeremiah 10:16; 51:19). He is mine. I have a share in him. I have a right to claim him and his promises. I have a right to hope in his promises. I’ll take my piece of that firm hope and hang on to it! Yes, I will!

God’s Love Is Your Portion Too

My friend, are you discouraged, depressed? Have circumstances crushed you like the fall of Jerusalem crushed the Israelite exiles? Then call these verses to mind as the basis of renewed hope for you. His steadfast love and compassions are yours; as his child you have a right to them. His faithfulness is for you! And his love never, ever runs dry. It is never depleted. It never ends for you. Every morning his mercies are there for you afresh. Hallelujah. Take hold of them, they are yours, through Jesus Christ our Lord

Prayer

Father, thank You that You are the God of mercies. That You show us the depth of Your compassion for us on the cross. Help us to lay hold afresh on You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Song

One of the songs I often sing when I meet afresh with the Lord in the mornings are these verses set to music by Edith McNeill.[14] Why don’t you let these words refresh you right now as you listen to it on YouTube.

Day 7: Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits. (1 Corinthians 13:7)

#fireproofyourrelationship #40daylovschallenge #GoForthInFaithMinistries

Love never gives up and walks away on people. It never stops trusting and doubts. It never looses hopes walking in failures, lacking confidence. I also never quits or dies. True love remains strong and loyal.

Verse Thoughts

The beautiful characteristics of divine love are seen being lived out in the life of the Lord JESUS Christ, and God’s will is that all His children reflect the love of Christ in their heart and life.

Godly love begins to be evidenced in the life of a believer, as the fruit of the Spirit are allowed to grow – but it is often through painful experiences and a willing obedience to abide in God’s word, that this exquisite characteristic is is enabled to flourish.. through the power of the Holy Spirit – and edify the body of Christ with the perfume of Christ-like love.

Love bears all things by patiently enduring wrongs and evils, with a heart of forgiveness, which covers over the faults of others with a beautiful graciousness, that reflects the Saviour and does not seek for vengeance.

Love believes all things by looking for the good in others rather than suspecting the wrong. He seeks out the best in others with a gracious wisdom that does not condone evil, but which trusts God’s Word to be both his plumb-line for truth and his standard for godly behaviour.

Love hopes all things by earnestly desiring the best in people.. as well as in life’s circumstances – even when the worst seems to be knocking at the door. It is not an empty hope but an ability to keep trusting the Lord in a situation that others have rendered as hopeless.

Love endures all things by maintaining an uncomplaining attitude in every affliction and trial, tribulation and temptation, persecutions and pain – whether it be for the sake of the saints.. for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Let us seek to have this beautiful characteristic of godly love evidenced in our lives, as we willingly and obediently submit to the work of the Spirit within our hearts – until a Christ-like love is manifest in our life.

Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/1-corinthians-13-7

1 Corinthians 13:7 Meaning of Love Bears All Things

Jan 17, 2020 by Editor in Chief

1 Corinthians 13:7

“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Explanation and Commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:7

Godly love shows kindness to sinners, takes a kind view toward others, looks forward to the future and continues the love without complaining.

Paul was explaining to the Corinthians all the characteristics of the grace of Godly love that need to be present for it to be “love.” His guidance was to be used so that Corinthians could see that they were not exhibiting Godly love, and what they needed to do so that this Divine love could dwell in their hearts. The characteristics of Godly love named in this verse need to be read in conjunction with the other characteristics Paul named (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). All of the characteristics must be present for Godly love to indwell in us.

Breaking Down the Key Parts of 1 Corinthians 13:7

#1: “It always protects…”

If you exhibit Godly love, then you conceal the faults of others to show kindness to them. Love covers all sins (Proverbs 10:12, 1 Peter 4:8). Because of other translations that translate this part of the verse as “Bearing all things…,” some commentators think this part of the verse means that Godly love puts up with anything if not doing so would hamper the advancement of Scripture.

#2: “…always trusts…”

This does not mean that you believe everything. Some commentators think this part of the verse means that when in doubt, you believe that someone had good motives for their actions and did not intend harm. You take a kind view of your fellow humans.

Other commentators think this means that you believe everything in the Bible.

#3: “…always hopes…”

Some commentators think this means that love has comfort that a better time is coming, that hardships will disappear and that people will act as they should. Love sees the cheerful side of things and finds happiness in the future of heaven. It wants the best for other humans that they will become Christians.

Psalm 51:2

New Living Translation

2 

Wash me clean from my guilt.

    Purify me from my sin.

We live in a world that seems to be Satan’s playground where Sin is known okay. However sin is never okay it is against God the most high this is the reasoning behind God sending Jesus, the son to die on the cross to purify us(me) erasing all sins washing clean of the sins we partake in everyday by being human. Sin is not okay God knew we were doomed unless Jesus died for all of us. I can only speak for myself and my feelings, but if you live for Christ and are someone who lives with heart you should feel things about performing sin. You should feel a form of wrongdoing and guilt. If you don’t then you must be a very dark human. If you do then you should relate to this scripture that is saying

Wash me clean from my guilt.

    Purify me from my sin.

Because sin in God’s eyes is never okay it has never been okay and it should not feel okay if you a god fearing. You should find yourself feeling horrible doing wrong and find yourself asking God to wash you clean and forgive you while dealing the guilt for sinning against God asking him to purify you from sin you have done and trying to walk with God instead of in your ways, the way of thee world.

Verse Thoughts

The psalms, prayers and praises of David have been a source of comfort and encouragement to multitudes down the corridors of history, and this Psalm, where David cries out to God for forgiveness of his sins, has demonstrated the importance and wisdom of confessing our sins – particularly our post-salvation sins – for in so doing we are immediately returned into a right relationship with the Father. For IF we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Every sin removes the believer from sweet fellowship with God, but telling Him our transgressions, through our only mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ – which is the right and privilege of all believers in Christ Jesus, returns us immediately into sweet fellowship with the Father.

But although this like other psalms, prayers and praises of David is an ever-present source of comfort and encouragement to all believers, and rightly so – this verse is a prayer that the Christian can never pray, for in so doing it demonstrates a lack of understanding of the permanent, indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit, in the life of ALL believers – following Christ’s finished work on Calvary’s cross.

This prayer of David was a prayer that he needed to pray, for prior to the cross the indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit was only for certain people in Israel, such as their kings / prophets / selected individuals, and He was given for a specific ministry – and He would leave when their task was completed or if that believer sinned – as was typified in the life of king Saul. But this is very different from the permanently indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of ALL believers, since He was sent, by Christ, at Pentecost.

The psalms, prayers and praises of David are a wonderful source of comfort and encouragement, but we must never confuse the way God dealt with His chosen people Israel – PRE-Cross, and His chosen people the Church – POST-cross. The Church has not replaced Israel but for the time-being God is working through His Body – the church and one of the many blessings that have been given to ALL believers, is the permanent, indwelling Holy Spirit for all time and into eternity.

Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/psalm-51-11

What does Psalm 51:2 mean?

In this verse David continues asking God to forgive his sin. He pleads with God to wash him completely from his iniquity and to cleanse him from his sin. His sin had made him feel as defiled as someone who had touched something unclean, or as helpless as someone touched by a disease (Leviticus 11:32; 13:1–3). He longed to have a new start in life, like a person who washed and put on new, clean clothes (Genesis 45:21–22; Exodus 19:10, 14).

In his letter to the Ephesians the apostle Paul referred to the believer’s former life of sin as “the old self” and the redeemed life as “the new self.” Like changing their clothes, the Ephesian Christians were exhorted to “put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires…and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22, 24).

Context Summary

Psalm 51:1–7 is David’s plea for mercy and cleansing. He admits he has sinned against God. His approach to confession is to take God’s attitude toward sin. He sees his sins as transgressions, iniquity, evil, and the result of his lifelong offensive nature. First John 1:9–10 corresponds to this passage by teaching believers to confess their sins—to agree with God’s stance about those sins—with the promise of God’s forgiveness and cleansing.

Chapter Summary

This psalm opens with David’s plea to God to show him mercy. He asks God to blot out his transgressions, wash his iniquities, and cleanse him from sin. He admits his sinning was against God. He also confesses his human sin nature. David asks God to make him as white as snow by purging him with hyssop. He longs for joy to return to him, but knows he was suffering because God had turned away from him. He pleads with God for a clean heart and a right spirit. He does not want God to cast him aside and remove His Holy Spirit. David longs for a renewal of the joy of his salvation. If cleansing from sin occurred and joy returned to him, David would teach transgressors God’s ways, and sinners would be converted. He promises near the end of the psalm to declare God’s praise if God would forgive him. He knew it would be futile to offer a sacrifice to God, because God delights in a broken and contrite heart and not in sacrifices offered with an unrepentant heart. David closes the psalm with a prayer for God to bless Jerusalem

James 1:12

New Living Translation

12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12, ESV: “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” … Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

Verse Thoughts

It is trials and tribulation in the life of a Christian that refines our trust in God and increases our dependence upon the Lord. The personal difficulties and dangers that we face in our everyday life, and our reaction to the distresses and despair of others is often the determining factor – of whether we hold fast to what we believe of Christ’s sufficient strength.. OR, whether we allow seeds of doubt to darken our hearts to the goodness of God.. and so become tossed to and fro in a sea of uncertainty. But blessed is the man who endures such trials and tribulations, in the power of His might.. because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to all who love Him.

We have a vicious enemy that is seeking to shipwreck our faith in the goodness of God.. and his strategy is to plant seeds of doubt in the mind of all believers, so that their life is not fruitful, nor honouring to the Lord Who bought them. But the trials and tribulations that are designed by the enemy to unsteady our faith, can be used as the catalyst to strengthen our trust in God – if we will but persevere in His sufficient strength.. for this brings honour to our Father in heaven, and an eternal reward for those that patiently endure.

We do not have the capacity to stand firm in this evil day in our own strength, but Christ has promised that His grace is sufficient. And when we do hold fast to the precious promises of God and remain anchored to the truth of His holy Word, we will not be tossed about like a frothy wave in a sea of doubt.. but will be anchored to the truth of His sufficient grace.

No matter what the status of a believer is – whether rich or poor, it is imperative that we are rooted and grounded in Christ and not reliant on our own sufficiency and strength. The one that is rich should never trust in his riches but trust in the Lord with all his heart and not rely on his own bank-balance, influence; education or position to hold him steady. Similarly the poor man must never lose sight of the truth that God had given us everything we need for life and godliness and that IN Christ we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing – for greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.

The difficulties we face in life can trip us up and tempt us into doubt and despair.. but blessed is the man who endures these trials and tribulations.. because when he has passed the test he will receive the magnificent crown of life, which the Lord our God has promised to all who love him. Let us praise God for His goodness and grace and seek to stand firm in Christ and hold fast to the promises of God – for our eternal benefit and to His greater glory.

Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/james-1-12

James 1:12 Meaning of Blessed Is the One Who Perseveres Under Trial

Jan 8, 2020 by Editor in Chief

James 1:12
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Explanation and Commentary of James 1:12

Trial is part of life in this fallen world. The only Christians who don’t face trial, even great trials, are those who suddenly die young. It is an evil doctrine that says “Because I am a Christian, I will not ever have to suffer.” That is not a doctrine from the Bible. Christ never said that. Paul never said that. None of the other thirty-nine authors that the Holy Spirit inspired to write Scripture ever said that. The only one who says that is satan and anyone he tricks into preaching his false doctrine of prosperity. It is an evil lie.https://02559e4c24e93b2bb616ed53757ea4e4.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

The truth is that even Christ had to suffer. Jesus Christ was born perfect and never sinned, but to be prepared for what God had sent him to do, he had to suffer. Luke 24:26 says it was “necessary.” Hebrews 2:18 says that Christ “suffered” when he was tempted. Hebrews 5:8-9 says, “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”

If Christ suffered, why would we not, and for the same reason? Peter said that we are in the furnace of affliction to be purified (1 Pt 1:7). God is our good Father, and a good Father disciplines his children whom he loves (Pr 3:12). If you are not facing trial, you will. Accept it and walk through it faithfully, trusting God and let it do its good work in you.https://02559e4c24e93b2bb616ed53757ea4e4.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

Breaking Down the Key Parts of James 1:12

#1 “Blessed is the one…”
Many Christian’s default mode is to see their trial as a curse. Nothing could be further from the truth. Their curse has fallen on Christ, and he has paid the price of it on the cross. There is no more curse. On the contrary; trial for the Christian, especially when not brought about by our own actions, is a blessing from God with great purpose.

#2 “…who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test,”
Trial itself will not offer us anything but misery and a deposit of hell (1 Pt 4:17) if we do not persevere under it. If we melt under trial, then we are like the dross that the trial is meant to cleanse from us. If we undergo fire, and there is nothing left, then there was nothing good to begin with. But if we stand up under the trial and allow God to burn off what is not of him, we will be purified by it.https://02559e4c24e93b2bb616ed53757ea4e4.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

#3 “that person will receive the crown of life…”
“The crown of life” seems most likely to be another term for abundant life, eternal life, and heavenly reward. Some make distinctions between different crowns listed in Scripture, but it seems to generally mean eternal reward.

#4 “…that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Mt 22:37). He said that the whole law is summed up in this one command, especially combined with loving your neighbor as yourself. Indeed, can any sin be committed without first breaking this Great Commandment? For those who love the Lord, there is the promise of the “crown of life.”

VERSE OF THE DAY

1 Peter 2:2-3 (New Living Translation)

Share Audio

Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

Verse Thoughts

Jesus came to earth as the best example of how man should live. He was the perfect pattern; the matchless measure and exact representation of ideal humanity and Jesus lived His life the way that God had intended all men to live. He was God’s ideal standard Who came to earth to illustrate the way that God had determined man should behave towards Himself and His creation – from the very beginning.

Jesus demonstrated throughout His earthly walk, a life that was well-pleasing to the Father, for He walked in spirit and truth, depending on the guidance of the Spirit and entrusting His life into God’s keeping, moment by moment – but He had to do this in a fallen world.. with a race of men, whose nature was corrupted by sin; who were at enmity with God and had the kiss of death on their soul.

The goodness and purity that was inherent in Christ exposed the ugliness and evil that is inherent in man and so He was despised and rejected of men – a man of sorrows Who suffered and died at their hands. But while being reviled Jesus did not retaliate.. and while suffering, He uttered no threats – but kept entrusting Himself to the One Who judges the hearts.

Jesus suffered wrongfully at the hand of sinners as an example to us. He endured the grief and pain with patience by entrusting Himself to God, Who judges all things righteously. And we are to follow His example. We too are called to suffer for righteousness sake and we are to patiently endure the unjust treatment that we receive at the hands of sinful men in this fallen world – for this is acceptable to God and well-pleasing in His sight.

But we cannot do this in our own strength for our nature is fallen and incapable of carrying out Christ-like righteousness in our own strength. For the righteousness of Christ to be manifest in our lives.. we are to die to self and keep that old fallen nature nailed to the cross. For the life of Christ to be shown in our lives when beset by difficulties.. the old sin nature must remain in-operative as we submit to the inner workings of the Holy Spirit and trust God to deal righteously in our lives no matter who or what we are facing.

The reaction of unsaved men or the carnal Christians to unjust treatment in this fallen world is to demand immediate vindication here and now – but God works from an eternal perspective in the lives of His children – so that when we truly entrust our lives into His hands we know that the judge of all the earth will do right.. but it will only happen at His appointed time and in His appointed way.

Let us die to self and live to Christ knowing that:- when He suffered, He . . . committed Himself to Him that judges righteously.

Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/1-peter-2-23

What does 1 Peter 2:3 mean?

The previous verse includes a command from God to Christians: crave “pure spiritual milk” as a newborn baby craves milk, so you can grow up in your salvation. This verse concludes that thought by referencing Psalm 34:8. Depending on the translation, the verse either starts with the word “if” or “since.” Some choose “since,” assuming that Peter’s readers had indeed tasted that the Lord is good. Still, the word “if” encourages us to think about our answer to the question.

How have we tasted that the Lord is good? Have we received comfort and confidence in knowing that God has caused us to be born again into a living hope (1 Peter 1:3)? Have we experienced joy in believing in Him (1 Peter 1:8)? Have we found great purpose in the ability to set ourselves aside and give genuine love to each other (1 Peter 1:22)? Peter assumes those things to be true of his readers and of all Christians. Having tasted that the Lord is good should increase our appetite for Him. It should make us even hungrier for the Word of God.

Don’t be confused, though. Peter is not suggesting that we “taste” the circumstances of the moment to see if the Lord is good. He has already written that his readers may be suffering greatly (1 Peter 1:6). In fact, we all suffer. We “taste” the goodness of the Lord in and through our suffering and in His promises that our suffering will end as we continue on with Him forever.

Context Summary

1 Peter 2:1–12 describes the spiritual house God is building. Jesus is the perfect foundation stone God has chosen for the house. Those who trust in Him are also living stones used to build the house. In addition, we individually serve as both the priests and the spiritual sacrifices, our lives offered to the builder. Thus we must live good lives, as strangers in the world preparing to go home to be with our Father, engaged in battle against our desire to sin.

Chapter Context

Peter gets specific about what it means to live as God’s set-apart people. Christ is the foundation stone of the spiritual house God is building. We must engage in battle with our selfishness and desire to sin. This includes submitting to human authorities, no matter how evil or harsh. It means enduring suffering, as Christ did for our sake when He died on the cross. Our role is not to fight a physical war for justice here; we will be going home soon

Galatians 1:10

New King James Version

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10, NLT: “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”

Galatians makes us study ourselves looking into our souls asking ourselves a very important observation question…

Am I personally looking and seeking approval from men or of God? Look within your own soul and ask yourself that question for if we are trying to live for God the answer should be for God not for Man. For a life pleasing to God is not to be approved by or appealing to Man it should not be as a show to man for enjoyment. It should be accepting and pleasing to God as Christ himself lived for if it appeals to man and is a show for man most cases you are still living in the world and sin and not for God. Your most likely worried about what others think or say about you. If you live for God it will not mater what man thinks and God is the only approval needed to be pleasing and honor God.

Verse Thoughts

The Galatian Christians were being targeted by legalistic Jews, who were not only spreading a fabricated gospel; a distorted doctrine and a false Christ to Christians in the Church, but were deliberately seeking to discredit Paul, and the unique ministry and mission, to which he had been commission, by the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself.

To put it bluntly, the spirit of antichrist had infected the Church.. and doctrines of demons had been systematically infiltrating the Christians there, until Paul was forced to cry out: OH, you foolish Galatians!! Who has bewitched you?

The strong denunciation of this false teaching, and the bitter attacks against those that were determined to bring the body of Christ, under the curse of the Law, demonstrated that Paul was never going to be intimidated by his accusers.. nor was he prepared to compromise the truth of the glorious gospel of Christ – and neither should we!

Paul could justifiably ask the questions: Am I now seeking the favour of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

If Paul was attempting to be a man-pleaser, he would not be so openly hostile towards the Judaizes.. nor would he castigate the ungodly doctrines they taught, so forcefully. No bond-servant of Christ can ever continue to be a man-pleaser, for to do so is to discredit the Lord, Who bought them.. and to trample on the blood of Christ, which was shed for us all, at Calvary.

It seems, that from Paul’s dynamic dialogue, he was being accused.. that preaching freedom from the law gave Christians a license to sin, which is untrue, and was diametrically opposite of Paul’s glorious gospel of grace, and the ministry to which he had been called. New Testament teachings to the church on how to live are very clear, and never give believers a licence to sin. We are called to be saved by grace through faith but we are also to live by grace through faith as we apply the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.. in our everyday lives.

Paul was commissioned to teach the post-cross doctrine of grace to the Church, and not the pre-cross restrictions of the Law to Israel. The post-cross doctrine of grace is for believers in the Church. The pre-cross restrictions of the Law were for believers in Israel.

There is no way that any man-pleaser would castigate his followers, in the way that Paul did. Indeed, he was passionately against the legalistic teachings and the unchristian doctrines, that these Judaizes taught, which cause Paul to launch an anathema against them. Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed, was his blistering pronouncement. A curse on those, who teach a false Christianity, was Paul’s denunciation – a curse on those that teach a licence to sin, as well as those that endorse legalism.

If Paul, in these early days of the Church, was so viciously attacked by these legalistic, Pharisaic teachers, who deliberately tied up heavy legalistic burdens on men’s shoulders, in order to entrap them, manipulate them, enslave them.. and place them back under the curse of the Law.. how much more do we, in these closing days of Christendom, need to be equally vigilant in our defence of the glorious gospel of God – for Christ died for our sin and rose again the third day so that by faith in His sacrificial work on the cross and glorious resurrection.. we have been freed from the curse of the Law – which is death… and have been born anew – where we walk in spirit and truth, under the law of the Spirit of life, in Christ Jesus.

Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/galatians-1-10

What does Galatians 1:10 mean?

Paul began his letter to the Galatian Christians by telling them again the simple gospel message: Jesus died to pay for our sins and to deliver us (Galatians 1:4). Period. As he expressed it in Ephesians 2:8–9, we are saved by faith through grace, not by any works we do. As he will say later in this letter, to suggest that we must do more to be truly saved is to make Jesus’ death on the cross meaningless (Galatians 2:21). 

A group known as the Judaizers had moved in after Paul left. They had begun to convince the Galatian Christians that more was required. To be truly saved, you must also follow the law of Moses. This raises a question: how did they convince these Gentile (non-Jewish) believers Paul was wrong?

For one, they apparently questioned whether Paul was a “real apostle,” something Paul will answer in the following verses. In addition, they seem to have suggested that Paul did not require these Gentiles to follow the law of Moses because he was trying to make everyone happy. They suggested Paul was just a people-pleaser, willing to alter the truth in order to be liked. 

Paul now answers that charge: If he were really trying to please men instead of God, would he have just pronounced as cursed anyone who taught a gospel message other than the one he taught them? Look at the evidence, he says. I am not trying to please any man; I am serving Christ and seeking God’s approval. Otherwise, Paul implies, he would simply go along with the Judaizers. He clearly is not doing that.

Context Summary
Galatians 1:6–10 is unusual; Paul’s letters usually open with some kind of praise or thanksgiving for his readers. Not Galatians. He immediately expresses how baffled he is that these people who received the good news about salvation by God’s grace and through faith in Christ have so quickly deserted Christ. Anyone who teaches any other gospel than the one Paul taught to them is cursed and/or will be eternally condemned. Paul points to that harsh statement as evidence that he is not trying to please any men. He serves and lives for the approval of God.

Chapter Summary
Paul begins his letter to the Galatian churches abruptly, compared to his other writings. He has heard they are deserting the gospel which he preached and they believed: the good news that Jesus died to fully pay for all our sins on the cross. The Judaizers taught that these Gentiles must also follow the law of Moses to be saved and openly questioned Paul’s authority. Paul makes the case that he has been made an apostle by Christ, who appeared to him and revealed the truth to him apart from the other apostles.

Day 6: It is better to be patient than to be a strong soldier. It is better to control your anger than to capture a city. (Proverbs 16:32) #fireproofyourrelationship #40daylovschallenge #GoForthInFaithMinistries

Verse Thoughts

The wisdom of the world is foolishness to God but the wisdom of God is life and health to those that obey Him, and if only we could take this simple instruction to heart and carry it out to completion, we would be walking in the way of the Lord and living in spirit and truth.

Every believer is called upon to commit his works and activities unto the Lord, but all too often we discover ourselves trying to carry out the works that He has prepared for us to do, in our own strength and not in the power of the Holy Spirit. God will never carry out His plans and purposes in the strength of the old “me’. God has purposed to carry out the works and activities of my life through my new life in Christ – my new, born-again nature.

God can never carry out His work through a heart that is anxious, disobedient or fearful.. nor can he achieve His purpose in our life if we are proud or seeking our own glory for anxiety, disobedience, fear, pride and vainglory all emanate from our old sin nature. God’s will only works through our new-life in Christ until Christ is all in all to the glory of God the Father. The best way to be assured that our plans will be achieved is to dedicate our ways and works to the Lord and be willing to say, Thy will be done.

Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/proverbs-16-3

Proverbs 16:32

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Play Audio:

Here is a lesson in personal greatness. How strong are you? What have you achieved? The best test of character is controlling your emotions, especially anger. The biggest achievement you can have is to limit your passions to only those actions that are good.

Every real man wants to be a mighty man of valor. Every real woman wants to be a noble woman worthy of such a man. The Bible records many exploits of mighty men and noble women. But this proverb teaches a greater measure of individual glory – the ability to deny anger and to control your spirit. The man who can resist getting angry or losing control of his spirit is more honorable than men with great military accomplishments.

Consider some mighty men of valor. Gideon defeated a huge army of Midianites with only 300 men, and Jephthah destroyed 20 cities of the Ammonites with a small army. Samson killed 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, and Shamgar killed 600 with an ox goad. Joab took the fortress of Jebus, which became Jerusalem. Adino killed 800 at one time with his spear, and Abishai did the same to 300. Caleb begged for a mountain in Canaan where the dreaded giants lived, and he destroyed them and took their cities.

But you can be greater than these men! You do so by being cautious and slow in getting angry and by controlling and ruling your spirit. It takes more courage, discipline, strength, and wisdom to resist passionate emotions like anger than it does to take a city.

Can you control the violent feelings of anger and keep your spirit calm and wise? Will you? This is how a born fool can be wise and glorious (Pr 14:29; Ec 7:9; Jas 1:19-20). If you defer anger and pass over faults and offences of others, you are glorious (Pr 19:11).

But your spirit screams for a strong response! It hates to be restrained. It must exert itself, in full fury, now! Harsh words burn in your tongue and must be spoken. You tell others you cannot help yourself. You may blame God for giving you a spirit too strong to rule.

The world lies that anger is a trait of mighty men, a right of free men, and a tool of strong leaders. They say venting rage brings relief, but this is only to a depraved soul. If a conscience remains, you are soon grieved at the violence that spewed out of your mouth.

Rather than ruling their spirit, most men are ruled by their spirits. Instead of conquering anger, they become captives of their passions. Instead of thinking before speaking, they speak without thinking by their feelings only, which is highly dangerous and foolhardy.

The battle facing you exceeds any military expedition. A city can be taken with a single siege, but you will fight the passion of anger for the rest of your life. Wars are fought by the efforts of many, but you must fight alone. The vigilance, effort, and patience needed to rule anger causes most men to forfeit the battle and become slaves to their own folly.

The world is filled with illustrations of those who could not rule their spirits. You have them in your own family. You likely have several in your own closet. Alexander the Great conquered the known world, but he could not defeat the brutish beast within that ruined him at home and among his friends. Peter the Great is reported to have said, “I can govern my people, but how can I govern myself?” If you can defeat this monster, you will have a victory over a foe that has destroyed conquerors. You will be a mighty man!

Anger marks a loser. Guaranteed! Anger blinds your mind to misread situations, causes you to say and do stupid things, never accomplishes anything good, and drives away your family and friends (Pr 14:17; 15:18; 21:24; 22:24-25; 29:22). If you get angry and do not rule your spirit, you cannot be compared to a military hero; you must be compared to a city with its walls broken down and vulnerable to all kinds of evil (Pr 25:28; Jas 3:14-16).

Not all anger is sin. Do not let misguided Christians tell you otherwise. Jesus condemned unjustified anger (Matt 5:22), and Paul said to be angry and sin not (Eph 4:26). Anger is good, when it is directed against sin for the glory of God. But anger in a traffic jam, or over spilt milk, or about another’s harsh words against you, or because you were slighted, or in retaliation for a wrong, or because things did not turn out as expected, is wrong!

There are more passions than just anger, and you must also rule them. Moodiness is the mark of an immature child, not a mighty man of valor. Such a person needs a beating, not comforting. Murmuring is the complaining of a wicked heart moving a devilish tongue, which ought not to be. Critical or harsh speech is the poison that spews from a selfish heart. Great men have pure hearts that result in gracious speech (Pr 22:11; Col 4:6).

There are other passions that need to be ruled. Fear is very debilitating, but it has no place in your life, for God has not given you such a spirit (II Tim 1:7), and fearing others will trap you into foolish choices or sin (Pr 29:25). Covetousness, the desire of what others have or what you do not have, is compared to idolatry (Eph 5:5). Contentment, a key to true happiness and a measure of great gain, is your choice (I Tim 6:6; Heb 13:5-6).

What can you do to be great in the sight of God and men? Slow down! Do not ever say or do anything by impulse. Hear things out before you speak. Choose to study every matter before giving your opinion. Wait before reacting, when you hear or experience any negative event. Cut your words in half. Always be gracious in your speech, especially with your family. Let the words of this proverb motivate you to be a mighty man of valor.

But you cannot achieve this victory without help, and that help is in the Lord, His word, and His saints. Paul learned that he could do all things through Christ, Who strengthened him (Phil 4:13). The Holy Spirit, allowed to bear fruit by a holy and submissive life, can fill you with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, and so forth (Gal 5:22-23). The Bible can convert your soul by showing the folly of anger and the glory of peace. And brothers and sisters in Christ, when they are doing their duty, can encourage and warn you as needed.

Will the real mighty men of valor please stand up! Will the real noble women of the earth please stand up! You will not have to wait long to face your foe. The Lord Himself will arrange circumstances to test the rule of your spirit. Do not be surprised by anything that happens. Purpose now to be slow and cautious in responding and to rule that unruly fury in your belly and tongue. May the grace of Jesus Christ give you complete victory!