The Gift of Fortitude from the Spirit of the Lord

Fortitude-n- strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage: strength

Synonyms- backbone, constancy, fiber, grit, guts, intestinal fortitude, pluck, spunk

Antonym-spinelessness                                                                      

Let’s pray- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit let me keep my focus on the scriptures that you’ve given me. Bring forth the message you want me to convey about fortitude in Jesus name. Amen

In this blog, I’ll be sharing examples of a few people in the bible that received the Gift of Fortitude from the Spirit of the Lord.

Isaiah 53: 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

• Jesus- The fullness of Fortitude from the Spirit of the Lord in action

Luke 12:11-12- And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

• Trusting in the Spirit of the Lord for strength and courage.

In these two verses, two things were made clear to me…the Spirit of the Lord was in control and the Spirit of the Lord gives courage that strengthens.

 

A Discovery I made – Fortitude has a lot to do with where TRUST is placed. We have three options: TRUST In God; trust in self; or trust in man.

 

We must trust in God in such a way that this gift is available to use when we are facing adversities and adversaries. The Lord wants us to see that this gift is necessary to do His will and for His children to be victorious. (TYHS) Why is it necessary you may ask? Below are questions to help you answer this question.

• Who is God?
• Who is man?
• Is anyone or anything i.e. the government, armies, humans, spiritual forces of evil, mountains, etc. stronger than God?
• Which is easier, to trust the seen (man)or to trust the unseen(God)?
• Who can help us fight against sin?
• Why do we easily fall into sin?
• Is it easy for us to tell a boss, a pastor, or government official face to face that they are making wrong decisions; that they are sinning?
• What limits us from confronting transgressions?
• Ultimately, our life is in the hands of _____?

Pull out your bibles, its study time. You will find wonderful instances and points about the Gift of Fortitude from the Spirit on the Lord resting upon those going through something and becoming victorious. Please read the following:

• 2 Chronicles 16-17 – Asa trusted in man; Jehoshaphat “sought” God.
• 2 Chronicles 26- Uzziah’s pride and downfall. Azariah and 80 other “courageous priests” were strong enough to confront King Uzziah. Keynote-Azariah had a support system in place.
• Joshua – Fighting against the wicked and taking possession. Who did Joshua serve?
• Samuel 17- David, a ‘youngun’, kills a giant. Where did little David get his confidence to go against big Goliath?
• Acts 27- Courage to face your storms and encourage others.

I think that’s enough reading for you to do. I pray that it gives you deep thoughts about the Gift of Fortitude from the Spirit of the Lord and how to receive it.

Lastly, the basic point I want to brand about the Gift of Fortitude from the Spirit of the Lord is this-> God wants us to look to Him for what we cannot do ourselves. From the above scriptures, do you understand the importance of obtaining and using this gift? Do you understand how this gift is received? Have you ever witnessed a child of God’s on their death-bed say “Lord, I don’t want to die?” TYHS for that question!

Let us pray. Father, I repent of all my sins. Forgive me Lord. I trust you Lord. Help me, your child, as you have helped many. Rest the gift of fortitude on me so that I can stand against all evil that try to weaken me. As your child, I do not want to be spineless in your ways. Spinelessness does not glorify you. In your son, Jesus name I pray. Thank you Holy Spirit – Amen. Amen. Amen.

I Love You

Love Covers A Multitude of Sins

“This Kind….”

 

Let us take a look at both versions of this wonderful event. I was studying and pondering why one writer’s view was somewhat different BUT both writer’s list four things to do when dealing with “this kind.” I admit, if I had a child experiencing such, I’d probably end up being the lunatic. It is sort of something I went through and go through with my youngest son who is a cancer survivor. Ah ha!, that’s why the Holy Spirit led me to focus on this story.

However, there is something else I want you to take away with this story. The father of this son had to be a very strong man that believed in what Jesus could do. At the same time, in dealing with a son that have been cursed as a child, we can understand why the father cried out to Jesus in tears, “ help thou mine unbelief.” (TYHS) This man is me.

Parents are both weak and strong when it comes to life threatening circumstances concerning their child. I’ve learned that childhood cancer victims are no longer the child that you knew before all the cancer treatments. There are days when I, as a parent just look toward the heavens and quietly ask Lord why my child?, and He sends me a quiet message back that says “He’s breathing, many are not.” Some people believe that you should not question God. I believe that there is none other that can give you a truthful answer when you ask such a question-why? Let’s read!

Matthew 19: 14-21 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

 

Mark 9:16-29 -And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them? And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

 

What is “this kind” that Jesus speaks of?  Here are my thoughts and experiences – Today “this kind” come with smiles on their face in “yo face” foaming, gnashing, and pining away; eyes behind computer screens hunting for their next victim; manipulative voices behind telephones, television screens, and radios; finger pointing and writing in books; and ears pointedly waiting to hear gossip. I have been face to face with foul spirits, believe me, it is a draining experience. This is our world today- human relationships full of unbelief and varlets/scallywags with foul spirits. Even so- unbelief amongst one another as Children of God’s. Gasp!

 

Have a slice of Angel Food Cake here! No icing! The reason I labeled these things as “this kind” is because, no wheresoever is there a hint of Jesus in the lives of folks that have this kind of indwelling spirit. Some people who brag on having high IQ’s have a dumb spirit. Some people who claim to know everything because of what they hear have a deaf spirit. Some people who only see things through their own selfish eyes/ “I” have a blind spirit.

 

 

Wisdom Moment– The next time you come across people who are “this kind”, train the heart and mind to come clean. Jesus never coated his words with dirt appearing as icing even on a mud cake. Spit works wonders! As God’s Children, we must use this kind of approach with those bad spirits. It’s simple beloved- To get rid of “this kind”, we must do four things because we have been given authority over “this kind”:

• believe
• have compassion for the victim (note 2 self- compassion is like cancer to an indwelling bad spirit)TYHS!!!!!!
• pray
• fast

Sometimes we forget that we have to and need to believe. And in doing so we must, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.(Philippians 4:6-8) Let us close this out with a Hallelujah!  הַלְּלוּיָהּ ! Thank You Jesus!

Fables, Quotes, & Scriptures I Love About Strength

I was thinking about strength today, how sometimes it wears you down, and pondered, if one could exist in this place called life without it?  I came to one conclusion that if one has a heart which bleeds and pumps faith, then one cannot be weak.
I don’t think I answered my question, the mind is still wandering, but that’ll do for now.
Incoming fables, quotes & scriptures!

The Thrift of Strength

A weak man going down-hill met a strong man going up, and said:   “I take this direction because it requires less exertion, not from choice.  I pray you, sir, assist me to regain the summit.”

“Gladly,” said the Strong Man, his face illuminated with the glory of his thought.  “I have always considered my strength a sacred gift in trust for my fellow-men.  I will take you along with me. Just get behind me and push.”

The Belly and the Members 

ONE fine day it occurred   to the Members of the Body that they were doing all the work and the Belly was   having all the food. So they held a meeting, and after a long discussion, decided   to go on strike until the Belly consented to take its proper share of the work.   So for a day or two, the Hands refused to take the food, the Mouth refused to   receive it, and the Teeth had no work to do.

But after a day or two the   Members began to find that they themselves were not in a very active condition:   the Hands could hardly move, and the Mouth was all parched and dry, while the   Legs were unable to support the rest. So thus they found that even the Belly   in its dull quiet way was doing necessary work for the Body, and that all must   work together or the Body will go to pieces.

The moral of the story:   Unity is Strength.

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“Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength.”

August Wilson

• “It takes more   courage to reveal insecurities than to hide them, more strength to relate to   people than to dominate them, more ‘manhood’ to abide by thought-out   principles rather than blind reflex. Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles and an immature mind.”  –  Alex Karras
•  “There are  two ways of exerting one’s strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up.”  Booker T.Washington
• ” Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” –  Mahatma Gandhi
• “If God sends  us on strong paths, we are provided strong shoes.” –  Corrie TenBoom

•  “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” –  Arnold Schwarzenegger
•  “For an impenetrable shield, stand inside yourself.” –  Henry D. Thoreau
•  “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” – Mahatma Gandhi
• “He who gains a victory over other men is strong; but he who gains a victory over himself is all powerful.”-
  Lao Tzu

• “My strength is as the strength of ten, because my heart is pure.”  Alfred Lord Tennyson
•  “A person is strong only when he stands upon his own truth, when he speaks and acts from his deepest convictions. Then, whatever the situation he may be in, he always knows what he must say and do. He may fall, but he cannot bring shame upon himself or his causes.”  Mikhail Alexandrovich Bakunin
• “The deeper we look, the more we shall be convinced that the one thing wanting, which we must strive to acquire before all others, is strength physical, strength mental, strength moral, but above all strength spiritual which is the one inexhaustible and imperishable source of all the others. If we have strength everything else will be added to us easily and naturally.”  Sri Aurobindo

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The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God.
– Exodus 15:2
God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
– 2 Samuel 22:33
Glory and honor are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.
Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
– 1 Chronicles 16:27-28
The joy of the LORD is your strength.
– Nehemiah 8:10
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust.
– Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my strength and my shield.
– Psalm 28:7
Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
– Psalm 71:21
Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee.
– Psalm 84:5
I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
– Philippians 4:13
..fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
– Isaiah 41:10

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

A Simple Prayer

Heavenly Father, Give Us All Strength In the Name of Jesus

Amen

I LOVE YOU

LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS

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