Encouragement for a Young Sister (and the rest of us :-)
Greetings sister saints!
I was emailing some encouragement to a young sister in the Lord and thought it would be edifying to share some of it here.
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Can I help you in something when it comes to being in the world as a godly woman? Ponder these verses and let the Lord work on giving you strength to be trained up to shine your light into the dark world, thereby glorifying our Father in heaven.
Jesus didn't pray to take His people out of the world...
John 17:13-21
And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. [14] I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. [15] I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. [16] They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. [17] Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. [18] As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. [19] And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. [20] Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; [21] That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
But sends them into it...
Matthew 10:16
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Why?
Matthew 5:14-16
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. [15] Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. [16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
We know we will have trials but...
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
And when we are persecuted, we rejoice...
Matthew 5:10-13
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. [12] Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. [13] Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
We are to continue pressing on...
Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
It's good for us to remember that we are here to be a light and although our flesh would like to leave the world, we have work to do where the Father called us and that means living in among those in sin. In fact we are better to be by those of the world than those who claim Christ and live in sin.
1 Corinthians 5:9-11
I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: [10] Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. [11] But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
Through time and maturity, as we grow in Christ, He gives us the strength and equips us with what we need to be a strong, bold, shining light, in a dark world.
Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. [11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. [13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. [14] Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; [15] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [16] Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. [17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: [18] Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
We have our marching orders...
2 Timothy 2:3-4
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Let's all encourage each other on...
Hebrews 3:13
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
I hope that helps strengthen you.
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I'll say this, it strengthened me just writing that!
(Thank you sister for the scripture pictures.)
I made a quick video this morning...
I'm so thankful for the sisters who love the body of Christ and take their time to watch over, look after, love on, bear burdens and press one another on each day. God is glorified in all this and we are all strengthened.
Philippians 1:3-5
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, [4] Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, [5] For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
And to share a bit of what's going on with us...we have decided to head toward the mountains and hit some tourist spots for preaching and reaching the lost. Before that all I have some paperwork to catch up on and routing our way.
And as I type this I read an email from a sister who thanked me for sharing what I did yesterday about the wicked music fest because part of it resonated in her life. I share that with you not to boast me up but to boast in the Lord because when I first started that post I had no intentions of sharing all those details because it was all too much to fathom and sort in my mind but it all just sorta came out as I was typing so...GLORY TO GOD!!! She shared this scripture passage and I put it to video.
Oh and I have to share with you that we will most likely be off line tomorrow as we are planning a stop along the way in a place that has no reception. (I'm okay with that as it's a rare thing for us to be offline especially in a river canyon gorge that takes your breath away:-) It's a place we stop on our way through but I'll be sure to share when we come out on the other side.
Okay sisters, I hope your day finishes out well and that you stand strong. Let me know how I can encourage you on the narrow way...
Love to you all,
Sister Deb