Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

I mentioned in my wedding message the passage of Matthew 22:11-14 where it speaks of the all-important requirement of having on the required wedding garment: “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The required garment is explained in Revelation 19:7-9: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called into the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”

The garment was to be made of fine linen, clean and white, which is the righteousness of saints. We are told throughout Scripture about the righteous garments that we should be making ready and clothing ourselves with in preparation for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Revelation 17:14 says: “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” We discover that the garments must be washed in the blood of the Lamb. This explains Revelation 19:8 concerning the garments being clean and white. It is only the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God who is able to accomplish this purity. We are exhorted in Scripture to “put on Christ” with all of His virtues.

Galatians 3:27: “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

We cannot put on Christ as a garment without putting on all of His virtues. Jesus Christ, and all of His righteous virtues, are the fine linen garment.

We do not wait for the day of the wedding to cloth ourselves with Christ all His virtues. It is imperative to do it now. Many who call themselves Christian, and yet live like the world, are putting on the wrong garments. The garments represent the “life style.” If the life style looks like the world, smells like the world, and acts like the world, it most likely is the world.

On the great Wedding Day, the one who wears the world’s garments and not the garments washed in the blood will be bound and cast into outer darkness.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, we are told in the Scriptures to “love our neighbor as ourselves” (Matthew 19:19). Most people love themselves enough to ensure they eat sufficient food to satisfy their appetite. The same thing applies to sufficient clothing, a roof over their heads, as well as transport to get around. Most people love themselves enough to keep themselves healthy by having some form of medical insurance. It would be better if they loved themselves enough to eat life-giving, healthy foods. Most people also love themselves enough to make sure they have sufficient education and their appearance and conduct is fashionable and appropriate to the occasion.

However, there is something wrong with this type of love if it doesn’t reach any further than ourselves. Love that purely concentrates on self with all its own individual needs could hardly be called the love of God.

God’s love is giving, generous, kind, and benevolent. God’s love shed abroad in our hearts changes our selfish love into concern for the needs of others around us. God’s love is more than giving away our cast offs to the needy. God does not give his cast offs. God’s love shed aboard in our hearts motivates us to give things we actually need. This could be the giving of our valuable time or the giving of money we have saved up for some special vacation we want for ourselves.

The love of God is a very powerful, motivating force that causes us to love to give more than to love to receive. If we turned the Scripture around concerning loving our neighbor as much as we love ourselves to loving ourselves as much as we love our neighbors, most of us would be on poverty street.

If we are to rule our spirits the way God wants, we had better be filled with the Holy Spirit of love more than anything else.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

1 Corinthians 13 is a powerful barometer and check list of what is truly the love of God and what is not. Read it again. If our spirits are not under the control of the Holy Spirit of love, we cannot represent God in a true sense because “God is love.”

The truth is that all God is and all He does, even in times of judgment and discipline, is motivated by a measureless love. Some may question God’s love when it comes to discipline and judgment. However, the Scripture is clear when it likens God’s discipline to fathers disciplining their children because they love them.

Hebrews 12:7, 8 says: “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement; whereof all are partakers then are ye bastards, and not sons.”

If you do not believe that God chastises, how can you explain Proverbs 19:187: “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” Liberalists would think this Scripture and others like it as “child abuse.”

Deuteronomy 8:5 says: “Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.”

Love must always be the great motivating factor in everything that we do. If our spirits are not ruled by love there will be an unmistakable aloofness, stiffness, and severity about us that is absolutely not of God.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Psalm 122:6, 7: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.”

Referring to Jerusalem, the City of Peace, the Scriptures teach us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. It says that those who love Jerusalem will prosper. We are to pray for peace to be in her walls and prosperity within her dwellings.

Hebrews 12:22 tells us that we are “Come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.” By the grace of God, we are now citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem. Revelation 3:12 and 21:2 calls it the New Jerusalem and the Holy City.

The old Jerusalem, although called the City of Peace, has not experienced very much peace during its history. Primarily because its personal relationship with God became cold and institutionalized, culminating in the rejection of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.

However, we who are now by virtue of our relationship with the Prince of Peace (the New Jerusalem spiritually speaking), should be filled and overflowing with His peace. Everywhere we go we should radiate His glorious peace. As it was with Jesus, so it should be with us. People we meet should literally feel and sense God’s peace in us.

Peace that passes all understanding is not limited to having everything perfect around us. Jittery, nervous, anxious Christians are a paradox to the peace of God. We must beware of institutionalizing our Christian faith which results in failing to build up our personal relationship with the Prince of Peace.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

We must learn to rule our spirits by partaking of things that minister peace, not only to our own spirits, but also to the spirits of those around us.

Men, I think that one of the greatest things that possessed the life and body of Jesus when He walked this earth was His peace. What consciously and unconsciously attracted people to Him? Was it is zeal for righteousness and holiness? Was it His ability and power to heal the sick and raise the dead? Was it is His message of love? All these were attractive attributes of Jesus and it would be wrong to say that one was greater than the other.

However, in this troubled world, people long for peace. The hymn writer expressed this quest for peace when he penned the words:

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

In a world full of challenges and strife that can so easily take control of our spirits, we must partake liberally of the things that enable peace to rule our hearts.

When Jesus beheld the city of Jerusalem, He wept over it “Saying, if thou hadst known even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes” (Luke 19:41, 42). The Prince of Peace walked their streets and entered their temple, but they rejected Him. In doing so they rejected His peace, not only externally for the city and temple that would soon be destroyed, but they rejected His inward peace which is far greater.

The peace of God must be the internal ruler of our spirits. When peace controls our spirits, no matter what chaos happens around us, we are like the eye in the midst of the storm. The eye of the storm is a peaceful place.

Jerusalem means City of Peace (Hebrews 7:2). How amazing that the City of Peace rejected the Prince of Peace and instead received destruction.

We men must also receive Christ with open arms to rule our spirits. In this matter we must be most diligent.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Isaiah 30:21 says: “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

The Holy Spirit always speak to us if we will only take the time to listen to Him before we act compulsively. Some people only hear the Holy Spirit’s voice is when it is too late to be of any redemptive use. This is immaturity.

It’s not easy for any of us to humble ourselves and apologize for the damage we make. It would have been better to have taken the time to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in the first place.

Giving vent to feelings may be the order of the day for some psychologists, but it is not the way of the Holy Spirit. Some may feel better by blowing up and getting it off their chest, but that mindset does not consider the other person’s feelings. Acting like a bull in a china shop always brings much collateral damage. We should never be willing to get into the boxing ring with people.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

We begin looking at a few points at how to rule our spirit (and will continue).

1. WE MUST DEPEND UPON THE DUNAMIS POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We must do this daily. There are some who can rule their spirit without divine assistance in certain areas of their lives. A man may rule over his spirit when it comes to alcohol and substances that lead to addiction, and yet fail in morality, attitudes, and temper.

Our spirits are affected by many worldly influences. Therefore, we need the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, to make us aware at all times of the things that are harmful to us and grieve the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit desires and deserves a clean house in which to dwell.

We must never be so self-reliant to think, even for a moment, that we can rule over our own spirits without the assistance of God’s Holy Spirit, especially in this world that is filled with many negative influences.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

There is something terribly wrong when people feel they have to be careful what they say or how they act around you. In other words, they have to walk on egg shells, hoping none will be broken. Either all hell is likely to break lose or they will be given the “cold war treatment.” This type of behavior is a negative way of taking control of other people’s spirits.

People should not have to feel they have to constantly do things to humor you, serve you, or bow down to you in order to live with you. Perish the thought!

God wants every person to feel the spirit of freedom around you, certainly not the spirit of slavery.

It is very important we rule our own spirits so that we do not control people around us by negative moods. These put others in a strait jacket of negative servitude or fear lest they say the wrong thing to us. This is satanic and devilish.

I will continue writing on how to rule over our own spirits.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

A person who is slow to anger has learned to rule their own spirit. We need the divine assistance of the Holy Spirit to help us in this important matter. As Christians we must never be known as angry people. As disciples of Christ we are called to peace and meekness (Matthew 5:5, 9).

Anger does not assist peace making. When people rub us up the wrong way, it is easy to let anger go to a more negative level. Some may think it’s okay to be angry as long as they don’t yell, scream, or throw things around. However, I think that quiet anger that refuses to talk, refuses to acknowledge, refuses to listen, refuses to look in the eye, and that quietly plans revenge is just as dangerous as those who give vent quickly.

Both types of anger are not good and must not be allowed to reign in our spirits. God wants to fill our lives with better and greater things.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

If we make a practice of doing this, which may have to be repeated over and over until the breakthrough comes, we will discover that God’s healing peace will lift people up out of all heaviness, depressions, and hurts. it will set them free. It will restore the moving of Gods Spirit in both your own life as well as their lives.

In most cases, it is very important to act as quickly as possible so the enemy of our souls does not have time to make matters worse, which he loves to do. The enemy, Satan, is always trying to destroy the unity and peace God provides for all families that belong to Him.

If we do not seek to heal the breaches, genuinely seeking peace, then the enemy will quickly divide and destroy us. It is very easy to stand aside and speak negatively of what we perceive as the wrong doing of others. If we are going to get our tongues involved, we must use them to pray and speak only the things that somehow and in some way minister peace, healing, and restoration.

Sadly, there are so many families that are tearing themselves apart when they could bring peace and unity, if only they would set their hearts to do so.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

When God told Solomon He would give him anything he wanted, he asked for a listening heart. in 1 Kings 3:9 (GW) Solomon said: “Give me A HEART THAT LISTENS so that I can judge your people and tell the difference between good and bad.”

There are those who are too big for their boots. They are high in their own estimation. They refuse to be corrected. Perhaps they will learn from their own mistakes, but even then, some will not because they refuse to be meek.

It must be difficult for a judge to deal with people who have multiple offenses for some type of crime. These people spend years in prison because they refused to be meek enough to hear instruction.

Proverbs 12;15: "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.”

Proverbs 15:5: “A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.”

Proverbs 15:12: "A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.”

A teachable spirit is a beautiful thing to behold. It is easy to be around those who want to learn and are eager listeners. Bull-headed people, full of their own opinions, are difficult to be around. A man may have a high IQ and be very gifted, but if he does not have meekness and is not a good listener, who wants to be around him for any length of time? I am sure that God feels the same way.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, it is a blessing to be able to serve a meek master, One who understands our weaknesses and flaws. Our Lord Jesus leads His followers with meekness in the fullest sense of the word. He is not bad-tempered, exacting, and demanding and we find ourselves wanting to serve Him with all of our hearts. We find ourselves wanting to give Him our very best effort, expecting nothing in return. What grace He works in our hearts. The closer we get to Him, the easier the yoke is to bear and the deeper the rest in our souls.

Having said all this, we also find that Jesus is not a week push over. He is not tolerant for too long with our willful resistance and rebellion to His righteous ways.

In Revelation 2:20 Jesus speaks to us about the woman Jezebel who was in the church of Thyatira. She was committing fornication, calling herself a prophetess, and seducing other church members to commit fornication, etc. Jesus gave her space to repent, but when she would not repent, serious judgment befell, not only her, but all those who she deceived.

Meekness must not be allowed to stand in the way of righteous judgment. Meekness offers a space for repentance. Meekness provides an opportunity for mercy, but there comes a time when discipline has to be metered out when meekness is abused and trampled on.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

God commends Moses as being in a higher position than that of prophets. He commends him for his faithfulness in God’s house (which at that time was Israel).

Moses’ meekness must not be confused with weakness, softness, and tolerance towards those who opposed him. Moses was meek towards God and yet at the same time a strong warrior towards God’s enemies. Moses was not soft and tolerant to the powerful Pharaoh of Egypt and yet he was meek towards God.

Moses was so offended at the sin of Israel for making the golden calf at Mt. Sinai that he broke the sacred tablets of stone. His meekness towards God enabled him to be faithful in all God’s house.

Here we see two great virtues linked together--meekness and faithfulness (verses 3 and7). Meekness towards God does not hinder our faithfulness to stand against all that opposes God. Meekness toward God promotes tenacity and righteous anger towards all that opposes Him.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Despite all our short comings we are blessed by His mercies towards us as a family. This week we are in our eleventh week of meeting together as an extended family (adults and children) to pray and worship God. He is doing wonderful things in all our lives. Even though Arden has had the assistance of alternative protocols, as well as a low dose of chemotherapy, we all know that His turn around is miraculous and has to be the hand of God. We give God all the glory. He has not suffered any feelings of nausea, is becoming hungry again, and the color is coming back to his body. We have prayed that the chemo will have no negative effect on his good cells and God is answering our prayers.

We have Scriptures printed up all around the walls which we claim as we pray each night. One is Isaiah 10:27: “And his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed BECAUSE OF THE ANOINTING.”

Although this passage refers to Israel and the Assyrian bondage, we are encouraged that the taskmaster’s bondage and yokes which the enemy seeks to lay on us through disease and sickness can be destroyed because of the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, I believe God has a special love for those who are meek. Some may argue that God has no favorites, that He is no respecter of persons, and that all people are equal in God’s eyes. But what does God say?

“The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live forever” (Psalm 22:26). This Scriptures reveals that God favors the meek with sufficient food that satisfies.

“The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way” (Psalm 25:9). In other words, God reveals His ways and will to the meek, those who are teachable. Those who are not teachable do not receive this blessing.

“The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” (Psalm 37:11). This implies that those who are not meek will not inherit the earth. The enemy of our souls tries to convince us that the earth belongs to him and he will give it to those who worship him. The devil even had the audacity to try this deception on Jesus (Matthew 4:8-10). The truth is that God made the earth for the meek and without a doubt the meek will one day possess it.

“The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground” (Psalm 147:6). God certainly shows special favors to the meek.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Psalm 103:8-11: “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.”

Psalm 145: 8, 9: “The LORD is gracious , and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.”

I often find myself tempted to get stirred up in my spirit at people who are not considerate to others, especially people who are too pushy and want to control others. Thank God, I do not get aggressive and have learned to quickly take control of my spirit so my mouth does not react too badly.

God is so much more gracious with people’s offences than we are. However, we must all realize the danger of all forms of anger, whether it be violent or just mild and simmering. We must not let anger or disappointment hinder our prayers.

Prayer is one of the greatest needs of this hour and we must allow nothing to weaken or hinder it. To love the people of God with all their faults and failings is paramount.

One of the best ways to pour water on anger or offence is to pray for those who persecute us or offend us. This quickly sweetens our spirits.

Matthew 5:44 says: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them at curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

Proverbs 14:29 says: “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

One of his strategies is to get us into disunity with one another. Disunity pours buckets of cold water on our prayers, no matter how artfully they may be crafted, how fervently they may be spoken, or how long they may be said.

Effective prayer must be in the spirit of agreement. Jesus says in Matthew 18:19 states: “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” However, this powerful statement concerning united agreement in prayer must be seen in the context of the preceding verses (v. 15-17) where everything possible is done to restore broken fellowship with anyone and everyone who has trespassed against us.

In Matthew 5:21-26 Jesus speaks very strongly against all who angrily speak hatred and unloving words against their brothers and sisters in the Lord. Verse 24 exhorts us: “Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; FIRST be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

We must earnestly make things right between each other before expecting God to accept our prayers, praises, or anything we seek to offer Him.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Most believe it is Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. However, his condition is deteriorating rapidly whereas Hodgkin’s is usually slower. We hope to receive results today. We pray he will not need to have chemotherapy which would hinder his fertility. They are newly married and desperately long for children.

Isaiah, of similar age, is in the Trauma facility in the same hospital and miraculously recovering well from his near fatal car crash. We will leave soon to go up and visit them again today.

Our nightly prayer meetings still continue. We are now in our ninth week. Our eyes are upon Jesus Christ who bore all our sins and sicknesses on the cross. We believe for God’s miracle of healing for Arden.

All that has happened has caused us all to draw much closer to God. Even in the midst of so mu h crises, God holds up our spirits. Please continue to keep us all in your prayers at this time.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men who go to war with that kind of attitude should really stay at home. Cannot God give us a willing and zealous hearts for the good fight of faith? We have to come to a place where we actually enjoy the battle. In God, I believe that we can.

God’s battles are not for the nervous and faint-hearted. God’s battles deserve soldiers who are more than timid, complaining, griping whiners. This good fight of faith needs soldiers who will run like David did to slay the giants of sickness, disease, and all the evils of our time. There is no failure or shortage of strength to win the fight from God’s perspective.

Our attitude should never be, “How much more can we take?” We have been born again, not to cruise through life on soft, cushy beds of roses. Never. Perish the thought. “Through our God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies” (Psalm 108:13).

Our attitude should be, “Wow, how exciting is the battle. Bring it on, God.” “Because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

David’s mighty men of valor were certainly not men looking for a way out to escape the fight. No, a thousand times, no. Because of our faith relationship with Jesus, the mightiest Warrior of all, we can face the giants of cancer, damaged brains, and broken backs with willing zeal and inner joy.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell