Be a soldier

<sup>Soldiers expect and prepare for the worst. They discipline themselves to always be ready. Only when all the preparations are complete do they allow themselves a moment of relaxation.  

The problem with the world today is relaxation is glorified. We set up our lives to maximize relaxation. Every gadget we buy and objective we pursue is to simplify our lives for more relaxation. 

 Soldiers do not live in this manner. The best are consistently focused on how or what they can do better. They know the enemy isn't going to take a day, week, or month off so they cannot either.</sup>

2 Timothy 2:⁴No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; becoming entangled in the world's business-,entangleth himself with secular businesses, in the affairs of everyday life, gets mixed up in civilian matters)that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

This war that we have joined is a spiritual one. Ment to be fought daily. How? Through the study of our Father and the ancient knowledge revealed to us: through the Holy Scriptures, prayer, fasting, and worship.


Psalms 55:22 - Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Matthew 11:28 - Come unto me, all [ye] that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Philippians 4:6-7 - Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.   (Read More...)

He knows the struggle you are facing. The hardships in relationships, confusion of understanding others, struggle with that difficult person on your job, the bill that you just can't seem to pay, a sickness that you just can't overcome, Fear that you are trying to face.......

He is in charge of and sees EVERYTHING. Not just the things you bring to His attention, not just the things you don't see. There is a purpose, a rhyme a reason. Are you teachable? Are you looking for the lesson in the trials you are facing or are you focused on how it is making you feel? Are you being proactive or reactive? 

1 Peter 5:6-7 - Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:   (Read More...)

James 1:2-4 - My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;   (Read More...)

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.

Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Psalms 62:8 - Trust in him at all times; [ye] people, pour out your heart before him: God [is] a refuge for us. Selah.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

James 1:12 - Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Soldiers understand Endurance. That is why they begin their journey with boot camp. Have you disciplined your mind, body, and soul to be an effective soldier for The Father? Have you learned to resist sin and its influences? Could you resist unto blood? Hebrews 12:4
Boot camp is where a natural solder begins their journey. Enduring 6 weeks of extreme training to see if you are cut out to join the fighting force. Can you endure extreme temperatures, hunger, thirst, pushing your body to its physical limits? To have a natural example of what kind of dedication the Father is hoping for let's look at what man expects from his natural recruits below.

 https://www.todaysmilitary.com/training/boot-camp
To succeed in boot camp, young adults should prepare themselves physically and mentally. Daily cardio, weight training, push-ups, and sit-ups are a must. They should also practice arriving early on a regular basis and sticking to a strict schedule. Finally, potential recruits should delegate personal affairs to family or friends so they can focus on their training. For example, they will need to figure out who will pay the bills, collect the mail and manage any bank accounts while they are at boot camp. Physical Fitness Requirements:
Army                   Marine                   Navy                         Airforce                         Coast Guard

	Timed 2-mile run 2 minutes of sit-ups 2 minutes of push-ups	Timed 3-mile run A pull-up count 2 minutes of abdominal crunches	Timed 1.5-mile run or 500-yard swim 2 minutes of curl-ups 2 minutes of push-ups Sit-and-reach flexibility test	Timed 1.5-mile run 1 minute of push-ups 1 minute of sit-ups Abdominal circumference measurement	Timed 1.5-mile run 1 minute of push-ups 1 minute of sit-ups Sit-and-reach flexibility test 5-minute water tread 5-foot platform jump into a 100-meter swim

Constant in Prayer and Fasting

Let your prayers turn into worship. So many run to the Most High when things are not going well. Have you ever considered that he is allowing things to not go so well so that he will hear from you? The word encourages us to pray without ceasing. That would imply that our prayers have nothing to so with the circumstances that are occurring in our lives but rather are about communication with our creator.  Giving time, attention, and focus to the one who grants our breath.

Idolatry occurs when you put anything before The Most High. Even your crisis...

In the midst of the storm when the men who had walked with Christ thought they were going to die he didn't awaken and calm them down, He didn't try to hear their concerns, he didn't even ask what their thoughts on the how or whys of them being in this storm. He asked where is your Faith?  Luke 8:25  



Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.


When you pray you must have laid a foundation that will give you confidence that you are approaching the throne correctly and that your Father will hear you. Living in a manner that is pleasing unto The Most High.  Does your conscience convict you or excuse you?
1 John 1:9, John 8:29,1 Timothy 1:5 , Romans 2:15

Hebrews 10:22 - Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Constant in Prayer. Not allowing the cares or situations that you find yourself in to stop you from prayer. Allowing your prayer to become worship. Knowing He will carefully watch for you.1 Peter 5:7

Luke 18:3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4And he would not for a while: but afterward, he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

Jeremiah 33:3 - Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Isaiah 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.


2 Corinthians 1:6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

Nehemiah 4:9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

Psalms 88:2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;

Psalms 109:4 For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.

Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

2 Corinthians 9:14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

 From KJV online commentary-
Philippians 1:4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, "Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant," "ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex." "32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15);" "praying and crying to heaven (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God" "and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps." "73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14)." "Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his "ability and willingness to hold intercourse with us, his" personal control of all things and of all his creatures and all their actions. "Acceptable prayer must be sincere (Heb. 10:22), offered with "reverence and godly fear, with a humble sense of our own" insignificance as creatures and of our own unworthiness as "sinners, with earnest importunity, and with unhesitating" submission to the divine will. Prayer must also be offered in "the faith that God is, and is the hearer and answerer of prayer," "and that he will fulfil his word, "Ask, and ye shall receive" "(Matt. 7:7, 8; 21:22; Mark 11:24; John 14:13, 14), and in the" "name of Christ (16:23, 24; 15:16; Eph. 2:18; 5:20; Col. 3:17; 1" Pet. 2:5). "Prayer is of different kinds, secret (Matt. 6:6)"Prayer is like the dove that Noah sent forth, which blessed him "not only when it returned with an olive-leaf in its mouth, but" "when it never returned at all.", Robinson's Job."

Feast of Dedication

This feast day was originated in the book of Maccabees. It was after the Greeks had taken and defiled the temple at Jerusalem.  The Maccabees led a revolt and regained control through the power and might of The Most High. This feast is a time of remembrance and celebration of defeat of the enemies of Yasharahla and the re-dedication and consecration of the temple to The Most High.

1 Maccabees 4 : 28 The next year therefore following Lysias gathered together threescore thousand choice men of foot, and five thousand horsemen, that he might subdue them.29 So they came into Idumea, and pitched their tents at Bethsura, and Judas met them with ten thousand men. 

30 And when he saw that mighty army, he prayed and said, Blessed art thou, O Saviour of Israel, who didst quell the violence of the mighty man by the hand of thy servant David, and gavest the host of strangers into the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul, and his armourbearer;31 Shut up this army in the hand of thy people Israel, and let them be confounded in their power and horsemen:32 Make them to be of no courage, and cause the boldness of their strength to fall away, and let them quake at their destruction:33 Cast them down with the sword of them that love thee, and let all those that know thy name praise thee with thanksgiving. 

34 So they joined battle; and there were slain of the host of Lysias about five thousand men, even before them were they slain.35 Now when Lysias saw his army put to flight, and the manliness of Judas' soldiers, and how they were ready either to live or die valiantly, he went into Antiochia, and gathered together a company of strangers, and having made his army greater than it was, he purposed to come again into Judea. 

36Then said Judas and his brethren, Behold, our enemies are discomfited: let us go up to cleanse and dedicate the sanctuary.37 Upon this all the host assembled themselves together, and went up into mount Sion.38 And when they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned, and the gates burned up, and shrubs growing in the courts as in a forest, or in one of the mountains, yea, and the priests' chambers pulled down;39 They rent their clothes, and made great lamentation, and cast ashes upon their heads,40 And fell down flat to the ground upon their faces, and blew an alarm with the trumpets, and cried toward heaven.41 Then Judas appointed certain men to fight against those that were in the fortress, until he had cleansed the sanctuary.42 So he chose priests of blameless conversation, such as had pleasure in the law:43 Who cleansed the sanctuary, and bare out the defiled stones into an unclean place.44 And when as they consulted what to do with the altar of burnt offerings, which was profaned;45 They thought it best to pull it down, lest it should be a reproach to them, because the heathen had defiled it: wherefore they pulled it down,46 And laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple in a convenient place, until there should come a prophet to shew what should be done with them.47 Then they took whole stones according to the law, and built a new altar according to the former;48 And made up the sanctuary, and the things that were within the temple, and hallowed the courts.49 They made also new holy vessels, and into the temple they brought the candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings, and of incense, and the table.50 And upon the altar they burned incense, and the

lamps that were upon the candlestick they lighted, that they might give light in the temple.51 Furthermore they set the loaves upon the table, and spread out the veils, and finished all the works which they had begun to make.52 Now on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month, which is called the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and eighth year, they rose up betimes in the morning,53 And offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of burnt offerings, which they had made.54 Look, at what time and what day the heathen had profaned it, even in that was it dedicated with songs, and citherns, and harps, and cymbals.55 Then all the people fell upon their faces, worshipping and praising the God of heaven, who had given them good success.56 And so they kept the dedication of the altar eight days and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed the sacrifice of deliverance and praise.57 They decked also the forefront of the temple with crowns of gold, and with shields; and the gates and the chambers they renewed, and hanged doors upon them.58 Thus was there very great gladness among the people, for that the reproach of the heathen was put away.59 Moreover Judas and his brethren with the whole congregation of Israel ordained, that the days of the dedication of the altar should be kept in their season from year to year by the space of eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, with mirth and gladness.

According to the calendar laid out in Jubalees and Enoch The Feast of Dedication falls on December 1-8this year. This is the Feast that falls in the winter according to The Bible.When we learn that this is something that The messiah kept and that we are supposed to follow in his footsteps we see the importance of this remembrance. After his coming the temple was no longer an earthly one, but we now are his temple. This then becomes a time of year to dedicate ourselves to the service of the King and the Kingdom that is soon to come.

 

 John 10:22“And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.”

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.,1 Corinthians 4:16

Acts7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.