“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.” Matthew 28:5


I was lead, as I so often am by Holy Spirit, to go back and re-read key Scriptures and related study devotionals that have spoken to me at specific times and seasons of my life - spiritual markers and altars of worship that serve as reminders to help guide and keep me steadfast. Today, it was back to my June 21st post titled “Because You Seek Jesus” where my heart became fixed and centered upon those words spoken by the Angel in Matthew’s account of the Gospel. “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus...”


Oh, the sweet assurances and security we have made available to us in the Lord! Those truly seeking the Him, freedom from fear will be a heritage indeed. Those who are walking upright with God will not be afraid of whatever comes on the news tomorrow or happens in the world around them. For as the Psalmist said, “Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord” (112:6-7).


Yes, those who have chosen to follow God will be able to hear and believe as the Lord speaks to them: “Don’t fear because I know you seek Jesus.” And, every believer must come to a point of decision where he determines to go all the way with God and declare, “By the grace of God, I am going to trust him for the power to finish this journey in victory.”


With this post, I am also calling out to those who have made that decision in their life or are seeking help in making that decision for their life. Come along and join us in life’s journey together to victory. I am a Certified Chaplain and Life Coach, and I would love to help all find that connection through either small online group interactions or personal one on one sessions. Just send me an email at wildelks0322@gmail.com and let me know your interest or need.


Multiplied blessings and His abiding peace be with you all!

Frank Watson

This Independence Day - July 4, 2020 - I am reminded of a quote that says, “When the system fails, righteous men will rise up.” I was also lead to these related words from a devotional written by Billy Graham (Unto the Hills). May they stir in your heart as they do in mine.


“The Bible teaches that worldliness is a force, a spirit, an atmosphere of the cosmos that is in opposition and in contradiction to all that is godly and Christian. Its goal is selfish pleasure, material success, and the pride of life. It is ambitious, self-centered. God is not necessarily denied; He is just ignored and forgotten.


Three times Christ designated Satan as the prince of this world. He said, ‘The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me” (John 14:30). In John 16:11, He again said, ‘Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.’ In John 12:31, He said, ‘Now shall the prince of this world be cast out.’


Thus the Bible is clear that the world’s inhabitants are either under the influence of this world with its cunning, deception, and spell; or they are in Christ and under the direction of the Spirit of God. There is no neutral ground. The lines are drawn by the Bible.


Paul wrote to the Ephesians, ‘Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.... Even when we were dead in sins [God] hath quickened us together with Christ”p’ (2:2, 5).


Now the words ‘course of this world’ carry the meaning of current or flow. There is an undertow, a subtle current, which runs against and in contradiction to the will and the way of God. Its eddies are deep and treacherous. They are stirred and troubled by Satan and intended to trap and ensnare those who would walk godly in Christ Jesus.
Satan employs every device at his command to harass, tempt, thwart, and hurt the people of God. His attack is relentless. Paul wrote, ‘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’ (Ephesians 6:12).


However, the Christian is not left defenseless in this conflict. God provides the power to give us victory over Satan. Paul said, ‘We are more than conquerors through him that loved us’ (Romans 8:37). And John wrote, ‘Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world’ (1 John 4:4).”


Oh yes indeed, greater is He! Just pause a moment in His Presence. Ponder His greatness and all that He is. If He is not all that to you, then make Him that today. And, be encouraged and emboldened by also calling to mind what was shared in another recent post dated July 2nd - 


We are holding a light. We are to let it shine. We are blowing a trumpet...we must keep sounding the alarm to those who are in danger. We are kindling a fire...we must keep our fire burning. We are striking with a hammer. The blows may seem only to jar our hands as we strike, but we are to keep on hammering. We have bread for a hungry world...we must keep on giving it, offering it to the souls of men. We have water for famishing people. We must keep standing and crying out, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1). We must persevere. We must never give up. Keep using the Word. Jesus said that much of our seed will find good soil and spring up and bear fruit. We must be faithful witnesses.


Yes - the righteous must arise!


Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Frank Watson

“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him’; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5).


Enoch had intimate communion with his heavenly Father and his life is yet another testimony of what it means to truly walk in faith. His fellowship with God was so intimate that the Lord translated him to glory long before his life on earth might have ended.


Why did the Lord choose to translate Enoch? The opening words of this verse tell us very plainly that it was because of his faith. Moreover, the closing phrase tells us Enoch’s faith pleased God. That is something every Christian believer should aspire to. The Greek word for “pleased” used here means fully united, wholly agreeable, in total oneness. In short, Enoch had the closest possible communion with the Lord that any human being could enjoy. And this intimate fellowship with God was pleasing to the Father.


The Bible tells us Enoch began walking with the Lord after he begot his son, Methuselah, who lived be 969 years of age. You might remember Methuselah as being the oldest man recorded in the Bible (Genesis 5:27). Enoch was sixty-five at the time of his son’s birth and then he spent the next 300 years fellowshipping with God. Hebrews makes it clear that Enoch was so in touch with the Father, so close to him in hourly communication, that God chose to bring him home to himself. In essence, the Lord was saying to Enoch, “I can’t take you any further in the flesh. In order to increase my intimacy with, I must bring you home to my side.” So he whisked Enoch away to glory!
To our knowledge, Enoch never performed a miracle, never developed a profound theology, never did any great works worthy of mention in Scripture. However, we read this simple description of this faithful man’s life: “Enoch walked with God.”


Can you imagine having this said about you? Does your heart yearn for a closer walk with the Lord? Is there a growing dissatisfaction in you with the things of this world?
True faith is found in waiting on your Savior, ministering to him until you hear and know his heart.
​

(David Wilkerson - World Challenge Devotional)

Frank Watson