Devotional Fuel to Reboot Your Mind

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15, “And we urge you brothers, to respect those who labor among you, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See to it that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.”

Relationships can be complicated. In every committee, workplace, and organization, there will be difficult people that are obnoxious, know-it-alls, and just abrasive in their arrogancy. I bought a book on this very subject some years ago, entitled, “Sandpaper People. Dealing with the Ones Who Rub You the Wrong Way.” By Mary Southerland. As the author points out, these are people that God uses to teach us more patience, knowing when to confront, and acknowledging our need for loving others unconditionally, as God has done for us. What about self-control? Yes, those emotional button-pushers will test our limits and provide opportunities to use our anger-management skills, when those triggers appear.

Paul was encouraging the Thessalonians, in these verses, in how to deal with difficult people. He did it without being critical or harsh. He did not rebuke or condemn them, yet his tone was serious, had urgency, and was associated with comfort. That is what encouragement brings, as Christ’s example is stated in Romans 15:1, “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Don’t we all at times, need encouragement, words of affirmation, and reassurance in being recognized or having acknowledgement that we have value? We all need nurturing with those wise words Solomon stated in Proverbs 25:11, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” Speaking 1 Corinthians 15:4, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant,” gives another mercy and grace, as God has richly given to you and me, and provides a needed blessing to those that are hurting.

Leaders at church, “those who labor among you,” need to hear appreciation regarding their influence upon your life. Show your love for them by your encouraging words; otherwise, how will they ever know?

Paul stated, “admonish the idle.” Paul addressed those that were undisciplined and insubordinate. Those that do not put in a full day’s work are a poor testimony in the workplace.

Encourage the fainthearted – Isaiah 35:4, “Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not!” Reviewing and reciting the promises of God gives us hope. We all need more endurance in our struggles, and often someone’s smile, hug, or fitting words enable Hebrews 12:12 to be accomplished, “Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees.” Do you feel like your lungs, knees, and legs are burning from the race set before you in life right now? There is an end to every crisis. Jehovah Jireh will provide your need and you will feel freedom, joy, and peace again. “God will do His greatest work in the tension between almost and not yet.” Joshua Nangle, Patience in the Workplace, November 3, 2021, from Faith, Work, and Economics. As Paul admonished, in 1 Thessalonians 5:15, “See to it that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” God will honor, and He will repay. Lay it all down before Him.

Listen to We The Kingdom – God So Loved (LYRICS). 1/16/2020.

1 Thessalonians 5:8, “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.”

When life gets complicated, ugly, and uncertain, we must remember that we Christians “belong to the day of the Lord.” Paul was referring to prophecy when Christ returns to judge the world in power and great glory, and every knee will bow before Him. “But since” are two important words of our past and present identification of belonging “to the day.” There will be a future time God will intervene directly in world affairs, and it will be dramatic.  Three other versions of the Bible state 1 Thessalians 5:8 this way:

• But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. NIV
• But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing, as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. NLT
• But not us! Since we’re creatures of the Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation. MSG

Paul refers to Isaiah 59: 17, in 1 Thessalonians 5:8, where God is portrayed as a warrior wearing armor, “He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head: he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.” When we think of soldiers, they must be alert and equipped for battle with their armor gear.We are called upon to put on our spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-20), enabling us to live the Christian life. Faith and love are our breastplates of armor. The complete armor of God covered the entire body, which was the belt, breastplate (covered the vital organs), shoes, shield, helmet, and sword. The hope of salvation is represented as a helmet. Helmets protect the head. Our mind is renewed as we are being molded into the image of Christ and protects us from the enemy’s attempts of blocking us from reaching our destiny and living in defeat. Hope in this context is in the confident expectation of God’s hand in the future events in prophecy. These are metaphors for the spiritual resources given to us in Christ, which are truth, righteousness, gospel, faith, salvation, and the Word of God.

I see Paul as one that gave the Lord complete control over his mind and heart. Paul knew the Old Testament because of his rabbinic teaching, had an excellent command of Greek, and knew Hebrew since he was initially a Pharisee. Paul used the word, God, over 500 times in the New Testament. Knowing God’s Word increases our faith. It gives us wisdom, knowledge, instruction, and comfort. We (I) have His presence, protection, and provision; therefore, I am protected when I fully engage putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of salvation, which is a protective and defensive device. The enemy works to cripple our thinking through negative thoughts and unhealthy patterns of imagination. Salvation is about who we are in Christ – our identity. How can we rewire our negative thoughts? By applying every day, the breastplate of faith and love, our helmet the hope of salvation, and using Philippians 4:8 to develop a heavenly mind-control to reboot our thoughts, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable–if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise – dwell on these things.“HCSB. Live for today, dressed up in faith, love, and with the hope that Christ is coming soon!

What verse or verses has the Holy Spirit given you to meet your specific need(s) this week? Meditate on each word to absorb Him speaking to you. Plan your comments, be self-controlled (Prov. 15:18b, “a patient man calms a quarrel”), be aware of their impact (Prov. 15:28a, “The heart of the righteous weighs its answers”), and remember to put on each day your spiritual armor. You do not belong in the darkness. You are fully protected with God’s truth!

Listen To Casting Crowns – The Power of the Cross (Official Lyric Video) 10/22/2021

1 Thessalonians 5:1-5, “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers. You have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.”

On Wednesday morning, my Apple News app top story was, “U.S. Inflation reached 30-year high in October.” Next, I checked my Fox News app, and the breaking news reported there was, “Consumer prices surge at stunning rate as supply chain crisis hits Americans.” It is depressing if I focus too long on current headlines or the market conditions of high demand and low supply of the raw ingredients I sell in my job. Expected time of arrivals are no longer accurate. But there is more than merely today’s toil. As “children of light, children of the day,” we wonder when the second coming of Christ will occur, because our hope is in eternity with Christ. In Acts 1:7, it states, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.”  Paul was teaching the Thessalonians regarding the return of Jesus and the importance of being ready for Christ’s return, in 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5.

Verse 2 of 1 Thessalonians 5, declares, “. . . will come like a thief in the night.” A thief never announces when he is coming or the exact time of his appearance. Paul was not about setting dates for prophecy. Jesus in Matthew 24:36 declared, “of that day and hour no one knows.” God wants us to be prepared and ready because we are told it will be unexpected. Calamities throughout the world will have an increase in intensity and frequency, which refers to “sudden destruction” and “labor pains” that will give birth to a new age. “God has ordained times and seasons for the nations on the earth, particularly Israel, and all of this will culminate in a terrible time called “the day of the Lord.” Warren Wiersbe.

So, for the right here and now, live into your God-given purpose and calling. Read God’s Word and meditate on it throughout the day. Learn how to apply the knowledge and wisdom found in the Scriptures, with Biblical understanding in your acquired skill, with godly living, and with humility. If you have effective communication skills in connecting with people, use that to encourage others (using words as apples of gold, Proverbs 25:11). Are you gifted at seeing opportunities and dangers way ahead in a team you are involved in leading? Use your creative gifts for God’s glory. Maybe your strengths are in problem-solving and aligning people. Use your God-given insights in helping to shape the future wherever God has placed you. Are you a champion at thinking things through and carrying around an internal first aid kit in making sure everyone feels needed and appreciated? Slow down to listen so you can give grace and truth. Bless others with this gift. Lastly, we all need relentless commitment in asking probing, rational, and analytical questions. Is this risk worth the investment? It is crucial to use this ability at the right time in evaluating the credibility in arriving at the correct resolution in the conclusion for making right decisions, and with God’s blessing.

Live as “children of light, children of the day.” Be ready for Christ’s return. Remember, Hebrews 9:27, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Paster and author, Larry Osborne, has said, “At the end of the day, all we can do is prepare your horse for battle. Ultimately the victory or defeat belongs to the Lord (Proverbs 21:30-31).” Remember, there is more than merely today’s toil.

Listen to Loving My Jesus with lyrics by Casting Crowns. 12/16/2016.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, “For this we declare to you, by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the LORD, will not proceed those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven, with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of a trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”

We are all seeing various “birth pangs” taking place, of the coming of Christ’s imminent return more and more. Pain, debt, outbreaks of COVID and the controversies about the vaccine, voting fraud, fake news, various injustices, and conflicts will be gone, in an instant, for every saved person when the Rapture occurs! Thoughts of despair or any tragic worldly event will no longer matter because Christ’s return will bring us right into God’s presence! The most magnificent and fabulous word of the Lord we will ever hear that are believers in Christ will abolish any crisis on this earth because we will be delivered, and with Christ up in heaven.

I often wonder what the “cry of command” will sound like, as is stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:16? It will be an authoritative command and a note of urgency that we are told. The Rapture will not be a secret or silent event. Note there will be three different sounds at Christ’s return that summon the elect of those who have died (fallen asleep) first, and then those who are living along with the dead are caught up into the air to meet Christ. The Lord’s shout, the trumpet, and the voice of the archangel, which many believe to be Michael (see Jude 9), as he was the only archangel mentioned in the New Testament, are the three sounds I am very anxious to hear and could be today!

In Acts 9:7; 22-9, it states that the men traveling with Paul heard a sound when Jesus was speaking directly to Paul but did not see anyone. So they heard something but did not understand its meaning. It may very well be that the shout/voice/trumpet sound we in Christ will hear that accompanies the Rapture, will have the same effect on those left behind. The entire world may have no idea what the meaning is of this heavenly sound. I wonder if I will be taken directly up while I am sleeping, or being in my home, or driving somewhere, or will I be one of those that are “dead in Christ shall rise first?” Either way, I am expectant, whether I will be dead or alive, for the Lord’s coming and for the great reward of heaven – to be with Jesus for eternity.

Meanwhile we are to live each day that the Lord has given us, on this earth, for His glory and to faithfully perform whatever work He has given us to do in our employment or role in life (Luke 12:41-48) and to share the gospel, until He comes back for us. We are to live into our calling with integrity and efficiency in being faithful shepherds and leaders in managing the sphere of influence God has given us, as we focus on His provision, protection, and presence. Even so, Lord Jesus come (Rev. 22:20)! May I keep my eyes better focused on Christ and have the faith that He will equip me with all I need for doing His will (Hebrews 13:20-21) until the day that He returns (1 Thess. 4:15-17) – which could be PERHAPS TODAY!

Listen to Natalie Grant’s Alive Song Lyrics 1/6/2020

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12, “Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers to do this more, and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”

There is a lot of disagreement and hatred all around us in our current unsettling times for various reasons. Isn’t it hard to show love or be loving when in a dispute with those closest to us? It is not always a natural inclination not to defend oneself and list off all of our logical points as on an excel spreadsheet, when we feel our worth or values are being ignored, during a heightened climax in a verbal crisis. Our ego maybe overly engaged with our authority. Yet, I was reminded this week that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, when confronted by the king for not bowing down to his idol, were not eager or hasty in feeling pressed in defending themselves. They stated and held the conviction that God would protect them. God did protect these three Jewish men better than Nebuchadnezzar could protect his own servants. The lesson here is, do I always give myself time before responding in the heat of the moment? Is my faith in God’s sovereign protection, giving Him the praise and glory, infusing the courage I need to be like these men of example? I admit I tend to over explain my reasoning in my defense of my response in comparison. A better question to ask myself is, how is God pioneering me to grow in irritations of others inefficiencies? Food for thought.

So the challenge to myself is who can I show more love to, as God commanded in the Ten Commandments, and Jesus taught His disciples in the book of John, to those I am in contact with today? Paul complimented the Thessalonians for their love for others which was well known, and admonished them to do so “more and more.” The Amplified Bible states it this way, “For indeed you already do practice it toward all the believers throughout Macedonia [by actively displaying your love and concern for them]. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, that you excel [in this matter] more and more,”

Paul said in verse 11 to “aspire to live quietly.” The word aspire has to do with the thought of ambition towards achieving something ambitiously. The word picture of “quietly” has to do with peacefulness, calmness, rest, and satisfaction. That is such a contrast to our false gods of entertainment – the thrill of the one moment. Relaxation is essential, don’t get me wrong. But sitting quietly before God is vital to hear His voice from what we have read in Scripture and strive to get to know Him better. “There is a great difference between the Christian duty of putting the interests of others first and the busybody’s compulsive itch to put other people right.” F.F. Bruce.

The NIV states 1 Thessalonians 4:12 as, “So that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders.” In order to be a consistent shining light, reciting John 3:16 is not always the first way of evangelism. Having the respect and admiration of others is essential and will often then lead into the conversation of sharing the gospel.

• Love others more and more.
• Ambitiously achieve calmness and peacefulness.
• Work hard.
• Mind your own business.
• Command the respect of others.
• Keep it up!

Listen to Lauren Daigle’s A Place Called Earth (Lyric Video) 2/12/2021 by JonForemanVEVO.

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13, “Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”

Paul is concluding his pastoral prayer for the Thessalonians in these three verses. He talks about the Lord increasing our love for one another and that He may do a work in our hearts producing “blameless in holiness before God.” How are you able to increase in love for others and grow in holiness in your relationship with the Lord? What causes this to grow within your heart, soul, and mind? Isn’t it easy to love those that have the same beliefs and viewpoints as you do? Jesus taught in Luke 6:32-38 about loving our enemies. Verses 32 & 33 states: “If you love those who love you what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those that love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.” Ouch.

How do you react when God is refining you? There are times when we are in-between trials, and life appears pretty good, and then suddenly something changes.  I may not always immediately respond correctly to my fears and those things that trigger the emotion of anger, when I feel pressured, but I do know the promise of Psalm 27:1, which states, “The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?“

With our current societies issues, politically and socially, it is hard to have a love and concern for those we disagree with; however, Jesus taught in Matthew 5:46-47 (here it is again) is what I need to remind and ask myself, “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you only greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” David Guzik said in his Commentary, “Jesus told us that our love is small and shallow if we only love those who love us also.” Paul set himself as a standard for the Thessalonians to follow in loving other people as he did, despite differences. He never compromised his convictions but admonished them to love one another as he loved them. “Instead of, “Poor me,” we must be those who say, “Pour me, Father – that I may increase and abound in love.” Jon Courson, Application Commentary.

Nothing can encourage us to strive to live blameless in holiness like the coming of Christ’s return, and that it might be today. I like how the Message states today’s verses: “May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.”

God is sovereign over the whole universe. He is near, He hears, He is our stronghold (Ps. 59:17). Jeremiah 51:56 declares, “For the LORD is a God of recompense. He will fully repay.” Pour me, dear Father, with your abounding love so I may, in turn, pour it onto others and reflect your nature. Amen.

Listen to Matthew West What If (Lyric Video) 3/30/2021.

1 Thessalonians 2:19, “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.”

Paul had a deep love for the believers in Thessalonica. He had wanted to visit them face-to-face but stated in verse 18, that Satan had “hindered us.” Spurgeon’s comment on this was: “Supposing that we have ascertained that hindrances in our way really come from Satan. What then? I have but one piece of advice, and that is, go on, hindrance or no hindrance, in the path of duty as God the Holy Ghost enables you.” In Paul’s case, because he could not visit the church in Thessalonica, a mega-city with a population of about 200,000, he wrote them letters. He did not allow adverse circumstances to stop him from doing God’s will and purpose of encouraging and instructing the believers. It is believed that Thessalonians was the first letter Paul ever wrote as an apostle to a church, and think of the importance and great work God has done through these letters! God’s transforming power won in the end and was a Romans 8:28 example for us all, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

As a Christian, you may not realize what impact you have upon your family, your neighbors, your friends, and your co-workers. Keep on keeping on obeying and giving glory to God for His faithfulness, forgiveness, grace, and mercy He has given to you. Don’t give up telling others of blessings and answers to prayers God has done for you due to “hindrances.” Look at Paul.

Jesus is coming soon and that is more evident everyday now. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 declares, “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” The believers in Thessalonica were Paul’s joy and crown of victory in heaven. Those you bring to heaven, who have come to believe in Christ and mature in their faith, are a crown of victory and have more value than anything attainable on this earth as well. Remember, hindrances are not always hindrances when doing God’s work as a faithful servant, whether it is convenient or not. Keep on keeping on – that is called endurance and perseverance. Make a difference right where God has placed you.

Listen to Jeremy Camp Keep Me In The Moment. 3/20/2020

1 Thessalonians 2:12-13, “We exhorted each one of you, and encouraged and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us,  you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”

The Word of God has the power to change lives. Every time we read the Word of God, it gives us instruction, information, wisdom, knowledge, sustains, and gives comfort. It produces repentance, peace, and joy from receiving hope, love, and knowing God better. As Ephesians 1:9 states. “Making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ . . .”

I have been asking God to make known to me “the mystery of his will, according to his purpose,” on a few specific items. Do I believe God is always good? Yes, absolutely. Do I believe He loves me? Yes, I have that assurance from His Word (Isaiah 43:1). So as I continue to read through and study the Bible, I know the Word of God will be working in me, plus teaching me things as I wait upon God to act.

What verse that you read recently has had a powerful effect upon you? That is evidence that God is at work in you as a believer. Paul’s life was an example of what it means to follow God. He was not tempted by greed or pride and went through many times of suffering that he believed and taught, produces endurance, character, and God-saturated hope (Romans 5:3-5). I have to ask myself, what do others think of God from watching me? I often fail and don’t want to embarrass God from the words that come out of my mouth (Paul called it “murmuring”) or my emotional reactions.

Warren Wiersbe said in his Bible Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 13, “When we believe God’s Word and obey, He releases power – divine energy – that works in our lives to fulfill His purposes.” The New Living Translations states 1 Thessalonians 2:12-13 this way, “We comforted and encouraged you and challenged you to adopt a lifestyle worthy of God, who invites you into his kingdom and glory. This is why we continually thank God for your lives because you received our message wholeheartedly. You embraced it not as the fabrication of men but as the word of God. And the word continues to be an energizing force in you who believe.”

The evidence is clear. We can trust God’s promises, His commandments, and His divine purposes for us as we go about our daily life. On the other hand, we cannot count as truth everything we read in today’s news headlines. People will let us down and expectations will fall short. The remedy is found in Hebrews 12:2, “Looking to Jesus (NIV says fixing our eyes on Jesus), the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God.”

Encourage others to read God’s Word, even nonChristians. It will transform one’s life as the evidence will be clear.

Listen to Mercy Me’s song Shake (Official Music Video)

1 Thessalonians 2:1,2, “For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.”

Paul is a model of incredible grit, determination, and one who would not give in to discouragement, despite roadblocks, setbacks and was not a quitter. Besides earning wages as a tentmaker, he kept preaching the gospel as his God-given purpose in life. In 1 Thessalonians 2:1, Paul refers to the time right before he and Silas came to them, which is from Acts 16:23-24, “And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks” Yet, despite unjust treatment and shame, Paul called out the jealous accusers and their judges, without hesitation in being physically harmed. You know the phrase, just when you think it can’t get any worse, and it does? This is what happened to Paul and Silas, because then in Acts 17:5, the Jews were jealous of Paul and Silas and started a riot against them. Yet, their spirits were not derailed or dampened from their character being attacked by propaganda spreading against them, of disturbing the peace and promoting treason. This accusation was similar to the ones used at Jesus’ trial. Paul recognized that all of this was a tactic of Satan to hinder their ministry, yet many souls were won to Christ from hearing the truth from God’s Word, from Paul and Silas’s ministry.

Paul and Silas had a police record yet were innocent of being untrustworthy and only had pure motives in their ministry for Christ and the gospel. They were not discouraged or afraid to keep preaching the gospel message because they answered to God rather than man. So they kept on keeping on for Christ. Paul’s motives were purely focused, as he said in verse two, “in our God.” This is what gave Paul and Silas boldness and had God-confidence, rather than mere self-confidence. They relied solely on God, Jehovah Shammah, who they knew was right there with them. God not only sees all we do, due to His presence, but knows our thoughts, hears our groanings, and searches our hearts. The apostles were sincere in their motives, avoided flattery, avoided self-ambition, and had no security against not meeting the same opposition again.

Have you been discouraged? Have you been mistreated? Are you in the midst of much conflict? Jehovah Shammah means “THE LORD IS THERE” (Ezekiel 48:35, Psalms 46, Matthew 28:20). God has gone before you and is right behind you. Ask Him to give you a glimpse of Himself in your situation. Ask Him to multiply your five loaves of bread and two fish, too, as He did for the disciples in feeding the five thousand – they even had leftovers to take home (Matt. 14:19; Luke 9:16, 17)!

The Message says it this way, “So, friends, it’s obvious that our visit to you was no waste of time. We had just been given rough treatment in Philippi, as you know, but that didn’t slow us down. We were sure of ourselves in God, and went right ahead and said our piece, presenting God’s Message to you, defiant of the opposition.” So, say with Paul, “we are sure of ourselves in God!”

Listen to Phil Wickham Hymn of Heaven ( Official lyric video) 6/25/21.