Hold Fast. Love. Hope. Go to War.

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

2 Timothy 1:13-14

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Galatians 5:5-6

I am grateful for the loving work of the indwelling Spirit in enabling faith and hope by faith!

 Me: Good morning, Jesus!

Jesus: Good morning, Jon!

Me: Thank You for this good word of Paul to Timothy as a reminder that the Holy Spirit is keeping the truth in us and enabling us to hold on when the whole world is overrun by error and even outright lies spoken from places of human “authority”.

Jesus: Here is another passage that pertains to the battle My followers are engaged in:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

War after the flesh is marked by fear and death and malice. War in the Spirit is characterized by the power of speaking the truth in love. Vanities do need to be destroyed, but the aim is reconciliation.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.  

1 John 4:8

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:14-16

The first thing is aligning (bounding, constraining) your own thoughts to My thoughts. This is My example:

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

John 5:19

I have seen to it that you have the written word.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Timothy 3:16

I have set the Holy Spirit, the very power of God, to be in you and to help you.

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you.

John 16:12-14

The battle is first personal. The world will not be helped by “followers” who are off the path. Do not be misled. You are called to speak the Truth. Remember that I Am the Truth.

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

 Romans 12:3

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

John 7:2-5

Me: Thank You Jesus! I thank you for all these aspects of Your help! I love You!

Jesus: You are welcome! I love you! I remind you of your commission. Do not become so introspective that you neglect others.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Amen.

Matthew 28:18-20