Archive for the ‘Spiritual Warfare’ Tag
“Refined by Fire: Holding Firm and Finding Strength in God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”
Filed under: Bible, By Karan Barthelmy-Harris, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Liturgy, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pentecost, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, Spiritual Warfare, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: #Faith Refined, #Stand Firm, #Victory In Christ, 1 John 4:4, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Already-But-Not-Yet, Basic Christian Doctrine, battle, Being In God's Family, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Baltimore, GCI Windsor Mill, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God is Faithful, God the Trinity, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Having The Peace Of God, Hold Tight To Him, How God Reveals Himself, Humanity Revealed, Humanity Revealed In Jesus, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Is Enough, Knowing The Father's Love, Life's meaning and Significance, Life's Struggles, Love, Maryland, MD., Ministry, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Refined By Fire, relationship with God, Relationships, Revealing Your Life's Purpose, Sermons, Sharing God More Accurately, Sharing In God's JOy, Sharing In God's Laughter, Sharing In The Divine Nature, Son and Holy Spirit, Spiritual Warfare, The Basic Christian Belief, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, The Father Loves and Like You Fest, The God Who Is Love, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, the reason for your existence, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized, Understanding God, Understanding Human Beings, Understanding Life's Calling, Union with Christ, Who Is God?, Who Is Jesus?, Worship, Worshipping Jesus Adoption
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“The way to strengthen faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings.” — George Müller “You will never know the fullness of Christ until you know the emptiness of everything else.” — Charles Spurgeon
Are you experiencing a season that is grueling? Is the enemy relentless, attacking from every direction?
For those who are truly all in for Christ, the battle is intense. The enemy doesn’t waste time on those who are lukewarm—he goes after those who are stepping fully into their calling, those who are surrendering completely to Jesus. When that happens, the resistance is stronger, the attacks are fiercer, and the struggles feel overwhelming. But that’s also when faith is refined, strengthened, and made unshakable.
Even in the fire, victory is already secured. God [Father—Son—Holy—Spirit] is the One holding His people through, strengthening trust, deepening faith, and renewing hearts. The obstacles may not disappear, but there is fresh endurance to face them. It’s like being made new—new strength, new resilience, new clarity of mind. When eyes stay fixed on Christ, fear fades, and tears dry up because confidence is rooted in Him.
The enemy’s goal has always been to distort identity in Christ—to shift focus away from the truth of the Gospel and toward fear, doubt, and condemnation. But Scripture is clear: “The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). When trials come, the response must be to stand firm, knowing that “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The real battle is in the mind, and staying rooted in truth is what brings victory.
Yes, the enemy is persistent, but he is already defeated! Those who stand firm in Jesus will not be moved. No matter how painful, no matter how fierce the battle, the foundation remains unshaken.
As Christians, we live in the “Already but Not Yet”—experiencing the blessings of new life in Christ, like forgiveness and salvation, while still awaiting the full realization of that life, including the resurrection of our bodies when Christ returns. We have a glimpse of heaven now, but the fullness is yet to come.
We can be assured that God [Father—Son—Holy—Spirit] NEVER leaves us where He finds us. He is good, His presence is real, His power is real, His Gospel is real and He can be trusted with all. No matter what comes, hold tight to Him—because He is already holding tight to you!
“An Image Of Idolatry!”
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: An Image of Idolatry, Basic Christian Doctrine, Being In God's Family, Bible, By Pastor Timothy, By Tim Brassell, By Timothy Brassell, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Exodus 32: 1-14, Faith, father, forgive them, GCI Baltimore, GCI Windsor Mill, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's Faith, God's Grace, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, Having The Peace Of God, How God Reveals Himself, Humanity Revealed, Humanity Revealed In Jesus, identity in Christ, Idolatry, Inclusion, Jesus, Jesus as Mediator, Jesus Christ, John 17, Knowing The Father's Love, Life's meaning and Significance, Love, Maryland, MD., Ministry, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, relationship with God, Relationships, Revealing Your Life's Purpose, Sermons, Sharing God More Accurately, Sharing In God's JOy, Sharing In God's Laughter, Sharing In The Divine Nature, sin of idolatry, Son and Holy Spirit, Spiritual Warfare, The Basic Christian Belief, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, The Father Loves and Like You Fest, The God Who Is Love, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, the reason for your existence, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized, Understanding God, Understanding Human Beings, Understanding Life's Calling, Union with Christ, Who Is God?, Who Is Jesus?, Worldly Distractions, Worship, Worshipping Jesus Adoption
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Part A:
Part B:
Full Message:
Scripture:
Summary:
In this sermon, Pastor Tony focuses on Jesus’ mission to guide believers toward a deep, committed relationship with God[Father-Son-Holy-Spirit], warning against the distractions and idols of everyday life. Drawing from John 17 and the story of Israel’s idolatry in Exodus 32, Pastor Tony highlights the timeless importance of aligning one’s life with God’s will and avoiding spiritual complacency. The message explores the necessity of having a mediator in Christ, whose life and sacrificial love offer a path back to His Father, encouraging believers to reflect on the idols in their lives and to embrace the transformative power of faith, repentance, and God’s forgiveness.
Key Points and Highlights
🌟 Unity in Christ’s Mission
- Jesus prays for unity among believers and their connection to God[Father-Son-Holy-Spirit], intending a close relationship that transcends earthly life.
🛡️ Challenges of Worldly Distractions
- Modern idols—such as materialism, news, and social influences—often shift focus from faith and spiritual growth.
🙏 Role of Jesus as Mediator
- Christ’s mediation is crucial for believers, paralleling Moses’ intercession for Israel, emphasizing the need for guidance in one’s spiritual journey.
📜 Warnings Against Idolatry
- Pastor Tony references Exodus 32 to illustrate the consequences of impatience and idolatry among the Israelites, stressing that similar issues persist today.
🔄 Forgiveness and Redemption
- Emphasis on God’s forgiveness, encouraging believers to realign with God’s will and remove any obstacles that prevent them from knowing Him.
🌍 Significance of Spiritual Warfare
- Believers are called to recognize and actively resist idols and “strongholds” in their lives, using prayer and scripture to stay aligned with God[Father-Son-Holy-Spirit].
🔥 Christ’s Unyielding Love on the Cross
- Reflection on Jesus’ words on the cross, “Father, forgive them,” exemplifies God’s profound love and mercy, even toward those who oppose Him.
💡 God’s Call to Repentance and Obedience
- Reference to Paul’s counsel in 1 Timothy, emphasizing prayer, obedience, and leading a life in godliness as essential steps in the believer’s journey.
🌱 Promise of Eternal Life
- Eternal life with God[Father-Son-Holy-Spirit] is the ultimate promise, free from the world’s challenges, attainable through faith and a dedicated spiritual connection.
⚔️ Final Call to Draw Closer to God[Father-Son-Holy-Spirit]
- Encouragement to stay close to God, believing that with His help, idols and distractions can be overcome, and one’s faith strengthened.
Context
This message, based on biblical themes from the New Testament and the book of Exodus, uses Jesus’ teachings and actions as a foundation to discuss idolatry in modern life. Through the lens of Israel’s journey and Jesus’ prayer in John 17, Pastor Tony addresses common issues facing believers today: distractions, misplaced priorities, and the human tendency to put worldly concerns above spiritual ones. Emphasizing Jesus as a mediator and an example of unyielding love, the message aims to inspire believers to deepen their relationship with God[Father-Son-Holy-Spirit], repent from distractions, and embrace a life rooted in spiritual integrity.
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1.) YouTube
Jesus and the Gadarene Demoniac
Filed under: Bible, By Ann Vinson, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Faith, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Prayer, relationship with God, Sermons, Spiritual Warfare, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, Uncategorized, Union with Christ | Tags: Demon Possession, Evangelism, Evil Spirits, God's Authority, God's Compassion, God's goodness, God's Grace, God's love, God's Power, God's Unconditional Love, healing, Jesus, Jesus Casting Out Demons, Jesus' Compassion, Sharing Jesus With Others, Spiritual Warfare, Unclean Spirits
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Audio – Part 1: 27min
Audio – Part 2: 26min
Audio – Full Message:
Bible Verses: Mark 5:1-20
Jesus Christ has power and authority over evil spirits. Jesus showed His care and concern for a man who was isolated from society and controlled by evil spirits. After delivering the man from his bondage, Jesus called him to testify to the goodness of God. As those who trust in the authority and power of Jesus and who have been delivered from our bondage to sin, we too are called to testify to the goodness of God.
Theological Theme:
Jesus has power and authority over evil spirits.
“There is no reason to believe that demon possessions are restricted to the past. There are cases, especially but not exclusively in less developed cultures, which seem to be explainable only on this basis.” –Millard Erickson
“Unbelief about the existence and personality of Satan has often proved the first step to unbelief about God.” – J. C. Ryle (1816-1900)
Christ Connection:
In this account we see Jesus’ compassion for those held captive to the Evil One as well as His confrontation with the dehumanizing powers of evil. With one word, Jesus delivered the demon possessed man. This account points forward to the end of the Gospels when Jesus would give His life on the cross, appearing for a time to have lost His battle against evil only to rise triumphantly, having defeated sin, Satan, and the grave forever.
The Savior cares for sinners. Jesus was moved to the core when He saw the effects of sin on people (Matt. 9:36). If that was His heart attitude toward those trapped in the bondage of sin, then what should we feel toward those who are in the same condition today? Since we have the Spirit of Christ, shouldn’t our hearts break over the sin that plagues our family, friends, and coworkers? Shouldn’t we feel a deep anguish over the sin that ravages countries and the world at large? When what breaks the heart of Jesus doesn’t break our hearts, there’s a problem. An area of our heart that does not break over sin is an area of our heart that isn’t conformed to Christ.
Missional Application:
God calls us to report, like the former demoniac, how much the Lord has done for us and how He has shown us mercy.
“Tell them how much the Lord has done for you,’ commands Jesus. The man then went out and told ‘how much Jesus had done for him.’ For this man, the Lord and Jesus are one and the same.” – James R. Edwards
Photo Compliments: justplainpolitics.com
Let’s Get TWO-gether With Jesus And Go!, pt.2
Filed under: By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Church, Evangelism, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Love, Ministry, Relationships, Sermons, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Plan of Adoption, Trinity, Uncategorized, Worship | Tags: Adoption, Bible, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Disciple-makers, Disciple-making, disciples, Discipleship, Evangelism, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, Gospel, Grace, Incarnation, Jesus, Love, new life fellowship, Pastor Tim, Peace, peacemakers, Relationships, Salvation, Spiritual Warfare, Timothy J. Brassell, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Worship
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In this vision message of God’s Good News at New Life Fellowship of Baltimore. MD., we continue asking “How is Jesus speaking to us through these scriptures and directing us in His mission for our congregation, locally, today?”
This message gets way more specific about HOW we will participate with Christ in light of these insights:
1.) Sin is primarily personal and relational and, therefore, so is its repair!
2.) Isaac WAS Abraham’s special child but he did not drop down from heaven! He came through the cooperation and participation of both Abraham and Sarah. God will do the work, BUT with New Life’s cooperation and participation!
3.) We haven’t witnessed to those we don’t know until we have witnessed to those we don’t know!
You’re invited, and encouraged, to listen in! Maybe Jesus is talking to you and your congregation in similar ways too!
Christmas: God’s Plan and Response For Man!
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Children's Ministry, Christian Living, Christmas, Church, Easter, Evangelism, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Humor, Love, Ministry, Prayer, Relationships, Sermons, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Plan of Adoption, Trinity, Uncategorized, Worship | Tags: Adoption, Advent, Advent Season, Bible, Christian Living, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas message, Church, Co-suffering, disciples, Discipleship, Evangelism, evil, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, good news, Gospel, Grace, Incarnation, Jesus, Love, new life fellowship, overcoming evil, Pastor Tim, Purpose, Relationships, Salvation, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, Sufferings of Christ, The Suffering Servant, Timothy J. Brassell, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Worship
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“https://trinityandhumanity.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/15-12-20-christmas-gods-plan-and-response-for-man-matt-1-2-9-10-tah.mp3”
In this Message on the 4th week of Advent, and heading toward Christmas, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed to those gathered in worship at New Life Fellowship of Baltimore. The special emphasis of this message is that just as the Head, Jesus, was born into this world 2000 years ago as God’s Plan and Response for humanity, His Body, the Church, follows Him today, participating with Him in his ongoing work of redemption in this present world!
Check it out and be assured and unafraid as you GO with Jesus into our world, proclaiming Him in word and deed!
picture courtesy of ad-ne.org
Let’s Get TWO-gether With Jesus And Go!
Filed under: By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Church, Evangelism, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Love, Ministry, Prayer, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Spiritual Warfare, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Plan of Adoption, Trinity, Uncategorized, Worship | Tags: Adoption, Bible, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, demons, Disciple-makers, Disciple-making, disciples, Discipleship, Evangelism, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, Gospel, Grace, Incarnation, Jesus, Love, new life fellowship, Pastor Tim, Peace, peacemakers, Relationships, Salvation, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Timothy J. Brassell, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Worship
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In this message of God’s Good News New Life Fellowship of Baltimore. MD. is being moved in the Spirit to hear from Jesus as He sends forth His disciples to live and share the Good News with as many people as possible. Specifically we are reading Matthew 10, Mark 6, and Luke 9-10, and asking “How is Jesus speaking to us through these scriptures and directing us in His mission for our congregation, today?”
You’re invited, and encouraged, to listen in! Maybe He’s talking to you and your congregation in this way too!
Hand-to-Hand Combat? Really?
Filed under: By Nan Kuhlman, Prayer, Spiritual Warfare | Tags: Prayer, Spiritual Warfare
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I recently saw a sign outside a church that said: “Prayer is hand-to-hand combat.” This placard represents a common view of many Christians that we must pray diligently to keep Satan and his minions at bay, and that any slacking on our part could turn events for the worse. This attitude says that God’s plan for the world is resting squarely on our shoulders, and that if we mess up, Satan will wreck it.
I have a number of problems with this saying. First, I think prayer is a conversation, a back-and-forth, between us and God, and it’s the type of conversation that invokes change in us without guilt or “shoulds.” It’s the kind of conversation that affirms who we really are, loved and accepted despite our flaws. I don’t see prayer as a fight or even a wrestling, though any wrestling I’ve ever done in prayer has not been with God, but with my own ego and misperceptions.
Next, the idea of fighting against Satan and his minions gives the evil one more attention than is really needed. Many Christians live their lives as if the fate of the world is still hanging in the balance, as if Satan could still possibly snatch all humanity from God’s hand. The fate of the world, of all humanity, was sealed in Christ, and nothing that Satan could do would ever change it:
2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. (Eph. 2:2-9)
Christ trumps Satan and has included us all in himself, and we are seated with him at the right hand of the Father. While we may still be influenced or tempted by the evil one to see ourselves as unworthy and unacceptable, our fate and the fate of world does not hang in the balance. Before the foundation of the world, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit determined that humanity would not be destroyed but restored into their fellowship. We can rest in knowing that the salvation of the world doesn’t rest on our shoulders, but on the strong shoulders of Jesus Christ, and our prayers do not need to be a “fight,” but a simple giving of thanks for what has already been accomplished.
~by Nan Kuhlman
God Is Love And Love Is Hell…Sometimes!, Part 5B
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Gospel, Love, Perichoresis, Relationships, Sermons, Spiritual Warfare, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Plan of Adoption, Trinity | Tags: Bible, Christian Living, Evangelism, Gospel, Hell, Jesus, Perichoresis, Relationships, Spiritual Warfare, Trinity
Comments (2) 12.10.04 God Is Love And Love Is Hell Sometimes, Part 5B (Mark 9.38-50) – TAH
In this last part of the last message of the series “The Reality of Spiritual Warfare!” Pastor Tim emphasizes a quote from his friend, Jonathan Stepp, who writes “we are all the Father’s beloved children in Christ. Therefore, whatever Jesus says about millstones and plucking out eyes has to be interpreted in the light of a loving Father. So, sometimes you hear a mom say “stop that, or I’ll snatch you bald-headed!” or some variant of that. The child knows three things: one, that his mom is very serious, two, that she is using hyperbole to get his attention, and, three, that he is his mother’s beloved child – if he were not her beloved child she wouldn’t care enough to call him on his BS….Jesus is using hyperbole to make the point: this is serious stuff because we are all included.”
God Is Love And Love Is Hell…Sometimes!, Part 5A
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Evangelism, Gospel, Love, Perichoresis, Relationships, Sermons, Spiritual Warfare, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Plan of Adoption, Trinity | Tags: Bible, Christian Living, Evangelism, Gospel, Hell, Incarnation, Jesus, Love, Perichoresis, Relationships, Spiritual Warfare, Trinity
Leave a comment 12.10.04 God Is Love And Love Is Hell Sometimes, Part 5A (Mark 9.38-50) – TAH
In this 1st part of the last message of the series “The Reality of Spiritual Warfare!” learn how the REAL Subject of scripture is the God Revealed in Jesus Christ, and how this Relational God gives us better light on all the topics of scripture, including Hell. This particular scripture was chosen because it is so filled with “hell talk” from Jesus and is typical about how we miss the main point! The real SHOCKER about this passage on hell is that hell is actually presented as a threat from Jesus to His own followers! NOTICE: “Jesus is speaking to believers in warning and not sinners in condemnation!”. Oops…we have some rethinking to do! 🙂
Y(Our) Struggles Aren’t Against Flesh And Blood, Part 4B
Filed under: By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Church, Gospel, Humor, Love, Perichoresis, Relationships, Sermons, Spiritual Warfare, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Plan of Adoption, Trinity | Tags: Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Gospel, Hope, Incarnation, Jesus, Perichoresis, Relationships, Spiritual Warfare, trials, Trinity
Comments (1) 12.09.30 Y(Our) Struggles Aren’t Against Flesh And Blood, Part 4B (Eph 6.10-20) – TAH
“God has assumed all responsibility for evil in Jesus Christ….There is no need for us to demand that God take responsibility. He has done so.”, writes Rev. Dr. Gary Deddo. I AGREE!!! Therefore, a better definition of Spiritual Warfare is “God the Father, Son and Spirit of Love and Grace coming into creation in the Son Jesus to adopt, reconcile and save it BEFORE it even got lost! It is God’s passionate and proactive Love and determination that all of His creatures know and experience Him as Jesus does, forever!” Wow! This means that our fight with evil is REALLY a “Wile E. Coyote/Road Runner” situation – with evil being “Wile E. Coyote”, and all of creation being the “Road Runner” in Jesus! HaHa! Think of the Confident Craftiness and Glory that must lie behind God’s command for dust (Us!) to stand before evil in the Power of the Lord’s Might!