Longer - Dan Fogelberg - Bible Promises

In this video I wanted to select scripture passages in sequential order that also had some connection with each line in this beautiful song. Enjoy the journey!

DAN FOGELBERG
"Longer"
Longer than there've been fishes in the ocean

Higher than any bird ever flew

Longer than there've been stars up in the heavens

I've been in love with you
Stronger than any mountain cathedral

Truer than any tree ever grew
Deeper than any forest primeval
I am in love with you
I'll bring fires in the winters
You'll send showers in the springs

We'll fly through the falls and summers
With love on our wings
Through the years as the fire starts to mellow

Burning lines in the book of our lives

Though the binding cracks

And the pages start to yellow
I'll be in love with you
I'll be in love with you
[Instrumental Interlude]
Longer than there've been fishes in the ocean
Higher than any bird ever flew
Longer than there've been stars up in the heavens

I've been in love with you
I am in love with you

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Scriptures used:
Gen 1:2 "The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters."

Gen 8:7 "..and he sent out a raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth."

Deu 1:10 "The LORD your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are this day like the stars of heaven in number.."

Jos 1:5 "No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you."

1Sa 17:37a "And David said, 'The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.'"

Job 14:7 "For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not fail."

Psa 96:12-13a "Let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy Before the LORD, for He is coming.."

Psa 122:6 "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you."
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Isa 10:17 "And the light of Israel will become a fire and his Holy One a flame, And it will burn and devour his thorns and his briars in a single day."

Eze 34:26 "I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing."

Zec 14:8 "And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter."

Mal 4:2a "But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.."
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Mat 3:11 "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

Luk 4:17-19 "And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, 'THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.'"

Jhn 13:34a "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.."

Rom 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Eph 1:4 "...He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him."

Eph 1:13 "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation --having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.."

Hbr 1:10 "And, 'YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS..'"

Jud 1:2 "May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you."

Rev 12:11 "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death."

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Reflection on the Armor of God

I feel it's more of a lifestyle choice...like actually living it out. We have to 'take' and 'put on' these things...which is: to do them.

picture:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/boomya/3150539541/

1. belt of truth...
(In bible days the guys wore the dress-type garb... so anytime they'd get ready to do big labor, they'd gather up the loose-hanging parts above their knees, fastening it to belt around their waist.---so 'gird up your loins')
So too, we must gather up and fasten anything up; anything potentially impeding our freedom to follow Jesus when we are getting ready to 'dig in'. Where do we find truth? The bible, of course.

2. breastplate of righteousness...
The breastplate covers the heart... more than 'righteous acts'... even sinners can do those... but it's a condition of the heart...sincerity to seek to be holy as He is holy.

3. shoes of peace...
We know we must bear good fruit in being peaceable...in turning the cheek... but we must also be willing to MOVE (shoes) when He impresses us to share the gospel. This speaks of obedience.

4. shield of faith...
You want the shield? You get your 'faith on'. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God... nuff said.

5. helmet of salvation...
Doing what the Word says.... 'taking every thought captive'. Helmet is also called 'the hope of salvation' (1 Thes. 5:8)-- so a consistent and positive hope...in the Word of God, of course. Love hopes all things, believes all things...love never fails...

6. sword of spirit - word of God...
Version used for 'word' is 'rhema' in the greek= 'spoken word'. So, actively using it when attacks come.

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Many people promote suiting up with an 'Armor of God' prayer every day, but we have to be careful that it doesn't turn into a nice 'magic pill' prayer, LOL. Again, I'm emphasizing a lifestyle of change and conformity over rote prayers!

... But really... if we're sincerely seeking God... and realizing that He said it's simple, in that a child could 'get it', we just need to pray earnestly, get in His Word and have relationship with Him... and as we do those basic foundational things... we begin to change and conform to His image.

I look at each one above and it simplifies as such:
1. Get in the Word,
2. Seek earnestly to be holy,
3. Be obedient,
4. Trust/faith makes us stand firm,
5. No matter how things appear, or what we are told...we will believe the Word above all,
6. If everything above is in motion...we confidently can speak the Word and just like Jesus speaking it to shut satan down in the desert, suddenly we move from defense to offense.

See how it is kind of a process as well? Some people only go so far... only read the Word, but don't desire to commune with God... so when trial comes they can't hold the shield up because they don't 'trust', and so on...
We need to make it all a lifestyle... if any part is missing we aren't effective because there is a measure of 'fear' of potential wounding there---fear of defeat. But, having it all with the sword, we actually advance! The ones that are properly equipped in all this are the ones that shall 'do greater works than these'!!
Are You excited??? !!!


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When 'Spirits' Manifest Through People

What is really happening when people fight, antagonize or verbally wound us?  In Ephesians 6:11-12 we are told that we need to put on the full armor of God so that we will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil… and then in verse 12 it gives us more understanding of what the enemy's main scheme is.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."

 Ephesians 6:12

When 'flesh and blood' attacks us, recognize a spirit is attacking you through the individual.  Does it matter if it's a professing Christian and they use scriptures in their heated pursuit? Or a Pastor or church leader of xx amount of years?  No.  Wasn't Peter even susceptible to aligning with a wrong spirit to receive strong rebuke from our Lord? (Mat 16:23, Mar 8:33)

Putting on the armor of God has to become a lifestyle.
As I teach my children, I have described to them how most Christians put on the armor, but then stand there instead of advancing up the hill and actually wielding their sword.

What then are we, as Kings and Priests unto the Lord to do?  Act like it!  We have to get in the mindset that we are not dealing with the person, but the spirit that is influencing the person... and now ensues the silent battle...

Privately begin to forbid (bind) it from operating in your presence (King/Priest, remember?).  Thus begins the advance up the hill. What is IT, you say?  Well, out of the mouth, the heart speaks… so pinpoint the spirit by it's tell-tale assault. Is it rooted in pride, jealousy, anger/rage, gossip…etc.?  If you truly desire to grow in discerning spirits, pray and ask for more of this gift and then pay attention as the Holy Spirit will be nudging your spirit to walk in it.

Remember, we can bind, but casting is more suited for an agreed deliverance kind of situation, because if a person doesn't have Jesus in there…

"Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order.  Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation." 

Matthew 12:44-45

For our more 'sudden situation' example you more than likely do not have permission (especially when dealing with unbelievers), nor time to bring understanding to the situation.  Therefore, bind what affects you.  If it's a brother or sister in the Lord, you can give greater revelation to the situation later (Romans 12:18)… a person that is sorrowful regarding their behavior (as opposed to justifying it), is probably searching for deliverance from a cycle they can't break or just in repentance over a moment of weakness  anyways!  As you continue to live a Holy life others will be drawn to repentance.  They will want to know "How do you do it?"… and the open door for forgiveness, cleansing, or deliverance-- you, might have the honor to lead them through.

Spiritual 'Manifestation' example:  I've heard many a testimony where a rapist would be ready to strike and the believing woman would be either silently or verbally dealing with the spirit motivating the attack unto victory on her behalf.

What about that gossiper that makes you cringe?  In 'life', we can't run and hide… especially when they might be in our own family.  Use your authority in power by the name of Jesus, and scriptures that the Holy Spirit gives you--- all in the privacy of your own mind  : )

Remember the authority you have in the name of Yeshua/Jesus!

Beware, this is not a 'method'.
Speaking it or reciting it through the halls of your mind mean nothing if you are not, at the same time, learning to completely trust and believe the scripture you are saying/thinking is indeed the truth.   That, my friend, is the place we are heading.

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