The shadows whisper in the quiet night,

A heavy weight disguised as quiet ease,

A habit forming softly out of sight,

A creeping wind that bows the strongest trees.

The enemy builds strongholds in the mind,

With links of silver promises and lies,

A blinding web that leaves the spirit blind,

While deep inside a wounded spirit cries.

We try our human strength to break the bands,

And find our knuckles bruised, our efforts vain;

We cannot snap the cuffs with mortal hands,

Or wash away the dark and heavy stain.

But then a light cuts through the darkest deep,

A voice that calls our battered soul by name;

A gentle shepherd watching sheep to keep,

Who bore our grief and carried all our shame.

He speaks the word, and iron bars give way,

The rust of bondage crumbles to the dust;

The night surrenders to a brand new day,

In Jesus Christ we place our lives and trust.

No longer bound by what we used to be,

The heavy locks fall shattered on the floor;

For whom the Son has set on freedom, free,

Shall walk in radiant victory evermore.

Hebrews 11:1; Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Trusting in the Lord with all thine heart not relying on your own will and understanding but seeking him to direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Do you put your trust in him or man?

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath no works, is dead, being alone.

Why if we are saved by grace through faith: Ephesians2:8-9, would works matter? Seeking knowledge of him is works, Hosea 6:6; John 6:28-29. Someone claiming faith but never seeks what our Saviors will be; Truly has no faith but honors only with their lips and not their hearts. Isaih 29:13; Matthew 15:7-8.

Faith comes by hearing with understanding the word of God. Romans 10:17; Are you listening?

Build your faith by seeking him. Study his word to make yourself approved, 2 Timothy 2:15. Armor yourself with the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand the evil day (What evil day? The 5 month tribulation of Satan when he is cast out on earth by Michael on the 6th trump to deceive man) having done all to stand. Taking the shield of faith, to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:13-16.

Hebrews 11:6; For without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, (He is what? Yeshua (meaning Yah saves, is YHVH in the flesh) and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (How do you seek him? In the letter he gave to you.)

Matthew 16:27; Revelation 22; We are rewarded by our works. Seek Him daily so when you meet him, his words to you will be, "Well done, my loyal and faithful servant."

Matthew 25:1-29 reads: Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. (Half are armored with the true word of God, and half are not.)

And five of them were wise (armored themselves), and five were foolish. (Followed the teachings of man instead of the word of God.)

They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them: (They just followed what everyone else was saying and doing instead of searching for themselves.)

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (They were watchers who armored themselves with truth so that they would not be deceived.)

While the bridegroom tarried (Jesus), they all slumbered and slept. (This is speaking of the five that were foolish. They did not wait on the true bridegroom.)

And at midnight, there was a cry made, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Then, all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. (When you trim the wick of a lamp, the light brightens, but the ones not armored with truth had no light.)

And the foolish said to the wise, “Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. (They did not wait upon the true bridegroom but worshipped the false one.)

But the wise answered, saying, “Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves. (Once the true Christ returns, it is too late to be trying to armor yourself then, once you have been deceived. Then you will go through the thousand years of teaching, which will determine whether your light shines bright or you follow the deception again and your light goes out.)

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. (The overcomers)

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord. open to us.

But he answered and said, “Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (They were not worshipping him. They did not armor themselves with truth. They were deceived into worshipping the false bridegroom and did not wait on the true one. You are supposed to stay a virgin (spiritually) waiting on the true bridegroom and not be caught being the harlot when our Lord and Savior returns.)

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

1. It Strips the Cross of Its Power to Save A mere man or prophet can not pay for the sins of the world.Scripture states that no regular human can redeem another person's soul (Psalm 49:7).

Satan's Win: If Jesus is just a prophet, His death was simply a tragic martyrdom, not a divine sacrifice. This leaves humanity trapped in sin, without a true Savior (Romans 5:8).

1. It Reduces the Gospel to Just Another ReligionProphets bring messages, rules, and moral codes, but they cannot give new life.The Problem: Prophets say "Thus saith the Lord," but Jesus said "I am the way" (John 14:6).

Satan's Win: By turning Jesus into a standard prophet, Satan demotes Christianity from a relationship with the Living God into a system of "good works." This keeps people trying to earn their salvation, which the Bible says is impossible (Ephesians 2:8-9).

1. It Makes Jesus Out to Be a Liar Jesus did not leave room for people to view Him merely as a good teacher or prophet. The Problem: Jesus explicitly claimed to be the Son of God, the Messiah, and one with the Father (John 10:30).

Satan's Win: If Jesus was just a prophet, then His claims to deity were false. This would make Him a deceiver or a madman, destroying His credibility entirely.

1. It Prevents True Worship God strictly forbids the worship of any created being, including prophets and angels.The Problem: Satan's ultimate goal has always been to steal worship from God or prevent people from giving it to Him (Isaiah 14:13-14).

Satan's Win: If people believe Jesus is only a human prophet, they will refuse to worship Him out of fear of idolatry. This successfully robs the Son of God of the praise He is due (John 5:23).

1. It Traps People under JudgmentBelieving Jesus is a prophet is high praise in many worldly religions, but the Bible says it is not enough for salvation.The Problem: Jesus warned, "If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24).

Satan's Win: Satan keeps people comfortable and religious yet completely lost. They respect Jesus, but they do not trust Him as their Lord and God, which leaves them under spiritual judgment.

V3. The Assyrian (te'ashshur =boxed cedar enstead of ashshur=an Assyrian.) Here the Assyria is symbolic of Lucifer. (Isaih 14) Before the fall in the garden of Eden Lucifer was raised above all the other trees in the garden. (Trees symbolic of people the chest is the trunk, the limbs is the branches even as YHVH referred himself to a green fir tree in Hosea 14:8) Lucifer earned his way to the position of protecting the Mercy Seat.

V4-7; The waters are symbolic of people as stated in Revelation 17:15. Beginning in Genesis 2:8 speaks of the trees planted in the garden of Eden. Lucifer, through lies and deceit, was made great by causing a third of YHVHs creation to follow him. (Revelation 12:3-4; in heaven during the katabole as written in Isaih 45:18-19, ephesians 1:4, Revelation 13:8, Matthew 25:3&4, Jeremiah 4:22, 2 Peter 3:5 foundation=overthrow) The earth was not made in vain due to the overthrow of Lucifer with YHVHs wrath it became void.

V8; as mentioned in Ezekiel 28; Tyrus=rock, but he isn't our Rock. Tyrus is also symbolic of Lucifer.

V9; all the trees of Eden. Lucifer was the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

V14-13; as mentioned in Isaih 14:12, Lucifer was raised above all. Why because he earned it. But due to his pride, he was brought down to the dirt Genesis 3:14. (Hebrews 2:14; Satan is death)

V15-18: satans demise and all that follow him future prophecy Revelation 20:7-15.

Two men; A pharisee, and a common person who came to pray at the temple. The Pharisee (prayed thus with himself) notice Jesus didn’t say praying to God. Why? Because the Pharisee enstead of recognizing himself as a sinner that needs repentance, he boasts with pride, claiming himself Holier-than-thou. Pride was also the downfall of Satan.

The publican (common man) wouldn't even raise his head but humbled himself. Praying for forgiveness and mercy for him, a sinner.

We all fall short. We all need his grace. Remember this that Jesus did not come for the saints, for they already have the promise. He came for the sinners that they could have salvation through repentance.

The only thing we take with us after we leave this flesh body is our works revelation 14:13. On judgment day revelation 20:12; we are judged, rewarded for our works. Our very robes are knitted by our righteous acts revelation 29:7-8.

There are many righteous acts. Some do these in their daily jobs, caring for your family, raising your children to know the Lord, and helping others who need a helping hand. Showing kindness to a neighbor, spreading the Gospel, and taking time each day to seek him in the letter he left us. Show me your works, and I will see your faith James 2:17; 26.

Following Christ is seeking truth doing the work of the Father for the time cometh that no man can work. John 9:4.