Rest: anesis = to let up, relax, stop being stressed, find relief   

Take Paul’s counsel to heart, and allow yourself a little relaxation and time for recreation---time away from your problems.  When it’s time to come back and face those problems again, you’ll be refreshed and recharged with renewed vision.  You’ll see that challenge with new eyes, and you’ll face it with new strength.  If you don’t take a break from that constant stress, it will keep wearing you down until you become easy prey for the devil.  So say goodbye to your problems today.  Take a break, and allow yourself a little time to rest, relax, and recuperate!

And to you who are troubled rest with us. (2Thessalonians 1:7)

Advantage: pleonekteo=a desire to have more, and more, and more; greediness 

The devil will use any method necessary to take advantage of us and get us under his control.  He will deviously and artfully endeavor to outwit us, trick us, dominate us, and ultimately take us as his hostages.  So don’t shut your eyes and ignore the fact that the devil wants to bring about your downfall.

Instead, open your eyes and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you how to recognize the devil’s operations so you won’t fall prey to him any longer.  Then you’ll be able to say, “Devil, I know this is you attacking me, so I am telling you to leave now in Jesus’ name!”  Lest satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:11)

Enriched: plousios = extreme or vast wealth  

Don’t settle for spiritual poverty. You have every right to expect an abundance of manifested promises, power, and spiritual gifts in your life,  These spiritual riches are yours by virtue of your relationship with Jesus.  The day you were placed in Him, they legally became yours!  In God’s eyes, you are a spiritual plutocrat—so loaded with spiritual assets and treasures that you’ll never be able to fully explore or exhaust all of them in your lifetime! 

In everything you are enriched, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you. (1 Corinthians 1:5-6)  

HEY!  LET US BELIEVE THIS TO BE SO!

Cloud (nephos): the highest seats in a sports arena, coliseum, or stadium

When we walk in faith we are removed from the sidelines and put into the battle. When things of what you are supposed to do comes into the light (life, business, family, or ministry) you need to remember that you are in the battle and your faith needs to be activated that all will work out for your good and not harm. Also remember who is watching you from the highest seat, GOD! He sees the moves before they even happen and will guide your steps if you follow His instructions to the letter.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.”  (Hebrews 12:1) We are not alone in the fight, even when we think we are.

Walk (peripateo): to habitually live and carry on in one general territory

Paul lived in an earthly body that was beaten and abused by his enemies, but in the spiritual realm he was recognized by the spirits and powerful in the name of Jesus to fight against the evil that came his way. You may feel small and limited in your daily life, but in the spiritual realm you can be just as powerful as Paul when you use the name of Jesus against those who are trying to oppress you daily. Everyday put on the loin-belt of truth, the shoes of peace, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.”  (2 Corinthians 10:3)

Remember that we may have earthly limitations with our flesh, but through the power of Jesus Christ we can do all things. (Philippians 4:13).

Brethren: adelphos - true brothers, comrades, and partners 

The word ”brother” emphatically declares that it’s not really how well you fight in life that counts.  What really counts is that you keep on fighting!  So don’t give up on yourself, and don’t give up on those believers around you who seem to be struggling.  As long as they keep on trying—as long as they stay in the battle—they’re worthy of your friendship! 

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.   (I Thessalonians 5:27)

More than conquerors: hupernikos = overwhelming conqueror; paramount victor; enormous overcomer

Nay, in all these thing we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (Romans 8:37)

This word is so power-packed that one could interpret it as a phenomenal, walloping, conquering force!  That’s precisely who you are in Jesus Christ!... Regardless of your past experiences, you must begin to look at yourself through God’s eyes and in the light of Romans 8:37.  This verse declares that you are always the winner and never a loser!

Afflictions: pathema + mental pressure: a war on your soul     

A spiritual fight usually does occur when you’ve been specially illuminate to the plan God has for your life… If you have been in the place…be encouraged!  This is probably your clearest signal that you’ve received a real word from the LORD…Just hang on and don’t give up.  You’re  clearly headed in the right direction.

But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions.  (Hebrew 10:32)

So easily beset us: euperistatos = Sometimes in order to make necessary changes in your life, you must physically remove yourself from an unprofitable situation.  Be honest as you consider your workplace, your friends, and your living conditions.  Is your environment conducive to your walk in Christ?  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us. (Hebrews 12:1)

Forsaking: (egkataleipontes)out, down, and behind   This word describes a person who feels left out, down, depressed, and far behind everyone else…  Church is the last place the devil wants you to go when you’re feeling low!  He knows if you go to church, you will be touched by the Presence of the Lord; you will get encouraged by other believers; and in the end, you’ll crawl out of that hole the enemy has put you in and rise up to a place of heavenly victory.

Not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together, as the manner of some is… (Hebrew 10:25)  So Cornerstone Folks - let’s not let the devil talk to us!  We don’t need his help with anything.  Positive thinking is not always easy in hard times, but it is possible thru Christ Jesus, that dwells within you!

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.  (James 1:2)

LAY APART: to lay something down; to push it far away and beyond reach

If we are going to get free and stay free, it won’t happen by accident.  We must start taking steps to remove those negative things from our life—to lay them down and to push them so far away that we’ll never be able to reach them again!  Victory is possible!  Have you tried and failed?  Gotten discouraged?  It’s ok!  That was actually a step forward in the right direction.  Dust yourself off and go at it again…victory waits for all of us that believe it can be done.  Get a visual and see the end results.  Then write the plan out and work it one step at a time. Get information that will help you to be a success.  Remember the Words?—My people suffer for lack of knowledge--- Write the vision down. We are able to achieve our goals! Because of HIS WORD! Think positive!