Hi, hope everyone had a nice weekend. We have a beautiful reminder to help us get through whatever we may be facing this week.

Our revelation and the Holy Ghost have been our strong tower, but the Holy Ghost is also a lantern that can guide you through a fog of religion out there. There is an insane amount of noise everywhere today, and it is increasingly difficult to sort through all of it and hear His voice.

Having the right mindset for this journey is not an option. If we are being honest, there will be times we feel like quitting almost every week, sometimes several times a week. The messages Brother Nobles and the ministry give us are the words of life we need to hear to not only prepare us for the road ahead, but also what we need to make sure that when things get tough (and they will), we don’t quit. They are the words that ring in our heads and hearts that cause us to keep pushing forward past obstacles, challenges, and failures . . . through discouragement.

We will struggle on this journey. We will also win. We will get it right.

The ministry is continuously planting teachings and scriptures to produce the right thinking. If you get tired of hearing it, remember this: the right mindset is what will help you defeat the carnal nature and keep your motivation to stay the course.

The ministry gives us everything we need, but they cannot do it for us. We must work on our lives when we aren’t in church. It is up to us individually to invest in our journey and our chance for eternal life. No matter who you are or how far you have come or how many years you’ve been on the path, you have to devote significant time and resources to your goals at various stages. How much of yourself you devote indicates how much it means to you and how much you value your salvation. Some things you are working on may be smaller, some larger.

The teachings, scriptures, truth, and Holy Ghost – are all what make this walk sustainable for the long term. If we only think about short-term goals, it may cost us in the end. While we are working on smaller things, we can’t take our eyes of the gold (as Elder used to say). Making the Bride is not a sprint. It is a marathon. The only way you can lose is to quit.

If you aren’t moving forward, you will die. You don’t have to be on a rocket ship blasting through life – it eventually runs out of fuel anyway. You just have to keep moving . . . with the cloud.

There’s something important about the way truth causes transformation. If your life is not changing, you are either not receiving truth or not applying it.

Have you noticed in this world of non-stop communication, where we are constantly buried in our screens, our attention glued to these objects buzzing in our hands, we are consumed by short attention spans? Stop and experience this teaching, these scriptures. There will be an honesty, a truth in the messages that, even when it is hard or bitter to swallow, it has something that takes your breath away because inside you know that God gave you this revelation. Listen to (or read) the message. In the silences between his words, listen to what you have to say back. Therein lies your work. We got it. We hope you experience it, too. If He has opened your eyes, it is a gift, and it is from God.

The world may become a darker place, but we will still walk in light. Share this with someone who is seeking God’s protection. Brother Nobles is talking about how to stay under God’s covering and why it is so important.

---

Titanic Thinking

No one thought it would sink. Largest and most luxurious cruise liner ever, and yet it sank — because there were flaws in the thinking of those involved in the process. There were a whole lot of issues in which: 1) people were distracted, and 2) people thought they could not fail.

Brother Nobles just taught a message, “Staying Under the Covering of God”, and one of the things he pointed out was if we are living in denial of our carnal nature, we are in a most dangerous place. We must recognize the skill, wisdom, and strength of the old man to defeat it.

Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings. The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.  Psalm 140:1-5

The very minute you think certain things cannot get a hold of you, that is when you are in the very danger of them taking hold of you because you let your guard down.

Keep the Spiritual Defense Up

Don’t start thinking:  Well, I don’t ever have to worry because I could never do this or do that. As soon as you think it, you are the most susceptible for it to happen.

Remember:  As long as we have a carnal nature, whatever that carnal nature is capable of, so are we. No matter how evil or how vile, we are capable of it. Even though it may not be something we would readily do, we are capable of it. The moment we start thinking “I could never do that” is the moment we set ourselves up to possibly fall right into it.

The Net and Snare

We need the covering of God to keep us through it, so let us do everything we can to stay under His covering and protection. Many years ago, Brother Patton used an effective analogy referring to an insurance policy. Under insurance policies, you are covered as long as you abide by the terms and conditions of the policy. Once you go outside of the parameters set forth by the policy, act in bad faith, or breach the contract — you are no longer covered by the insurance.

In Psalm 105:45, God outlined His requirements in plain, simple language. Simple does not mean it is always easy, but it means God made sure we could all understand what is expected from us to stay under His covering.

Aren’t you glad God has your back? Where would we be if He didn’t?

Brother Nobles took us through the scriptures to witness what the covering of God can and will do.

Recap time: In Psalm 105, we get Exodus in a nutshell as God kept His promises and delivered His people. “They” and “them” pronouns switch places in this chapter as sometimes it refers to the Israelites and other times, the Egyptians. One had the covering of God, the other did not.

Take All My Money – Just Leave

In Psalm 105:37, this language changes over to His people.

The Egyptians offered anything they had. I’ve got gold, silver, jewels – just take it all if it would get rid of these flies. They were giving it to the Israelites willingly for relief.

Verse 38 – Egypt was glad when they left.

Verse 39 – the cloud is a ministry that covers God’s people.

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. Stay under the covering. When the cloud moves, let’s go where the cloud is moving to. Jesus is directing the cloud. Stay with the operation of God and His direction, and you will be protected. 

A Fire by Night

We are not living in darkness. We are not the children of the night, but of the day. We are not of darkness, but of light.

God touched my mind through all the teachings through the years, and I accepted the truth and the revelation God gave me, so I can clearly see.

We do not have to wonder what is going on. We know what is going on. If you have spiritual understanding, you see that God is changing things. On 9/11, those four planes did not just change America . . . they changed the world. Freedoms were not taken; they were given, willingly.

The pandemic has changed the social and political atmosphere, and it is not limited to our country. Again, God has changed the world. He has put a spirit on it just like He did when He hardened Pharaoh’s heart. It was already in Pharaoh’s heart to do what he did, but God put a spirit on him to act on it. It is already in the heart of man to do all the things we see transpiring today in the world, and God has put a spirit on them to act on these things.

God is changing the world, but we don’t have to be afraid if we are standing under His covering. Why should we be afraid of what God is doing if we are covered by Him? Brother Nobles said his concern was not being afraid that God is moving, but if the people of God start getting caught up in what is going on in the world.

How We Stay Under the Covering of God

Another obligation of God:

For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant. -Psalm 105:42

God keeps His promises. He expects us to do the same and keep His ordinances.

That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the Lord. -Psalm 105:45

We stay under the covering of God by observing His statutes and keeping His laws. Praise the Lord that we have the ability and understanding to do both these things.

Under the Covering of God Vs. Not Under the Covering of God

Brother Nobles gave a scriptural rundown of what being under the covering of God can and will do for us.

Something Severed is not Always a Bad Thing

Take a look at Goshen.

And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. -Exodus 8:22    

In Exodus 8, being severed is a good thing. God is severing a place to protect His people. He will make sure they are covered while the rest of the land is not covered. Goshen was right in the middle of Egypt.

No Fly Zone

God sent swarms of flies into Egypt. Everywhere. Except where His people were. There were no flies in Goshen. Just as Pharaoh had begged for a frog-free bed, he now begged that God lift the fly plague. God does, and again, Pharaoh does not let the people go.

The Next Plague Sweeps in and Wipes Out All the Livestock

Typo: not all the livestock. Just the ones not under the covering of God.

Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain. And the Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel. And the Lord appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the Lord shall do this thing in the land. And the Lord did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one. -Exodus 9:3-6  

God severed between the cattle of Egypt and cattle of Israel. In verse 6, all of the cattle of Egypt died; none of the cattle of Israel died.

Don’t tell me God’s covering doesn’t mean anything. It means everything to stay under that covering.

God Unleashes the Next Plague

This plague is a huge amount of hail, accompanied by fire raining from the sky. It was unlike anything they had ever seen. And guess what? None of it hits the Israelites. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt. And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field. -Exodus 9:22-25

Meanwhile in Goshen . . .

Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. -Exodus 9:26

They were under the covering.

Back in Egypt . . .

Pharaoh finally relents and tells Moses to call off the fire. God does, but Pharaoh decides (surprise) to keep the Israelites captive.

It’s as if Pharaoh laughs out loud, and tells Moses to get lost.

Bad move, Pharaoh.

Over to you, Moses . . .

Moses warned him to let them go, or else.

Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast: And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field: And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers' fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh. -Exodus 10:4-6

The hail had destroyed the crops, but not all of them. God was not finished, so He brought in the locusts. They were not only going to eat the rest of the crops, but the grains they had stored. They were going to eat it all in a manner that no one had ever seen.

Locusts devoured everything.

A Darkness That Could be Felt

And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. -Exodus 10:21-23 

Brother Nobles told a story of being in a cavern and the impenetrable darkness you could feel in there. They warn you before turning off the lights because it is such an unnerving experience to be in that degree of total darkness where you cannot see any semblance of your hand in front of your face. It’s an oddity you don’t want to find yourself in. All light is removed.

But here, in Goshen, we are sitting in light. 

The children of Israel had light where they dwelled. Where we dwell, there is light.

I don’t want to do anything as a whole, a church, a group, or an individual to take us or myself out from under the covering of God. Let us work and labor faithfully to keep the ordinances as they have been delivered so that we stay under God’s protection and covering. I’m not afraid to go to war with the things of the world or in my own nature – because God is on my side. We want to be like David was. You may come to me with a sword or a spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord. That is what I’m going to fight with. Tell this Philistine nature (within us): you are going down, and I am taking you out. We have our own Goliath we are fighting. He is bigger than we are, but not bigger than the God we serve. Stay under the covering, and like David, you’ll get that sling and stone and take your giant out.

True or False:  As Long as I am Where His People are, I Will be Under His Covering.

Go ahead and circle “false” because the Passover was our reminder that only whoever kept God’s direction, He would deliver them, and their firstborn would not be taken. When the angel of death passed over all of Egypt, regardless of the geographical location of a house, if the ordinance of God was not being kept in that home, the first born would die. Just living within the boundaries of Goshen did not save the firstborn.

Keeping God’s order is the only thing that would save them.

For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. -Exodus 12:12-13

When I see the blood, I will pass, I will pass over you.

To the people who kept God’s order, they were under His covering, and their firstborns were protected.

We have to keep all the ordinances, even the bitter herbs. Apply the blood, the Holy Ghost, to the door. If the Holy Ghost is applied in your life, you will not be destroyed. Stay under the Holy ordinances.

Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. -Isaiah 30:1-3

Sin + Sin = Zero Covering

Under His covering, we still have sin, but we are working to overcome it. We are not adding to it. Those who strengthened themselves in the strength of Pharaoh and trusted in the shadow of Egypt added to their sin and were not protected under His covering.

Proverbs 5 – Her Ways are Moveable

The false woman is moving. Things that she would have been appalled at years ago, she has moved and changed on them. She moves with the social and political winds wherever they blow.

Let us not be moveable but stay under the covering.

In the Twinkling of an Eye

We will be changed. Do what God has asked you to do, and you will never taste the sting of death. You will move out a live soul.  

Brother Nobles closed by encouraging us to fight our nature, stay under the covering of God, and keep His order. Don’t try to change the order by saying this “little thing” I’m changing does not matter. That is not the Holy Ghost in you saying that. You are going into Egypt, strengthening yourself there. Let our trust be in the One who called us. We can read this Book, and in it, see His mind and hear His truth.

Take care and we are praying for you always💜.

Talk soon, 

The Bridge