the watcher

Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. What is our testimony? Who do people say that we are? Does it really matter? Luke 9:18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? Of course we could have misconceptions, people could label us wrongly due to ignorance, envy or mere maliciousness. What we should be interested in is our fruits, for Christ said: Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. And more testimonies: Ephesians 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Colossians 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love [which ye have] to all the saints, 1Thessalonians 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that w...

Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; From the beginning, God's desire has always been to keep man from that which will destroy him. Yes many things exist, many of which we do not fully have understanding of, He warns us ahead of time to beware of. It is out of love that He warns of them for it is in our power to decide what path we take. Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. That power to decide or do we call it "free will" could become destruction if we do not seek His guidance. Just like children under the care of their parents do not know enough to make big decisions, the loving parents by rules in love guides the children till they are able to stand on their own. Proverbs 14:12 There is a path before each person that seems right, b...

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. Situation or circumstances should not define us, yes we will face them but one thing is sure we have victory. That challenge would not define us it is only for a brief moment it will wither away because we already have the victory. We are more than this! The Lord has already won the important battles and even these lesser ones. Glory. Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. As long as our trust is in the Lord. We are not defined by whatever battle we fight, or the present situation, No, we have a fixed testimony and that is of victory. We are spiritually like the eagle: Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint. We don't cower below we soar above. Glory.  Whatever we lift, either goe...

Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Does it mean that all our prayers are answered with a YES? NO. We must have in mind that, when we pray, a lot of activities take place, we need to remember that we pray to change things. Do we also understand that when we change a part, the other part is automatically affected. We have people that may be requesting something that actually contradicts what we ask.  Take the case of the sons of Zebedee: Matthew 20:20 & 21 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping [him], and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. Well we may all attack her as selfish, in fact, the other disciples were not happy with them. This is an illustration of requests that affect other things or other people. Our Heavenly Fa...

1Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing. Prayer is the very activity that keeps the believer going. However prayer without study and meditation of the word could become direction-less. Also prayer without worship is also incomplete. The diet must be balanced. Have you noticed that in most situation Christ gave thanks because He was already in prayer! Selah 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. For we must pray in faith, and faith comes from the word of God: Romans 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. That you may succeed, you study the word of God, then you pray, you do so in God's will, coming to Him...

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; The trick: "I am of God but I can live as if I am of the enemy". Don't fall for it! John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. We should never be caught in the enemy's trick. We cannot hold the truth in unrighteousness. Romans 1:18b who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Let us remember that anything done out of faith is sin. We begin with faith and end with faith. Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Romans 14:23b for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin. 1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins. Faith that takes us away from our sins, we become dead to sin, t...

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. The fact that numbers and letters were taught in the 2nd millennium BCE, where history says they originally originated, does not mean that in the 21st century it becomes irrelevant. Therefore a child would still need to learn the numbers and alphabets before progressing to learn words, then form sentences and make calculations. Some new generation christians seem to feel that the process is unnecessary. Some want to jump to teachers, pastors, ministers, elders without passing through the process. 1 Timothy 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Another disaster is given people positions because of their financial status or donations to church or merely because of their age. This is an error. All the great teachers, pastors and elders we see today are a product of good discipleship. They have gone through t...

2Peter 3:3-4 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation. Yes, this is the reason for having many false prophets, con men in cassock, money conscious individuals, stealing and doing other abominable acts in the name of the Lord. It isn't strange, this is what the scriptures revealed. That it will seem to them that the coming of the Lord has been delayed, they will think, "oh, will He ever come?" 2Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. So many have calculated times, predicting the year in which all things will end, yet it hasn't! Jesus the Christ said: Mark 13:32 But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither th...

1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Yes we are humans, we have desires we see, hear and feel and they could raise emotions, however, how we deal with them is up to us. For habits come from consistency. To say that the desires would not arise may not be entirely true. That they would overwhelm us, is actually up to us. I have come to understand that God would not command what is impossible for us to obey. He then makes it even better by giving us His strength through His Holy Spirit. Hebrews 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. WHAT A LOVING FATHER! Thus we must stay prepared and not easily pushed to submit to the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes or the pride of life. For when one boasts of overcoming adultery, can they boast of overcoming lies, what of love of money or anger that ...

1 Corinthians 8:1b We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. It is said that: "no one cares what you know until they know how much you care" No matter how much you think you know, without love you just get puffed up in pride and become more of a snare than an edifier. We have many who claim to have knowledge of God yet they have no love. What use is that knowledge? Our love begins with the love for God and this is what we express to one another. No matter how much you claim to know, if the love of God is not in you, you are not of God. God does not know you. 1 Corinthians 8:3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. You cannot claim to know God and not walk in love: remember that the summary of the law is love. It takes love to walk uprightly Firstly the love of God, then the love of others. 1John 2:4&5  He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever kee...

1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Every one who comes to Christ to receive salvation also receives the gift of the Spirit. The gifts are for service that we may be active serving the Lord God. Ephesians 4:7-8 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." This is why it is said, you are "saved to serve". The gifts are given for us to profit thereof: 1 Corinthians 12:4&7 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: Therefore the bible instructs: 1 Peter 4:11  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom ...

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. This statement has been an issue for many who believe that all religions and even all practices are all channels to God. No matter what anyone can say or contest about it, that is what Christ said. Another statement that still remains an issue with many sects especially those who want to make Christ look like a prophet or an angel is: John 10:30  "I and My Father are one." Then further more is the fact that God had delivered all things to His Son. Matthew 11:27 "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and he to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. And that all of us will come before Christ to give an account. 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to wh...

Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all [ye that are] upright in heart. Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. The truth is that all teachings of scriptures abhor doing wrong, thus all teachings of scriptures encourage doing right! So, if you believe in the scriptures, you do good! A key word is "the upright". Psalm 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. This was the testimony of Christ: Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. This is the nature of the believer. We do good. Paul re-emphasizes: Ephesians 6:8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether [he be] bond or free. It is our Godly nature to do good. We ...

Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; There is no teaching in scriptures be it of the books of the old testament or in the record/writings of the new testament that suggests that doing wrong will go unpunished. Why do some teach and act as if we can get away with doing wrong? Colossians 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. Anything that does not please God is sin, anything done away from faith is also sin, for we must learn to trust God. Yes we are empowered to do lots of things in this present world yet we must still rely on the all Sufficient God that we will not err. The book of Proverbs divided its teachings between the good(prudent) and the simple(foolish/sinner). Proverbs 22:3 A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. Christ said: Matthew 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn do...

 2 Corinthians 10:18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. There were those times in lower school days when you thought you had done a good job, then the teacher steps in and tells you otherwise. Many believers fall into this category. One way to easily fall into this error is when we do not stay in God's word, prayers and we do not listen to His voice. Our boast should be in the Lord. Our concern above all else should be what He thinks about us. Can God boast of us? Psalm 34:2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear [thereof], and be glad. So before we think of any man's approval be it in marriage, work, ministry and others, we seek the approval of the Heavenly Father first. 2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. We ought to glory i...

Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD [is] strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is not just a sensational feeling towards a mighty God who will strike us down for one fault or the other. No, it is a lifestyle patterned along the line of the Father's pleasure. If He is Lord, then we honour Him as Lord not just by words but by our lifestyle. HOW CAN WE BE SAVED AND NOT HAVE THE FEAR OF THE LORD. It becomes an irony!!! Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. Is it possible to be saved and not work in the fear of the Lord? YES. (We must beware), thinking they are in liberty, many could err, this is why Peter wrote: 1Peter 2:16-17 As free, and not using [your] liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all [men]. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the ...

Proverbs 11:24-25 Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. We make requests to God concerning our needs and desires again and again, this He expects us to do: Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. We should also know that the same way the Lord use(s) people to meet our requests, He expects that we also be answers to the prayers of others. Proverbs 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. No matter what level you are in life, there are people you are assigned to bless. Proverbs 11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and [there is] that withholdeth more than is meet, but [it tendeth] to poverty. It is even more terrible if ones earning, or need is in your care and you refuse to release it. G...

Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Christ taught us that when we agree together in prayer, the Father will do that which we ask for.  The question then is, "Are we truly in agreement?"  Time and again, people have said "amen" to prayers that they do not understand or their mind has not really been attentive too. The fact that there is a crowd, does not mean that all hearts are actually in agreement.  Teaching on tongues, Paul said: 1 Corinthians 14:16  Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? If it is a prayer of agreement the parties involved must really be in agreement, that they may have that of which the request of the Father.  Acts 2:1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully c...

1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. Everything God does or permits, is for a purpose, sometimes we understand it, other times we may not. There is no wasted pain with the Heavenly Father! John 9:1-3 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. Most times things go wrong when we do the wrong things, however some may not be from our error. It is thus fruitless at this time to run here and there seeking solutions. (It is a wonder that believers who are to have direct access to the Most High still need to run to one mountain or another to get help.  John 4:21&24  Jesus saith unto ...

1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. We must understand, that what gives us the right to live on earth is also that which could deter us from fulfilling the great purpose God has for us. "The Body". Which is subject to the flesh! So it is not over emphasizing to say: "Do not live by your feelings". So we must restrain our appetite. We must be able to control our desires and emotions. This is why it is necessary for the right character to handle the right gifts. The character of the believer is expressed in Galatians 5:22-23, which is contrasted in Galatians 5:19-21. One key thing to remember is that God is greater than our feelings. 1 John 3:20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. That is why we must not feel that God is easily moved by our emotions. It is a child that gets easily carried away by...

We really need God's mercy. 1 Timothy 1:2 Unto Timothy, [my] own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. Every wise believer knows that we cannot outgrow the mercies of the Lord. It is not about being too humble.  No.  Can one be proud towards God? What do we have to boast about? This is why we find the apostles praying mercy on their beloved each time they write to them. Romans 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for [his] mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Jude 1:2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. For if not of God's mercy we would be consumed by the flesh and the continuous plots of the enemy and enemies (the evil ones) What of our mistakes, it is God's mercy that covers us that we do not get into trouble or bear the full consequences. ...

Proverbs 13:11 Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time. There is a process for great things to be achieved, however, our belief system could make us believe that instant success, a sudden rise in status would occur in a flash. We want to become that great person without the necessary work, training or experience. Of course God doesn't work that way. There is a need to differentiate between sudden intervention of God when a crisis arises and the process of making us the splendor He desires us to be. The scriptures give us instances, person to person, of how the Lord lifts up His own. Can you imagine what would happen to a farmer who plucks up his harvests when they are not ready for harvest? Selah 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. James 1:4 But le...

Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I [am] the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? We have stepped well into the new year. Some are in the first phase of preparation: praying, fasting, meditating etc. All to ensure the Lord leads them this year. This is so important for if we are to finish well it is important to begin well. Our trust in God should be without measures. When people help us, we must be grateful also considering that it is because they yielded to God's prompting that they can be used to bless us. Above them all is the Lord who is our true helper. Having in mind that you have things to accomplish this year, don't allow distractions, evil companions and all other such vices bring you down. Be alert, be alive and stay victorious in: * your spiritual life * your family life * your ministry * your career * your education * your business * your mentoring/mentorship * your health * your finances * your relationships. God will yet again give us full victory...

1John 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: Somethings may seem so obvious that some would wonder why we make it a discuss. One of them is prayers. Well, if you have been in a dicey situation and need urgent intervention you would understand. Also, if it seems you have waited so long for a request you would also understand. When applications are written, i.e.,for a job placement some end the letter with a phrase like "expect to receive your response soon". Others understanding that "No" is also a response, go further to express it this way "expect to receive your positive/favourable response soon".  We have been taught that when we pray a prayer of request, we expect either of three answers "Yes", "No" or "Wait".  However what should be the believer's requests criteria is "His will".  James 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask...

As we continue to thank God for this great year let us be reminded: Proverbs 19:21 [There are] many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. New Living Translation, says it this way: Proverbs 19:2 (NLT) You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. As spiritual people, we do not go over think this, yes the Lord desires we plan, set goals and lay down strategies. However we must never forget the role of the Spirit. Before and during the time of implementation we need to seek the Lord's face. Prayer always has its place. It may look so good: "oh what a great investment" or "that is a good deal". However, we must understand that our sight is limited. We therefore trust in Him who knows the end from the beginning and also can change times and seasons. Selah. That is why great leaders of old like David still sought the Lord even on matters which seemed obvious. 1Samuel 30:6-8 And David was greatly distresse...

Psalm 118:17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. It is God's desire that we stay alive here on earth, yes to have long life. When we accepted redemption in Christ, we changed nationhood, we became citizens of heaven. Yes * we are no longer of the flesh but of the Spirit * we do not conform to the world but have our mind renewed * we do not walk in sin but in righteousness * we are NOT controlled by the world's economy, health report, etc but by the Word of the Lord However we have time here to live. God is pleased with us living out our time here on earth: Psalm 91:16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. When Jesus was about to leave the earth, He said: John 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Yes we will live long and in all, the Lord will keep us from the evil one. We will not fall into his traps nor be gullible to his devices. So put aside all fear...

Psalm 46:1 God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. We cannot get to the point when we feel that we do not need God anymore! This is the worst state any human could be in. Luke 12:19-21 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” The tendency to want to live without God is so tempting when it seems it is peace all around us.  So also when it seems there is trouble, we cannot afford to give in. We must be wise and stay alert. 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: The enemy seeks to take our heart away from God. That was the aim when he persecuted Job. That is the reason for the persecution of be...

1Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If you know something about drafting or Engineering Design, you will agree that every building, factory or even fittings (HVAC, Electrical or Plumbing) all begin from the foundation, the conceptual drawings begin with the plan. In Summary, the foundation matters. When the foundation is wrong, the building surely is already defected. Today we see some who have come a long way in this faith business but have not had the experience of being breastfed as babes, the preliminary nutrition is missing thus they are defective in knowledge, power and even character. Almost all defects, errors, backsliding, lukewarmness and hypocrisy are birthed from this lack of preliminary spiritual nutrition. Thus we birth, gullible, inconsistent and carnal (if I may say) believers. Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, an...

Luke 23:39-43 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” We see life and death displayed by choices made. What do we do with the opportunities we have? These two individuals show us the need to use opportunities rightly.  They had the opportunity to talk with God face to face one used the opportunity to obtain eternal favour the other preferred to join the mockers, they just wanted earthly salvation/gratification thus they lost out. Today what do we do with the release of God in our lives, what have we done with the Holy Spirit. There was a time when people were easily decei...

Hebrews 13:5b For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” The Lord has brought us into this year of victory. He is not expecting us to go on this journey alone. No! We should always have in mind that while we make plans and take actions, we are limited in knowledge but God is the Alpha and Omega thus He knows all. Wisdom is to let Him guide us. Psalms 37:23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. So, let us keep on with the prayers, worship and the word, for we want to be conscious of His presence at all times. The challenges will come but we already have victory. The distractions will arise, we will not fall for them.  O! what a wonderful year of victory we are in. PRAYER We thank You for this year Lord. Our trust is in You, our victory is assured. Glory to Your name Lord forevermore. We are victorious. Love @the watcher.

Romans 8:37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Psalm 107:15&16 Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men! For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. The Lord has brought us into another year. No matter what we went through last year, the trying times, the uncertain times and also the times of rejoicing, we are alive and well, therefore we have all the reasons to thank God. So give God praise today, rejoice in the Lord who delivered us. Psalms 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say [so], whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; Put aside all the worries, lay them down at His feet as You worship our ever faithful God. Oh what great things the Heavenly Father has done for us that we will be set free from the shackles of the enemy: This year is our year of victory, we will overcome every obstacle, win all battles and stand in ...