Don't Go Out Undressed!
In the previous post (before the American Idol one), I blogged about Paul's letter to the Church in Colosse, and commented on what we are told to "put on" and "put off". Ephesians 6 also gives us a listing of body armor that we are given to "wear"; our "protective spiritual clothing". There are times that we experience peace and rest, but there are also times when things are difficult and we may experience turmoil - after all, we are on planet earth...lol. Many times Scripture speaks of our walk with Christ as being in a battle. Have you read the Apostle Paul's list of battles? It is more than most of us will experience.
He lists them in II Corinthians, chapter 11.
Five times he was whipped
three times he was beaten with rods
once he was stoned (they are still throwing stones at each other in the middle east ...lol)
three times he was in a shipwreck
and he was immersed in the open sea for a night and a day.
He fended off robbers,
struggled with friends and foes,
was at risk of attacks in the city and in the country,
and was betrayed by those he thought were his brothers.
He knew drudgery and hard labor,
many long and lonely nights without sleep,
missed many meals,
was blasted by the cold, naked to the weather.
After that long list, Paul says that is not the half of it!
He also dealt with the stress of caring and worrying about the Churches. He personally felt deep concern for each member. "When someone is duped into sin, an angry fire burns in my gut. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I am not burned?"
Whew! Given all that Paul experienced, we would do well to accept his counsel so that we will be able to say with him,
"I have fought the good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. From here on in, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." II Timothy 4:7-8
Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that we have been given armor to protect us in this fight we are in.
He tells us how to "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His Might."
"Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the cunning and deceit of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, the rulers of this world, of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenlies. Because of this, take up all of the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having worked out all things, to stand. Then stand firm, having girded your loins about with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having the feet bound with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one, the things having been made fiery. Also, take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; through all prayer and petition, praying at every time in the Spirit."
This armour covers you, head to toe.
A helmet on your head to cover your mind. In Philippians 2:5 Paul tells us to "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God. . .but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashions as a man, he humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him. . ." The helmet of salvation - remember that what we go through is not lost in God's sight. He will reward us. Think about that.
The breastplate of righteousness covers your heart. You have been made righteous in God's sight.
Romans 8:33 says, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? God is the One justifying. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died for us - who was raised to life for us - who is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come. . .nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Your loins being wrapped up like a girdle in truth. The "loins" are speaking of the hip area, literally.
Jesus said, "Whoever believes on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." Ephesians 5:26 tells us that Jesus sanctifies and cleanses us with the washing of water, by the Word." The truth found in God's Word is the living water within us.
Our feet are to be bound with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Feet, of course, are a reference to walking. Everywhere we go we bring the good news of the gospel: that we can have peace with God through Jesus.
Romans 10:14-15 says, "How can they believe on Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!'"
Covering all of this, we are to take the shield of faith.
I John 5:4 says, "Whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith."
II Peter 1:16 says, "We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we make known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty."
We have the testimony of the Apostles as well as the Word of God as the foundations of our faith. It is a well grounded faith. It is well worth your time to read through I John and make a special note or highlight all the times that John writes that we "KNOW" . . . We do not have a "blind" faith. As Paul says, and we can come to say with him, "I know Him on whom I have believed." 2 Timothy 1:12
And last but not least, we are told to take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
We do not use this sword against people (we wrestle not against flesh and blood), by arguing with people about what Scripture means, or attacking them with God's Word. We use it in the spiritual realm. God's Words are spiritual. Jesus said, "The Words that I speak unto you are spirit, and are life" (John 6:63). When Jesus was tempted in the desert by the devil, He used this sword very effectively. Everytime the devil tempted Him, Jesus replied with a scripture verse (Luke 4:2-12). This is the most powerful way I have found to pray. Pray the Words of Scripture. Pray Scripture over yourself. Say what God says about you. With the entire Bible at our disposal, we do not need to be in doubt of what to pray. The Scriptures are so rich. I gave the example the other night, of Psalm 23.
"The Lord is my Shepherd. Therefore, I do not lack any good thing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet, still waters. He restores my soul (my mind, will and emotions.) He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil. He is with me. His rod and staff comfort me. He prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies. My head is anointed. My cup overflows. Goodness and mercy follow me. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
When reading through the Scriptures, especially the letters to the Churches, highlight or make a note of the Scripture verses that are meaninful to you for prayer. Another example would be
I Corinthians 1:30 and 2:16. "Jesus is made unto me: wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. I have the mind of Christ."
As you grow in the Lord, and in His Word, my hope is that you will become skillful in using this sword of the Spirit.
Hebrews 4:12 tells us: "The Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It pierces, even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
II Corinthians 10:3,4,5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down reasonings, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought (remember that helmet of salvation?) to the obedience of Christ."
He lists them in II Corinthians, chapter 11.
Five times he was whipped
three times he was beaten with rods
once he was stoned (they are still throwing stones at each other in the middle east ...lol)
three times he was in a shipwreck
and he was immersed in the open sea for a night and a day.
He fended off robbers,
struggled with friends and foes,
was at risk of attacks in the city and in the country,
and was betrayed by those he thought were his brothers.
He knew drudgery and hard labor,
many long and lonely nights without sleep,
missed many meals,
was blasted by the cold, naked to the weather.
After that long list, Paul says that is not the half of it!
He also dealt with the stress of caring and worrying about the Churches. He personally felt deep concern for each member. "When someone is duped into sin, an angry fire burns in my gut. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I am not burned?"
Whew! Given all that Paul experienced, we would do well to accept his counsel so that we will be able to say with him,
"I have fought the good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. From here on in, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." II Timothy 4:7-8
Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that we have been given armor to protect us in this fight we are in.
He tells us how to "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His Might."
"Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the cunning and deceit of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, the rulers of this world, of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenlies. Because of this, take up all of the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having worked out all things, to stand. Then stand firm, having girded your loins about with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having the feet bound with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one, the things having been made fiery. Also, take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; through all prayer and petition, praying at every time in the Spirit."
This armour covers you, head to toe.
A helmet on your head to cover your mind. In Philippians 2:5 Paul tells us to "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God. . .but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashions as a man, he humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him. . ." The helmet of salvation - remember that what we go through is not lost in God's sight. He will reward us. Think about that.
The breastplate of righteousness covers your heart. You have been made righteous in God's sight.
Romans 8:33 says, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? God is the One justifying. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died for us - who was raised to life for us - who is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come. . .nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Your loins being wrapped up like a girdle in truth. The "loins" are speaking of the hip area, literally.
Jesus said, "Whoever believes on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." Ephesians 5:26 tells us that Jesus sanctifies and cleanses us with the washing of water, by the Word." The truth found in God's Word is the living water within us.
Our feet are to be bound with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Feet, of course, are a reference to walking. Everywhere we go we bring the good news of the gospel: that we can have peace with God through Jesus.
Romans 10:14-15 says, "How can they believe on Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!'"
Covering all of this, we are to take the shield of faith.
I John 5:4 says, "Whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith."
II Peter 1:16 says, "We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we make known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty."
We have the testimony of the Apostles as well as the Word of God as the foundations of our faith. It is a well grounded faith. It is well worth your time to read through I John and make a special note or highlight all the times that John writes that we "KNOW" . . . We do not have a "blind" faith. As Paul says, and we can come to say with him, "I know Him on whom I have believed." 2 Timothy 1:12
And last but not least, we are told to take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
We do not use this sword against people (we wrestle not against flesh and blood), by arguing with people about what Scripture means, or attacking them with God's Word. We use it in the spiritual realm. God's Words are spiritual. Jesus said, "The Words that I speak unto you are spirit, and are life" (John 6:63). When Jesus was tempted in the desert by the devil, He used this sword very effectively. Everytime the devil tempted Him, Jesus replied with a scripture verse (Luke 4:2-12). This is the most powerful way I have found to pray. Pray the Words of Scripture. Pray Scripture over yourself. Say what God says about you. With the entire Bible at our disposal, we do not need to be in doubt of what to pray. The Scriptures are so rich. I gave the example the other night, of Psalm 23.
"The Lord is my Shepherd. Therefore, I do not lack any good thing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet, still waters. He restores my soul (my mind, will and emotions.) He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil. He is with me. His rod and staff comfort me. He prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies. My head is anointed. My cup overflows. Goodness and mercy follow me. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
When reading through the Scriptures, especially the letters to the Churches, highlight or make a note of the Scripture verses that are meaninful to you for prayer. Another example would be
I Corinthians 1:30 and 2:16. "Jesus is made unto me: wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. I have the mind of Christ."
As you grow in the Lord, and in His Word, my hope is that you will become skillful in using this sword of the Spirit.
Hebrews 4:12 tells us: "The Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It pierces, even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
II Corinthians 10:3,4,5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down reasonings, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought (remember that helmet of salvation?) to the obedience of Christ."
posted by Laurie T at
12:10 PM
1 Comments:
Good Afternoon - I just wanted to let you know this is one of the first times that I have had a chance to get online since Thursday. I am hoping to get my computer fixed by the end of this week so it will be easier for me to respond. I just wanted to check in and let you know I am still reading your blog. :)
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