WITH SWORD & SHIELD

Going into battle with only the shield and the sword would make for a very challenging fight.  You would be so fixed on trying to cover your body from injury or death that it would make it very difficult to slay the enemy.  Believe me you do want to slay this enemy because the enemy would like nothing more than to take you out permanently.

Unfortunately you do not get to choose when you are going to fight a battle so you must be prepared at all times to engage.

Ephesians 6:16-17(NKJV)
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 

Faith is (the shield):  Hebrews 11:1(NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

We choose to believe, even though we do not see.  Oh, by the way there is a special blessing if we do…John 20:29(NKJV) Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The shield is movable (faith), so that no matter where the darts of the enemy are coming from it can be positioned to stop the “dart” from penetrating into you.  The shield mostly grants added protection to the vital organs such as the heart! 

With Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance we can gain more insight to meanings of these words such as:

Dart – (G956):  missile, spear, arrow

Quench – (G4570):  extinguish

Fiery – (G4448):  to kindle, be ignited, refined by, inflamed with anger-grief-lust, be on fire.

I don’t know about you but if I am going to be refined, ignited, or inflamed I want it to be with the Word of God and not evil!

THE SWORD:

SEC (G3163) – sword means:  judicial punishment

WOW, with the Word of God we can inflict judicial punishment on the enemy.  To do this we must know the Word of God and use it as a sword driving it right through the heart of the enemy inflicting God’s judicial punishment!

Ephesians 6:10-18(TMSG)
And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. 
So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. 
This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. 
Truth, righteousness, 
peace, 
faith, 
and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. 
In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

TOGETHER A FORCE - AN UNBREAKABLE

Dear friends we have one more part to study about the Armor of God; Ephesians 6:18(NKJV) praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— …to be continued



HELMET - check, never be without it

The State of Michigan just passed a new helmet law and it was signed by Governor Rick Snyder.  This law goes into effect immediately.  No longer will motorcyclists have to wear a helmet, the choice is theirs as long as they are twenty-one years of age and carry extra insurance.

There was a season in my life that for a short period of time I worked in a brain injury unit as a medical professional.  This particular facility was a long-term care facility.  The patients or better put residents lived their life out at this facility because in reality they had gone as far as medical science and rehabilitation would take them; to put it another way – they would never recover.  What amazed me as I would go room to room caring for these patients was they each had a story.  Their life did not start out that way; literally a blow in life dealt them this result of permanent disability.  In most of these cases the brain injury was the result of another person’s doing, a motor vehicle accident (due to a drunk driver - the most common reason, in the unit where I worked). 

One blow to the head can change life as we know it forever.  In fact the victim of a head injury may have experienced no other bodily harm…just a blow to the head.

Ephesians 6:16-17(NLT)
In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 
Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

Protecting our head is extremely important not just physically but mentally and spiritually.  Physically it does not take much to alter our brain.  Mentally and spiritually it does not take much to alter our mind or thinking process either.  If we are going to win this spiritual battle we cannot neglect the mind and leave it unprotected.

The word salvation in verse 17 has a special meaning.  According Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (G4992), salvation is defense or defender.  Other references to salvation in the Bible take on somewhat of a fuller meaning in terms of the word salvation or saved and according to Strong’s (G4982) it means; to save, deliver, protect, heal, preserve, do well, made whole.  Focusing on the words defense or defender enlightens us to the importance our thoughts and thinking process play in the spiritual battle. 

The Bible does instruct us on how to use our mind/thoughts as a defense or defender.

Philippians 4:6-9(ESV)
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6(ESV)
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 
being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

Romans 12:1-2(ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

If we do not following the instructions we have been given by the Lord this battle cannot be won.

Romans 7:23(ESV)
but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 

James 1:8(NKJV)
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Is your spiritual helmet fixed in place?

This is part five of the armor of God series.

We will examine the shield and sword in another part.  Before covering the shield and sword I wanted to address the helmet first.  All the parts of the armor we have studied thus far have been parts that attach to the body.  The shield and sword are armor pieces that we carry par say and do not wear as an attached piece.  To be continued.

IF IT LOOKS LIKE A DUCK

IF IT LOOKS LIKE A DUCK

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, quacks like duck, then it probably is a duck. 

Various versions of this phrase have been used throughout the years but it is believed to have been taken from a poet named James Whitcomb Riley.

Or is it really a duck?

From the beginning of time deception has been around and people have fallen prey to the craftiness of the evil one.

Genesis 3:1(ESV)
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

2 Corinthians 11:13-15(ESV)
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds

If evil dressed itself as a child playing make believe it would be easy to recognize it; however, some of us are even blinded when it does stare us in the face like a costume.

The Word of God does equip us to be able to recognize evil and put evil in its place.  We must know the Word so we are not deceived.

1 John 4:1(ESV)
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.


John 7:24(ESV)
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”


Hebrews 4:12(ESV)
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.


Proverbs 2:1-5(ESV)
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 3:1-6(ESV)
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Will the real duck step forward.

Philippians 1:9-10(ESV)
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

THE ROLLER COASTER

THE ROLLER COASTER

Do you control your emotions or do your emotions control you?  A great deal of the time our emotions are not based on reality, we miss perceive circumstances. This sets us on a roller coaster ride of emotions with its ups and downs, twists and turns.  We have a choice!  Seek the truth and it will set you free.

John 8:32(NLT)
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Take control of those thoughts that are emotionally based.

2 Corinthians 10:5(NLT)
We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 

Remember the enemy wants you to give into your unruly emotions!

1 Peter 5:8-9(NLT)
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 
Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

Do you control your emotions or do your emotions control you?  It is up to you to get off that roller coaster ride and walk down the exit ramp…if you don’t it just keeps on going.



THE ARMOR ~ Part 4 ~ Shoes

THE ARMOR ~ Part 4 ~ Shoes

Ephesians 6:15 (NLT) For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared

Dan and I normally take a three mile walk every day.  Now I have tried this walk in many different types of shoes and have come to realize the importance of having shoes fitted for my feet.  If I did not choose my shoes wisely I will pay for it; because before I reach my destination my feet will be hurting and I will not be able to focus on anything else but …am I going to make.  I am not a runner but I can assure you if you have a conversation with a runner the most important part of running they will tell you is the shoes. Without the well fitted shoes the runner will not be able to complete the race.

So it is, when we prepare for spiritual battles this is one piece of armor that must be in place.

The sandals of the Roman soldier "often were fitted with nails, or armed with spikes, to make the hold firm in the ground" (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible). God's good news and our mission—our marching orders—to preach it serve as our firm foundation. When we truly allow ourselves to take comfort in the good news promised by God, there is nothing from outside ourselves that can trouble our hearts or give us reason to be afraid. Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33), and so we have nothing to fear from it.[i]

What is the good news?  The resurrection power of Jesus Christ. 

Ephesians 2:4-10(NKJV)
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 
even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 
and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 
that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 
not of works, lest anyone should boast. 
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

We are charged to deliver this news and it is only possible if our feet are prepared.

Matthew 28:18-20(NKJV)
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Isaiah 52:7(NKJV)
    How beautiful upon the mountains      Are the feet of him who brings good news,     Who proclaims peace,     Who brings glad tidings of good things,     Who proclaims salvation,     Who says to Zion,     “Your God reigns!”

The Lord gives us a promise;

Psalms 37:23(NKJV)
    The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,      And He delights in his way.
Psalms 119:105(NKJV)
    Your word is a lamp to my feet      And a light to my path.

Mark 16:17-18(NKJV)
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 
they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Let’s make sure we have put on some well fitted shoes!  We have a race to run and a battle to win!

Ephesians 6:15 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.^[a]

Footnotes:

1. Ephesians 6:15 Or For shoes, put on the readiness to preach the Good News of peace with God.

Ephesians 6:15 Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁵And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the ^[a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness ^[b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.

I apologize for the white highlights that appear in this blog and a few other blogs.  I do not know how or why it happens.  However when the white does occur it does not let me remove it no matter what I try.

[i] http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eph.%206:15&version=NLT

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