Ephesians 6:13-17 - Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breast plate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
I can't tell you how many times I have read these lines and been inspired in my personal battles. How many times I've come back to this verse when I was feeling beat up and lost.
There is so much information in this passage, and I for one have really not gotten past the metaphor Paul used and gotten into the practical application of the verse and what it teaches regarding how we should live our lives so that we are prepared for the battle we live in.
Verse 13 - Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes
So that when the day of evil comes...not in case the day of evil comes...so that when it comes.
1 Peter 5:8 - Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
When does the day of evil come? It's most likely to come when we are at our weakest. When we are tired, when we have suffered loss, when we are least prepared to deal with it. No matter when, it will come and the point of putting on the full armor of God is so that we are prepared for it. We don't pull out the armor of God on that day...we put it on now and live it. So that when that day comes we are prepared.
My plan is to dig deeper into each of these verses over the next few weeks. God Bless
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
"...and developing..."
Last week I ended with the Warrior at Heart Ministry vision statement. This week I want to start with it:
"Battling to heal and free men's hearts by inspiring and developing men to be the leaders and stewards God intended us to be...through the power of Christ's love."
As most of you know, we have recently added the words "and developing" to this statement. To be honest, as a leader in WAHM these new words have lots of things rumbling around in my head. I'm more of a detail kind of guy and the "how do we do that?" question has been loud and echoing in my head since we were "inspired" to add those words.
If I'm really being honest, I've been fearful of the consequences of "and developing". The immediate consequences have been spiritual warfare, the future consequences might mean more time requirements on leadership, more commitment, etc...
But as I was reading the vision statement this morning, I felt the Lord was telling me to not be afraid. He inspired "and developing" and He would handle the "how do we do that?". Then I also noticed something I hadn't before. The statement is cyclical, as we "...battle to heal and free men's hearts by inspiring and developing men to be the leaders and stewards God intended..." we are creating more men to do the same.
Isaiah 41:10 - So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
If God is with us...who can be against us...
2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
It's time to become "thoroughly equipped for every good work".
"Battling to heal and free men's hearts by inspiring and developing men to be the leaders and stewards God intended us to be...through the power of Christ's love."
As most of you know, we have recently added the words "and developing" to this statement. To be honest, as a leader in WAHM these new words have lots of things rumbling around in my head. I'm more of a detail kind of guy and the "how do we do that?" question has been loud and echoing in my head since we were "inspired" to add those words.
If I'm really being honest, I've been fearful of the consequences of "and developing". The immediate consequences have been spiritual warfare, the future consequences might mean more time requirements on leadership, more commitment, etc...
But as I was reading the vision statement this morning, I felt the Lord was telling me to not be afraid. He inspired "and developing" and He would handle the "how do we do that?". Then I also noticed something I hadn't before. The statement is cyclical, as we "...battle to heal and free men's hearts by inspiring and developing men to be the leaders and stewards God intended..." we are creating more men to do the same.
Isaiah 41:10 - So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
If God is with us...who can be against us...
2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
It's time to become "thoroughly equipped for every good work".
Monday, August 9, 2010
A Transformed Life
Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Are you living a transformed life or are you still conforming to the pattern of this world?
"...but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is..."
Living a transformed life helps us to know what God's will is.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come!
Are you living as the new creation that Christ made you?
2 Corinthians 3:18 - And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Are you reflecting the Lord's glory? Are you being transformed into the likeness of Jesus?
James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
It's time to listen to the word, listen to and embrace the gospel. It's time to stop conforming to this world and start conforming to His. He is waiting on us all to become the men, the leaders he intend us to be.
The Warrior at Heart Vision Statement: "Battling to heal and free mens hearts by inspiring and developing men to be the leaders and stewards God intended us to be...through the power of Christ's love."
Are you living a transformed life or are you still conforming to the pattern of this world?
"...but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is..."
Living a transformed life helps us to know what God's will is.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come!
Are you living as the new creation that Christ made you?
2 Corinthians 3:18 - And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Are you reflecting the Lord's glory? Are you being transformed into the likeness of Jesus?
James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
It's time to listen to the word, listen to and embrace the gospel. It's time to stop conforming to this world and start conforming to His. He is waiting on us all to become the men, the leaders he intend us to be.
The Warrior at Heart Vision Statement: "Battling to heal and free mens hearts by inspiring and developing men to be the leaders and stewards God intended us to be...through the power of Christ's love."
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Colossians 3:12-14
Colossians 3:12 - Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
As God's chosen people how do you clothe yourselves? Sure I clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, but I also tend to put on other things as well. I often put on things that aren't in agreement with this list. I sometimes am unkind, intolerant, inpatient and not compassionate. How about you?
Colossians 3:13 - Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
I find when I've clothed myself with the wrong things that it's difficult to bear with others and the things they do. I find it hard to forgive.
Colossians 3:14 - And over all of these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Wow...on top of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience I also need to put on love?
To be honest I all to often find it easier to show myself as compassionate, kind, humble and patient with those that I don't love. I seem to lose these things when dealing with the people I love most. Do you?
Today I pray that God helps us clothe ourselves with the right stuff. I pray that He gives us compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience for all people we encounter, but especially for those who we tend to take for granted. I pray he shows us the grievances we are carrying and how to lay them down and forgive. I pray Jesus shows us the guilt we are carrying and how to lay it down at the foot of his cross.
God bless!
As God's chosen people how do you clothe yourselves? Sure I clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, but I also tend to put on other things as well. I often put on things that aren't in agreement with this list. I sometimes am unkind, intolerant, inpatient and not compassionate. How about you?
Colossians 3:13 - Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
I find when I've clothed myself with the wrong things that it's difficult to bear with others and the things they do. I find it hard to forgive.
Colossians 3:14 - And over all of these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Wow...on top of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience I also need to put on love?
To be honest I all to often find it easier to show myself as compassionate, kind, humble and patient with those that I don't love. I seem to lose these things when dealing with the people I love most. Do you?
Today I pray that God helps us clothe ourselves with the right stuff. I pray that He gives us compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience for all people we encounter, but especially for those who we tend to take for granted. I pray he shows us the grievances we are carrying and how to lay them down and forgive. I pray Jesus shows us the guilt we are carrying and how to lay it down at the foot of his cross.
God bless!
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