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.
"In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."
Now that we have put on our base armor, Paul tells us "In addition to all this", take up the shield of faith. The "shield" that Paul refers to is a big shield, about four feet tall and made to connect to one to another. Made with iron, wood, linen and leather; the shield would have multiple layers (with a gap between) of wood wrapped in linen and then covered with leather. The shield was design to absorb flaming arrows from the enemy.
But our shield, is the shield of faith and the flaming arrows we face daily are the schemes of our enemy. Each lie, doubt, temptation and attack are a flaming arrow. How do we put out those flaming arrows? Through our faith and trust in God's character, promises and timing.
Jeremiah 28:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Romans 8:32 - He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Numbers 23:19 - God is not a man, that he should lie, not a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
Philippians 4:19 - And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
His promises are good and he doesn't lie. Where are you in "faith" right now? Are you trusting God? Are you putting faith in what he has done and will continue to do in your life? Or are there areas of your life where you lack faith and trust? What are those areas? Take them to Him in prayer.
Lord we come to you now and ask that you would increase our faith. Help us to trust you more and to trust you in all things. Lord show us how to give it all up to you. Lord we admit we struggle and that we need You. Please guide us to faith and trust in you. Amen.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Learn It, Live It - Ephesians 6:13-17 (Part 4)
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.
"...and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace."
No matter how much armor you have on, no matter how much you have prepared to wield your weapons...if when the battle starts you cannot keep your footing, you cannot stand in your position and you will be taken out. Roman sandals were a vital component to the soldier. A soldiers sandals were tightly strapped to their leg up to the knee and in some cases were fitted with nails to act similar to modern day cleats. Many victorious battles were credited to the fact that they had firm footing and could stand their ground.
Can you stand your ground? Have you fitted your feet "with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace"? Our foundation, our strong footing comes from knowing, understanding and applying the gospel in our lives and in the ability share that gospel with others?
Have you established a firm foundation in the gospel? What happens when we don't?
Galatians 1:6-7 - I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all...
When we don't have a firm foundation in the gospel we are easily deceived. We become convinced of untruths; all the while believing we are living the life that Jesus has called us to.
Read: 1 Corinthians 15:1-6 and Ephesians 2:1-9
Do you have a firm understanding of the gospel? Do you find peace in the gospel?
Lord I pray that we can fully know, understand and apply the gospel in our lives. I pray that we would be ready in all circumstances to share the good news of Jesus and all he did for us. Lord continue to work in us, continue to walk with us and show us what it takes to fit our feet with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Amen!
"...and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace."
No matter how much armor you have on, no matter how much you have prepared to wield your weapons...if when the battle starts you cannot keep your footing, you cannot stand in your position and you will be taken out. Roman sandals were a vital component to the soldier. A soldiers sandals were tightly strapped to their leg up to the knee and in some cases were fitted with nails to act similar to modern day cleats. Many victorious battles were credited to the fact that they had firm footing and could stand their ground.
Can you stand your ground? Have you fitted your feet "with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace"? Our foundation, our strong footing comes from knowing, understanding and applying the gospel in our lives and in the ability share that gospel with others?
Have you established a firm foundation in the gospel? What happens when we don't?
Galatians 1:6-7 - I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all...
When we don't have a firm foundation in the gospel we are easily deceived. We become convinced of untruths; all the while believing we are living the life that Jesus has called us to.
Read: 1 Corinthians 15:1-6 and Ephesians 2:1-9
Do you have a firm understanding of the gospel? Do you find peace in the gospel?
Lord I pray that we can fully know, understand and apply the gospel in our lives. I pray that we would be ready in all circumstances to share the good news of Jesus and all he did for us. Lord continue to work in us, continue to walk with us and show us what it takes to fit our feet with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Amen!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Learn It, Live It - Ephesians 6:13-17 (Part 3)
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.
"...with the breast plate of righteousness in place..."
Last week I reviewed the belt of truth, this week I am looking into the "breast plate of righteousness".
To a Roman soldier, the breast plate would cover his heart and all his vital organs. A very important tool in the battle. How does this translate to us? The breast plate is all about protecting our HEART!
Proverbs 4:23 - Above all else, guard you heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Our heart is so important. Out heart is our source for life, from it everything else flows. Our heart is our connection to God.
So what does he mean by "righteousness"? We know that we cannot be righteous in God's eyes on our own accord, that is why we need Jesus. It's only by the work of Christ that we are righteous with God.
But we are called to a righteous living. Meaning we are called to right living, integrity, good character and submission to our Lord; called to bend our will to His. We do this based in the righteousness gained from Jesus. Righteousness then is the practical application of the truth we learn from the Word of God.
When we don't live the righteous life we are called to we let things get to our heart. What do you have in your heart? Do you have anger, resentment, forgiveness not yet given? Are there truths that God has spoken to you through His Word that you have not applied to your life? What does these lead to? Guilt, shame or condemnation?
Lord I pray that you will reveal to us what is in our hearts. Show us those places in our hearts that need healing and forgiveness. Show us your truth and what it means to live a righteous life. Help us to discern your will and then apply it to our lives. Help us to bend our will to yours. Amen.
God Bless!
"...with the breast plate of righteousness in place..."
Last week I reviewed the belt of truth, this week I am looking into the "breast plate of righteousness".
To a Roman soldier, the breast plate would cover his heart and all his vital organs. A very important tool in the battle. How does this translate to us? The breast plate is all about protecting our HEART!
Proverbs 4:23 - Above all else, guard you heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Our heart is so important. Out heart is our source for life, from it everything else flows. Our heart is our connection to God.
So what does he mean by "righteousness"? We know that we cannot be righteous in God's eyes on our own accord, that is why we need Jesus. It's only by the work of Christ that we are righteous with God.
But we are called to a righteous living. Meaning we are called to right living, integrity, good character and submission to our Lord; called to bend our will to His. We do this based in the righteousness gained from Jesus. Righteousness then is the practical application of the truth we learn from the Word of God.
When we don't live the righteous life we are called to we let things get to our heart. What do you have in your heart? Do you have anger, resentment, forgiveness not yet given? Are there truths that God has spoken to you through His Word that you have not applied to your life? What does these lead to? Guilt, shame or condemnation?
Lord I pray that you will reveal to us what is in our hearts. Show us those places in our hearts that need healing and forgiveness. Show us your truth and what it means to live a righteous life. Help us to discern your will and then apply it to our lives. Help us to bend our will to yours. Amen.
God Bless!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Learn It, Live It - Ephesians 6:13-17 (Part 2)
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.
"so that...you may be able to stand your ground"
Giving up ground should not be an option. Why? In battle the worst thing that can happen is to give up ground to the enemy. Especially ground gained for us by Jesus. When Jesus sacrificed his life on the cross so that his blood could make us white as snow; he gained ground for all of us who accept him as our Lord and Savior. The cost to gain that ground was great. We have got to stand our ground so that we don't give up what we gained through our relationship with Jesus.
Verse 14 - "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth around your waist..."
To the Roman soldier the belt was key, the belt was the center piece to the armor he wore in battle. The belt holds it all together. What is our belt? Our belt is knowing and living in "truth". First, we must know the truth, we must know the truth as it pertains to God's Word. Second we must live truthfully and honestly, we must be honest with God, ourselves and others.
Knowing and living in truth is so important because one of the Satan's most important tools is deception. The first example of deception in the Bible is in Genesis when he deceives Eve. He offers lies and the counter is the belt of truth.
How have you been deceived? Do you live any false truths? Has Satan gotten you to believe something that is not quite right, close...but not right about your relationship with Jesus?
How have you been less than honest? Have you blamed others for you sin, or justified sin because of how others have treated or sinned against you?
Lord I pray that you would reveal to us those areas where we have been deceived, where we haven't been honest with You, ourselves or others. Lord help us to come clean in these areas so that we can be firmly planted in Your truth, that we can be completely honest and truthful with You, ourselves and others at all time. Lord help us to put on the belt of truth daily and live it. In Jesus name. Amen!
God Bless!
"so that...you may be able to stand your ground"
Giving up ground should not be an option. Why? In battle the worst thing that can happen is to give up ground to the enemy. Especially ground gained for us by Jesus. When Jesus sacrificed his life on the cross so that his blood could make us white as snow; he gained ground for all of us who accept him as our Lord and Savior. The cost to gain that ground was great. We have got to stand our ground so that we don't give up what we gained through our relationship with Jesus.
Verse 14 - "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth around your waist..."
To the Roman soldier the belt was key, the belt was the center piece to the armor he wore in battle. The belt holds it all together. What is our belt? Our belt is knowing and living in "truth". First, we must know the truth, we must know the truth as it pertains to God's Word. Second we must live truthfully and honestly, we must be honest with God, ourselves and others.
Knowing and living in truth is so important because one of the Satan's most important tools is deception. The first example of deception in the Bible is in Genesis when he deceives Eve. He offers lies and the counter is the belt of truth.
How have you been deceived? Do you live any false truths? Has Satan gotten you to believe something that is not quite right, close...but not right about your relationship with Jesus?
How have you been less than honest? Have you blamed others for you sin, or justified sin because of how others have treated or sinned against you?
Lord I pray that you would reveal to us those areas where we have been deceived, where we haven't been honest with You, ourselves or others. Lord help us to come clean in these areas so that we can be firmly planted in Your truth, that we can be completely honest and truthful with You, ourselves and others at all time. Lord help us to put on the belt of truth daily and live it. In Jesus name. Amen!
God Bless!
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