Paul’s travels took him 10,000 miles on foot plus many more miles by sea. We continue to profit by the same Good News which God revealed to him and he made known throughout the world. He had seen many Roman soldiers and uses their battle garb as an example of (Ephesians 6:11-18) our spiritual armour. Why must we dress for war? If we do not know that the Christion life is warfare we are easy prey for Satan as we blindly wander into enemy territory. If we are living a self-pleasing carnal life the devil has many enticing (Ephesians 6:11) wiles to attract and distract us from reality. If we are determined to obey God so that by the Holy Spirit’s power Jesus will live His Life in and through us – then we can expect (1 Peter 5:8) the roaring lion to attack. Someone has said - - if you do not know that the Christian life is war – then you do not know what prayer is for.
There are many different applications and teaching from the parts of our armour. Early one morning as I was getting washed, these thoughts rather suddenly began to take over territory in my mind.
This is what I’m seeing at present: To wear and tighten the BELT of TRUTH is to abide in Jesus Who is very TRUTH. If I abide in Him I’ll have no part in lying, deception, exaggeration, hypocrisy of half-truths, which are lies. If I abide in Jesus everything about me will tell the truth about Him. We’ve all met people whose deeds speak so loud we can’t hear whey they say. The BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS means that we are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We could never face the battle in our own strength or merit. The righteous requirements of the Law (Romans 2:15) are written in our hearts and operating there. Our bodies are God’s temples and He uses the faculties to accomplish and to carry out His purposes. Our voice speaks His words, our hands do His works, our feet go where He directs, our mind thinks His thoughts. Having our FEET SHOD is preparation to face the enemy and because the Word dwells in us richly we will be equipped to take the Good News of the Gospel wherever we go. The SHIELD of FAITH reminds me that Jesus is praying for us (Luke 22:32) that our faith will not fail but grow. How can that happen? We cannot trust anyone we don’t know. The more deeply we know God and His holy character the deeper will be our faith. In a certain respect I see the HELMET of SALVATION as (1 Corinthians 2:16) the mind of Christ to protect our heads and be the source of our thoughts, thought patterns, imaginations, attitudes and desires. The SWORD of the SPIRIT is the holy Scriptures which become ever more thrilling as the Holy Spirit takes us deeper and unfolds the treasures.
PRAY AT ALL TIMES reminds me of the commands Paul gave to the Church at Thessalonica during a time of persecution. Let’s take a look (1 Thessalonians 5:16-23) at them.
Rejoice at all times: Did he really mean at all times like now when the whole world is in distress because of COVID-19? He said always because he meant always. Remember that this church was suffering persecution. People wonder when COVID-19 will end, will it end, will there be a second wave, will the economy hold up, will jobs be restored, will we ever return to normal life, where is God??? Of course we can answer that last question. It is not wrong to wonder about these things but it is wrong if it distorts our focus and steals our joy. We can rejoice at all times because at all times our magnificent, transcendent, Sovereign God is still in full charge so nothing is out of control.
Oswald Chambers – “There is no condition in life in which we cannot abide in Jesus”.
Pray without ceasing speaks of intimate relationship and ongoing conversation with the Lord. In addition to specific prayer times, never stop lifting to God whoever and whatever comes to mind day and night.
Be thankful in everything because this is God’s will for us and therefore can only turn out for our good. Gratitude crowds out grumbling. Quench not the spirit – don’t put out the fire by neglecting God’s Word and in so doing be led into increasing disobedience. Never fail to listen to the dear voice of our loving Teacher and Guide.
Despise not prophesies. Many people and some denominations have wrongly used this verse and brought confusion and error. In referring to this passage Dr. Neufeld said that recently a man prophesied that God had ended COVID-19. Shortly after his declaration the virus increased in many countries. However sometimes for a specific thing - - Agabus prophesied (Acts 11:28) that there would be a severe world-wide famine and it did occur during the reign of Claudius. He prophesied correctly again by the Holy Spirit (Acts 21:11) that Paul would become a prisoner.
We need discernment to know what is false, foolishness, error and what is insight from the Lord for a specific matter. The Bible is our authority and is complete. There is nothing to add to the Holy Scriptures.
God has always spoken through His Word. In the past through the prophets (the Word of the Lord came to) and in these last days (Hebrews 1:1-2, John 1:14) by the WORD Who became flesh. Because it’s all about Jesus.
We know that (Philippians 1:6) God has begun a good work in us but what is that work accomplishing? Listen to (Ephesians 3:19) from the Amplified Bible: That you may really come to know (practically through experience for yourselves) the love of Christ which far surpasses mere knowledge (without experience); that you may be filled (through all your being) unto all the fullness of God (may have the richest measure of the divine Presence and may become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself)!
This is a wonderful prayer for an individual Christian and also for a church assembly. It is certainly my prayer for myself.
In the light of this I’m thinking again about sun, SON and shine. People all over the world can see the light of the sun revealed in the world. Christians are in this world so that people in this world can see the Light of the SON (Galatians 1:15-16) revealed in us.
I want to tell you something and I’m asking the Lord to enable me to explain it clearly because I’m grasping for words. I don’t have the words to tell you how it pierced my heart and unfolded something deeper – something very different – something very personal – like looking into the heart of God and seeing the reality of the revelation of scripture.
I was reading about Joseph - - you know all about him being sold, falsely accused of rape, prison, prime minister – and God blessed and prospered him in everything. Why? O.K. watch this - - - we have Abram, Jacob, Joseph and Judah and all the brothers, a burning bush, Moses, a promised land and then in May 1948 Israel was declared a nation? Think about God’s mighty works and intricate paths through all those thousands of years. What was it all about – building a nation? No, it was (Genesis 3:15, Galatians 4:4) all about JESUS.
We see the creation of the world, the creation Israel and we know that it’s all about JESUS.
Now – you think just and only about yourself and I will think just and only about myself. Consider God’s amazing power and control through those thousands of years. Open your heart, listen, be filled with wonder, faith and encouragement. God hasn’t changed in power or in purpose. Realize that He will do no less in our lives, every detail will be worked into His design, He will do the impossible because (Matthew 19:26) all things are possible.
