Are you
serious?...
The time
is now! Are you ready? Are you walking in the Word daily? Are you
studying to show yourselves approved rightly dividing the Word and
truth? Are you in this for the long hall?
Are you
serious about walking in the Word, in the Lord, and in His will?
If so
then you better read this issue of In the Word!
Finally
my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put
on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the
heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you
may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to
stand. Stand...Ephesians 6:10-13
Really,
what stands out to me to day is the fact that God said the “whole
armor” not where the trouble comes from, though that is important
too, as is the fact that we want to be able to stand, but the fact is
we can't do it if we are not ready to go full long head first into
the battle that is waged against us in the heavenly places!
Let's
face it, as one of our pastors said yesterday we are living in the
last days. That does not mean we need to walk around with a sign
stating “the end is near” or that we should run and hide under a
rock but that we need to be putting on our whole armor daily!
Years
back, too many to want to remember how many, my kids an I would put
on the armor as an exercise in our home school. I learned this from
my best friend because she did the same thing with her children when
they were young. She learned it from another one of our friends; and
so on...
The
scripture says “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with
truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having
shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 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, being watchful to this end with all
perseverance and supplication for all the saints--” (Ephesians
6:14-18)
No
matter what order you put it in its important to use all of the armor
each day. Why? Because as it
said
right there, we need to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked one!
We
gather the portions as we go in our Christian walk.
We
started with the Helmet of salvation; all of us begin there with our
walk we accept Christ as our Lord and put on the helmet. Think about
the purpose of this helmet; I believe it is to guard our mind in
salvation. The world would have us falter, fail and fall to sinful
thoughts, but Christ over came the world!
Then we
think about that belt that we put on, a belts purpose is to hold
things in place. The truth is held in our heart, our soul, and our
mind. The belt of truth protects us from the 'enemies' lies against
or about us, or even to us. It helps us to see the truth in all
things, even when we do not want to see it.
Of
course when we had to have put on our shoes, because that represents
the Gospel that we learned, and that we intern get to share with
others. It is what we are doing now, getting in the Word of God and
knowing the Gospel! The story of God prepares us to accept the truth
belt and the salvation helmet.
After
all those are on we need to grab our sword and shield; the Bible and
the Holy Spirit can help us in any situation; it protects us, and
helps us pursue the enemy to the end.
Why do
we need all of these? Well, God's Word tells us we need it all, and
that when we go to prayer we are to have them on as well, that we
could persevere. Which is to continually go after something no matter
what the trials or failures. Also to pray with supplication, which is
to humbly pray earnestly before God for something eagerly but
patiently waiting for the answer.
When the
Word says we need to take up the sword and shield it says first
“above all” which seems to make it sound more important don't you
think? With the shield of faith we can walk through many trials and
troubles, we can find hope for tomorrow and truly trust God in all
things. Remember faith is trusting in God. He can do all things, and
we can do all things through Him. Can we get buy with just that? No.
God says the whole armor remember?
If we
got up an went out of the house without our shoes in the physical we
would find our feet would become dirty, calloused and probably
damaged. Likewise, if we have not prepared our hearts in the form of our
feet being 'shod' or 'prepared' with the gospel of peace then we are
leaving our hearts, our walk, our lives open for such things. A heart
that is hardened is difficult to soften.
Well,
what about the shield? Oh no way! Without faith we are not even able
to believe in Christ Himself! It is our protective device. So we
can't leave that behind. I really do not want to go around with my
pants hanging down like the youth do today either, so I am keeping my
belt on secure!
Then
Jesus said... “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples
indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you
free.” John 8:31-32
For this
is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior, who desires
all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. For there
is one God and mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. 1
Timothy 2:3-5
Breastplate? Our righteousness is in Christ we have to keep it on!
I think
we have made it pretty clear that we can do without not one portion
of our Armor and remain in a stable walk in Christ.
The good
news is that we can do it! We can put on the armor daily; by this I
mean that we can remind ourselves that it is on from the time we
accepted Christ as our Savior we have been given the whole armor; its
up to us to keep it on.
While I
do not believe you can 'loose' your salvation I do believe you can
wander from God's plan for your life. I believe you have to give Him
your will, and take on His. When we remind ourselves daily to put on
the Armor of God we are reminding ourselves that we chose to give Him
our will, that our God would guide us in the right path.
You have no doubt heard it said that 7 days without prayer makes one weak, but I believe 7
days without the Word will make you weaker. For when we read the
Bible daily it brings the thoughts quickly to our mind that will
shield us from the world's temptations. When we just read it now and
then when we fell like it then it will not be every present in our
thoughts and we no doubt will fall to some temptation or another that
is common to man. When we have the shield polished and ready we can
not be shaken, nor will we loose ground in our walk. Be ready, be
prepared, be serious in His Word today, and everyday!
Dear
heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the Armor you created for
us. Help us to wear it proper and keep it well cared for so that we
are ready, prepared and serious in our walk with You. In Jesus name,
amen.
Suggested
reading: Ephesians 6:1-24, 1 Timothy 2:1-26, John 8: 1-59, and
2 Peter 1:1-21.