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The Armor of God (Part V)

“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, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-” Ephesians 6:14-18

Paul tells us that part of our spiritual armor is having our feet covered with peace. One of the visible areas of life that speaks loudly to people in the world, is the peace of the believer. A believer who enjoys the rest of God and is not anxious is powerful!

If we walk bare feet, we would feel every pebble, splinter, hole, hot ground, etc.  The feet would be subject to anything that is on the ground, and they can get dirty and possibly injured.  The peace of God covers our feet in a world that is full of offenses, cuts, and messes. In addition, our feet are used for advancement. We cannot advance the Kingdom of God without His peace! We take territory when we move forward with the peace of God, and He protects us with His peace in challenging situations.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

Jesus knew that we cannot represent Him well if we are not living in His peace! Peace is an important protection in times of pressure. When fear tries to invade the life of a believer, one of the first things that is lost, is peace. That’s is when bad decisions are made and a believer becomes vulnerable to the enemy. The peace of God keeps us steady and clear-minded. Peace is the inheritance of the believer, and Jesus promised His own peace to us.

In addition, as we step into life, we bring the peace of God with us. We become the influencers of our environment by changing the tone. We become the thermostat that determines the temperature. Instead of hatred, we bring the peace of God. Peace causes strife, division, and animosity to dissolve. The peace of God brings comfort and security. We cannot afford to fight any battle without the peace of God! 

Do you have a tendency to lose your peace easily? Do you know how to access God’s peace in times of pressure? Are you aware that the level of your peace impacts those around you? Ask and receive His peace today, and do not let anything or anyone to make you lose your peace!

The Armor of God (Part IV)

“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, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-” Ephesians 6:14-18

Paul tells us that in order for us to be protected from the attacks of the enemy we need to first gird ourselves with truth. The definition of truth in this case has to do with both the moral truth that God has given us in His word as well as the truth in regards to any matter in life. Both of those points are important for our maturity and protection.

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

The scripture tells us that truth sets us free. Truth keeps us in the right relationship with the Lord, with others, and with ourselves. Jesus is the truth! Truth allows us to have a sound mind and avoid confusion. When we live in truth, we allow the word of God to become a mirror to us, so we can see ourselves clearly and to ensure that we have not been derailed from God’s heart and His ways!

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

When we gird ourselves with truth, we discern and reject the lies of the enemy. In addition, we continue to meditate on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. In times of pressure, we have to tighten the belt even more and hold on to the truth as our spiritual lives are dependent on it. 

Furthermore, we are called to be in truth in regards to any subject matter. That means that we are truthful in all situations. We don’t exaggerate, minimize, deceive, or share half-truths. We also don’t come into agreement with those who live deceitfully and expect us to stand by them. When we hold on to truth, it guards us from shame, guilt, or harm, and we remain under the Lord’s protection.

Paul then tells us to put on the breastplate of righteousness. The Lord has given us Christ’s righteousness through the work He did on the cross. We also remain in the right relationship with the Lord by confessing any sin that we have committed. The scripture tells us:

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:14

By putting on the breastplate of righteousness, we are putting on Christ. We have chosen to show up as Jesus showed up. Jesus always came on the scene in fullness of truth and grace. He came with a pure heart and obedient to the will of the Father.  Our breastplate remains secure not because we are perfect but because we rely on the perfect one! 

I will continue with this subject in the next devotional. 

 

The Armor of God (Part III)

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.

Apostle Paul stresses three important points before he begins to explain the armor of God. First, he emphasizes the need to put on the “whole” armor of God. Just as we can’t pick and choose the scriptures we like, similarly, we can’t pick the parts of the armor we prefer to put on. That means that some of the parts are going to be easy to put on, while others are going to challenge us in our spiritual development. 

Second, Apostle Paul explains we need to put on the armor of God. After having done all that we can to live in peace, unity, and love with others (according to chapters 4-6 in Ephesians), we have to recognize that there is a spiritual battle that needs to be fought. Paul reminds the believers, that the enemy wages war against the believers, and he uses people to accomplish his goals. However, our battle is not against other humans, but it is against powers and principalities. We need to keep the right mindset, so we can remain alert and fight effectively.

The world is enslaved by its passions and desires, which makes it a pawn in the hand of the enemy. It is easy to get caught up with the ways of the world and the culture we live in. Many times the attacks are subtle, and they come in inconspicuous ways trying to derail the people of God. For example, your coworker begins to undermine your efforts, so they can outshine in the office. It seems insignificant spiritually, so you decide to handle it on your own. The reality is that handling it in our own strength will lead us to fleshly behavior and will drive us to react in a carnal manner. When situations come up that your focus is others’ actions, are you able to remind yourself that your battle is not against other people?

Third, Apostle Paul tells us that after we put on the whole armor of God we are to stand. Standing is a statement of not giving up and not surrendering. It shows perseverance and faithfulness. God develops His children to become soldiers in the army of God. This battle is not fought in the natural with stick, spears, or stones, but it is fought by the supernatural power of God and our established identity in Him. Are you able to stand your ground in the midst of the battle and recognize that you are an overcomer?

I will continue with this subject in the next devotional. 

The Armor of God (Part II)

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. Ephesians 6: 10-13

The first portion of the above passage begins with the word “Finally”. This word is generally used at the end of a paper or an essay as a concluding point to a particular message. In order to find out Paul’s earlier points prior to describing the armor of God, we need to look at the previous chapters. 

Paul begins the book of Ephesians, by laying a solid foundation to establish the believers in the faith. He prays for that we would continue to have revelation in our understanding about the finished work of Jesus on the cross. This is an important aspect of Christian faith. We are bombarded with much information about the Lord and the Bible. Our homes are full of various versions of the Bible, and we become content in receiving information rather than praying that God would give us revelation.

Starting in chapter 4, Paul begins to exhort us that in the light of Jesus’ work on the cross, we are called to live a life representing the family of God. Below are some of the highlights from chapter 4:

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

The Lord has called us to be in unity and to be one as the family of God. We were all orphans in a crooked and dark world and imprisoned by our own lusts and desires. We used to live in self-preservation, but now the Lord desires to teach us to a life committed to Him. 

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; Ephesians 4:11-13

The Lord places different functions in the body of Christ to help His family to grow up in God. As God’s people we should value those that the Lord places in our lives for our spiritual growth and development. We are called to grow up and to live in peace and unity with other believers.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ. Ephesians 4:30-32

Paul is telling the believers that we need to be mindful of how we live and what we speak. We do not want to grieve the Holy Spirit by being mean, clamorous, or hardened towards others. Instead, as children of God, we are called to kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness.

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light  (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), Ephesians 5:8-9

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Ephesians 5:22-23

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, Ephesians 5:25

In the above verses from chapter 5, Paul teaches the believers to walk in love, in light, and in wisdom. Then he begins to touch people’s personal lives by instructing married couples how to love and respect one another.  In chapter 6, he also addresses the relationship of the parents with their children and the masters with their servants. 

The above scriptures show us that there is much growth needed in the areas of attitude and relationships to prevent us from strife, conflicts, and unnecessary battles. As we gain greater revelation and understanding of God’s heart through the cross, it should motivate us to put to work the above scriptures in our lives. When we commit ourselves to making a lifestyle from the above scriptures (not just visit them from time-to-time), we will develop a victorious life. In addition, much of the conflicts around us will substantially diminish or dissolve. 

After practicing all of the above powerful scriptures as a lifestyle, Paul uses the word “finally” to tell us that in conclusion we need to put on the armor of God.  This will be the subject of my next devotional. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Armor of God (Part I)

Today’s devotional is on meditating on the armor of God described in Ephesians 6. It would be very beneficial to memorize the different aspects of the armor, so in your prayer time, you can envision yourself putting on God’s armor on you. In subsequent devotionals,  I will share about the various aspects of this passage and explain how we can use the armor in our daily lives.

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 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, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:10-20

 

Maintaining Our Freedom (Part III)

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

Everyone enjoys having freedom, and no one in their right mind would want to give up their freedom or to be in bondage to something. However, the enemy with the cooperation of our flesh tires to continually derail us from the freedom that Jesus purchased for us. Our flesh always wants to get the upper hand by telling us that we need to stand up for our rights and seek justice in our own strength. It also protests that our feelings are hurt and our ego is bruised, so something has to be done to alleviate the pain.

The truth is that our flesh will always protest against the things of God. In addition, what our flesh tells us is immediate and is visible, so it looks more real than any spiritual work that is getting done in and around us. In addition, if we have succumbed to its demands in the past, it has gained strength desiring to control our lives.

If we are going to live in freedom, we have to take control of our flesh and the soulish behavior that comes out of it. It is only in denying our flesh, that our spirit man grows. We may sing beautiful worship songs, read our Bibles, and have a three point sermon for others. However, when we come down from that high place and begin to live our lives, that’s where the rubber meets the road. When we are focused on standing up for our rights, it is very hard to hear God. Furthermore, it is very difficult to love others, while we are focused on our pain, our needs, and our demands. When we are intent on getting our way, there is not much room for faith walk! 

I am not one to get impressed easily by people. I used to think that if I watched people long enough, I can develop a good idea of their character and maturity in the Lord. However, in the last few years, I have developed a better understanding of this issue. I have realized that there is more to all of us than what we project to one another at church, around a dinner table, or at a  social occasion.

One of the tests of characters is how we react when we feel crossed by others. That moment can bring a lot to the surface and reveal more than we ever thought was inside of a person. How a person reacts, is a window to the condition of the person’s heart. How they treat others at the moment of being crossed, reveals the level of control that their flesh has on them.

This doesn’t mean that we all behave properly every time someone crosses us, but there is a way to correct a wrong reaction. If we over-react or are hurtful, rude, or mean to others, first we need to acknowledge that we were wrong. We also should admit to the person and apologize for our bad behavior. Those are steps of maturity and freedom in God.  Our flesh will not like it, and it will give us one hundred reasons as to why we shouldn’t do it, but we have to shut its voice and trust God that He will take care of us when we do what pleases Him.

How do you use your freedom? Do you use your freedom to indulge your flesh and all its desires, demands, and rights? Or do you use your freedom to confidently love others with no fear of being taken advantage of? If we use our freedom to indulge ourselves, we will lose our liberty and will be back in bondage again. On the other hand, if we use our liberty to love others selflessly, we will continue to be delivered from the flesh and will enjoy the freedom that God bought us through Christ!

 

 

Maintaining Our Freedom (Part II)

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25

When we accepted Jesus, we gained eternal life, freedom, and a personal relationship with a Holy God. We were adopted into the family of God. This is the beginning of our journey with the Lord. Now we belong to His Kingdom. The Bible teaches us about our inheritance as the children of God. In addition, it shows us how to live a victorious life. We also learn that His kingdom has different operating procedures.

We can’t claim to have freedom, if we dismiss God’s operating procedures and ignore in following them. God gives us many promises, but many of them are based on the condition of us doing what He is asking us do. It would be as if a sixteen year-old teenager getting very excited about having a care and a driver’s license. They can enjoy the freedom of driving on their own. However, their freedom will last as long as they honor the traffic rules  and obey their parents instructions. The day they decide to ignore the rules or get sloppy with them, they will either get grounded by their parents or will get into trouble with the police.

God’s commandments are not meant to be burdensome. To the contrary, they are a blessing when we recognize their value. They allow us to go along with God’s design for our lives. It’s a shame that some in the body of Christ think that because of God’s love and mercy, we are exempt from following His commandments. God’s laws keep us free from trouble and bondage, and it’s wisdom to live by them. The Bible is a good and perfect gift from above, so we can learn how to live our lives with the liberty that Christ bought for us. 

Some of us were raised with no rules, by permissive parents, or with indifferent parents. Children who were raised that way may see the rules as punishment. If we are honest with ourselves, our parents’ permissiveness created much chaos and disorder in our lives. On the other hand, some were raised by strict parents, and they either rebel against rules or see them as the answer to gain God’s approval. God’s rules are not like our parents’ rules. Sometimes parents are strict, so they can impress others with their well-behaved children, but God does it for our benefit. He is not worried about what others think of us. He wants us to function at our best by living with His commandments that keep us free and allow us to maintain our joy and peace.  

How do you perceive God’s rules and instructions? Do you value them to be life-giving? Do you find them to give you wisdom and security? Or do you see them as constricting and burdensome? The Lord’s ways always lead us to greater freedom, joy, and peace. If you find them difficult to follow, ask the Lord to show you the reason behind it. 

Maintaining Our Freedom (Part I)

We, as believers, have the privilege of celebrating the Resurrection of Christ, His sacrifice, and His obedience in going to the cross for us. Those who have become born-again, know that there is nothing like it! To experience the love of God and His forgiveness through Jesus is awesome! No amount of education, hard work, ministry, or good works could have bought us what Jesus gave us freely when we received His offer of salvation. We were incapable of wiping our sins and being set free from the guilt and shame of the past, but Jesus in His love and obedience purchased this amazing freedom for us! While this freedom is powerful, we have to be intentional in keeping our freedom! 

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

Stand Fast (according to Strong’s Concordance): to stand firm, to persevere, to persist, to keep one’s standing

Paul in speaking to the church of Galatia, tells them that now they need to persevere in their freedom. Freedom is powerful, but we can lose it! We have an enemy who is looking to trap us from every direction and put us back in bondage. In addition, we have our own flesh that can easily get us entangled in carnality and the ways of the world. All these influences can result in losing the freedom that Jesus paid such a high price to purchase for us.

I don’t think most Christians realize that their freedom needs to be protected. Since freedom is valuable, many assume that they will never let it go not realizing that in order to maintain our freedom we must stand our ground.

You might ask how do we lose our freedom!? One of the ways that we readily lose our freedom is when we take up offense against others. Offense is a bait that the enemy uses because he knows our weak spots and proclivities. When someone pushes our buttons, our flesh goes into protest. We can react by becoming mean or rude. We can develop strife in relationships. We may also have a pity party and gossip about others. None of those activities bring about freedom. As a matter of fact, they put us in bondage of carnality and sin because we choose to take the bait.

How do you handle offenses? Are you quick to forgive and let go of offenses? Do you stew over them for a few days or weeks? Do you discern the bait that is set by the enemy?

I will continue with this subject in the next devotional. 

Procrastination, a Lost Opportunity

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5-6

In the book of Colossians, Paul tells us about using our time wisely. He first begins by telling us that we should be committed to prayer, being watchful and thankful. When we pray, we remain in communion with the Lord, and we give Him the opportunity to share His thoughts with us. When we are watchful, we pay attention to things from heavenly perspective, and it takes away the chance of whining and complaining about things. When we are thankful, it keeps us in a place of peace and joy, so we won’t have to waste our time living in carnality. Prayer and being watchful and thankful are foundational to our spiritual lives, and disciplining ourselves to live this way allows us to steward our time according to His plan.   

Paul goes on further and tells us that we need to show wisdom in the way we live because the world is watching us. There is no time to lose, and there is no time to wait. As we walk in the spirit, there is a practical side of life that we need to pay attention as well. We cannot use all our time in prayer and worship but neglect our families, jobs, ministries, or the lost. God expects us to be supernatural people. On this spiritual journey, we maintain the practicality of living a life in the natural. We don’t wait for a better time to take care of our natural obligations. To the contrary, we have the anointing of God as supernatural beings to do all things with His peace, grace, and direction.

In reality, as God’s people, we should do life better because God is with us. He will give us everything we need to do well. In addition, our focus and goal is to honor God with our time and our lives. Therefore, we are set for great success with God’s help. 

How do we make the most of every opportunity? This is not just about ceasing the moment to share Christ with others, but it is also about reflecting Christ and showing wisdom in our practical lives. For example, if we tell our coworkers about Jesus, but then we can’t meet work deadlines, it is not a good testimony of our faith in the Lord. Or we may make dinner/lunch plans with others, but most of the time, we have an excuse why we arrive late. That makes us lose credibility before those whom we are trying to reach. 

Procrastination is a lost opportunity. It shows that we had the time to do something but we chose not by presuming upon the future. Generally, I don’t like to procrastinate. I see it like getting into debt. When we are in debt we presume upon the future for the income to payoff what we bought today. Procrastination is about presuming on the future that we will have the time to get it done.

The Lord expects us to be consistent and faithful people and that means that we should make the most of every opportunity. If we wait until the last minute to get something done, we have wasted valuable time in the process. In addition, we may not have the opportunity to get it done or to do a good job completing it.

Our lives, talents, and time don’t belong to us, and we are called to steward them as unto the Lord and make the most of every opportunity. When we live with God’s rhythm, we experience greater peace and joy in doing our work, and we also eliminate the possibility of others being frustrated with us because we are late in getting things done. In this way, we love God and we love our neighbor as ourselves!

Procrastination Is not Waiting (Part II)

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”

But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”

But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57-62

Procrastination can have many faces in people’s lives. In the above scriptures, some claimed that they wanted to follow Jesus, but they had excuses as to why it wasn’t the right time. They supposedly were going to wait and do it at the right time. In reality, they just didn’t want to pay the price. They were not ready to fully commit to Jesus. 

The man who wanted to bury his father may not have even lost his father yet. His thought could have been that when his father died, then it was the right time to venture out into following Jesus. This wasn’t about being a responsible and loving son, but it was about him feeling that following Jesus can wait. He was going to procrastinate for several years until a supposedly right time. In the above passage, the other one wanted to say goodbye to his family. Most likely, he wanted to get their input and ensure that they were ok with his decision to follow Jesus. They both had other priorities that seemed more pressing to them than following Jesus right away. They had no urgency for following the Lord.

On the other hand, Jesus likened the kingdom of God to a farmer who is plowing the field. The farmer cannot make any progress in doing his work if he keeps looking back. His focus has to be right in front of him and continue to plow the field.

We see some people who have been raised in the church, walk away from Christ. They feel that there are more important things that they want to do in life than following Jesus first. Jesus is not a priority to them. They don’t think they are necessarily rebelling against Christ. They just think that at some point in time, they will have more time to follow Him.

When we have a revelation of Jesus calling us to Himself, there is nothing more important than choosing to follow Him. We cannot afford to procrastinate. There is no need to wait. He is not a hindrance to our dreams or visions. He is our way maker. When we put him first without procrastinating, He establishes order and clarity in our lives. He changes our hearts about worldly dreams and puts new dreams in our hearts that we never deemed important before.

Have you fully committed to following Jesus? Are there other things in your life that seem more important than following Jesus? Are you timely in obeying Jesus? Or do you procrastinate in following Him? Delayed/procrastinated obedience is disobedience, and it can be costly in our lives as well as those around us.