PRAYER

PRAYER - being watchful to this end with all perseverance..


REFERENCE: Ephesians 6:10-19



- Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. (Matthew 26:41)

- Take ye head, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. (Mark 13:33)

- Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:6)

-Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

If we equip ourselves with the armor of God, it is still imperative that we keep an ongoing connection to Him through prayer. We are to pray continuously and without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) so we can develop and maintain a connection with God.

Since we don't know how to pray as we should, we should always pray in the Spirit, so the Holy Spirit of God can make intercession for us (Romans 8:26).

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

REFERENCE: EPHESIANS 6:10-19

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT = WORD OF GOD



The world is subject to God's Word.

We should become experts in handling our swords. train for battle by reading, understanding, studying and committing to memory, the Word of God.

The sword is a defensive weapon, able to deflect the blows of the enemy. But it is also the only offensive weapon, capable of inflicting blows on the enemy.

The Word of God is "living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit." (Hebrews 4 12-13) Even Jesus used the Word of God against Satan (ref. Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). The all-powerful Word of God is able to cut through any and every thing the enemy has. When he Word is yielded by a servant of God, nothing can withstand its ability to cut straight to the core of a matter.

When you take the Scripture in your mouth and quote it directly, then it becomes a sword of the Spirit. When we take the sword in faith, then the Holy Spirit gives us the power and the wisdom to use it.

DON'T LET YOUR SWORD GET RUSTY AND DULL FROM UNUSE!

HELMET OF SALVATION

REFERENCE: EPHESIANS 6 10-19

Satan works to capture your mind. The actions of the body start from the mind. So your head is the prime target in warfare. If Satan can corrupt your mind, fill it with unbelief, and sinful thoughts, he can redirect you from the way of the Lord. So, in effect, we are talking about a helmet that protects our minds.

The protection for the heart is faith. The protection for the head is hope; hope in Christ. Hope is a steady expectation of good based on the promises of God's Word. 

We are to cover our minds with the salvation of Christ, setting our minds on things eternal, not worldly. Satans blows to the head are to affect the believers security and assurance in Christ. Hope is an optimistic attitude that always chooses to see the best and will not give way to depression, doubt, and self pity. 

"And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

We can receive tremendous hope and comfort if we focus on Christ's ultimare sacrifice for us that we are saved and now have an eternal home in the kingdom of heaven. This hope works like a helmet to protect our minds from the discouragement and despair in this world.

SHIELD OF FAITH

REFERENCE: EPHESIANS 6:10-19


A shield protects. So as a physical shield protects physically, the shield of fait protects us spiritually, even in the midst of trials.


Faith in the Blood of Jesus is our first defensive shield against the accuser of the bretheren (Zechariah 3:1-5).

Faith in Jesus Christ is our shield against the attacks of the enemy. When he tries to put doubt and unbelief, worry and anxiety in our minds, we can block it with our shield of faith! We must know the promises of God, which will increase our faith. Every flaming arrow of doubt, pride, despair, depressions, hatred, and fear from the enemy is to try to drive a wedge between the saints of God and the Savior. 

When Satan tries to attach our minds, our hearts, our bodies and our finances, we need to have a shield that covers us. That is our faith/hope in God and all of His promises to us. Satan will attach any area he can reach and if he can't get to you, he will try your spouse, if you're married, and your children if you are a parent. You MUST have a shield big enough to protect everything that God has made you responsible for, including yourself, your family, your home, your finances, and everything God has committed to you. 

SHOES OF THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE

REFERENCE: EPHESIANS 6:10 -19

PREPARATION REFERS TO READINESS

FEET ARE A SYMBOL FOR "THE WALK" OF A PERSON'S LIFE



The boots that Roman soldiers wore for battle were fitted with metal studs like the cleats on football players shoes. They were designed to stand/maintain ground in battle.

If your feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace you will have strength while spreading the Good News of Christ. Shoes allow us to step freely and without fear while spreading God's Word, which brings more peace to the world. As Christians we are called to go out and tell the world about Jesus. If we have our shoes on we are ready, prepared, and at peace to go out.

Preparation includes study and memorization of Scripture, and the ability to communicate intelligently the Gospel Message.

BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

In battle, the breastplate protects the vital organs from enemy attack. It deflects darts and swords. 

Righteousness is the genuine holiness of those whose "every thought is captive to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5) and whose mind is set on things above not on things that are on the earth (Colossians 3:2).

Righteousness is associated with protective armor because righteousness delivers from death (Proverbs 11:4). It is God's righteousness that defends us against Satan, not our own righteousness, which is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

As long as we are wearing a breastplate of our own righteousness, there are many weak points for Satan to penetrate and damage us.

BELT OF TRUTH

The belt of truth is the first piece of equipment we are instructed to use. The belt stands for the truth of God's Word, the Holy Bible. Knowing the truth of God is essential for all believers in order to battle successfully against the devils schemes.

The belt held all the other equipment in place during a physical battle in ancient Roman. The same as the truth of God holds our spiritual weapons in place today.

As Christians we are to test all things and hold on to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21) -- the truth -- discarding all else.

The belt used in Roman armor held the soldier's sword. The belt of truth is needed in order for us to use our sword (the Word of God) effectively.

ARMOR FOR...? WHAT BATTLE!?!?

REFERENCE: Ephesians 6:10-19


Paul wrote a letter to the church at Ephesus to give them instruction while he was away. In his conclusion he commanded the church to put on he full armor of God.

We need this armor to fight the battle against Satan and his demons.

We are had pressed on every side, yet not crushed we are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).



We as Christians are at war against the spiritual forces of wickedness. Whether we want to be in the battle or not, we do not have a choice. As Christians we are involved in a life and death struggle with a highly organized kingdom populated by evil, rebellious spirit beings, headquartered in the heavenly realm.

Satan is our enemy and he has waged war on God's kingdom for the souls of humanity. He tries to keep the unsaved blinded to God's Word and he tries to stop the work and progress of those of us already saved. 

And the battle ground is in the realm of the mind!

IMAGINATIONS
REASONING
SPECULATIONS                                   THE REALM OF THE MIND
ARGUMENTS
KNOWLEDGE
THOUGHTS

God tells us through His Word that this battle is real even though the battle is a spiritual war, taking place in the spiritual realm, which differs from our physical realm. However, much of the evil we see in the world is a direct result of this unseen war.

Since you are a part of this battle anyway, you should know how to use the armor of God. And just like Paul told the church of Ephesus, we must also put on the full armor of God.

LEAP OF FAITH

WHAT I DO REVEALS WHAT I BELIEVE ABOUT GOD, REGARDLESS OF WHAT I SAY.

GROWTH

I CANNOT STAY WHERE I AM AND GO WITH GOD.

ARMOR OF GOD - PAUL'S INSTRUCTIONS

  FINALLY, BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER. PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR STAND AGAINST THE DEVIL'S SCHEMES. FOR OUR STRUGGLE IS NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST THE RULERS, AGAINST THE AUTHORITIES, AGAINST THE POWERS OF THIS DARK WORLD AND AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS.

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 BREASTPLATE 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 PRAY IN THE SPIRIT ON ALL OCCASIONS WITH ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS. WITH THIS IN MIND, BE ALERT AND ALWAYS KEEP ON PRAYING FOR ALL THE SAINTS.

EPHESIANS 6:0-18

PENTECOST SUNDAY - MAY 24TH 2015

Pentecost -- In many ways, is the birth of the church.

Before the events of the first Pentecost which came a few weeks after Jesus's death, and resurrection, there were followers of Jesus, but no movement that could be meaningfully called "The Church." Thus, from a historical point of view, Pentecost is the day on which the church was started.


Pentecost is a translation of the Greek word which means "fifty." Christians got the phrase from a Jewish holiday known as the Festival of Weeks in which people count seven weeks, or fifty days, from the end of Passover to the beginning of the next holiday.

The day became significant for Christians because seven weeks after the resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon his first followers, thus empowering them for their mission and gathering them together as a church.

On the Old Testament day of Pentecost, Israel received the Law; on the New Testament day of Pentecost, the church received the Holy Spirit.

"Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sate upon each of them. And they were all filled with the HOLY SPIRIT and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (ACTS 2:1-4).

TEST/TRY THE SPIRITS

What does it mean to test/try the spirits?

It is my opinion that this question came to me because I need to know the answer. So, here's what I think...

"Beloved do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God."

1 John 4:1

* Test the message that people or spirits proclaim.

* Most importantly when a person or spirit is claiming to speak for God.

* The reason to test the spirits is to see if it is truly from God or if it is a lie from Satan and his servants.

* The way to test is to compare what is being taught with the clear teaching of the Bible. The Bible alone is the Word of God.

* One must know how to examine the Scriptures instead of accepting every teaching.

Twilight Zone

TWILIGHT ZONE

(February 2014)

Today was really weird. I can't really explain how I've been feeling except that I have been overcome with emotion. It actually started yesterday but it was even more prevalent today. I felt like I just needed God. Very overwhelming; because I didn't really know what to call the emotion or what to do with it. It was as if the atmosphere within me had changed. I almost just wanted to be alone and cry out to God, though it wasn't a sad feeling. More like needing to be nearer.

I have decided to spend my quiet time with God in my bedroom. There are too many distractions when I sit and read/study at my dining room table. I figure this way I can really have more "quiet time" and not be distracted by my household noises (TV, conversations, etc.). So, if I want to cry or praise the lord, I can do it without the presence of others.

I don't want to get too overwhelmed or too emotional but there is so much about God that I want to learn that I just want to constantly take in all He has to offer in His Word. I just feel like I don't want to be so focused on learning so much at one time that I'm not truly focused and retaining the information and learning what it is God wants to teach me. 

I want to work on being a better person every day. Being better to me means learning to live by the principles of God and learning to hear from Him and obey His Word in all things. I want a more intimate relationship with God. I want to walk in the purpose God has made me for. I don't really have a clue what that is right now. It could be something He has already giving me responsibility for, like being a mother or a wife, or it could be something He is still preparing me for. Whatever it is I want to do it with the love and direction of God.

HOW DO YOU KNOW GOD LOVES YOU?

Without trying to be "politically correct"...

I know God loves me because He has shown me His love by protecting me physically, protecting my mind, and showing me a better life than I knew before i knew Him. He has given me grace and shown me so much mercy. He has blessed my life. He talks with me and allows me to feel His presence.

IF YOU FEEL WEAK, LIMITED, ORDINARY, YOU ARE THE BEST MATERIAL THROUGH WHICH GOD CAN WORK.


~DON'T MEASURE YOUR LIFE BY THE WORLD'S STANDARDS. AN ORDINARY PERSON IS WHO GOD MOST LIKES TO USE.

GOING THROUGH

If God takes you through something that you prayed not to go through, you still have to believe that God has a greater purpose for sending you through it. He will be with you and take you through it. It's always for our benefit and well-being even though it may not feel good.

When you are going through your worst, you are probably closest to your breakthrough. If you give up, you will have to go back to the starting point of your test.

It doesn't mean God is mad at you. Sometimes when you ask God to bless you, you have no idea what it takes to get the blessing. You may have to go through trials and tribulations to receive your blessing.

God is Always Watching

Look beyond my circumstances to the One who controls all things. God is always watching. Weaving all these jumbled, seemingly random events together into a purposeful, beautiful whole. And just when I think evil really has won, God orchestrates the ultimate plot twist!

THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK

HELP ME THINK TWICE BEFORE SPEAKING ONCE.

HELP ME PRAISE TWICE BEFORE CRITICIZING.

HELP ME TELL THE TRUTH ALWAYS AND TRUST THAT YOU WILL BLESS ME EVEN IF THE TRUTH MAKES ME LOOK BAD.

~Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.

HAVE FAITH? DO SOMETHING!

FAITH IS AN ACTION WORD. IT REQUIRES YOU TO DO SOMETHING! HAVING FAITH IN GOD REQUIRES YOU TO TRUST HIM, CAST ALL YOUR CARES ON HIM AND KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT HE WILL PROVIDE ALL YOUR NEEDS. THE MORE YOU PUT YOUR FAITH IN GOD, ON PURPOSE, THE MORE FAITHFUL YOU BECOME. 

BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD CHARACTER

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE A LIFE THAT IS UNAFFECTED BY OTHER PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR, ATTITUDES AND OPINIONS NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY. PEOPLE HELP SHAPE OUR PERSPECTIVES AND INFLUENCE OUR DECISIONS. WHEN A PERSON POSITIVELY AFFECTS ANOTHER'S LIFE IT IS GREAT. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHEN PEOPLE ARE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY OTHERS.


I REMEMBER AS A CHILD AND YOUNG ADULT MY MOM TRYING TO KEEP ME AWAY FROM "BAD PEOPLE." THEY WERE THE PEOPLE SHE THOUGHT WERE OR WOULD INFLUENCE MY BEHAVIOR NEGATIVELY. NOW, AS AN ADULT, HAVING ENOUGH DISCERNMENT TO SEE PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY ARE AT THIS POINT IN THEIR LIVES CAN SAVE YOU A LOT OF HEADACHE. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES IT IS EASIER TO SEE IN HINDSIGHT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SWAYED BY THE BAD INFLUENCES OF OTHERS.

YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOUR ASSOCIATIONS, AFFECT WHO YOU ARE?

YOU BELIEVE THAT BAD FRIENDS WON'T CHANGE YOU?

EVEN A MAN AS WISE AS PAUL KNEW THAT WE CAN FALL INTO THIS MISCONCEPTION. THIS IS WHY HE SAID TO THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH:

DO NOT BE MISLED: BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD CHARACTER." (I CORINTHIANS 15:33)

A VERY SHORT PERSONAL STORY IS:
One of the "friends" I had as a young adult, contacted me as an adult. I was surprised to hear from this person and after a long catch-up talk, I discovered that we had a lot of similarities in our current situations. Since this was a "friend" that I was warned about from my mom early in life, and that I soon found out was a bad influence back then, I was curious to see that things had changed. Unfortunately, I found out that things had only changed in circumstances and not the character of the person. I found out after I had been deceived back into some situations that were not beneficial to me; that were downright bad for me. After the Lord revealed to me the changes in me since I had been back in contact with this person, I removed myself from them, repented, and prayed for that person.

It is a lie of Satan's that you can romp around in the mud and not get dirty. So, "take heed" to the words of Paul, "lest you fall." (I Corinthians 10:12)

BEAR FRUITS WORTHY OF REPENTANCE

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO

BEAR FRUITS WORTHY OF REPENTANCE?

-MY LIFE SHOULD REFLECT A LIFESTYLE, ACTION, AND CHOICES WHICH ARE CONSISTENT WITH HAVING REPENTED OF SIN - THAT IS - WITH HAVING MADE A DECLARATION AGAINST THE DESTRUCTIVE THINGS OF THIS WORLD IN FAVOR OF ALIGNING MYSELF WITH THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.


Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don't just say to each other, 'We're safe, for we are descendants of Abraham'! That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.
Luke 3:8


TURN FROM THAT WHICH IS DESTROYING US TO THAT WHICH SAVES US!


LORD, BE THE RULER OF MY HEART AND THE MASTER OF MY HOME. MAY THERE BE NOTHING IN MY LIFE THAT IS NOT UNDER YOUR LORDSHIP."

SAVING GRACE

WHAT GOD HAS SAVED ME FOR IS SO MUCH GREATER THAN WHAT HE HAS SAVED ME FROM.

REMEMBER LOT'S WIFE -- DON'T LOOK BACK!

GOOD MORNING LORD

Good Morning Lord. I lift up my voice in desperate need of your mercy right now -- this day! My only option is You.

*God hears our pleas, He meets our needs, and He turns our desperation into satisfaction.

Why am I so impatient? Who do I think I am???
I hate it when other people expect me to get in line with their agendas. So, why do I do that to other people?
Please, Lord, help me relax and enjoy You and the people around me more.
Help me get my life more in tune with your agenda. What You want is more important than what I want.


"With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love..."
Ephesians 4:2


Help me to believe, really believe, always believe,
that you call great those who serve other people humbly.

Obeying God

OBEYING GOD -- Sometimes God will not give me a "sign" to "prove" it is Him commanding me to do a thing. Sometimes the affirmation comes after the obedience. God is basically saying - "Do it and you will know it is me when you succeed."

Reference: Hebrews 11:8
(Abraham was called by God and told to go to a place, and he obeyed not knowing where he was going.)

Mustard Seed Faith

"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'move from here to there,' and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you." -Matthew 17:20

If I can do it on my own, with my own resources, it does not require faith in God to do it for me. I first, though, need to be sure that God has told me to do a thing before I can have faith that He will do it.

Sometime during the month of August 2013, we had a large bill (according to our income) we needed to pay. I felt that the Lord was telling me that He would make it possible for us to pay the bill within the next 3 months. I then, prayed the following prayer:

"Lord, you have told us that you will make it possible for us to pay this bill off in 3 months. That would require us to pay $1,000, a month toward the bill. I cannot see that we are able to do this on our own. This requires faith in You to make this happen. We put our faith in You this day to have it come to pass."

Not many days following this prayer, things were looking pretty dire. I started to think that maybe I had misunderstood what the Lord said. I allowed Satan to get in my head and make me doubt what I knew God said and what I knew was possible if He said it. But, that's how the devil works. He wants us to be confused and doubtful in hopes that we will give up.

On September 1, 2013, we had not made one payment and things were looking even more bleak. I prayed: "Lord, please give me confirmation that you are leading us to pay this bill in 3 months. I do not want to be outside of your will and try to do this on our own." I never received additional confirmation. When God told me the first time, that was my confirmation.

During the first week of January 2014, other resources were threatened because of this outstanding bill which we still had not been able to make a single payment on. I started strategizing ways that I could "make this happen" and get the bill paid. Once I thought I had the plan all figured out I felt conviction in my spirit and immediately went into prayer asking for forgiveness. I decided that I would not try to do God's work for Him (as if I could anyway) and continue to muster up the little bit of faith I felt I still had at the time.

God showed up in our situation the very next day and provided a way for us to pay the entire bill in full immediately!

I'm sure there are several lessons to be learned here. For me, I built some faith muscle! I know that God is the same God yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) so if I encounter similar experiences in the future, I know that if He came through for us before, He can do it again!

What do you think is a valuable lesson that can be learned through this experience?