About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and
singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners
were listening to them.
~ Acts 16:25
What is your default setting? When you’re in trouble, what do you do? When you’re in abundance, do you praise God? Maybe you will eventually. Maybe that’s your first instinct. I want turning to God to be my first instinct. I also want to follow the Holy Spirit to God.
Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison for doing God’s work, and yet they stayed up into the night praying and singing hymns to God. They didn’t sleep or curse God or beg that He would let them out. They focused their strength on God, trusting that He would work this for good (Romans 8:28).
Seek God first just as Paul and Silas did (Matthew 6:33). You don’t need to know exactly what to do in every situation you encounter. You don’t even need to know every situation. All you need to know is that God is in control and He has promised to work in your situation for the good of those who love Him. Seek God. He will tell you what to do. He will provide for you both in your essentials and in your abundance. So turn to God.
The next time you’re faced with a tough circumstance or you’re tempted or you don’t know what is going on, see what you do. Ask God to bring this post back to your mind then. Is your first thought or action to rely on your strength and training? Is it to ask for help? Is it to turn to God? What do you end up doing? Ask God to bring your focus to Him so you will act according to His will, whatever that means in your situation.
Read further:
Acts 16:16-40; Romans 8:28; Matthew 6:33
Showing posts with label Armor of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Armor of God. Show all posts
Monday, June 6, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Armor of God: Sword of the Spirit
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God.
~ Ephesians 6:17
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper
than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to
dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it
judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.
Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the
eyes of him to whom we must give account.
~ Hebrews 4:12-13
The Word is alive. It’s useful, active, and powerful (1 Tim 3:16-17). God’s Word has power to change lives and cut deep into the heart. God’s Word is every bit as applicable now as it was when it was written. Don’t be afraid to use the Word as a sword. Paul calls it the Sword of the Spirit for a reason.
The Word comes from God (Heb 4:12, John 1:1). God created everything, controls everything, and holds the universe together. Anything He says must be valuable; listen to and believe His Word. Trust Him to give His Word to you and to make it work. The Holy Spirit will bring the Word to mind at times. Trust the Holy Spirit for it will have people hear and understand what they need to hear regardless of how you say it (Acts 2:4-11, Mt 10:19-20). Don’t give your own failings so much credit; God is the One at work.
Do you believe God’s Word? It has the power to change lives; let it change yours. Do you trust that God will work according to His purpose through you? Are you ready to let Him use you to make a difference in the world? What is holding you back from proclaiming the God-breathed Scripture to the world?
Read further:
Ephesians 6; Hebrews 4:12-13; 1 Timothy 3:16—17; John 1:1; Acts 2:4-11; Matthew 10:19-20
the Spirit, which is the word of God.
~ Ephesians 6:17
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper
than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to
dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it
judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.
Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the
eyes of him to whom we must give account.
~ Hebrews 4:12-13
The Word is alive. It’s useful, active, and powerful (1 Tim 3:16-17). God’s Word has power to change lives and cut deep into the heart. God’s Word is every bit as applicable now as it was when it was written. Don’t be afraid to use the Word as a sword. Paul calls it the Sword of the Spirit for a reason.
The Word comes from God (Heb 4:12, John 1:1). God created everything, controls everything, and holds the universe together. Anything He says must be valuable; listen to and believe His Word. Trust Him to give His Word to you and to make it work. The Holy Spirit will bring the Word to mind at times. Trust the Holy Spirit for it will have people hear and understand what they need to hear regardless of how you say it (Acts 2:4-11, Mt 10:19-20). Don’t give your own failings so much credit; God is the One at work.
Do you believe God’s Word? It has the power to change lives; let it change yours. Do you trust that God will work according to His purpose through you? Are you ready to let Him use you to make a difference in the world? What is holding you back from proclaiming the God-breathed Scripture to the world?
Read further:
Ephesians 6; Hebrews 4:12-13; 1 Timothy 3:16—17; John 1:1; Acts 2:4-11; Matthew 10:19-20
Monday, May 30, 2011
Armor of God: Helmet of Salvation
Take the helmet of salvation
~ Ephesians 6:17
Salvation is not a one-time thing. You can’t pray a prayer and just move on. Paul says we must continue to work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12). Salvation is on-going. Where repentance is like getting off the highway, turning around, and driving the other direction, salvation is the entire process of getting onto the right path and continuing on that path – it means following Christ.
Jesus told a parable about a king who had a wedding feast for his son. He invited many but they made excuses for not coming, so the king invited everyone from the streets. A man came in without wearing wedding clothes, so the king had him tied hand and foot and thrown outside. The king invited the man, but he did not want to change. God invites everyone to live in His kingdom, but not everyone is chosen.
In Acts, Luke tells of a time the apostles preached in a city and many believed and were baptized including a sorcerer named Simon. When Peter and John came later, they found that even though Simon believed and was baptized, his heart was still not right before God. Simon was no longer defined by sin but by what Jesus had done in his life. He needed to stop acting and thinking as a sinner and begin thinking and acting as Christ.
Salvation is not one single prayer or one altar call; it’s a life-long commitment to following God. You can’t earn salvation, but you also can’t be the same person you were before God entered your heart and still follow Christ.
Are you defined by your sin, or are you defined by the transformation Christ has made in you? Have you been living your life however you want hoping a prayer from years ago was enough? Are you ready for Christ to daily transform you and bring you closer to Him?
Read further:
Ephesians 6; Philippians 2:12; Matthew 22:1-14; Acts 8:9-25
~ Ephesians 6:17
Salvation is not a one-time thing. You can’t pray a prayer and just move on. Paul says we must continue to work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12). Salvation is on-going. Where repentance is like getting off the highway, turning around, and driving the other direction, salvation is the entire process of getting onto the right path and continuing on that path – it means following Christ.
Jesus told a parable about a king who had a wedding feast for his son. He invited many but they made excuses for not coming, so the king invited everyone from the streets. A man came in without wearing wedding clothes, so the king had him tied hand and foot and thrown outside. The king invited the man, but he did not want to change. God invites everyone to live in His kingdom, but not everyone is chosen.
In Acts, Luke tells of a time the apostles preached in a city and many believed and were baptized including a sorcerer named Simon. When Peter and John came later, they found that even though Simon believed and was baptized, his heart was still not right before God. Simon was no longer defined by sin but by what Jesus had done in his life. He needed to stop acting and thinking as a sinner and begin thinking and acting as Christ.
Salvation is not one single prayer or one altar call; it’s a life-long commitment to following God. You can’t earn salvation, but you also can’t be the same person you were before God entered your heart and still follow Christ.
Are you defined by your sin, or are you defined by the transformation Christ has made in you? Have you been living your life however you want hoping a prayer from years ago was enough? Are you ready for Christ to daily transform you and bring you closer to Him?
Read further:
Ephesians 6; Philippians 2:12; Matthew 22:1-14; Acts 8:9-25
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Armor of God: Shield of Faith
In addition to all this, take up the shield of
faith, with which you can extinguish all the
flaming arrows of the evil one.
~ Ephesians 6:14
The enemy is real. “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Believe it. Satan is trying to snatch away the good God has planted in your heart. Don’t think you are immune from attack or that you are strong enough to stand on your own. But do believe that you can stand.
When the enemy comes, “resist him, standing firm in the faith” (1 Pet 5:9). Take action and take up the shield of faith. Faith is an action. Lay down your defense and trust God to defend you. We overcome the world and its sins, pleasures, and pitfalls in victory through faith. God gives us the victory, so stand firm; be immoveable.
When you are tempted, where do you turn? Are you dragged away by the temptation and the sin, or do you stand firm in your faith in God?
Read further
Ephesians 6; Matthew 13:9; 1 John 5:4; 1 Corinthians 15:57-58; James 1:13-15
faith, with which you can extinguish all the
flaming arrows of the evil one.
~ Ephesians 6:14
The enemy is real. “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Believe it. Satan is trying to snatch away the good God has planted in your heart. Don’t think you are immune from attack or that you are strong enough to stand on your own. But do believe that you can stand.
When the enemy comes, “resist him, standing firm in the faith” (1 Pet 5:9). Take action and take up the shield of faith. Faith is an action. Lay down your defense and trust God to defend you. We overcome the world and its sins, pleasures, and pitfalls in victory through faith. God gives us the victory, so stand firm; be immoveable.
When you are tempted, where do you turn? Are you dragged away by the temptation and the sin, or do you stand firm in your faith in God?
Read further
Ephesians 6; Matthew 13:9; 1 John 5:4; 1 Corinthians 15:57-58; James 1:13-15
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Armor of God: Readiness from the Gospel of Peace
and with your feet fitted with the readiness
that comes from the gospel of peace.
~ Ephesians 6:15
Read and study your Bible daily. Meditate on God’s Word day and night*. Prepare!
Why on the feet? The feet take the body wherever it goes. God’s Word will guide you to the spiritual place in which He wants you to be. The burden of spiritual growth is on God* read His Word, and let Him bring you to Himself.
You’re a messenger. You need to know the message that you will impart, and you need to be able to get to wherever you will deliver the message. So prepare, and then go!
And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" ~ Romans 10:15* (Isaiah 52:7)*
Do you daily spend time studying the Bible? Are you prepared to share the reason for the hope in your life?*
Read Ephesians 6
that comes from the gospel of peace.
~ Ephesians 6:15
Read and study your Bible daily. Meditate on God’s Word day and night*. Prepare!
Why on the feet? The feet take the body wherever it goes. God’s Word will guide you to the spiritual place in which He wants you to be. The burden of spiritual growth is on God* read His Word, and let Him bring you to Himself.
You’re a messenger. You need to know the message that you will impart, and you need to be able to get to wherever you will deliver the message. So prepare, and then go!
And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" ~ Romans 10:15* (Isaiah 52:7)*
Do you daily spend time studying the Bible? Are you prepared to share the reason for the hope in your life?*
Read Ephesians 6
Monday, May 23, 2011
Armor of God: Breastplate of Righteousness
Stand firm then, with the breastplate of righteousness in place
~ Ephesians 6:14
Righteousness comes from God. “Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.”1 Righteousness can’t be attained by works or by fulfilling the law. This is yet another example of God’s grace because we are not good enough or worthy enough to be righteous on our own.
Righteousness has spiritual power for spiritual protection.2 The Armor of God is not physical, but it also not for physical protection. Prepare physically and wear corporeal armor to protect you from attack in the body; prepare spiritually by reading the Bible, praying, and having a personal relationship with God and put on the Armor of God to protect yourself from spiritual attack.
Do you believe the LORD? Do you trust that God will protect3 you spiritually? Have you put on the full Armor of God?
1 Gen 15:6, See also Isaiah 61:10, 2 2 Corinthians 6:7, 3 Genesis 15:1 “Do not be afraid, Abram/ I am your shield”
Read Ephesians 6
~ Ephesians 6:14
Righteousness comes from God. “Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.”1 Righteousness can’t be attained by works or by fulfilling the law. This is yet another example of God’s grace because we are not good enough or worthy enough to be righteous on our own.
Righteousness has spiritual power for spiritual protection.2 The Armor of God is not physical, but it also not for physical protection. Prepare physically and wear corporeal armor to protect you from attack in the body; prepare spiritually by reading the Bible, praying, and having a personal relationship with God and put on the Armor of God to protect yourself from spiritual attack.
Do you believe the LORD? Do you trust that God will protect3 you spiritually? Have you put on the full Armor of God?
1 Gen 15:6, See also Isaiah 61:10, 2 2 Corinthians 6:7, 3 Genesis 15:1 “Do not be afraid, Abram/ I am your shield”
Read Ephesians 6
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Armor of God: Belt of Truth
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth
buckled around your waist
~ Ephesians 6:14
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life (John 14:6). I often hear “this is right” or “this I know” or “this is proven”. That’s all well and good, but it’s not always true.
Jesus is the Truth.
In any situation, what Jesus speaks is the Truth. No matter how a situation appears, what Jesus speaks into the situation is the Truth. When a man was blind, Jesus spoke the Truth that he could see. When a man was crippled, Jesus spoke the Truth in his life that made him well. When you sin then confess*, Jesus speaks the truth that you are already forgiven and saved.
Buckle this belt of Truth firmly around your waist to remind you that God’s Truth is what you need to believe amidst all the doubt and disbelief and false knowledge. You can trust in God; you can trust God.
Is there an area of your life that needs to hear God’s Truth? Do you accept His Truth, or is the comfort of the normal and the “proven” more appealing?
Read Ephesians 6
buckled around your waist
~ Ephesians 6:14
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life (John 14:6). I often hear “this is right” or “this I know” or “this is proven”. That’s all well and good, but it’s not always true.
Jesus is the Truth.
In any situation, what Jesus speaks is the Truth. No matter how a situation appears, what Jesus speaks into the situation is the Truth. When a man was blind, Jesus spoke the Truth that he could see. When a man was crippled, Jesus spoke the Truth in his life that made him well. When you sin then confess*, Jesus speaks the truth that you are already forgiven and saved.
Buckle this belt of Truth firmly around your waist to remind you that God’s Truth is what you need to believe amidst all the doubt and disbelief and false knowledge. You can trust in God; you can trust God.
Is there an area of your life that needs to hear God’s Truth? Do you accept His Truth, or is the comfort of the normal and the “proven” more appealing?
Read Ephesians 6
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Armor of God
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.
~ Ephesians 6:10-13
The enemy is very real and very capable. “Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:7)
God is also real. He is more powerful and more able. You have already lost the battle if you try to master sin on your own. That is why you must “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power” (Eph 6:10). You can’t stand by your power because the battle is spiritual, not physical. Trust the Master of all – spiritual and physical – to protect you so that you may be able to stand.
Are you feeling the burden of trying to stand on your own? What can you do in your life to stand closer to the Lord?
This is the first in a series about the Armor of God. Check back for more.
Read Ephesians 6
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.
~ Ephesians 6:10-13
The enemy is very real and very capable. “Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:7)
God is also real. He is more powerful and more able. You have already lost the battle if you try to master sin on your own. That is why you must “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power” (Eph 6:10). You can’t stand by your power because the battle is spiritual, not physical. Trust the Master of all – spiritual and physical – to protect you so that you may be able to stand.
Are you feeling the burden of trying to stand on your own? What can you do in your life to stand closer to the Lord?
This is the first in a series about the Armor of God. Check back for more.
Read Ephesians 6
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